GAZA /PNN/

The head of the “Board of Peace” for Gaza, Nikolay Mladenov, said Hamas has agreed in principle to transfer governing authority in the territory to a technocratic committee and to hand over weapons as part of a broader U.S.-backed peace framework aimed at reshaping Gaza’s political and security landscape.

Speaking on the latest developments in the implementation of President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, Mladenov said the agreement outlines a phased transition of authority away from Hamas toward a new Gaza Administration Committee.

He said Hamas has agreed that weapons in Gaza would be handed over to this committee, with the process of dismantling and decommissioning arms carried out under international supervision.

Mladenov added that the destruction or neutralisation of military capabilities in Gaza would take place under international monitoring mechanisms, stressing that the proposed committee would not replace the Palestinian Authority but would operate alongside existing governance structures.

He said the implementation of the roadmap would be complex and difficult, requiring coordinated steps on governance, security arrangements, and verification procedures.

According to Mladenov, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to insist that Hamas disarmament must take place first before any broader political or security arrangements can move forward.

He also said ongoing Israeli military strikes in Gaza are slowing the implementation of the plan, while civilians continue to bear the consequences of continued fighting and delays in the political process.

Mladenov said reconstruction in Gaza would only begin after disarmament is completed, in line with the sequencing set out in the peace framework.

The comments come as international mediators push forward efforts to implement a phased post-war roadmap for Gaza, which includes the creation of a technocratic Palestinian administration under international oversight, alongside gradual security restructuring and eventual reconstruction.

The plan, part of a broader U.S.-led initiative, envisions transferring day-to-day governance in Gaza to a civilian committee while armed factions are disarmed in stages, though key details remain subject to negotiation among the parties involved.