Former UK PM Tony Blair is expected to play a role in Gaza’s interim authority under Donald Trump’s peace plan, according to reports.
At a news conference on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed the United States President's 20-point plan.
Mr. Trump said that today is "possibly one of the greatest days ever in civilization" and that they are "beyond very close" to reaching a peace deal.
According to the plan, if both parties agree, there will be an immediate truce, Israeli forces will retreat to "the agreed upon line," all hostages will be released, Palestinian prisoners will be released, and relief will flood into Gaza.
After that, a transitional committee made up of knowledgeable Palestinian and foreign specialists will temporarily run Gaza under the direction of the "Board of Peace," a new international transitional authority.
Mr. Trump will serve as the chair of the "Board of Peace," collaborating with Sir Tony and other world leaders.
Until the Palestinian Authority has undergone enough reform to assume control, this group will provide the structure and manage the finances for Gaza's reconstruction.
Following his discussion with Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Trump told reporters, "My plan calls for the creation of a new international oversight body, the 'Board of Peace.'"
“It will be headed by a gentleman known as President Donald J Trump of the United States.”
He added:
“We’ll do it right, and we’re going to put leaders from other countries on and leaders that are very distinguished leaders.
And we’ll have a board, and one of the people that wants to be on the board is the UK former Prime Minister Tony Blair – good man, very good man – and some others.
They’ll be named over the next few days, and it’ll be quite the board. Everybody wants to be on it now.”
He concentrated on fostering economic growth in Palestine and establishing the framework for a two-state solution.
He has recently participated in high-level planning discussions for Gaza's future with the US and other parties.
US Middle East ambassador Steve Witkoff described the plans for the land as "comprehensive" when he attended a White House meeting with Mr. Trump in August.
In response to Monday's statement, Sir Tony praised Mr. Trump for his willingness to chair the "Board of Peace," calling it a "huge signal of support and confidence in the future of Gaza" and called his concept "bold and intelligent."
Sir Tony said:
“President Trump has put down a bold and intelligent plan which, if agreed, can end the war, bring immediate relief to Gaza, the chance of a brighter and better future for its people, whilst ensuring Israel’s absolute and enduring security and the release of all hostages.
It offers us the best chance of ending two years of war, misery and suffering and I thank President Trump for his leadership, determination and commitment.
In particular, his willingness to chair the Board of Peace to oversee the new Gaza is a huge signal of support and confidence in the future of Gaza, of the possibility of Israelis and Palestinians finding a path to peace and of the potential for a broader regional and global alliance to counter the forces of extremism and promote peace and prosperity between nations.”
What would the Gaza International Transitional Authority's mandate include?
GITA would be the premier governing body in Gaza by taking charge of and having oversight over all political and legal matters, doing so while disarming Hamas and taking terrorists out of the governing structure.
GITA would govern daily affairs through an Executive Authority made up of independent Palestinian technocrats who would oversee key ministries that are essential to governance, including health, education, finance, infrastructure, judicial and welfare.
The Board would be made up of 7 to 10 members from the UN, the international community, and Palestinian civil society, it would be constantly monitored by the military and troops of GITA, and it would develop a strategic plan to follow the vision of the GITA to implement it. The GITA would have a chair, assigned by the UN Security Council, and be able to make binding decisions for the Board.