Gaza ceasefire heading for 'point of no return', says Board of Peace chief envoy

The Gaza ceasefire could reach a "point of no return" if hostilities resume, warned the US-backed Board of Peace's High Representative for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, during a presentation to the UN Security Council. Despite efforts to implement a disarmament deal, the fighting in Gaza continues, said Mladenov. Although the ceasefire has reduced casualties, he emphasized that it is not yet providing the respite civilians in Gaza need.

Mladenov stated that Hamas and other Palestinian factions agreed to turn in their weapons on July 30, but the process faces significant hurdles. The International Stabilisation Force, headed by US Maj Gen Jasper Jeffers, is preparing to support the verification of the disarmament. US President Donald Trump has praised this development as a breakthrough, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticized it, fearing it marks a devastating end for Gaza.

Mladenov expressed concern that if the ceasefire is broken, it would be a point of no return for everyone. Additionally, he criticized the US-backed framework, arguing that the rights of Palestinians should be prioritized over arbitrary requirements from an occupying power. The US ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, criticized those who ignored UN reports on Hamas' alleged abuses, such as torture, using hospitals as human shields, and constructing tunnels and command centers under schools.

Waltz also claimed that Hamas leaders were not suffering from hunger, contradicting reports from other sources. Israeli Deputy Envoy to the UN, Jonathan Miller, emphasized that Israel supports the US peace plan but stressed that disarmament is the prerequisite for its success.