Leaders from the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas arrived in Egypt to hear Israel's response to a six-month truce offer between Palestinians in Gaza and the Jewish state.

An Egyptian security official said Mahmoud al-Zahar, a senior Hamas leader, headed the 13-member delegation which he said will hold talks with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman tomorrow. Another delegation of Hamas leaders who are based in Syria will also join the talks.

Egypt has been trying to broker a truce between Israel and Hamas to avoid an escalation that could derail US-backed peace negotiations between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Hamas has offered a six-month halt to hostilities in the Gaza Strip if Israel were to lift an embargo on the territory and reopen border crossings, an offer Suleiman presented to Israeli officials last week.

"We have not received an official response. We do not know the details of what is Suleiman carrying, so we cannot be optimistic or pessimistic about the prospects of a truce," Moussa Abu Marzouq, Hamas' deputy leader in exile said by telephone from Syria. He said he was due to arrive in Cairo later today. Olmert told his cabinet yesterday Israel was approaching a decision on possible broader military action in the Gaza Strip to curb rocket attacks.

Marzouq renewed Hamas' calls on Egypt to open the border crossing with the Gaza Strip unilaterally if Israel rejected the truce offer.

Asked if the Egyptians can open the border without an agreement with Israel, he said: "They can, without a doubt. Egypt is a big country. A responsible country."

Israel said last week a deal with Hamas must address the issue of a captive Israeli soldier. Hamas has said a truce agreement and the release of Gilad Shalit, held by Gaza militants since 2006, should remain separate issues.