Israeli officials arrive in Cairo for hostage talks: Report

ANKARA

A delegation of Israeli officials arrived in Cairo on Friday to engage in negotiations on a possible hostage exchange deal, according to Israeli reports.

Israeli Army Radio reported that Mossad spy agency chief David Barnea and Shin Bet security agency head Ronen Bar are among the delegates in Cairo.

Israeli news website Walla reported that the delegation is expected to meet with Abbas Kamel, the head of Egyptian intelligence, as well as senior officials in the Egyptian army.

“The departure of the delegation to Cairo is the result of heavy American pressure on Israel and Egypt in recent days to continue negotiations on the hostage deal despite the assassination of the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniya,” the website said, quoting unnamed sources.

Haniyeh was assassinated on Wednesday in the Iranian capital, Tehran. While Hamas and Iran blamed Israel for the killing, Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied responsibility.

The assassination came a day after Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut.

Hamas and Iran have vowed to retaliate for Haniyeh's assassination, while Hezbollah has pledged to respond to Shukr's killing.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi