The official overseeing the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza has called on the United Nations Security Council to utilise "every means at its disposal" to compel Hamas to disarm, cautioning that any act of violence in the Palestinian territory threatens to "unravel" the agreement.
Mladenov's Warning to the Security Council
Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative of the Board of Peace—an international body established by former President Donald Trump—addressed the Security Council on Thursday. He stressed that Israel must also fulfil its obligations under the ceasefire reached in October, highlighting the killings of Palestinians and restrictions on humanitarian aid flows.
Mladenov presented two stark alternatives for Hamas and Israel: either a "deteriorating status quo" or a new beginning for Palestinians enduring "desperate conditions." He asserted, "There is no third option. There never was, and the people of Gaza should not be made to wait while some pretend that there is."
Board of Peace Report Highlights
Mladenov expanded on the first report by the Board of Peace, which identified the primary obstacle to full ceasefire implementation as "Hamas’ refusal to accept verified decommissioning, relinquish coercive control, and permit a genuine civilian transition in Gaza."
In response, Hamas issued a statement criticising the report, accusing it of ignoring Israel's failure to comply with the ceasefire terms. The Palestinian militant group, which launched the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that ignited the war, has sought to link any demilitarisation to Israeli troop withdrawals. Since the truce took effect, Israel's military has expanded its control over Gaza, now holding approximately 60% of the territory.
Consequences of Inaction
Mladenov, a veteran Bulgarian diplomat, warned that if both sides refuse to accept the roadmap for implementing Trump's peace plan, the Board of Peace would explore alternative ways to deliver humanitarian relief and foster recovery. He cautioned that without action, Gaza would remain divided, with Hamas retaining administrative and military control over 2 million Palestinians living in less than half of the Strip, trapped in rubble, dependent on aid, and devoid of hope for reconstruction or a future for their children.
"This is a version of the future that Israelis, Palestinians and the region should all fear and all mobilise to avoid," Mladenov stated.
Weapon Decommissioning and Transition
He explained that the decommissioning of weapons would be "gradual, sequenced and time-bound against an agreed timetable" and that arms from Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups would not be transferred to Israel but to a transitional administration in Gaza.
Mladenov urged the Security Council to provide "clear, consistent and unequivocal support" for the roadmap. He concluded, "I ask the council to use every means at its disposal to urge Hamas to accept the roadmap without further delay, and Israel to uphold its obligations under the ceasefire. Diplomacy must continue, cannot be used as an excuse for delay while 2 million people wait in desperate conditions."
