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Envoy Blair plans visit to Gaza | Envoy Blair plans visit to Gaza |
(about 12 hours later) | |
The international Middle East envoy, Tony Blair, is due to travel to Gaza for the first time since the militant group Hamas took control in 2007. | |
The United Nations says Mr Blair will discuss humanitarian work in the strip and visit a water treatment plant. | |
He is not expected to meet any representatives from Hamas, which says it will make all the necessary security arrangements for his visit. | He is not expected to meet any representatives from Hamas, which says it will make all the necessary security arrangements for his visit. |
The international community does not recognise the Hamas government in Gaza. | The international community does not recognise the Hamas government in Gaza. |
While in Gaza, Mr Blair will meet with the commissioner general of the UN Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, Karen Abu Zaid, and the body's local director, John Ging. | |
Highest-ranking official | |
The European Union, the United States and Israel consider Hamas to be a terrorist organisation. | |
Tony Blair will be the highest-ranking official to go to Gaza since Hamas seized control of the territory in June 2007 from Fatah forces loyal to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. | Tony Blair will be the highest-ranking official to go to Gaza since Hamas seized control of the territory in June 2007 from Fatah forces loyal to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. |
The former British prime minister was appointed as Middle East envoy in the same month by the Quartet - the US, the EU, the UN and Russia. | The former British prime minister was appointed as Middle East envoy in the same month by the Quartet - the US, the EU, the UN and Russia. |
Mr Blair was asked to focus on economic issues with the aim of bolstering the chances of a peace deal this year. | Mr Blair was asked to focus on economic issues with the aim of bolstering the chances of a peace deal this year. |