What the Blair–Kushner relationship reveals about Trump’s vision for Gaza

The Times published a report by journalists Katy Balls and David Charter, highlighting the return of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to the forefront through his close ties to former U.S. president Donald Trump’s adviser and son‑in‑law Jared Kushner, and what this relationship might reflect about Trump’s view of Gaza and the region.

In 2007, after resigning as prime minister, Blair was appointed envoy of the Quartet tasked with mediating between Palestinians and Israelis. But his mission met swift Palestinian rejection and was considered ineffective, while associates say the role that former U.S. president George W. Bush intended for him was undermined inside the U.S. administration by Dick Cheney and Condoleezza Rice, leaving his activity later focused on economic development rather than the political process.

With Blair’s return today as the first member of Trump’s “Peace Council”, the question is raised: will his attempts succeed this time given his direct ties to the White House? Blair himself described Trump’s direct involvement as a “strong signal”, while associates say he now enjoys a wide network in Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan and the United States, most notably via Kushner.

Blair and Kushner… a long‑standing relationship

The relationship between Blair and Kushner dates back to 2010, when they met at a family event attended by Ivanka Trump. With Trump’s rise to power in 2016, their meetings intensified: they met in Aspen, then in New York after the election, and later at the White House in 2017, although no official role for Blair was announced at the time.

According to the report, Blair continued to work behind the scenes to support Kushner’s efforts to persuade Arab states to normalize relations with Israel. At the “Peace to Prosperity” conference in 2019, Kushner described Blair as “a good friend and an important adviser”, and the Blair Institute played a role in convincing the UAE to join the Abraham Accords in 2020.

Frequent presence at the White House

Blair was seen more than once at the White House during the Trump era, including in July last year on the day of Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit, and then in August to attend a private summit on Gaza’s future organised by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, who also benefited from Blair’s expertise and contacts.

The report notes that Kushner and Witkoff are the leading players shaping Trump’s vision for the region, with other figures expected to be added to the “Peace Council”.

The Palestinian position

On the Palestinian side, Blair’s appointment was met with strong reservations; many view him as biased toward Israel and the United States, and his role in the Iraq war was cited as evidence of lost credibility. Taher al‑Nunu, a Hamas leader, said Blair’s role imposes a “foreign tutelage” that the Palestinian people reject, asserting that Palestinians are capable of managing their own affairs.

The report concludes that Blair is betting that Trump’s and Kushner’s direct intervention this time will be different, hoping that White House backing will give him a chance of success he did not achieve more than a decade ago.