Board of Peace Urges Netanyahu to Halt Gaza Strikes

High representative Nikolay Mladenov of the Board of Peace met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday to discuss a disarmament agreement reached with Hamas. The deal, announced last Thursday by U.S. President Donald Trump, requires the decommissioning of weapons in the Gaza Strip and a transition to civilian governance as part of a broader ceasefire established last year.

Mladenov and senior adviser Aryeh Lightstone urged Netanyahu to halt Israeli military strikes to facilitate the agreement's implementation. However, Israel reported serious security concerns and increased airstrikes over the weekend, resulting in 17 deaths. These strikes were denounced by mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey as violations of international law.

Hamas stated it remains committed to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. Meanwhile, the Board of Peace emphasized that the objective remains the complete removal of weapons from the Strip to end rule by the gun.