Sir Tony Blair has been removed from consideration for Donald Trump’s Gaza “board of peace” after a mass backlash from a string of Arab and Muslim states.
The former Prime Minister was the sole individual named when Mr Trump revealed his 20-point plan to conclude the Israel-Hamas conflict in late September.
Mr Trump had praised Sir Tony as a “very good man” at the time.
In return, the former Labour boss called the proposal “bold and intelligent” and suggested he would be happy to serve on the board, which Mr Trump himself would chair.
But regional opposition then broke out due to Sir Tony’s reputation in the Middle East over Iraq.
Concerns also arose that Palestinians might be sidelined from governance arrangements, sources told the Financial Times.
The ex-PM’s office declined to comment on the matter – but one ally of Sir Tony rejected suggestions that regional opposition had blocked his participation.
“It will be made up of serving world leaders and there will be a smaller executive board under that,” the ally said, contending that Sir Tony’s status as a former leader meant he did not meet the criteria.
The New Labour orchestrator is anticipated to serve on an executive committee instead, alongside Jared Kushner and Trump adviser Steve Witkoff, as well as senior officials from Arab and Western nations.
Tony Blair has been removed from consideration for Donald Trump’s Gaza ‘board of peace’
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“He could still have a role in a different capacity and that seems likely,” another source briefed on discussions said.
“The Americans like him and the Israelis like him.”
Mr Trump’s Gaza strategy has largely ground to a halt since its unveiling more than two months ago.
A fragile ceasefire accompanied the announcement, though the territory remains split between areas controlled by Hamas and those held by Israel.
‘The Americans like him and the Israelis like him,’ one source said of the former PM
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GETTYThe President had promised to name additional board members, including heads of state, within days of the plan’s launch – though none have yet come to pass.
Nevertheless, Mr Trump has hinted things are going smoothly.
He suggested recently that the second phase of the Gaza plan would commence “pretty soon”, indicating a board announcement may be forthcoming.
In October, he admitted: “I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to find out that he’s an acceptable choice to everybody.”
Mr Tump suggested recently that the second phase of the Gaza plan would commence ‘pretty soon’
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Former UN envoy and Bulgarian Defence Minister Nickolay Mladenov will lead the executive committee as part of Gaza’s postwar governance structure, according to two sources familiar with preparations.
This committee, not included in the original plans, will serve as a link between the board of peace and a Palestinian technocratic body responsible for running the Gaza Strip day-to-day.
Mr Mladenov’s position mirrors the “supreme executive” role initially envisaged for Sir Tony.
The veteran diplomat currently heads the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi and previously served as UN special envoy for Middle East peace from 2015 to 2020.