Starmer to press Trump on Gaza ceasefire amid stalled talks

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to press Donald Trump on reviving ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas when the two leaders meet in Scotland. The Prime Minister will seek urgent action as Britain prepares to join international efforts to airdrop aid into Gaza amid mounting global anger over humanitarian conditions.

Ceasefire negotiations ground to a standstill this week after America and Israel withdrew their negotiating teams from Qatar. Washington's special envoy Steve Witkoff accused Hamas of showing a "lack of desire to reach" an agreement on a deal that would have included a 60-day ceasefire and ramped-up aid supplies.

Trump talks focus on Gaza crisis

Sir Keir will raise the Trump administration's work with partners in Qatar and Egypt during his discussions with the US president. The Prime Minister will seek to explore what more can be done to urgently bring about a ceasefire, according to government sources.

The leaders will also discuss the recently agreed US-UK trade deal and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Their meeting comes as Trump visits his Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire on a private trip.

Britain plans Gaza aid airdrops

Britain is working with Jordan on plans to airdrop aid into Gaza and evacuate children needing medical assistance. However, the head of the UN's Palestinian refugee agency has warned that such efforts are "a distraction" that will fail to properly address deepening starvation in the strip.

Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA chief, said airdrops can be dangerous as they may fall on civilians. "Airdrops will not reverse the deepening starvation. They are expensive, inefficient and can even kill starving civilians," he said.

Israel announces humanitarian corridors

Israel said on Saturday it would establish humanitarian corridors to enable UN convoys to transport aid into Gaza, as well as allowing airdrops. The country's military said it would permit "safe movement of deliveries of food and medicine" but emphasised that "combat operations have not ceased".

The Israel Defence Forces also claimed there was "no starvation" in Gaza, despite increasing accounts of malnutrition and starvation-related deaths. The Prime Minister confirmed Britain will be "taking forward" plans to airdrop aid with partners such as Jordan following crisis talks with his French and German counterparts.

Pressure mounts for Palestinian recognition

In a readout of Saturday morning's call, Number 10 said the leaders agreed "it would be vital to ensure robust plans are in place to turn an urgently-needed ceasefire into lasting peace". Sir Keir later said: "Israel must allow aid in over land to end the starvation unfolding in Gaza. The situation is desperate."

The readout made no mention of Palestinian statehood, which Sir Keir faces calls to immediately recognise. Some 221 MPs from across the political spectrum have signed a letter pressuring the Government to follow France's lead after President Emmanuel Macron announced his country would recognise Palestinian statehood in September.

The majority of signatories - 131 - are Labour MPs. The Government maintains its immediate focus is getting aid into the territory and insists recognising statehood must be done as part of a peace process.

Sir Keir and Trump are expected to meet on Monday during the US president's visit to Scotland.

(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.