Shin Bet chief Ronen Barr reportedly visited Egypt on Sunday as Israel sought to improve ties between Jerusalem and Cairo, an Egyptian-mediated bid to end fighting in Gaza earlier this month. The ceasefire has clearly worsened since.
Bar’s visit was not confirmed by official sources in Israel or Egypt, but was widely reported by Hebrew-language media.
Senior Israeli officials said Barr met with Egyptian spy Abbas Kamel during the visit, Hebrew media reported.
The Shin Bet declined to comment on the matter.
After a short-lived period of Israel’s hostilities with Islamic Jihad in Gaza, relations between Jerusalem and Cairo are said to have become strained, due to misunderstandings that Israel would take steps to keep the peace.
Egypt played an important role in mediating the ceasefire. The Egyptian spy service, led by Kamel, has for years served as the main medium for dialogue between Israel and Gaza-based terrorist groups.
According to the Haaretz daily, Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah el-Sisi was inspired to believe in a phone call with Prime Minister Yair Lapid that Israel was increasing its security operations in the West Bank in the sensitive period following the flare-up in Gaza. will limit.
But less than 48 hours later, IDF Raids in Nabluso, killing al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade Commander Ibrahim Nabulsi and two others, and wounding dozens of others amid widespread fighting in the city. The operation reportedly angered the Egyptian government.
Left, Prime Minister Yair Lapid delivers a message from the Tel Aviv Headquarters of the Israel Defense Forces on August 8, 2022, a day after the close of Operation Breaking Dawn. Right, Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah el-Sisi gives a speech during the One Ocean Summit in Brest, Brittany, February 11, 2022. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO; Ludovic Marin, pool via AP)
Shortly after the three-day conflict, Egypt’s ambassador to the United Nations, Osama Abdel Khaleki Torn in Israel during a speech before the United Nations Security Council.
While Egypt and other Arab countries that have ties to the Jewish state still traditionally maintain significant lines toward Israel at the United Nations, the rhetoric employed by Khaleque is generally comparable to that used publicly by Egyptian officials. has progressed significantly in the U.S., especially in recent years as Israel-Egypt relations have heated up.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erden, made a point of thanking Egypt and Sisi “who were essential to restoring peace and stability to our region.”
A similar message was passed along with the Egyptian leader by Prime Minister Yair Lapid when the two spoke on the phone.
Rockets are fired by Palestinian terrorists toward Israel in Gaza City on August 6, 2022. (AP photo / Fatima Shabair)
Tensions with Gaza escalated when Israeli security forces arrested Bassem Saadi, the leader of Islamic Jihad’s West Bank branch, in the Palestinian city of Jenin on August 1.
A few days later, Israel launched airstrikes against Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza, in response to what the military said was an attempt to fire cross-border anti-tank missiles at Israeli soldiers or civilians in retaliation for Saadi’s arrest. There was a tangible threat from the terrorist cell. The attacks were followed by about 1,000 rockets fired toward Israel, as well as about 170 Israeli counterattacks.
According to the Ministry of Health run by Hamas in Gaza, the death toll From recent rounds of fighting in Gaza stood at 48. Israel says some of the deaths were likely caused by mishandling of Islamic Jihad rockets.
In all, more than 300 Palestinians were wounded in the three days of fighting, the deadliest cross-border violence since last year’s 11-day war with Hamas.
Jacob Magid and Emanuel Fabian contributed to this report.