Yvette Cooper says there are 'no plans' for British troops to join a Gaza peacekeeping force under Donald Trump's proposals
British troops will not be sent to the Middle East as part of Donald Trump's peace plan, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said today.
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a pause in the two-year war in Gaza under a deal brokered by the US President.
Hamas has also agreed to release the remaining hostages, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Some 200 US troops have initially been sent to Israel as part of the deal to support and help monitor the ceasefire.
But, despite Britain and other European countries also playing a part in the peace process, Ms Cooper said there were 'no plans' for UK troops to be in Gaza.
Asked about the prospect of British boots on the ground, Ms Cooper told BBC Breakfast this morning: 'That's not our plan, there's no plans to do that.
'But there is an immediate proposal for the US to lead what is effectively like a monitoring process to make sure that this happens on the ground.
'To oversee the process with hostage release, and also making sure that this first stage is implemented, getting the aid in place.
'But they have also made very clear that they expect the troops on the ground to be provided by neighbouring states, and that is something that we do expect to happen.'
British troops will not be sent to the Middle East as part of Donald Trump 's peace plan, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said
Israeli soldiers stand next to military vehicles on the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a pause in the two-year war in Gaza under a deal brokered by Donald Trump
The Foreign Secretary said there are discussions over an 'international security force'.
She added the UK was continuing to contribute in other ways, including looking at getting private finance into Gaza.
Ms Cooper also said the Government hopes the ceasefire will be in place 'imminently'.
On Thursday, Ms Cooper said European countries 'will all be strongly playing' their part at a meeting of foreign ministers in Paris.
French president Emmanuel Macron hosted the roundtable talks, flanked by the French and Saudi foreign ministers Jean-Noel Barrot and Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud.
Ms Cooper travelled to the meeting with her German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, after they met at Hillsborough Castle near Belfast.
News of the ceasefire agreement comes just two days after the second anniversary of October 7, the attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel.
Nearly 1,200 people were killed during the incursion, and about 250 people were taken as hostages into Gaza.
Israel launched a brutal military assault on Hamas in Gaza in response to the attacks.
Mr Trump has received praise for his role in trying to broker a deal between the warring parties.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the ceasefire 'would not have happened without' the US President's leadership.
