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Envoy Blair cancels visit to Gaza | |
(19 minutes later) | |
The international Middle East envoy, Tony Blair, has cancelled a planned visit to the Gaza Strip. No reason was given for the move. | |
He would have been the most highly ranked international diplomat to visit the strip since the militant movement Hamas took control there in 2007. | |
He was due to meet UN officials to discuss humanitarian work in the strip and visit a water treatment plant. | |
He had not been expected to meet any representatives from Hamas. | |
The international community does not recognise the Hamas government in Gaza. | The international community does not recognise the Hamas government in Gaza. |
The European Union, the United States and Israel consider Hamas to be a terrorist organisation. | The European Union, the United States and Israel consider Hamas to be a terrorist organisation. |
The movement seized control of Gaza in June 2007 from Fatah forces loyal to the Palestinian Authority 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. |