Gaza plan rejected by Netanyahu ‘only way forward’, says Board of Peace chief

The US-backed plan for Gaza, rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, remains the only viable option to avoid a recurrence of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, according to Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace's high representative for Gaza. Speaking to Israel's Channel 12 television, Mladenov expressed hope that ongoing discussions would result in a positive outcome for all parties involved.

The proposed plan entails Hamas turning over weapons to a nascent Palestinian governing body, with Israel subsequently initiating a withdrawal from the war-torn territory. However, Mladenov clarified that the current agreement only involves the United States, Hamas, and the Board of Peace, omitting Israel's participation. He reiterated his previous assurance to Netanyahu that Israel would withdraw only after Hamas's complete disarmament, correcting earlier statements that suggested a phased withdrawal.

Mladenov emphasized that genuine demilitarization would lead to Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. He also specified that the disarmament would encompass all Hamas weapons, including small arms like Kalashnikov rifles. Notably, Israel has demanded the complete destruction of all weapons, not merely their surrender.