A senior official from US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace has criticized both Israel's ongoing air strikes on Gaza and the actions of the Palestinian armed group Hamas. Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace's high representative for Gaza, spoke to the UN Security Council on Wednesday, warning that a collapse of the ceasefire established last October would be "a point of no return" for the region.

Mladenov addressed the Security Council after Israel rejected a 15-point roadmap for Hamas's disarmament announced by the Board of Peace last month. The roadmap proposes that Hamas give up its weapons in exchange for a phased Israeli troop withdrawal. However, Israel insists that Hamas must fully disarm before any withdrawal occurs.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, which the UN considers reliable, at least 1,303 Palestinians, including 300 children, have been killed in Israeli attacks since the US-brokered ceasefire began. Meanwhile, Israel's military campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 73,430 deaths, according to the same health ministry.

Mladenov also noted that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on a mechanism to address Israel's remaining questions, with committees established for this purpose. This stance contrasts with comments from President Trump's envoy Jared Kushner, who said Israeli withdrawal would only be discussed after Gaza's complete demilitarization.

The Palestinian representative at the UN accused Israel of killing Palestinian civilians with impunity in Gaza and urged the international community to provide protection without delay. Mladenov acknowledged that Hamas has yet to fully meet its commitment to cease all military activities.

Sources

Board of Peace's Gaza envoy criticises Israeli strikes and Hamas actions - BBC World