By Eniola Amadu
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Egypt ahead of an international peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, where the long-awaited Gaza peace plan is expected to be signed.
Downing Street said Sir Keir will pay “particular tribute” to US President Donald Trump, who brokered the ceasefire and will lead the summit alongside Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Leaders from more than 20 nations are expected to attend Monday’s meeting, which aims to formalise the first phase of the truce and pave the way for lasting peace.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on Friday morning after both sides agreed to the first stage of a US-brokered deal that includes the return of hostages and the release of prisoners.
Under the agreement, Hamas has until midday Monday to release all remaining Israeli hostages, including 20 believed to be alive and the remains of up to 28 others.
In return, Israel is to release about 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza, while humanitarian aid will increase significantly.
While the first phase of the plan is now in motion, key issues such as Gaza’s future governance, Israeli troop withdrawal, and the disarmament of Hamas will form part of later negotiations.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the UK had “played a key role behind the scenes in shaping” the peace plan, describing the process as “complex matters of diplomacy.”
She declined to provide further detail but said the US had been “critical” to the progress made.
However, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee dismissed the UK’s claims as “delusional”, writing on X that Phillipson should “thank [Trump] anytime just to set the record straight.”
Israel’s deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel also criticised the UK’s assertion, saying Britain’s recognition of Palestinian statehood last month had “actually pushed Hamas to embolden their position.”
Downing Street described Monday’s signing ceremony as “a historic turning point for the region after two years of conflict and bloodshed.”
The prime minister will thank Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey for “bringing us to this point”, as well as Trump, before calling for “swift progress towards phase two” of the truce.
A No 10 spokesperson said Starmer would reaffirm “the UK’s steadfast support and engagement with international partners” to secure the ceasefire and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
French President Emmanuel Macron will also attend the summit, with the Élysée Palace confirming he will “express his full support for the implementation of the agreement.”
Egypt’s presidency said the summit aims 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.”
Trump said he would address Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, before travelling to Egypt for the signing.
“We have a lot of leaders from all over the world coming too,” he told reporters at the White House on Friday.
Despite Downing Street’s praise for the peace plan, the UK opposition has criticised Starmer’s participation.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel described his trip as a “photo opportunity,” saying the government “had no role whatsoever” in brokering the deal.
The Israeli military confirmed it had partially withdrawn troops from Gaza under the ceasefire terms but said forces still occupy around half of the enclave.
The UK has stated it has “no plans” to send British troops to join the multinational monitoring force, which will include around 200 US soldiers and personnel from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.
Meanwhile, the UK will host a separate three-day summit starting Monday focused on Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction.
Delegates from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Germany, and the Palestinian Authority are expected to attend.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Britain would continue to support Gaza’s rebuilding efforts, including “mobilising private finance to assist recovery.”
The Gaza war began after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage.
Since then, more than 67,000 Palestinians, including 18,000 children have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
