Official leading Trump’s Gaza ceasefire effort criticizes Israel for its attacks

The official overseeing President Donald Trump’s plan for a Gaza ceasefire has harshly criticized Israel’s recent attacks, warning that the alternative to the U.S. proposal is another war. Nikolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace high representative, assured the United Nations Security Council that Trump’s 20-point plan has transitioned from negotiation to practical implementation.

Hamas has endorsed the key provision of disarming and transferring control of Gaza to civilian rule, according to Mladenov. However, Israel’s ongoing strikes since last October’s ceasefire continue to result in Palestinian casualties, albeit at a reduced rate. The official questioned whether further strikes on armories would deter Hamas from rearming or consolidating its influence in Gaza, asserting that such actions merely delay the demilitarization process and hinder the transition to civilian governance.

The U.S. recently reached a deal with Hamas aimed at disarming the militant group, viewed as a potential turning point to end the conflict stemming from Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks in southern Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that his forces will not retreat from their current positions in Gaza until Hamas relinquishes all weapons.

During a recent meeting with Netanyahu and Jared Kushner, Mladenov recounted that discussions addressed Israel’s concerns and identified remaining technical challenges. Despite Israel’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Noa Furman’s reaffirmation of his country’s commitment to Trump’s plan, Mladenov emphasized that achieving Hamas’ disarmament remains crucial for the plan’s success.

He highlighted that Israel is collaborating closely with the U.S. to facilitate the disarmament process.