Ex-British PM, Tony Blair, in talks to run transitional Gaza authority

Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has been engaged in talks over potentially heading a transitional administration in Gaza should a ceasefire be reached, the BBC reports on Friday.

Sources suggest Blair has taken part in high-level discussions with key players on both the end of the conflict and Gaza’s political future.

The proposal under consideration – debated by US President Donald Trump and Arab leaders during the UN summit this week – centres on establishing a UN-backed interim authority supported by Gulf states before the territory is returned to Palestinian leadership.

Among the ideas circulating in Washington is one naming Blair as the possible head of that body. His office, however, has stressed that he would not endorse any arrangement that displaced the people of Gaza.

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Blair reportedly attended a White House meeting with Trump in August, where post-war options for Gaza were discussed. The US Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, described the session as “very comprehensive,” though details were scarce.

The former prime minister previously served as the Middle East envoy for the Quartet – made up of the US, EU, Russia and the UN – focusing on economic development in Palestine and laying groundwork for a two-state solution.

Blair’s legacy remains closely tied to his decision to commit British forces to the 2003 Iraq War, later criticised in an official inquiry for being based on flawed intelligence regarding weapons of mass destruction.

Reports of his possible role in Gaza come days after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared his willingness to work with Trump and other world leaders on advancing a two-state peace plan. Abbas also reaffirmed his refusal to accept any governing role for Hamas in Gaza, insisting the group must disarm.