Nickolay Mladenov, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process. Photo: UN Photo / Loey Felipe.

JNS.org – Nickolay Mladenov, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, criticized on Sunday the leaders of the Gaza-ruling Palestinian terror group Hamas for vowing to eradicate Israel, and urged Hamas to address the humanitarian situation in the coastal enclave.

“I condemn the latest statements made by some Hamas leaders, reportedly calling for the destruction of the state of Israel,” Mladenov said. “They do not serve the interest of peace and the goal of achieving a negotiated two-state solution.”

“Under the auspices of Egypt, Palestinian leaders have embarked on a course to solve the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and enable the government to take up its responsibilities in the Strip,” said the UN envoy. “I encourage them not be distracted from this objective.”

Mladenov’s comments came after Hamas’s political chief in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, last Thursday vowed to eradicate Israel.

“Gone is the time in which Hamas discussed recognition of Israel. The discussion now is about when we will wipe out Israel,” Sinwar said.

Saleh al-Arouri, who heads Hamas’s terror activity in the disputed territories, said on Saturday during a visit to Iran the terror group was “not in the stage of recognition [of Israel]. Rather, we are now in the stage of preparing to eliminate the Zionist entity.”

The US and Israel said last week they will not negotiate with any Palestinian unity government that, among other conditions, does not recognize Israel.