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First phase of Middle East negotiations between the Palestinian group and intermediaries have ended in Egypt “amid a positive environment”, as reported by Egypt’s government-affiliated media early on the weekday.

An Egyptian news source, which is linked to government security, stated the talks will resume on the following day, additionally between the militant faction and mediators in the resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, where an representatives from Israel landed on the previous day.

Israel and the Palestinian faction are expected to participate in indirect talks on the specifics of a proposal by US President Donald Trump for a hostage-prisoner exchange and extended ceasefire.

The US president’s twenty-point plan specifies an immediate halt in hostilities, an exchange of all captives held by Hamas for detainees from Palestine held by the Israeli state, a staged pullout of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the disarmament of the group and the introduction of a transitional government led by an global organization.

Among the faction’s main demands since the outset of the conflict has been a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory in return for the release of the remaining captives. And while the armed faction has signaled its willingness to give up governing control, it has consistently rejected disarming.

In this first phase of talks, Egyptian and Qatari intermediaries are working with the two parties to prepare ground conditions for the liberation of the still held 48 captives from Israel held in the enclave in exchange for 1,700 Palestinian prisoners held in prisons in Israel, and to determine the timeline of a temporary truce.

These discussions of negotiations is expected to be challenging and complicated, and could continue for several days, as per reports. Further additional information on the negotiations shortly.

The talks occur as people in Israel across the nation prepare to commemorate the second commemoration of the 7 October Hamas-initiated assaults on Israel’s southern region, in which approximately 1,200 people, primarily civilians, were slain and two hundred fifty-one captured.

Doubt Persists Over Peace Agreement

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

Hamas has in part agreed to the US president’s twenty-point plan, which the Israeli government has accepted, but there are still major sticking points that need resolving, including the future governance of Gaza, the extent of withdrawal of Israeli forces and Hamas’ disarmament.

Negotiators have to agree which detainees from Palestine will be released from prisons in Israel. The representatives from Palestine is likely to request prominent leaders, such as the figurehead Marwan Barghouthi, who are highly regarded in the West Bank and Gaza.

Rightwing members of the Israeli government have exerted influence to make sure such popular figures remain behind bars, Israeli media has reported.

A far-right minister, the ultra-conservative public security minister, threatened to leave the administration if Hamas still existed after the freeing of captives, adding another hurdle to already fragile negotiations.