Cabinet minister Wes Streeting has backed Sir Tony Blair’s proposed role in a transitional authority to govern Gaza but acknowledged that it will “raise eyebrows”.
Donald Trump unveiled a 20-point peace plan on Monday that has been backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and is being considered by Hamas.
The US president said Sir Tony would be among international leaders set to be on a “Board of Peace” that will oversee a transitional governing committee for Gaza.
Sir Tony took the UK into the Iraq War in 2003 and then served as Middle East envoy for the quartet of international powers – the US, the EU, Russia and the UN – after leaving office.
Recently, he has been part of high-level planning talks with the US and other parties about the future of Gaza.
Health Secretary Mr Streeting acknowledged questions will be raised about whether Sir Tony is the right person for the role, but highlighted the former prime minister’s experience brokering the 1998 Good Friday Agreement to end Northern Ireland’s Troubles.
Mr Streeting told the PA news agency: “Now I know there’ll be some people who look at Tony Blair and his legacy in Iraq and will raise eyebrows to say the least about whether he’s the right man to be involved in this.
“And I say that as someone myself who opposed the Iraq War.
“Tony Blair also had an incredible legacy in Northern Ireland of bringing together sworn enemies to build a peace that has lasted.
“So if he can bring that skill set to bear in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the support of Israelis, Palestinians and other regional powers, then so much the better.”
Sanam Vakil, director of Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Programme, said the Good Friday Agreement was a “very different process with very different players” but that the Government seemed to be looking to sell Sir Tony as a good candidate for the Gaza role.
“There aren’t many candidates for the job… that’s the way they see it, and Blair has really been the one trying to shepherd this through as I understand it,” she told the PA news agency.
Ms Vakil noted that Sir Tony’s reputation was much more criticised in the UK than abroad and that he was largely respected among Middle East policymakers.
“The history and complicity of his role in the Iraq War raises the most serious red flags but I frankly don’t think that that is going to stop any potential Blair involvement in this deal,” she said.
“Because he’s been instrumental in trying to develop it, bring on board support from around the region.
“He’s got trusted relationships across the Middle East and in the White House, and so it’s hard to imagine that in this case, the concerns that the public might have… about his past and his history and his reputation will get in the way.”
She said that Sir Tony did not appear to be taking on the role as a member of the British government and that the former prime minister had not yet commented on his own potential role on the board.
While Ms Vakil acknowledged the need to scrutinise Sir Tony’s potential role, she stressed the importance of making sure Palestinians supported the plan overall.
The Liberal Democrats have called for Sir Tony to give evidence to Parliament about his role in the plan.
Party leader Sir Ed Davey said: “MPs must have the chance to scrutinise whether the former prime minister is the right person to help secure these goals.”
If both sides agree to Mr Trump’s plan, there will be an immediate ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces to “the agreed upon line”, and the release of all the hostages, followed by the release of Palestinian prisoners and a surge of aid into Gaza.
Gaza will then be temporarily governed by a transitional committee of qualified Palestinian and international experts, with oversight from a new international transitional body, referred to as the “Board of Peace”.
This body will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until the Palestinian Authority has undergone sufficient reform that it can take over.
Mr Trump told reporters on Monday: “One of the people that wants to be on the board is the UK former prime minister Tony Blair – good man, very good man.”
Sir Tony said Mr Trump’s plan is “bold and intelligent” and offers “the best chance” of ending the war.
He thanked the US president for his willingness to chair the “Board of Peace”, labelling it a “huge signal of support and confidence in the future of Gaza”.
Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the proposal, adding he was “grateful for President Trump’s leadership” and calling on all sides to work with the US to finalise the agreement and bring it into reality.
The Prime Minister said: “Hamas should now agree to the plan and end the misery, by laying down their arms and releasing all remaining hostages.
“Together with our partners, we will continue work to build consensus to put into place a permanent ceasefire.
“We are all committed to a collective effort to end the war in Gaza and deliver a sustainable peace, where Palestinians and Israelis can live side by side in safety and security.”
Israel and Arab nations including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are supporting the deal.
Hamas negotiators are currently reviewing the it after being presented with the terms by Qatar’s prime minister and Egypt’s intelligence chief, according to the Associated Press.
If Hamas rejects the deal, Mr Trump said Mr Netanyahu would have his “full backing to do what you would have to do”.
Mr Netanyahu hailed the plan as a “critical step” towards peace in Gaza and beyond but said that if Hamas rejected it, “Israel will finish the job by itself”.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said it appreciated “President Trump’s efforts to drive forward a hostage-ceasefire deal, which now has the buy-in of Israel and the international community” and said pressure must be put on Hamas to “accept the deal and end the nightmare that they started on October 7 2023”.
