Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has emphasised the need to “move quickly” to secure a ceasefire in the Middle East and release hostages in Gaza during a phone call with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.
Starmer’s remarks come after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken left the Middle East for the ninth time since the conflict began without brokering an agreement.
‘Added Urgency’
There has been added urgency to reach a deal after the recent killings of militant leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah in Iran and Lebanon, both attributed to Israel and vows of retaliation that have sparked fears of a wider regional war.Few details have been released about the so-called bridging proposal put forth by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar, but Blinken said it is “very clear on the schedule and the locations of (Israeli military) withdrawals from Gaza.”
Starmer offered his “sincere” condolences to the Israeli people and the loved ones of the six hostages recovered in Gaza on Tuesday, including 51-year-old British-Israeli Nadav Popplewell.
Around 110 hostages are still thought to be held by Hamas, although Israeli authorities say they believe around a third of them are dead.
The latest conflict began last October when Hamas-led militants entered Israel, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 others.
The war has caused widespread destruction and forced the vast majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents to flee their homes, often multiple times.
‘Bridging Proposal’
The proposal to bridge gaps separating Israel and Hamas has been put forward, although Hamas has labelled it a “reversal” of what it agreed to previously.A Downing Street spokeswoman said of the conversation between Starmer and Netanyahu: “The leaders discussed diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages, and the prime minister welcomed Israel’s support for the American ‘bridging proposal’ and emphasised the need to move quickly.
“Regional de-escalation was in everyone’s interests, as the impact of miscalculation would come at great costs for all sides, the leaders agreed.
“The UK was steadfast in its support for Israel’s right to self-defence and would continue to work with partners to uphold regional security.
‘Time is of the Essence’
After meetings in fellow mediating countries Egypt and Qatar, Blinken said that because Israel has accepted the bridging proposal, the focus turns to doing everything possible to “get Hamas on board” and ensure both sides agree to key details on its implementation.“Our message is simple. It’s clear and it’s urgent,” he told reporters before leaving Qatar. “We need to get a ceasefire and hostage agreement over the finish line, and we need to do it now. Time is of the essence.”
Hamas called the latest proposal a reversal of what it had previously agreed to, accusing the United States of acquiescing to new conditions from Israel.
Blinken’s meetings in Egypt, which borders Gaza, and in Qatar, which hosts some Hamas leaders in exile, came a day after he met with Netanyahu.
An Israeli air strike on Tuesday killed at least 12 people at a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City.
The Palestinian Civil Defence, first responders operating under the Hamas-run government, said around 700 people had been sheltering at the Mustafa Hafez school. Israel’s military said the strike targeted Hamas militants who had set up a command centre there.
