The ex-prime minister of the United Kingdom, who managed to evade legal action in the West for the invasion of Iraq, would be responsible for supervising medical care and the process of evacuations.
Israeli outlet Ynet reported on Sunday that Israel is contemplating the appointment of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair as the humanitarian coordinator for Gaza. This move aims to address international apprehension regarding the high number of civilian casualties in the region.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to desire Blair's diplomatic expertise in the area to provide credibility to Israel's military operation and suppress global calls for a cessation of hostilities during a severe humanitarian crisis and the loss of numerous innocent lives. Following his tenure as the UK's leader, Blair assumed the role of envoy to Israel and Palestine for the Middle East Quartet, comprising the US, Russia, EU, and UN.
The precise meaning, jurisdiction, and extent of Blair's suggested position are still undetermined. However, its primary objective would be to concentrate on "delivering medical care and medications, as well as exploring the potential for evacuating injured and ill individuals from the Gaza Strip".
Blair's office informed the media that although he has an office in Israel and has engaged in discussions with individuals in the region and elsewhere to explore potential solutions for the conflict, he has not received any job offer from Netanyahu's office.
On Monday, a spokesperson confirmed that he is currently engaged in discussions regarding the situation and remains receptive to the possibility.
Blair issued a declaration on X (previously known as Twitter) following Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7th, expressing the need for a fundamental reassessment of the long-standing Western diplomatic approach towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He emphasized that the existing state of affairs had resulted in nothing but sorrow and calamity for both Israel and Gaza.
In 2017, Blair admitted that it was a mistake for Israel and its western allies to sever ties with Hamas after their election victory in 2006, despite his initial support for the Gaza blockade. He suggested that a more constructive approach would have been to initiate a dialogue with the militant group.
The appointment of the ex-prime minister as the Quartet's peace envoy in 2007 sparked significant controversy. This was primarily due to his role in leading the UK into a disastrous war with Iraq in 2003. Despite facing accusations of war crimes, the former leader of the New Labour party managed to avoid prosecution. An official inquiry conducted by Sir John Chilcot revealed that he had ignored warnings about the potential dangers of military intervention. Furthermore, the inquiry concluded that he had intentionally exaggerated the threat posed by Saddam Hussein and his alleged weapons of mass destruction, with the aim of aligning with the American invasion.
According to a 2017 poll, a third of those surveyed in the UK still hold the belief that Blair should face trial as a war criminal. This view is also shared by Hans Blix, the UN weapons inspector whose report stating that Hussein did not possess WMDs was disregarded in favor of military intervention.
Blair, along with George W. Bush were found guilty of War Crimes by a tribinal in proceedings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from November 19 through 22, 2011. The conviction was not enforcible as it did not take place in the International Criminal Court.
TroibNews 
