After a reported meeting in Cairo between Shin Bet director Ronen Bar and Egyptian intelligence head Abbas Kamel ended without any significant progress, discussions on a hostage agreement are expected to pick up only after the US elections on November 5, according to the Qatari-backed al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper.

Two high-ranking intelligence officials agree that it will be challenging to finalize a ceasefire in Gaza or to come to an agreement on a prisoner swap between Israel, Hamas, and other Palestinian groups at this time.

Bar and Kamel also supposedly discussed security measures for the Gaza-Egypt border that would come into effect if a hostage deal were finalized. The report claims they touched on the possibility of deploying international or Arab forces to the Netzarim and Philadelphi corridors, with Egypt potentially participating in the latter. However, Cairo insists that Israel must pull back from the Gaza side of the border.

Additionally, Bar is said to have asked Kamel to relay a message to Iranian officials in light of the strengthening relations between Cairo and Tehran. The message contained “hints” regarding Israel’s response to Iran’s recent missile strike and a warning about the potential for an Iranian retaliation, according to al-Araby al-Jadeed.

The newspaper also notes that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to visit Cairo in the coming days to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Kamel. They are expected to discuss the situation in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and the Red Sea, along with a proposal from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian aimed at de-escalating regional tensions.

{Matzav.com Israel}