Hamas have slapped down former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair with a firm rejection to him taking any role overseeing the post-war running of Gaza. Speaking to Sky News, Dr Basem Naim, described as a senior official within Hamas, said the ex-British PM would not be welcome.

He added that many people in the Middle East and Muslims had “bad memories” of Mr Blair because he sent British troops to wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Speaking to Sky News reporter Yalda Hakim, Dr Naim said: “When it comes to Tony Blair, unfortunately, we Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims and maybe others around the world have bad memories of him.

“We can still remember his role in killing, causing thousands or millions of deaths to innocent civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq. We can still remember him very well after destroying Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Mr Blair launched the 2003 invasion of Iraq to support the United States and under the pretence that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was harbouring “weapons of mass destruction (WMD)” that were a danger to the West. The damning Chilcot report in 2016 found the WMD justification for war was”made on the basis of flawed intelligence assessments”.

Sir Tony’s name had been put forward as a potential member of a so-called “Board of Peace” set to be led by President Donald Trump as a body which would act as an interim governing authority for Gaza.

A stipulation of the peace plan for the territory is that Hamas will have no role in any future government and the terror group has been asked to disarm. However, the peace process does allow an amnesty for Hamas members who renounce the organisation.

But speaking to Sky News, Dr Naim appeared to suggest Hamas would not disarm, adding: “No one has the right to deny us the right to resist the occupation of armies.

“We are not going to be disarmed as long as we are not sure that this will lead, by any other means, to having an independent self state which is able to defend itself.”

Dr Naim isn’t the only voice to call for the removal of Sir Tony from any future authority overseeing Gaza. Osama Hamdan, another senior Hamas official, said no Palestinian group would accept the 72-year-old in any administrative role.

“All the factions, including the Palestinian Authority, reject this,” he told the Al Araby TV network.

The Chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Dame Emily Thornberry, said regarding Sir Tony’s involvement in a Board of Peace: “I’m completely relaxed about whoever it is. I don’t really care.”

She added that it would be good if the former Labour PM had the trust of all parties, has a role and he wants to do it, and it is felt that he has a positive role to play.

“Or anyone else – I really don’t mind,” Dame Emily added.