Netanyahu gives Israeli delegation 'limited' position in Gaza ceasefire talks - report

The Israeli delegation, headed by Mossad director David Barnea and Shin Bet director Ronan Bar, landed in Cairo for hostage negotiations on Tuesday morning.

 Israelis protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the current Israeli government, in Tel Aviv, January 13, 2024 (photo credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90)
Israelis protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the current Israeli government, in Tel Aviv, January 13, 2024
(photo credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly given Israel's delegation in Cairo "limited space to maneuver" in talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, Israeli media reported on Tuesday evening.

The Israeli delegation, headed by Mossad director David Barnea and Shin Bet director Ronan Bar, landed in Cairo for hostage negotiations on Tuesday morning.

According to the reports, the talks are already underway and are being attended by Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani, the head of Egyptian intelligence, and CIA director Bill Burns.

IDF officer Nitzan Alon, the Israeli military's representative for hostage release talks, was not among the list of Israeli officials in Cairo, despite earlier reports claiming he was part of the delegation.

 David Barnea, the head of the Israeli Mossad attends an honour guard ceremony for Israel's incoming military chief Herzi Halevi at Israel's Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv, Israel January 16, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)
David Barnea, the head of the Israeli Mossad attends an honour guard ceremony for Israel's incoming military chief Herzi Halevi at Israel's Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv, Israel January 16, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)

Netanyahu sends confidant to Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo

One official who did make the plane was the prime minister's foreign policy adviser, Ophir Falk, as per Israeli media reports.

According to reports, an internal assessment suggests that, through Falk, Netanyahu is looking to ensure Israel fails to make a "concrete" step forward as part of the talks in Cairo.

This is a developing story.