The Board of Peace's senior official overseeing Gaza's postwar transition held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, focusing on a proposed disarmament agreement with Hamas and efforts to advance a broader post-conflict governance plan for the Gaza Strip. The meeting came amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire, transition Gaza to civilian administration, and lay the groundwork for reconstruction after months of conflict.
According to a statement issued by the Board of Peace, High Representative for Gaza Nikolay Mladenov held "constructive and detailed" discussions with Netanyahu and his team. The talks centred on a newly reached disarmament arrangement that the board said had been agreed with the militant group Hamas. The proposal aims to oversee the complete decommissioning of weapons in Gaza and facilitate a transition from armed rule to civilian governance. The statement described the objective as "clear and not in question," emphasising that the long-term goal is to replace military control with civilian institutions capable of administering the territory.
During the meeting, Mladenov also urged the Israeli government to halt military strikes in the Gaza Strip, according to two people familiar with the discussions. He and his delegation, which included senior adviser Aryeh Lightstone, argued that continued military operations could undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts to implement the disarmament framework and stabilise conditions on the ground. The Board of Peace has been engaged in international efforts to coordinate security, governance, and reconstruction initiatives in Gaza, with the aim of supporting a sustainable postwar transition.
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Separately, members of the Board of Peace met with staff from the United States Congress on Monday to brief them on the group's activities and seek support for its long-term plans for Gaza. According to the board, the discussions in Washington focused on advancing international cooperation on security arrangements, governance reforms, humanitarian assistance, and reconstruction projects. The outreach reflects efforts to secure political and financial backing from key international partners as negotiations over Gaza's future continue.
Hamas, in a statement issued on Monday, said it and other Palestinian factions remained committed to the understandings reached under the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. The group said all parties were expected to fulfil their respective obligations under the arrangement, though it did not provide further details on the implementation process. The statement came as international mediators continue working to preserve the ceasefire and address unresolved issues related to hostages, detainees, humanitarian aid, and postwar governance.
The diplomatic engagement highlights growing international efforts to shape Gaza's post-conflict future through negotiations rather than continued military confrontation. While the proposed disarmament agreement and governance framework represent a significant development, their implementation will depend on sustained cooperation among Israel, Hamas, regional mediators, and international stakeholders. With fighting having caused extensive destruction and humanitarian challenges across Gaza, officials involved in the talks have stressed that progress on security, reconstruction, and civilian administration will require both political commitment and continued international support.
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