The top diplomat from the Board of Peace has placed sole blame on Hamas for the stalled ceasefire in Gaza, but critics argue that the US-backed board's lack of impartiality in implementing the truce threatens a return to full-scale war.
Nickolay Mladenov, the "high representative for Gaza," told the UN Security Council on Thursday that Hamas was the "principal obstacle" to the ceasefire's continued implementation because "it refused to accept verified decommissioning, relinquish coercive control and allow a genuine civilian transition."
Hamas swiftly rejected the Bulgarian diplomat's accusations. Spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated that the report "reflects continued adoption of the Israeli position and serves as an attempt to justify further Israeli escalation."
Critics of the Board of Peace, launched by Donald Trump in January, contend that Mladenov's report presents a misleading and one-sided account of the ceasefire, where Israel has been the primary violator. Israeli forces have continued airstrikes on Gaza and advanced beyond the ceasefire line agreed in October, expanding direct Israeli control from 53% to at least 60% of the territory. They have regularly shot at Palestinians approaching within a few hundred metres of the shifting line. Since the ceasefire was declared in October, more than 850 Palestinians have been killed.
Israel has also failed to meet its obligation to allow 600 trucks of humanitarian supplies daily and has refused to relax restrictions on "dual-use" items, preventing aid agencies from bringing in basic supplies like water pipes or heavy machinery for rubble clearance. Mladenov's report did not directly criticise Israel, only referencing "all parties" by implication. Critics warn that by solely blaming Hamas, the report could legitimise any future decision by Benjamin Netanyahu to resume war.
Muhammad Shehada, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, noted, "Israel never fulfilled any of its obligations under phase one of the deal, so why would anyone trust they'd live up to phase two, especially once the weapons (Gaza's only leverage) are gone?" He added that if Hamas refuses disarmament, "Netanyahu is going to get a free hand in Gaza and basically be absolved of any obligations under the Trump deal and declare war whenever he wants."
Roadmap and Disarmament Proposals
Successive versions of Mladenov's roadmap were presented to Hamas and other Palestinian factions in March and April. The April version proposed an "implementation verification committee" to oversee disarmament while ensuring reciprocal steps from Israel. It stipulated that heavy weapons, including assault rifles, be handed in within 90 days, with disarmament monitored by multilateral bodies under "Palestinian leadership."
Gershon Baskin, an Israeli analyst involved in past back-channel negotiations, welcomed the roadmap but criticised Mladenov for placing sole blame on Hamas. He said Hamas had "indicated its willingness to begin the process of disarmament and decommissioning of weapons," but demanded parallel implementation of Israel's unfulfilled commitments.
In his UN report, Mladenov accused Hamas of tightening its grip on the 40% of Gaza still under its control. However, since February, Hamas has called for the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a panel of 12 Palestinian technocrats created by the Board of Peace, to enter Gaza to begin the power transfer. Baskin noted that "the Hamas guys inside Gaza are much more pragmatic" and lack resources, but Israel has adamantly refused to allow NCAG members to enter from Egypt, fearing a situation like Lebanon where an official government exists but real power lies with armed groups.
Israel's Intentions and International Concerns
Daniel Levy, head of the US/Middle East Project and former peace negotiator, stated that Hamas has not rejected disarmament and power transfer, but they are not going to "wave a white flag of surrender." The NCAG remains stuck in a Cairo hotel, attending seminars and visiting Brussels, but prevented from speaking to the press. Shehada revealed that four NCAG members threatened to resign due to lack of progress, but were persuaded to stay by Mladenov.
A source close to the NCAG acknowledged that their reputation for integrity is suffering among Palestinians due to association with the Board of Peace, but said, "They also know there is no alternative. If there is any hope of stopping the killing in Gaza, this is the only game in town."
