Board of Peace Gaza envoy: ‘We’re not asking Hamas to disappear as a political movement’

The US and Board of Peace are reportedly preparing to advance Gaza reconstruction efforts in areas outside Hamas control amid stalled talks.

Hamas is so far refusing to disarm, while Israel is regularly carrying out strikes across Gaza, and firing at those who approach the territory it holds.

Nickolay Mladenov, the top diplomat overseeing the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal in Gaza, was in Jerusalem on Wednesday seeking to advance the ceasefire deal that Israel and Hamas agreed to more than seven months ago.

Negotiations to move forward with the plan have been deadlocked for weeks after the group, designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., refused to disarm.