UK’s Starmer considers joining Trump’s Gaza ‘peace board’

UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is considering whether to join a proposed US-led “Board of Peace for Gaza”, an initiative announced by US President Donald Trump as part of a 20-point plan to end the genocide in Gaza.

The board would temporarily oversee governance in Gaza, coordinate reconstruction and include a small group of international leaders. US media reports suggest Trump is expected to announce the board’s membership later this week.

UK government sources told the BBC that no formal invitation has yet been received and that no decision has been taken. British diplomats are reportedly seeking clarification from the US State Department regarding the board’s mandate, legal authority and the responsibilities of its members.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said the body was still being formed. “Essentially, it’s the most important leaders of the most important nations,” he said, adding that there was strong international interest in participating.

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The proposal has raised questions about legitimacy and accountability, particularly given Israel’s ongoing military assault on Gaza in violation of the ceasefire agreement and the absence of clear Palestinian representation. Human rights organisations have repeatedly warned that any post-war governance arrangement that sidelines Palestinian self-determination risks entrenching Israel’s illegal occupation.

Former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair is reportedly expected to join a separate executive board linked to the initiative, alongside Trump advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. In September, US officials said Blair would be involved in the peace board, with Blair describing the American proposals as “the best chance of ending two years of war, misery and suffering”. 

However, the precise nature of Blair’s role remains unclear, amid reports that several Middle Eastern states objected to his involvement due to his role in the 2003 Iraq war.

In Parliament on Tuesday, foreign secretary Yvette Cooper did not directly answer a question about whether Starmer would join the board. Instead, she reiterated the government’s support for the US 20-point plan, stressing the fragility of the current ceasefire and the need for increased humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

Starmer has sought to maintain a working relationship with Trump despite diplomatic differences, including the UK’s decision last year to recognise the state of Palestine. Speaking to Labour MPs on Monday, the prime minister defended his focus on foreign affairs, arguing that global instability directly affects domestic issues such as the cost-of-living crisis.

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