Board of Peace chief to visit Israel amid renewed IDF strikes in Gaza , Phase II of deal

What Happened

Board of Peace (BoP) Director-General and High Representative for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov is set to visit Israel to meet senior officials, Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported on Monday, with the visit likely connected to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan. This follows Mladenov's Sunday implication on X/Twitter that IDF strikes in the Gaza Strip are interfering with peace efforts, stating the strikes 'killed civilians and destroyed medical supplies.' Mladenov noted that BoP efforts are focused on disarming 'Palestinian factions' in Gaza and implementing a civilian government, adding that both Israel and the 'Palestinian factions' have obligations under the US President's plan. The IDF announced earlier on Sunday that it had killed two Hamas commanders in Gaza over the weekend, and on Sunday said it killed three Gaza terrorists from three separate groups over the past week.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Mladenov's visit and criticism highlight tensions between Israeli military operations and international diplomatic efforts to implement the second phase of the US-mediated ceasefire plan. The BoP's focus on disarming Hamas and establishing a civilian administration in Gaza underscores the fragile nature of the truce and the challenge of moving from military containment to a political settlement.

Watch For

The outcome of Mladenov's meetings with Israeli officials; any progress or breakdown in the second phase of the ceasefire; further IDF operations and Hamas's response; concrete steps toward disarmament of Palestinian factions and the formation of a civilian government in Gaza.