Israel and Hamas start third-party discussions in the Egyptian city on American Gaza peace proposal.

Conflict zone News Agency
Military operations persist in combat operations in Gaza City for weeks.

Indirect talks focused on achieving a comprehensive deal on a Trump administration initiative to stop the conflict in Gaza have commenced in the mediation venue of the Egyptian resort town.

Palestinian and Egyptian officials have reported that the discussions are centered around "preparing the environment" for a possible exchange that would see the freeing of all detained individuals in compensation of a number of Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas has said it accepts the ceasefire initiative partially, but has failed to address several crucial requirements - particularly its disarmament and governance position in Gaza.

Israel's prime minister said on Saturday that he expected to reveal the release of detained individuals "soon"

Historical Framework

The talks, which will involve Middle Eastern officials holding shuttle meetings with representatives from both the conflicting parties individually, take place on the verge of the second anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on border communities on October 7th, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 individuals were seized.

The defense forces launched a campaign in Gaza in countermeasure. Following the initial attack, over 67,000 have been lost their lives by armed interventions in Gaza, as reported by the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

Peace Plan Details

The 20-point plan, which has been agreed upon by US President Donald Trump and the Netanyahu government, proposes an quick halt to fighting and the liberation of 48 hostages, only 20 individuals are believed to be living, in exchange for multiple hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The proposal specifies that once all involved accept the plan "humanitarian support will be promptly delivered into the conflict zone"

It also states that the organization would have no involvement in political leadership, and it permits an independent Palestinian nation.

Latest Updates

Recently, Hamas responded to the proposal in a announcement, in which the group approved "to free all Israeli prisoners, both alive and killed, following the exchange formula contained in the American plan" - if the proper conditions for the exchanges are satisfied.

It failed to address or accept Trump's 20-point plan but said it "restates its approval to hand over the governance of the conflict zone to a Palestinian body of independents, based on local agreement and regional endorsement"

The declaration omitted reference of one of the essential conditions of the plan – that the organization accept its disarmament and to ceasing political participation in the leadership of Gaza.

Regional Reactions

Many Palestinians characterized Hamas' response to the negotiation initiative as unexpected, after days of suggestions that the group was considering denial or at least heavily condition its endorsement of Trump's peace plan proposal.

Conversely, the organization omitted its established limits in the official statement, a move many view as a evidence of external pressure.

European and Middle Eastern officials have endorsed the initiative. The Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the Palestinian territories, has described the US president's efforts as "authentic and resolute"

Iran - which has been one of the organization's key backers for decades - has also now signalled its endorsement of the US proposal.

Ongoing Reality

Israeli bombardment continued in several parts of the Gaza Strip on recently ahead of the discussions commencing.

Israeli forces is carrying out an offensive in the city, which it has declared is intended to securing the release of the outstanding captives.

An official representative, spokesman for Gaza's local emergency services, stated that "assistance vehicles have been authorized access for the metropolitan area since the campaign commenced four weeks ago"

"There are still bodies we cannot retrieve from zones under defense force authority" he said.

Numerous individuals of the urban center have been compelled to evacuate after the defense forces ordered evacuations to a designated "humanitarian area" in the lower territory, but additional numerous individuals are believed to have remained.

Israel's defence minister has cautioned that those who stay during the offensive would be "combatants and their sympathizers"

In the last 24 hours, 21 individuals have been lost their lives in Gaza and a further 96 injured, the Hamas-run health ministry said in its latest update.

Global media representatives have been restricted by Israeli authorities from visiting the Gaza Strip autonomously since the beginning of the conflict, making confirming reports from the conflicting groups difficult.

Jonathan Wallace
Jonathan Wallace

A passionate food blogger and home cook with over a decade of experience in creating simple yet delicious recipes.