Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly acknowledged differences with US President Donald Trump over the latest Board of Peace proposal for Gaza, making clear that Israel believes Hamas and other armed factions must give up all their weapons before reconstruction can begin. His comments point to continuing negotiations over how the proposed transition plan should actually be carried out while keeping regional security intact.
Netanyahu: weapons must go first
Speaking after talks with Board of Peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov, Netanyahu said Israel’s position on disarmament hasn’t changed. According to remarks reported by Al Jazeera, he said Gaza must be fully demilitarised before any large-scale reconstruction work can move forward. While acknowledging that his approach differs from President Trump’s proposed framework in some respects, Netanyahu stressed that dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities remains non-negotiable for Israel.
Board of Peace clarifies withdrawal timeline
The Board of Peace also issued a clarification addressing reports about the timeline for Israeli troop movements, stating that the Israel Defense Forces will not pull back beyond the designated “Yellow Line” until the complete dismantling of weapons across Gaza has been verified. That condition, the organisation said, covers all categories of military assets — light weapons, heavy weapons, and the underground tunnel network.
The clarification followed meetings between Mladenov, members of the Board of Peace delegation, and senior Israeli officials led by Netanyahu, with discussions centred on implementing the next phase of the proposed transition.
Focus on civilian governance
The Board of Peace said its long-term goal is to replace armed control in Gaza with a civilian administration capable of maintaining stability. Officials described the talks as constructive, saying both sides broadly agree on the overall objective, even if reaching it will require a phased process rather than an immediate shift. Future discussions, the organisation said, will focus on defining the sequence of steps needed to complete disarmament while building civilian governance and improving security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
A monitoring mechanism in the works
To oversee implementation, the proposed framework includes international oversight through an International Stabilisation Force, alongside an Implementation Verification Committee expected to include representatives from both the US and the Board of Peace, tasked with ensuring all parties stick to their commitments under the agreement. The Board emphasised that continued progress will depend on every party fulfilling its obligations under the roadmap.
Israeli officials voice reservations
Earlier reporting from the Times of Israel indicated that senior Israeli officials feel the publicly released version of Trump’s Gaza roadmap doesn’t fully reflect Israel’s position. Prime Minister’s Office spokesman Doron Spielman said Israeli officials had already conveyed their concerns to their American counterparts, noting that the published proposal diverges from Israel’s preferred approach.
Spielman reiterated that Israel views complete demilitarisation as essential, arguing that Hamas must physically hand over its weapons to rule out the possibility of future attacks — and that anything short of full disarmament would leave the group capable of posing a renewed security threat.
Herzog strikes a more optimistic tone
Despite those concerns, Israeli President Isaac Herzog offered a more positive read on the diplomatic push, saying the Board of Peace’s efforts under Trump’s leadership contain several encouraging elements and describing the broader initiative as a step forward.
Herzog also referenced the 20-point peace plan previously endorsed by the UN Security Council, expressing hope that the current negotiations would ultimately achieve full disarmament of Hamas while advancing long-term regional stability.
Officials involved in the talks say the latest roadmap builds on that earlier framework, translating it into a phased implementation plan developed over months of discussions following hostage releases and the return of bodies. Diplomatic efforts are expected to continue as negotiators work through the remaining disagreements over sequencing and conditions.
