Sir Tony Blair has accepted a position on a new Gaza advisory body established by former US President Donald Trump, a move that has immediately sparked debate due to the former Prime Minister's legacy from the 2003 Iraq invasion.
High-Profile Appointments to Oversee Rebuilding
The announcement, made on Saturday 17 January 2026, revealed the formation of a Gaza 'Board of Peace'. Donald Trump will chair the board, which is tasked with supervising the territory's reconstruction and political transition following the recent conflict.
The board's membership includes several prominent figures from Trump's previous administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and former senior advisor, are among those named. Other appointees are described as leaders with significant experience in diplomacy and economic strategy.
Blair's 'Honour' and Trump's 20-Point Plan
In response to his appointment, Sir Tony Blair released a statement expressing his feeling of 'honour'. He went further to commend Donald Trump's proposed blueprint for the region, describing the former president's 20-point plan for Gaza as an 'extraordinary achievement'.
This endorsement from the former British leader, who served as Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007, provides a significant international profile to Trump's initiative.
Controversy and Context
Blair's inclusion is viewed as contentious by many political observers and commentators. The primary source of this controversy stems from his divisive role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, a conflict which he championed alongside the US administration of the time.
The board's creation follows another significant development in Gaza's governance. A separate 15-member Palestinian committee has been formed to manage daily affairs in the territory. This committee is led by Ali Sha’ath and was established after the October 10 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect.
The parallel existence of these two bodies—one international advisory board and one local administrative committee—sets the stage for a complex rebuilding process in the war-torn region.
