Israel and Hamas begin mediated discussions in the Egyptian city on the US Palestinian peace plan.

Conflict zone News Agency
Israel has been carrying out military actions in Gaza City for an extended period.

Third-party negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive deal on a US peace plan to stop the conflict in Gaza have commenced in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.

Middle Eastern and regional officials have indicated that the sessions are focused on "preparing the environment" for a possible exchange that would result in the liberation of all detained individuals in compensation of a quantity of detained Palestinians.

Hamas has said it agrees to the peace plan proposals partially, but has failed to address several crucial requirements - particularly its weapons surrender and political participation in Gaza.

Israel's prime minister said on Saturday that he hoped to announce the freeing of hostages "in the coming days"

Background Context

The discussions, which will feature regional and international officials conducting mediation with representatives from both Israel and Hamas individually, take place on the approach of the two-year mark of the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7th, in which about 1,200 people were lost their lives and 251 others were captured.

The defense forces launched a campaign in Gaza in retaliation. Since then, over 67,000 have been lost their lives by Israeli military operations in Gaza, as reported by the region's medical administration.

Proposal Framework

The 20-point plan, which has been endorsed by US President Donald Trump and the Netanyahu government, proposes an quick halt to combat and the liberation of 48 hostages, only 20 individuals are considered surviving, in exchange for numerous of incarcerated individuals.

The framework requires that once the two parties accept the plan "full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip"

It also states that the organization would have no involvement in administering the territory, and it permits an future Palestinian sovereignty.

Recent Developments

On Friday, the group answered to the initiative in a announcement, in which the group agreed "to release all detainees, both surviving and deceased, following the swap arrangement contained in the American plan" - if the proper conditions for the exchanges are met.

It omitted reference to or approve Trump's 20-point plan but said it "restates its approval to transfer the governance of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents, established through Palestinian national consensus and international backing"

The declaration made no mention of one of the crucial requirements of the plan – that Hamas accept its disarmament and to playing no further role in the governance of Gaza.

Regional Reactions

Gaza inhabitants characterized Hamas' response to the peace plan as unanticipated, after days of suggestions that the group was likely to refuse or at least substantially modify its acceptance of Trump's peace plan proposal.

Instead, the organization refrained from including its traditional "red lines" in the formal declaration, a move many interpret as a evidence of external pressure.

International and regional leaders have welcomed the proposal. The governing body, which administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has characterized the American initiatives as "genuine and committed"

The Islamic Republic - which has been one of Hamas's main sponsors for an extended period - has also recently indicated its support for the US proposal.

Current Situation

Military strikes continued in multiple areas of the Gaza Strip on Monday prior to the negotiations starting.

Israeli forces is carrying out an military operation in the city, which it has stated is intended to obtaining the release of the remaining hostages.

An official representative, speaking for the territory's Hamas-run civil defence, stated that "no aid trucks have been allowed into Gaza City since the offensive began four weeks ago"

"Remains persist we cannot retrieve from zones under defense force authority" he commented.

Hundreds of thousands of Gaza City have been required to leave after the Israeli military mandated relocations to a established protection region in the lower territory, but further countless people are considered to have persisted.

The military official has warned that those who stay during the military operation would be "combatants and their sympathizers"

In the recent period, 21 residents have been fatally injured in Gaza and a another 96 injured, the Hamas-run health ministry said in its latest update.

Foreign correspondents have been prohibited by Israel from entering the Palestinian territory autonomously since the start of the war, making authenticating statements from all parties problematic.

Harry Smith
Harry Smith

A seasoned journalist with a passion for uncovering stories that matter, bringing years of experience in UK media and a keen eye for detail.