The White House has unveiled its peace plan for Gaza – which includes a top role for Tony Blair.
The 20-point plan was released by the US government just minutes before Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu held a joint news conference on Monday evening.
The plan states that if the fighting ends, Gaza will be placed under the control of a transitional government headed by Trump and others, including former British prime minister Mr Blair.
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Gaza will “be a deradicalised terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbours” and “redeveloped for the benefit of” its people, the plan adds.
It also says nobody will be forced to leave Gaza and states there will be increased aid to the enclave. Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza, it says.
The remaining Israeli hostages being held by Hamas must be released within 24 hours, the plan states. It says this will be followed by Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners.
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Speaking at the White House, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu said to Mr Trump: “I support your plan to end the war in Gaza which achieves our war aims.”
“It will bring back to Israel all our hostages, dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities and its political rule, and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel,” he said.
Tony Blair ‘a good man’, says Trump
The US president singled out Mr Blair for praise, labelling him a “good man” as he announced him as one of the political figures who will be on Gaza’s transitional governing body if the plan goes ahead.
“We’re going to put leaders from other countries on and leaders that are very distinguished leaders, and we’ll have a board,” Mr Trump said. “And one of the people that wants to be on the board is the UK former prime minister Tony Blair. Good man, very good man. And some others.”
Mr Trump said the body will be called the “Board of Peace”, adding that other members will be named in the coming days.
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