Board of Peace 'Losing Patience' with Hamas; Mladenov Meets Netanyahu in Jerusalem

US-backed Board of Peace High Representative Nickolay Mladenov met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on May 13, 2026. Mladenov described the discussions as 'positive and substantive' and said both sides reaffirmed commitment to Trump's 20-point comprehensive Gaza peace plan. Haaretz reported that the Board of Peace is 'losing patience' with Hamas and is pushing the Trump plan forward without Hamas's explicit buy-in — a significant shift in the negotiating posture. Hamas has refused to discuss disarmament until Israel fully withdraws behind the October 2025 ceasefire 'Yellow Line'; Israel refuses to withdraw before Hamas disarms. The Board of Peace was established under the February 2026 Trump-Netanyahu framework and has been mediating disarmament talks in Qatar and Jerusalem. With Hamas disarmament talks formally stalled since late April, the Board is exploring whether the Trump plan's reconstruction and civilian governance provisions can proceed without a formal Hamas disarmament agreement. The IDF now controls approximately 59% of the Gaza Strip under the ceasefire framework.