Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will not play a key role in Donald Trump’s proposed “peace council” for Gaza, after reportedly facing opposition from Arab and Muslim states, according to The Guardian.
Blair’s name has quietly been removed from consideration for the board, which Trump has said he will personally lead, Financial Times reports.
Previously, reports suggested Blair sought a prominent role in the interim administration of Gaza, following the release of a plan partially drafted by his institute, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), in cooperation with Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and unofficial envoy.
Supporters of Blair highlighted his role in ending decades of violence in Northern Ireland, while critics emphasized his limited accomplishments as the Middle East peace envoy for the so-called Quartet—comprising the UN, EU, US, and Russia.
In the broader Arab world, Blair has also faced skepticism and hostility due to his association with the US-led 2003 Iraq invasion.
Blair was the only publicly named individual for a potential role on the board when Trump unveiled his 20-point plan to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas in late September, calling Blair “a very good man.”
The proposal, to which TBI contributed, faced criticism for lacking a clear timeline for Palestinian statehood and suggesting Gaza be governed under a separate legal framework from the West Bank, raising fears of a fragmented Palestinian policy.
Acknowledging Blair’s controversial status, Trump stated in October: “I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to see if he’s an acceptable choice for everyone.”
Reports of Blair’s withdrawal come despite claims of an undisclosed meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in late November to discuss the plans, Times of Israel reported.
A source speaking to FT suggested Blair could still play a less central role. “He may still have a role in a different capacity, and that seems possible,” the source said, adding that Americans and Israelis appreciate him.
Blair’s office declined to comment, but an ally confirmed the former prime minister will not be on the “peace board.”
“The board will consist of global leaders serving under a smaller executive board,” the source told FT.
If confirmed, Blair’s exclusion signals another chaotic episode in Trump’s Gaza plans, which continue amid ongoing deadly Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, while the White House struggles to recruit states for the proposed peacekeeping force.
