The U.S. administration announced the composition of the “Peace Council” and the appointment of a High Representative for the Gaza Strip, as the Palestinian technocratic committee tasked with administering the Strip begins its work. This comes two days after the start of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.

The White House appointed Nikolay Mladenov as the High Representative for Gaza. Mladenov is a Bulgarian politician and diplomat who previously served as the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process from 2015 to 2020. According to the U.S. plan, former President Donald Trump will chair the council.

Earlier on Friday, Ali Shaath, head of the Palestinian National Committee for the Administration of the Gaza Strip, said in press statements that the committee has officially begun its work from Cairo, in preparation for moving to the Gaza Strip to begin implementing an urgent relief plan for the Palestinian people.