logo
UK leader Starmer to hold urgent govt talks on Gaza peace plan

UK leader Starmer to hold urgent govt talks on Gaza peace plan

Khaleej Times2 days ago
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will on Tuesday recall his ministers from recess for urgent talks on a Gaza peace plan that could pave the way for the recognition of a Palestinian state.
Starmer is believed to have presented the plan to US President Donald Trump when the pair met in Scotland on Monday.
Trump said Monday that the US and its partners would help set up food centres to feed the more than two million Palestinians in Gaza facing what UN aid agencies have warned is a deadly wave of starvation and malnutrition.
But the UK plan is reported to be focused more on achieving a sustainable peace and outline the conditions that need to be met for London to recognise the State of Palestine.
The UK has so far said "there can be no role for Hamas", and the Daily Telegraph reported on Tuesday the conditions could include the agreement of a ceasefire and release of Israeli hostages.
The move would follow Emmanuel Macron's announcement last week that France would become the first G7 nation to recognise Palestine.
Starmer is under pressure from his party's MPs and members to make a similar move, which was included in the Labour party's election-winning manifesto last year.
Trump said on Monday that "I don't mind him (Starmer) taking a position", despite the US administration criticising Macron's move.
Starmer last week called footage coming out of Gaza "appalling" and "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," he said.
Starmer added that he was "working on a pathway to peace" that will "set out the concrete steps needed to turn the ceasefire so desperately needed, into a lasting peace".
"Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that," he added.
Starmer is expected to present the plan to allies in the "coming days", the Telegraph reported.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Egypt: President El-Sisi Speaks with United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister
Egypt: President El-Sisi Speaks with United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister

Zawya

timean hour ago

  • Zawya

Egypt: President El-Sisi Speaks with United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister

Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer. The Spokesman for the Presidency,Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the call touched on the distinguished ties between Egypt and the United Kingdom. Both sides agreed to further enhance cooperation between the two countries in all fields, particularly economic, trade, tourism, and education, in addition to supporting joint investment projects. The call reviewed regional developments. The President reiterated that Egypt welcomes the British prime minister's statements regarding the United Kingdom's intention to recognize the State of Palestine. It was also emphasized that this step would represent a positive impetus toward restoring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, mainly the establishment of an independent state along the June 4, 1967, borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Both sides emphasized that a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue through the establishment of an independent state is the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. During the call, President El-Sisi reviewed Egypt's vision for achieving calm and ending the war in the Gaza Strip, highlighting Egypt's efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement, expedite the delivery of humanitarian aid, and ensure the release of hostages and captives, as well as the importance of beginning the reconstruction process in the Strip as soon as possible. President El-Sisi affirmed Egypt's firm position of rejecting the displacement of Palestinians from their lands. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

US President Trump says imposing 25% tariff on Indian imports
US President Trump says imposing 25% tariff on Indian imports

Gulf Today

time2 hours ago

  • Gulf Today

US President Trump says imposing 25% tariff on Indian imports

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States will impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from India starting on Aug.1. He said India, which has the world's fifth largest economy, will also face an unspecified penalty on Aug.1, but did not elaborate on the amount or what it was for. Trump said on his Truth Social platform that India "is our friend' but its "Tariffs are far too high' on US goods. "While India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. "They have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE - ALL THINGS NOT GOOD!" India's commerce ministry, which is leading the trade negotiations with the United States, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump's decision dashes hopes of a limited trade agreement between the two countries, which had been under negotiation for several months. The Republican president added that India buys military equipment and oil from Russia, which he said has enabled the war in Ukraine. As a result, he intends to charge an additional "penalty' starting on Friday as part of the launch of his administration's revised tariffs on multiple countries. The new tariffs could put India at a disadvantage in the US market relative to Vietnam, Bangladesh and, possibly, China, said Ajay Sahai, director general of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations. "We are back to square one as Trump hasn't spelled out what the penalties would be in addition to the tariff," Sahai said. "The demand for Indian goods is bound to be hit.' US and Indian trade negotiators had held multiple rounds of discussions to resolve contentious issues, particularly over market access for American agricultural and dairy products. Despite progress in some areas, Indian officials resisted opening the domestic market to imports of wheat, corn, rice and genetically modified soybeans, citing risks to the livelihood of millions of Indian farmers. The new tariffs are expected to impact India's goods exports to the US, estimated at around $87 billion in 2024, including labour-intensive products such as garments, pharmaceuticals, gems and jeweler, and petrochemicals. The United States currently has a $45.7 billion trade deficit with India. India now joins a growing list of countries facing higher tariffs under Trump's "Liberation Day" trade policy, aimed at reshaping US trade relations by demanding greater reciprocity. The White House had previously warned India about its high average applied tariffs - nearly 39% on agricultural products, with rates climbing to 45% on vegetable oils and around 50% on apples and corn. The setback comes despite earlier commitments by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump to conclude the first phase of a trade deal by autumn 2025 and expand bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, up from $191 billion in 2024. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he'll impose a 25% tariff on goods from India, plus an additional import tax because of India's purchasing of Russian oil. The announcement comes after a slew of negotiated trade frameworks with the European Union, Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia — all of which Trump said would open markets for American goods while enabling the US to raise tax rates on imports. The president views tariff revenues as a way to help offset the budget deficit increases tied to his recent income tax cuts and generate more domestic factory jobs. While Trump has effectively wielded tariffs as a cudgel to reset the terms of trade, the economic impact is uncertain as most economists expect a slowdown in US growth and greater inflationary pressures as some of the costs of the taxes are passed along to domestic businesses and consumers. Trump's approach of putting a 15% tariff on America's longstanding allies in the EU is also generating pushback - possibly causing European partners as well as Canada to seek alternatives to US leadership on the world stage. Reuters / AP

