The High Representative for Gaza at the Peace Council established by U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that the U.S.-backed plan for the Gaza Strip, which was rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is “the only way forward” to prevent a repeat of what happened on October 7, 2023.
Nikolay Mladenov, the Peace Council’s High Representative for Gaza, told Israel’s Channel 12 in an interview that “the option we are putting forward today is the only way forward that guarantees this tragedy will not happen again.”
He referred to ongoing talks, expressing hope that they would lead to a “positive outcome for everyone.”
Mladenov described the current phase of the agreement as an undertaking involving the United States, Hamas and the Peace Council, without referring to Israel.
Mladenov reiterated assurances he gave Netanyahu last week that Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza would not begin until Hamas had been fully disarmed, backtracking from earlier wording that referred to the start of a gradual Israeli withdrawal.
Following his meeting with Netanyahu, Mladenov said Israel would not be required to withdraw until “complete disarmament” had taken place.
Mladenov nevertheless stressed that Israel would ultimately withdraw if verifiable disarmament was achieved.
“If there is genuine disarmament, Israel will withdraw from the Strip,” he said.
He explained that the disarmament process would cover Hamas’ entire arsenal, including Kalashnikov rifles.
Israel has demanded that all weapons be destroyed rather than merely handed over.
Netanyahu had said that Israel rejects the 15-point Gaza plan put forward by the Peace Council.
During a Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said some ideas in the U.S. plan were acceptable to Israel while others were not, stressing that Israel would not withdraw from the Gaza Strip until Hamas was fully disarmed.
He also said: “There will be no Palestinian state in Gaza or in the West Bank as long as I am prime minister.”
AFP
