UN Peace Council Chief Outlines Gradual Israeli Withdrawal from Gaza Linked to Hamas Disarmament

Nikolay Mladenov, the UN Peace Council Secretary-General, detailed a phased plan for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza contingent on Hamas's complete disarmament in an exclusive interview with Channel 12 on August 9, 2026. He responded to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of the "15 Points" peace plan, emphasizing that Israel would not retreat before tangible disarmament steps occur on the ground. The withdrawal would proceed area by area, only after weapons, tunnels, and production sites are dismantled and secured.

Mladenov explained that the roadmap, negotiated between the UN Peace Council under former U.S. President Trump and Hamas, aims to prevent future threats to Israeli security and avoid a repeat of the October 7 attacks. The plan requires Hamas to relinquish not only its weapons, including assault rifles like Kalashnikovs, but also governance responsibilities in Gaza to the Peace Council's National Committee. An international security force, led by the U.S. military and supported by regional actors, would oversee implementation.

He acknowledged concerns about Turkey and Qatar's involvement but stressed their critical role in persuading Hamas to agree to the roadmap. Mladenov also noted the lengthy process of destroying Gaza's tunnel network, estimating it could take over a decade at the current pace, though efforts to accelerate this are underway.

Mladenov warned that if Hamas fails to meet its commitments, the process would halt immediately. He rejected the notion that the plan relies on trust in Hamas, instead emphasizing strict verification and stepwise progress. He assured that Israel retains the right to respond to immediate threats throughout the process. Despite Netanyahu's dismissal of the plan, Mladenov expressed hope ongoing discussions with the U.S. might yield a positive outcome.

The UN official concluded by underscoring that the roadmap offers the only viable path to ending the cycle of violence and preventing another tragedy like the October 7 massacre, while cautioning that delays or failures could lead to renewed hostilities.