Keir Starmer praises Donald Trump over role in Gaza ceasefire deal | UK News

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has praised US President Donald Trump’s leadership in the Gaza peace talks, claiming the deal “would not have happened” without him.

On Wednesday, Trump announced Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of his 20-point peace plan, in a major step towards a permanent end to their war.

It comes two years and two days after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken hostage.

Sir Keir said the UK “played an important part behind the scenes” and had seen Trump’s efforts on securing “a real breakthrough” in the negotiations.

Asked whether Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, Sir Keir said the agreement “would not have happened without President Trump’s leadership”.

Speaking at a press conference on a visit to Mumbai, he added: “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 US and with the mediators.”

The UK now “stands ready to play our part in implementing this, again with others, as we go forward,” he said.

When asked about ex-Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair potentially joining the “Board of Peace”, scheduled to take over the running of Gaza from Hamas under the deal, Sir Keir said he was not interested in “discussions of personnel”.

“What matters now is to press on and implement this,” he told reporters.

In a statement earlier, Sir Keir welcomed 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 rushed to Paris to attend a meeting led by French President Emmanuel Macron on the next stage of the proposed peace plan.

Cooper flew in on Thursday from Northern Ireland with her German opposite number. Both ministers had been attending 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.

Parallels are being drawn by some in British diplomatic circles between President Trump’s 20-point peace plan and the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.

Jonathan Powell, the British government’s national security adviser, was heavily involved in the negotiations that brought about the Good Friday Agreement, when he was Sir Tony’s chief of staff.

Mr Powell has been involved in talks in Egypt in recent days, which included how to prevent Hamas playing a role in Gaza’s future.

The announcement of the deal on Wednesday led to scenes of celebration in both Israel and Palestine, including people waving US flags and dancing in Tel-Aviv’s Hostage Square.

What has been announced so far represents only part of the 20-point peace plan unveiled by Trump last week, which Israel had accepted and Hamas had partly agreed to.

The announcements did not cover some thorny issues both sides have not reached a resolution on.

Notably, no details surround the disarmament of Hamas – a key point in Trump’s plan. Hamas has previously refused to lay down its weapons, saying it would only do so when a Palestinian state had been established.

Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch also praised the US president, who she said “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 Sir 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.”