Gaza faces permanent division as Board of Peace envoy warns UN

Nickolay Mladenov, the lead envoy of the U.S.-created Board of Peace for Gaza, told the United Nations Security Council that the enclave’s current split could become a permanent situation, leaving more than two million residents confined to less than half of Gaza’s territory unless a ceasefire takes hold.

The Board of Peace, established by President Donald Trump to oversee a plan to end the two‑year war and rebuild Gaza, has stalled because Hamas refuses to disarm while Israel continues to maintain troops across about 60% of the 365‑square‑kilometre enclave. Mladenov warned that a permanent division would force a new generation of Gazans into tents, hinder Israeli security, and block any viable path to Palestinian statehood.

He also highlighted that reconstruction financing depends on the cessation of hostilities and the surrender of weapons, noting a funding gap. Hamas dismissed the remarks as justification for further escalation, while aid groups said humanitarian supplies remain constrained despite ceasefire assurances.