Blair in talks to head internationally supervised Gaza transition

Former British prime minister Tony Blair is reported to be in discussions to lead a U.S.-backed transitional authority for the Gaza Strip after a ceasefire, part of a wider proposal that would place interim governance of the territory under international supervision for up to five years. The proposed body, described in drafts seen by multiple outlets, would initially be based in Egypt near Gaza and enter the Strip accompanied by a multinational force once conditions stabilize.

Under the plan, the transitional body would serve as Gaza's supreme political and legal authority during the interim period, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian Executive Authority responsible for day-to-day services such as health and education. The authority would also supervise vetted civil police and would explicitly exclude Hamas from governance roles. The Palestinian Authority would be promised a future role but would be sidelined at the outset under some versions of the proposal.

Backers of the initiative are reported to include senior U.S. officials and advisers, and Gulf states are expected to provide funding. The structure is said to be modeled on international administrations used previously...