Sir Tony Blair will sit on Donald Trump’s Gaza “Board of Peace”, the White House has confirmed.
A statement released by the President’s office named the former UK Prime Minister as a member of the “founding executive board”, which aims to lead long-term peace efforts in the Middle East.
As well as Sir Tony, US secretary of state Marco Rubio, special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will sit on the board.
The other members were named as billionaire Marc Rowan, World Bank president Ajay Banga and US deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel.
Mr Trump hailed the group as “the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place”.
A White House statement on the formation of the executive board read: “The Board of Peace will play an essential role in fulfilling all 20 points of the president’s plan, providing strategic oversight, mobilising international resources, and ensuring accountability as Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and development.”
It added: “The United States remains fully committed to supporting this transitional framework, working in close partnership with Israel, key Arab nations, and the international community.”
It is understood each member of the group will hold a specialist portfolio in relation to the future of Gaza.
Tony Blair was been touted for a role in rebuilding Gaza by Donald Trump for several months
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Donald Trump said last year Sir Tony Blair would only be appointed if it was supported by other nations
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Sir Tony has not yet publicly commented about the Board of Peace.
Rumours had swirled since September last year over Sir Tony’s inclusion on the new body set up by Mr Trump. Although, at one point it appeared the White House had dropped him from the project.
“I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to find out that he’s an acceptable choice to everybody,” the US President said in October when asked about his potential inclusion on the Board of Peace.
Reports of Sir Tony being dropped from the plan emerged after it was claimed Arab and Muslim states had complained about his inclusion.
States are said to have objected to the former Prime Minister being involved due to his prior record in the Middle East, with anger still felt over his involvement in the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
More recently, suggestions even spread President Trump was considering Sir Keir Starmer for a role on the board.
The executive committee will oversee the rebuilding of Gaza following the Hamas-Israel war
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The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza will be responsible for the ‘stabilisation of daily life in Gaza, while laying the foundation for long-term, self-sustaining governance’
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Earlier this week, No10 did not directly deny that conversations had been held on the prospect of the Prime Minister’s inclusion when, only telling GB News that no “formal” offer had been made to Sir Keir.
Additional members of the board are set to be announced in the coming weeks.
As well as the Board of Peace, Sir Tony will also sit on the “Gaza Executive Board”, the purpose of which appears to be advising a newly set up interim government for Gaza.
That interim authority, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), was established on Wednesday, led by Palestinian officials.
Ali Shaath will head up the NCAG and was described by the White House as “a widely respected technocratic leader who will oversee the restoration of core public services, the rebuilding of civil institutions, and the stabilisation of daily life in Gaza, while laying the foundation for long-term, self-sustaining governance”.
It added: “Dr Shaath brings deep experience in public administration, economic development, and international engagement, and is widely respected for his pragmatic, technocratic leadership and understanding of Gaza’s institutional realities.”