Starmer Weighs Involvement with Trump’s Gaza Peace Initiative

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is contemplating the possibility of joining the Board of Peace for Gaza, an initiative spearheaded by US President Donald Trump.

This new board is a component of the White House’s comprehensive 20-point strategy aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Designed to temporarily govern Gaza and oversee its reconstruction efforts, the board will include a diverse group of global leaders.

UK diplomats are currently seeking detailed information from the US State Department regarding the board’s objectives and its potential members.

The Sunday Times was the first to disclose that an invitation had been extended to Sir Keir to be part of the board.

However, government insiders informed that a formal invitation remains outstanding and no definitive decision has been reached.

Reports from US media indicate that Trump is poised to announce the board’s members within the week.

Former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair is anticipated to take part in a separate executive board, joining Trump’s advisors, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.

In September, the US confirmed that Sir Tony would be included in the peace board, with the former Labour prime minister asserting that the American strategy offers the best opportunity to conclude the two-year-long conflict and associated suffering.

Nonetheless, the specifics of his participation have remained ambiguous, particularly following reports of opposition from certain Middle Eastern nations towards his involvement due to his past military actions in Iraq.

While addressing reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump remarked that the formation of the Gaza peace board is underway.

“Essentially, it’s the most important leaders of the most important nations. You take the most important leaders and nations, that’s who the Board of Peace is going to be,”

Trump added that there is a significant global interest in joining the initiative, stating, “Everybody wants to be on it.”

When Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper was queried in the House of Commons about whether Sir Keir had accepted Trump’s invitation to the peace board, she refrained from answering directly.

Cooper mentioned, “We supported the 20-point plan to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza. That is still fragile and there’s still a huge amount of work to do, including humanitarian surge and support, and including the decommissioning of weapons from Hamas.”

She emphasized the necessity for the international community to unite in their efforts.

Despite their differing views on the UK’s acknowledgment of Palestine last year, Sir Keir has established a positive rapport with Trump.

Starmer has faced scrutiny for his frequent overseas trips, yet in a conversation with Labour MPs on Monday, he defended his focus on international matters, linking them to his domestic policies.

“The cost of living crisis will not be solved by isolationism,”

Starmer noted, adding, “One thing that is crystal-clear is that we are moving into a world that is very different to the one most of us grew up in, and in a world this volatile you have to be on the pitch. You have to be in the room to tackle the issues working people care about.”