Sir Tony Blair has called for Gaza to move from war to reconstruction and “live in peace with its neighbours” if it wants to be “free”.
Speaking at a Board of Peace gathering on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, the former prime minister said Gaza could only achieve lasting peace if it was no longer controlled by an armed group like Hamas using the territory to wage war against Israel.
“There is talk of free Palestine, but for Palestinians living in Gaza, they don't need a slogan; they need a solution,” Blair said.
“To be free, Gaza must live in peace with its neighbours and with itself. And this cannot happen if it's governed by those who use Gaza as a base for war against a neighbour it has no chance of defeating.”
Blair, a senior founding member of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, was speaking as the organisation unveiled a $2.45 billion, six-month programme for the first stage of Gaza’s reconstruction and governance.
“Seventy per cent of Gaza is destroyed,” he went on. “There has been significant humanitarian improvement, but for many people the situation remains severe. In the coming year, we are moving toward implementation of the plan.”
The 66-project programme includes temporary housing, rubble removal, hospital repairs, restoration of water and electricity infrastructure, economic recovery and preparations for the deployment of a multinational security force.
It also includes projects to clear and decommission Hamas military infrastructure, train a new Gaza police force and establish logistics and communications infrastructure.
The Board said that Hamas has agreed to the destruction of its military infrastructure, but implementation has stalled amid disagreements with Israel over the sequence and conditions for the process.
A joint UN, World Bank and EU assessment published in April estimated that Gaza would require $71.4 billion over the next decade for recovery and reconstruction.
More than 371,000 housing units have been destroyed or damaged, more than half of hospitals are non-functional, and almost every school has suffered damage.
“The question of a Palestinian state will not be resolved now, but the option will remain open, subject to Israel’s security and the legitimate desire of Palestinians to govern themselves,” Blair added.
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