Tony Blair Institute staff linked to controversial Gaza redevelopment plan

Tony Blair, Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (AFP)

Staff from the Tony Blair Institute participated in discussions around a postwar redevelopment proposal for Gaza that envisions turning the war-torn enclave into a luxury trading hub—with artificial islands, beachfront resorts, and a manufacturing zone named after Elon Musk.

The proposal, created by a group of Israeli businessmen and financially modelled by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), also includes a highly contentious element: paying hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to leave Gaza. While the Tony Blair Institute did not author the final presentation, it has acknowledged that two of its staff members joined planning calls and message groups and contributed an internal document to the discussions, the Financial Times reported.

Vision for a transformed Gaza

Titled “The Great Trust,” the 30-page slide deck was shared with Trump administration officials and international stakeholders earlier this year. It lays out plans to turn Gaza into a blockchain-powered, low-tax investment zone, with ports and airports connecting the territory to regional trade routes. One section calls for a “Trump Riviera” with artificial islands like those off the coast of Dubai. Another envisions a “Smart Manufacturing Zone” on the Gaza-Israel border where US electric vehicle companies would build cars for export.

The financial model assumes that about 25% of Gaza’s population would voluntarily relocate, with payments totalling $5 billion. According to the pitch, this would save costs compared to long-term housing subsidies and generate long-term economic returns for investors.

Blair institute's shifting stance

The Blair institute document—separate from the BCG deck—outlined some overlapping ideas such as artificial islands and special economic zones, but did not include any reference to the relocation of Palestinians. Initially, TBI denied any involvement, calling the story “categorically wrong.” However, after the Financial Times revealed the participation of two staffers and the circulation of an internal document titled “Gaza Economic Blueprint,” the institute revised its statement.

TBI said its staff joined the discussions “in listening mode” and shared an internal paper reviewing ideas from various parties. “We emphatically did not provide our document for use in the BCG work,” a spokesperson said, adding that the institute had no role in preparing the slide deck.

Political branding and corporate aspirations

The controversial deck appears to have been tailored for maximum appeal to US and Gulf leaders, naming proposed highways after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed. It also features mock-ups of digital tokens to raise development capital and bears the logos of Tesla, Amazon Web Services, and IKEA—despite no evidence these companies were consulted.

The deck refers to the plan as an “economic exploration” of former President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposals and pitches the enclave’s public land as a digital trust for sale to global investors.

BCG disavows secret project

BCG, which modelled the plan’s financial structure, has since disavowed the work. It said a five-person team undertook the project without approval, calling it a breach of internal policy. The firm dismissed two senior partners and stated that it had instructed them not to pursue the engagement. “This was not a BCG project,” a spokesperson said.

TBI also distanced itself from the broader initiative, saying it was being “fed this information by people anxious to deflect from their own role.” A meeting between former CIA officer Phil Reilly, now head of security for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and Tony Blair in London in March added to speculation about the institute’s involvement. TBI confirmed the meeting but said Blair’s role was limited to listening.

A growing list of Gaza redevelopment blueprints

The project is one of many postwar reconstruction proposals for Gaza now circulating among governments and think tanks. Egypt has backed a $53 billion Arab League plan, while organisations like RAND have produced detailed roadmaps. The Trump-era vision of turning Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East” continues to influence private-sector proposals, even as the humanitarian and political realities remain unresolved.

Despite the push for redevelopment, TBI has reiterated that it does not support the relocation of Palestinians. “It has never been about relocating Gazans,” the institute said. “That is a proposal we have never authored, developed or endorsed.”