Board of Peace says no Israeli withdrawal from Gaza before Hamas disarms

The Board of Peace, established by Trump in January to oversee Gaza administration following the conflict, clarified its position on Israeli military repositioning after a Monday meeting in West Jerusalem between its director and Netanyahu. According to the board's statement, the withdrawal of Israeli forces beyond the demarcation line known as the Yellow Line will proceed only once Hamas completes the decommissioning of all weapons categories, including light and heavy arms and tunnel infrastructure, as the militant group committed to mediators.

During the talks, Mladenov pressed Netanyahu to halt military operations in Gaza. According to individuals familiar with the discussions, Israel has maintained its refusal to cease operations despite an October 2025 ceasefire agreement, during which more than 1,200 Palestinians have been killed, including over 36 since the disarmament deal's announcement. The broader conflict has resulted in more than 73,000 Palestinian deaths since October 2023.

Hamas has stated it will not implement the agreement unless Israel fulfils its obligations. Netanyahu's office countered that the publicly released version does not align with Israeli positions, and that concerns have been communicated to the United States. Members of the Israeli government's far-right coalition have already indicated intentions to reverse course, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich characterizing the agreement as fundamentally different from what was previously approved and demanding an immediate new vote.

Mladenov issued criticism of recent strikes without directly naming Israel, emphasizing that lasting peace requires collective effort. Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, which jointly mediated the disarmament arrangement, released a coordinated statement condemning the targeting of civilians.