'Significant' pause needed in Mideast conflict to win hostages' release: US

Washington (AFP) - Talks are being held on a "very significant" pause in the Middle East conflict to win the release of dozens of hostages taken by Palestinian militant group Hamas, a senior US official said Friday. "It is something that is under a very serious and active discussion. But there is no agreement as of yet to actually get this done," the official said, as fighting between US ally Israel and Hamas raged in the Gaza Strip. An estimated 240 Israeli and foreign hostages were kidnapped by Hamas during its October 7 assault on Israel in which militants killed more than 1,400 people, mos...