The UK is set to hold a three-day summit on the subject of Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction, Downing Street announced on Sunday.
The UK Wilton Park summit will bring together representatives from businesses, civil society, and governments to discuss postwar Gaza, in which the UK will take a leading role. Among the international parties attending will be Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.
According to the Prime Minister's office, the summit will also cover efforts to support the Palestinian Authority’s transformation and reform program to ensure it can support Gaza’s recovery.
"Long-term recovery must be Palestinian-led, but broad public and private investment will be needed to deliver the scale of reconstruction necessary," said Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
"The UK will also play a crucial part in that process, convening different parties as we are doing today with Egypt and bringing in expertise, experience, and investment from the City of London to support reconstruction.”
The executive agency, Wilton Park, which is hosting the event, said it is "proud to be convening the UK summit on Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction this week, following the ceasefire announcement."
British PM currently in Egypt
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is currently in Sharm El-Sheikh for the signing ceremony of the Gaza Peace Plan, which comes on the same day as the 20 remaining living hostages were released from captivity back to Israel.
Starmer is also set to announce £20 million of UK aid to Gaza, specifically to tackle water, sanitation, and hygiene issues.
Despite US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee calling the UK "delusional" for claiming to have played a vital role in the Gaza deal, Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said the UK did in fact play a vital role.
Witkoff wrote on social media: “I would like to acknowledge the vital role of the United Kingdom in assisting and coordinating efforts that have led us to this historic day in Israel. In particular, I want to recognize the incredible input and tireless efforts of National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell.”
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel agreed with Huckabee, telling the BBC: “I think we have to be honest about the fact that Britain has had no role, no role whatsoever.
“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 and sorting out," she added.