Peace Council CEO Details Gaza Disarmament Plan and Israeli Withdrawal Conditions

Nikolay Mladenov, CEO of the Peace Council, outlined a detailed plan for the disarmament of Gaza and the gradual withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in an interview with Channel 12 news. The interview took place shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel's rejection of the "15 Points" plan. Mladenov emphasized that the process does not rely on trust in Hamas and that no party, especially Israel, is expected to act before tangible steps occur on the ground.

Mladenov described the roadmap as a document negotiated between the Peace Council, led by then-US President Donald Trump, and Hamas. Its goal is to ensure Gaza no longer poses a security threat to Israel and to prevent a recurrence of the October 7 attacks. The plan requires Hamas to surrender all weapons and governance responsibilities, including tunnels and infrastructure, to the Peace Council. If commitments are not met, the process will halt.

He detailed three core components: full disarmament of Gaza, transfer of governance to the Peace Council via a national committee, and deployment of an international security force to oversee progress. Mladenov stated that Israel would begin withdrawing only after Hamas's weapons are effectively neutralized and stored, with the IDF remaining within the "yellow line" except in immediate threat scenarios. He reassured that the plan covers all weapon types, including personal firearms like Kalashnikovs, and that weapons would be fully neutralized.

Regarding tunnel destruction, Mladenov estimated it could take over a decade at the current pace but noted efforts to accelerate the process using machinery and contractors. He credited Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar for their critical mediation roles and said the mechanism would be US-led with regional support from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Morocco. Addressing concerns about entrusting security to regional actors, he stressed that the international force and Peace Council institutions would maintain control.

Despite Netanyahu's public rejection of the 15 Points agreement, Israeli security officials have not halted preparations. According to a source at the US command in Israel, work on the first multinational force base in Rafah is set to begin on August 30. The IDF has requested freedom to act against threats and insists on external oversight of Hamas's disarmament. Political opposition led Netanyahu to announce Israel's rejection, yet de facto implementation has started, including raising approval levels for Gaza strikes and nearly halting attacks per political directives. Mediators expect US pressure on Israel to comply, and the Peace Council plans to respond to Netanyahu's statements, emphasizing that all parties must fulfill their commitments.