Gaza International Transitional Authority

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Gaza International Transitional Authority
السلطة الانتقالية الدولية في غزة
Gaza International Transitional Authority seal (transparent background).png
Gz-map2.png
Country State of Palestine
Territory Gaza Strip
Government
  TypeProposed international administration
Area
  Total
356 km2 (137 sq mi)
Population
  Total
2,050,000

The Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA) (Arabic : السلطة الانتقالية الدولية في غزة, romanized: alsultat alaintiqaliat alduwaliat fi ghaza) [1] is a body proposed in September 2025 to administer the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of the Gaza war. Under the proposal, the administration of the Gaza Strip is to be turned over to a reformed Palestinian Authority following the transitional period. [2] [3] [4] [5] The authority would be supported by an Arab-led multinational peacekeeping force and its deployment would result in a phased withdrawal of the Israeli armed forces from most of the Gaza Strip.

Contents

The proposal is modelled on earlier transitional administrations mandated by the United Nations in West New Guinea (UNTEA), Cambodia (UNTAC), Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES), Kosovo (UNMIK) and East Timor (UNTAET). [6] [7]

Background

Tony Blair's initial draft

Former British prime minister Tony Blair, through his think tank the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, began developing a post-war plan for the Gaza Strip in July 2025 and discussed the idea with US president Donald Trump and his adviser Jared Kushner at a meeting at the White House on 27 August 2025. [8] [9]

News of Blair's proposals was first reported by the Times of Israel on 18 September 2025. [2] [10] [11] [12] On 25 September 2025, it was reported that Blair himself was interested in being a member of the authority's Board and has also been suggested as a potential chair. [13] [14] [15]

Donald Trump's peace plan

US president Donald Trump shared a draft 20-point peace plan with Arab and Muslim majority countries on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025.

Article 9 of the Trump deal incorporates Blair's proposals for a local executive committee overseen by an international board, and Article 15 describes plans for a multinational peacekeeping force and locally recruited civilian police service. [16] [17]

Trump presented a final version of his plan at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on 29 September 2025. The Palestinian Authority welcomed the proposal affirming their commitment to a "modern, democratic, and non-militarized Palestinian state". [18] Hamas later announced that they would be willing to release all Israeli hostages, to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to an independent body of Palestinian technocrats and expressed a willingness to negotiate on Trump's proposed plan. Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas started in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt on 6 October.

On the evening of 8 October, Trump announced that an agreement had been reached on the first phase of the Gaza agreement, which would lead to the cessation of hostilities, the release of Israeli hostages, the release of some Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. [19] The first phase of the agreement was signed by both parties the following day and came into effect on 10 October 2025 with the cessation of hostilities.

Hamas, the PFLP, and Islamic Jihad rejected 'foreign guardianship' over the Gaza Strip. [20] [21]

Vice-president of the Palestinian Authority, Hussein al-Sheikh, met with Tony Blair on 12 October 2025 in Jordan to discuss the ceasefire and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip. [22] [23] That evening, Trump declared that "The war is over" and that the Board of Peace and interim administration would be formed quickly. [24]

An international summit on the next phase of the peace plan, including the future governance of the Gaza Strip, was convened on 13 October 2025 in Sharm el Shaikh, Egypt.

On 14 October, Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty stated that fifteen Palestinian technocrats had been chosen to lead a post-war interim administration for the Gaza Strip. He added that the list had been agreed by all Palestinian factions, including Hamas, and had been vetted by Israel. [25]

Establishment

Upon establishment, many of the authority's institutions would initially be based outside the Gaza Strip, with an advanced team in El-Arish, Egypt and administrative hubs in Cairo and/or Amman, before moving into the Gaza Strip over a three year period as the security and humanitarian situation improves.

Administration

Gaza International Transitional Authority proposed structure Gaza International Transitional Authority proposed structure.png
Gaza International Transitional Authority proposed structure

The proposed Gaza International Transitional Authority would be the "supreme political and legal authority" in the Gaza Strip. [6] The Palestinian Authority would be able to appoint a co-ordination commissioner to liaise with the transitional authority. [6] Hamas would be disarmed and would play no role in the administration of the Gaza Strip. [5] [26]

Board of Peace

The authority is planned to be led by a seven to ten-member Board of Peace [27] [28] which could include representatives from the United Nations, the international community, and Palestinian civil society. The board would be able to issue binding decisions, approve legislation, make appointments, and provide strategic direction to the authority. [2] [5] The work of the Chairman would be supported by a Chairman's Strategic Secretariat of up to 25 members and the authority as a whole would be supported by an Executive Secretariat.[ citation needed ]

Oversight Commissioners

The authority would appoint five Oversight Commissioners to oversee humanitarian affairs, reconstruction, legislation & legal affairs, security, relations with the Palestinian Authority. [2] [29]

Palestinian Executive Authority

Responsibility for the day-to-day governance and service delivery in the Gaza Strip would be undertaken by the Palestinian Executive Authority, a committee of independent Palestinian technocrats leading health, education, finance, infrastructure, judiciary, and welfare ministries led by a Chief Executive appointed by the Board of Peace. [2]

Local government

The Gaza Strip is divided into five governorates; Gaza, Khan Yunis, North Gaza, Deir al-Balah and Rafah which are further divided into 25 municipalities. [30] Under the proposals, local-level services would continue to be provided by the municipalities, with mayors and municipal administrators nominated by the Executive Authority. [2] Palestinian refugee camps in the Gaza Strip are managed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

Property Rights Unit

Under the proposals, the Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip would not be displaced and would be able to remain within the territory, with the authority establishing a Property Rights Unit to ensure people who temporarily leave Gaza can return and retain their property rights. [31]

Judiciary

An independent judicial system would be put in place and is to be overseen by a Judicial Board led by an Arab jurist. [2]

Security and law enforcement

Map of proposed withdrawal of the Israeli armed forces from the Gaza Strip Map of trump plan for gaza.jpg
Map of proposed withdrawal of the Israeli armed forces from the Gaza Strip

Under the proposal, a multinational peacekeeping force and a locally recruited civilian police force would be deployed into the Gaza Strip, accompanied by a withdrawal of the Israeli armed forces from the territory.

