Nickolay Mladenov, a senior official on the US Board of Peace, criticized both Israeli airstrikes and Hamas's actions during a UN Security Council meeting. He emphasized that a failure to maintain the ceasefire established last October could lead to irreversible consequences for the region. Mladenov noted that two-thirds of Gaza's population is currently living in makeshift shelters due to ongoing conflict.
The Israeli military reported casualties among its soldiers due to Palestinian attacks, while airstrikes have resulted in civilian deaths, including children. Mladenov reiterated the need for Hamas to fully disarm as part of a reciprocal agreement for Israeli troop withdrawal, highlighting the complexities of the peace process amid escalating violence and humanitarian concerns in Gaza.