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Netanyahu Plans Visit to Egypt, Seeks Engaging in Regional Programs With Palestinians

Archive photo of the Sisi-Netanyahu meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations meetings in New York 2018
Archive photo of the Sisi-Netanyahu meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations meetings in New York 2018
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Netanyahu Plans Visit to Egypt, Seeks Engaging in Regional Programs With Palestinians

Archive photo of the Sisi-Netanyahu meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations meetings in New York 2018
Archive photo of the Sisi-Netanyahu meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations meetings in New York 2018

Political sources based in Tel Aviv revealed on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had requested making an official visit to Cairo. The visit, expected in coming weeks, is centered on strengthening overall bilateral relations and economic ties.

Netanyahu will also seek to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.

The Israeli prime minister, according to sources, does not want the thawing of relations with the UAE, Bahrain, and Sudan to negatively impact Israel’s ties with Egypt. Netanyahu will seek to reassure Egyptian leadership that Tel Aviv’s new ties with the Arab world will not be at the expense of relations with Egypt.

The sources added that Netanyahu wants to discuss means for deepening relations between the two countries. Also, he wants to engage in Egyptian regional efforts.

More so, Netanyahu will review Egyptian-Jordanian-Palestinian contacts to advance the peace process and common positions on US policy.

A prominent Israeli advisor who is close to Netanyahu said that the prime minister is interested in establishing new foundations for improving relations with Palestinians.

After agreeing on those foundations, Sisi will mediate with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Additionally, Netanyahu is seeking to establish a united front in the Middle East with the aim of bettering cooperation with the US, underpinning the American pioneering role in the region, and reinforcing alliances with friends in the region.

Officials from both countries are currently in talks ahead of Netanyahu’s reported visit to Cairo in the coming weeks, Maariv daily reported.

In the future, a bilateral meeting is planned between the economic delegations of Israel and Egypt, where joint economic projects and the promotion of business relations between the two countries will be discussed, Maariv added.

Netanyahu has a history of meetings with Egyptian leaders. In 2010, he met then-president Hosni Mubarak. The two discussed attempts to open direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The visit took place in a tense atmosphere, following the call of then-foreign minister Avigdor Liberman for a complete disengagement of Israel from the Gaza Strip.

Another visit to Cairo was planned by Netanyahu’s office in the winter of 2016, about two years after Sisi came to power. The visit was canceled by the Egyptians following statements by Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, according to whom Egypt flooded Hamas tunnels at Israel’s request.

In September 2017, Netanyahu and Sisi were scheduled for a brief meeting in New York.

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Arab World

‘Race Against Time’: Hamas Moves to Protect Networks Linked to Al-Arabeed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an area occupied by Israeli forces in Gaza on Wednesday (Netanyahu’s X account) 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an area occupied by Israeli forces in Gaza on Wednesday (Netanyahu’s X account) 
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‘Race Against Time’: Hamas Moves to Protect Networks Linked to Al-Arabeed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an area occupied by Israeli forces in Gaza on Wednesday (Netanyahu’s X account) 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an area occupied by Israeli forces in Gaza on Wednesday (Netanyahu’s X account) 

Hamas has entered a “race against time” to protect networks linked to senior security officer Moin Al-Arabeed after an Israeli force captured him Tuesday in a rare operation deep inside Hamas-controlled Gaza City.

Three Hamas sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the group imposed emergency security measures following al-Arabeed's capture, moving quickly to prevent Israel from obtaining information that “could be extremely important,” according to one source.

Speaking separately, the sources said the measures were intended to head off potential surprise Israeli attacks, including assassinations of leaders, security officials and other figures who had been in direct contact with al-Arabeed.

“Hamas is in a race against time,” one source said. “Some officials who had been in contact with al-Arabeed were moved to safe locations, while documents were removed from places he frequented and from other locations he knew about.”

Two sources said Hamas security services had also scrapped some procedures used to relay messages through intermediaries and replaced the people involved. The sources agreed that Hamas was moving swiftly to “reduce the risk” after confirming that al-Arabeed had been captured alive.

A New Target Bank

One source assessed that a key Israeli objective was to “gather new security intelligence about Hamas’ structure in Gaza, after the previously known security picture changed as a result of intensive assassinations, determine who is now running the organization, and compile a new target bank.”

According to the sources, information gathered by Hamas security services over the past two days indicated that the Israeli force received “partial and limited” assistance from Israeli-backed armed Palestinian groups that had been operating in the area for some time, including through surveillance, movement around the site of the operation and monitoring nearby locations.

Some Israeli media cited Palestinian sources as confirming the armed groups’ involvement. However, military correspondents for Israeli television channels quickly relayed denials from Shin Bet security sources, saying the agency had “fully supervised the operation and carried it out highly professionally,” according to Channel 12.

Israeli Forces on Alert

Israeli forces, meanwhile, raised their alert level along the Gaza border over what Israel claimed was the possibility of Hamas attacks in retaliation for al-Arabeed’s capture.

Israel’s Channel 14 reported a “maximum security alert” after what it described as precise intelligence indicating Hamas intended to attack forces deployed in the area.

