Gaza Ceasefire, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has confirmed there are no plans to deploy British troops as part of the multinational mission tasked with overseeing the Gaza Ceasefire. Cooper’s statement comes as Israel’s military announced that the first phase of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas has now taken effect, marking a crucial step toward ending the devastating conflict. Speaking in Paris after meeting with other foreign ministers, Cooper emphasized that the UK would continue supporting the peace process through diplomatic and financial channels. This is still a fragile process, but it has huge momentum and commitment behind it, she said. We have to make it work.
According to US officials, up to 200 American troops already stationed in the Middle East are being moved to Israel to coordinate a new civil-military operations center. This facility will monitor the progress of the Gaza Ceasefire and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid across affected areas. Forces from key Arab and Muslim nations, including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, are also expected to participate in monitoring and reporting any violations of the truce. US officials made it clear that no American troops would enter Gaza itself. When asked on BBC Breakfast whether British soldiers would join the monitoring mission, Cooper stated firmly, That’s not our plan. There are no plans to do that. Her comments followed remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who told Euronews that Europe had become essentially irrelevant in ceasefire efforts and criticized the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state. Cooper acknowledged differences between London and Tel Aviv on the issue but stressed the need for unity. The point now is that we need countries to come together to make peace a reality and ensure it succeeds, she said.
UK Rules Out Sending Troops to Monitor Gaza Ceasefire, Says Yvette Cooper
The foreign secretary highlighted that the UK had already contributed significantly to advancing the Gaza Ceasefire through its diplomatic efforts and proposals for peace frameworks. She added that Britain would now focus on collaborating with Arab nations to attract private investment for Gaza’s reconstruction after two years of relentless bombardment. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also voiced support for substantive humanitarian aid packages” during the truce, alongside French and German leaders. The E3 nations reaffirmed their readiness to support future stages of the peace plan and contribute to rebuilding Gaza.More than 67,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in Israel’s military campaign, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The offensive began following the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people in Israel and led to 251 hostages being taken.
MOST READ: Nobel Peace Prize 2025 Goes to Venezuela’s María Corina Machado
Starmer said on Thursday that the UK had played an important part behind the scenes in shaping the current peace plan and stands ready to assist with its implementation. Cooper, who traveled from Northern Ireland to Paris after a meeting with European counterparts, said the lessons learned from previous peace processes in the Balkans and Northern Ireland could help stabilize Gaza. “Countries can come together to support peace, rebuild nations, and resolve conflict, she said. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey added that the UK must play a “maximum role” in maintaining the Gaza Ceasefire, urging London to take a more active stance in global peacekeeping efforts.
