The plan for post-war administration of Gaza, which could be headed by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, would sideline key Palestinian political actors while giving the chairman of the international governing body significant powers over most key issues, the British Guardian reported, citing a confidential document that was leaked to the public.
The draft proposal, seen by the British newspaper and the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, envisages that the management and reconstruction of post-war Gaza would be led by international officials, with the Palestinians given a minor role. It also proposes the establishment of an investment and economic development agency for Gaza, which would include "public-private partnerships and blended finance instruments" with the aim of providing "commercially viable returns" for investors. The Gaza administration would also be separated from the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, according to the document.
The Guardian confirmed that the document - marked confidential - is authentic and was compiled in the last two weeks.
Although no Palestinian figures are mentioned by name, the document lists several prominent foreign individuals as potential candidates for certain positions, including Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris, Mark Rowan of Apollo Global Management, and Arye Lightstone of the Abraham Accords Institute. Sources close to the document's authors suggested that the names were included for illustrative purposes only, without the consent of the individuals themselves.
The draft for the so-called International Transitional Authority for Gaza (GITA) provides a more concrete elaboration of ideas that have been said to have been advocated for some time by Tony Blair and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, including claims that Blair "wants" a role in governing Gaza.
Palestinian critics who have seen the proposal - and who have long viewed Blair with suspicion - warned that Gita would be a "disaster" for Palestine, as it would create a parallel jurisdiction in Gaza, separate from the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
The proposal was leaked to the public just before yesterday's meeting between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
As previously reported, Gita would initially operate from El-Arish in Egypt, near Gaza's southern border, and would be led by a council of seven to ten members approved by the United Nations Security Council.
According to the document, it is envisaged that only one member of the body will be Palestinian, "from the business or security sector", while potential candidates include "international figures with executive or financial experience".
It also envisions "a strong presence of Muslim members to provide regional legitimacy and cultural credibility," suggesting that these figures could be nominated by Gulf countries or Egypt.
According to the document, the council would make "binding decisions", approve laws and key appointments, and report to the UN Security Council.
The document clearly states that the chairman would have overall authority within the body, determining the "political and strategic direction of the Gita" in consultation with the board and the Palestinian Authority. The chairman would also lead diplomacy and strategic security negotiations with external actors, including Israel, Egypt, and the United States. The Palestinian Authority is not mentioned at all in this context.
The leak of the draft plan followed media reports in previous days that Blair was involved in talks about leading a post-war transitional administration in Gaza.
Under the proposal, which is said to have White House backing, Blair would lead a governing body backed by the UN and Gulf states before control is returned to the Palestinians. His cabinet has said he will not support any plan that would involve the displacement of Gaza's population.
Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative and a Blair critic, told the Washington Post yesterday: "We have already been under British colonialism. He has a negative reputation here. If you mention Tony Blair, the first thing people think of is the war in Iraq."
Although Blair is believed to have recently met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, the Guardian estimates that it remains unclear to what extent the Palestinians were informed about this proposal.
Blair participated in a meeting in late August chaired by Trump, which was dedicated to Israel's war in Gaza and post-war plans for the Palestinian territory.
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