Sharm el-sheikh: Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas began Monday in Egypt's Red Sea city of Sharm el-Sheikh to prepare the ground for a prisoner exchange, Egyptian media reported. The discussions are aimed at setting the stage for a potential agreement that could play a crucial role in the broader context of a ceasefire plan for the region.

According to Anadolu Agency, the state-run Al-Qahera News channel, citing Egyptian sources, revealed that the talks are part of Egypt's efforts to implement US President Donald Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan. The plan, unveiled on September 29, 2023, outlines a 20-point proposal, including the release of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners, a ceasefire, Hamas disarmament, and Gaza reconstruction. Hamas has agreed to the plan in principle and is currently discussing the next steps in Egypt.

Mediators from Egypt and Qatar are reportedly making significant efforts to establish a mechanism for the release of prisoners. An Israeli negotiating team arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh early Monday for the ceasefire talks, while the Hamas delegation, led by the group's leader Khalil al-Hayya, arrived on Sunday.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry had previously announced on Saturday that it would host Israeli and Hamas delegations to discuss the details of the prisoner exchange in line with Trump's ceasefire plan aimed at ending the ongoing Gaza conflict. Since October 2023, Israeli bombardment has resulted in the deaths of nearly 67,200 Palestinians in Gaza, with most of the infrastructure severely damaged.