Arabic version: مبعوث الأمم المتحدة يحذر من انقسام دائم في غزة دون اتخاذ إجراءات

Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative overseeing the United States-founded Board of Peace for Gaza, has issued a stark warning regarding the deteriorating conditions in the region. Speaking to the United Nations Security Council, Mladenov emphasized that the current status quo risks becoming a permanent division within Gaza, affecting millions of Palestinians.

According to Al Jazeera, Mladenov presented a roadmap detailing obligations for Israel and Hamas to implement a permanent ceasefire. He called on the UNSC to leverage all available means to press Hamas into disarming, while also reminding Israel of its obligations under a ceasefire agreed in October 2025.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in more than 72,775 Palestinian deaths since the war began following the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas and other armed groups. Despite the ceasefire, violence has persisted, with recent Israeli drone strikes further exacerbating the situation. Mladenov noted that the humanitarian crisis is deepening, with many Palestinians trapped in dire conditions.

Mladenov cautioned that if both parties fail to act, the prospect of a divided Gaza, with Hamas holding military and administrative control over two million people across less than half the territory, will become a reality. He highlighted the dire implications for the population, who would remain dependent on aid without meaningful reconstruction. This scenario could lead to another generation growing up in fear and despair.

The US had previously announced a transition to phase two of the ceasefire process, focusing on Hamas’s disarmament and the establishment of a governance framework for post-war Gaza. However, the ongoing war in Iran has diverted global attention and stalled this critical transition, leaving the future of Gaza uncertain.