Keir Starmer is set to attend an international peace summit in Egypt to help maintain the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. At the summit, he is expected to acknowledge the contributions of various countries, including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, as well as pay tribute to Donald Trump. A significant event during the summit will be the signing of the Gaza peace plan, marking a pivotal moment for the Middle East post the two-year conflict.
The peace plan, proposed by the US president, advocates for Israel to uphold a continuous military presence within Gaza along its border, with security responsibilities inside the enclave delegated to an international force predominantly comprising troops from Arab and Muslim nations. Israel has affirmed its defensive operations within the portion of Gaza it still oversees, promising the release of remaining hostages and Palestinian detainees as part of the initial phase of the plan.
US envoy Steve Witkoff mentioned plans for establishing a coordination center in Israel to manage Gaza-related matters until a permanent governance structure is in place. Although no US troops will physically be stationed within Gaza, there will be personnel overseeing operations reporting to the US, with the possibility of aerial surveillance over the area.
Additionally, a joint effort involving the US, Qatar, Egypt, and other entities will undertake a mission to locate and identify deceased hostages to prevent misidentification issues. The deployment of 200 US troops to Israel remains uncertain, with questions arising over their potential involvement in the identification mission or a separate initiative.
The conflict in Gaza was ignited by a surprise attack by Hamas-led militants on Israel, resulting in casualties and hostages. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 67,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 170,000 injured during Israel’s subsequent offensive, with women and children accounting for a significant portion of the casualties.
The United Nations and various experts regard the figures from Gaza’s Health Ministry as the most reliable assessment of the conflict’s human toll.