Gaza High Representative warns ceasefire collapse could seal permanent Israeli occupation

In a UN Security Council session, Nickolay Mladenov, the Bulgarian diplomat serving as Gaza’s High Representative on the Board of Peace, cautioned that a ceasefire collapse would eliminate any chance of a reconstruction roadmap and leave the Strip under permanent Israeli control. He highlighted that Hamas and other armed factions had, for the first time, consented to disarm and transfer civilian and security duties to a UN-recognised transitional authority.

The comprehensive 15-point plan he outlined includes full demilitarisation, verified weapons removal, civilian governance handover, rebuilding of destroyed neighborhoods, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal linked to disarmament progress. While the plan promises improved living conditions for Palestinians and lasting security for Israelis, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have dismissed the withdrawal component and discussed forced migration of Gaza’s residents. Their statements have deepened despair among displaced Gazans, who fear prolonged tent life and further land seizures.