Tony Blair, the former British prime minister during the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq-an operation justified by false claims of weapons of mass destruction and widely condemned as criminal by many in both the Arab world and the UK-has now been linked to post-conflict planning for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
According to reports from Israeli and Western media, Blair is envisioned in a 21-point proposal by US President Donald Trump as the potential interim administrator of Gaza following the anticipated removal of Hamas, effectively acting as a governor-general overseeing the territory’s transition.
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While some sources suggest Blair’s exact role remains undecided, the general framework of his involvement is becoming clearer.
Below, we explore the details of Trump’s 21-point strategy, Blair’s proposed function within it, and the broader implications if this plan moves forward.
Understanding the 21-Point Proposal
Following multiple unsuccessful efforts to halt the devastating conflict in Gaza, the Trump administration has introduced a new blueprint that claims to keep open the possibility of establishing a sovereign Palestinian state-an outcome Israel has consistently opposed.
Key elements include the immediate release of all 48 hostages currently held in Gaza, in return for the entry of humanitarian aid, a freeze on combat operations, and the liberation of certain Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons.
The plan also calls for Hamas to disarm, offering amnesty to fighters who renounce violence, while permitting those unwilling to leave Gaza to remain.
Importantly, the proposal asserts that no Palestinians will be forcibly displaced, and those who choose to leave “voluntarily” will have the right to return to their homes.
If implemented faithfully, this would mark a significant reversal from Trump’s earlier stance in February, when he controversially suggested the US might “take over” Gaza and relocate its population-over two million people, nearly half of whom are children. At that time, he even released an AI-generated video depicting his vision for a “Gaza Riviera.”
This new plan also touts a “credible pathway” toward Palestinian statehood, diverging from Trump’s previous reluctance to endorse a two-state solution, even as countries like the UK, France, and Canada have reaffirmed their support.
The US and Israel reportedly intend to maintain control over the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), a controversial organization they established to bypass the United Nations and other international aid groups delivering assistance to Palestinians. Numerous starving civilians, including children, have been shot by Israeli forces and US contractors operating at GHF locations.
Connections have been drawn between Israeli officials, the US consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and both the GHF and the Gaza Riviera initiatives. In response to a UK parliamentary inquiry in late July, BCG acknowledged that some of its US employees circumvented internal risk protocols to engage in work related to GHF and post-conflict reconstruction in Gaza.
Trump’s proposal has been presented to leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, and Turkey during the UN General Assembly meetings in New York.
However, as the Israeli military continues its systematic destruction and occupation of Gaza City, while imposing a blockade that starves the population and advancing plans to annex the West Bank, the plan remains tentative. Neither Israel nor Hamas has issued an official response.
Blair’s Role in the Plan
Tony Blair, who strongly supported the 2003 Iraq invasion alongside then-US President George W. Bush, is reportedly involved through his organization, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, which aims to “transform bold ideas into actionable solutions.”
Under Trump’s proposal, Blair could be appointed to lead a newly formed body called the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA), tasked with governing Gaza during a transitional period lasting several years after Hamas is removed.
GITA would seek authorization from the United Nations, a condition emphasized by Arab states, and would initially exclude the Palestinian Authority (PA), as Israel continues to reject any future governance role for the PA in Gaza.
The PA is encouraged to undertake significant reforms, draft a new constitution, and hold elections for a new president and parliament before assuming control from GITA, which would oversee Gaza’s reconstruction.
An international stabilization force, primarily composed of troops from Arab and Muslim nations, would be deployed to maintain security and train a new Palestinian security apparatus in Gaza.
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto, representing the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, expressed readiness at the UNGA to contribute thousands of peacekeepers, concluding his address with the Hebrew greeting “shalom.”
Blair has yet to publicly address this new role. In January 2024, when Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Blair met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former war cabinet minister Benny Gantz to discuss a “voluntary resettlement” plan for Palestinians in Gaza, his institute dismissed the claim as “false.”
The Controversy Surrounding Blair’s Involvement
After a decade as UK prime minister, Blair was appointed in 2007 as the Middle East envoy for the Quartet-the UN, US, EU, and Russia-with a mandate to support Palestinian institution-building, economic growth, and governance and security reforms.
Although he officially stepped down in 2015, Blair has continued related initiatives through his institute.
While he possesses regional experience, his tenure is remembered negatively by many, especially among Iraqis who suffered immense casualties and upheaval following the 2003 invasion.
To this day, Blair is labeled a “war criminal” by critics in the Middle East and the UK, remaining a deeply divisive figure.
Palestinian analysts have criticized Blair’s peace envoy role, arguing that despite overseeing economic projects, he failed to halt illegal Israeli settlement expansion or settler violence, and did little to advance Palestinian statehood. Some accuse him of obstructing progress due to his close ties with Israel.
In the UK, Blair’s popularity plummeted after the Iraq war, and his potential involvement in Gaza’s future governance has sparked shock and skepticism among commentators.
Once it was clear that Satan was fully occupied elsewhere Tony Blair was the obvious choice to govern Gaza for Trump and Netanyahu.
– George Galloway (@georgegalloway) September 26, 2025
Beyond Blair, the 21-point plan faces criticism for resembling a neocolonial takeover of Gaza, with no firm assurances that a capable Palestinian leadership will be empowered to govern in the long term.
Israeli media have portrayed the plan as a comparatively moderate alternative to more extreme proposals circulating in Washington and Tel Aviv, which include forcibly displacing Palestinians as Israel demolishes Gaza’s remaining infrastructure, killing dozens of civilians daily.
Israel has also stressed it will maintain “security control” over Gaza regardless of any future administrative arrangements.
