Board of Peace warns Gaza deal will collapse if Hamas rejects disarmament plan

The US-led Board of Peace overseeing postwar arrangements in Gaza has indicated it will not enforce key ceasefire obligations on Israel if Hamas refuses to accept an international disarmament framework, according to a letter obtained by The Times of Israel.

In the document, the Board’s High Representative for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov warns that failure by Hamas to agree within a set timeframe would effectively void reciprocal commitments. He writes: “Failure by Hamas to accept the framework within a reasonable timeframe, as determined by the Board of Peace and after consultation with the parties, shall render such commitments null and void,”

The letter, co-signed with senior US official Aryeh Lightstone, was sent to the head of the Palestinian technocratic administration intended to replace Hamas governance in Gaza. It signals that Israel would not be required to maintain ceasefire restrictions if the disarmament process stalls, including limits on military activity and humanitarian access.

Among the provisions referenced is the clause stating: “All military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment and targeting operations, will be suspended.” The letter adds that Israel has recommitted to “suspend all military operations.”

Despite the October 2025 ceasefire agreement, Israel has continued conducting near-daily strikes in Gaza, which it says target imminent threats. The Board acknowledges gaps in implementation, including humanitarian aid flows, the status of the Rafah Crossing, and Israeli troop positioning near agreed withdrawal lines.

The document also notes commitments to allow 4,200 aid trucks weekly into Gaza, fully reopen the Rafah Crossing, and facilitate reconstruction supplies. However, aid deliveries have fluctuated significantly amid broader regional tensions.

A key sticking point remains Hamas’s refusal to accept disarmament without guarantees of a Palestinian state. The group argues that phase-one obligations under the ceasefire must be fully implemented before any transition to weapons decommissioning.

Mladenov and Lightstone previously set an April 11 deadline for Hamas to respond to a proposed eight-month disarmament framework, but the timeline has since slipped. The officials wrote: “We expect to finalize negotiations on the implementation of the decommissioning framework this week,”

Hamas has since submitted a counterproposal linking disarmament to statehood, according to Arab diplomats familiar with the talks.

Benjamin Netanyahu met Mladenov in Jerusalem this week, where the latter described discussions as “positive and substantive discussion.”

“We all reaffirmed our commitment to the full implementation of Trump’s 20-Point Comprehensive Plan,” Mladenov said.

“Working with all sides to turn commitment into concrete actions. This will require decisions for progress. We keep moving forward in the interest of a better future for Israelis and Palestinians.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev