From the Liveblog of
Monday, August 3, 2026
Herzog: Gaza roadmap has ‘a lot of positive,’ but Hamas has to disarm
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
While the Prime Minister’s Office continues to criticize the Board of Peace road map for Gaza, President Isaac Herzog gives a more upbeat assessment, while stressing that Hamas must be “fully disarmed.”
“I see a lot of positive elements in the efforts of the Board of Peace, under the auspices of President Trump and his leadership,” says Herzog.
“I think his 20-Point Plan, which was adopted by the UN Security Council, and now, moving forward with the guidelines and the agreements that are going to be reached, is a very positive step with the clear caveat… that Hamas must be disarmed, and I hope Hamas will be disarmed fully,” he continues.
“This is clearly the basis of moving forward to the next phase by bringing in the government of technocrats,” says Herzog. “The efforts of the Americans, the Board of Peace, President Trump, and CEO of the Board of Peace Nickolay Mladenov can bring a certain vision of hope, also to the people of Gaza and to the people of Israel.”
Herzog makes the comments as he accepts the letters of credence from the new ambassadors of Germany, Chile, Honduras, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka.
Chile and Honduras recalled their ambassadors shortly after the October 7, 2023, Hamas invasion.
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