In a candid exchange with reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed uncertainty about former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's suitability for a key position on the newly proposed "Board of Peace," an international body designed to oversee Gaza's post-war reconstruction and governance. The remarks, made as Trump embarked on a high-stakes Middle East trip, underscore the delicate balancing act facing the administration as it seeks to consolidate a fragile ceasefire that has held for four days, marking a tentative end to nearly two years of devastating conflict.
"I've always liked Tony, but I want to find out that he's an acceptable choice to everybody," Trump said, his tone measured yet probing, without specifying which regional leaders might influence the decision. He elaborated, "I want to find out that Tony would be popular with all because I just don't know that." The comments reflect growing reservations about Blair's inclusion, fueled by his polarizing legacy from the 2003 Iraq War, which has drawn sharp rebukes from Palestinian officials, Arab analysts, and even voices within Blair's own Labour Party.
The "Board of Peace" forms a cornerstone of Trump's ambitious 20-point Gaza peace plan, unveiled by the White House on September 29, 2025, following intense negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Under the proposal, Gaza's day-to-day administration would transition to a "technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee" comprising qualified local experts and international advisors. This interim body would handle public services, municipal operations, and initial rebuilding efforts until the Palestinian Authority (PA) completes a comprehensive reform program—drawing from Trump's 2020 peace vision and recent Saudi-French initiatives—allowing it to assume full control.
Trump would chair the Board of Peace, which would provide strategic oversight, secure funding, and enforce security protocols to prevent a resurgence of militancy. Blair was explicitly named in the plan as a prominent member, alongside other yet-to-be-announced heads of state, positioning him as a potential co-leader in Gaza's transformation into a hub for economic investment and development. The initiative also envisions a "Trump economic development plan," convening Middle Eastern experts to evaluate global investment proposals aimed at creating jobs and infrastructure—everything from modern desalination plants to tech incubators—while rejecting any Israeli annexation or long-term occupation of the territory.
Trump's mid-flight reflections came as Air Force One sliced through Atlantic skies toward Ben Gurion Airport, the first leg of a whirlwind itinerary. Upon landing late Sunday, the president was greeted by Netanyahu and a contingent of Israeli officials, amid reports that Hamas had begun releasing the first batch of the 20 remaining living hostages seized during its October 7, 2023, rampage—a surprise assault that killed 1,200 Israelis and ignited the war. In exchange, Israel committed to freeing 250 Palestinians serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis, plus 1,700 detainees arrested in Gaza since the conflict's outset, including all women and children among them.
The hostage swap, coordinated through Qatar and Egypt, represents Phase One of the ceasefire, approved by Israel's cabinet on October 9 and tentatively endorsed by Hamas leaders. Trump, speaking from the plane's press compartment, declared the war "over," emphasizing that U.S. Central Command would deploy 200 troops to Israel for monitoring, alongside a new "civil-military coordination center" to facilitate aid flows. "The war is over, you understand that," he asserted, crediting the deal with immediate humanitarian relief: unrestricted aid convoys via the United Nations and Red Crescent, reopening the Rafah crossing bidirectionally, and rubble-clearing equipment to restore water, electricity, and sewage systems.
Monday's schedule includes a historic address to the Knesset, Israel's parliament, where Trump is expected to outline the Board's mandate and rally support for demilitarization efforts, including the formation of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) with Arab partners like Egypt and the UAE to train reformed Palestinian police. From there, he proceeds to a world leaders' summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on Tuesday, aimed at formalizing the ceasefire's permanence. Attendees include Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and representatives from Saudi Arabia and Jordan—key mediators who helped bridge gaps between Hamas and Israel. The summit will also address Phase Two: Israel's phased withdrawal to a "Yellow Line" buffer within Gaza and the handover of remains for over two dozen presumed-dead hostages, with a joint task force to locate any unaccounted-for bodies.
Yet, the Blair question looms large, injecting uncertainty into what Trump has billed as a "bold and intelligent" blueprint for "eternal peace." Blair, 72, has long positioned himself as a Middle East statesman since leaving Downing Street in 2007. His Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, backed by tech mogul Larry Ellison and advising governments worldwide, drafted elements of the Gaza proposal, including investor panels featuring Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris and Apollo Global's Marc Rowan. In a September 30 statement, Blair hailed the plan as "the best chance of ending two years of war, misery and suffering," pledging his expertise to ensure "Israel’s absolute and enduring security" alongside Palestinian prosperity.
