Sir Keir Starmer has urged Israel and Hezbollah to agree to a ceasefire, emphasising that “escalation serves no one.” Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, the prime minister called for both sides to “step back from the brink.” His appeal follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertion that Israeli troops would continue to “fight at full force” and that any reports of a potential ceasefire were “not true.”
During his address in New York, Sir Keir stated: “I call on Israel and Hezbollah: Stop the violence, step back from the brink.” He added that an immediate ceasefire is necessary to allow for a diplomatic settlement and that the UK is working with all partners to achieve this. Sir Keir also highlighted that the UN must “work together for peace, progress and equality,” including efforts to “prevent a regional war in the Middle East.”
Earlier at the UN, Sir Keir criticised Russia for its invasion of Ukraine during a meeting of the Security Council. Both the UK and Russia are permanent members of the council. He hinted at the need for further action against Russia, stressing the importance of conflict resolution and prevention. Sir Keir remarked: “We must put new energy and creativity into conflict resolution and conflict prevention, reverse the trend towards ever-greater violence, make the institutions of peace fit for purpose, and hold members to their commitments under the UN Charter.” He described Russia’s actions as “the greatest violation of the charter in a generation.”
🚨🔥Addressing the UN General Assembly, U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calls on Israel and Hezbollah to “stop the violence” and to “step back from the brink” to avoid a wider war that “no one can control.”#Israel #Hezbollah #GazaWar pic.twitter.com/T2x9k6aOjm
— Armaverse (@armaverseio) September 27, 2024
During his speech, Sir Keir reiterated many of his previous domestic policy pledges, with one new announcement. He committed to investing “billions” from pension and insurance funds into “fighting climate change” and “boosting development.” The Labour government aims to leverage more private investment for growth. The prime minister specified that these funds would be managed through a new facility at British International Investment, part of the Foreign Office, in collaboration with the City of London. He stressed the need for “innovating,” “thinking differently,” and “moving faster” to deliver future benefits.
Just before Sir Keir began his speech, it was confirmed he would meet Donald Trump ahead of the US election in November. However, it appears unlikely he will meet Democrat Kamala Harris during this visit.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Channel 103 reports Sir Keir Starmer urging Israel and Hezbollah to cease hostilities, emphasizing that escalation serves no one, and calling for a diplomatic settlement.(read more)
- Sky News reports Sir Keir Starmer urging Israel and Hezbollah to agree a ceasefire, emphasizing that escalation serves no one and highlighting international support for a temporary halt.(read more)
- LBC reports Keir Starmer urging a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, emphasizing escalation serves no one and the need for a diplomatic settlement to prevent regional escalation.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What did Sir Keir Starmer say about the Israel-Hezbollah conflict?
He called for a ceasefire, stating that escalation serves no one.
What was Benjamin Netanyahu’s response to ceasefire rumors?
Netanyahu said news of a potential ceasefire deal was ‘not true’ and that Israel would keep fighting at full force.
What did Sir Keir Starmer say about Russia at the UN?
He criticized Russia for invading Ukraine and called it the greatest violation of the UN Charter in a generation.
What new announcement did Sir Keir make about pensions?
He pledged to invest billions from pension and insurance funds into fighting climate change and boosting development.
Will Sir Keir meet Kamala Harris during his visit?
It seems unlikely that he will meet Democrat Kamala Harris on the current visit.
