Tony Blair In Talks To Lead US-Backed Post-War Transitional Authority In Gaza: Report

Last Updated:September 26, 2025, 18:30 IST

According to report, the proposal would see Blair head a body supported by the UN and Gulf countries, with the goal of eventually handing control back to the Palestinian people

Britain's former prime minister Tony Blair speaks during a session at the World Economic Forum. (AFP file photo)

Former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair is reportedly in talks to lead a transitional authority in Gaza, as part of a post-war governance plan backed by the United States.

According to the BBC, the proposal would see Blair head a body supported by the UN and Gulf countries, with the goal of eventually handing control back to the Palestinian people.

Blair’s office has confirmed he has been involved in discussions but made clear he would not back any proposal that involved displacing the people of Gaza.

Reports in The Economist and Israeli media suggest the proposed body could be called the Gaza Transitional Authority (GITA). It would seek a UN mandate to serve as Gaza’s “supreme political and legal authority" for a period of five years. The structure would be modelled on international administrations previously used in East Timor and Kosovo.

Under the plan, GITA would first operate from Egypt, close to Gaza’s southern border, and would only enter the Strip once conditions stabilise. A multinational force would accompany the authority to ensure security and governance.

Earlier this week, the UK joined several nations, including France, Canada, and Australia, in formally recognising the State of Palestine. These countries have reiterated support for a two-state solution, which envisions an independent Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza with East Jerusalem as its capital—existing alongside Israel.

The Israeli government and Washington have criticised these recognitions, calling them premature and a “reward for Hamas."

What Is The New US Plan?

The transitional authority idea comes amid renewed US diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Gaza. According to diplomatic sources, US President Donald Trump presented a new plan during a closed-door meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York this week with leaders from Arab and Islamic countries, AFP reported.

The plan, reportedly welcomed by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan, includes several key elements: a permanent ceasefire, release of hostages, Israeli withdrawal, and large-scale humanitarian aid.

Critically, the plan proposes a governance structure in Gaza that excludes Hamas, which the US and Israel consider a terrorist organisation. Since Hamas’s October 2023 attack on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and led to the taking of 251 hostages, Israel has maintained that Hamas must have no future role in the region.

According to Axios, the proposal is seen as an updated version of plans discussed over the past six months, drawing on ideas previously put forward by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Blair himself.

Meanwhile, Gaza remains largely in ruins. Israel’s military campaign, launched in response to the 7 October attack, has killed at least 65,502 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. A UN commission has accused Israel of committing genocide, allegations which Israel strongly denies.

(With inputs from agencies)

News world Tony Blair In Talks To Lead US-Backed Post-War Transitional Authority In Gaza: Report

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