But Blair's Iraq entanglement—a U.S.-led invasion justified on flawed intelligence about weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)—continues to haunt him. The 2003 war, which Blair championed alongside President George W. Bush, resulted in over 4,500 U.S. and British troop deaths, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilian casualties, and the rise of ISIS from the ensuing power vacuum. A 2016 UK Chilcot Inquiry deemed the invasion's legal basis "far from satisfactory," criticizing Blair for disregarding his chief legal advisor's warnings of illegality without fresh UN authorization. No WMDs were found, eroding public trust and branding Blair a "war criminal" in Arab eyes, where the conflict is seen as imperial overreach.
Palestinian politicians have decried the Board as a "foreign guardianship" scheme that sidelines authentic voices, with commentator Hani Al-Masri calling it a "disaster" that empowers "capital interests" over self-determination. Hamas, in rejecting initial drafts, echoed this, insisting on PA-led governance without Western overseers. At Labour's annual conference last month, attendees booed Blair's name, with one Iraqi refugee-turned-activist labeling his Gaza role "tone-deaf." Even in Britain, where Blair's Kosovo intervention earned him the moniker "Tonybler" among grateful Albanians, Iraq's shadow persists: 139 Labour MPs rebelled against the war, halving his 2005 majority.
Trump's hesitation signals a pragmatic pivot. On X (formerly Twitter), reactions ranged from Al Arabiya's straightforward reporting—"Trump questions whether... Blair will serve"—to BBC Radio 4's probing: "What role should Tony Blair play?" Sky News captured the drama: Trump casting doubt to ensure "Tony would be popular with all." Pro-Trump voices, like Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, have mocked UK PM Keir Starmer's tangential involvement, accusing him of pushing Blair for "photo ops." Yet, Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer defended Blair on BBC, affirming he "clearly has an important role."
The Gaza war's toll amplifies these stakes. Since October 7, 2023, over 42,000 Palestinians have died, per Gaza health authorities, with 90% displaced and infrastructure in ruins—hospitals bombed, schools cratered, and farmland scorched. Celebrations erupted in Tel Aviv's Hostage Square and Khan Younis upon the ceasefire announcement, but skepticism lingers. Palestinians in Nuseirat refugee camp waved flags, yet questioned long-term equity: Will the Board prioritize profit over justice?
As Trump prepares his Knesset speech, the Board's launch—slated "quickly," per the president—hinges on consensus. Regional powers like Saudi Arabia, which conditioned normalization with Israel on Palestinian statehood, eye Blair warily, fearing echoes of Iraq's chaos. Al Jazeera opined that Blair's role risks "colonialism sold as investment," potentially alienating investors needed for Gaza's $50 billion rebuild.
Blair's defenders, including his former spokesman Tom Kelly, argue no figure is universally beloved in the region, but Blair's "ability to understand all perspectives" could bridge divides. In 2007, as Middle East Quartet envoy, he navigated post-Lebanon war aid; today, his JPMorgan ties could unlock private capital. Yet, with Hamas allowing temporary armed patrols for security—a concession Trump noted approvingly—the path to stability is fraught.
Trump's trip, his first to Israel since reelection, arrives at a pivot. The ceasefire, born of U.S. pressure post a brief January 2025 truce that collapsed, offers hope but demands vigilance. As families reunite—seven hostages freed by dawn Monday, per Israeli media—the world watches whether Blair joins the Board or steps aside for a less controversial ally, perhaps UAE's Mohammed bin Zayed. In Sharm El-Sheikh, signatures could seal Phase Three: full demilitarization and PA reforms, paving Gaza's "brighter future."
For now, Trump's words aboard Air Force One encapsulate the diplomacy's tightrope: admiration for Blair tempered by realpolitik. As the plane descended into Tel Aviv's lights, the question lingered—can a figure scarred by Iraq heal Gaza's wounds? The answer may define not just the Board, but Trump's Middle East legacy.
