The cease-fire in the Palestinian Gaza Strip is still in force, although there are daily violations of it, some of them very serious, said Nikolay Mladenov, senior representative for Gaza at the International Peace Council, in Jerusalem on Wednesday, AFP and AP agencies reported.
The cease-fire in the Palestinian enclave officially entered into force on October 10, 2025, shortly after the second anniversary of the outbreak of war triggered by the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Despite the truce, however, the violence in the Gaza Strip has not subsided: Israel continues its attacks, and both sides accuse each other of violating the terms of the truce.
During the first phase of the agreement, the last hostages brought after the attack of the terrorist commandos in the south of Israel in the Gaza Strip were released. The hostages were freed in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel. However, the transition to the second phase of the ceasefire, which envisages the disarmament of Hamas and the gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army, which controls more than half of the Gaza Strip, has been stagnant for several weeks. Meanwhile, international attention focused on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
On Wednesday, Mladenov appealed to Hamas to relinquish power in the areas of the Gaza Strip it controls and lay down its arms in accordance with the agreement. “We call on the political leadership of those who rule Gaza today to step down. It is required by the UN Security Council resolution and the 20-point plan,” the envoy said, referring to the peace plan supported by US President Donald Trump.
At the same time, Mladenov emphasized that Hamas does not have to disappear as a political movement. “A political party that renounces armed activity can participate in Palestinian elections,” stated. However, according to Mladenov, it is not possible for armed factions or militias to operate alongside the Palestinian Authority. According to him, the plan offers the possibility of “safe departure to third countries” for those who refuse disarmament.
At the press conference, Mladenov drew attention to the extent of the damage in the Gaza Strip. According to him, the restoration of the territory will take a very long time, at least one generation. He added that tens of millions of tons of rubble need to be removed and more than a million people need permanent housing, water and basic sanitation.
He also admitted that seven months after the conclusion of the truce between Israel and Hamas, significant progress has not been achieved. “The door to Gaza’s future remains closed. It is not what the Palestinians were promised, nor what they deserve. And it does not provide the security for Israel that Israeli citizens want.” pointed out the diplomat.
Israel has stepped up attacks in the Gaza Strip in recent days – following the conclusion of a cease-fire between the United States and Iran. According to the AP, many Palestinians fear the resumption of full-scale war and further airstrikes. The war in the Gaza Strip began after an attack on Israel by Hamas-led militants on October 7, 2023, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and another 251 were dragged into the Palestinian enclave as hostages. According to the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, the subsequent Israeli offensive took its toll more than 72,700 Palestinian victims.
