Gaza Roadmap is Only Way Out of Violence, Says Peace Council Chairman

Nikolaj Mladenov, the senior special envoy for Gaza of the Peace Council, believes a roadmap for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip is the sole path out of the ongoing violence in the Middle East. He emphasized that both Israelis and Palestinians have a strong shared interest in breaking the cycle of violence that has caused numerous casualties and destruction.

Mladenov's remarks were made in an interview with Israeli TV channel N12. His comments contrast sharply with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stance. Netanyahu had previously stated that Israel would not withdraw its forces until Hamas is disarmed and reiterated his opposition to an independent Palestinian state.

“

Israelis and the people in Gaza have a common strong interest in getting out of this terrible spiral of violence that has cost so many lives and caused destruction on both sides.

Conversely, a senior Hamas official, Bassem Naim, affirmed the militant group's commitment to the Gaza roadmap. The Peace Council, established earlier this year following a US-brokered peace plan, is tasked with overseeing the reconstruction of Gaza and the post-war order in the devastated coastal territory.

Mladenov stressed that the plan aims to ensure Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel and that the events of October 7, 2023, are not repeated. He clarified that Israel's troop withdrawal is contingent upon a verified, sector-by-sector handover of weapons by armed factions, including Hamas. Currently, Israel is urged not to advance beyond the so-called Yellow Line, and soldiers are instructed to fire only when facing a genuine threat.

“

The Israeli army will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed.