Disarming Gaza Terror Groups is Prerequisite for Rebuilding, Mladenov Emphasizes
Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza, has firmly stated that the disarmament of Hamas and all other Palestinian terrorist groups is an essential precondition for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. He made these remarks during a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference, closely aligning with comments previously made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Conditions for Reconstruction and Security Control
Mladenov highlighted that Gaza must be governed by a transitional authority, as authorized by a Security Council resolution, which would assume full civilian and security control. "That includes the disarmament of all factions in Gaza, not just Hamas," he asserted. "Hamas, Islamic Jihad, others—there are plenty of them who have weapons and tunnels and production facilities inside Gaza." He referenced the peace plan backed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, which has received formal support from the United Nations.
Echoes of Israeli Policy and Ceasefire Dynamics
Mladenov's comments came just days before the first meeting of the U.S.-led Board of Peace, which oversees the truce. They closely mirrored Netanyahu's statements from January 26, following the start of Phase 2 of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. Netanyahu told Knesset lawmakers, "Jerusalem is at the threshold of the next phase: Disarming Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip," emphasizing that reconstruction cannot proceed without this step. He has repeatedly indicated that disarmament will occur, quoting Trump's phrase about "the easy way or the hard way."
Urgency and Risks of Delay
Mladenov stressed the need for rapid action, warning that failure to implement the second phase of the ceasefire could lead to renewed conflict. "The main risk is that we're not going to implement the second phase of the ceasefire, but instead we're going to move to the second phase of the war," he said, describing it as a serious threat to stability. He cautioned that if Gaza returns to war, entities like the Board of Peace would become ineffective, leaving only rubble to be addressed afterward.
Challenges from Hamas Leadership
Despite earlier agreements, several top Hamas leaders, including Khaled Mashaal and Musa Abu Marzouk, have recently rejected key parts of the peace plan. Mashaal argued in an interview with Al Jazeera that disarmament under occupation would make Palestinians more vulnerable to destruction. Mladenov declined to elaborate on demilitarization plans but reiterated that all efforts must proceed swiftly to avoid further escalation.
