Prime Minister Netanyahu approved Israeli delegations to fly to Cairo and continue negotiations

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke with the head of the Mossad Dedi Barnea and the head of the Shin Bet Ronen Bar and approved delegations on their behalf to fly to Cairo in the coming days to continue negotiations for the release of the abductees with scope for further negotiations, the Prime Minister's Office said on Friday. organizations.
On Wednesday, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar visited Cairo where he met with Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamal. According to a source familiar with the details, the intelligence chief hosted Bar for an iftar meal to break the Ramadan fast. The source noted that the Shin Bet chief discussed with his counterparts in Cairo about the deadlock "M on the deal to release the abductees. The two also discussed the situation in the West Bank against the background of the month of Ramadan, as well as the issue of the Rafah crossing and additional steps to secure the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip the day after the war.
The Prime Minister's Office issued a statement on Tuesday in which it claims that Hamas's position in the negotiations "clearly proves that it is not interested in its continuation." In addition, she blamed the Security Council for its decision on an immediate ceasefire, which backs up Hamas. The announcement was made after reports that the Israeli negotiating delegation had left Qatar.
"Hamas' position clearly proves that Hamas is not interested in continuing negotiations for a deal, and is an unfortunate testimony to the damage of the Security Council's decision," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. "Hamas once again rejected any American compromise proposal and repeated its extreme demands: an immediate end to the war, withdrawal the complete withdrawal of the IDF from the Gaza Strip and the remaining in power so that it can repeat the massacre of October 7th again and again, as it promised to do. Hamas refused any American compromise proposal, and also welcomed the Security Council's decision.
"Israel will not submit to the delusional demands of Hamas, and will continue to act to achieve all the goals of the war: to release all the abductees, to destroy the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel."
Bar, it should be noted, already visited Cairo this week as a guest of the Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. The decision was made yesterday and the Prime Minister informed the Cabinet of his decision at night. Voices were heard in the cabinet calling on Netanyahu and Israel to show initiative and be flexible. A political source said that the teams "will conduct negotiations within the framework of the mandate that was previously approved for them and has not been exhausted and there is no decision to extend the mandate."
At the end of the consultation held last night between Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Defense Minister Yoav Galant, it was decided to cancel this year's military celebrations on Independence Day, and therefore no flight and flotilla will be held on that day. This, in light of the continued fighting in the Gaza Strip and the north, the issue of the abductees held captive by Hamas and the thousands of families of the martyrs and the wounded - and in order to be precise and take into account the existing situation.
The decision was made after discussions in the army and later it will also be decided how the ceremony of the outstanding soldiers will be held at the President's residence. On the day of remembrance for the martyrs of the Israeli forces, as every year, there will be a flight with a missing structure over Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. The decision of the IDF and the Minister of Defense is contrary to the celebratory line of the government and many municipalities, which decided to celebrate this year with a series of events of a happy nature on the eve of Independence Day.
In the shadow of the tense day in the north, the commander of the Northern Command, Major General Uri Gordin, met with the heads of the incoming and outgoing authorities in the north. As part of the meeting, the IDF said, a dialogue was held with the heads of the authorities in which the main points of the intelligence and operational assessment of the situation and the preparation processes for the continuation of fighting in the northern sector were presented. "The local leadership has enormous importance in the cooperation with the IDF, with us," he told them.
He noted that the security forces "are determined to create a better, safer and quieter situation here in the north." In the shadow of the significant day of fighting in the north, during which the deputy commander of Hezbollah's rocket and missile unit was eliminated, he added: "There is no need to say too much about our offensive activity, it sounds good and believe me it is also visible in the skies of Lebanon, near and far. We continue to hit Hezbollah, determined Push it back and destroy its infrastructure."
However, he clarified: "This is not enough, this week we advanced another step on the readiness scale, with the training of the forces, learning from the fighting in the south and many other characteristics that will bring us more ready for the day of command. I see you as full partners, shoulder to shoulder with us in the conduct of the fighting."