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Mediated discussions aimed at reaching a comprehensive deal on a US peace plan to stop the conflict in Gaza have started in the mediation venue of Sharm El-Sheikh.

Middle Eastern and regional officials have stated that the discussions are focused on "preparing the environment" for a possible exchange that would result in the liberation of all Israeli hostages in return for a quantity of detained Palestinians.

The group stated it consents to the negotiation framework partially, but has omitted reference to several key demands - particularly its disarmament and governance position in Gaza.

Israel's prime minister said on recently that he anticipated declaring the liberation of captives "shortly"

Background Context

The negotiations, which will feature regional and international officials facilitating discussions with teams from both Israel and Hamas separately, come on the verge of the two-year mark of the Hamas-led attack on Israeli territories on October 7th, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were seized.

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, according to the area's medical administration.

Proposal Framework

The 20-point plan, which has been approved by the Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggests an prompt cessation to fighting and the release of 48 hostages, only 20 individuals are considered living, in return for numerous of detained Gazans.

The proposal specifies that once all involved accept the proposal "full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip"

It also states that the militant group would have no role in administering the territory, and it permits an independent Palestinian nation.

Recent Developments

On Friday, Hamas responded to the proposal in a announcement, in which the group approved "to free all detainees, both surviving and deceased, according to the swap arrangement outlined in President Trump's proposal" - if the necessary circumstances for the swaps are met.

It did not specifically mention or approve the detailed initiative but said it "reaffirms its commitment to relinquish the governance of the Palestinian territory to a local administration of independents, founded on local agreement and international backing"

The announcement omitted reference of one of the essential conditions of the proposal – that Hamas accept its weapons surrender and to ceasing political participation in the administration of Gaza.

Regional Reactions

Gaza inhabitants described the group's reaction to the ceasefire proposal as surprising, after an extended period of signals that the group was likely to refuse or at least heavily condition its acceptance of Trump's peace plan proposal.

Alternatively, the organization omitted its traditional "red lines" in the public announcement, a move many interpret as a sign of outside forces.

European and Middle Eastern leaders have endorsed the plan. The governing body, which administers sections of the Palestinian territories, has called the Trump administration actions as "authentic and resolute"

The Persian nation - which has been one of Hamas's main sponsors for many years - has also recently indicated its support for Trump's Gaza peace plan.

Current Situation

Armed attacks persisted in multiple areas of the conflict zone on the beginning of the week prior to the talks beginning.

Defense personnel is carrying out an military operation in the metropolitan region, which it has stated is aimed at securing the liberation of the still-detained individuals.

A spokesperson, speaking for the region's local emergency services, stated that "humanitarian convoys have been allowed into Gaza City since the campaign commenced one month prior"

"Remains persist we cannot retrieve from areas under military occupation" he said.

Numerous individuals of the urban center have been compelled to evacuate after the armed services ordered evacuations to a established protection region in the south, but hundreds of thousands more are considered to have persisted.

Israel's defence minister has admonished that those who remain during the offensive would be "terrorists and supporters of terror"

In the previous day, 21 Palestinians have been fatally injured in Gaza and a another 96 wounded, the local medical authorities said in its current assessment.

Foreign correspondents have been restricted by Israeli authorities from visiting the Palestinian territory without supervision since the commencement of the hostilities, making verifying claims from both sides challenging.