🔗 Share this article

Initial phase of Gaza talks between Hamas and mediators have ended in the Arab Republic “in a constructive atmosphere”, as reported by Egyptian state-linked news outlets in the morning on the weekday.

An Egyptian news source, affiliated with government security, stated the discussions will resume on Tuesday, additionally between the militant faction and mediators in the tourist destination of Sharm El-Sheikh, where an Israeli delegation arrived on the previous day.

The Israeli government and the Palestinian faction are expected to participate in indirect talks on the details of a proposal by American leader Donald Trump for a hostage-prisoner swap and long-term ceasefire.

The US president’s 20-point plan specifies an immediate halt in hostilities, an exchange of all hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by the Israeli state, a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of the group and the establishment of a interim administration led by an international body.

One of Hamas’s primary conditions since the outset of the war has been a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory in exchange for the freeing of the remaining captives. And while the armed faction has indicated its willingness to relinquish governing control, it has repeatedly ruled out disarming.

In this first phase of negotiations, Middle Eastern mediators are collaborating with the two parties to establish ground conditions for the release of the still held 48 captives from Israel held in Gaza in return for one thousand seven hundred Palestinian prisoners held in prisons in Israel, and to determine the date of a short-term ceasefire.

This round of talks is expected to be challenging and complex, and could last for several days, according to sources. We will have more details on the discussions shortly.

The talks occur as Israelis across the nation get ready to commemorate the second anniversary of the 7 October Hamas-initiated attacks on southern Israel, in which approximately twelve hundred people, mostly civilians, were slain and two hundred fifty-one taken hostage.

Doubt Persists Over Ceasefire Deal

Although there are positive signs about this attempt to achieve an conclusion to the conflict in Israel, there persists uncertainty over if a agreement can be secured and, crucially, maintained.

Hamas has in part agreed to the US president’s 20 point proposal, which the Israeli government has agreed to, but there are still major obstacles that need addressing, including the future governance of the Gaza Strip, the degree of Israel’s military withdrawal and Hamas’ disarmament.

Mediators have to decide which detainees from Palestine will be released from Israeli jails. The representatives from Palestine is expected to ask for prominent leaders, such as the Palestinian leader a well-known detainee, who are widely popular in the West Bank and the coastal enclave.

Conservative members of the Israeli government have put pressure on to make sure such influential individuals stay behind bars, news outlets in Israel has reported.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right public security minister, threatened to quit the administration if the faction still remained after the release of captives, introducing another complication to already delicate negotiations.