London / Mumbai, October 10(HS): UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has credited US President Donald Trump with playing the decisive role in securing a breakthrough Gaza ceasefire deal, describing the agreement as an achievement that “would not have happened” without his leadership.
Speaking at a press conference during his visit to Mumbai, Sir Keir confirmed that the UK had “played an important part behind the scenes” alongside the US and regional mediators in shaping the accord, a key first phase of Trump’s 20-point peace plan intended to end more than two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The agreement, announced by President Trump on Wednesday, comes exactly two years and two days after Hamas militants launched a devastating assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. The deal has raised hopes of a permanent cessation of hostilities and introduced a framework for Gaza’s governance that excludes Hamas.
Declining to engage in speculation over reports that former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair could join a proposed “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s administration, Sir Keir stressed that “what matters now is to press on and implement this.” He welcomed the ceasefire as “a moment of profound relief” and urged all parties to lift restrictions on humanitarian aid and honour their commitments to “build the foundations for a just and lasting peace.”
In parallel diplomatic efforts, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper travelled to Paris on Thursday to join a high-level meeting convened by French President Emmanuel Macron. The gathering brought together senior representatives from Germany, Spain, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan to discuss the next steps for implementing the peace plan.
Cooper emphasised there would be “no role for Hamas” in Gaza’s future governance, stressing the urgency of restoring humanitarian access and ensuring the release of hostages.The announcement of the ceasefire sparked celebrations in both Israel and Gaza, with crowds waving US flags and dancing in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square.
However, significant issues remain unresolved — most notably the question of Hamas disarmament, a core provision of Trump’s plan that the group has long resisted without guarantees of a Palestinian state.The peace initiative has drawn international comparisons to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland, with former British negotiator Jonathan Powell contributing to recent talks in Egypt.
UK political leaders across party lines have praised the accord: Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch commended Trump’s diplomacy, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called it a step towards a two-state solution, and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage hailed it as “real progress” between Israel and Hamas.
While the deal marks only the opening stage of Trump’s ambitious roadmap, its announcement has injected rare optimism into a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and defied repeated international mediation attempts. Whether that optimism can endure will depend on the will — and ability — of all sides to translate promises into lasting peace.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
