Ceasefire negotiations between Palestinian factions and mediators in Egypt face a serious test after Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative of the “Board of Peace,” demanded that not a “single bullet” remain in Gaza.

Among the maximalist demands of the US President Donald Trump’s oversight body for Gaza is the complete disarmament of Hamas, the surrender of tunnel maps, and even weapons privately held by Palestinians in the enclave.

Sources involved in the Cairo talks say the handover of Palestinian weapons is the primary hurdle to ending Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. Palestinian officials argue that the complete disarmament stipulation means Mladenov is essentially a facilitator for Israel’s maximalist demands.

The core of the deadlock is “Clause 8,” a pivotal section of the US-brokered October 2025 ceasefire plan, which dictates the terms of disarmament, management of military infrastructure in post-war Gaza, and transfer of security responsibilities to a unified Palestinian body.

An informed source told Al Jazeera that Hamas initially showed “high positivity” regarding this clause, agreeing for the first time to inventory and store heavy weapons. However, Mladenov later aligned with the Israeli position, demanding dismantling of tunnels and surrender of all personal weapons.

Palestinian analyst Saeed Ziad said Mladenov does not act as a mediator but as “an entity that sponsors and implements what the Israelis want,” accusing him of abandoning neutrality and pushing the vision of Israel’s extreme messianic right.

A Board of Peace official dismissed allegations of bias, stating that Mladenov’s framework is the product of extensive engagement among parties and mediators, aimed at reconciling legitimate concerns. The official emphasized that the roadmap is part of a comprehensive package based on a reciprocal approach.

Source: www.aljazeera.com