CEO of Gaza governing body denies reports of deal with Hamas
Nickolay Mladenov, CEO of the Peace Council, published a post in Hebrew for the first time, categorically denying claims of a financial agreement with Hamas. He clarified that the organization will not have access to funds or a role in governing Gaza and confirmed that a violation monitoring mechanism is now operational.
Nickolay Mladenov, CEO of the Peace Council for Gaza, published a post in Hebrew today, Wednesday, in which he categorically denied claims of a financial agreement between the Council and Hamas, labeling such reports as false.
In addition, Mladenov confirmed the report from Channel 12, stating that the Peace Council has begun operating a mechanism to monitor violations of the agreement in the Strip. He outlined the following points:
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No financial agreement with Hamas: Such an arrangement was never discussed or considered and will not be on the agenda.
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No access to funds for Hamas: Peace Council funds will not be transferred through the organization, and all payments are subject to strict audits.
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No role for Hamas in governance: Mladenov emphasized that the organization will have no role in the civil administration of the Strip.
"In recent days, a mechanism for monitoring violations has begun to operate. Every verified violation will be addressed," he wrote. He noted that the roadmap serves as a framework for an arrangement in parallel with talks with Israel. Israel is not required to take irreversible steps before verified actions are taken on the ground.
The IDF reports that Hamas continues to violate the ceasefire, and these incidents are being reported to the Peace Council. Sources within the Council clarified that if Hamas fails to fulfill its obligations, the Council will not prevent Israel from taking necessary measures. "We ask to give a chance to the demilitarization process, not immunity for terrorist activity," they stated.
However, the 15-point plan for the "day after" remains far from implementation. Multinational forces are not expected to enter the Strip until at least October, possibly after the elections. Meanwhile, the Shin Bet is working on training local militias, though previous attempts to create an alternative to Hamas rule have failed. These delays provide Hamas with time to regroup, a concern exacerbated by the approaching political developments in Israel.
