LONDON
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday called for international cooperation to implement the Trump ceasefire plan for Gaza, as he praised the “tireless diplomatic efforts of the US, Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye.”
“I reiterate my thanks for the tireless diplomatic efforts of the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye,” Starmer said in a statement ahead of talks in Egypt’s Red Sea city of Sharm el-Sheikh.
He also said it is now "crucial" to work together to implement Trump's plan for Gaza, "and that will be my focus in Egypt today.”
He said: “Commitment to this plan from all parties will be essential to ending the war and building the foundations for a sustainable path to a long-term peace.”
“The UK will support the crucial next stage of talks to ensure the implementation of the peace plan,” he added, describing the discussions as “the first, crucial phase in ending the war in the Middle East.”
“Now we must deliver lasting peace and a secure future for the whole region,” Starmer said.
He also confirmed additional British assistance for those affected by the conflict. “The UK is providing additional humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, and we will lead efforts to accelerate its reconstruction.”
More than 20 world leaders are expected to attend the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, which will be co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his American counterpart, Donald Trump.
Egypt said the summit aims “to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East, and usher in a new phase of regional security and stability.”
The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect on Friday under Trump’s plan to end a two-year Israeli war on the enclave.
Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed more than 67,800 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them women and children, leaving the enclave largely uninhabitable.