Israel dismisses Britain's claims to have played a 'key role' in Donald Trump's Gaza peace deal as Starmer heads to Middle East for 'signing ceremony'
Israel dismissed the UK's claims to have been involved in the Gaza peace plan today as Keir Starmer heads to the Middle East for a 'signing ceremony'.
The PM is set to pay 'particular tribute' to Donald Trump at a summit in Egypt to mark the agreement starting to be implemented.
In a round of interviews this morning, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson insisted the UK had played a 'key role behind the scenes' in achieving the deal.
But Benjamin Netanyahu's deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel hit back by condemning the decision last month to recognise a Palestinian state. She said the move - made even though there is no functional government or borders - had actually made a deal harder.
The idea was also ridiculed by shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel, who accused Sir Keir of seeking a 'photo opportunity'.
Downing Street said the gathering tomorrow will mark a turning point for the Middle East after the two-year war.
Mr Trump's 20-point plan calls for Israel to maintain an open-ended military presence inside Gaza, along its border with Israel.
An international force, comprised largely of troops from Arab and Muslim countries, would be responsible for security inside the enclave.
The Israeli military has said it will continue to operate defensively from the roughly 50 per cent of Gaza it still controls after pulling back to agreed-upon lines.
The first phase of the plan is expected to see remaining hostages returned to their families and Palestinian prisoners released by Monday morning.
Sir Keir Starmer will pay tribute to Donald Trump at a 'signing ceremony' for the Gaza peace plan in Egypt
In a round of interviews this morning, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson insisted the UK had played a 'key role behind the scenes' in achieving the deal
At the Sharm el-Sheikh summit Sir Keir will thank Egypt, Qatar and Turkey for 'bringing us to this point' as well as Mr Trump, before calling for continued coordination to secure 'swift progress towards phase two' of the truce.
Ms Phillipson told Sky News this morning: 'We have played a key role behind the scenes in shaping this.'
Asked for details of the contribution, she said: 'These are complex matters of diplomacy that we are involved in but we do welcome and recognise the critical role that the American government played in getting us to this point.'
However, Ms Haskel criticised the decision to recognise Palestinian statehood and accused Britain of diminishing the prospect of peace by emboldening Hamas.
'The Government of the UK, Macron's plan, the whole conversation about declaring a Palestinian state – we disagree with you,' she told Sky News.
Asked about Ms Phillipson's characterisation of the UK's efforts, the minister said: 'Well, I have to contradict her words, unfortunately.
'Unfortunately, with the declaration of the Palestinian state during a very sensitive time two months ago when the teams were already around the table negotiating, when we truly believe we are able to reach a deal; the message that the UK Government sent Hamas was the message that: the longer they continue this war, they will be rewarded.'
US envoy Steve Witkoff told Israeli officials on Friday that Washington would establish a centre in Israel to co-ordinate issues concerning Gaza until there is a permanent government, according to a readout of the meeting obtained by the Associated Press.
The readout said no US soldiers would be on the ground in the enclave, but there will be people who report to the US and aircraft may operate over the strip for monitoring.
A different official said that a group, including the US, Qatar, Egypt and other countries and organisations, would be part of a mission to locate and identify hostage bodies and avoid issues with misidentification.
It was unclear if the 200 US troops coming to Israel would be part of that group or a separate initiative.
Ms Patel said the UK government 'had no role whatsoever' in the Gaza ceasefire.
She told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: 'I think we have to be honest (about) the fact that Britain has had no role – no role whatsoever – under Keir Starmer's Government, in even getting to this very seismic and momentous moment.
'I think it's extraordinary that Keir Starmer apparently is going to Egypt tomorrow when we've got plenty of domestic issues that he should be resolving.'
'I think it's a photo opportunity for him, to be very candid', she added.
The Gaza war was triggered when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage.
In Israel's ensuing offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and nearly 170,000 wounded, according to Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the deaths were women and children.
The United Nations and many independent experts consider the ministry's figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.
