Israel and its close allies contact over Gaza invasion

A Jerusalem-based intelligence site, DEBKAfile, claimed that Israel has been in contact with its close allies Saudi Arabia and Egypt almost every day during its Gaza offensive, launched on July 7.

''Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu has met with Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi King Abdulah via teleconference during the offensive against the Gaza Strip. They were giving some specific advices to Netanyahu about how the ground invasion has been conducted,'' said DEBKAfile, quoting unnamed military and intelligence sources as saying.

''The three countries have formed a coalition over Gaza. The negotiations among the trio have been also held through prominent figures,'' said the site, considered sympathetic to Israel''s intelligence sources.

The site also identified the key official, who has provided flow of intelligence between Israel and Saudi Arabia as the former Saudi intelligence chief, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, who is also King Abdullah's nephew and a former ambassador to the US.

''Bandar has had a direct contact to MOSSAD chief Tamir Pardo. Contact with Egypt has been maintained through Israel''s Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen. Cohen has frequently visited Egypt''s intelligence chief Ahmed Fareed al-Tohami,'' said the site.

The intelligence site also claimed that an Israeli plane has landed at Cairo's military airport after beginging of the ground invasion. ''The plane was supposed to return back to Jerusalem after taking highly sensitive information.''

It also said that the aim of the coalition is to form a new government in Gaza once Hamasa has been crushed.