International Stabilization Force

An Arab-led multinational peacekeeping force, the International Stabilization Force, would be deployed to provide strategic stability and operational protection in Gaza during the transitional period. [2] [6] [32] The Israeli armed forces could be withdrawn from most of the Gaza Strip once the International Stabilization Force has been deployed. [29] [33]

Executive Protection Unit

The Executive Protection Unit, staffed by "elite personnel from Arab and international contributors", would be established to provide security for the authority's leadership. [2]

Gaza Civil Police

A Gaza Civil Police comprised "professionally vetted and nonpartisan" officers would maintain public order and protect civilians. [2]

Humanitarian aid and reconstruction

Humanitarian aid

Under the proposal, full aid is to be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip through United Nations agencies, the Red Crescent and other international institutions not associated with Israel or Palestine. The Rafah crossing would be opened in both directions, similar to its operation during the January–March 2025 ceasefire.

Reconstruction

Tony Blair's initial draft called for a Gaza Investment Promotion and Economic Development Authority (GIPEDA) to manage economic development in the Gaza Strip. Donald Trump's final version of the plan described a Trump Economic Development Plan and the establishment of a special economic zone for the region.

See also

References

  1. "توني بلير: أنباء عن مقترح بتولي رئيس الوزراء البريطاني السابق "السلطة الانتقالية الدولية في غزة" بعد الحرب". 26 September 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Magid, Jacob (18 September 2025). "Revealed: Tony Blair's US-backed proposal for ending the Gaza war and replacing Hamas". The Times of Israel.
  3. "Piano Blair per Gaza: Sostituire Hamas senza nominarlo, con l'appoggio di USA e Arabia Saudita". 19 September 2025.
  4. "Access Restricted".
  5. 1 2 3 Trew, Bel (26 September 2025). "What is Tony Blair's plan for Gaza and will it work?". The Independent .
  6. 1 2 3 4 Wintour, Patrick (25 September 2025). "Washington backing plan for Tony Blair to head transitional Gaza authority". The Guardian.
  7. "Blair offers to lead Gaza, following the Kosovo model". Telegraphi. 26 September 2025.
  8. Badshah, Nadeem (27 August 2025). "Tony Blair attends White House meeting with Trump on postwar Gaza". The Guardian.
  9. "Former UK PM Tony Blair could head Gaza transitional authority under UN mandate". The Arab Weekly. 27 September 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  10. "Client Challenge". www.ft.com. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  11. Wintour, Patrick (26 September 2025). "Is Trump's new Palestine plan a breakthrough or diplomatic mirage?". The Guardian.
  12. "Blair proposes Gaza interim gov't backed by Donald Trump allies | the Jerusalem Post". 26 September 2025.
  13. "Tony Blair being lined up to lead temporary Gaza administration - reports".
  14. "Tony Blair in discussions to run transitional Gaza authority".
  15. "A breakdown of Tony Blair's bizarre proposal to run Gaza".
  16. Magid, Jacob (27 September 2025). "Revealed: US 21-point plan for ending Gaza war, creating pathway to Palestinian state". The Times of Israel.
  17. "Trump upbeat about ending Gaza war as 21-point peace plan takes shape". 27 September 2025.
  18. "Palestinian government supports Trump's plan to end Israel-Hamas war". Associated Press News .
  19. "Gaza war latest: Hamas claims agreement is start of 'permanent ceasefire' - as key Israeli figures meet to sign off deal". Sky News.
  20. "Hamas, other terror groups reject any 'foreign guardianship' over post-war Gaza". The Times of Israel. Reuters. 10 October 2025. ISSN   0040-7909 . Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  21. Staff, Al Jazeera. "Palestine factions refuse foreign guardianship on Gaza as truce takes hold". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 11 October 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  22. Yohanan, Nurit (12 October 2025). "PA chief's deputy meets Tony Blair to discuss truce and Gaza's reconstruction". The Times of Israel via www.timesofisrael.com.
  23. https://x.com/HusseinSheikhpl/status/1977392873772335559
  24. "Gaza latest: Trump wants to 'rebuild Gaza' after 'historic day' - but avoids stance on Palestinian state".
  25. "Egyptian FM: 15 Palestinian technocrats approved to manage postwar Gaza". 14 October 2025 via www.timesofisrael.com.
  26. "President Trump backs former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's proposal for Gaza transitional authority". 18 September 2025.
  27. "Trump's peace plan: An end to the war, or the basis for restarting negotiations?". 30 September 2025.
  28. Salem, Nadia. "The Board of Occupation".
  29. 1 2 "CONFLICT: Trump's Gaza post-war plan infographic".
  30. "Municipalities and Local Authorities". ECFR. 21 March 2018.
  31. "Tony Blair Tipped to Lead Gaza Transitional Authority".
  32. "Blair plan backed by Trump seeks Gaza authority to replace Hamas" . Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  33. Abbas, Bashir Ali (7 October 2025). "What the International Stabilization Force for Gaza, proposed by Trump, envisages".