There is growing concern in Israel for the new Egyptian intelligence chief and his efforts to warm relations with Iran.
Israeli media reported that Major General Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, new head of the Egyptian intelligence service, plays a central role in warming relations between Cairo and Tehran
Israeli sources reported that General Rashad aims to play a central role in completing the prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, as part of the efforts to end the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Retired Brigadier General and Israeli strategist Shmuel Elmes believes that Rashad, who succeeded Abbas Kamel in this position, wants to make progress on this troubling issue that may contribute to the Egyptian economy, which is in a difficult situation.
In recent days, renewed negotiations regarding the prisoner deal began, when Mossad head Didi Barna went to Qatar to try to pass the deal, while a Hamas delegation, led by Khalil al-Hiya, visited Cairo and met with Rashad to discuss the latest developments.
The sources stated that Hamas demanded an end to Israeli military operations in northern Gaza, and rejected a proposal for a short truce in exchange for the release of the abductees.
Dr. Ophir Winter, a senior researcher at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies, said that Major General Hassan Mahmoud Rashed played an important role in warming the relations between Egypt and Iran.
He noted that Rashad, who previously served as Abbas Kamal's deputy, contributed to this issue by working hard for a gradual rapprochement between the two countries, which was evident in the meeting of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi with his Iranian counterpart on the sidelines of the BRICS conference in Kazan, in which the two leaders emphasized the The importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Winter believes that Egypt, which faces economic challenges, seeks to calm the situation in the Gaza Strip, where Palestinian influence extends to other regional arenas, such as Yemen, where the Houthis insist on continuing their attacks on commercial ships, which affects traffic in the Suez Canal, which is an important resource for Egypt's economy .
The President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, issued a presidential decree appointing Major General Hassan Mahmoud Rashad as head of the General Intelligence Service, replacing Major General Abbas Kamal, who has held the position since 2018 and was recently assigned to the position of Advisor to the President and Chief Coordinator of the Security Services.
Photo: Major General Hassan Mahmoud Rashad and president al-SISI