Peace Council Envoy Warns of Gaza Ceasefire Collapse Risk
Al Jazeera Staff
Nikolay Mladenov, senior representative of the Peace Council, warned that failure by both Palestine and Israel to adhere to the peace roadmap could collapse the ceasefire in Gaza, leading to catastrophic consequences. He said there is no better alternative than the current plan, as Gaza continues to face Israeli attacks.
Nikolay Mladenov, senior representative of the Peace Council, warned in an interview with Al Jazeera on Thursday (August 28) that non-compliance by both the Palestinian and Israeli sides with the peace roadmap threatens to collapse the ceasefire in Gaza. He stressed that "returning to war would be a disaster" and that there is no better option than the current plan.
Mladenov said the warning was directed at both the Palestinian and Israeli sides, against the backdrop of ongoing Israeli airstrikes and attacks on Gaza. He emphasized that any withdrawal from commitments under the roadmap would negatively affect security and humanitarian agreements in Palestine, potentially plunging the region back into a spiral of violence with severe consequences.
On the international force, Mladenov said the Peace Council has identified the mechanism for deploying the International Stabilization Force (ISF) and its positions in the Gaza Strip. Morocco has agreed to participate, while Turkey will not take part due to Israel's veto. He added that "advance units of this force will soon arrive in Gaza."
Regarding reconstruction, he said the Council has received funding commitments of $7 billion, acknowledging the important roles of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey in promoting the deal with Hamas. He also described talks with Israel on increasing humanitarian aid as "positive," and expressed hope that the National Committee managing Gaza would soon assume responsibility in the area.
The peace roadmap proposed by Mladenov in May includes 15 points, covering reconstruction, disarmament of Palestinian armed groups, gradual Israeli withdrawal, the ISF's mission, and restructuring of Gaza's police force. The Peace Council announced an agreement on the roadmap in late July, with Hamas expressing support and calling on Israel to implement it. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later rejected it, denying any agreement to allow international troops into Gaza, leaving the roadmap's status publicly disputed.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, since the ceasefire took effect in October 2025, at least 1,303 Palestinians have been killed and 4,336 injured by Israeli fire. The total death toll since the war began in October 2023 stands at 73,438, with 174,447 injured.
In recent diplomatic developments, Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya met with Egyptian intelligence officials, followed by a regional visit by US envoy Jared Kushner aimed at bridging differences between Israel and the Peace Council's plan. A US official said Washington and Israel remain aligned on "strategic objectives," but Israel has expressed "doubts" that need further coordination. Analysts suggest the roadmap's viability still depends on Israel's genuine acceptance, which remains unresolved despite Hamas's declared consent and months of mediation efforts.
