Debate Over Gaza Ceasefire and Disarmament Continues at United Nations

Palestinians walked past a damaged food-aid warehouse in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, following an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. The strike targeted a nearby house. The United Nations official handling President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan for Gaza criticized Israel for its attacks on the region. He warned that the alternative to the U.S. plan could be yet another conflict.

Nikolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace high representative, addressed the U.N. Security Council. He emphasized that Trump’s 20-point plan has progressed beyond negotiations and is now being engineered. Hamas, the militant group, has agreed to a major provision of the proposal to disarm and transfer control of Gaza to civilian rule. Despite this, Mladenov noted that Israeli strikes since the October ceasefire have still resulted in Palestinian casualties, albeit reduced. He highlighted that Gazans do not feel that conflict resolution is imminent.

“After three years of war and 20 years of military operations, will another strike on a munitions depot stop Hamas from rearming or strengthening its hold on Gaza?” Mladenov queried. “It won’t. It merely hinders the demilitarization process.”

A recent U.S. agreement with Hamas to disarm was perceived as a breakthrough towards ending the conflict sparked by Hamas’ attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made clear that Israeli forces will remain in their current positions in Gaza until Hamas surrenders all weaponry. Mladenov mentioned discussions with Netanyahu and Jared Kushner, where they addressed Israeli concerns and identified remaining technical challenges.

Israel’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Noa Furman, reaffirmed Israel’s dedication to Trump’s plan, stressing its implementation depends on Hamas disarmament. He stated Israel collaborates closely with the U.S. on achieving this goal. The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Mike Waltz, indicated that concerns regarding Trump’s ceasefire plan are being resolved, and Hamas’ disarmament will be assessed based on tangible actions.

Mladenov cautioned about the disparity between the roadmap and the reality in Gaza. He warned that resuming war would eliminate any roadmap and leave nothing to rebuild. “It would not be a setback,” he remarked. “It would be a point of no return for everyone.”

He underscored the necessity for political willingness to bridge differences, presenting a choice: “A Gaza disarmed, rebuilt, and globally connected or a Gaza rearmed, divided, devastated, raising a radicalized generation with another war looming.” Mladenov mentioned that Trump’s plan offers Palestinians a “credible pathway to a political horizon,” including a two-state solution, which Netanyahu vigorously opposes.