Donald Trump wants to create a “peace council” for the reconstruction of Gaza. The former British prime minister is projected to have a central role in it, sparking reactions. Great Britain and Palestinians have shared a special past for over a century. In 1922, London was ordered to command Palestine from the society of nations. The British had already promised the Balfour Declaration to create a “homeland” for Jews from all over the world. As a result, Jewish immigration to Palestine increased – and so did the tensions between the Jewish and the Arab population. When the British could no longer manage the conflict, they returned their mandate to the United Nations in 1947. The UN then proposed a partition plan to a Jewish and an Arab state. The Arab population, however, felt extremely disadvantaged – and so, in 1948, only the Jewish state was founded: Israel. The rest is a story.

Criticism on Blair Choice

All this happened long before Tony Blair’s time. And yet, the former British prime minister, born in 1953, could again take on a kind of administrative mandate in the area – at least if Donald Trump achieved his goal. The US president presented a 20 -point plan aimed at ending the war in the Gaza Strip, which has been raging for two years. Following Hamas’s disarmament, Gaza is to be rebuilt and, during this transitional period, to be governed by a technocratic government – controlled and monitored by an international body, the “Peace Council”.

Trump wants to lead this instrument himself. However, Blair could play a prominent role in it – a perspective that causes significant criticism, not only in the area. Palestinian politician and activist for political rights Mustafa Bargouti, for example, told CNN that it would be “better to stay in his country and let the Palestinians be self -sufficient, […] rather than subjugate us to a renewed colonial domination. “

The UN special rapporteur on Palestinian territories, Francesca Albaneze, was even clearer. “Tony Blair? No! “He wrote in X:” Down the hands of Palestine! “He added,” should we meet in The Hague? “

His controversial role in Iraq war

Albaneze refers to the darkest spot in Tony Blair’s biography, which continues to shade the image of the 72 -year -old in the Middle East: his role in the Iraq war in 2003. Previously, Blair was a highly successful and popular British politician. He was first elected in 1997 and became the longest -serving Labor Prime Minister in the history of the country. The Good Friday Agreement, which he also negotiated, was a decisive turning point in the long -standing impasse of Northern Ireland. But after the attacks of September 11, 2001 in New York, he provided almost unconditionally his support for the “war against terrorism” led by then US President Bush. This caused a strong criticism of him, and the opposition even called him “Bush’s”.

Two years later, he and Bush began the Iraqi war, arguing that Saddam Hussein was alleged to hold weapons of mass destruction and had to stop, a claim that was later denied. The Chilcot Committee’s report on Britain’s role in the Iraqi war resulted in a truly destructive verdict 13 years later: reports on Saddam’s alleged weapons of Saddam should have been disputed and the war should not have been disputed.

Blair also sent his soldiers to Iraq inadequately prepared – and had no plan for the consequences. Blair was repeatedly forced to defend himself against his opponents’ allegations of being a “war criminal”. The Chilcot report doesn’t go so far. Nevertheless, the committee’s claims are very much burdened by the labor politician.

Special Envoy in the Middle East

And yet, Tony Blair remained politically active in the area. Just a day after his resignation from the post of British Prime Minister in 2007, Blair was appointed a Quartet Special Envoy for the Middle East. The Quartet consisted of the US, Russia, the EU and the United Nations and was tasked with mediation in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. But here, Blair was increasingly criticized, partly because he promoted many private business interests in the Middle East. He maintained the position for eight years, but did not make any significant progress.

The Palestinians accused him of becoming more and more with Israel. “We are glad to leave. He should have gone a long time ago, “commented then Palestinian negotiator Mohammed Stayye after Blair’s resignation in 2015.” He did nothing about the Palestinian concerns, but was used by Israel to justify his occupation and settlement policies. “

The controversial think tank

Tony Blair remained active as an entrepreneur, establishing the “Tony Blair Political Institute” (TBI) in 2016. In the past, he has advised authoritarian leaders such as Rwanda Paul Kagame President and Prince Saudi Arabia’s successor. Together with Israeli businessmen, TBI staff are also said to have also participated in the development of a post -war Gaza reconstruction plan, a claim that the Institute itself refuses. This design includes a “Riviera Trump” and an industrial park that will be named after Ilon Musk.

In February 2025, Donald Trump posted a video created by artificial intelligence and depicted this vision – provoking a worldwide extensive outcry. Such thoughts are unlikely to play an important role for Tony Blair if he really takes on his new position. In a statement he simply said that Trump’s “bold and smart” plan offers the “best opportunity” to end the war in the Gaza Strip. Blair has not yet commented if he will eventually play a role in this plan himself.

Curated by: Costas Argyros