Keir Starmer is set to attend an international peace summit in Egypt to help solidify the recently established ceasefire in Gaza. The Prime Minister will express gratitude towards Donald Trump, who is anticipated to be present at the event, and acknowledge the diplomatic efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. A formal ceremony will be held to sign the Gaza peace plan, symbolizing a pivotal moment for the Middle East post the prolonged conflict, as announced by No 10.
The peace plan proposed by the US president emphasizes Israel maintaining a continuous military presence within Gaza along the border. Security within the region is to be overseen by an international force primarily comprising troops from Arab and Muslim nations.
The Israeli military has confirmed its continued defensive operations within the portion of Gaza it retains control over after pulling back to agreed boundaries. The initial phase of the plan aims to reunite remaining hostages with their families and release Palestinian detainees by Monday morning. Sir Keir will acknowledge Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey for their efforts in reaching this milestone, along with Mr. Trump, urging ongoing collaboration to advance to the next phase of the ceasefire.
US envoy Steve Witkoff disclosed plans to establish a coordination center in Israel to manage Gaza-related matters until a permanent governance structure is in place. This initiative will not involve US troops on the ground in Gaza but will include personnel reporting to the US and potential aerial monitoring over the area.
Additionally, a joint mission involving the US, Qatar, Egypt, and other entities will work towards locating hostage remains to prevent misidentifications. The role of the 200 US troops expected in Israel in this mission remains uncertain, raising questions about their involvement in this specific operation or a separate endeavor.
The conflict in Gaza was sparked by a surprise attack by Hamas-led militants on Israel in October 7, 2023, resulting in casualties and hostages. Subsequently, Israel’s offensive led to a significant number of Palestinian casualties, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which reports a high number of women and children among the deceased.
The United Nations and various experts consider the Health Ministry’s statistics to be the most accurate reflection of the casualties during the conflict.
