Blair in Gaza trip as Mideast envoy

Mideast envoy Tony Blair was in the Gaza Strip today to discuss reconstruction efforts.

It is Mr Blair’s first visit to Gaza since he was appointed to present the Mideast peacemaking “quartet” of the US, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations in 2007.

He is the latest in a number of high-ranking diplomats to visit Gaza since Israel ended its offensive against the territory’s Hamas rulers in mid-January.

Mr Blair’s spokesman Matthew Doyle said the envoy would meet today with Gaza community representatives but not with members of Hamas, internationally shunned as a terrorist group.

The former British prime minister will attend a high-level Gaza reconstruction conference in Egypt tomorrow.