Board of Peace caves to Netanyahu and rewrites Israeli withdrawal terms from Gaza

Board of Peace caves to Netanyahu and rewrites Israeli withdrawal terms from Gaza The US-backed Board of Peace has hardened the conditions for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza after its senior officials met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The board linked any Israeli withdrawal beyond the Yellow Line, which divides Gaza into areas occupied by Israeli and Palestinian control, to the complete disarmament of Hamas, abandoning the phased approach it presented last week. “Contrary to inaccurate reports, we note that the withdrawal of the IDF beyond the Yellow Line will take place only once decommissioning is complete, as Hamas committed to the mediators. This applies to light weapons, heavy weapons and the tunnels alike,” it said after Monday’s meeting. The Yellow Line was established following the so-called ceasefire of October 2025. Israel has since seized additional Palestinian territory and now controls more than 60 percent of the enclave, with Netanyahu even saying that the aim is to increase to around 70 percent. Read more: Board of Peace caves to Netanyahu and rewrites Israeli withdrawal terms from Gaza US President Donald Trump attends the inaugural meeting of the "Board of Peace" at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, DC, on 19 February 2026 (Saul Loeb/AFP)