Blair: Gaza blockade "not sensible"

Tony Blair has called for Israel to lift the economic blockade of the Gaza strip, in an interview with Channel 4 news last week.

He visited the region as Quartet Middle East envoy last week, his first visit since 2001 – then as British Prime Minister.

Mr Blair called for a different approach to resolving the conflict: “I think there is a recognition that we have to change our strategy towards Gaza.”

Widely praised for his role in orchestrating the peace process in Northern Ireland, Mr Blair called the economic blockade "not sensible": “What actually happens is that the goods that you cannot get through the legitimate economy, of course, end up coming through the tunnels and, actually, that helps the extremists and helps Hamas. We should change that. We should work towards Palestinian unity, on the right terms.”

He said engaging all parties would be the only way to progress peaceful negotiations, however Hamas would have to change: “If they're not prepared to commit themselves to non-violence, it is very hard to see how we are going to find a way forward.”

The former British prime minister is a representative of the Quartet group, a body that represents four political bodies: the EU, the UN, the USA and Russian Federation.

The interview came before a reconstruction summit held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, at which, the Palestinian Authority received £3.2 billion from international donors for redevelopment in the Gaza strip.

Although the Middle East envoy encouraged those at the conference to donate generously, he viewed politics as essential in ensuring the money is well spent. He said: “If the politics isn't right, then the danger is that either this money doesn't get through to Gazan people properly or is not used properly."

He continued: "We are going to have to make sure that we get the blockades lifted and the crossings opened so the material can come in.”

Mr Blair's comments echoed that of Britain's international development secretary, Douglas Alexander, who had previously expressed concerns that the money pledged could be ineffective if the restrictions on resources travelling into Gaza are not relaxed. Mr Alexander also announced that Britain would be donating £30 million in aid to be spent on rebuilding homes and other infrastructure damaged in the conflict.

Hilary Clinton, US Secretary of State, visited the area for the first time in her new role and pledged $900 million (£650 million) from the United States government budget and said that Washington was dedicated to realising peace: “Our response to today's crisis in Gaza cannot be separated from our broader efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace.”

Tony Blair was appointed as the Quartet's Middle East envoy immediately after resigning as Prime Minister in June 2007.

The Quartet was set up in 2002 in an effort to organise and collaborate against the increasing violence in the Middle East.