LONDON – Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has reportedly put forward an ambitious proposal to lead a transitional government in the Gaza Strip, a move slated to begin immediately after the conclusion of the Israeli military campaign in the enclave. The plan, the details of which were revealed by British media on Friday (September 26, 2025), is designed not only to reconstruct the devastated territory but also to address the severe political vacuum expected post-war.
Blair’s proposal centers on establishing a new entity named the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA). If formed, GITA would have a dual mandate: first, to oversee large-scale reconstruction efforts, including housing and critical infrastructure, and second, to progressively transfer political and security authority to the Palestinian Authority (PA), the entity currently based in the West Bank.
Seeking a UN Mandate for a Five-Year Model
The GITA concept is one of nearly a dozen proposals circulating among international governments and think tanks regarding Gaza’s future. Blair and his team are reportedly aiming to secure a formal United Nations (UN) mandate, which would confer upon GITA the status of the “supreme political and legal authority” in Gaza. This authority is tentatively planned to operate for a five-year period, allowing adequate time to stabilize the region before a full transition to a unified Palestinian government.
To execute this complex mission, Blair would reportedly be backed by a core secretariat of up to 25 specialized staff across security, reconstruction, and governance sectors. Reports indicate that GITA’s operational funding is expected to be substantially supported by Gulf states with vested interests in regional stability.
The model GITA seeks to emulate is that of successful—or previously implemented—international transitional authorities in post-conflict zones, such as Timor Leste and Kosovo. Logistically, GITA is scheduled to commence operations with its initial headquarters based in El-Arish, Egypt, which shares a direct border with Gaza.
The Mission of Unification and PA Challenges
Strategically, GITA’s ultimate mission is to achieve the reunification of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority. This challenge is formidable, given that the Ramallah-based PA currently exercises only limited civilian jurisdiction in the West Bank, where dominant security control rests with the Israeli military.
Some observers, including those cited by The Economist, view the Blair-led GITA plan as a “clear improvement” over more extreme visions previously floated, such as the conceptual “Gaza Riviera” once envisioned by President Donald Trump.
Nevertheless, Blair’s proposal is expected to face intense skepticism. Critics point to Blair’s past involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts and question whether an international entity would be accepted by Palestinian factions and the people of Gaza, who have lived for years under blockade and internal control. The implementation of the plan will heavily rely on Israel’s willingness to withdraw its forces and the explicit endorsement of key Arab nations and the UN.
