British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Egypt for a pivotal international summit on the Gaza peace plan, where he is expected to pay tribute to US President Donald Trump’s mediation efforts. The summit, led jointly by President Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, brings together leaders from over 20 countries to formalize a ceasefire agreement that took effect on Friday. This initial phase, brokered by Trump, includes Hamas releasing all Israeli hostages by Monday’s deadline and Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners while increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. Downing Street characterized the gathering as a „historic turning point” that could end two years of conflict, though challenging negotiations remain regarding Gaza’s governance, Israeli troop withdrawals, and Hamas disarmament in subsequent phases.
The UK government faces conflicting assessments of its diplomatic contribution to the peace process. While Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson asserted Britain played „a key role behind the scenes in shaping” the agreement, US and Israeli officials offered starkly different perspectives. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee dismissed Phillipson’s claims as „delusional,” while Israel’s deputy foreign minister stated UK actions had actually „emboldened” Hamas. However, Trump’s Middle East envoy later acknowledged Britain’s „vital role” and specifically praised National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell’s efforts, creating a complex narrative about the UK’s actual involvement in the breakthrough.
As the summit commences, Starmer plans to express gratitude to Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and President Trump while urging continued coordination for subsequent phases of the truce. The Prime Minister’s office emphasized Britain’s commitment to supporting ceasefire implementation, humanitarian aid delivery, and lasting peace efforts. Despite domestic criticism from Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel, who dismissed the trip as a „photo opportunity,” the international community appears united in seeking to capitalize on this diplomatic opening. The ceasefire currently holds with Israeli troops partially withdrawn from Gaza, though significant challenges remain in negotiating the agreement’s more contentious elements in future phases.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.