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Prime Minister Keir Starmer has commended U.S. President Donald Trump’s role in facilitating Gaza peace negotiations, asserting that the recent agreement “would not have happened” without his involvement.
President Trump announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement on the initial phase of his 20-point peace plan, marking a significant stride towards a lasting resolution to the conflict.
The announcement comes two years after the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of 251 individuals.
Sir Keir acknowledged the UK’s “important behind-the-scenes role” and recognized President Trump’s efforts in achieving “a real breakthrough” in the negotiations.
When questioned about the possibility of President Trump receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Sir Keir affirmed that the agreement “would not have happened without President Trump’s leadership.”
Speaking at a press conference during a visit to Mumbai, he stated: “I want to be really clear about that, and I say that from the informed position of the UK having played a part behind the scenes in this with the U.S. and with the mediators.”
The UK now “stands ready to play our part in implementing this, again with others, as we go forward,” he added.
Regarding the potential involvement of former Prime Minister Tony Blair in the “Board of Peace,” which is slated to assume governance of Gaza from Hamas under the agreement, Sir Keir indicated that he was not focused on “discussions of personnel.”
“What matters now is to press on and implement this,” he told reporters.
In an earlier statement, Sir Keir welcomed the news of the deal as “a moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world.”
“I am grateful for the tireless diplomatic efforts of Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye and the United States, supported by our regional partners, in securing this crucial first step. This agreement must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza,” he said.
“We call on all parties to meet the commitments they have made, to end the war, and to build the foundations for a just and lasting end to the conflict and a sustainable path to a long-term peace.”
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has traveled to Paris to participate in a meeting convened by French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the next phase of the proposed peace plan.
Cooper arrived on Thursday from Northern Ireland, accompanied by her German counterpart. Both ministers had previously attended a meeting of foreign ministers from the Western Balkans at Hillsborough Castle.
The meeting in Paris also includes representatives from Spain, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Cooper stated that it had demonstrated “the different nations coming together to show our strong support for President Trump’s initiative.”
She added that the discussions centered on “what we need to do to make sure that this can be implemented with the ceasefire, the release of hostages, and crucially, the restoration of humanitarian aid.”
Cooper also affirmed that there would be “no role for Hamas” in the future governance of Gaza, “as a result of the anguish that we’ve seen over the past two years and the importance of building a lasting peace.”
Some British diplomatic circles are drawing parallels between President Trump’s 20-point peace plan and the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.
Jonathan Powell, the British government’s national security advisor, played a significant role in the negotiations leading to the Good Friday Agreement during his tenure as Sir Tony Blair’s chief of staff.
Mr. Powell has recently participated in talks in Egypt, focusing on strategies to prevent Hamas from playing a role in Gaza’s future.
The announcement of the agreement on Wednesday was met with celebrations in both Israel and Palestine, with people waving U.S. flags and dancing in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square.
The announcements thus far only represent a portion of the 20-point peace plan unveiled by President Trump last week, which Israel has accepted and Hamas has partially agreed to.
The announcements did not address certain contentious issues on which both sides have yet to reach a resolution.
Notably, details regarding the disarmament of Hamas, a key element of President Trump’s plan, remain absent. Hamas has previously refused to relinquish its weapons, stating that it would only do so upon the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch also commended the U.S. President, stating that he “deserves credit for brokering this deal, with the support of Arab partners and Turkey.”
“The ceasefire deal in Gaza is hugely welcome” and will be “an enormous relief to the families of Israeli hostages, so cruelly captured by Hamas two years ago.”
She called on Hamas to “fully disarm and return all hostages.”
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said “news of a ceasefire deal in Gaza brings real hope”.
“This must be the first step towards a two-state solution and a lasting peace,” Sir Ed added.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, a long-time ally of the US President, posted on social media: “Huge congratulations to President Trump and his team.
“Real progress between Israel and Hamas is a great achievement.”
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