Israel’s plan to split the West Bank

In the wake of escalating violence in the West Bank and the Israeli army's control over more than half of Gaza, a leading US-backed peace official has declared that the prospect of a two-state solution is becoming increasingly unlikely. Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza under the US-backed Board of Peace, expressed his concerns at a forum in Abu Dhabi.

He stated that the failure to adhere to the October ceasefire plan could render a two-state solution practically unfeasible. The current control dynamics, with only less than 50% of Gaza under Hamas's authority and the rest under Israeli rule, highlight the lack of a credible pathway towards political resolution. Mladenov emphasized that a viable resolution hinges on transitional governance, weapons decommissioning, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The roadmap agreed upon by Hamas in July 2023, which included the supervision of weapons decommissioning by an International Stabilization Force led by US Major General Jasper Jeffers, has been met with skepticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Meanwhile, Hamas has urged Mladenov to intensify reconstruction efforts.

US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and envoy, Jared Kushner, acknowledged the impact of the upcoming Israeli elections on Israeli leaders' decision-making in Gaza, describing them as "a little irrational" in this context.