US President Donald Trump has announced that former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair will join an international body tasked with overseeing Gaza’s post-war governance as part of Washington’s newly unveiled peace initiative.
Blair is the first publicly named member of the proposed “Board of Peace”, which Trump said he would personally chair. The board is designed to supervise a transitional phase in Gaza if Hamas accepts the 20-point plan presented by the White House earlier this week. According to Trump, additional leaders from other countries will be announced soon.
The initiative aims to bring an end to the nearly two-year-long conflict between Israel and Hamas, with provisions for demilitarisation, redevelopment, and transitional governance of Gaza. Under the plan, Gaza would be temporarily administered by a technocratic Palestinian committee with international oversight. Hamas, however, would be excluded from any role in governance.
Blair described the plan as “the best chance of ending two years of war, misery and suffering.” A Palestinian source told the BBC that Hamas officials had received the proposal and were reviewing it. While Hamas leaders said they were open to studying the plan, they insisted any agreement must guarantee Palestinian interests, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a permanent end to the war.
The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of 20 living Israeli hostages along with the remains of those who died in captivity, and the freeing of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. It also envisions the deployment of a multinational stabilisation force to assist in maintaining security and training local police as Israeli forces gradually withdraw.
Blair’s appointment has sparked debate in the UK. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the former prime minister’s involvement “will raise eyebrows” given his controversial role in the 2003 Iraq War. However, he acknowledged Blair’s success in brokering the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, suggesting his diplomatic skills could prove valuable in resolving the Gaza crisis.
Blair, who served as the UK’s prime minister from 1997 to 2007, previously acted as the Middle East envoy for the Quartet — a group comprising the US, EU, Russia, and the UN — where he focused on Palestinian economic development and advancing conditions for a two-state solution.
Trump’s plan leaves the door open for eventual Palestinian statehood, but ties this prospect to sweeping reforms within the Palestinian Authority. The US president also criticised recent moves by several Western countries, including the UK, France, Canada, and Australia, to recognise Palestine, calling them “foolish.”
Trump warned that if Hamas rejected the deal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have his “full backing” to act decisively.
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