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First round of Gaza talks between the Palestinian group and intermediaries have concluded in Egypt “amid a positive environment”, according to Egyptian government-affiliated media early on Tuesday.

Al-Qahera News, affiliated with state intelligence, reported the talks will resume on the following day, additionally between the militant faction and mediators in the tourist destination of Sharm El-Sheikh, where an Israeli delegation arrived on the previous day.

The Israeli government and the Palestinian faction are anticipated to engage in mediated discussions on the specifics of a plan by US President Donald Trump for a hostage-prisoner swap and long-term truce.

Trump’s twenty-point plan outlines an immediate halt in hostilities, an swap of all captives held by the Palestinian faction for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged pullout of Israeli forces from Gaza, the disarmament of the group and the introduction of a interim administration led by an international body.

One of the faction’s primary conditions since the outset of the war has been a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory in return for the freeing of the outstanding hostages. And while the armed faction has indicated its readiness to give up administrative authority, it has consistently ruled out disarming.

During this initial stage of negotiations, Middle Eastern mediators are collaborating with the two parties to prepare foundational terms for the release of the remaining 48 Israeli hostages held in the enclave in exchange for 1,700 detainees from Palestine held in prisons in Israel, and to determine the timeline of a temporary truce.

This round of negotiations is anticipated to be difficult and complicated, and could last for several days, as per reports. We will have additional information on the negotiations shortly.

The talks occur as Israelis across the country get ready to commemorate the second commemoration of the October 7th Hamas-initiated attacks on Israel’s southern region, in which approximately twelve hundred people, primarily civilians, were killed and 251 taken hostage.

Doubt Remains Over Peace Agreement

While there are positive signs about this effort to achieve an conclusion to the conflict in Israel, there persists uncertainty over if a agreement can be secured and, importantly, maintained.

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

Mediators have to decide which Palestinian prisoners will be released from prisons in Israel. The representatives from Palestine is likely to ask for political figures, such as the figurehead Marwan Barghouthi, who are widely popular in the West Bank and the coastal enclave.

Rightwing members of Netanyahu’s coalition have put pressure on to ensure such popular figures remain behind bars, Israeli media has reported.

A far-right minister, the far-right government official, threatened to leave the government if the faction still existed after the freeing of hostages, introducing another complication to already delicate peace talks.