SIR Tony Blair has unveiled a £300 million strategy for peace in Gaza, entailing the establishment of a ‘war room’, a team of elite bodyguards, and a dedicated police force to manage the region.
The former Prime Minister’s plan, disclosed by the Mail, represents his most significant effort in the Middle East since leading British troops into Iraq.
Reports suggest that Sir Tony has expressed interest in becoming the head of the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA), a body proposed by his own institute, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.
Initially, the authority would operate from the nearby city of El-Arish in Egypt, with additional ‘policy hubs’ set up in Amman and Cairo, aiming to establish full operations within the Gaza Strip by the third year.
In this position, Sir Tony would oversee international diplomatic efforts for Gaza, manage security collaboration with Israel, Egypt, and the US, and act as the key decision-maker for critical situations.
The plan outlines that the GITA chairman would lead a ‘Strategic Secretariat’ comprising 25 aides, maintaining a crisis ‘war room’ for swift analysis, coordination, and communication.
Sir Tony Blair has proposed a £300million Gaza peace plan
Sir Tony visiting the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza as International Middle East envoy
Security would be provided by a new Executive Protection Unit (EPU) tasked with ‘close protection’ for Sir Tony, fellow leaders and visiting VIPs.
Staffed by ‘elite personnel from Arab and international contributors’ it is trained for ‘rapid extraction’ and ‘incident response readiness’ and would escort foreign envoys.
The EPU must be ‘politically balanced to reflect neutrality, professionalism and legitimacy’.
It would work in conjunction with a Palestinian Civil Police force and an International Stabilisation Force (ISF), all co-ordinated through a Joint Security Coordination Centre (JSCC).
Police would be ‘nationally recruited’ and ‘professionally vetted’ and be tasked with maintaining public order, investigating crimes and protecting civilians within Gaza.
Meanwhile the ISF – a multinational force – would guard borders, stop weapons smuggling, deter militant resurgence with targeted counter terror raids, and protect reconstruction projects.
It is hoped the force would provide the relevant security guarantees that satisfy Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu that he could withdraw the IDF – a key sticking point in peace talks.
It would be Sir Tony’s biggest intervention in the Middle East since sending British troops into Iraq
A UN body declared famine in Gaza City earlier this year with the Strip ravaged by war
Sir Tony would also have a ‘strategic secretariat’ underneath him – a ‘high capacity team’ of up to 25 people who anchor a strategic ‘war room’ for ‘rapid analysis, co-ordination, and messaging’.
They would serve ‘ as the Chairman’s platform for diplomacy, donor relations, and political situational awareness.’
GITA would have an annual budget of £67million in its first year, rising to £99million in year two and £122million by the third year. It brings the total spend to nearly £300million before the massive costs of rebuilding the territory are taken into account.
Donald Trump is reportedly sold on the proposal and it is reflected in his administration’s 21-point Gaza peace plan and it has the backing of some key Arab states while Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has not ruled it out.
But Britain’s historic role administering the region last Century combined with Sir Tony’s invasion of Iraq and long-standing backing of Israel mean it will be harder to persuade Palestinians.
The Palestinian Authority, which exercises civil control over parts of the West Bank, also wants to oversee the Strip itself despite being unpopular with Gazans.
Mustafa Barghouti, general secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, told the Washington Post: ‘We’ve been under British colonialism already.
‘He has a negative reputation here. If you mention Tony Blair, the first thing people mention is the Iraq War.’
Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, wants to control Gaza
Sir Tony with former Israeli President Shimon Peres in 2014.
GITA’s top leadership would have up to 10 members including the chair who are nominated by contributing states with the process co-ordinated by the UN.
Its board must include at least one qualified Palestinian representative, a senior UN official, and leading international figures with executive and financial expertise.
The proposal insists there must be a ‘strong representation of Muslim members to ensure regional legitimacy and cultural credibility’.
GITA will work in close co-ordination with the Palestinian Authority (PA), the government that exercises civil control over parts of the West Bank.
It states their decisions should be ‘aligned’ and ‘consistent with the eventual unifying of all the Palestinian territory under the PA’.
The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
