Board of Peace envoy says full execution of Gaza plan only ‘guarantee’ Oct. 7 won’t recur

Nickolay Mladenov, Gaza envoy of the US-backed Board of Peace, said full implementation of the board's plan for Hamas disarmament is Israel's only guarantee against a repeat of the October 7, 2023 massacre. In a Channel 12 interview, he stressed verification over trust, saying Israel would not withdraw until verified decommissioning steps occur. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the plan and halted a small IDF pullout near Rafah.

Nickolay Mladenov, the Gaza envoy of the US-backed Board of Peace, sought to dispel Israeli skepticism about the board's roadmap for Hamas disarmament, arguing that full implementation is Israel's only 'guarantee' against a repeat of the October 7, 2023 massacre. In a Channel 12 interview broadcast Sunday, he emphasized that the plan is built on verifiable steps, not trust. Mladenov said Israel would not be required to withdraw IDF forces until Hamas's disarmament is verified on the ground, with weapons taken, stored, and rendered unusable. He specified that the plan does not require withdrawal from the Yellow Line, which divided Gaza under the October 2025 ceasefire, and that Israel now controls over 60% of Gaza. He also said the plan does not limit Israel's responses to imminent threats. Mladenov praised Turkey and Qatar for their mediating role, despite Israeli concerns about their involvement in a stabilization force. The interview came hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu categorically rejected the 15-point plan and reportedly halted a small IDF pullout from areas near Rafah. The White House dismissed Netanyahu's comments as campaign rhetoric ahead of Israel's October 27 election, while a key Palestinian mediator slammed them.