image sourced from original article at Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim has sharply criticized Board of Peace High Representative Nickolay Mladenov for urging the international community to pressure Hamas to disarm as a condition for reconstruction efforts in Gaza. Speaking after Mladenov’s remarks at the United Nations Security Council, Naim accused the envoy of aligning himself with Israeli government positions and reversing prior understandings related to ceasefire negotiations.
Naim argued that linking reconstruction and Israeli military withdrawal to Hamas disarmament contradicts earlier agreements and ignores what he described as Israel’s failure to implement commitments from the first phase of the truce. He also faulted Mladenov for not assigning blame for alleged ceasefire violations, citing casualty figures reported by the Hamas-run health ministry.
The Hamas official further accused Mladenov of serving Israeli and American interests rather than acting as a neutral mediator. He warned that such an approach risks renewed conflict and undermines prospects for stability and reconstruction in the region.