The Israeli military prepared its troops to thwart any such attack, but none occurred over the following two days. The channel said the intelligence nevertheless indicated Hamas’ growing motivation to target forces deployed near the so-called Yellow Line separating Israeli-held areas from those controlled by Palestinian factions.

Israel Hayom, however, reported that the heightened alert coincided with and followed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the Yellow Line opposite Jabalia in northern Gaza, a day after al-Arabeed’s capture.

During the visit, Netanyahu hailed the operation to seize the Hamas internal security official and said Israeli forces would continue their missions and would not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas and the territory were fully disarmed.

Israeli military operations in Gaza intensified Thursday. Two people, including a child, were killed by Israeli fire near the Yellow Line in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza. Israeli forces also carried out a limited ground incursion near Kamal Adwan Hospital, temporarily forcing it to suspend operations after gunfire reached the facility.

Four Palestinians were wounded in similar shooting incidents near the Yellow Line in several areas of Khan Younis in southern Gaza and east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.

Arab World

Israeli Military Says It Has Control of Lebanon’s Strategic Ali Al-Taher Area

A satellite image shows damage at the Ali al-Taher ridge near Nabatiah, Lebanon, March 8, 2026. 2026 (Planet Labs PBC/Handout via Reuters)
A satellite image shows damage at the Ali al-Taher ridge near Nabatiah, Lebanon, March 8, 2026. 2026 (Planet Labs PBC/Handout via Reuters)
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Israeli Military Says It Has Control of Lebanon’s Strategic Ali Al-Taher Area

A satellite image shows damage at the Ali al-Taher ridge near Nabatiah, Lebanon, March 8, 2026. 2026 (Planet Labs PBC/Handout via Reuters)
A satellite image shows damage at the Ali al-Taher ridge near Nabatiah, Lebanon, March 8, 2026. 2026 (Planet Labs PBC/Handout via Reuters)

Israel's military said on Thursday it had taken “operational control” of the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge area in southern Lebanon, the site of sporadic clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in recent weeks. It is where Hezbollah is believed to have an extensive underground military facility.

The military said troops had cleared Hezbollah fighters from two underground routes, killing some while others fled. It said operations were ongoing.

Operations aimed at neutralizing underground infrastructure, after clearing them of Hezbollah operatives, are ongoing, with the military set to redeploy defensively following the completion of the activity, based on a situational assessment, it added.

The military accused the fighters inside the facilities of working to carry out plots against Israel and army forces. It noted that operations in the area in recent weeks have neutralized the capability to launch attacks against Israelis and army forces from it.

The Israeli army stated that inside the underground infrastructure, it discovered operations rooms, rooms designated for combat gear, and others for generators and accommodation, in addition to showering facilities and a kitchen, allowing Hezbollah fighters to manage combat and remain inside for extended periods.

It described these facilities as “strategic infrastructure” built over two decades, saying they were planned and funded by the Iranian regime.

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.

The Israeli army said its forces will continue to clear the occupied so-called “security zone” in southern Lebanon of Hezbollah, saying it will not allow the party to carry out plots against it,

Any attempt by Hezbollah to launch attacks against the army “will be met with force,” warned Israel, while saying it was committed to the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.

The Ali al-Taher hill overlooks several villages as well as main roads leading to the city of Nabatieh. Losing control of it would disrupt Hezbollah’s presence and supply lines in the area.

Arab World

Libya's NOC Reports Drone Attack Attempt at Fuel Depot

No casualties ‌were reported and the incident ‌did not impact supply operations. (EPA file)
No casualties ‌were reported and the incident ‌did not impact supply operations. (EPA file)
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Libya's NOC Reports Drone Attack Attempt at Fuel Depot

No casualties ‌were reported and the incident ‌did not impact supply operations. (EPA file)
No casualties ‌were reported and the incident ‌did not impact supply operations. (EPA file)

A remote-controlled drone attack targeted a fuel depot in Libya's capital Tripoli on Thursday, causing minor damage, the state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) said in a statement.

The NOC said that technical teams had begun drawing fuel from the tanks to reduce the fuel level as a ‌precaution.

There was ‌no immediate claim of ‌responsibility ⁠and authorities did not ⁠say who they believed was behind the attack.

The attack caused minor damage to some pipelines and tanks no. 213 and 220 due to falling shrapnel, said Ahmed Al-Masallati, ⁠spokesperson for Brega Petroleum ‌Marketing, which is ‌in charge of Libya's fuel supplies.

No casualties ‌were reported and the incident ‌did not impact supply operations.

Libyan oil facilities have been subject to repeated attacks and closures for various political and technical ‌reasons since the 2011 uprising that toppled Maammar al-Gaddafi and ⁠set ⁠off a prolonged period of chaos.

In August, fuel storage tanks at the nearby Zawiya oil complex, in western Tripoli, were targeted by several explosive-laden drone strikes that hit one of the tanks and completely burned it.

Attempts to target oil facilities represent "a direct threat to the supply system," the NOC said in the statement.