Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza on the Board of Peace, has asserted that the US-backed peace plan remains the "only way forward" to prevent a recurrence of the October 7-style attacks. In an interview with Israel's Channel 12, Mladenov emphasized that the proposed option is designed to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again. He noted that discussions regarding the initiative are ongoing, expressing hope that these talks will yield a positive outcome for all parties involved.
The plan has faced significant opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who informed his cabinet that he has rejected the proposal. The framework involves Hamas surrendering its weapons to a new Palestinian governing body, followed by a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from the war-ravaged territory. Mladenov clarified that the current stage of the agreement involves commitments from the United States, Hamas, and the Board of Peace, with Israel not currently included in that specific arrangement.
Addressing concerns regarding the security timeline, Mladenov reiterated an assurance made to Netanyahu last week, clarifying that Israel would only initiate a withdrawal following the complete disarmament of Hamas. While previous discussions had mentioned a phased withdrawal, Mladenov confirmed that Israel's exit is contingent upon verified demilitarization, stating, "If there is genuine demilitarisation, Israel will withdraw from the Strip." He specified that this disarmament process would encompass all Hamas weaponry, including Kalashnikov rifles. This requirement differs from the Israeli government's demand for the total destruction of all weapons rather than merely their surrender.
