Peace envoy says Hamas could survive politically by giving up arms
Nickolay Mladenov, the former UN special envoy for the Middle East, said Hamas could survive politically if it gave up weapons and ended armed struggle. He warned that the current stalemate around Donald Trump's peace plan could lead to a permanent division of Gaza. The remarks add a new layer to the regional negotiation atmosphere.
In an interview with the BBC, the United Nations' former special envoy for the Middle East, Nickolay Mladenov, said Hamas could survive as a political movement if it gave up its weapons. 'The end of armed struggle could mark not the end of Hamas but the start of its transformation,' Mr Mladenov said.
The former envoy also expressed concern that US President Donald Trump's peace plan remains in limbo. Mr Mladenov warned that if the current stalemate persists, a permanent division between Gaza and Israeli-controlled areas could take shape. He also noted that the Palestinian Authority's authority in Gaza would remain limited under such conditions.
Mr Mladenov underscored the importance of starting direct talks between the two sides and said the diplomatic track had not closed. His remarks were broadcast by the BBC at a moment when Mr Trump's peace plan is the subject of leadership-level discussions. US and Egyptian envoys are preparing to meet in Cairo in the coming days.
More from Middle East
Israel says it killed Hamas commander Haddad in Gaza strike
Israel said it killed Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, described as one of the senior figures in Hamas's military wing, in an air strike on Gaza City. The military identified him as 'one of the architects' of the 7 October 2023 attack. Hamas has not commented on the reported death; news of civilian casualties from the strike has also emerged.
Trump says 20-year suspension of Iran's nuclear programme would be enough
Donald Trump has said that a 20-year suspension of Iran's nuclear programme would be enough for the United States. According to the BBC, the statement points to a possible new framework in talks with Tehran. The message is being parsed carefully by markets unsettled by Iran-Israel tensions and recent developments around the Strait of Hormuz.
Bowen: Strait of Hormuz standoff raises risk of sliding back into all-out war
BBC correspondent Jeremy Bowen warns that the US and Iran's mutual pressure in the Strait of Hormuz has put the fragile ceasefire at serious jeopardy, risking a return to full-scale conflict.