Israeli PM Netanyahu Urged by UN Peace Envoy to Halt Gaza Strikes Amid Ceasefire Talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with UN Peace Council Secretary Nikolay Mladenov on Monday, who demanded an immediate halt to Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip. Mladenov called for a 14-day ceasefire to enable the initial implementation of an agreement with Hamas, according to a source familiar with the discussions. However, Israel remains skeptical about the feasibility of disarming Hamas and insists that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will only withdraw once the threat is neutralized.

While the IDF continues targeted killings of militants from Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Army of Islam, including commanders involved in the October 7 attacks, diplomatic efforts persist in Washington and the UN to realize the Trump administration’s ambitious vision. This plan includes disarming Hamas, transferring control to a technocratic Palestinian body, establishing an international force, and transforming Gaza from a terror hub into a rehabilitated area. Yet, the operational reality on the ground increasingly diverges from this theoretical framework.

The IDF stated that recent strikes were aimed at eliminating immediate threats posed by militants planning terror attacks against Israeli forces and civilians. Israeli forces remain deployed in Gaza according to existing agreements and will continue to act against any security threats. Israel maintains that political progress does not negate its right to defend itself against ongoing militant activities.