CAIRO — Nickolay Mladenov, high representative of the "Board of Peace," formally submitted a proposal on June 17 for an amended Clause 8 of the October 2025 ceasefire plan. The proposal calls for the complete disarmament of Gaza, including all personal weapons, with Mladenov demanding that not a "single bullet" be left.

Palestinian officials state that the complete disarmament stipulation is the primary hurdle to ending the war in Gaza. These officials argue that Mladenov is facilitating Israel's maximalist demands. Mladenov's framework, based on his 15-point roadmap for peace between Hamas and Israel, demands the dismantling of Hamas's and other Palestinian factions' military capabilities, including weapons storage facilities, tunnels, and workshops.

Palestinian factions agreed on June 12 to a unified modification of Clause 8, offering to inventory and store heavy weapons. An informed source stated that Hamas initially demonstrated "high positivity" regarding Clause 8. The source said, "The mediators were, of course, happy because for the first time Hamas engaged with this matter. Previously, they would not engage in this topic at all."

Mladenov met with Hamas representatives on June 16 to discuss the framework. His proposed text for Clause 8 outlines a gradual, phased process to inventory and collect all weapons based on an agreed timeline. The process would be monitored by the high representative, the Implementation Verification Committee, and the International Stabilization Force, and would be Palestinian-led via the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). The proposal states that no armed group would be required to transfer its weapons directly to Israel.

Hamas and other Palestinian factions' final text stipulated that the gradual inventory and storage of heavy weapons must occur in tandem with a phased Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza. Their text conditioned implementation on the completion of Phase 1 of the ceasefire, the NCAG assuming its duties, the deployment of the International Stabilization Force, and the dismantling of armed militias. Additionally, their text stated that the agreement's execution must lead to a political path guaranteeing the Palestinian people's rights to establish a state and achieve self-determination.

Israeli officials rejected the Palestinian factions' amended text for Clause 8, demanding the dismantling of the entire tunnel network operated by the Qassam Brigades and all facilities belonging to them. Mladenov aligned with the Israeli position after Hamas declined the demand to dismantle its tunnels and facilities. An informed source quoted Mladenov as saying, "No, we will not accept, and you must bring everything. You must hand over tunnel maps, manufacturing workshops, heavy weapons, and light weapons."

A senior Hamas official said, "Mladenov stressed that Gaza will be completely free of any weapons, down to the single bullet. No factions, no families, no militias, not even individuals." Mladenov's plan proposes that all rifles and other firearms be surrendered to the NCAG, which would manage surrendered weapons through a "purchase or licensing" scheme. All Palestinian leaders have rejected the push for total disarmament. The document submitted by Mladenov is currently under review by all factions.