Mossad, Shin Bet directors head to Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks despite Hezbollah attack

CAIRO – 25 August 2024: Despite a fierce attack by Hezbollah in Lebanon targeting Israeli military installations on Sunday, prompting Tel Aviv to declare a 48-hour state of emergency, a senior Israeli delegation has proceeded to Cairo to continue discussions for a ceasefire in Gaza.

A senior Israeli delegation, led by Mossad director David Barnea and Shin Bet director Ronen Bar, is en route to Cairo on Sunday for ceasefire negotiations, an official informed The Times of Israel.

The official pointed out that Tel Aviv holds little optimism regarding Hamas's willingness to agree to a ceasefire pact, highlighting substantial pressure from the US on Israel to secure a deal.

Cairo currently serves as the venue for crucial negotiations involving representatives from Israel, Hamas, and the US to mediate a ceasefire agreement.

This agreement aims to halt the relentless Israeli airstrikes since October 7 and pave the way for a potential prisoner exchange between both sides.

As mediators, Egypt, Qatar, and the US have amplified their efforts to broker a deal aimed at de-escalating the rising regional tensions stemming from Israeli attacks in Gaza and Lebanon, alongside threats of retaliation from Iran and its allies.

In Doha last week, US mediators presented an Egyptian-Qatari supported proposal aimed at bridging the remaining gaps between Israel and Hamas, with ongoing efforts to refine implementation details, according to a joint statement by the three countries.

Retaliation underway

Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in Gaza have all vowed retaliation against Israel in response to the killings of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran by Israeli forces in July.

Today, Hezbollah announced the completion of the "first phase" of retaliatory strikes against Israel, deploying drones and launching 320 Katyusha rockets targeting 11 Israeli military installations.

"Indeed, we will take revenge upon the criminals," Hezbollah stated in a release, citing these actions as reprisals for the assassination of Shukr in a late July Israeli airstrike in Beirut.

Hezbollah said it successfully targeted and hit the Meron Base, Neveh Ziv Artillery Position, Zaatoun Base, Zaoura Artillery Positions, Sahel Base, Ein Zeitim Base, and Ramot Naftali Barracks.

In the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, the movement said it also hit the Keila Barracks, UAV Barracks, Nafah Base, and Yardena Base.

Simultaneously, the Israeli military disclosed that dozens of warplanes conducted operations inside Lebanon upon detecting Hezbollah's preparations to launch rockets towards Israel.

A security source in Lebanon, as cited by Reuters, reported around 40 Israeli strikes impacting the southern parts of the country.

Hezbollah later in a statement confirmed the death of one of their fighters, Ayman Kamel Idriss, “while performing his national and jihadist duties in defence of Lebanon and the south.”

Israel’s Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, declared a state of emergency for the coming 48 hours.

Reacting to the events, White House National Security Council Spokesperson Sean Savett reiterated the United States' unwavering support for "Israel's right to defend itself."