Bulgarian diplomat to lead Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza, Israel says

Israel's prime minister said Nickolay Mladenov was designated to direct the U.S. Board of Peace overseeing the Gaza ceasefire. At least eight people were reported killed in Gaza by strikes on Thursday.

Israel's prime minister announced that Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov has been designated to lead the U.S. Board of Peace tasked with overseeing the Gaza ceasefire. The board is part of U.S. President Donald Trump's phased plan for the region. Officials said Mladenov would act as the board's day-to-day administrator on the ground, though a formal U.S. announcement was pending. Reports also said Israeli strikes in Gaza on Thursday killed at least eight people. Key points: - Nickolay Mladenov, a former Bulgarian defence and foreign minister and former U.N. Mideast envoy (2015–2020), was identified by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the designated director-general for the Board of Peace. - The board is intended to oversee the next phase of the October ceasefire, including supervision of a technocratic Palestinian government and coordination of security and reconstruction efforts. - A senior U.S. official confirmed Mladenov as the administration's choice but said a formal announcement had not yet been made; Israeli and American officials said other appointments are expected next week. Summary: This appointment is a procedural step in the Trump administration's plan to manage the Gaza ceasefire, while officials report limited progress on the plan's broader elements. Reports of deadly incidents continue even as the ceasefire has largely held since October. Formal announcements are pending and additional appointments have been described as expected next week.