Hamas Refuses Tony Blair's Involvement in Post-Ceasefire Gaza Governance
In the aftermath of the ceasefire in Gaza, Hamas has rejected any role for the former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in governing the region. This decision comes despite Blair receiving endorsements from the Palestinian Authority and US President Donald Trump for their efforts to solidify the ceasefire and initiate reconstruction.
Mismatched Expectations
Senior Hamas official, Basem Naim, welcomed Trump's involvement in ending the two-year conflict but dismissed the possibility of Blair's involvement in the governance of Gaza. When it comes to Tony Blair, unfortunately, we Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims, and maybe others around the world have bad memories of him,
Naim stated. He further criticized Blair's role in the deaths caused in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Contrarily, the Palestinian Authority signaled its readiness to work with both Trump and Blair. Hussein al-Sheikh, deputy head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, expressed willingness to collaborate with the two leaders and other partners to solidify the ceasefire and facilitate the entry of aid.
US and UK Involvement
US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, visited Gaza alongside Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to verify Israel’s compliance with the ceasefire agreement. Witkoff expressed optimism about achieving peace with continued commitment.
Meanwhile, the UK claimed to have played a 'key role' behind the scenes of the Gaza peace plan. However, the claim was mocked by Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, who labeled the UK Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, as delusional.
A Hope for Lasting Peace
Despite the disagreements, there is cautious optimism about the ceasefire. The US President hopes that the hostages held by Hamas will be released soon, and he may visit the Middle East to attend a signing ceremony in Egypt and address the Israeli Knesset.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, expressed confidence in Trump's commitment to holding all parties accountable to the deal. Caroline Glick, Netanyahu's international affairs advisor, noted that Trump’s plan would provide the means for Israel to dismantle Hamas and prevent future threats from Gaza.
However, concerns persist about the high human cost of the conflict, particularly the impact on children. According to UNICEF, a child is dead or hurt every 17 minutes in Gaza. War-weary Palestinians are also skeptical about the promises of the ceasefire, expressing hope for lasting peace while fearing another round of violence.