Secret meeting between Netanyahu and Tony Blair on Gaza issue leaked

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair held a secret meeting on the future of the Palestinian territory of Gaza. Israeli media have brought this news to the fore. The media claim that this meeting took place between Netanyahu and Blair about a week ago. This meeting was mainly part of the discussion on the post-war situation in Gaza, i.e. the 'Day-After' arrangement.

According to the media outlet TRT World, Prime Minister Netanyahu's office has refused to comment on the content of this secret meeting. Several sources familiar with the meeting told the Israeli state broadcaster Kan that Blair is working on an initiative to involve the Palestinian Authority in taking administrative responsibility for certain areas of the Gaza Strip. Initially, there is a proposal to introduce this system on a trial basis. If successful, it may later become permanent.

Kahn says that this plan will proceed on the condition of structural reforms within the Palestinian Authority. The broadcaster also reported that Israeli security policymakers have discussed the proposal in the past few days but have not directly rejected it. In addition, Blair is also in contact with several Arab countries to advance the plan.

Incidentally, Tony Blair's name has also been discussed in US President Donald Trump's initiative to form a council that can lead the Gaza administration. In that context, his secret meeting with Netanyahu is gaining importance.

Israel began its invasion of Gaza in October 2023. More than 70,000 people have been killed in this brutal two-year invasion. Most of the victims are women and children. About 171,000 more people have been injured. Then, the Israeli invasion stopped for the time being with the ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10.

However, violations of this US-brokered ceasefire also occur almost daily. These ceasefire violations by Israel regularly result in casualties.