Israel Seeks to Designate Tony Blair as ‘Humanitarian Coordinator’ in Gaza

Amid escalating international pressure on Israel to address the well-being of Gaza civilians, Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering enlisting Tony Blair to enhance the legitimacy of humanitarian efforts in the region. A Sunday report suggested that the Israeli prime minister aims to appoint the former British prime minister as a “humanitarian coordinator” for Gaza, leveraging Blair’s prior experience in the area.

Blair, despite being criticized as a war criminal, is purportedly open to the role and is actively engaged in discussions regarding the situation. However, his spokesperson clarified that no formal offer has been accepted at this point.

The Times of Israel, citing senior officials from the Ynet news outlet, indicated that Netanyahu hopes to utilize Blair’s past role as an envoy to the Middle East Quartet to address global concerns about the civilian impact of Israel’s Gaza campaign.

The report revealed ongoing talks between Blair and Israeli authorities, with the proposed role focusing on aspects such as providing medical treatment, medications, and exploring options for evacuating the wounded and sick from Gaza.

While Blair’s office maintained that no position had been offered or accepted, it did not explicitly deny the existence of discussions. The report emphasized that the specifics of the role, including its definition, scope, and authority, had not been clearly outlined. Efforts to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Gaza are allegedly being coordinated by Israel’s health and defense ministries, with a particular emphasis on medical assistance, medicines, and the potential evacuation of individuals from the Strip.