Latest news with #lastingpeace
The Independent
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Starmer to set out plan for peace in Middle East as he convenes urgent cabinet meeting on Gaza
Sir Keir Starmer will hold an urgent cabinet meeting this afternoon to set out a plan for 'lasting peace' in the Middle East that will pave the way for Labour to recognise a Palestinian state. The prime minister has called ministers away from their summer break for the meeting, where he will present his plan, which he discussed with Donald Trump in Scotland on Monday. There have been growing calls from Labour MPs and the public for Sir Keir to do recognise the Palestinian state immediately, with deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and home secretary Yvette Cooper believed to be among ministers who think the government should take the lead on this issue. Health secretary Wes Streeting has also signalled a desire for hastened action, calling for recognition 'while there's still a state of Palestine left to recognise'. Technology minister Peter Kyle warned on Tuesday that the region is 'slipping further and further into despair'. It is understood that Tuesday's meeting, being held at 2pm, will take place online, meaning ministers who are away from Downing Street in their constituencies or on holiday will be able to attend virtually. Sir Keir plans to share details of his strategy with Arab states and other key allies in the coming days. The prime minister's official spokesman said: 'This week, the prime minister is focused on a pathway to peace to ensure immediate relief for those on the ground, and a sustainable route to a two-state solution. 'We are clear that the recognition of the Palestinian state is a matter of when, not if, but it must be one of the steps on the path to a two-state solution as part of a wider plan that delivers lasting security for both Palestinians and Israelis.' On Monday, Donald Trump – seen as one of Israel 's strongest supporters – signalled the United States would not object to such a move, giving Sir Keir the green light as pressure mounts on him politically to follow Emmanuel Macron, who last week announced France would do so. Sir Keir is meanwhile facing calls from a growing number of MPs to recognise a Palestinian state immediately, with more than 250 cross-party MPs having signed a letter calling for ministers to take the step, up from 221 on Friday. But business secretary Jonathan Reynolds dismissed the idea that there is a split at the top of government over when to recognise a Palestinian state, saying 'we all want it to happen'. It comes after peace talks came to a standstill last week after Washington and Israel recalled negotiating teams from Qatar, with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff blaming Hamas for a 'lack of desire' to reach an agreement. Since then, Israel has promised military pauses in three populated areas of Gaza to allow designated UN convoys of aid to reach desperate Palestinians. But the UK, which is joining efforts to airdrop aid into the enclave and evacuate children in need of medical assistance, has said that access to supplies must be 'urgently' widened. Aid agencies have welcomed the new measures but said they were not enough to counter the rising hunger in the Palestinian territory. Sir Keir said that the British public is 'revolted' at the scenes of desperation in Gaza as he appeared alongside Mr Trump at his Turnberry golf course on Monday. 'It's a humanitarian crisis, it's an absolute catastrophe. 'Nobody wants to see that. I think people in Britain are revolted at seeing what they're seeing on their screens, so we've got to get to that ceasefire.' Meanwhile, Mr Kyle told Times Radio: 'We've all seen the images coming out of Gaza. Gaza is slipping further and further into despair. 'Myself, the prime minister, everyone who watches those images, including President Trump, is moved by them. These are horrific images, and there has to be action, and there has to be renewed action.' The US president hinted at sticking points in US-led negotiations over a peace deal, saying Palestinian militant group Hamas had become 'very difficult to deal with' in recent weeks. He suggested this was because they only held a small remaining number of Israeli hostages. Sir Keir has likened the plan he is working on with France and Germany to the coalition of the willing, the international effort to support Ukraine towards a lasting peace. The prime minister's official spokesman said the plan would build 'on the collaboration to date that paves the way to a long-term solution on security in the region'.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'He belongs in The Hague': Keir Starmer fiercely criticised over Gaza speech
KEIR Starmer has been warned he 'belongs in The Hague' for failing to call out and act on the genocide being committed in Gaza by Israel. The Prime Minister has faced fierce criticism following a speech where he said the 'appalling scenes in Gaza are unrelenting' and called for the need for a regional 'lasting peace'. However, despite his comments where he claims his 'ultimate goal' is to improve the lives of Palestinian's he has been told his government are "complicit" in the suffering of tens of thousands of people in Gaza due to his inaction against Israel. Starmer is under increasing pressure to recognise a Palestinian state, as 221 MPs signed a cross-party letter, organised by the Labour backbencher Sarah Champion, demanding he take the step. READ MORE: I love standing on the soil of Scotland, Donald Trump says after landing in country It comes as French President Emmanuel Macron declared France would recognise a Palestinian state in September at a UN conference earlier this week. On Friday, Starmer set out his pathway where a Palestinian state could be recognised in a speech. He said: 'The appalling scenes in Gaza are unrelenting. The continued captivity of hostages, the starvation and denial of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, the increasing violence from extremist settler groups, and Israel's disproportionate military escalation in Gaza are all indefensible. 