Politics
Starmer welcomes Trump-brokered Gaza peace plan
‘This is a moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world’
October 9, 2025 09:32
‘This is a moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world’
October 9, 2025 09:32Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has praised the US-backed deal to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
“I welcome the news that a deal has been reached on the first stage of President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza”, Starmer said in a statement on Thursday morning.
“A moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world, but particularly for the hostages, their families, and for the civilian population of Gaza, who have all endured unimaginable suffering over the last two years”, he added.
The prime minister went on to say that the agreement “must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza”.
“We call on all parties to meet the commitments they have made, to end the war, and to build the foundations for a just and lasting end to the conflict and a sustainable path to a long-term peace,” he added.
Starmer, who is on a trade visit to India, said in a press conference alongside India’s prime minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai later on Thursday that the UK would “support these crucial immediate steps and the next stages of the talks to ensure the full implementation of the peace plan”.
Last night, on his Truth Social platform, Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had “both signed off on the first phase of our Peace Plan.”
“This means that ALL of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their troops to an agreed upon line”.
Trump later told Fox News that Hamas is expected to return all of its remaining hostages, living and dead, by Monday, October 13.
Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch also heaped praise on Trump, saying that he “deserves credit for brokering this deal, with the support of Arab partners and Turkey”.
“Hamas must now fully disarm and return all hostages, so the suffering in Gaza is eased and the war ends as swiftly as possible”, she added in a post on X.
The ceasefire deal in Gaza is hugely welcome.
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) October 9, 2025
It will be an enormous relief to the families of Israeli hostages, so cruelly captured by Hamas two years ago.
President Trump deserves credit for brokering this deal, with the support of Arab partners and Turkey.
Hamas must now…
According to the agreement, the remaining 48 hostages, living and dead, held by Hamas in Gaza will be exchanged for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
However, it is not clear whether some of those serving multiple life sentences that the terror group had requested be released are on the list.
Although he faces some domestic opposition to the planned agreement from far-right elements from within his cabinet, Israel’s prime minister last night claimed that the agreement amounted to “success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel”.
With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel.
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 8, 2025
From the beginning, I made it clear: we will not rest until all our hostages return and all our goals…
“Through steadfast resolve, powerful military action, and the great efforts of our great friend and ally President Trump, we have reached this critical turning point. I thank President Trump for his leadership, his partnership, and his unwavering commitment to the safety of Israel and the freedom of our hostages”, Israel’s prime minister added in a post on X.
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