ALBAWABA- Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has been removed from consideration for a senior role on the proposed “Board of Peace” that would help oversee postwar Gaza reconstruction, the Financial Times reported Monday, citing sources familiar with ongoing U.S. deliberations.
His exclusion follows broad resistance from Arab governments and Palestinian factions, who argued that Blair, still widely associated with the 2003 Iraq invasion, would lack credibility in the region.
According to the Financial Times, early enthusiasm within the Trump administration for Blair’s diplomatic experience, floated in September as part of a 21-point U.S. peace framework, quickly faded as objections mounted.
Arab League members, including key Gulf states, reportedly conveyed “deep reservations” about placing Gaza’s transitional governance in the hands of a figure they view as emblematic of Western interventionism.
Hamas condemned the idea outright, while the Palestinian Authority, initially open to limited cooperation, backed away after exploratory talks in Jordan stalled.
Trump himself signaled hesitation in October, telling reporters aboard Air Force One: “I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to find out that he’s an acceptable choice to everybody.”
The proposed board would serve as the governing layer of a UN- and Gulf-backed Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA), tasked with stabilizing Gaza after a ceasefire and managing reconstruction before an eventual Palestinian handover.
Although Blair’s institute contributed to early planning, his removal highlights the fragility of the initiative, which has yet to identify a successor candidate.
