Claims of refugee deal for Tony Blair denied

Israel's Channel 12 television claimed that Israel plans to appoint former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as a mediator to "persuade Western countries to accept Palestinian refugees from the Gaza Strip after the war ends."

In its report, Channel 12 alleged that Blair paid a secret visit to Israel last week and held private meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and War Cabinet member Benny Gantz to discuss the matter.

The report claimed that during these meetings, the idea of Blair acting as a mediator between Israel and Western countries regarding Palestinians displaced from the Gaza Strip was brought up.

DENIAL ISSUED

On the other hand, a source close to Blair denied the information contained in the Channel 12 report in a statement to The Jerusalem Post newspaper.

Stating that the claims linking Blair to the displacement of Palestinians are baseless, the source said that such a discussion never took place and that Blair would not discuss such a proposal.

On November 14, 2023, it was also claimed in the Israeli media that former British Prime Minister Blair was "wanted to be appointed as a humanitarian coordinator for Gaza," and that claim was also denied.