By Rachael Burford

Copyright standard

The Gaza ceasefire deal “would not have happened” without Donald Trump’s leadership, Sir Keir Starmer has said ahead of the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize being announced.

The winner of the world’s most prestigious award is set to be named on Friday and Mr Trump has made it clear he wants the honour.

A “first phase” of the peace plan between Palestine and Israel “would not have happened without President Trump’s leadership”, the Prime Minister told journalists when asked whether he thought the US President deserved the coveted prize.

Read more: What are the odds Donald Trump will win the Nobel Peace Prize?

“This is a very significant step forward and it would not have happened without President Trump’s leadership on this,” Sir Keir told a press conference in Mumbai on Thursday.

“And I want to be really clear about that and I say that from the informed position of the UK having played a part behind the scenes in this with the US and with the mediators.

“What matters now is to press on and implement this.”

Mr Trump said late on Wednesday that the warring parties had agreed to the “first phase” of his peace plan to pause fighting in Gaza and release at least some hostages and prisoners.

The news comes just two days after the second anniversary of October 7, the attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel which sparked the current conflict.

Nearly 1,200 people were killed during the incursion, and around 250 people were taken as hostages.

Israel’s military campaign, launched in retaliation, has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians, has devastated Gaza and revealed fault lines in global politics.

Hamas is planning to release the 20 living hostages it still has in captivity, and in exchange Israel will free Palestinian prisoners.

The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize is set to be named on Friday and Mr Trump has been lobbying for the award.

Azerbaijan’s president has said Mr Trump deserves the prize, while Pakistan’s government announced it had nominated him.

However, his administration’s isolationist approach to international cooperation is believed to likely exclude him from winning.

The independent committee that decides the winner is bound by the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish industrialist who established the prize.

He emphasised that the person it is awarded to should promote “fraternity between nations”.

This year, Mr Trump has signed executive orders withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organisation, the Paris climate accord and international tax agreements, as well as imposed devastating tariffs on goods from other countries.