UN Council urged to press Hamas to disarm by Board of Peace

The Board of Peace, the U.S.-created body overseeing the cease‑fire between Hamas and Israel, has prepared a report urging the United Nations Security Council to press Hamas to surrender its weapons and dismantle its tunnel network. The report, slated for discussion at the Security Council meeting on Thursday, says Hamas' refusal to accept verified de‑commissioning is the main obstacle to full implementation of the cease‑fire and to reconstruction in Gaza.

Board of Peace head Nickolay Mladenov noted that the truce has stalled since October due to the deadlock over Hamas disarmament. The report also cites Israel’s expanded control of about 60% of Gaza and calls for a clear UN stance that de‑commissioning is essential for rebuilding, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a pathway to Palestinian self‑determination. Hamas rejected the report, calling it “full of fallacies” and accusing Israel of not meeting its cease‑fire commitments, including restrictions on aid and reconstruction materials.