UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has backed Donald Trump’s plans to install Tony Blair as interim leader of Gaza.
Trump announced on Monday that Tony Blair would lead the Board of Peace, a body the US president claimed would oversee an interim authority in Gaza.
Wes Streeting, however, defended the appointment of Blair in the enclave during an interview with Times Radio, saying his record in Northern Ireland showed "a considerable skillset".
“Now I know there will be people who will raise eyebrows about Tony Blair in particular, and will think critically about that because of his role in the Iraq war," Streeting said.
“All I would say is that someone who also marched against the Iraq war, and opposed the Iraq war as I did, I also remember his legacy in Northern Ireland, and if he can bring that considerable skill set to bear of being able to broker peace between enemies, sworn enemies, then so much the better.”
The move has been criticised over Blair’s involvement in the Iraq war, with Jeremy Corbyn saying the former prime minister shouldn’t be “anywhere near the Middle East, let alone Gaza”.
Streeting also claimed Trump’s plans would “break through that resistance to a two-state solution”, despite the US president criticising multiple nations who officially recognised the State of Palestine – including the UK.
Approved on Monday by both the US and Israel, the plan would see an influx of humanitarian aid deposited in the Gaza strip and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, but only if Hamas agrees to the deal.
The release of prisoners, including women and children, from Israeli prisons will only be facilitated if the remaining hostages are allowed to leave.
Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer criticised the conditional nature of the terms, saying it was an admission to “the war crime of forced starvation”.
Greer added: “That's before getting to the absurdity of demanding that all of Gaza be put under the direct personal control of Trump and Tony Blair.”
