Tony Blair in discussions to run transitional Gaza authority, BBC understands

[ad_1] The previous UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair has been concerned in discussions about operating a transitional authority in Gaza if there's a ceasefire, the BBC understands.

Sir Tony, who took the UK into the Iraq Conflict in 2003, has been in high-level planning talks with all events to finish the warfare and on the post-conflict future for the Palestinian territory, it's understood.

On the coronary heart of the most recent proposal - mentioned by US President Donald Trump and Arab leaders on the UN this week - is the concept of Gaza being run by a transitional physique with UN backing and Gulf assist, earlier than being handed again to Palestinian management.

One proposal mentioned to have gained assist in Washington is for Sir Tony to guide that authority, though his workplace has mentioned solely that he wouldn't assist something that displaced the individuals of Gaza.

Sir Tony joined a White Home assembly with Trump in August to debate plans for post-war Gaza, which the US Center East envoy Steve Witkoff described as "very complete" - although little else was disclosed concerning the assembly.

The previous prime minister served as Center East envoy for the Quartet of worldwide powers (the US, EU, Russia and the UN) for a number of years after leaving workplace in 2007. He centered on bringing financial improvement to Palestine and creating the situations for a two state-solution.

As PM, he took the choice to commit British forces to the 2003 Iraq Conflict that was closely criticised within the official inquiry into the battle, which discovered he had acted on flawed intelligence with out certainty concerning the manufacturing of weapons of mass destruction there.

Stories of discussions about his involvement in a transitional authority for Gaza come after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas mentioned on Thursday that he was able to work with Trump and different world leaders to implement a two-state peace plan.

Abbas burdened his rejection of a future governing position for Hamas in Gaza and demanded it disarm.

Earlier this week, the UK formally recognised the state of Palestine alongside Canada and Australia. Extra international locations adopted this instance, together with France and Denmark, whereas Israel and the US criticised the transfer as a reward for Hamas.

Sir Keir emphasised the diplomatic transfer means Hamas can have "no future, no position in authorities, no position in safety" and was the "precise reverse of their hateful imaginative and prescient".

The Israeli army launched a marketing campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, wherein about 1,200 individuals have been killed and 251 others have been taken hostage.

At the very least 65,419 individuals have been killed in Israeli assaults in Gaza since then, in accordance with the territory's Hamas-run well being ministry. A UN fee of inquiry has mentioned Israel has dedicated genocide in opposition to Palestinians in Gaza, which Israel denies.