Sir Tony Blair briefed Donald Trump on Wednesday on plans to rebuild Gaza after the war ends.
The former Prime Minister held talks on the Middle East peace process with the US President and his son-in-law Jared Kushner – with whom he has been working with for months – at the White House.
They are said to have considered how the territory can be rebuilt when its bombardment by the Israeli army is over as well as how it can be governed in future without Hamas.
As well as the ‘day after’ plan they also discussed the ongoing crisis including how food aid can be increased and what can be done to free the hostages still being held by Hamas.
The meeting was revealed by Mr Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, to whom Sir Tony is said to be acting as an adviser, in an interview with Fox News.
Mr Witkoff said: ‘It is a very comprehensive plan we are putting together on the next day and many people are going to see how robust it is and how well meaning it is and it reflects President Trump’s humanitarian motives here.’
He insisted the war in Gaza could be ended within the next four months.
‘We’re going to settle this one way or another, certainly before the end of this year,’ Mr Witkoff vowed.
Sir Tony Blair briefed Donald Trump on Wednesday on plans to rebuild Gaza after the war ends (Sir Tony pictured in June)
The former Prime Minister held talks on the Middle East peace process with the US President (pictured) and his son-in-law Jared Kushner at the White House
They are said to have considered how the territory can be rebuilt when its bombardment by the Israeli army is over (Gaza City pictured from Israel border)
The White House added: ‘President Trump has been clear that he wants the war to end, and he wants peace and prosperity for everyone in the region.’
Sir Tony’s advisory role comes after the US leader previously called for the Gaza strip to turned into the ‘riviera of the Middle East’ and for the Palestinian citizens to be forcibly relocated to neighbouring countries.
The former prime minister has been working on plans to turn the war-torn area in to a ‘modern trade hub and resort destination’, according to The Times.
A White house official told the publication that every aspect of the war in Gaza were on the discussion table.
The talks between the former PM and the president also covered plans for more humanitarian aid, according to The Telegraph.
A US official told Axios that Mr Trump’s instructions are: ‘Get this fixed’ after it emerged that event he First Lady of Turkey had written to Melania Trump begging for the suffering of Gazan children to be raised with Netanyahu.
Sir Tony is reported to have met Mr Witkoff in Washington DC last month, on the same day Mr Trump met Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
He later met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and briefed him on the post-war plans, according to US website Axios.
The former Labour leader was involved in a previous plan for Gaza when Joe Biden was president, having previously served as a Middle East peace envoy for almost eight years after leaving Downing Street.
His spokesman declined to comment on yesterday’s meeting.
