The lead envoy of the Board of Peace has said that negotiations over a post-war Gaza plan are moving forward but now require urgent progress, warning that delays could cause the entire process to lose momentum.
Envoy Nickolay Mladenov said he remains “fairly optimistic” that an agreement can eventually be reached on key issues, including the disarmament of armed groups in Gaza, but admitted that discussions with Hamas have been extremely difficult.
He said recent weeks have seen “serious discussions” with Hamas and other stakeholders, but stressed that the situation is complex and sensitive, requiring careful negotiation between all sides involved.
The peace initiative, linked to proposals originally put forward by former US President Donald Trump, is designed to end the Gaza conflict through a phased roadmap. This includes a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, reconstruction of Gaza, and the disarmament of Hamas and other militant groups.
However, Mladenov said the most difficult issue remains Hamas agreeing to give up its weapons, which is seen as a key condition for moving into the next phase of the plan. Without progress on this point, broader implementation risks stalling.
He warned that the coming days and weeks are critical. According to him, there is only a limited window to secure agreement on implementation steps, otherwise the diplomatic momentum built so far could be lost.
The envoy also said that discussions are ongoing about how Gaza would be governed after the conflict, including arrangements for security, administration, and rebuilding damaged infrastructure.
On the ground, he noted some limited improvements in humanitarian access. Aid deliveries through the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt have gradually increased, and more trucks carrying food, medicine, and essential supplies are now entering the territory.
Despite this, humanitarian conditions remain severe, with much of Gaza still heavily damaged after prolonged fighting.
Mladenov said trust-building remains one of the biggest challenges in the process, as all parties remain cautious and conditions on the ground are still unstable.
The Board of Peace is also working on coordinating international funding for reconstruction. Some countries have pledged financial support, but officials say only part of the promised funds has been delivered so far.
The initiative includes a proposal for long-term international involvement in rebuilding Gaza, with member contributions linked to financial commitments. However, questions remain over how quickly resources can be mobilized.
Mladenov emphasized that the process will take time but insisted that steady, incremental steps are being made. He said the goal is to gradually build agreement on all major components of the plan rather than attempting a single comprehensive deal at once.
He also highlighted ongoing discussions over territorial control lines in Gaza, humanitarian corridors, and the future status of key border crossings, all of which remain sensitive issues in negotiations.
While acknowledging the challenges, he said there is still a “real opportunity” for progress if all sides continue engaging constructively and avoid actions that could derail talks.
For now, the focus remains on preventing escalation, maintaining the ceasefire framework, and pushing forward with small but consistent steps toward implementation of the broader peace plan.
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