Gaza
Israel need not quit Gaza until Palestinians disarm, envoy says
Image credit: Middle East Eye
TOP News Brief
Middle East Eye reported that Israel will not have to withdraw its forces from Gaza until Palestinian groups surrender their weapons under the Board of Peace's plan, according to the envoy group's senior representative. The condition establishes a sequence in which Israeli military withdrawal depends on Palestinian disarmament as a prerequisite.
The statement appears to contradict the envoy's earlier positions on the withdrawal timeline. The Board of Peace plan ties the two demands together, requiring Palestinian armed groups to relinquish weapons before Israeli forces leave Gaza. The envoy's remarks reveal the contentious terms at the center of negotiations over a potential ceasefire and long-term settlement.
