- Board of Peace, established by Trump in January to oversee Gaza’s administration, said the withdrawal of Israeli forces beyond the Yellow Line will take place only once decommissioning is complete, including light weapons, heavy weapons, and the tunnels.
- Nickolay Mladenov, the Board’s director, met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday in West Jerusalem; Israeli politicians signalled displeasure with the deal.
- Hamas insisted the deal will not be implemented unless Israel implements its part; the group and other Palestinian factions remained committed to completing the second phase of the ceasefire and awaited a clear response from Mladenov and the mediators.
- The “Yellow Line” is the demarcation line behind which Israeli forces continue to base themselves in Gaza; the Board’s goal is complete decommissioning of weapons and transition from rule by the gun to civilian governance.
- During the talks, Mladenov urged Netanyahu to stop attacks on Gaza; Israel has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians since its genocidal war began in October 2023.
- Netanyahu’s office said the public version of the agreement “does not reflect Israel’s positions”; far-right ministers signalled backtracking, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called the deal “completely different” and demanded a new vote “immediately”.
- The latest reversal comes despite Trump’s push to secure a deal, months ahead of an Israeli election in which the government is under pressure from its base to show total victory in Gaza.
- Mladenov criticised the weekend strikes without naming Israel, writing: “Achieving a lasting peace is hard but achievable if everyone makes their best efforts”; mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye condemned Israel’s targeting of civilians and healthcare facilities as a “flagrant violation of international law”.
The Trump-established Board of Peace has made it clear that Israeli withdrawal from Gaza hinges on the complete disarmament of Hamas. This decision follows a meeting between Nickolay Mladenov and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where the Board reiterated its commitment to a peaceful transition in the region.12345691014151617
“The goal is clear and is not in question: the complete decommissioning of weapons in the Strip and the transition away from rule by the gun to civilian governance,” the Board stated in a social media post after the meeting. The “Yellow Line” refers to the demarcation line behind which Israeli forces are stationed in Gaza.78
Despite the Board's efforts, tensions remain high. Israeli politicians have expressed dissatisfaction with the agreement, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calling it “completely different” from what was approved and demanding a new vote. The Israeli government faces pressure to demonstrate total victory in Gaza ahead of upcoming elections.111213
Hamas has also indicated that it will not proceed with the deal unless Israel fulfills its obligations. The group, along with other Palestinian factions, is awaiting a clear response from Mladenov and the mediators. The situation is further complicated by reports of over 73,000 Palestinians killed since the conflict escalated in October 2023, raising concerns about humanitarian violations.
Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye, which mediated the disarmament deal, condemned Israel’s actions as a “flagrant violation of international law.”
“Netanyahu's office said the public version of the agreement "does not reflect Israel's positions," and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich demanded a new vote "immediately." Hamas insisted the deal will not be implemented unless Israel implements its part, while mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye condemned Israel's targeting of civilians and healthcare facilities.”
