UK PM Starmer convenes urgent Gaza peace talks with ministers
Trump confirmed US involvement in establishing food distribution centres for Gaza's population, where UN agencies warn of catastrophic hunger. However, the UK proposal focuses on long-term political solutions, setting benchmarks for Palestinian state recognition. Government sources indicate these may include ceasefire implementation and hostage release agreements.
The development comes after France became the first G7 nation to recognise Palestine last week, a decision that drew US criticism. Starmer faces growing pressure from Labour MPs to follow suit, as promised in the party's election manifesto.
Starmer described Gaza's humanitarian crisis as 'appalling', condemning hostage situations, aid blockades, settler violence and Israel's military actions. 'Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that,' he stated. The Telegraph reports the plan will be presented to international partners shortly. - AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
8 minutes ago
- The Sun
Israel PM shocked by Gaza hostage videos amid truce calls
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conveyed his 'profound shock' after viewing videos of two hostages held by Palestinian militant groups in Gaza, his office stated. The footage, released by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, shows Rom Braslavski, 21, and Evyatar David, 24, appearing frail after nearly 22 months in captivity. Netanyahu spoke with the hostages' families late Saturday, condemning Hamas for 'deliberately starving our hostages' and documenting their suffering 'in a cynical and evil manner.' The videos have intensified public pressure on Israel's government to expedite a hostage release deal. Tens of thousands rallied in Tel Aviv earlier, demanding immediate action. The clips reference Gaza's worsening famine, with UN experts warning of catastrophic humanitarian conditions. Israeli media highlighted the hostages' plight Sunday, with headlines like 'hell in Gaza' and descriptions of David as 'malnourished and desperate.' Netanyahu accused Hamas of obstructing aid distribution, insisting Israel facilitates deliveries while blaming militants for Gaza's crisis. Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas's October 2023 attack, 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 presumed dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed 60,430 in Gaza, per Hamas-run health ministry data deemed credible by the UN. Overnight, Israeli defenses intercepted a projectile launched from Gaza amid ongoing tensions. - AFP
The Sun
8 minutes ago
- The Sun
Julian Assange joins pro-Palestinian protest on Sydney Harbour Bridge
SYDNEY: Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters, including WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday, temporarily shutting down the iconic landmark. Assange, who returned to Australia last year after his release from a high-security British prison, was seen alongside family and former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr. The demonstration comes as international pressure mounts on Israel over the Gaza conflict, with France, Britain, and Canada recently signaling potential diplomatic recognition of a Palestinian state. Australia has urged an end to the war but has yet to commit to recognition, though it joined other nations in a joint statement supporting a two-state solution. Protesters endured heavy rain and wind, chanting 'ceasefire now' and 'free Palestine.' New South Wales police deployed additional officers to manage the event. Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi addressed the crowd at Lang Park, calling for sanctions against Israel and criticizing state premier Chris Minns for opposing the protest. Marchers displayed banners listing names of Palestinian children killed in the conflict, while Labor MP Ed Husic urged his party to recognize Palestine. Assange did not speak publicly. The Gaza health ministry reports over 60,000 Palestinian deaths since the war began following Hamas's October 2023 attack, which killed 1,219 people in Israel. Forty-nine hostages remain in Gaza, with 27 presumed dead. The Sydney Harbour Bridge, opened in 1932, is a globally recognized symbol of the city and nation. - Bernama
The Sun
8 minutes ago
- The Sun
Israeli strike on Red Crescent HQ in Gaza kills staff member
GAZA: An Israeli airstrike targeted the headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Khan Younis early Sunday, killing a staff member and injuring three others, according to a statement by the organisation. The attack struck the first floor of the building, igniting a fire and causing extensive damage. The strike occurred shortly after US envoy Steve Witkoff visited Gaza to assess food distribution efforts in the territory, where hunger-related deaths have surged. 'Gaza is now on the brink of a full-scale famine. People are starving not because food is unavailable, but because access is blocked, local agrifood systems have collapsed, and families can no longer sustain even the most basic livelihoods,' said Qu Dongyu, head of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation. Israel has rejected international calls for a ceasefire, continuing military operations that have killed over 60,400 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, since October 2023. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
