Yvette Cooper Seeks Spotlight on Trump’s Gaza Ceasefire Amid Global Praise
The Gaza conflict is finally quiet. Israel ratified a ceasefire last night, and the war-torn region saw a fragile calm take hold this morning.
The agreement, hailed as a breakthrough, is the first step in US President Donald Trump’s ambitious peace plan.
It’s a complex initiative. Alongside ending hostilities, it includes the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza, and a US-led peacekeeping force to ensure stability.
Yet, in the UK, attention has quickly shifted to domestic politics. Labour’s Yvette Cooper has positioned herself and the government as active players in the peace process.
At a recent foreign ministers’ gathering in Paris, Ms Cooper stressed the UK’s role.
She said: “European nations, the UK, and other nations from across the world will all be strongly playing our part in supporting this peace process.
We must see this agreement swiftly implemented, the hostages released, a surge in aid for Gaza, and set a path to a just and lasting peace.
The UK stands ready to play our full part. Today, I will join talks with partners in Paris on how we can support this deal.
— Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) October 9, 2025
Already, the UK and other nations have worked for many months to support the process to get this far but now we will be supporting this US peace initiative to make sure that it can deliver peace.”
The UK has faced criticism from Trump, who dismissed Sir Keir Starmer’s government recognising Palestine as largely symbolic—a move seen as appeasing domestic campaigners rather than influencing the conflict.
Despite this, Labour MP Emily Thornberry suggested that the UK may have quietly advised Trump. She remarked:
“Absolutely, we’ve not been able to get the ear of (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu, but we have had the ear of Donald Trump.
And Donald Trump’s attitude to the Middle East has markedly changed over the last few months, because he has had sensible friends.”
Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair was named by Trump to sit on a “Board of Peace,” tasked with overseeing reconstruction and peace efforts in Gaza.
While Blair is a former Labour leader, the current government seems not to have influenced his appointment.
Sir Keir avoided commenting on personnel matters, saying: “What matters now is to press on and implement this.”
The focus now turns to perpetration. Philanthropic aid must reach Gaza, hostages must be freed, and transnational oversight will test the continuity of this ceasefire.
For Yvette Cooper, still, the narrative is clear: the UK wants to claim a seat at the table of history.
