Mediators vow to uphold Gaza deal after Netanyahu rejection

Mediators have moved to reassure Hamas that negotiations remain on track after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejected the Board of Peace's 15-point roadmap to end the Gaza war, Palestinian sources have told The New Arab.

Hamas recently agreed with the Trump-backed organisation to surrender its weapons if Israel ended its attacks on the strip and committed to withdrawing its troops.

But Netanyahu has refused to agree to the plan amid far-right backlash, and on Sunday ruled out any withdrawal until Hamas had been fully disarmed.

In discussions this week, mediators told Hamas officials they should disregard Netanyahu's comments as "merely statements" and that the agreement remained unchanged, according to the sources, who requested anonymity.

They said the mediators reassured the group that the Trump administration is serious about reaching a solution in Gaza "even if that angers Netanyahu", and that the agreement would go ahead without any changes.

They added that decisions on outstanding issues and disputes could be postponed until after the Israeli general election.

This coincides with a report by Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, which quoted an Israeli official as saying that Israel’s rejection of the document was "unrealistic and made under pressure".

US officials have pressured Netanyahu to reduce attacks on Gaza and view his comments as campaign rhetoric ahead of the 27 October election.

Israeli attacks in Gaza have slowed since Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump's Gaza envoy Nikolay Mladenov earlier this month. Airstrikes have stopped, though artillery shelling and gunfire attacks near the Yellow Line remain a daily occurrence.

Hamas has said it remains committed to its agreement with the Board and the mediators.

In a statement this week, the group pressed for the deal to be fully implemented, leading to a complete ceasefire, Israel's withdrawal, the opening of border crossings, the start of reconstruction, and the transfer of power to the Board's Palestinian-led transitional authority.

It called on the mediators and the Board to uphold the deal and prevent Israel obstructing its implementation.