Live Update
From the Liveblog of
Monday, July 11, 2016
Tony Blair said to meet with Hamas officials
Former British PM and Quartet envoy Tony Blair met a month ago with Hamas representatives, the Turkish Anadolu news agency reports, citing a source close to the Palestinian group.
“Blair spoke with Hamas about the possibility of reaching a formula on Gaza,” the anonymous source is quoted as saying, adding that Blair had pitched a meeting with Hamas officials in Europe in order to secure a long-term ceasefire that would lift the blockade on the Strip.
The source is quoted as saying that other “European parties” are in touch with Hamas.
“Meetings [with Hamas] are being held regularly in certain Western countries,” the source reportedly says.
On Monday, Blair met with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Jerusalem.