Middle East envoy Blair plans Gaza visit-sources

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Adam Entous GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Middle East envoy Tony Blair is expected to travel to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday in what would be the highest-level visit by a Western official since Hamas took control a year ago, Hamas and Western officials said. The visit would come nearly a month after an Egyptian-brokered truce curbed cross-border fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in the coastal enclave. Since his appointment last year, Blair has shunned Hamas, in keeping with a U.S.-led boycott of the Islamist group over its refusal to recognize Israel and renounce violence. Blair's office on Monday declined to comment on the former British prime minister's travel plans. Hamas spokesman Ismail Rudwan said the group was aware of the planned visit and was making "all the necessary security... [read full story]