Gaza withdrawal hinges on verified Hamas disarmament, envoy says

Mladenov said the proposed framework prioritizes verified weapons decommissioning before Israeli forces begin pulling back, while Türkiye, Qatar and Egypt played a key role in securing Hamas’ acceptance of the plan.

Disarmament comes before Israeli withdrawal

Mladenov said the roadmap is intended to prevent Gaza from becoming a security threat to Israel again and establishes disarmament as a condition for further Israeli movement. Under the proposal, weapons held by Palestinian factions would have to be removed, secured and eventually made unusable before a withdrawal could begin.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the 15-point framework on Sunday, saying Israeli forces would leave Gaza only after Hamas had surrendered its weapons. Mladenov’s interpretation of the roadmap places emphasis on tangible measures on the ground rather than an immediate Israeli pullback.

Yellow Line remains central to plan

The envoy said the roadmap does not currently require Israeli troops to move back from their positions along the Yellow Line. Instead, he said the Israeli military should avoid advancing beyond the existing line and should refrain from firing unless its personnel face a genuine threat.

Mladenov described the proposed withdrawal as a gradual, area-by-area process. Israeli forces would move back as disarmament was completed in individual areas, with the eventual objective of reaching the fence surrounding the Gaza Strip. He added that the framework would not prevent Israel from responding to immediate threats against its troops.

Three-part framework for Gaza

According to Mladenov, the roadmap rests on three main components: comprehensive disarmament in Gaza, the transfer of civilian governance to a Palestinian national committee operating under the Board of Peace, and an international security force tasked with monitoring implementation.

The framework, issued on July 31, envisages disarmament and Israeli withdrawal proceeding progressively. Mladenov said, however, that Israel would not be expected to withdraw before concrete disarmament measures could be verified.

Implementation could be suspended

Mladenov warned that the process could be frozen if either side fails to honor its commitments. He specifically pointed to the possibility of a halt if Hamas members resume military training or rebuild their weapons capabilities.

The envoy also estimated that eliminating Gaza’s tunnel network could take more than a decade if current methods continue. He said the Board of Peace was examining the use of specialized machinery and contractors to accelerate the work.

Türkiye's mediation role highlighted

Mladenov credited Türkiye, Qatar and Egypt with making a “critical” contribution to securing Hamas’ approval of the roadmap. He also said Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, other Gulf states and Morocco support the initiative, underlining the broader regional backing behind the proposed framework.

Hamas reiterates support for roadmap

Hamas said Sunday that it remains committed to the agreement reached with mediators and the Board of Peace and intends to move forward with the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan.

The proposed second phase would place Gaza’s administration under a Palestinian technocratic committee, introduce an international stabilization force and establish international oversight of weapons. It also envisages a phased Israeli withdrawal and reconstruction of the territory.

Gaza death toll remains a major issue

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza since October 2023 has killed more than 73,000 people and injured over 174,000, according to figures cited in the report. Gaza’s Health Ministry says that despite a ceasefire that began on Oct. 10, 2025, Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,258 additional people and wounded 4,139.