By Yusri Mohamed

RAFAH, Egypt (Reuters) - Leaders from the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas arrived in Egypt on Monday 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 would hold talks with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman on Tuesday. 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 U.S.-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.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak repeated on Monday Israel's demand that any deal should include progress towards the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured in Gaza in 2006. Hamas has said a truce agreement and Shalit's release should remain separate issues.

Moussa Abu Marzouq, Hamas's deputy leader in exile, said he would arrive in Cairo later on Monday.