President Isaac Herzog voiced support Monday for the Board of Peace’s efforts to advance a postwar framework for Gaza, calling the initiative “a very positive step” while stressing that Hamas must be fully disarmed before a technocratic government can take control.

Speaking after receiving the diplomatic credentials of six new ambassadors to Israel, Herzog said he saw “a lot of positive elements” in the Board of Peace’s efforts. He praised President Trump’s 20-point plan, noting that it had been adopted by the United Nations Security Council, and said it provides a framework for advancing agreements concerning Gaza.

“This is clearly the basis of moving forward to the next phase by bringing in a government of technocrats,” Herzog said. He added that the efforts of the United States, President Trump, the Board of Peace and its director-general, Nikolay Mladenov, could provide “a certain vision of hope” for both Israelis and Gazans.

Herzog also expressed hope that the process would eventually create an opportunity for renewed dialogue with the Palestinians, saying, “I sincerely hope and pray that we will find ways to move forward with our Palestinian neighbors on all fronts, to have a dialogue with our Palestinian neighbors.”

Separately, a senior Israeli diplomatic official said Israel would not withdraw from its current line in the Gaza Strip and would continue acting against every threat to Israeli civilians and soldiers.

The statement came following what was described as a difficult meeting between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Mladenov, during which Mladenov reportedly asked Israel to halt its strikes in Gaza so the process could move forward.

 

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