Hamas has pledged to hand over its weapons as part of a US plan for Gaza, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected. Nickolay Mladenov, the lead official for Gaza on United States President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, stated on Wednesday that the failure of the Gaza ceasefire process would represent a "point of no return." This statement was made during a briefing to the United Nations Security Council.
Mladenov's comments followed Netanyahu’s public rejection of Trump’s 15-point peace plan, which Washington claims is designed to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Mladenov warned that a resumption of fighting would eliminate any possible roadmap for recovery and rebuilding efforts in the region. He stated, "There will be no administration to deploy and there will be nothing left on the ground to rebuild. That would not be a setback. It would be a point of no return for everyone."
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, at least 1,288 Palestinians have been killed and 4,290 wounded since a US-brokered ceasefire began in October. The ongoing conflict has resulted in at least 73,422 Palestinian deaths since attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian groups on October 7, 2023, which led to approximately 1,200 Israeli fatalities and 240 individuals taken captive.
Hamas agreed to the Board of Peace roadmap on July 30, which aims to advance the ceasefire plan. This plan includes the decommissioning of weapons under the supervision of an International Stabilization Force, led by US Major General Jasper Jeffers, who will be deployed to Gaza if conditions improve. Hamas has committed to transferring its weapons to a new Palestinian governing body, a move that Netanyahu has opposed, insisting that Israel will not withdraw its forces until Hamas fully disarms.
The proposed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza would consist of independent Palestinian technocrats responsible for managing civil services and humanitarian relief. Mladenov noted that this agreement marks the first time Hamas and armed factions in Gaza have consented to transfer governing authority to a transitional administration recognized by the United Nations. He also highlighted the importance of Hamas fulfilling its commitment to cease all military activities, stating that any continued military presence would hinder the peace process.
Meanwhile, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, addressed the Security Council, stating that Israeli annexations of Palestinian land are detrimental to regional peace efforts. He criticized the Israeli government for undermining the 15-point peace plan, particularly in light of recent bidding tenders for the E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank.