Beirut: The Board of Peace's lead envoy for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, announced that Israel would withdraw from the Gaza Strip only if 'verified' disarmament is achieved. The roadmap aims to prevent Gaza from becoming a threat to Israeli security again, emphasizing that no actions are required from Israel until concrete disarmament steps are verified.
According to Anadolu Agency, Mladenov outlined the plan's three principal elements: complete disarmament of Gaza, transferring governance to the Board of Peace through a Palestinian national committee, and deploying an international security force to ensure the agreement's implementation. Despite the roadmap's call for Hamas' disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal, Mladenov stressed that Israel wouldn't need to withdraw before concrete disarmament actions are taken.
Mladenov highlighted that the plan does not mandate an Israeli withdrawal from its current positions along the 'Yellow Line' at this stage. He requested that the Israeli Defense Forces maintain their positions and avoid engaging unless there is a real threat to Israeli soldiers. The withdrawal would occur gradually, area by area, following successful disarmament in each region.
The envoy also noted that the process could be suspended if commitments aren't fulfilled or if Hamas continues military activities. He estimated that eliminating all tunnels in Gaza could take over a decade but mentioned that the Board of Peace is exploring ways to expedite this process.
Mladenov underscored the critical role of regional mediators such as Trkiye, Qatar, and Egypt in gaining Hamas' approval for the roadmap. He also mentioned the support of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, other Gulf countries, and Morocco.
The Israeli offensive in Gaza since October 2023 has resulted in over 73,000 deaths and more than 174,000 injuries. Despite a ceasefire initiated on October 10, 2025, as part of the first phase of Trump's Gaza plan, Israeli attacks have continued, causing additional casualties.
The second phase of Trump's plan involves transferring Gaza's administration to a Palestinian technocratic committee, deploying an international stabilization force, overseeing weapons management, and conducting a phased Israeli withdrawal and reconstruction efforts. On Sunday, Hamas reiterated its commitment to the roadmap in collaboration with mediators and the Board of Peace to advance the second phase of the plan for Gaza.