'Alongside our closest allies, I am working on a pathway to peace in the region, focused on the practical solutions that will make a real difference to the lives of those that are suffering in this war. 'That pathway will set out the concrete steps needed to turn the ceasefire so desperately needed, into a lasting peace. Starmer added: 'Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that. But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis. This is the way to ensure it is a tool of maximum utility to improve the lives of those who are suffering – which of course, will always be our ultimate goal.' Former Labour MP Zarah Sultana was one of many people who has criticised the Prime Minister for failing to call out the ongoing genocide in [[Gaza]] and highlighted the UK Government's complicity in the ongoing war on the region. She wrote on Twitter/X: 'The 'appalling scenes in [[Gaza]]' have been enabled by the arms, surveillance & diplomatic cover Keir Starmer's Labour government have provided to a genocidal apartheid state. (Image: Jeff Moore) 'He still refuses to call it a genocide because he is complicit in it. 'Keir Starmer belongs in The Hague.' Journalist Matt Kennard also shared Sultana's calls for Starmer to stand in The Hague to answer for the UK Government's complicity in Gaza as he said: 'Another British spy plane literally in the sky over Gaza collecting intelligence for Israel as he posted this statement. 'Starmer belongs in the Hague. We must make sure he ends up there.' The charity Save the Children also shared Starmer's speech, where they edited the text to remove passive language like 'unfolding' and 'situation' and replaced it with words like 'deliberate' and 'assault' as well as attributing the horrific starvation of Palestinians to Israel. Along with the graphic, the charity replied: 'Fixed it for you, Keir Starmer. 'The UK is an ally to Israel's atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank. 'Now is the time to make our voices heard: Call on the UK Government to end its complicity.' Meanwhile, sharing a picture of Starmer during his speech, prominent trade unionist Howard Beckett, said: 'A picture that will chime through history. 'Starmer's GB is damned. He should answer in The Hague.'
LBCI
11-07-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Erdogan hails 'important step towards terror-free Turkey' as PKK destroys arms
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed a move by Kurdish PKK militants to begin destroying their weapons Friday as a key step on the path to a 'terror-free Turkey.' "I hope the important step taken today on our path to a terror-free Turkey will bring blessing," state news agency Anadolu quoted him as saying. "May God grant us success in reaching our goals for the security of our nation... and the establishment of lasting peace in our region." AFP
Russia Today
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Putin outlines results Moscow seeks in Ukraine
Russia is seeking to achieve 'lasting and sustainable peace' by eliminating the root causes of the Ukraine conflict, President Vladimir Putin has said, in an extract of an interview released by Russia 1 TV on Sunday. In a clip posted by journalist Pavel Zarubin on Telegram, Putin stated that Russia has 'enough strength and resources to bring what was started in 2022 to its logical conclusion' while accomplishing Moscow's key goals. Russia wants to 'eliminate the causes that caused this crisis, create conditions for long-term sustainable peace and ensure the security of the Russian state and the interests of our people in those territories that we always talk about,' he added. The president was apparently referring to Crimea, the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, and the regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye, which overwhelmingly voted in favor of joining Russia in referendums in 2014 and 2022. People in these former Ukrainian territories 'consider Russian to be their native language' and see Russia as their homeland, he said. Commenting on the ongoing diplomatic engagement with the US to settle the conflict, Putin acknowledged that 'the American people, including their president [Donald Trump] have their own national interests.' 'We respect that, and expect to be treated the same way,' he added. Putin's remarks come on the heels of the first direct Russia-Ukraine talks since 2022. As a result of Turkish-mediated negotiations in Istanbul, both sides agreed to exchange lists of conditions for a potential ceasefire, conduct a major prisoner swap, and discuss a follow-up meeting. The Kremlin has not ruled out direct talks between Putin and Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky if the ongoing peace efforts result in progress and firm agreements. Following the talks, US President Donald Trump announced he would hold a phone call with his Russian counterpart on Monday, which would focus on trade and resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the Istanbul negotiations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who welcomed the results of the talks.
