Board of Peace's Gaza envoy criticises Israeli strikes and Hamas actions

Nickolay Mladenov, the UN envoy for Gaza, has expressed strong criticism of Israel's ongoing air strikes in Gaza and the actions of Hamas. Speaking to the UN Security Council, he emphasized that a breakdown of the ceasefire established last October would represent 'a point of no return' for the region.

Mladenov's remarks came after Israel rejected a 15-point roadmap for Hamas's disarmament proposed by the Board of Peace. While Hamas has indicated a willingness to relinquish its weapons in exchange for a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops, Israel insists that Hamas must fully disarm before any troop pullout occurs.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, at least 1,303 Palestinians, including 300 children, have died as a result of Israeli attacks since the ceasefire began. In contrast, the Israeli military reports that four of its soldiers have been killed in Palestinian attacks during the same timeframe.

During the Security Council meeting, Mladenov noted that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously agreed on a mechanism to address outstanding questions regarding the ceasefire. However, he cautioned that the ongoing violence, particularly the killing of Palestinian civilians, poses significant risks to the peace process. He stated that a ceasefire that does not protect civilians is not one that the people of Gaza can truly feel.

Mladenov acknowledged that Hamas has not fully adhered to its commitment to cease military activities, stating that any remaining weapons or military infrastructure undermines the peace process. He reiterated that the proposed roadmap involves a reciprocal process where Israeli troop withdrawal would follow the verified disarmament of Hamas.

The Israeli representative at the Security Council affirmed the country's commitment to the US-brokered ceasefire plan but insisted that disarmament of Hamas must precede any further steps. Meanwhile, the Palestinian representative condemned Israeli actions, claiming that they result in civilian casualties and called for international protection for the people of Gaza.

Mladenov concluded by warning that if the ceasefire collapses, there would be no roadmap to return to, no administration to deploy, and no ground left to rebuild, marking a critical juncture for the region.