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First round of Middle East talks between the Palestinian group and intermediaries have concluded in the Arab Republic “in a positive environment”, according to Egyptian government-affiliated news outlets in the morning on Tuesday.

An Egyptian news source, which is linked to government security, reported the discussions will resume on the following day, also between Hamas and intermediaries in the tourist destination of Sharm El-Sheikh, where an representatives from Israel landed on Monday.

Israel and the Palestinian faction are expected to engage in indirect talks on the specifics of a plan by American leader Donald Trump for a captive-detainee swap and long-term ceasefire.

Trump’s 20-point plan specifies an instant halt in hostilities, 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 introduction of a interim administration led by an international body.

Among Hamas’s primary demands since the outset of the conflict has been a complete Israeli withdrawal from the territory in exchange for the freeing of the remaining hostages. And while the Palestinian militant group has indicated its willingness to give up governing control, it has repeatedly ruled out laying down arms.

In this first phase of talks, Middle Eastern intermediaries are collaborating with the two parties to establish ground conditions for the release of the still held forty-eight captives from Israel held in Gaza in exchange for one thousand seven hundred Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, and to determine the date of a short-term ceasefire.

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

These negotiations come as people in Israel across the country get ready to mark the second anniversary of the October 7th Hamas-led attacks on Israel’s southern region, in which about twelve hundred individuals, primarily non-combatants, were killed and two hundred fifty-one captured.

Uncertainty Remains Over Peace Agreement

While there are optimistic indicators about this attempt to bring about an conclusion to the conflict in Israel, there persists uncertainty over if a agreement can be reached and, importantly, maintained.

The Palestinian faction has partially agreed to the US president’s 20 point plan, which the Israeli government has agreed to, but there are still significant sticking points that need resolving, including the future governance of the Gaza Strip, the degree of Israel’s military withdrawal and the group’s demilitarization.

Negotiators have to agree which detainees from Palestine will be released from Israeli jails. The representatives from Palestine is expected to request political figures, such as the figurehead Marwan Barghouthi, who are widely popular in the Palestinian territory and Gaza.

Rightwing members of Netanyahu’s coalition have exerted influence to make sure such influential individuals remain behind bars, Israeli media has stated.

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