<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>A high-level Egyptian delegation was in Israel for talks on Friday amid a new diplomatic push for a truce in the Gaza war and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The visit followed a trip to Cairo on Thursday by Israeli army chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet domestic intelligence service head Ronen Bar.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Officials in Israel described the latest moves as “an attempt by Egypt to restart the talks” after previous mediation efforts led by Qatar broke down. They told the Egyptian delegation that Israel was ready to give hostage negotiations “one last chance” to reach a deal before moving forward with an invasion of the southern city of Rafah.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Israel told Egypt that it is serious about preparations for the operation in Rafah and that it will not let Hamas drag its feet,” one official said.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Egypt is concerned about a potential influx of Palestinian refugees from Gaza if the war continues with the long-threatened Israeli offensive into Rafah, and has taken an increasingly active role in the negotiations.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“The Egyptians are really picking up the mantle on this. Egypt wants to see progress, not least because it’s worried about a prospective Rafah operation,” the official said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Israel was increasingly looking past Qatar as a main broker, according to the official, after it failed to respond to Israeli demands to expel Hamas leaders from its territory or curb their finances.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">“Qatar is still involved but in a lesser capacity,” the official said. “It’s clear to everyone they failed to deliver, even when it came to expelling Hamas or even shutting down their bank accounts.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hamas officials said they still considered Qatar a key mediator, alongside Egypt.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said he saw fresh momentum in the talks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I believe that there is a renewed effort … to try to find a way forward,” he said “Do I think that there is … new life in these hostage talks? I believe there is.”  - Arab News</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/fas</div>