Donald Trump has encouraged Sir Tony Blair to rally regional support for the former prime minister’s postwar plans for Gaza.
Sources briefed on Sir Tony’s proposal said the guiding principle is “Gaza is for Gazans”, with no displacement of the population, something that Israel’s ultra right-wing cabinet members have called for.
According to Israeli media it would focus on building a transitional governing body which would ultimately return power to the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority, as part of “a pathway towards a Palestinian state”.
But details of the proposal have yet to be seen by the Palestinian Authority, Hamas or neighbouring countries impacted, such as Jordan.
And the central premise, as explained to The Independent by sources briefed on the document, apparently directly clashes with both Israeli and Hamas visions for the destroyed strip. The Independent understands the report leaked to the Times of Israel is an earlier draft of what is currently on the table.
It proposes creating a new body named the Gaza International Transitional Authority (Gita) which will govern Gaza during a transitional period, eventually handing over control to the PA.
Gita would be established via a UN Security Council resolution and would be governed by a board of 7–10 members, including at least one qualified Palestinian, a senior UN official, international figures with financial experience, as well as “strong representation of Muslim members”.
Previous reporting had linked Sir Tony’s initiative to the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, leaving the enclave open for international property development.
But sources told The Independent that the institute would not support or endorse any proposal that involves the transfer of Palestinians.
In the leaks published by The Times, the proposal envisions the establishment of a Property Rights Preservation Unit, “aimed at ensuring that any voluntary departure of Gazans does not compromise their right to return to the enclave or retain property ownership”.
The proposal reportedly also includes the creation of an multinational stabilisation force under international mandate that would aim to ensure border integrity, deter the resurgence of armed groups, protect humanitarian operations, and support – but not replace – local law enforcement in Gaza.
The Independent understands Hamas would not be part of either the transitional or future government of Gaza, which, again, is a key demand of the militant group.
Sir Tony and his team at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change will face an uphill battle getting the extreme-right members of Israel’s cabinet on board.
Israeli’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said “there will be no Palestinian state”. Last week he declared “this place belongs to us” as he signed a controversial plan for the massive expansion of Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law, in the occupied West Bank.
