The Trump-led Board of Peace told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel would not begin a phased withdrawal from Gaza beyond the Yellow Line until Hamas's weapons are verifiably decommissioned. Israeli officials said the publicly released framework did not reflect their position, with some ministers demanding a new cabinet vote. Talks between Nickolay Mladenov and Netanyahu yielded a "common understanding," but continuing strikes and mixed public statements from mediators and officials have left deep divisions.
Trump-Led Board Says Israel Will Only Pull Back From Gaza After Hamas Is Disarmed
A Palestinian child carries a little girl on his back as he walks past the rubble of destroyed buildings in the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in the northern Gaza Strip (Omar AL-QATTAA)
President Donald Trump's Board of Peace told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that any Israeli withdrawal from Gaza beyond the so-called Yellow Line would begin only after Hamas's weapons had been fully decommissioned and independently verifiable steps toward demilitarisation were completed.
The announcement came after Israeli officials objected to a draft framework the board published calling for a phased Israeli pullback and an immediate halt to strikes. Two members of Netanyahu's security cabinet demanded a new vote, saying the publicly released text differed from the version they had been shown.
Talks And A Tentative Understanding
Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace's senior representative for Gaza, met Netanyahu and described the talks as difficult but constructive. The board said the meeting produced a "common understanding of the shared objectives" and reiterated that withdrawal beyond areas still under Hamas control would occur only after decommissioning of weapons was complete, as Hamas had reportedly committed to mediators.
Political Friction In Israel
Netanyahu's office said it had raised formal concerns with U.S. counterparts after Mr. Trump hailed what he called a "major milestone" — reports that Hamas had agreed to hand over weapons to a nascent Palestinian governing committee. Doron Spielman, a spokesman for the prime minister, said the publicly released draft "does not reflect Israel's positions." Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called the published text "completely different" from the version presented to the security cabinet and, with a colleague, demanded an immediate re-vote.
Mixed Messages From Mediators And Local Figures
Mohammad Dahlan, a Palestinian political figure involved in the Gaza plan, initially posted that Jared Kushner — President Trump's aide and son-in-law — had told him Israel would stop strikes effective Sunday. Dahlan later softened that claim, saying Kushner was "working with the Israeli side to halt the attacks," and criticised Netanyahu for attempting to block what he described as an opportunity to end the war.
Continuing Violence
Despite the diplomatic activity, deadly strikes continued. An Israeli strike on a vehicle west of Gaza City killed two Palestinians and wounded others, according to the civil defence. The Israeli military said it had targeted two militants. Civil defence officials also reported that Israeli attacks on Sunday killed 19 Palestinians, including women and children.
Reactions
Israeli President Isaac Herzog, whose role is largely ceremonial, called the development "a very positive step" while stressing the caveat that Hamas must be disarmed. Meanwhile, the episode highlighted growing strains between Trump and Netanyahu ahead of Netanyahu's upcoming re-election campaign, and underscored the delicate balance between ceasefire arrangements and on-the-ground security concerns.
Bottom line: The Board of Peace tied any significant Israeli pullback to verifiable demilitarisation by Hamas, but disagreements over the public framework and continuing violence mean the proposal remains contentious and provisional.
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