NextFin news, On Sunday, October 12, 2025, Israel publicly disputed claims made by UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson that Britain played a "key role" in securing the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. The dispute emerged just one day before the Middle East peace summit scheduled for Monday in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, where UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is set to join other world leaders.
Sharren Haskel, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, told Sky News she "would have to contradict" Phillipson’s assertion that the UK was a leading player "behind the scenes" in the ceasefire negotiations. Haskel criticized the UK government’s recognition of Palestinian statehood two months prior, arguing it undermined peace efforts by emboldening Hamas during sensitive negotiations.
Phillipson, speaking earlier on Sunday on Sky News’s "Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips," defended the UK’s diplomatic efforts, stating, "We have played a key role behind the scenes in shaping this," while acknowledging the critical role of the American government in brokering the ceasefire. The ceasefire agreement was primarily brokered by US President Donald Trump, with significant diplomatic involvement from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.
The UK, alongside France, Australia, and Canada, recognized Palestinian statehood last month in a largely symbolic move aimed at preserving the two-state solution. However, Israel’s deputy foreign minister contended that this recognition sent a message to Hamas that continuing the conflict would be rewarded, complicating peace negotiations.
Sir Keir Starmer is expected to attend the signing ceremony for the Gaza peace plan in Sharm El Sheikh on Monday, where he will reportedly praise President Trump and regional partners for their diplomatic efforts. Downing Street indicated Starmer will call for "swift progress towards phase two" of the peace plan.
French President Emmanuel Macron will also attend the summit, as confirmed by the Elysee Palace. Meanwhile, former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair met with the deputy chief of the Palestinian Authority, Hussein Al-Sheikh, on Sunday to discuss cooperation on aid delivery, hostage release, and Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction under the new peace framework.
The US-brokered 20-point plan includes Israel maintaining a military presence along Gaza’s border and an international force, mainly from Arab and Muslim countries, overseeing security inside Gaza. The Israeli military has stated it will continue defensive operations in the approximately 50% of Gaza it controls after pulling back to agreed lines.
The first phase of the plan anticipates the return of hostages and the release of Palestinian prisoners by Monday morning. The UK government has confirmed it will not send British troops to participate in the multinational force monitoring the truce.
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel dismissed the UK Prime Minister’s visit to Egypt as a "photo opportunity," asserting that Britain has had "no role whatsoever" in achieving the ceasefire under the current government. She criticized Starmer’s attendance at the summit amid pressing domestic issues.
The Gaza conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. The subsequent Israeli offensive has resulted in over 67,000 Palestinian deaths and nearly 170,000 injuries, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, figures widely regarded as the most reliable estimates of casualties by the United Nations and independent experts.
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