Gaza ceasefire talks live: negotiations to continue as Israe...

7.47am BST

While there are positive signs about this attempt to bring about an end to Israel’s war, there remains uncertainty over whether or not a deal can be secured and, crucially, maintained.

Hamas has partially accepted Trump’s 20 point plan, which Israel has agreed to, but there are still major sticking points that need resolving, including the future governance of Gaza, the extent of Israel’s military withdrawal and Hamas’ disarmament.

My colleague William Christou has more in this story on the other gaps that remain between Israel and Hamas:

Negotiators have to agree which Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli jails. The Palestinian delegation is likely to ask for political figures, such as the Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouthi, who are widely popular in the West Bank and Gaza.

Rightwing members of Netanyahu’s coalition have put pressure on to ensure such popular figures remain behind bars, Israeli media has reported.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right public security minister, threatened to quit the government if Hamas still existed after the release of hostages, adding another complication to already fragile peace talks.

7.32am BST

Gaza ceasefire talks continue as Israelis mark two-year anniversary of 7 October attacks

The first round of Gaza talks between Hamas and mediators have ended in Egypt “amid a positive atmosphere”, Egyptian state-linked media reported early on Tuesday.

Al-Qahera News, which is linked to state intelligence, reported the talks will continue on Tuesday, also between Hamas and mediators in the resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, where an Israeli delegation arrived on Monday.

Israel and Hamas are expected to engage in indirect talks on the details of a proposal by US President Donald Trump for a hostage-prisoner exchange and long-term ceasefire.

Trump’s 20-point plan specifies an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of all hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and the introduction of a transitional government led by an international body.

One of Hamas’s main conditions since the outset of the war has been a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in return for the release of the remaining hostages. And while the Palestinian militant group has indicated its readiness to relinquish administrative authority, it has consistently ruled out disarming.

During this first phase of talks, Egyptian and Qatari mediators are working with both sides to prepare ground conditions for the release of the remaining 48 Israeli hostages held in Gaza in exchange for 1,700 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, and to determine the date of a temporary truce.

This round of negotiations is expected to be difficult and complex, and could last for several days, according to reports. We will have more details on the negotiations shortly.

The talks comes as Israelis across the country prepare to mark the second anniversary of the 7 October Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel, in which about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 251 taken hostage.

Updated at 7.53am BST