Peace Council Clarifies Gaza Plan: Full Israeli Withdrawal Tied to Complete Disarmament

The Peace Council stated that Israel’s full withdrawal behind the “yellow line” in the Gaza Strip will not commence until disarmament is fully completed—a position that settles one of the most contentious points of disagreement in favor of the condition insisted upon by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Meeting with Netanyahu and Israeli Officials

The announcement followed a meeting between the Council’s Special Representative for Gaza, Nikolay Mladenov, and his team with Netanyahu and senior Israeli officials. The session focused on transitioning to civilian governance and establishing mechanisms for implementing the next phase of the plan.

The Council characterized the meeting as “constructive and detailed,” affirming that a shared understanding had been reached with Israel on the ultimate objective: the complete disarmament of the Gaza Strip, the end of armed faction rule, and the transfer of administrative authority to a civilian entity.

Disarmament as Prerequisite for Withdrawal

In response to what it termed “inaccurate reports,” the Council clarified that the Israeli Defense Forces will not fully withdraw behind the yellow line before disarmament is completed—encompassing heavy and light weapons as well as underground tunnels.

It added that an international stabilization force and a verification committee—comprising the United States and the Peace Council—will oversee implementation. Specific operational details and a timeline will be defined in the upcoming phase.

Clarification Counters Israeli Ministerial Concerns

The statement dispels concerns raised by several Israeli ministers, notably Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who had argued that the previously published plan permitted Israeli military withdrawal prior to full disarmament and called for an urgent meeting of the Security Cabinet.

Clash with Hamas Position

However, the clarification intensifies the standoff with Hamas, which has conditioned any discussion of disarmament on Israel halting its military operations, withdrawing from the Gaza Strip, launching reconstruction efforts, and deploying an international protection force. A Hamas official affirmed that disarmament steps would not begin until Israel fulfills its obligations and completes its withdrawal.

Thus, while the Peace Council has resolved the sequencing dispute with Israel, it has shifted the impasse to the Palestinian side: Israel insists on full disarmament before withdrawal, whereas Hamas refuses disarmament without prior withdrawal—leaving the implementation mechanism at its most difficult impasse.