Trump pick for Gaza board Nickolay Mladenov named director-general

Nickolay Mladenov, a Bulgarian former U.N. envoy, was named director-general of the Gaza Board of Peace; the appointment was announced by Israel's prime minister and confirmed by a U.S. official.

Nickolay Mladenov has been named director-general of the U.S. President's Board of Peace in Gaza, an appointment announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and confirmed by a U.S. official. The board is part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan that envisions an international authority to oversee aspects of governance in the Gaza Strip. Mladenov is a Bulgarian politician and former U.N. envoy to the Middle East who frequently worked to ease tensions between Israel and Hamas. He previously served as Bulgaria's defense and foreign minister and as the U.N. envoy in Iraq and for the Middle East. Key points: - The appointment was announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and confirmed by a U.S. official. - The board is described in the ceasefire agreement as supervising a technocratic Palestinian government, overseeing disarmament of Hamas, facilitating an international security force, and helping with troop pullbacks and reconstruction. - Mladenov has served as Bulgaria's defense and foreign minister, was the U.N. envoy to Iraq, and was the U.N. Middle East peace envoy from 2015 to 2020; he is currently based in the UAE running the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy. - Specific operational timelines or next procedural steps for the board's work are undetermined at this time. Summary: Mladenov's appointment places an experienced diplomat in the leadership role of the new international authority described in the ceasefire plan. The role is linked to complex governance and security tasks outlined in the agreement. Undetermined at this time.