LONDON (Realist English). Former British prime minister Sir Tony Blair has endorsed Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war, describing it as “bold and intelligent” and confirming his readiness to serve on an international supervisory “Board of Peace” chaired by the US president.
Under the proposal, the board would oversee a Palestinian technocratic committee administering Gaza once a ceasefire takes hold. Blair said Trump’s initiative “offers the best chance of ending two years of war, misery and suffering,” ensuring Israel’s security while delivering relief and a “brighter future” for Gaza’s people.
Blair’s allies said he was prepared to work under Trump, calling the president’s direct involvement “a very strong and vital signal.” Blair, who served as Middle East envoy after leaving office, has worked independently on Gaza proposals through the Tony Blair Institute. Diplomats referred to his efforts as part of a “Kushner-Blair plan” after he coordinated with Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, in developing the ideas.
European and Arab officials, however, expressed concern that Blair’s earlier proposals placed too much emphasis on Israeli security while marginalising Palestinian representation, and risked clashing with UK and French diplomatic initiatives. Trump’s final plan combines elements from multiple sources, proposing both a Palestinian-led interim governance structure and international oversight.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the US-led initiative, saying: “We strongly support his efforts to end the fighting, release the hostages and ensure the provision of urgent humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza.”
Reaction inside Labour was divided. At the party’s annual conference in Liverpool, some MPs expressed disbelief at Blair’s return to Middle East diplomacy, citing enduring anger over his support for the 2003 Iraq invasion. One MP called his prospective role “a terrible idea,” while another minister dismissed it as “like a mini-series where the scriptwriters have lost the plot.”
Others were more pragmatic. Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of the foreign affairs committee, said she would back any plan that included a credible path to Palestinian statehood. “If we get Trump, the Palestinians and the Israelis to agree on this and the plan includes a path to a Palestinian state, then I am intensely relaxed about it,” she said.
Outside Labour, Blair’s appointment drew more positive responses. Sir Jeremy Hunt, former Conservative chancellor, said Blair “could make a very good contribution,” pointing to his role in the Northern Ireland peace process.
Blair maintains strong ties in the Middle East, particularly with Gulf states such as the UAE, where his former advisory firm once counted sovereign investor Mubadala among its clients. Observers say those connections, along with his long record in conflict mediation, could give him leverage in the complex diplomatic effort to stabilise Gaza.
