The success of any long-term peace plan hinges on its legitimacy in the eyes of the people it serves

Amidst the rubble of Gaza, a new political landscape is taking shape, orchestrated not by local factions but by international powers. At the heart of a proposed peace plan, spearheaded by United States President Donald Trump, is a transitional authority designed to govern the territory and oversee its reconstruction. The Financial Times and other sources report that a leading candidate to head this body is former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Blair’s potential role as chair of the “Gaza International Transitional Authority” (GITA) has been discussed at high-level meetings, including those at the United Nations General Assembly. The proposal, which is said to have the backing of the White House, aims to create a “terror-free zone” in Gaza, dismantle Hamas’s military infrastructure, and deny the group any future role in governance. The plan also includes a path for the eventual handover of power to a reformed Palestinian Authority.

While the international effort gains momentum, a critical issue remains: the absence of consultation with Gaza’s residents. These discussions are proceeding without the input of the very people whose lives and homes are being planned for. As a 21-point plan circulates, promising aid and reconstruction while excluding Hamas, a concern lingers that without local buy-in, any new authority could face popular rejection. The fear is that a new armed resistance could rise to challenge a governance structure that is perceived as being imposed from the outside, perpetuating the cycle of conflict rather than ending it.

The success of any long-term peace plan hinges on its legitimacy in the eyes of the people it serves.

Why former British PM Tony Blair could end up governing Palestine