Israeli Delegation Meets Egyptian Military in Cairo Amid Fears of Gaza Escalation Before Israeli Elections

An Egyptian source familiar with ongoing negotiations revealed details about a rare meeting held on July 8, 2026, in Cairo between Israeli Defense Forces officers and Egyptian military representatives. The talks, reported first by Kan News, aimed to maintain the ceasefire stability in Gaza. An American military delegation is also expected to arrive soon in Cairo to support these efforts.

The discussions focused on advancing to the second phase of US President Donald Trump's Gaza plan, particularly addressing Hamas's weapons surrender. Hamas has reportedly rejected several proposals conveyed by UN Peace Envoy Nikolay Mladenov. The Israeli delegation warned Egyptian officials that if current diplomatic efforts fail, Israel would resort to military confrontation in Gaza.

Egyptian officials expressed concern that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might initiate military action in Gaza driven by political calculations related to the upcoming Israeli elections, potentially seeking domestic support through a Gaza operation. The Israeli side stressed the necessity of compelling Hamas to disarm and indicated willingness to cooperate with Egypt's responsible mediation. However, they warned that Hamas's refusal would inevitably lead to renewed conflict.

In the coming days, Egypt plans to intensify negotiations, including with the United States, to push for full implementation of the original agreement terms. Cairo is also coordinating with Turkey to increase pressure on Israel to comply with the ceasefire and disarmament conditions.