Tony Blair, the former UK prime minister, is in discussions to lead a post-war transitional authority in Gaza to rebuild the devastated territory.
The proposal would see Gaza governed by a transitional administration for several years until it can be handed over to the Palestinian Authority (PA), the Times of Israel reported.
Questions about the future of Gaza have dominated diplomatic circles in recent weeks, after several nations, including the UK, formally recognised a Palestinian state in anticipation of this week’s meeting of the UN General Assembly.
A recent UN investigation also stated that Israel is committing genocide in Palestine, although Israel called the claims “false” and “distorted”, as reported by The Independent.
What is the Gaza Authority plan?
Tony Blair has proposed to run a temporary administration of the Gaza Strip, which he would initially do without the direct involvement of the PA, according to Israeli media reports.
The proposal suggests Blair would lead a body called the Gaza International Transitional Authority (Gita) which would govern Gaza’s political and legal authority for up to five years.
The plan aims to eventually achieve the “unifying of all the Palestinian territory under the PA”.
Blair’s office has said he would not support any proposal which displaced the people of Gaza, something which had been feared by many residents under the previous US proposal to develop the territory as the “Gaza Riviera”.
If the plan is approved, Blair would head a secretariat of up to 25 people, in addition to chairing a seven-person board to govern how to run the territory.
Gita could be based in Arish, the capital of an Egyptian province close to the southern border of Gaza.
According to the proposal, the board would then enter the strip with the support of an Arab multinational force endorsed by the United Nations.
The Blair plan is said to be focused on dismantling Hamas and diminishing the role of the PA, according to The Independent.
Who is backing it?
Blair’s plans are backed by the White House, after having been in conversations Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner about proposals for the future of Gaza for a long period of time.
Blair attended a meeting with the US President at the White House in August to discuss the future of Gaza.
However, many anticipate the plan for Blair to head the party would be received with widespread opposition from Palestinians because of Blair’s previous involvement of bringing the UK into the Iraq war in 2003.
What are the alternative suggestions?
Blair’s Gaza Authority plan was announced days after the UN general assembly endorsed different plans for a technocratic administration to take charge in Gaza.
Under the UN’s proposal, known as the New York declaration, the interim administration would only operate for a year, before handing power to a reformed PA with the promise of a new election, president and parliament.
At the UN on Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pledged to work with US President Donald Trump, Saudi Arabia, France and the United Nations on a peace plan for Gaza overwhelmingly backed by the world body.
The UN General Assembly, made up of 193 members, endorsed a seven-page declaration document which aims to promote a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine in order to end the war in Gaza.
Blair’s history with the Middle East
Blair has faced criticism and opposition from the Middle East after he took the UK into the Iraq War in 2003.
Several Palestinians resent Blair and see him as having prohibited their efforts to attain statehood.
After he stepped down as Prime Minister in 2007, Blair took on the role of Middle East envoy until 2015.
