Starmer reaffirms UK support for Gaza rebuild and two-state solution after Trump comments

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has reaffirmed the UK’s support for a two-state solution and for Palestinians to rebuild their homes in Gaza, following questions about Donald Trump’s plans for the Strip.

Speaking to reporters alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, Trump proposed that the US “take over” Gaza, resettle its Palestinian population elsewhere and transform the enclave, which he described as a "demolition site right now," into a developed hub.

The proposals were criticised by Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

At Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey told MPs: “Last night, many of us were alarmed to hear President Trump speak about forcibly displacing 1.8 million people from Gaza.”

He added: “The Prime Minister has spoken to the President on several occasions now, does he personally believe that Trump recognizes the dangers of statements like this to the fragile ceasefire in Gaza and indeed security of both Palestinians and Israelis?”

Davey also asked Starmer whether “our concerns on these dangerous statements present will be communicated the White House directly and firmly”.

The Prime Minister responded by saying that: “The most important issue on the ceasefire is obviously that it’s sustained. We see it through the phases, and that means that the remaining hostages come out, and the aid that's desperately needed gets into Gaza at speed and the volumes that are needed.”

Starmer then told MPs that he had two images fixed in his mind: “the first is the image of Emily Damari reunited with her mother, which I found extremely moving.

“The second was the image of thousands of Palestinians walking – literally walking – through the rubble to try to find their homes and their communities in Gaza.”

He went on to say: “They must be allowed to rebuild, and we should be with them in that rebuild all the way to a two-state solution.”

The plight of Emily Damari was also raised by Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice MP, saying: “After she was kidnapped and shot Emily Damari was held in captivity by Hamas in an UNRWA facility, confirming many of our fears that UNRWA is riddled with Hamas sympathisers.”

The MP for Boston and Skegness added: “The British people do not want our aim being stolen by Hamas. Will the Prime Minister agree with me that we should stop funding Hamas and follow the example of other nations and divert our aid to other more worthy causes?”

His remarks prompted cries of “shame” from other MPs.

In December, Starmer was accused of giving money “to Hamas” by former No10 adviser Dominic Cummings after he announced an additional £13 million in funding to UNRWA.

The Prime Minister replied: “On the question of Emily Damari,  I spoke with [her mother] Mandy on many occasions, including when she didn't know whether her daughter was alive or not.

“Just listening to her was to really understand the torture that she went through.”

But Starmer hit back at Tice’s suggestion that the government was funding Hamas by funding UNRWA: “I spoke the other day to Emily herself about the conditions in which she was held, and of course, will continue to do so, but to be absolutely clear – and he knows this – we aren’t funding Hamas, we condemn Hamas and everybody in this House should condemn Hamas.”