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Indirect talks focused on achieving a comprehensive deal on a Trump administration initiative to halt hostilities in Gaza have begun in the Red Sea resort of the negotiation site.

Local and international officials have indicated that the meetings are focused on "creating the field conditions" for a possible exchange that would see the freeing of all detained individuals in return for a number of incarcerated individuals.

Officials declared it consents to the ceasefire initiative to some extent, but has not responded to several crucial requirements - including its weapons surrender and governance position in Gaza.

The government official said on the weekend that he hoped to announce the freeing of detained individuals "shortly"

Conflict Timeline

The discussions, which will involve Middle Eastern officials conducting mediation with delegations from both the two sides separately, take place on the approach of the second anniversary of the military operation on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which nearly 1,200 people were killed and 251 individuals were captured.

The armed forces launched a campaign in Gaza in retaliation. Since then, over 67,000 have been killed by defense force actions in Gaza, as reported by the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

Peace Plan Details

The 20-point plan, which has been agreed upon by US President Donald Trump and Israeli officials, proposes an prompt cessation to hostilities and the liberation of 48 captives, only a portion are believed to be living, in compensation of hundreds of detained Gazans.

The proposal specifies that once both sides accept the plan "humanitarian support will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip"

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

Latest Updates

In the latest development, officials replied to the proposal in a declaration, in which the group agreed "to liberate all detainees, both living and dead, following the swap arrangement contained in the US initiative" - if the required situation for the exchanges are fulfilled.

It did not specifically mention or endorse the detailed initiative but said it "reaffirms its commitment to hand over the management of the Palestinian territory to a local administration of independents, based on regional unity and Arab and Islamic support"

The declaration omitted reference of one of the essential conditions of the plan – that Hamas consent to its weapons surrender and to playing no further role in the administration of Gaza.

International Response

Local residents characterized Hamas' response to the peace plan as unanticipated, after an extended period of suggestions that the group was likely to refuse or at least heavily condition its approval of the American initiative.

Alternatively, Hamas refrained from including its established limits in the official statement, a move many interpret as a evidence of external pressure.

International and regional officials have supported the proposal. The Palestinian Authority, which administers areas of the Palestinian territories, has called the Trump administration actions as "sincere and determined"

The Persian nation - which has been one of Hamas's main sponsors for many years - has also recently indicated its backing of the US proposal.

Current Situation

Military strikes carried on in various locations of the Palestinian territory on Monday before the discussions commencing.

Israel is conducting an combat campaign in the metropolitan region, which it has said is designed to securing the liberation of the outstanding captives.

Mahmoud Basal, representing the region's local emergency services, indicated that "humanitarian convoys have been permitted entry to Gaza City since the campaign commenced one month prior"

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

Hundreds of thousands of the urban center have been compelled to evacuate after the defense forces ordered evacuations to a designated "humanitarian area" in the south, but additional numerous individuals are thought to have stayed.

The military official has warned that those who remain during the military operation would be "terrorists and supporters of terror"

In the last 24 hours, 21 Palestinians have been lost their lives in Gaza and a additional 96 wounded, the Hamas-run health ministry said in its most recent report.

Foreign correspondents have been restricted by the government from accessing the Gaza Strip independently since the beginning of the conflict, making verifying claims from both sides difficult.