News - Middle East: Delegations from Israel and the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas have begun indirect negotiations in Egypt on US President Donald Trump’s plan for the Gaza Strip.

An Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the media the talks began Monday afternoon at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The negotiations began with a meeting between Arab mediators and the Hamas delegation, Egyptian media reported, adding that the mediators will then hold talks with the Israeli delegation.

Egyptian and Qatari mediators will discuss the outcome of their meetings with both parties before US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff joins the talks, according to reports.

The discussions will focus on Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan, which the Tel Aviv regime has agreed to and Hamas has partly accepted. 

Hamas agreed to the release of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian abductees, provided certain "field conditions" are met. 

It also renewed its agreement to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats), based on Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support.

Hamas said other issues mentioned in Trump’s proposal regarding the future of Gaza and the inherent rights of the Palestinian people are linked to a comprehensive national position and international law.

Trump responded by telling Israel to “immediately stop bombing Gaza”, noting that Hamas was “ready for a lasting peace”.

Writing on his social media platform, Truth Social, the US president said the talks were “proceeding rapidly” in the lead-up to Monday’s meeting.

“I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST,” Trump said, warning of “MASSIVE BLOODSHED” if a deal is not finalized in the coming days.

Expected among the sticking points in Monday’s talks are demands that the occupying regime fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip and Hamas surrender its weapons.

Israel unleashed its brutal Gaza onslaught on October 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out its historic operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for the regime’s intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

The Tel Aviv regime has so far failed to achieve its declared objectives of eliminating Hamas and freeing all captives in Gaza, despite killing, according to the health ministry of Gaza, 67,160 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring 169,679 others.

Mass starvation has also gripped Gaza as Israel prevents the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged territory.

Source: Press TV