London, UK – 2025-10-01

Trump Nominates Blair to Oversee Gaza Transition from Egyptian Soil

The White House’s comprehensive 20-point peace proposal for Gaza, recently unveiled by President Donald Trump, has placed a spotlight on a deeply controversial plan for the territory’s post-war governance—one that proposes to establish its headquarters on Egyptian territory and give former British Prime Minister Tony Blair a central, executive role.

Mr. Trump praised the former UK leader as a “good man” and confirmed he would be part of a new international oversight body, the “Board of Peace,” tasked with administering and funding the reconstruction of the Strip once a ceasefire and hostage deal are secured.

Crucially, leaked drafts of the governance plan—referred to in some reports as the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA)—detail an ambitious security and logistical setup based primarily in Egypt. The transitional authority’s administrative hub is proposed to be in the Egyptian provincial capital of Al-Arish in North Sinai, strategically located near Gaza’s southern border.

The Cairo Connection and The Arab Peacekeeping Force

Furthermore, the proposal hints at a dual-city arrangement, with a secondary office and security coordination facilities being established in Cairo. This Egyptian presence would be vital for managing the logistics of the proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF), an international security detail envisioned to be largely comprised of troops from Arab and Muslim countries, such as the 20,000 troops already pledged by Indonesia. The creation of an “Executive Protection Unit” for the international leadership, drawn from Arab and international contributors, is also a key feature, suggesting a strong security footprint centered in the Egyptian capital to protect the leadership, including Mr. Blair.

The choice of Egyptian cities underscores the proposal’s reliance on Cairo as the crucial logistical and diplomatic gateway for Gaza’s transition, given the proposed phased withdrawal of Israeli forces and the need for a neutral, yet proximate, location to train a vetted Palestinian police force.

Blair’s Role Stirs Regional Controversy

Mr. Blair’s potential leadership has immediately become a flashpoint for critics. While supporters point to his extensive experience as the former Quartet Envoy to the Middle East, a period spent working to build Palestinian institutions, opponents view his involvement as deeply problematic.

Many Arab and Palestinian factions are wary of an external body sidelining the Palestinian Authority (PA) and fear the international administration is merely a prelude to a new form of occupation. The former Prime Minister’s legacy, particularly his support for the Iraq War, has long made him a divisive figure in the region, fueling suspicion that the entire post-war plan is too heavily tilted in favour of Israeli and Western security concerns, rather than long-term Palestinian sovereignty. The US-backed proposal states Gaza must become a “deradicalised terror-free zone” that would eventually be unified under a reformed PA, but its current structure, led by figures like Mr. Blair and based on external military and administrative control from Egypt, has already drawn comparisons to a colonial project.

Headline Points:

 * Blair’s Central Role: Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is slated for a key leadership position on the proposed “Board of Peace,” the international body designed to oversee Gaza’s temporary administration and reconstruction under the Trump peace plan.

 * Egyptian Headquarters: Leaked details of the proposal indicate the transitional authority, potentially called the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA), would initially be based in the Egyptian city of Al-Arish, located in northern Sinai, near the Gaza border.

 * Two-City Security Structure: The plan reportedly outlines a dual-office setup, with the main administrative hub and the proposed Executive Protection Unit—staffed by Arab and international contributors—maintaining a presence in Cairo for security and diplomatic coordination.

 * Gaza Under International Control: The proposal, which mandates Hamas’s disarmament, envisions Gaza being governed by a temporary team of Palestinian technocrats supervised by the international “Board of Peace,” effectively placing the territory under external control for a transitional period.

 * Controversial Figure: Blair’s potential involvement is already sparking debate, given his long history in the Middle East and his controversial legacy from the 2003 Iraq War, leading critics to view him as too compromised for a neutral leadership role.