Netanyahu confirms Egyptian spy chief's brief Israel visit, says no meeting held

Netanyahu confirmed the visit by Abbas Kamel, who headed Egypt's General Intelligence Service, occurring on the same day Hamas launched its major attack on Israel. The Israeli premier said Kamel remained in the country for just under an hour but emphasized that no direct meeting between them took place during this period.

The acknowledgment comes amid ongoing efforts by regional powers to mediate between Israel and Palestinian factions following the October 2023 escalation. Egypt, as a key player in Middle Eastern diplomacy and a neighbor to both Israel and Gaza, has maintained channels with various parties involved in the conflict.

Details regarding the purpose of Kamel's visit and which Israeli officials he may have engaged with remain unclear. The confirmation of the Egyptian intelligence chief's presence in Israel on such a significant date underscores the complex diplomatic dynamics at play in the region during the crisis period.

Neither the Israeli nor Egyptian governments have provided additional details about the visit's objectives or outcomes. The disclosure adds another layer to the documented international diplomatic activity occurring during the opening hours of the October 2023 conflict.