Starmer to attend Gaza peace summit in Egypt, No 10 says

Downing Street said the prime minister will attend an international peace summit in Egypt on Monday, where the Gaza peace plan will be signed.

Sir Keir Starmer will pay “special tribute” to US President Donald Trump in Sharm el-Sheikh, No 10 added.

A ceasefire in Gaza took effect Friday morning after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a Trump-brokered ceasefire agreement and the return of hostages; the next stages are still to be negotiated.

A spokesman for El-Sisi said the US president will lead the summit, along with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, with leaders from more than 20 countries in attendance.

Under the agreement, Hamas must release all Israeli hostages, including the 20 hostages believed to be alive and the remains of 28 hostages who died, by 12:00 pm (09:00 GMT) on Monday.

Israel should also release approximately 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza and allow greater amounts of aid to enter the Strip.

It may be difficult to agree on many details of the subsequent phases, which will be negotiated following the successful completion of the first phase; for example, the administration of Gaza, the extent of the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the disarmament of Hamas.

Downing Street said Monday’s summit will include a “signing ceremony” for the peace plan, which “marks a historic turning point for the region after two years of conflict and bloodshed”.

Sir Keir will thank Trump, as well as Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye for “getting us to this point”, before calling for continued coordination to secure “rapid progress towards phase two” of the ceasefire.

No 10 added in its statement: “It will offer the UK’s steadfast support and engagement with international partners as we strive to secure a ceasefire, deliver urgently needed humanitarian assistance to Gaza and lay the foundations for lasting peace and security.”

The Elysee Palace confirmed on Saturday that French President Emmanuel Macron would also attend, where he would “express his full support for the implementation of the agreement.”

Confirming the summit late Saturday, an Egyptian presidential spokesman said its aim was to “end the war in the Gaza Strip, strengthen efforts for peace and stability in the Middle East, and open a new page in regional security and stability.”

Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that he would go to the region on Monday and give a speech to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, before going to Egypt.

“Many of our leaders from all over the world are coming, they have been invited,” he said.

The Egyptian foreign ministry also said that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed arrangements for the summit with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.

The ceasefire came into effect after the Israeli government approved the first phase of Trump’s ceasefire and hostage return agreement on Thursday, following three days of indirect talks in Egypt.

The Israeli army said its troops had partially withdrawn from parts of Gaza and withdrawn to an agreed position in the area, but troops still occupied half of the Strip.

England already said this ‘No plans’ to send British troops Being part of a multinational force that will monitor Israel’s final ceasefire.

Officials said the US would move about 200 soldiers currently in the region to what it calls the civil-military coordination center in Israel. Forces from Arab and Muslim countries, including Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye.

Britain will continue to support the peace process through other means, including through special funding for Gaza, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Friday.

Israel’s Gaza war was triggered by attacks led by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 people were taken hostage.

The Hamas-run health ministry says more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since then, including more than 18,000 children.

The previous ceasefire agreement, which began in January, collapsed two months after Israel resumed military offensives without ever getting past the first phase of a three-phase plan.