British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh for a landmark international summit on the Gaza peace plan, where he is expected to pay „particular tribute” to US President Donald Trump’s mediation efforts. The summit, jointly led by President Trump and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, brings together leaders from more than 20 countries to formalize a ceasefire agreement that took effect Friday. This gathering marks what Downing Street describes as „a historic turning point for the region after two years of conflict and bloodshed,” with Starmer set to acknowledge the crucial roles of Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and particularly President Trump in brokering the initial agreement.
The ceasefire implementation follows Israel’s approval of the first phase of Trump’s negotiated deal, which has already seen partial Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza and the beginning of hostage returns. Under the current terms, Hamas must release all Israeli hostages—including 20 believed alive and remains of up to 28 deceased hostages—by Monday at 12:00 local time. In parallel, Israel is required to release approximately 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza while facilitating increased humanitarian aid into the Strip. However, the most challenging negotiations regarding Gaza’s future governance, complete Israeli troop withdrawal, and Hamas disarmament remain for subsequent phases.
Significant diplomatic tensions have emerged regarding international contributions to the peace process, particularly concerning the United Kingdom’s role. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson asserted that Britain had „played a key role behind the scenes in shaping” the agreement through „complex matters of diplomacy,” claims that drew sharp rebukes from US and Israeli officials. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee dismissed these assertions as „delusional,” while Israel’s deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel stated the UK had actually „pushed Hamas to embolden their position” through recent decisions like recognizing Palestinian statehood. Despite this, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff later acknowledged Britain’s „vital role” and specifically praised National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell’s „incredible input and tireless efforts.”
The summit represents a critical juncture for regional stability, with participating nations including France—whose President Emmanuel Macron will „express his full support for implementation”—and numerous other global leaders invited by President Trump. However, the proceedings face domestic criticism in Britain, where Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel characterized Starmer’s attendance as a mere „photo opportunity” given pressing domestic issues and questioned the government’s actual influence on ceasefire negotiations. As leaders convene in Egypt, the focus remains on solidifying the fragile truce and establishing frameworks for the more contentious second-phase negotiations that will determine Gaza’s long-term future.
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