Day 713 - Tony Blair plans for postwar Gaza, without displacing residents

18 snips

Sep 18, 2025

Jacob Magid, the U.S. bureau chief for The Times of Israel, unveils a Tony Blair-backed proposal for post-war Gaza that avoids displacing its residents. He highlights ongoing discussions between Israel and Syria, hinting at imminent developments. The Palestinian Authority's controversial 'pay-to-slay' program has been replaced with a need-based initiative, though payments are currently stalled due to cash shortages. Magid also addresses US Senator Bernie Sanders' use of the term 'genocide' in the context of the Gaza war, adding to the political debate surrounding the conflict.

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INSIGHT

Blair Plan Has Trump’s Backing

Tony Blair's US-backed plan gained explicit backing from President Trump and seeks regional buy-in to form a Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA).
Blair has been meeting regional leaders and claims constructive engagement from the PA and Israeli officials to advance the plan.

INSIGHT

Transitional Authority Aims For Compromise

The plan tries to split the difference: the GITA would coordinate with the PA now and eventually transition authority to the PA later.
That transition aims to satisfy multiple parties but risks displeasing both Ramallah and Netanyahu's coalition.

INSIGHT

Saudi Buy-In Is Pivotal

Saudi Arabia's support is seen as pivotal for regional acceptance and for navigating potential UN Security Council hurdles.
Backers hope Riyadh’s buy-in might ease Russian and Chinese objections to a UN resolution creating the authority.

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Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

Magid discusses the draft of a developed proposal, formed by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, regarding a transitional body for post-war Gaza. He notes that Israel is still engaging with this topic and that the proposal does not call for the displacement of Gazans.

As security talks in the UK between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Israel continue, Magid says an announcement could be within days, possibly coinciding with al-Sharaa's upcoming appearance at the United Nations.

The long-running 'pay-to-slay' program for the Palestinian Authority that critics claimed incentivized terror attacks against Israelis is over, according to Magid, with a new program instituted to pay people based on economic need. There haven't been any payments yet as the PA is out of cash and relies on revenues that Israel collects on its behalf, which Israel has been withholding over various issues.

After US Senator Bernie Sanders used the term genocide to refer to the ongoing war in Gaza, Magid discusses that Sanders has been one of the most vocal critics of Israel.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Revealed: Tony Blair’s US-backed proposal for ending the Gaza war and replacing Hamas

PA document shows ‘pay-to-slay’ has been scrapped, new system in place

Hostage families camp outside PM’s home amid rumored start to Gaza City ground op

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves.

IMAGE: Former British Prime Minister and Middle East envoy Tony Blair (center) visits Beit Hanun in the northern Gaza Strip, in his first visit to the Hamas-run enclave since being appointed, March 1, 2009. (Mahmud Hams/AFP)

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