John McTernan: former Political Secretary to Tony Blair on Donald Trump's 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza

US President Donald Trump has unveiled a new 20-point-plan to end the war in Gaza - and one former British Prime Minister is set to play a key role.

If Hamas agrees to the deal, the war will end immediately, with Israeli troops withdrawing and Hamas releasing all hostages.

Donald Trump will head the Gaza transitional Government, made up of Palestinians and experts, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Former Political Secretary to Tony Blair, John McTernan, says plenty of groups trust Tony Blair's word - and he brings plenty of experience.

"He's trusted by everybody, because when he's involved in a deal, the deal is stuck to because people can trust his word - he's a major operator." 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair could soon be running Gaza.
Donald Trump announced a plan to work towards a ceasefire
in the region. It's already been accepted by the Israeli
Prime Minister ben Yamanett and Yahoo. It would require Hamas
to release all hostages and fully disband. They would be
granted amnesty if they agree to the peaceful coexistence. The
plan would also see Blair appointed as the chair of
a board of peace. HUMMAS leaders said they have not

(00:22):
yet received the full proposal. John McTurnan is a former
political secretary for Tony Blair.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hi, John, Hello, how are.

Speaker 1 (00:28):
You very well? Thank you. Do you think that HUMMAS
will agree to this?

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Yes? I say that because from his time as Economic
Envoy in the Middle East, Tony Blair is known to
be trusted by Hamas, has BLA and by the other authorities.
But he's trusted by everybody because when he's involved in
a deal, the deal is stuck to because people can

(00:52):
trust his word. BECA, he's a major operator, and of
course he brings to it the experience of the North
Island peace Deal.

Speaker 1 (00:59):
There are parts of this, though, that Hamas has previously
turned down or said they can't agree to, So what
is it? Is it the Blaar part that changes the
calculation for them?

Speaker 2 (01:07):
Look, I think it is the Trump part that traines
the equation for everybody. We've always known that the only
country in the world that can actually bring peace in
the Middle East is the Americans. If the Americans come
behind something, they can put pressure on Israel, the Israeli government,
on Netanyahu, then no one else can. And that I

(01:28):
think is the is the difference. President Trump has moved
on this and that's important. And obviously behind this are
lots of discussions and negotiations and intermediates in the region,
and I believe that that's the important thing.

Speaker 1 (01:45):
Do you think the plane's going to work.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
It has to work, doesn't it. It has to work.
We need peace in the Middle East. We need the
slaughter of illocent children, innocent civilians, innocent women, innocent men.
The death needs to stop, the injuries need to stop,
the rebuilding needs to art. So we all need it
to work. And this may well be the best chance

(02:11):
for this to happen, because it's an opportunity for everybody
to get something out of it or piece. Deals are
difficult to construct, but this is one in which there
is something for everybody if they're willing to see this
as a pathway, a pathway to peace, a pathway to reconstruction,
a pathway to a two state solution. And I think

(02:31):
that's an important part of it. But you know, peace
takes time, a peace process takes time, and the long
decades of learning to live together and trust each other,
you know, are ahead. We've seen it in Northern Ireland.
But once you start to take the steps towards peace,
then each step is easier after the first one.

Speaker 1 (02:55):
Yeah, and John, this plan has no mention of the
Palestinian state in it, but clearly this is a path
to a place une in states. That's the end goal,
isn't it. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (03:02):
Look, and the recognition by a UN Security Council member
of the UK, the recognition of Palestine was a critical part.
Recognition by France, or by Norway, by Australia. This has
been building and who knows, these those steps may have
been part of a process that actually gives the confidence. Yes,

(03:24):
recognizing states is critical for two state solution. States that
are able to negotiate, states to have stability, states that
can begin reconstruction. So I think it is in the
end there is no one state solution, so there has
to be a two state solution, or there is what
we've seen this constant grinding conflict, which is it's not

(03:48):
good for Israel, for Israel's international reputation, it's terrible for Palestine,
terrible for the Gaza Gaza Strip, terrible for the infrastructure,
for individuals, for families, the whole thing. If you can
come to a stop, then that is you know, the
beginning of moving towards the Tuesday Solution, which gives stability
and security for both Palestine and for Israel.

Speaker 1 (04:11):
John, it's good to talk to you. Thank you for
your time. John mcturn and former political secretary to former
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. For more from Hither Duplessy
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