British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Egypt for a high-stakes international summit focused on implementing a Gaza peace plan, where he is expected to pay „particular 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 more than 20 countries to address the fragile ceasefire that took effect Friday after Israel and Hamas agreed to the initial phase of a hostage return deal brokered by the Trump administration. While Downing Street described the gathering as a „historic turning point for the region,” significant challenges remain in negotiating subsequent phases, including contentious issues such as Gaza’s future governance, Israeli troop withdrawals, and Hamas disarmament.
The ceasefire agreement establishes strict timelines, requiring Hamas to release all Israeli hostages by Monday at 12:00 local time, including 20 living captives and the remains of up to 28 deceased individuals. In parallel, Israel must release approximately 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza while facilitating increased humanitarian aid to the Strip. The Israeli military has already begun partial withdrawals from certain Gaza areas, though troops continue to occupy approximately half of the territory, highlighting the delicate balance of the agreement’s implementation.
Controversy has emerged regarding international contributions to the peace process, with UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson claiming Britain played „a key role behind the scenes in shaping” the Gaza plan through „complex matters of diplomacy.” However, these assertions faced immediate pushback from US and Israeli officials. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee dismissed the claims as „delusional,” while Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel stated the UK had actually „pushed Hamas to embolden their position” through recent decisions like recognizing Palestinian statehood. The diplomatic tension was partially mitigated when Trump’s Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff later acknowledged the UK’s „vital role” and specifically praised National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell’s contributions.
As world leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron converge on Sharm el-Sheikh, the summit aims to „end the war in the Gaza Strip, strengthen peace and stability efforts in the Middle East, and open a new page in regional security and stability,” according to Egyptian presidency officials. Despite domestic criticism from figures like Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel, who dismissed Starmer’s participation as a „photo opportunity,” the UK government has committed to offering „steadfast support and engagement with international partners” to secure the ceasefire, accelerate humanitarian assistance, and establish foundations for lasting peace as negotiations progress toward more complex second-phase discussions.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.