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Palestinians leave Rafah on Tuesday in fear of an Israeli military operation. (Mohammed Salem/Reuters)

Hostage talks continue in Egypt

Updated February 13, 2024 at 6:08 p.m. EST|Published February 13, 2024 at 2:13 a.m. EST
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CIA Director William J. Burns and Israeli intelligence chief David Barnea met Tuesday in Egypt to continue negotiations for a possible hostage-release deal. Burns also met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, with whom he discussed a possible cease-fire and two-state solution. Many Gazans are attempting to flee Rafah, ahead of an expected full-scale Israeli military operation in the southern city where about 1.4 million people are sheltering. One resident there described the sense of fear in the city as “palpable,” particularly following strikes early Monday that killed at least 67 people.

Key updates
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As intelligence officials and leaders met in Egypt for talks, U.S. officials are hopeful that Israel will have a counter to Hamas’s last proposal, and believe that “the shape” of an agreement “is coming together,” a senior U.S. official said earlier.
Rockets fired at Kiryat Shemona in northern Israel injured two Israelis, a 15-year-old boy and a 47-year-old woman, Israel’s emergency services said. There are regular strikes along the border, between Israel and Hezbollah militants Lebanon — but it is unusual for civilians to be targeted.
The U.S. Senate passed a $95 billion package to aid Israel, Ukraine and other U.S. allies early Tuesday, although the measure faces uncertain prospects in the House.
At least 28,473 people have been killed and 68,146 injured in Gaza since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack.
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As intelligence officials and leaders met in Egypt for talks, U.S. officials are hopeful that Israel will have a counter to Hamas’s last proposal, and believe that “the shape” of an agreement “is coming together,” a senior U.S. official said earlier.
Rockets fired at Kiryat Shemona in northern Israel injured two Israelis, a 15-year-old boy and a 47-year-old woman, Israel’s emergency services said. There are regular strikes along the border, between Israel and Hezbollah militants Lebanon — but it is unusual for civilians to be targeted.
The U.S. Senate passed a $95 billion package to aid Israel, Ukraine and other U.S. allies early Tuesday, although the measure faces uncertain prospects in the House.
At least 28,473 people have been killed and 68,146 injured in Gaza since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack.
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Israel-Gaza war

Israel-Gaza war: CIA Director William J. Burns and Israeli intelligence chief David Barnea met Tuesday in Egypt to continue negotiations for a possible hostage-release deal. Many Gazans are attempting to flee Rafah, ahead of an expected full-scale Israeli military operation. One resident there described the sense of fear in the city as “palpable,” particularly following strikes early Monday that killed at least 67 people.

Middle East conflict: Tensions in the region continue to rise. As Israeli troops aim to take control of the Gaza-Egypt border crossing, officials in Cairo warn it would undermine the 1979 peace treaty. Meanwhile, there’s a diplomatic scramble to avert full-scale war between Israel and Lebanon.

U.S. involvement: U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria killed dozens of Iranian-linked militants, according to Iraqi officials. The strikes were the first round of retaliatory action by the Biden administration for an attack in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members.