Egyptian intelligence chief meets with Netanyahu for Gaza talks

Egypt's intelligence head Hassan Rashad met Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Tuesday for talks aimed at reinforcing a fragile US-backed ceasefire in Gaza.
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his professional team met with the head of Egyptian intelligence at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.
"During the meeting, they discussed advancing President Trump's plan, Israel-Egypt relations, strengthening peace between the countries, as well as other regional issues," the statement added, referring to a Gaza roadmap presented by US President Donald Trump that included the initial truce.
The Egyptian spy chief will also meet with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who is currently in Israel, Egyptian state-linked news outlet Extra News reported.
Rashad's trip to Jerusalem comes more than a week into a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas, under a deal brokered in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh.
It coincides with a visit by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, also to shore up the ceasefire. Vance is expected to meet special envoys Witkoff and Jared Kushner and U.S. military experts monitoring the truce.
According to Israeli media reports Vance will also meet Israeli leaders, including Netanyahu on Wednesday in Jerusalem.