The top diplomat overseeing the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal in Gaza was in Jerusalem on Wednesday, seeking to advance the agreement that Israel and Hamas reached more than seven months ago. Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza under the International Board of Peace led by former President Donald Trump, arrived as efforts to implement the phased ceasefire have stalled.
Stalled progress on key tenets
The ceasefire, which took effect last October, envisioned Hamas handing over its weapons, Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza, and the reconstruction of the coastal enclave after more than two years of war. However, little progress has been made on these core issues. Instead, Israel and Hamas have traded accusations of violations. Aid groups report that Israel has not allowed the promised amount of humanitarian aid into Gaza, while Hamas has not disarmed and continues to control roughly half of the strip.
Renewed attacks and fears of escalation
In recent days, Israel has stepped up its attacks in Gaza following the U.S.-Iran ceasefire. Many Palestinians fear that a return of airstrikes and full-scale war may be imminent. Mladenov, a longtime U.N. diplomat and former Bulgarian government minister, was appointed last year to oversee post-war plans for Gaza. His visit comes amid heightened tensions and a lack of tangible progress on demilitarization and reconstruction.
Background of the conflict
The Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel's ensuing offensive has killed over 72,724 Palestinians, including at least 846 since the ceasefire took hold. These figures, from the Gaza Health Ministry (part of the Hamas-led government), do not differentiate between civilians and combatants but are considered generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. Around half of the deaths are reported to be women and children.
