Board of Peace Rules Out Israeli Exit from Gaza Until Hamas Disarms.

The US-backed Board of Peace has stated that Israeli forces will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas fully completes the disarmament process.

The announcement followed a meeting between Board of Peace Director-General Nickolay Mladenov and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem amid growing disagreements over the implementation of the Gaza peace roadmap.

In a statement, the Board clarified that Israeli troops would only pull back beyond the designated "Yellow Line" after Hamas surrenders all light and heavy weapons and dismantles its tunnel network, stressing that the objective is to replace armed control with civilian governance.

Hamas, however, insisted that it would only fulfill its obligations if Israel also implements its commitments under the agreement.

During the meeting, Mladenov reportedly urged Israel to halt military operations in Gaza. Despite a ceasefire announced in October 2025, Israeli strikes have continued, with dozens of Palestinians reportedly killed in recent days.

Meanwhile, divisions have emerged within Israel's government over the agreement. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a new cabinet vote, arguing that the publicly released version of the deal differs from what Israeli leaders had approved.

Mediators Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye also condemned recent attacks on civilians and healthcare facilities, describing them as violations of international law, while Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to the next phase of the ceasefire pending an official response from mediators.

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