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

UNITED NATIONS — Nikolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace high representative overseeing President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan, told the U.N. Security Council that Israel’s continued attacks on Gaza undermine the roadmap and warned that the alternative to the U.S. proposal is “the next war.” Trump’s 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan. (apnews.com)

Mladenov said the proposal had progressed from the negotiating stage to what he described as the “engineering table,” adding that Hamas has agreed to the plan’s key provision to disarm and allow Gaza to move toward civilian rule. Hamas’ agreement on disarmament and civilian governance. (apnews.com)

He argued that Israel’s ongoing strikes since the ceasefire reached Israel’s current lines are still killing Palestinians—though at a reduced pace—and preventing residents from believing the conflict is ending. Israel’s strikes after last October’s ceasefire. (apnews.com)

Mladenov pointed to a recent U.S. effort involving a deal with Hamas to achieve disarmament, framing it as a potential breakthrough to end the war that began after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in southern Israel. U.S. push for Hamas disarmament. He also said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted his forces will not withdraw until Hamas hands over all weapons. Netanyahu’s condition for withdrawal. (apnews.com)

Israel’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Noa Furman, reiterated her country’s commitment to the plan but said it cannot succeed while Hamas remains armed, adding that Israel is working with the U.S. toward disarmament. Israel’s position on the roadmap. Mladenov warned that if fighting resumes there would be no roadmap to return to or rebuild, and he described the Trump plan as including a “credible pathway to a political horizon,” including a two-state solution. Two-state solution in the Trump plan. (apnews.com)