Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is being lined up to lead a proposed transitional authority in Gaza under a Washington-backed five year plan.
According to reports, Blair, widely considered to be a war criminal because of his role in the illegal Iraq war, is being lined up to head the Gaza International Transitional Authority, a Washington-backed body intended to govern Gaza for up to five years.
The authority would act as Gaza’s “supreme political and legal body” during the transitional period and would be supported by a multinational Arab security force with United Nations involvement.
Blair took part in a high-level meeting in August to discuss the plan, which was convened by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The plan reportedly draws on transitional models used in Timor-Leste and Kosovo, with a supervisory board chaired by Blair overseeing an executive cabinet.
Proposals include ministries for health, finance, infrastructure, justice, welfare, and municipal services, alongside a “Property Rights Preservation Unit” to safeguard Palestinian land and housing claims.
One controversial presentation linked to the Tony Blair Institute floated ideas for a “Gaza Riviera,” special economic zones, and offering payments for up to half a million Palestinians to relocate abroad.
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The Institute denies formally backing such proposals, but their circulation has heightened Palestinian fears that reconstruction could mask attempts at demographic engineering.
Blair’s involvement in detailed planning, including participation in a White House meeting with Donald Trump and senior aides, underscores Washington’s central role in pushing the scheme forward.
The roadmap remains uncertain, as it hinges on Palestinian acceptance, Arab state cooperation, and a United Nations Security Council mandate.
These are elements that remain far from guaranteed.
The Tony Blair Institute has been involved in drafting post-war reconstruction strategies, though it denies supporting forced relocation of Palestinians as part of its proposals.
Sources suggest Blair would initially operate from Egypt before moving into Gaza once conditions allow.
The scheme requires Palestinian consent and Security Council approval to proceed.
Critics argue the proposal risks deepening Palestinian mistrust, as it places an outsider long associated with Western wars at the centre of their governance.
Palestinian factions have not yet announced formal positions on the plan, though scepticism is widespread given Blair’s history in the region.
Tony Blair’s bloody record
Tony Blair served as UK prime minister between 1997 and 2007. He is remembered for aligning Britain firmly with U.S. foreign policy after 2001.
His decision to support the 2003 invasion of Iraq remains the defining aspect of his legacy. Many still consider him responsible for a war that caused immense devastation.
Blair has frequently been described as a war criminal by critics across the Arab and Muslim worlds. His actions in Iraq and Afghanistan remain deeply controversial.
The Chilcot Inquiry condemned his government’s exaggerated claims about weapons of mass destruction and concluded that peaceful options for disarmament had not been exhausted.
In 2004, campaigners submitted a petition to the International Criminal Court urging an investigation into Blair for alleged war crimes in Iraq.
In 2011, the Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal declared Blair and George W. Bush guilty of crimes against peace and violations of international law, though the verdict carried no legal force.
Blair has denied criminal wrongdoing but has on several occasions acknowledged moral responsibility for decisions taken during his premiership.
For Palestinians, his record as Quartet envoy between 2007 and 2015 also leaves little goodwill. His tenure was widely viewed as ineffective and biased towards Israeli interests.
The possibility of Blair leading a Gaza administration therefore remains fraught with controversy.
For many, the symbolism of a leader labelled a war criminal governing Palestinians raises profound questions of legitimacy.
