A new U.S.-backed initiative would establish an international transitional authority to govern the Gaza Strip for up to five years, with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair reportedly positioned to lead the temporary administration. The proposal, detailed in recent media reports, outlines a framework where this international body would serve as Gaza’s supreme political and legal authority, operating initially from Egyptian territory before moving into Gaza alongside a UN-endorsed multinational force.
The plan, modeled on transitional administrations previously deployed in post-conflict regions, envisions the eventual reunification of Palestinian territories under the Palestinian Authority. Unlike earlier proposals that raised concerns about population displacement, this plan explicitly states that Palestinians would not be encouraged to leave Gaza.
The proposed Gaza International Transitional Authority would be headed by a secretariat of up to 25 people and overseen by a seven-member board. The structure includes commissioners supervising key governance areas including humanitarian affairs, reconstruction, legal matters, security, and coordination with the Palestinian Authority.
This American proposal emerges as an alternative to a UN-backed plan that would establish a technocratic administration for just one year before transferring power to a reformed Palestinian Authority. The longer timeline in the U.S. plan has raised concerns among Palestinian and Arab leaders about delayed statehood prospects, while potentially appealing to Israeli leadership seeking gradual transition.
The initiative represents a compromise between more extreme positions, avoiding both immediate Israeli control and rapid transfer to Palestinian authority. A separate Palestinian Executive Authority would deliver services through professional, nonpartisan administration, while a Gaza civil police force would maintain public order.
To address property rights concerns, the plan establishes a mechanism to protect Palestinian land ownership and right of return, attempting to prevent permanent displacement during reconstruction. The proposal comes as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has stated Hamas will have no role in postwar Gaza governance, while emphasizing Gaza as an integral part of Palestine.
The plan’s implementation would require navigating complex regional dynamics and securing international support, particularly from Arab nations who have conditioned peacekeeping participation on clear pathways to Palestinian statehood.
