The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement that Netanyahu and his professional team met with the head of Egyptian intelligence, and the two sides discussed "ways to move forward with the Trump plan, Israeli-Egyptian relations, promoting peace between the two countries, and other regional issues."
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that the meeting between Rashad and Netanyahu, which took place behind closed doors, came in the wake of the implementation of Trump's plan for a ceasefire in Gaza. It noted that Rashad also met with the new head of the Shin Bet (General Security Service), David Zinni, in the latter's first official meeting with a foreign official.
The Egyptian intelligence chief's visit to Israel coincides with a visit by US Vice President J.D. Vance and Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are discussing with the Israeli leadership arrangements for the next phase of the US plan, which includes the deployment of an international peacekeeping force in the Gaza Strip, the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation army, and the disarmament of Hamas.
Egypt is one of the four countries sponsoring and guarantoring the agreement to end the war on Gaza, along with the United States, Turkey, and Qatar.
On October 10, a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel went into effect. The agreement is based on the Trump plan, which, in addition to ending the war, calls for a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli occupation army, a mutual release of prisoners, and the immediate entry of aid into the Gaza Strip.
This agreement ended a genocidal war launched by Israel on October 8, 2023, which lasted two years, resulting in the martyrdom of 68,216 Palestinians, the injury of 170,361 others, and the destruction of 90% of the civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.
