Tony Blair is back at the center of Middle East diplomacy. The 72-year-old former British Prime Minister has been named the key architect of U.S. President Donald Trump's post-war plans for Gaza.

Washington

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been selected by U.S. President Donald Trump to play a central role in overseeing post-war Gaza. Blair is set to join an international 'Board of Peace,' chaired by Trump, which will be responsible for Gaza's reconstruction, security, and the eventual transfer of power to a reformed Palestinian Authority.

The decision has received varied responses, with some Israelis viewing Blair as a respected mediator, while many Palestinians recall his involvement in the Iraq war and Britain's colonial past. Blair's history as a diplomat and mediator in other global conflicts is noted, but the success of this initiative depends on its acceptance by key stakeholders and its actual implementation.

Trump plan taps former British PM Tony Blair to help oversee Gaza

Well, they say hindsight is 20-20, but it's doubtful Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar predicted the turn of events that would follow October 7th. Seeing former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as Gaza's new leader probably wasn't on that list. But as President Trump confirmed just last night, one of the architects of the Iraq war is indeed being tapped for a central role running the new Gaza. More details in this report. Tony Blair is back at the center of Middle East diplomacy. The 72-year-old former British Prime Minister has been named a key architect of U.S. President Donald Trump's post-war plans for Gaza. Trump's blueprint includes an international, quote, Board of Peace, chaired by Trump himself, with Blair as a member, to oversee Gaza's reconstruction, security, and eventual transfer of power to a reformed Palestinian Authority. And we'll have a board, and one of the people that wants to be on the board is the U.K. former Prime Minister Tony Blair, good man, very good man, and some others. And they'll be named over the next few days. Blair's involvement has sparked mixed reactions. Many Israelis welcome him as a respected mediator, while to many Palestinians, his name is toxic. Blair is remembered as a key figure in the Iraq war, a figure who tilted towards Israel, and a part of Britain's colonial legacy in the region. You know, Hamas is going to have to take this deal. Am I optimistic about them? No, because we're dealing with terrorists. While some in the Palestinian Authority have engaged with his proposals, others reject any non-Palestinian governing body. From brokering Northern Ireland's Good Friday agreement to championing NATO's Kosovo intervention, Blair has never shied away from tough conflicts. And as U.N. envoy, consultant, and now informal power broker, Blair has refused to let go of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I'm extremely concerned that if you leave Gaza in the state it's in, you'll have another eruption and violence, and then we're back into a further catastrophe. So we've got to stop that. And it's the politics that is getting in the way of the reconstruction. So whether it's the internal Palestinian political issue, or Israel, or the relationship with Egypt, or the international community, we've all got a responsibility. But in the Israel-Hamas war, whether he is remembered as a stabilizer, or as an unwelcome throwback, depends on how, and if, his plan is ever implemented.

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Breakdown