🔗 Share this article

Initial phase of Gaza talks between Hamas and intermediaries have concluded in Egypt “in a positive atmosphere”, as reported by Egypt’s state-linked media in the morning on Tuesday.

Al-Qahera News, affiliated with state intelligence, reported the discussions will resume on Tuesday, also between the militant faction and intermediaries in the tourist destination of the Egyptian city, where an representatives from Israel landed on the previous day.

The Israeli government and Hamas are anticipated to engage in indirect talks on the details of a plan by American leader Donald Trump for a hostage-prisoner exchange and extended ceasefire.

The US president’s twenty-point proposal outlines an instant ceasefire, an swap of all captives held by Hamas for detainees from Palestine held by Israel, a phased pullout of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the disarmament of the group and the establishment of a transitional government led by an international body.

One of Hamas’s main conditions since the outset of the conflict has been a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory in return for the freeing of the outstanding captives. And while the Palestinian militant group has indicated its willingness to give up governing control, it has consistently rejected laying down arms.

In this first phase of talks, Egyptian and Qatari mediators are working with the two parties to prepare ground conditions for the liberation of the still held forty-eight Israeli hostages held in Gaza in return for one thousand seven hundred Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, and to determine the date of a short-term ceasefire.

These discussions of talks is expected to be challenging and complex, and could last for a number of days, according to sources. Further additional information on the discussions soon.

The talks occur as people in Israel across the country get ready to commemorate the two-year anniversary of the October 7th Hamas-led assaults on Israel’s southern region, in which about twelve hundred people, mostly civilians, were killed and two hundred fifty-one captured.

Uncertainty Remains Over Peace Agreement

Although there are positive signs about this effort to bring about an end to Israel’s war, there remains doubt over whether or not a deal can be reached and, crucially, sustained.

The Palestinian faction has partially agreed to the US president’s twenty-point plan, which Israel has agreed to, but there are still significant sticking points that need resolving, including the future governance of Gaza, the extent of Israel’s military withdrawal and Hamas’ disarmament.

Mediators have to agree which Palestinian prisoners will be freed from Israeli jails. The Palestinian delegation is likely to request prominent leaders, such as the Palestinian leader a well-known detainee, who are highly regarded in the West Bank and Gaza.

Conservative members of Netanyahu’s coalition have exerted influence to ensure such influential individuals remain behind bars, news outlets in Israel has reported.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right public security minister, threatened to leave the administration if the faction still remained after the freeing of captives, introducing another hurdle to already fragile peace talks.