Tony Blair out of running for Gaza ‘board of peace’

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Tony Blair has been excluded from Donald Trump’s “peace council” in Gaza, after objections from several Arab and Muslim countries, people familiar with the matter said.

The former British prime minister was the only person named to the council when the US president unveiled his 20-point plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas in late September, with Trump saying he was “a very good guy.”

At the time, Blair described Trump’s plan as “bold and smart” and indicated that he would be happy to serve on the board, which the US president would chair.

But some Arab and Muslim countries objected to Blair’s position, partly because of the damage to his reputation in the Middle East caused by his strong support for the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. There were also concerns that Palestinians would be marginalized in the governance structure.

Trump acknowledged the possibility of opposition to Blair’s appointment in October, saying: “I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to know he’s an acceptable choice for everyone.”

Blair, who served as Middle East envoy after leaving Downing Street in 2007, has been working on Gaza plans for more than a year in an individual capacity, using his Tony Blair Institute to formulate his ideas.

He coordinated with Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and the US envoy to the Middle East during the president’s first term.

Blair’s office declined to comment, but one of his allies said the former prime minister would not be a member of the “peace council.” “This will consist of serving world leaders and there will be a smaller executive council under that,” the ally said.

Blair’s ally said that Blair is expected to participate in the executive committee along with Kushner and Trump advisor Steve Witkoff, along with senior officials from Arab and Western countries.

Another person briefed on the discussions said that Blair may still have a position in future governance structures in Gaza.

“It’s still possible he could have a role in a different position, which seems likely,” that person said. “The Americans love him and the Israelis love him.”

Trump’s plan to end the conflict in Gaza has largely faltered since it was announced more than two months ago alongside a fragile ceasefire, with the Strip divided between Hamas-controlled areas and Israel-controlled areas.

When the president revealed the plan, he said other members of the “peace council” would include heads of state and would be named in the “next few days.” But no dates have been set.

However, Trump said implementation of his plan is going well, and that the transition to Phase 2 of the Gaza plan will happen “very soon,” hinting that a board announcement could be imminent.

As part of Gaza’s post-war governance structure, an executive committee will be established headed by former UN envoy and Bulgarian Defense Minister Nikolai Mladenov, according to two people familiar with the preparations.

The Executive Committee, which was not originally mentioned in the Gaza plans, is expected to coordinate between the Peace Council and a committee of Palestinian technocrats charged with the day-to-day management of the Strip.

Mladenov’s role appears similar to the duties first presented to Blair, which included serving as a “top executive”, that is, running a body that was supposed to oversee the post-war transition in Gaza.

The veteran Bulgarian diplomat, who heads the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi, served as a UN special envoy for the Middle East peace process between 2015 and 2020, often acting as a mediator between Israel and Hamas.

Much of the post-war plan for Gaza remains undefined. There is little clarity on the composition of the Palestinian technocratic committee or international stabilization force that will be responsible for security.

Diplomats say no government has publicly committed to force, and there is no clarity on its mandate, size and leadership structure.

It is also unclear how Hamas will be disarmed. The militant group, whose attack on October 7, 2023 led to war, has so far resisted any moves to disarm it, as demanded by the Trump ceasefire agreement.

Additional reporting: George Parker in London