The former premier highlighted what he said were “genuine humanitarian concerns” in the Palestinian territory that has been under a punishing Israeli blockade ever since the Islamist takeover in June 2007.

“I have returned to Gaza today to hear directly from local Palestinians about the tough situation they continue to face here,” he said.

“It is vitally important to maintain our focus on the genuine humanitarian concerns that still exist here in Gaza.”

Blair urged the easing of the blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt which stops all but essential humanitarian supplies from entering the territory, which was hit by a massive Israeli offensive at the start of the year.

“For example, we need to ensure that the housing and infrastructure is being repaired for the people, at the same time as reviving the private sector and developing the Gazan economy, so that people can believe that there is a prospect for that shared future of two states living side by side in peace,” Blair said.

It was Blair’s second only visit to Gaza since he was appointed envoy of the international Middle East Quartet in June 2007, the same month Hamas routed loyalists of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas’s rival Fatah faction from the territory after a week of deadly clashes.

The move effectively cleaved the Palestinians into two separate entities, with the Western-backed Abbas having his write confined to the occupied West Bank and the Iranian-backed Hamas ruling its Gaza stronghold.

Israel responded to the takeover by the group pledged to the Jewish state’s destruction by slapping a blockade on the overcrowded territory of 1.5 million people.

Egypt, which controls Gaza’s only border crossing that bypasses Israel, has largely complied with the restrictions.

Israel has insisted that the blockade is necessary to prevent Hamas from arming itself, but human rights groups have slammed the restrictions as collective punishment of the territory where the vast majority of the population depends on foreign aid.

Gaza’s humanitarian situation was exacerbated after Israel launched a devastating war on on the territory on December 27 in response to ongoing rocket fire.

The war killed more than 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis and ended with mutual ceasefires by Hamas and Israel on January 18, which have largely held despite violations by both sides.