Sir Keir Starmer joined the French and German leaders on Monday in urging restraint in the Middle East amid fears of a new flare-up of tensions between Iran and Israel.
The US Navy hurried more vessels to the region - including a guided missile submarine and an aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln - as Iran deliberates its response to the killing of a top Hamas leader in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.
The killings, and the deaths of at least 80 people when an Israeli air strike hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City on Saturday, have cast further doubt on efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to end the 10-month war in Gaza.
But the Prime Minister, Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz urged Iran and its allies not to “jeopardise the opportunity to agree a ceasefire and the release of hostages” in Gaza.
In a joint statement, the European leaders urged “de-escalation and regional stability” in the Middle East, following a similar message by US President Joe Biden with the leaders of Egypt and Qatar, who have been trying to broker a truce in Gaza.
“We, the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, welcome the tireless work of our partners in Qatar, Egypt and the United States towards an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages,” the joint statement said.
“We agree that there can be no further delay. We have been working with all parties to prevent escalation and will spare no effort to reduce tensions and find a path to stability.
“The fighting must end now and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released. The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid.”
A joint statement from the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom on the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/zqXplcegeB
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) August 12, 2024
The statement added: “We are deeply concerned by the heightened tensions in the region and united in our commitment to de-escalation and regional stability.
“In this context, and in particular, we call on Iran and its allies to refrain from attacks that would further escalate regional tensions and jeopardise the opportunity to agree a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
“They will bear responsibility for actions that jeopardise this opportunity for peace and stability. No country or nation stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East.”
The US, Egyptian and Qatari leaders wrote last week: “There is no further time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delay.” They urged “both sides” in the Gaza conflict to join talks in Cairo or Doha on Thursday this week.
But the hardline Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu says it will settle for nothing less than the eradication of Hamas from Gaza, after Palestinian militants killed around 1,200 people and abducted around 250 others last October.
Hamas meanwhile urged the US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators to submit a plan to implement what has already been agreed by both sides, “instead of going to more rounds of negotiations or new proposals that provide cover for the occupation’s aggression”.
The Israeli military ordered more evacuations in southern Gaza early Sunday, a day after one of the deadliest air strikes of the devastating war.
