The US-led Board of Peace has stated that an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza will only take place after the disarmament of Hamas is complete, following a meeting between the board's director, Nickolay Mladenov, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday in West Jerusalem.
The meeting came as Israeli politicians signaled 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 after Israel's genocidal war, said in a statement that the withdrawal of Israeli forces beyond the "Yellow Line" would occur only once decommissioning is complete, as Hamas committed to mediators.
"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 added in a social media post. The "Yellow Line" refers to the demarcation line behind which Israeli forces continue to base themselves in Gaza.
Hamas, for its part, insists the deal will not be implemented unless Israel fulfills its part of the agreement. During the talks, Mladenov urged Netanyahu to stop attacks on Gaza, according to two people familiar with the meeting, but Israel has refused, despite an October 2025 "ceasefire," killing over 1,200 Palestinians, including more than 36 since the disarmament deal was announced.
Israel has killed over 73,000 Palestinians in Gaza since its genocidal war began in October 2023. Before the meeting, Netanyahu's office said the public version of the agreement "does not reflect Israel's positions," and concerns had been shared with the US.
Members of Netanyahu's far-right government have already signaled a desire to backtrack on the deal. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called the agreement "completely different" from what the government approved and demanded a new vote "immediately." Israel has repeatedly flouted agreements and faces accusations of unwillingness to make concessions.
Mladenov criticized weekend strikes without directly naming Israel, writing, "Achieving a lasting peace is hard but achievable if everyone makes their best efforts." Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, which mediated the disarmament deal, issued a joint statement condemning Israel's targeting of civilians and healthcare facilities as a "flagrant violation of international law."
Hamas said it and other Palestinian factions remain committed to completing the second phase of the ceasefire and await a clear, official response from Mladenov and the mediators.
Source: www.aljazeera.com