Key facts
- A two-state solution is becoming practically impossible due to the situation in Gaza and rising violence in the West Bank.
- Nickolay Mladenov, high representative for Gaza under the US-backed Board of Peace, made the statement at the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi.
- Mladenov cited the Israeli army's control over more than 50% of Gaza and Hamas's control over less than 50% as reasons for the lack of a credible pathway forward.
- A roadmap agreed by Hamas on July 30 involved weapon decommissioning supervised by the International Stabilization Force.
- Violence in the West Bank has surged since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
Nickolay Mladenov, a high representative for Gaza within the US-backed Board of Peace, stated on Monday that the ongoing escalation in Gaza and increased violence in the West Bank are making a two-state solution practically impossible. Speaking at the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi, Mladenov explained that if Gaza does not move towards implementing the comprehensive plan, the prospect of a two-state solution will diminish significantly.
Mladenov cited the current control dynamics in Gaza, with the Israeli army occupying over 50% of the territory and Hamas controlling less than 50%, as a major impediment to a political resolution. He also pointed to the surge in violence in the West Bank since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, noting that over 500,000 Israelis reside in illegal settlements in the territory, which is home to three million Palestinians.
He suggested that a path forward would require transitional governance, decommissioning of weapons, and withdrawal from Gaza. A roadmap agreed by Hamas on July 30 reportedly included the supervision of weapon decommissioning by the International Stabilization Force, a plan that reportedly met skepticism from Netanyahu but was hailed as a breakthrough by President Donald Trump.
Jared Kushner, a US envoy, commented that upcoming Israeli elections were contributing to a degree of irrationality among Israeli leaders concerning Gaza, though he affirmed alignment on the desired end state. Kushner also noted the significant militarization of Gaza, stating that demilitarization is a prerequisite for any intervention.