Board of Peace envoy knocks Israeli weekend strikes in Gaza that killed civilians

The Board of Peace’s high representative, Nickolay Mladenov, knocks Israel’s airstrikes over the weekend that killed civilians in Gaza.

“I am deeply concerned by what has taken place since Friday: Hamas armed operatives emerging from a tunnel in Rafah, Israeli strikes that tragically also killed civilians,” Mladenov writes in a post on X.

“Such developments risk the hard-won progress under” the UN Security Council resolution granting the Board of Peace a two-year mandate to manage postwar Gaza and US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for ending the Gaza war, he says.

Israel has argued that its strikes were in response to Hamas violations of the October ceasefire, but dozens were reportedly killed across the Strip, including children.

“All must exercise restraint and uphold the ceasefire as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza prepares to assume civilian and security responsibilities [from Hamas], shifting Gaza’s trajectory from violence and destruction to recovery and reconstruction,” Mladenov writes.

“My office and I are working closely to support the [NCAG] and find ways that prevent future incidents. We will need everyone’s full cooperation to make this possible,” he adds.

While Mladenov is not a US official, the Trump administration is controlling the Board of Peace’s operations, making it likely that his statement was approved by Washington.