Hamas delegation arrives in Cairo for talks on temporary truce and hostage deal — Palestinian reports

A delegation from the Hamas terror group has arrived in Cairo for talks on a potential temporary truce and hostage deal, according to Palestinian media reports cited by the Ynet news outlet.

An Israeli delegation is also expected in the Egyptian capital later today although a source briefed on the talks said Israel would not send a team until it got a full list of hostages who are still alive.

Hopes for the first pause in fighting since November rose last week following a previous round of talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt in Doha, and cautious indications from US President Joe Biden that an agreement was close. The president acknowledged Friday that it remains elusive for now.

A senior US official said Saturday that the framework for a six-week pause in fighting was in place, with Israel’s agreement, and now depended on Hamas agreeing to release hostages it has held in Gaza since its shock attack on southern Israel on October 7, when thousands of terrorists went on a killing rampage, slaughtering 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages.