Blair Meets PA Leaders Amid Controversy Over Foreign Oversight of Gaza
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has reportedly secured the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) support to take part in Gaza’s post-war recovery and reconstruction, according to The Guardian. The development follows a meeting held in Amman, Jordan, on Sunday, between Blair and Hussein al-Sheikh, deputy president of the PA and head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) executive committee.
The meeting centered on preparing for the aftermath of the ongoing war in Gaza, and Blair’s possible involvement in international efforts to coordinate aid, ceasefire agreements, and long-term rebuilding plans.
In a public statement, al-Sheikh confirmed the PA’s openness to working with Blair, President Trump, and other global partners. “We have confirmed our readiness to work… to consolidate the ceasefire, the entry of aid, the release of hostages and prisoners, and then start with the recovery and reconstruction,” he said.
He also emphasized the need to stop efforts aimed at weakening the PA and called for the return of withheld Palestinian tax revenues, which are crucial to paying salaries and stabilizing the Authority’s financial situation.
Hamas Opposes Blair’s Involvement, Questions Foreign Oversight
Despite the PA’s endorsement, Blair’s role has sparked criticism, particularly from Hamas, which has said it will not participate in Gaza’s future governance. The group has rejected the idea of any international oversight board acting as a “foreign guardian” over Palestinian affairs — a concept reportedly floated by the US as part of broader post-war plans.
Adding to the controversy, Palestinian Justice Minister Sharhabeel al-Zaeem criticized Blair’s return to the region in such a role, saying:
“Is this the independent Palestinian state we are aiming for? All these struggles… for Mr Blair, who failed in London, who failed in Iraq, to now be our guardian as if we were minors?”
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Israel, expressed skepticism over Blair’s potential leadership role, questioning whether he has the regional or international support needed to be part of a governing board for Gaza.
The Palestinian Authority remains focused on securing financial stability and pushing for the revival of the two-state solution, calling on Israel to stop withholding revenues and avoid actions that undermine peace prospects. However, the idea of foreign-led governance or oversight remains divisive among Palestinian factions and leadership.
