UN peace envoy says Israel's strikes hinder Trump ceasefire plan for Gaza
Nikolay Mladenov, the UN peace envoy overseeing President Trump's Gaza cease-fire proposal, told the Security Council that Israel's continued attacks threaten the plan and warned that renewed fighting could become irreversible.
UN peace envoy Nikolay Mladenov told the Security Council on Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s 20-point cease-fire proposal for Gaza has progressed from negotiations to implementation, but Israel’s ongoing strikes are undermining the effort. He said Hamas has accepted the key provision to disarm and hand over Gaza to civilian rule, yet continued Israeli attacks are killing civilians and preventing a sense of resolution.
"After three years of war and 20 years of military operations, I ask, will another strike on a munitions depot stop Hamas from rearming or tightening its grip on Gaza? It will not. It only delays the demilitarization that would happen," Mladenov said.
Mladenov noted that a recent U.S. agreement with Hamas on disarmament was viewed as a possible breakthrough, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Israeli forces will not withdraw until all Hamas weapons are surrendered. Mladenov said a meeting with Netanyahu and Trump adviser Jared Kushner addressed Israeli concerns and narrowed technical issues.
Israel’s deputy UN ambassador Noa Furman reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to the Trump plan but argued it cannot succeed while Hamas remains armed. U.S. ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said the United States is working to address concerns and will assess Hamas’ disarmament based on its actions.
Mladenov warned that the gap between the roadmap and conditions on the ground could lead to a “point of no return” if fighting resumes, leaving Gaza unreconstructed and vulnerable to future conflict.