Hamas can survive politically by giving up weapons and armed conflict, peace envoy says

Nickolay Mladenov, high representative for Gaza to the US-led Board of Peace, argued Hamas could retain political legitimacy if it abandoned weapons and armed conflict, rejecting violence while participating in Palestinian elections. He cautioned that Israel’s current control over 64% of Gaza—including areas behind the Yellow Line—risks solidifying a permanent division, contrary to Palestinian and Israeli security interests. The ceasefire, stalled since October, remains fragile as Israel conducts strikes and Hamas refuses disarmament. Patrick Griffiths of the International Committee of the Red Cross reported daily gunfire and explosions near Rafah’s field hospital, describing stray bullets hitting staff and patients as routine. Israel’s Cogat claims 600 aid lorries enter Gaza daily, while Hamas disputes the figures, alleging severe restrictions. Mladenov tied Israeli withdrawal to Hamas disarming but stressed the group could operate as a political party without armed factions. Israel’s government countered that ceasefire terms prohibit Hamas from governing Gaza directly. Aid discrepancies persist, with Hamas accusing Israel of blocking supplies and shifting the Yellow Line westward. The conflict’s humanitarian toll persists, with Hamas reporting 850 Gaza deaths since the ceasefire, though it does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. Mladenov’s remarks highlight the impasse: Hamas insists on armed resistance, Israel demands disarmament, and Gaza’s population faces escalating risks from proximity to military operations.