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Mediated discussions aimed at reaching a comprehensive deal on a Trump administration initiative to halt hostilities in Gaza have begun in the Egyptian city of the Egyptian resort town.

Middle Eastern and regional officials have indicated that the sessions are centered around "preparing the environment" for a possible exchange that would result in the release of all captured Israelis in compensation of a number of Palestinian prisoners.

Officials declared it accepts the negotiation framework to some extent, but has not responded to several crucial requirements - including its disarmament and political participation in Gaza.

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

Background Context

The discussions, which will feature regional and international officials holding shuttle meetings with representatives from both Israel and Hamas individually, occur on the approach of the two-year mark of the armed assault on border communities on the initial attack date, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 people were captured.

The armed forces began military actions in Gaza in countermeasure. Following the initial attack, over 67,000 have been fatally injured by Israeli military operations in Gaza, as reported by the area's Hamas-run health ministry.

Proposal Framework

The comprehensive proposal, which has been approved by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, proposes an immediate end to combat and the liberation of 48 hostages, only 20 of whom are thought to be surviving, in compensation of numerous of incarcerated individuals.

The plan stipulates that once the two parties accept the plan "full aid will be immediately sent into the Palestinian territory"

It also states that the organization would have no role in governing Gaza, and it permits an eventual Palestinian state.

Latest Updates

Recently, the group answered to the proposal in a statement, in which the group approved "to liberate all Israeli prisoners, both living and dead, according to the transfer mechanism outlined in the US initiative" - if the proper conditions for the swaps are met.

It omitted reference to or accept Trump's 20-point plan but said it "reaffirms its commitment to hand over the administration of the conflict zone to a governing council of independents, based on local agreement and Arab and Islamic support"

The announcement made no mention of one of the key demands of the proposal – that Hamas accept its disarmament and to playing no further role in the administration of Gaza.

Regional Reactions

Gaza inhabitants portrayed Hamas' response to the peace plan as surprising, after days of suggestions that the organization was likely to refuse or at least substantially modify its endorsement of the American initiative.

Alternatively, Hamas excluded its customary boundaries in the public announcement, a move many consider a sign of external pressure.

International and regional representatives have supported the proposal. The local administration, which governs parts of the disputed regions, has characterized the Trump administration actions as "genuine and committed"

Iran - which has been one of the group's primary supporters for an extended period - has also recently indicated its endorsement of the American initiative.

Ongoing Reality

Armed attacks carried on in multiple areas of the conflict zone on the beginning of the week before the negotiations starting.

Defense personnel is implementing an offensive in the urban area, which it has said is aimed at obtaining the liberation of the remaining hostages.

An official representative, representing the territory's civil protection agency, reported that "no aid trucks have been authorized access for the urban center since the military operations started one month prior"

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

Hundreds of thousands of the metropolitan area have been forced to flee after the defense forces ordered evacuations to a specified safe zone in the southern region, but additional numerous individuals are believed to have remained.

Israel's defence minister has cautioned that those who remain during the combat campaign would be "combatants and their sympathizers"

In the recent period, 21 individuals have been fatally injured in Gaza and a additional 96 injured, the local medical authorities said in its latest update.

Foreign correspondents have been restricted by Israel from accessing the conflict zone autonomously since the start of the hostilities, making authenticating statements from the conflicting groups difficult.