Egypt backs Tony Blair to oversee Gaza as ‘modern-day high commissioner’

As Donald Trump made his way to the Middle East when the Gaza ceasefire began, he told reporters that the potential role of Tony Blair in the Palestinian enclave’s future was up for debate.

“I like Tony, I have always liked Tony. But I want to find out that he is an acceptable choice to everybody,” the US president said.

Blair’s record in the Middle East is controversial, to say the least, and the suggestion floated by Washington that he help run a post-war Gaza has been met with suspicion and even disgust in much of the Arab world.

Not in Egypt, however.

Blair joined Trump and other world leaders at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit last week that was designed to put the seal on the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

There, he was greeted enthusiastically by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, evidence of longstanding warm relations and a public display of backing for the former British prime minister.

Since leaving office, the 72-year-old and his consultancy organisation the Tony Blair Institute (TBI) have advised a raft of governments.

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