US negotiators are working on a potential agreement to temporarily pause military operations in Gaza in exchange for the release of more than 100 hostages who were captured in the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. According to reports, the emerging deal would consist of two phases, with the first phase involving the release of women, elderly, and wounded hostages, and the second phase involving the release of Israeli soldiers and civilian men. The hope is that such an agreement could lay the groundwork for a durable resolution to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

CIA director Bill Burns is expected to discuss the contours of the emerging agreement in high-level talks in France with the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. President Joe Biden has also spoken with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Qatar's ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, to emphasize the urgency of the situation and the need for close cooperation to advance discussions.

If progress is seen in the talks in France, there are plans to dispatch White House senior adviser Brett McGurk back to the Mideast quickly to try to finalize an agreement. Overall, US officials are hopeful that a potential deal could lead to a prolonged humanitarian pause in the fighting and ensure additional life-saving humanitarian assistance reaches civilians in need throughout Gaza.