Former UN envoy Nikolay Mladenov posted on Twitter after meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, stating that the 'hard phase' of negotiations has begun. Mladenov described the work as slow, painstaking, and technical, adding that little of what is being done now is dramatic.
Nikolay Mladenov, the former UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process and head of the Gaza Peace Council, posted on Twitter after meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday evening, stating that the 'hard phase' of negotiations has begun. Mladenov described the work as slow, painstaking, and technical, adding that little of what is being done now is dramatic. The post is his first public characterization of the process since the meeting.
Earlier Monday, Mladenov met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Initial reports, first cited by Barak Ravid (N12), said Mladenov and Peace Council advisor Aryeh Lightstone urged Netanyahu to halt Israeli strikes in Gaza, arguing that Israel committed to doing so under President Trump's 20-point plan. Subsequent reports from i24NEWS and other outlets detailed that Mladenov requested a 14-day ceasefire to kickstart the disarmament process, and discussed a 15-point demilitarization plan for Gaza. The Peace Council later reiterated that the full IDF withdrawal from the yellow line will occur only after Hamas completes the disarmament of all weapons, as the terror group committed to mediators, and that implementation will be supervised by the International Stabilization Force. The reports evolved from a single source to multiple confirmations across news outlets.
The Gaza Peace Council was established as part of Trump's broader diplomatic initiative for the region. As The Zioneer has reported, Netanyahu's recent Washington summit with President Trump primarily focused on the Iranian nuclear threat, but the Gaza track has been a parallel priority. The current negotiations are being conducted against the backdrop of ongoing military operations in Gaza.
Netanyahu's response to the specific proposals, including the 14-day ceasefire and the demilitarization plan, has not been disclosed. Mladenov's post did not specify the subject of the negotiations beyond the general characterization of the work.
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