NCAG and Mladenov Urge Ceasefire Adherence Amid Gaza Violence

Recent escalations in the Gaza Strip have prompted calls for restraint from the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) and Nickolay Mladenov, Director-General of the Board of Peace. Mladenov expressed deep concern over the situation, stating, "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." He emphasized that such developments jeopardize progress under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 and President Trump's 20-Point Peace Plan. Mladenov urged all parties to exercise restraint and uphold the ceasefire as the NCAG prepares to assume civilian and security responsibilities, aiming to shift Gaza's trajectory from violence to recovery and reconstruction. He added that his office is working closely with the NCAG to prevent future incidents and called for full cooperation from all parties. The NCAG extended condolences to affected families and called on all parties to commit to the ceasefire. Chief Commissioner Ali Shaath highlighted the excruciating loss of life in Gaza over the past few days and reiterated the committee's commitment to preventing further incidents and protecting civilians. The recent violence included Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) strikes on military infrastructure in Gaza, targeting Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives, following a ceasefire violation involving a Hamas commander attempting to flee a tunnel near Rafah. The Rafah Border Crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopened to pedestrian traffic on Sunday morning for the first time since 2025, under the supervision of representatives from Egypt, the European Union, and the IDF’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).