US-backed Board of Peace modifies Gaza withdrawal terms after Netanyahu meeting

The US-backed Board of Peace (BoP) has seemingly adjusted its stance on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza following a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. The meeting, which took place shortly before reports of new Israeli airstrikes on the besieged territory, appears to have influenced the BoP's conditions for an IDF pullout.

According to a statement from the BoP, the withdrawal of the IDF beyond the "Yellow Line", a border established in an October 2025 ceasefire agreement, will only occur after Hamas completes its disarmament process. This condition applies to both light and heavy weaponry, as well as tunnels. This revised understanding contrasts with earlier reports and an initial version of the BoP statement that suggested a more immediate or phased withdrawal.

Notably, the word "full" was removed from the BoP's statement shortly after its publication on Monday. The initial version had implied that a partial withdrawal of IDF forces beyond the Yellow Line could happen before the complete disarmament process was finalized, aligning with a proposal made by the BoP the previous week. The current statement, however, makes no specific mention of this possibility, emphasizing the completion of disarmament first.

This apparent shift in position seems to be part of the BoP's strategy to secure Israeli agreement to its disarmament plan. Israeli officials had previously insisted that no IDF withdrawal would occur until Hamas's comprehensive disarmament was complete, expressing objections to any phased approach. The BoP's revised statement appears to accommodate these Israeli demands, potentially easing tensions and paving the way for further negotiations.