Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Friday, January 26, 2024
From the Liveblog of
Friday, January 26, 2024
White House says ‘no imminent developments’ in hostage talks, as envoy returns from Mideast
US National Security Council Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk speaks during the IISS Manama Dialogue security conference, in Manama on November 18, 2023. (Mazen Mahdi / AFP)
WASHINGTON — The United States is working to facilitate another deal on the release of hostages seized by Hamas and held in Gaza, but “imminent developments” are unlikely, the White House says.
“We should not expect any imminent developments,” US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby tells journalists.
Kirby adds Middle East envoy Brett McGurk is returning to Washington after holding hostage talks in the region.
Additionally, the White House says US President Joe Biden spoke with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fatteh el-Sissi. Like Qatar, whose emir Biden also held a phone call with today, Egypt is mediating the hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
