Egypt state-linked media: Talks for hostage release, pause in Gaza fighting resume in Doha

Negotiations to secure a deal to free hostages and pause the fighting in Gaza have resumed in Doha between “experts from Egypt, Qatar, the United States and Israel,” as well as Hamas representatives, state-linked Egyptian media reports.

An Israeli delegation led by Mossad chief David Barnea was in Paris over the weekend discussing possibilities of a deal to ensure a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since October 7 in exchange for Palestinian security prisoners held by Israel. The Paris talks reportedly produced an agreed “outline” for a deal, that would need to be accepted by Hamas.

The war cabinet agreed on Saturday to send a delegation to Qatar to continue the talks, according to Israeli media reports.

The talks are a “continuation of what was discussed in Paris” and “will be followed by meetings in Cairo,” reports Al-Qahera News, which is linked to Egyptian state intelligence services.

During the unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, Hamas-led terrorists killed some 1,200 people and took 253 hostages, mostly civilians, 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including 30 presumed dead.