'Bomber Blair' tasked to actualize Gaza Nakba plan in 'mediator' role?

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
1 Jan 2024 11:50
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The former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, could be assigned on an up and coming Israeli initiative to implement a new Nakba in Gaza, disgused as a "mediator".

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair gives a speech at Hillsborough Castle, in Belfast, Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (AP)

Former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who gained the monicker of "Bomber Blair" after he misled the UK parliament and public to bomb Iraq, was reportedly in "Israel" last week for "undisclosed meetings with [Israeli] Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and war cabinet Minister Benny Gantz," according to a report by the Jerusalem Post.

According to a post on X by Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Blair discussed with Netanyahu taking on the role of a "mediator" that will lead the 2023 Nakba of Gaza, in reference to the 1948 Palestinian Nakba where Palestinians were forced out of their land following a number of massacres by Israeli settlers and troops.

Ben-Gvir welcomed, in his post, the idea of Blair "heading a task force that will promote the emigration of Gaza residents to other countries around the world."

In turn, the Jerusalem Post confirmed that "the idea of the former British prime minister serving as a mediator was floated," stressing Blair's history in issues "revolving around the issue of displaced Palestinians." Furthermore, the Israeli outlet also emphasized that throughout this role of his, Blair served as "a liaison communicating Israel's security needs to the Western world."

The Jerusalem Post made its claims citing N12, another Israeli outlet, which reported that Blair was positioned to act as a "mediator" in post-war Gaza, despite the continued failure of the Israeli occupation forces to contain or eliminate the Palestinian Resistance in the Strip. According to N12, Blair would be tasked with "examining" whether Western countries would be prepared to take in Palestinian refugees.

Not the first time Blair's name is touted

It is important to note that a source close to Blair denied the reports, saying "claims made over Blair's connection to displacement [of Palestinians] are incorrect," adding "There never was such a discussion, and Blair would not discuss such a proposal."

Significantly, however, this is not the first time talk of Blair taking over the Israeli initiative in Gaza has been put forward. Earlier in November, the Times of Israel and Ynet published similar reports, where Ynet reported that Netanyahu planned on appointing Blair as a humanitarian coordinator in Gaza, in an effort to allegedly improve the humanitarian situation in the Strip.

The report underscored that Netanyahu's line of reasoning is that he wants to leverage Blair's experience as a former envoy to the Middle East Quartet (international supervisors of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process) in an effort to mitigate increasing international concerns.

Tony Blair, who is widely known for his participation in the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Iraq that resulted in the killing of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians, may be appointed by "Israel" as a humanitarian coordinator for the Gaza Strip.

"Times of Israel"… pic.twitter.com/WCH9u9a0ed
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 12, 2023

The report indicated that Blair has been contacted on the matter and talks have been ongoing in recent weeks.

The Times of Israel noted, at the time, that both the Israeli military and the Israeli Security Ministry recognize that to sustain the aggression against Gaza till the end, the war needs to be seen as legitimate, and that legitimacy is predicated on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Instead of meeting the popular and international demands for a ceasefire to end the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, Netanyahu elected to appoint an official experienced in inflicting catastrophic humanitarian conditions.

'Israel' contacting countries to facilitate ethnically cleansing Gaza

Netanyahu claimed last Monday that the occupation is in contact with countries to persuade them to agree to take in Palestinian "refugees from Gaza," Israeli media reported citing the premier as telling members of his Likud Party.

His statement came in response to party member and lawmaker Danny Danon, who, along with MK Ram Ben Barak of the Yesh Atid party, was promoting this agenda.

According to the report, Danon told Netanyahu that a team must be established to manage "those who want to leave Gaza."

ِAt the time, Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas commented on the Israeli Prime Minister's remarks, saying his plan to pass a "voluntary immigration" scheme for the people from the Gaza Strip is ridiculous and aims to compensate for the Israeli war failure.

"Netanyahu is trying to sell illusions to prolong the aggression after he and his army failed to achieve their goals," the party said.

"Our Palestinian people affirmed their decisive stance by rejecting deportation and displacement, and that there is no emigration and no choice but to remain steadfast on our land."