The international community may be closer than ever to securing a Gaza peace deal, according to the UK’s new foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper.
Speaking after returning from the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Cooper said the world had “reached a moment where it wants to end this war,” signaling rare momentum in efforts to stop the devastating conflict.
In an exclusive interview ahead of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Cooper stressed the urgency of turning diplomatic opportunity into action.
“I feel like there is a consensus, a real, huge consensus building, and there was real energy and determination around peace,” she said. “I think we’ve reached a moment where the world wants to end this war.”
Her remarks come amid reports that US president Donald Trump has signaled optimism that a Gaza peace deal could be “within reach.” On Friday, Trump told reporters that “it’s looking like we have a deal on Gaza,” just days before he is set to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington.
Calls for Israel to Change Course
Cooper used her platform to urge Israel to rethink its ongoing military campaign. “There is no military solution to this that works, there is no way that the security of Israel is remotely strengthened by this further Gaza City offensive,” she warned.
She added that “for security for Israelis, as well as security for Palestinians, and as well as dealing with this devastating humanitarian crisis, I think the Israeli government urgently needs to change course.”
Netanyahu had told the UN that Israel “must finish the job” in Gaza. His comments underlined Israel’s determination to continue its operations despite growing international calls for de-escalation.
The Gaza humanitarian crisis has become one of the central drivers for renewed negotiations. Cooper admitted that “words seem hollow” in the face of the suffering: “Every time we talk about whether it’s humanitarian crisis or whatever words that we use actually feel hollow, because what it’s really about is the screams and pain of a toddler, and that’s what’s really at the heart of this, and that’s what has to end. The war has to be brought to an end.”
Building Blocks of a Deal
Diplomats have indicated that the White House is circulating a 21-point framework, broadly compatible with a UN-backed plan for Palestine. Its key provisions include no mass displacement from Gaza, no role for Hamas in future governance, and no annexation of the West Bank.
The proposal is designed to provide the skeleton for a lasting Gaza peace deal, but much will depend on whether Netanyahu’s government accepts the compromises.
Cooper acknowledged that the first step is “the beginning of the process” — an immediate ceasefire, the restoration of humanitarian aid, and the release of hostages. She also admitted the talks remain fragile: “We can’t pretend this isn’t incredibly hard, and how long the crisis has been going on makes it challenging.
But there was no doubt that there is a real sense of determination and energy behind trying to get an end to the war and to try and get not just an immediate ceasefire, but a proper plan for the future.”
Trump’s Role and Blair’s Potential Involvement
The Trump peace plan has also floated the idea of appointing former UK prime minister Tony Blair to head a transitional technocratic authority in Gaza.
Blair, who previously served as Middle East envoy, is seen as having connections to Gulf states and Washington through Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. However, his controversial role in the 2003 Iraq war makes him a divisive figure in the region.
Asked about Blair, Cooper twice declined to endorse him outright. “Tony Blair has been one of the people adding proposals to this process, and that’s been really important, but there have been lots of other processes as well,” she said. “There’s still a huge amount of work to do. At this stage, there’s a sense of consensus building but we’ve got to keep that on track.”
Labour’s Position and Domestic Pressure
Cooper has long been viewed as one of the Labour cabinet ministers urging party leader Keir Starmer to move towards recognizing Palestinian statehood.
Just last week, the UK formally recognized Palestine as an independent state, a move welcomed by many campaigners. Yet within Labour, some voices have pressed the government to go further and label Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide.
On this, Cooper remained cautious. She reiterated that such a judgment “was down to a legal process” and confirmed the UK Foreign Office conducts regular assessments on whether genocide risk exists. Earlier this month, the government stated it had not concluded that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza.
Still, Cooper emphasized her priority was achieving an end to the conflict rather than escalating rhetoric: “The challenge for us now is that there is a moment, and we have to make sure that that moment, through international action, is turned into a peace process.”
Human Cost Driving Diplomacy
The war in Gaza has stretched on for nearly two years, leaving thousands dead and millions displaced. Aid organizations report that civilians make up the vast majority of casualties, with children particularly hard-hit.
Cooper insisted that the Gaza humanitarian crisis cannot be ignored and must drive international urgency: “It feels like nothing is changing. It feels like everything is just getting worse. That’s why we need to seize this moment.”
Her words reflect a broader consensus among European leaders that continuing conflict is unsustainable. Several EU states, including Spain and Ireland, have recently stepped up calls for a ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid, aligning with Cooper’s push for a comprehensive Gaza peace deal.
Wider Geopolitical Stakes
Beyond Gaza, Cooper also addressed Russian provocations in Eastern Europe, including drones over Poland and Scandinavia. She accused Vladimir Putin of “deliberate provocation” and urged the US to toughen sanctions on Russian oil and gas. “There has to be a much more concerted effort,” she said, while acknowledging Trump’s conditional approach to sanctions.
This shows how intertwined global conflicts have become, with Western governments increasingly linking responses to crises in Gaza, Ukraine, and elsewhere under the banner of collective security.
A Fragile but Pivotal Moment
Whether this moment produces a genuine breakthrough or collapses into familiar stalemate remains uncertain. Cooper herself admitted the fragility of the situation. Yet her insistence that the world has reached “a moment where it wants to end this war” offers hope that the momentum behind peace will not be squandered.
The coming weeks — particularly Trump’s meeting with Netanyahu and further negotiations at the UN — will test whether global leaders can transform diplomatic opportunity into a lasting Gaza peace deal. For millions of Palestinians living through bombardment and siege, and for Israelis fearing continued attacks, the stakes could not be higher.
