Washington D.C. – In a move signaling the U.S. administration’s commitment to de-escalating tensions in the Middle East, President Donald Trump has selected Bulgarian diplomat and politician Nikolay Mladenov as the Executive Director of the newly formed Gaza Peace Council.
The announcement was initially made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza, before being confirmed by a U.S. official speaking to the Associated Press. This appointment positions Mladenov as the top official within a new international body tasked with administering the Gaza Strip during the next phase of a fragile ceasefire, following a devastating two-year conflict.
Under the ceasefire agreement, the Council, chaired by President Trump, will oversee several sensitive portfolios. These include the administration of a new technocratic Palestinian government, the disarmament of Hamas, the deployment of an international security force, further Israeli troop withdrawals, and leadership of reconstruction efforts in the war-torn territory.
Mladenov, 53, is a well-known figure in international diplomatic circles, bringing extensive experience in Middle Eastern affairs to the role. He has been involved for years in efforts to contain escalations and maintain communication channels between conflicting parties.
Prior to this appointment, Mladenov served as both Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs for Bulgaria. He also held the position of Special Representative of the United Nations for Iraq from 2013 to 2015. Subsequently, he was appointed by then-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, a role he held from 2015 to 2020.
During his tenure as Special Coordinator, Mladenov played a significant role in mediating ceasefires during recurring escalations of violence in the Gaza Strip and worked to preserve the concept of a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His experience will be invaluable in this new role.
Melin Kiriemidchev, a former Bulgarian diplomat and Middle East expert, stated that Mladenov’s selection is a culmination of his significant contributions to peace efforts, noting that he has successfully gained the trust of both Israelis and Palestinians.
