Mossad Meetings with Hemedti Stir Anger in Sudan

A handout picture released by the Israeli Intelligence Ministry shows Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen (left) exchanging a document with Sudanese Defense Minister Ibrahim Yasin during their meeting in Sudan's capital Khartoum on January 25, 2021. (AFP)
A handout picture released by the Israeli Intelligence Ministry shows Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen (left) exchanging a document with Sudanese Defense Minister Ibrahim Yasin during their meeting in Sudan's capital Khartoum on January 25, 2021. (AFP)
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Mossad Meetings with Hemedti Stir Anger in Sudan

A handout picture released by the Israeli Intelligence Ministry shows Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen (left) exchanging a document with Sudanese Defense Minister Ibrahim Yasin during their meeting in Sudan's capital Khartoum on January 25, 2021. (AFP)
A handout picture released by the Israeli Intelligence Ministry shows Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen (left) exchanging a document with Sudanese Defense Minister Ibrahim Yasin during their meeting in Sudan's capital Khartoum on January 25, 2021. (AFP)

Political sources in Tel Aviv revealed that the Israeli government had received angry messages from Sudan’s head of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and Prime Minister of the transitional government, Abdullah Hamdok, because of the contacts made by the leaders of the Mossad (the Israeli external intelligence service), with the commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti.

The sources said that Burhan and Hamdok deemed these contacts a conspiracy by the Mossad against the legitimate authorities in Sudan, which concluded an agreement to normalize relations with Israel last year.

Until Friday evening, Khartoum had not commented on this information published by the Walla news website in Tel Aviv, while Asharq Al-Awsat was not able to obtain a comment from the Sovereign Council or the government in this regard.

Citing Israeli diplomatic sources, the Walla report said that a private plane, coming directly from Tel Aviv, landed in Khartoum last week. The same plane was used several times by the former Mossad chief, Yossi Cohen, in his secret visits to Sudan and other countries. Mossad officials reportedly held meetings with generals loyal to the Rapid Support Forces, and perhaps with Hemedti himself.

The website noted that Hemedti - since the beginning of the normalization process between Israel and Sudan - has tried to establish independent channels of communication with Tel Aviv, in order to advance his agenda in Sudan.

The Israeli website evoked information that was published last August about a meeting between Hemedti and Cohen in Abu Dhabi. According to the Israeli sources, these relations have continued and strengthened since then, although Burhan openly expressed his dissatisfaction to former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his envoys.

According to Walla, informed sources noted that the military and political wings of the Sudanese government were not aware of the visit of Mossad leaders to the country last week. The sources reported that Sudanese government officials complained to the Chargé d'Affairs of the US Embassy in Khartoum and expressed their dissatisfaction with the contacts with Hemedti. They have also requested the administration of US President Joe Biden to convey a message on the matter to Israel.

The Israeli media report revived latent differences within the ruling team in Khartoum over the normalization of relations with Israel.

In remarks last week, Hamdok hinted at violations in the file of foreign relations, which he considered as a threat to national sovereignty and the country’s higher interests.

“The matter calls for the formation of a single mechanism between the constituent parties of the transitional period to supervise the file of foreign relations, unify visions and strengthen our regional and international relations,” he stated.



Israel Ready to Negotiate Permanent Gaza Ceasefire during 60-day Truce, Netanyahu Says

09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Israel Ready to Negotiate Permanent Gaza Ceasefire during 60-day Truce, Netanyahu Says

09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will likely have a ceasefire agreement with Hamas to release more Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian group. 

Netanyahu said 50 hostages were still being held captive by Hamas. Of that figure, he said, only 20 are believed to be alive. 

"I want to take them all out. We now have a deal that supposedly will get half of the living and half of the dead out," Netanyahu said in an interview on Newsmax show "The Record with Greta Van Susteren" that aired on Thursday. 

"And so we'll have 10 living left and about 12 deceased hostages, but I'll get them out, too. I hope we can complete it in a few days." 

On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel's retaliation has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, Gaza's health ministry says, and reduced much of Gaza to rubble. 

The two sides have had two ceasefires - one in November 2023 and another in January 2025- since the fighting started. 

Netanyahu said Israel and Hamas will likely have a 60-day ceasefire, which the two sides could use to try to end the conflict. 

Hamas said on Wednesday there were several sticking points in the ongoing ceasefire talks including the flow of aid, withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and "genuine guarantees for a permanent ceasefire." 

Netanyahu's interview with Newsmax comes as he wraps his third visit to Washington since President Donald Trump took office in January. 

Speaking of Trump, the Israeli leader said his country has never had "such a friend, such a support of Israel, the Jewish state in the White House." 

Last month, the US joined Israel in striking Iran, a move that Trump has said "obliterated" three of Iran's nuclear sites. 

When asked about a damage assessment, Netanyahu said, "Within months, they could have produced atomic bombs."