Board of Peace’s senior representative for Gaza criticised Israel’s ongoing air attacks in Gaza while urging the Palestinian militant group to fulfill its pledge to cease all military activities. He testified before the United Nations Security Council, noting that a mechanism had been established with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resolve pending concerns and that committees had been set up to oversee the process.
Mladenov declared that the arrangement had not stalled, but warned that the ceasefire could “become a point of no return” if continued Israeli strikes crossed civilian lines and if Hamas continued to deploy weapons. He described the current situation as fragile, stressing that each use of force not justified by an explicit threat, and each incident that bypassed the deconfliction mechanism, eroded trust and made the future of Gaza more uncertain.
He also called attention to Hamas’s partial compliance, noting that the group had yet to fully surrender its arsenal, break open tunnels or halt obstructive convoys. The envoy underlined that Israeli withdrawal from Gaza would only occur after verified disarmament, a condition he said was specified in the Board’s 15‑point roadmap.
In contrast to statements made by former U.S. President Trump’s envoy, Jared Kushner, Mladenov reiterated that the Israeli withdrawal would follow documented de‑commissioning of Hamas weapons, and that any discussion would take place only after the militarisation of Gaza was “completely finished.” He held Israel accountable for continuing to kill Palestinian civilians with impunity.
The envoy warned that allowing the ceasefire to collapse would leave Gaza with no administrative framework and no rebuilt infrastructure, thereby marking an irreversible turning point for all involved parties. He highlighted the war’s origins in the Hamas attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which led to Israel’s military response in Gaza, where records show that more than 73,430 people have died according to the Gaza health ministry.
