YONI BEN MENACHEN -- Hamas issued a statement on September 28, ahead of the U.S. announcement of its Gaza plan, declaring former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair “an unwanted figure in the Palestinian arena.”
Senior Hamas official Husam Badran wrote on Telegram that including Blair in a transitional administration for Gaza would be “a bad omen for the Palestinian people.” He accused Blair of war crimes over the Iraq war (2003–2011), calling him “the brother of the devil,” and insisted that Palestinian affairs must be managed solely by Palestinians through national consensus.
The U.S. plan, unveiled by the White House, proposes a temporary technocratic administration in Gaza made up of Palestinian professionals and international experts, under the oversight of a new body—the “Peace Council”—to be led by President Donald Trump alongside other world leaders, including Blair.
Opposition to Blair is not limited to Hamas. Senior Palestinian Authority officials also reject his appointment, labeling him a staunchly pro-Israel figure and unfit due to his Iraq war record. They argue the U.S. plan is a cover for joint American-Israeli control over Gaza, demographic engineering, and economic exploitation.