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Indirect talks aimed at reaching a lasting settlement on a US peace plan to halt hostilities in Gaza have begun in the mediation venue of the Egyptian resort town.

Local and international officials have stated that the sessions are focused on "creating the field conditions" for a anticipated transfer that would involve the liberation of all Israeli hostages in exchange for a quantity of Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas has said it agrees to the negotiation framework to some extent, but has not responded to several essential conditions - such as its weapons surrender and future role in Gaza.

Israel's prime minister said on the weekend that he hoped to announce the freeing of detained individuals "shortly"

Conflict Timeline

The negotiations, which will see regional and international officials conducting mediation with representatives from both the conflicting parties individually, come on the approach of the second anniversary of the armed assault on border communities on the initial attack date, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in countermeasure. Following the initial attack, over 67,000 have been killed by Israeli military operations in Gaza, as reported by the region's Hamas-run health ministry.

Peace Plan Details

The detailed initiative, which has been agreed upon by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, proposes an prompt cessation to hostilities and the liberation of 48 detained individuals, only 20 individuals are thought to be alive, in exchange for hundreds of incarcerated individuals.

The framework requires that once all involved approve the initiative "humanitarian support will be immediately sent into the Palestinian territory"

It also declares that Hamas would have no participation in governing Gaza, and it leaves the door open an future Palestinian sovereignty.

Latest Updates

Recently, Hamas responded to the proposal in a announcement, in which the group agreed "to free all detainees, both alive and killed, according to the exchange formula specified by the US initiative" - if the required situation for the swaps are fulfilled.

It omitted reference to or endorse the detailed initiative but said it "renews its agreement to relinquish the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of technocrats, founded on regional unity and regional endorsement"

The statement made no mention of one of the essential conditions of the initiative – that Hamas agree to its military demobilization and to playing no further role in the governance of Gaza.

International Response

Local residents described the group's reaction to the negotiation initiative as unanticipated, after an extended period of suggestions that the group was preparing to reject or at least substantially modify its acceptance of Trump's peace plan proposal.

Conversely, the militant group excluded its traditional "red lines" in the public announcement, a move many consider a sign of international influence.

International and regional leaders have supported the initiative. The Palestinian Authority, which administers sections of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has characterized the American initiatives as "sincere and determined"

The Persian nation - which has been one of the group's primary supporters for an extended period - has also now signalled its support for the American initiative.

Ongoing Reality

Israeli bombardment continued in several parts of the Gaza Strip on recently before the talks beginning.

Defense personnel is conducting an military operation in the city, which it has declared is intended to achieving the liberation of the remaining hostages.

An official representative, representing Gaza's civil protection agency, stated that "humanitarian convoys have been authorized access for the urban center since the military operations started recently"

"There are still bodies we are unable to recover from locations under Israeli control" he said.

Countless residents of Gaza City have been forced to flee after the armed services ordered evacuations to a established protection region in the south, but additional numerous individuals are considered to have persisted.

Israel's defence minister has admonished that those who remain during the offensive would be "militants and their backers"

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

Global media representatives have been prohibited by Israel from visiting the Palestinian territory without supervision since the start of the hostilities, making authenticating statements from all parties challenging.