France, 14 other countries urge recognition of Palestinian state
France, 14 other countries urge recognition of Palestinian state

Gulf Today

time2 hours ago

  • Gulf Today

France, 14 other countries urge recognition of Palestinian state

France and 14 other Western nations called on countries worldwide to move to recognise a Palestinian state, France's top diplomat said on Wednesday. The foreign ministers of 15 countries late on Tuesday issued a joint statement following a conference in New York, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, aimed at reviving a two-state solution between Israelis and the Palestinians. 'In New York, together with 14 other countries, France is issuing a collective appeal: we express our desire to recognise the State of Palestine and invite those who have not yet done so to join us,' French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on X. President Emmanuel Macron announced last week he would formally recognise Palestinian statehood in September, provoking strong opposition from Israel and the United States. France is hoping to build a momentum around the formal recognition of a Palestinian state. Also on Wednesday, Jordan's King Abdullah II said that the 'humanitarian catastrophe' unfolding in the Gaza Strip was the worst in modern history. 'Gaza is witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe that exceeds anything we have witnessed in modern history,' the longtime Western ally said, adding that Jordan was in contact with international partners 'to pressure for an end to the war,' now in its 22nd month. On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the UK will formally recognise the State of Palestine in September unless Israel takes various 'substantive steps', including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza. Starmer's move, paired with Paris, would make the two European allies the first G7 nations to do so. In the statement, 15 nations including Spain, Norway, and Finland affirmed their 'unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-state solution.' Nine of the signatories which have not yet recognised the Palestinian state expressed 'the willingness or the positive consideration of their countries' to do so, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Seventeen countries plus the European Union and Arab League during the conference joined calls for Hamas to disarm and end its rule of Gaza, in a bid to end the devastating war in the Palestinian territory. Meanwhile, Britain on Wednesday rejected criticism that it was rewarding Hamas by setting out plans to recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel took steps to improve the situation in Gaza and bring about peace. The sight of emaciated Gaza children has shocked the world in recent days and on Tuesday, a hunger monitor warned that a worst-case scenario of famine was unfolding there and immediate action was needed to avoid widespread death. Starmer's ultimatum, setting a September deadline for Israel, prompted an immediate rebuke from his counterpart in Jerusalem, who said it rewarded Hamas and punished the victims of their 2023 cross-border attack. US President Donald Trump said he did not think Hamas 'should be rewarded' with recognition of Palestinian independence. Asked about that criticism, British Transport Minister Heidi Alexander - designated by the government to respond to questions in a series of media interviews on Wednesday — said it was not the right way to characterise Britain's plan. 'This is not a reward for Hamas. This is about the Palestinian people. It's about those children that we see in Gaza who are starving to death,' she told LBC radio. 'We've got to ratchet up pressure on the Israeli government to lift the restrictions to get aid back into Gaza.' The co-founder of pro-Palestinian activist group Palestine Action can launch a court bid to overturn the UK government's decision to ban the group under anti-terrorism laws, a judge ruled on Wednesday. The government earlier this month banned the group days after activists broke into an air force base in southern England. Prosecutors have said they caused an estimated £7 million ($9.3 million) of damage to two aircraft at the base. Being a member or supporting the group is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Agence France-Presse

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store