Tony Blair Institute Staff Linked Gaza Post-War Development Plan

The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) was involved in discussions around a controversial post-war redevelopment plan for Gaza that includes creating a "Trump Riviera" and an "Elon Musk Smart Manufacturing Zone," envisioned to transform the conflict-ravaged enclave into an economic hub. The project, led by Israeli businessmen and financially modeled by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), proposed paying up to half a million Palestinians to relocate from Gaza, though the TBI's own document did not endorse population displacement. While TBI initially denied involvement, it was later revealed that two of its staff members participated in planning calls and message groups and contributed a document with economic proposals such as artificial islands, special economic zones, and blockchain-based trade initiatives. The final 30-page deck titled "The Great Trust" was shared with President Donald Trump's administration and international stakeholders, outlining ambitious infrastructure and trade routes connecting Gaza to the India-Middle East-Europe corridor. The plan's relocation element, championed by Trump but widely condemned internationally as ethnic cleansing, was not part of TBI's internal proposals but was included in the BCG-led presentation. The project has sparked backlash given the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with critics highlighting the contentious nature of displacing Palestinians to make way for a luxury trading hub.