Keir Starmer is set to attend an international peace summit in Egypt to help uphold the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. The summit will also be attended by Donald Trump and representatives from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. A significant moment is expected at the event with the signing of a Gaza peace plan, marking a pivotal shift for the Middle East following the two-year conflict, according to No 10.
The US president’s 20-point proposal entails Israel maintaining a continuous military presence within Gaza along its border, with security responsibilities inside the enclave allocated to an international force, mainly comprising troops from Arab and Muslim nations.
Israel’s military has committed to defensive operations within the portion of Gaza it retains control over, following the agreed-upon boundaries. The initial phase of the plan aims to reunite remaining hostages with their families and release Palestinian prisoners by Monday morning. Sir Keir will express gratitude to Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, along with Mr. Trump, urging ongoing collaboration to expedite progress in the truce’s second phase.
US envoy Steve Witkoff informed Israeli officials of Washington’s plan to establish a coordination center in Israel for Gaza-related matters until a permanent government is in place. This arrangement will not involve US troops on the ground in Gaza but will have personnel reporting to the US and potential aerial monitoring over the area.
An official mentioned a joint effort involving the US, Qatar, Egypt, and other nations and organizations to locate and identify deceased hostages without any misidentification concerns. The role of the 200 US troops heading to Israel in this initiative remains uncertain.
The conflict in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 casualties and 251 hostages.
In Israel’s subsequent offensive, over 67,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, with nearly 170,000 injured, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry. The ministry’s figures, which do not distinguish between civilians and combatants but indicate a significant number of women and children among the casualties, are widely regarded by the United Nations and independent experts as the most credible estimates of wartime losses.