Board of Peace Reverses Course: Hamas Must Disarm Before Israeli Withdrawal from Gaza

After meeting Netanyahu in West Jerusalem on August 3, the US-led Board of Peace abandoned its earlier pledge to synchronize Hamas's disarmament with Israel's military withdrawal from Gaza. Israeli forces will now stay behind the Yellow Line until decommissioning of all weapons and tunnels is complete. Hamas says it will not implement the deal unless Israel fulfills its obligations. The reversal effectively gives Israel control over the withdrawal timetable.