The US-led Board of Peace has declared that an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza will only occur after the disarmament of Hamas is complete. This follows a meeting in West Jerusalem between the body’s director, Nickolay Mladenov, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The meeting on Monday occurred as Israeli politicians expressed displeasure with the deal announced by US President Donald Trump last Thursday. The Board of Peace, established by Trump in January to oversee Gaza’s administration, clarified the conditions for troop movements.
“Contrary to inaccurate reports, we note that the withdrawal of the Israeli military beyond the Yellow Line will take place only once decommissioning is complete, as Hamas committed to the mediators,” the Board stated. “This applies to light weapons, heavy weapons, and the tunnels alike.”
The “Yellow Line” refers to the demarcation line behind which Israeli forces continue to base themselves in Gaza. The Board added that the goal remains the complete decommissioning of weapons in the Strip and a transition away from rule by the gun to civilian governance.
During the talks, Mladenov urged Netanyahu to stop attacks on Gaza, according to two people familiar with the meeting. Israel has refused to do so despite an October 2025 ceasefire, since which it has killed more than 1,200 Palestinians, including 36 after the disarmament deal was announced. Since October 2023, Israel has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians.
Before the meeting, Netanyahu’s office claimed the public version of the agreement “does not reflect Israel’s positions” and that concerns had been shared with the US. Members of the far-right government have signaled a desire to backtrack on the deal.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the agreement as “completely different” from what the government approved and demanded an immediate new vote. Israel has repeatedly flouted agreements, and this reversal comes despite Trump’s push for a deal, occurring months before an Israeli election where the government faces pressure to demonstrate total victory.
Mladenov criticized the weekend strikes, noting, “Achieving a lasting peace is hard but achievable if everyone makes their best efforts.” Meanwhile, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye, which mediated the deal, issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s targeting of civilians and healthcare facilities as a “flagrant violation of international law.”
Hamas stated that it and other Palestinian factions remain committed to the second phase of the ceasefire and are awaiting a clear, official response from Mladenov and the mediators.
Source: Aljazeera
