Sir Keir Starmer is set to fly to Egypt for a signing ceremony of the Gaza peace plan where he will pay tribute to Donald Trump.
The Prime Minister will attend the international peace summit in in Sharm El Sheikh on Monday as part of efforts to secure the fragile ceasefire agreement.
He is expected to pay “particular tribute” to Mr Trump, who is understood to be attending, and the diplomatic work of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, Downing Street has said.
A “signing ceremony” for the peace plan will take place at the event to mark a turning point for the Middle East after the two-year war, No10 said.
The US President’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 part of Gaza, roughly 50 per cent, 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.
Keir Starmer is set to pay tribute to Donald Trump when he attends the international peace summit in Egypt
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PA
Sir Keir is expected to 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.
Speaking on Thursday after Mr Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of his Gaza peace deal, Sir Keir said: “I strongly welcome the news that a deal has been reached on the first stage of a peace plan in Gaza.
“This is a moment of profound relief that we have felt around the world but particularly for the hostages, their families and for the civilian population of Gaza, who have all endured unimaginable suffering over the last two years.
“I’m grateful to the tireless diplomatic efforts of Egypt, Qatar, the United States and many others in securing this crucial first step.
Keir Starmer said this week he ‘strongly welcomes’ the peace plan
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PA/POOL“This agreement must now be implemented in full, without delay, and be accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on lifesaving humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“The UK will support these crucial immediate steps at the next stages of the tools to ensure the full implementation of the peace plan.”
The next phase of Mr Trump’s plan calls for an international body, led by himself and including former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to play a role in Gaza’s post-war administration.
Arab countries which back the plan say it must lead to eventual independence for a Palestinian state, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin, says will never happen.
More than 67,000 Palestinians are said to have been killed in Gaza since the start of the conflict
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REUTERS
The Gaza war was triggered when Hamas-led militants launched an 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.
The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the deaths were women and children.
