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Downing Street has confirmed that the Prime Minister will be in attendance at an international peace summit in Egypt on Monday, where the Gaza peace plan is scheduled to be signed.
Sources at Number 10 have indicated that Sir Keir Starmer will offer “particular tribute” to US President Donald Trump during the summit in Sharm El-Sheikh.
A ceasefire in Gaza was implemented on Friday morning, following an agreement between Israel and Hamas on the initial phase of a ceasefire and hostage exchange, brokered by the US President. Negotiations regarding subsequent phases are ongoing.
A spokesman for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has stated that the US President will co-lead the summit alongside his Egyptian counterpart, with leaders from over 20 nations participating.
Under the terms of the agreement, Hamas is required to release all Israeli hostages by 12:00 (09:00 GMT) on Monday. This includes 20 hostages believed to be alive and the remains of up to 28 deceased hostages.
In return, Israel is expected to release approximately 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza, while simultaneously facilitating increased humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
Sources suggest that securing agreements on the later phases, to be negotiated following the successful implementation of phase one, may prove challenging. Key areas of contention include the future governance of Gaza, the scope of Israeli troop withdrawal, and the disarmament of Hamas.
On Sunday, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson asserted that the UK had “played a key role behind the scenes in shaping” the Gaza peace plan.
Speaking to Sky News, she stated that Britain had been involved in “complex matters of diplomacy,” without elaborating further.
Later, appearing on BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Ms. Phillipson acknowledged the “critical role” of the US in the process, when questioned about the UK’s involvement.
However, US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, described Ms. Phillipson’s comments as “delusional” in a post on X, suggesting she should “thank [Trump] anytime just to set the record straight.”
Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sharren Haskel, echoed these sentiments on Sunday, further criticising the UK’s claims.
Also appearing on Sky News, Ms. Haskel refuted the notion of the UK playing a key role, asserting that the “opposite” was true.
Ms. Haskel argued that decisions by the UK government, including last month’s move to recognise Palestinian statehood, had “actually pushed Hamas to embolden their position.”
Downing Street has described Monday’s summit in Egypt as a “signing ceremony” for the peace plan, “marking a historic turning point for the region after two years of conflict and bloodshed.”
Sir Keir is expected to express gratitude to Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey for “bringing us to this point,” in addition to President Trump, and will advocate for continued collaboration to ensure “swift progress towards phase two” of the truce.
Number 10 affirmed in its statement: “He will offer the UK’s steadfast support and engagement with international partners as we look to secure the ceasefire, get urgently needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza and secure a basis for a lasting peace and security.”
The Elysee Palace confirmed on Saturday that French President Emmanuel Macron will also be in attendance, where he will “express his full support for the implementation of the agreement.”
Announcing the summit on Saturday, a spokesperson for the Egyptian presidency said it aimed to “end the war in the Gaza Strip, strengthen peace and stability efforts in the Middle East, and open a new page in regional security and stability.”
President Trump informed reporters at the White House on Friday that he would be traveling to the region on Monday, addressing Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, before proceeding to Egypt.
He stated: “We have a lot of leaders from all over the world coming too, they’ve been invited.”
Egypt’s foreign ministry also confirmed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed arrangements for the summit with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel has dismissed the Prime Minister’s visit to Egypt for the Sharm El-Sheikh summit as a mere “photo opportunity,” asserting that the government has “had no role whatsoever” in the Gaza ceasefire.
Speaking to Laura Kuenssberg, she added: “I think it’s extraordinary that Keir Starmer is apparently going to Egypt tomorrow when we’ve got plenty of domestic issues that he should be resolving.”
The ceasefire was implemented following the Israeli government’s approval of the first phase of President Trump’s ceasefire and hostage return deal on Thursday, after three days of indirect talks in Egypt.
The Israeli military has confirmed that it has partially withdrawn troops from parts of Gaza, pulling back to an agreed position within the territory. However, troops continue to occupy approximately half of the Strip.
The UK has previously stated that it has “no plans” to deploy British troops as part of a multinational force to monitor the latest ceasefire from Israel.
US forces, numbering up to 200 personnel already stationed in the region, are being moved to what officials describe as a civil-military coordination centre in Israel, alongside forces from Arab and Muslim countries including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated on Friday that the UK would continue to support the peace process through other means, including exploring opportunities for private finance investment in Gaza.
Israel’s war on Gaza was triggered by the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 hostages.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since then, including over 18,000 children.
A prior ceasefire agreement, initiated in January, collapsed after two months when Israel resumed its military offensive, failing to progress beyond the initial stage of a three-stage plan.
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