UN Peace Council Chief Criticizes Israel for Maintaining Status Quo Leading to October 7 Attacks
Nikolay Mladenov, the UN Peace Council's Secretary-General, accused Israel on Wednesday of jeopardizing the ceasefire with Hamas by maintaining the status quo that led to the October 7 attacks. Speaking before the UN Security Council, Mladenov stated that Israeli strikes in Gaza do not alter the situation but rather preserve the conditions that sparked the conflict.
This criticism follows earlier remarks from Peace Council officials who claimed both sides violated the 20-point agreement. They noted a rapid response mechanism led by the US military to address violations, emphasizing the importance of enforcing the agreement to begin disarming Hamas. The officials warned that failure to disarm Hamas would allow Israel to act with stronger military and international political support. They lamented Israel's missed opportunity to dismantle Hamas through strategic measures rather than limited tactical operations.
Meanwhile, Israeli military Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, during a visit to Gaza, affirmed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have revised their approach since October 6 and remain committed to disarming Hamas by all necessary means. He highlighted ongoing systematic efforts to weaken Hamas and prevent its resurgence.
Despite these efforts, Hamas continues to rebuild its military and civilian infrastructure in Gaza. Reports indicate the group has recruited between 10,000 and 15,000 new fighters during the recent conflict, with plans to expand its military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, to approximately 30,000 members. Hamas also maintains governance functions, paying salaries to tens of thousands of employees and collecting significant tax revenues, estimated at up to $100 million since the ceasefire. Hamas denies that these funds support its military wing.
The situation underscores the complex challenges facing Israel and the international community in achieving lasting peace and security in Gaza.
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