Egypt reaffirms opposition to any Israeli occupation of Gaza

Egypt has reiterated its opposition to any form of Israeli occupation in Gaza following a visit to Cairo by Israel’s internal security Shin Bet chief David Zini on November 30. 

Zini met with Egyptian intelligence director Hassan Rashad in what was his first foreign trip in his current role, according to sources familiar with the talks, Caliber.Az reports via Al Arabiya.

Following the meeting, Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt’s State Information Service, told Al Arabiya/Al Hadath that Cairo would not accept an Israeli military presence in Gaza under any circumstances. He noted that Egypt had previously guaranteed both the Sharm El Sheikh agreement and the US-backed peace plan for the Palestinian territories.

Rashwan also suggested that political dynamics within Israel could influence the trajectory of the conflict, commenting that the situation might shift if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were to secure his “political future outside of prison,” referring to the possibility of a domestic pardon for the charges he faces.

According to the source familiar with Zini’s talks in Cairo, the discussions focused on the Gaza situation and the next phase of negotiations.

The visit came shortly after Israeli media, citing a senior security official, reported that the Israeli military was examining several options for confronting Hamas. These reportedly include resuming large-scale hostilities and taking full control of Gaza, or maintaining existing defensive lines while conducting targeted operations aimed at dismantling Hamas’s leadership.

By Sabina Mammadli