Sir Keir Starmer has touched down in Egypt to attend a ‘signing ceremony’ aimed at solidifying a truce in Gaza, despite Israel refuting the UK’s claim that it was instrumental in the arrangement.

The PM is in the Arab Republic as one of approximately 20 world leaders who will attend a peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday.

During this event, Sir Keir will observe the signing of the Gaza Peace Plan, which Downing Street described as ‘a historic milestone for the region following two years of conflict and bloodshed in Gaza’.

At the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, Sir Keir plans to express gratitude to Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey as well as Mr. Trump for their contributions to the process, emphasizing the need for ongoing efforts to quickly move into ‘phase two’ of the truce.

In interviews on Sunday morning, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasized that the UK had played a significant ‘behind the scenes’ role in brokering the agreement.

However, Sharren Haskel, Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister, criticized the UK’s decision last month to acknowledge a Palestinian state, arguing that it complicated negotiations since there is no established Palestinian government or agreed-upon borders.

The idea was also ridiculed by shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel, who accused Sir Keir of seeking a ‘photo opportunity’.

On Sunday evening, Sir Keir shared on social media platform X: ‘I’m in Egypt to engage with international leaders as we embark on this crucial first step towards peace in the Middle East.’

‘The UK stands ready to support rebuilding Gaza and we will work with partners to secure a stable future for the region.’

Mr Trump’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 roughly 50 per cent of Gaza 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.

The UK is also set to plan a significant role in the post-ceasefire plans for Gaza by hosting a three-day conference on the territory’s recovery and reconstruction, Downing Street revealed. 

Run by Wilton Park, an agency of the Foreign Office, the summit will bring together a coalition of representatives from businesses, civil society and government to discuss crucial planning and coordination efforts for postwar Gaza.

Discussions, which also begin on Monday, will also cover efforts to support the Palestinian Authority’s own transformation and reform programme to ensure it can support Gaza’s recovery.

Reconstruction will be Palestinian-led, with absolutely no role for Hamas in its future governance.

The conference will be attended by a range of international partners including Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, as well as private sector and international development finance and financiers, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank.

The Prime Minister is expected to say: ‘We stand determined to seize this opportunity to deliver a lasting peace, and a stable, secure future for the whole region.

‘Today is the first, crucial phase of ending this war and now we must deliver the second phase, in full.

‘The UK will support the next stage of talks to ensure the full implementation of the peace plan, so that people on both sides can rebuild their lives in safety and security.’

‘At the summit, attendees will also discuss how best to mobilise private sector resources to address the scale of reconstruction required, after more than two years of conflict have damaged or destroyed 92 per cent of homes.’

The education secretary’s comments on Sunday ruffled feathers after suggesting Britain had an outsized role in proceedings leading up to the signing ceremony.   

Ms Phillipson told Sky News: ‘We have played a key role behind the scenes in shaping this.’

Asked for details of the contribution, she said: ‘These are complex matters of diplomacy that we are involved in but we do welcome and recognise the critical role that the American government played in getting us to this point.’

However, Sharren Haskel, deputy minister of foreign affairs in the Israeli Knesset, criticised the decision to recognise Palestinian statehood and accused Britain of diminishing the prospect of peace by emboldening Hamas.

‘The Government of the UK, Macron’s plan, the whole conversation about declaring a Palestinian state – we disagree with you,’ she told Sky News.

Asked about Ms Phillipson’s characterisation of the UK’s efforts, the minister said: ‘Well, I have to contradict her words, unfortunately.

‘Unfortunately, with the declaration of the Palestinian state during a very sensitive time two months ago when the teams were already around the table negotiating, when we truly believe we are able to reach a deal; the message that the UK Government sent Hamas was the message that the longer they continue this war, they will be rewarded.’

US envoy Steve Witkoff told Israeli officials on Friday that Washington would establish a centre in Israel to co-ordinate issues concerning Gaza until there is a permanent government, according to a readout of the meeting.

The readout said no US soldiers would be on the ground in the enclave, but there will be people who report to the US and aircraft may operate over the strip for monitoring.

A different official said that a group, including the US, Qatar, Egypt and other countries and organisations, would be part of a mission to locate and identify hostage bodies and avoid issues with misidentification.

It was unclear if the 200 US troops coming to Israel would be part of that group or a separate initiative.

Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said the UK government ‘had no role whatsoever’ in the Gaza ceasefire.

She told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: ‘I think we have to be honest [about] the fact that Britain has had no role – no role whatsoever – under Keir Starmer’s Government, in even getting to this very seismic and momentous moment.

‘I think it’s extraordinary that Keir Starmer apparently is going to Egypt tomorrow when we’ve got plenty of domestic issues that he should be resolving.

‘I think it’s a photo opportunity for him, to be very candid’, she added.

The Gaza war was triggered when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise 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, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the deaths were women and children.

The United Nations and many independent experts consider the ministry’s figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.