Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Plans by the Trump administration to involve former UK prime minister Tony Blair in a post-war governance structure for Gaza have been derailed following objections from several Arab and Islamic countries, according to a report by the Financial Times.
The newspaper, citing informed sources, said Blair had been considered for a seat on a proposed Peace Council, a body envisioned in Washington’s 20-point plan to manage Gaza after the war. President Donald Trump had reportedly described Blair as “a very good man” and was eager to include him. Yet his candidacy quickly drew resistance from regional governments, concerned both about his reputation and the political implications of his involvement.
According to the report, Blair’s longstanding negative image in the Middle East, stemming largely from his support for the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, was a central factor behind the pushback. Several governments argued that appointing Blair could undermine Palestinian confidence in the post-war political process and potentially marginalize local leadership in Gaza.
A source close to Blair, speaking anonymously, told the Financial Times that while the former prime minister may not join the Peace Council, he could still take another role connected to Gaza’s recovery. “It is very likely he will have another assignment in a different context,” the source said, adding that Blair remains strongly supported by American and Israeli officials.
Another individual familiar with the discussions said Blair might instead join a higher-level executive committee expected to coordinate between the Peace Council and Palestinian representatives. That committee would reportedly include Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, adviser Steve Witkoff, and several Arab and Western officials. It is slated to be chaired by Nikolay Mladenov, the former UN Middle East envoy and Bulgaria’s former defense minister.
Washington’s plan calls for the creation of a non-political Palestinian technocratic government that would operate under the supervision of the Peace Council. The White House unveiled the initial framework in late September, and Israel entered what it described as the first stage of implementation on 10 October, which included a ceasefire arrangement, humanitarian aid entry, and a prisoner exchange with Hamas. However, repeated Israeli violations of the agreement have slowed the transition toward the plan’s second phase.
That phase envisions an interim administration for Gaza, led by Palestinian technocrats, and a US-promoted economic reconstruction program. The overall initiative is designed to reshape governance and security arrangements in the territory following nearly two years of devastating Israeli military operations.
During this period, Israel’s campaign in Gaza, condemned by numerous international bodies—has resulted in more than 70,000 Palestinian deaths and over 171,000 injuries, the majority of them women and children, according to local and humanitarian sources.
With diplomatic manoeuvring intensifying around Gaza’s political future, the exclusion of Blair from the proposed Peace Council highlights the growing sensitivity in the region over external appointments and the desire among Arab and Islamic states to avoid figures seen as controversial or polarizing. The US administration is expected to revise its proposals in the coming weeks as it attempts to secure broader regional support for its post-war strategy.
