Tony Blair is out of the running for Gaza's 'peace board' following objections from Arab states, it was revealed today.

The former PM was touted for a top role overseeing the territory as part of the ceasefire deal unveiled by Donald Trump in September.

However, there was a fierce backlash in the region, where Sir Tony is still strongly tied to the legacy of the Iraq War.

According to the Financial Times, the Labour ex-leader has now been ruled out of serving on the board - which will be chaired by the US president.

Instead he is understood to be getting a position on a lower level 'executive' body, with allies suggesting only current world leaders were eligible for the main posts.

Mr Trump lavished praise on Sir Tony when the initial deal was announced, saying: 'One of the people that wants to be on the board is the UK former prime minister Tony Blair – good man, very good man.' 

However, the following month the president nodded to the strength of feeling in the region, saying: 'I've always liked Tony, but I want to find out that he's an acceptable choice to everybody.'

He added: 'I want to find out that Tony would be popular with all because I just don't know that.'

The 'Board of Peace' is set to oversee Gaza and funding for redevelopment until a reformed Palestinian Authority can take over.

Allies of Sir Tony told the Daily Mail that the idea he had been ditched was 'nonsense'.

They suggested the American model for the body had changed to include around 10 'sitting heads of government' from Arab and Western countries. 

Below that will be an 'international executive board' including Sir Tony and close Trump advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. 

The ex-PM, who took the UK into the Iraq War in 2003, served as Middle East envoy for the quartet of international powers – the US, the EU, Russia and the UN – after leaving office.

He was part of high-level planning talks with the US and other parties earlier this year about the future of Gaza.