Britain's former prime minister Tony Blair strongly denies reports in Israeli media claiming that he will act as a mediator between Israel and Arab countries regarding the "voluntary resettlement" of Palestinians from Gaza to other countries.
The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, a nonprofit organization he set up in 2016, says the report was "a lie."
"The story was published without any contact with Tony Blair or his team. No such discussion has taken place. Nor would Tony Blair have such a discussion. The idea is wrong in principle. Gazans should be able to stay and live in Gaza", says their official statement.
On December 31, Channel 12 claimed that Blair had visited Israel a week before to discuss with Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz the future of the Gaza Strip after the war."
According to the channel, Israel is interested in Blair acting as a mediator between Jerusalem and moderate Arab countries in determining the future of the Palestinian enclave.
The channel also reported that Israeli politicians had asked Blair to check if some countries are ready to take in refugees from the Gaza Strip who agree to voluntary deportation.
