Israel will not begin withdrawing troops from Gaza until Hamas has been fully disarmed, according to the Board of Peace established at the initiative of US President Donald Trump. The position was outlined after Israeli objections to a disarmament agreement announced by the board last week, with disagreement persisting over the timing of Hamas’s weapons surrender and Israeli troop withdrawal.

Trump said the agreement would be carried out in several specifically structured stages and that Israeli forces would withdraw as disarmament is completed. The agreement document said Israeli attacks in Gaza would end and troop withdrawals would occur gradually in line with the Hamas disarmament process.

The deal also referred to implementing a ceasefire agreement signed in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, last year, including unimpeded humanitarian aid access to Gaza and arrangements to evacuate people for medical treatment. Hamas said implementation depends on whether Israel fulfills its commitments. Board of Peace director Nikolai Mladenov, after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, said Israel would move beyond the Yellow Line only after disarmament covering light weapons, heavy weapons and tunnels is complete.