Tony Blair and Donald Trump to 'govern Gaza' under President's plan to end war

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Donald Trump would govern Gaza temporarily under new plans unveiled by the US President this evening, aimed at ending the war in Palestine.

While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was meeting with Trump this afternoon, the White House released a Trump plan for ending the war and providing new governance in Gaza. Hamas tonight confirmed it had not yet received a written version of the peace proposal.

Trump's plan calls for a temporary governing board that would be headed by him and include former PM Tony Blair. The plan does not require people to leave Gaza and calls for the war to end immediately if both sides accept it. It also calls for all remaining hostages to be released within 72 hours of Israel accepting the plan.

READ MORE: 'I treat patients in Gaza, kids are being shot in stomach and left with stomas'

Trump said after their Oval Office meeting: "I challenge the Palestinians to take responsibility for their destiny because that's what we're giving them. We're giving them responsibility for their destiny."

But he added Israel would have the "full backing" of the United States to take steps to defeat Hamas if it doesn't accept the proposed peace deal. "I think we are beyond very close," Trump said at the start of a news conference with Netanyahu where he detailed the deal.

He said: "Today is a historic day for peace," Trump said. "Let's call it eternal peace in the Middle East." Netanyahu fawned over Trump, adding: "You've proven time and again what I've said many times. You are the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House. I support your plan to end the war in Gaza."

Under the plans - which have not been agreed to by Hamas - the US-Israel peace offering includes 20 key points, details of which have not been revealed entirely. It calls for a temporary governing board that would be headed by Trump and include Blair.

Trump is believed to have nominated himself as head of a governing body appointed to maintain peace in Gaza. Few details of the deal have emerged and both the US and Israeli leaders refused to take questions. There are reports Hamas fighters would be given an amnesty and their leaders may be given safe passage to leave Gaza so they can travel to another country. Itamar Ben-Givir and Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich are both keen for war to continue until Hamas is totally wiped out.

During his visit to the US, Netanyahu made a call to Qatar's Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, to apologise for a recent military strike targeting Hamas officials in the Gulf emirate that infuriated Arab leaders and triggered rare criticism by the US of Israel.

"As a first step, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that Israel's missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman," the White House said in a statement. "He further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future."

The leaders of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates on Monday supported the Trump initiative to end the war in Gaza. That's according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency following talks in Cairo between President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed. According to the statement, both leaders affirmed "the importance of supporting this peaceful initiative, that paves the way for achieving a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region."

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the US diplomatic office in Tel Aviv are calling on President Donald Trump to end the war and bring home the remaining Israeli hostages. Protesters hoisted large posters of the hostages, blew horns and pounded on drums.

"Bring them home now," the crowd chanted. "Why are they still there?" Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is among the hostages, said Trump is the families' best hope. "Fight for us President Trump. Force a full agreement on Netanyahu and the end of the war," she said.

It comes just days after Keir Starmer announced the UK has formally recognised Palestine. Confirming the move on social media - as part of a co-ordinated announcement with Canada and Australia - the Prime Minister said the hope of a two-state solution was "fading...but we cannot let that light go out."

In the summer, the Prime Minister announced that the UK was prepared to recognise Palestinian statehood in September unless Israel met certain conditions. These included agreeing to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, committing to a long-term sustainable peace and reviving the prospect of a two-state solution.

But Downing Street now believe the situation has worsened significantly, and Keir Starmer said: "Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine."

The Prime Minister added: "In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two state solution. That means a state and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state. At the moment we have neither."

More than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, Gaza’s health ministry says. The war was sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attacks, in which around 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 kidnapped.