Uk leads global talks to rebuild Gaza as Starmer joins Trump, Sisi and world leaders in Egypt
The UK is set to host a major international summit aimed at planning Gaza’s post-war recovery, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer joins world leaders in Egypt to push for a permanent ceasefire and lasting peace.
Downing Street confirmed the summit on Sunday, describing it as part of Britain’s wider effort to help Gaza rebuild after two years of devastating violence that left tens of thousands dead and much of the territory in ruins.
Starmer is due to attend a high-level peace gathering in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, alongside about 20 global leaders, including former US president Donald Trump and Egyptian president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. The Egyptian summit is expected to finalise the terms of an internationally backed truce between Israel and Hamas, with hopes that it will pave the way for full-scale reconstruction.
“The UK stands determined to seize this opportunity to deliver a lasting peace, and a stable, secure future for the whole region,” Starmer said in remarks released ahead of the talks. “Today is the first, crucial phase of ending this war — and now we must deliver the second phase in full.”
In parallel with the summit in Egypt, the UK will host a separate three-day conference at Wilton Park in West Sussex, beginning Monday afternoon. The Foreign Office-led event will bring together senior representatives from the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Germany, and Italy, alongside major financial institutions such as the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Officials say discussions will focus on “ensuring that the process of recovery is Palestinian-led,” with an emphasis on economic stability, infrastructure repair, and political reform within the Palestinian Authority. However, Downing Street made clear that Hamas will have “absolutely no role” in the process.
The UK has redirected £20 million in previously pledged aid toward water, sanitation, and hygiene projects in Gaza, to be distributed through Unicef, the World Food Programme, and the Norwegian Refugee Council. Humanitarian agencies have already begun preparing large-scale operations to deliver food, clean water, and medical supplies once border access is fully restored.
Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, said Britain had “worked intensively with international partners in recent months” to help build momentum behind the peace process and to back President Trump’s initiative to end hostilities. “Gaza has been completely devastated,” she said. “The ceasefire gives us the opportunity not just to urgently scale up humanitarian efforts but also to plan for the future — clearing rubble, repairing infrastructure, restoring healthcare, and rebuilding homes.”
Speaking to the BBC, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the government remained committed to a two-state solution. “We need to see a viable Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel,” she said. “That’s the government’s position, and it’s why the prime minister is travelling to Egypt tomorrow.”
However, the opposition was quick to criticise Starmer’s participation. Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel accused the prime minister of neglecting domestic issues. “Britain has had no role whatsoever in this process,” she said. “It’s extraordinary that Keir Starmer is flying to Egypt when there are pressing problems here at home that he should be addressing.”
Despite the political sparring, Monday’s twin summits in Egypt and the UK are being viewed as a crucial turning point in the Gaza peace process. Diplomats hope the meetings will move international focus from military de-escalation to long-term reconstruction, marking the beginning of a new phase in efforts to stabilise the region.
For now, the challenge remains immense: rebuilding Gaza’s shattered cities, restoring essential services, and establishing a durable peace that can withstand the political and social fractures of years of war.