Report: Israeli Delegation to Travel to Cairo as Hamas Shows Flexibility in Hostage Talks

By Yoni Weiss

According to diplomatic sources quoted by Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday morning, an Israeli delegation is anticipated to reach Cairo later in the day.

The move follows indications that Hamas has “softened its positions” in discussions related to a potential agreement for the release of the remaining Israeli hostages.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden’s rhetoric is shifting to emphasize the need for a “temporary ceasefire” in the ongoing war.

The U.S. has vetoed three draft U.N. Security Council resolutions on the Hamas war. The most recent two vetoes blocked language demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. But Washington has now proposed its own draft resolution enshrining the word “ceasefire.”

The draft calls for a temporary ceasefire in the war linked to the release of hostages held by Hamas and opposes a major ground offensive by its ally Israel in Rafah.

Until the draft proposal, Washington had avoided the word ceasefire in relation to any U.N. action on the war.

U.S. officials insist that Biden is not calling for a permanent ceasefire, a reflection of his gut feeling that Israel has the right to defend itself after Hamas terrorists killed 1,200 Jews, Hy”d, on Oct. 7.