Mladenov Demands Gaza Leadership Step Down, Hamas Warns of Chaos Plan

The High Representative of the Peace Council in Gaza, Nikolay Mladenov, called on the political leadership currently managing the Gaza Strip to step down from the scene, indicating that this step comes in response to the requirements of the twenty-point plan known as the 'Trump Plan'. These statements came after a meeting held by Mladenov with the head of the occupation government, Benjamin Netanyahu, where arrangements for the transitional phase and the proposed new administrative structure for the Strip were discussed.

Mladenov clarified in his statements that the plan offers an opportunity for those who respect the law and fulfill their duties to participate in the new structure, while providing a 'safe passage' to third countries for those who cannot accept this political framework. He affirmed that the proposal does not aim to exclude Hamas as a political movement or party, but rather allows it to contest Palestinian national elections provided it renounces armed action and commits to the peaceful path.

The international official stressed that the disarmament of factions, the dismantling of tunnel networks, and their special military command systems are non-negotiable conditions, considering them essential for enabling the Palestinian Authority to govern. He pointed out that the presence of armed militias outside the state framework hinders any real political or developmental process in the Strip, which requires a complete transfer of security and administrative control.

For its part, the Hamas movement expressed its strong astonishment at these demands, describing them as suspicious attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause. The movement's spokesman, Hazem Qassem, said that demanding the resignation of the Gaza administration before the entry of the technocrat committee practically means pushing the Strip towards a state of chaos and security breakdown, a goal that the Israeli occupation seeks to achieve by all available means.

The movement reiterated its call for the immediate empowerment of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, and to allow it to carry out its duties and provide all necessary needs for its work away from international conditions. Qassem affirmed that the Palestinian people will not accept the imposition of external dictates that affect the structure of the resistance or aim to create an administrative vacuum that serves the interests of the occupation in fragmenting the internal front.

In a related context, Mladenov warned that the reconstruction process of the Gaza Strip would require a full generation given the enormous scale of destruction left by military operations. He explained that there are tens of millions of tons of rubble that need to be removed, in addition to more than a million displaced people who lack permanent shelter, making the task beyond traditional capabilities and requiring many years of continuous work.

Informed sources reported that the meeting between Mladenov and Netanyahu also touched upon the expected Israeli scenarios if Hamas rejects the disarmament proposals. Reports indicated that the absence of a positive response from the movement could lead to the freezing of negotiation rounds in Cairo, putting the future of calm and reconstruction at risk amidst the continued blockade and imposed restrictions.

What is not subject to negotiation is the existence of armed factions or militias with their own military command and control systems, in addition to the transition to Palestinian Authority rule.