According to a report, the u.s. president will act as chairman of a new board of peace for Gaza as will middle east envoy Steve Witcoff and the president’s son in law, Jared Kushner. Reportedly, founding members are u.s. secretary of state Mark Rubio and former uk prime minister Tony Blair, who in August took part in comprehensive discussions with u.s. officials regarding plans for the territory.
Mr Blair was prime minister of the uk from 1997-2007 and was knighted in 2022. According to the report, in September Britain’s secretary of health drew attention to Mr Blair’s role in brokering the 1998 Belfast agreement, the u.k.’s answer to troubles in northern Ireland, and there was some controversy when he was appointed as middle east envoy for the u.n., u.s., e.u. and Russia following the 2023 war in Iraq.
According to the report, under phase one of a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict, Israel and hamas agreed a ceasefire, a hostage-prisoner exchange, a partial israeli withdrawal and an increase in aid. Reportedly, phase 2 would see the reconstruction and demilitarisation of Gaza, including the disarmament of hamas and other palestinian groups.
According to the report, the focus of Gaza’s new board of peace is economic development and to create the conditions to move towards a two state solution. Reportedly, the former deputy minister in the palestinian authority which governs parts of Samaria not under Israeli control will lead a new national committee to administrate Gaza, and bulgarian politician and former middle east envoy Nickolay Mladenov will be working with them on the ground. According to the report, there will also be another executive board that includes further appointees, and a plan to place an international stabilising force to train and support vetted palestinian police forces in order to establish a durable terror free environment.