UK to Host International Summit on Gaza Recovery Plan: Hope Amid the Chaos
As efforts intensify to bring lasting peace to the Middle East, the United Kingdom has announced it will host an international summit focused on Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction. The move comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepares to attend a multi-nation peace event in Egypt, aimed at finalising a long-term truce in the Palestinian territory.
Global Leaders Unite for Peace
Starmer will join around 20 world leaders, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit on Monday. The gathering, co-chaired by Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, is seen as a crucial step toward achieving enduring peace following two years of devastating conflict and loss of life in Gaza.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Starmer said:
“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.”
UK Shifts Focus to Gaza’s Humanitarian Needs
Downing Street confirmed that the UK’s previously pledged £20 million in aid will now be redirected toward urgent water, sanitation, and hygiene projects in Gaza. The funding will be distributed through major international agencies, including UNICEF, the World Food Programme, and the Norwegian Refugee Council.
Summit in the UK: Planning Gaza’s Future
In addition to the Egyptian talks, the UK will host a three-day recovery conference organized by the Foreign Office’s Wilton Park agency in West Sussex. The event will feature representatives from the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Germany, and Italy, along with financial institutions like the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
A Downing Street statement emphasized that Gaza’s recovery would be Palestinian-led, but stressed that there would be “absolutely no role for Hamas.” Discussions will also focus on strengthening the Palestinian Authority’s reform efforts to ensure it can effectively oversee reconstruction and governance in Gaza.
“Hope Amid the Chaos”
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the ceasefire as a “turning point,” urging global leaders to sustain momentum toward rebuilding Gaza’s devastated infrastructure.
“Rubble must be cleared, infrastructure repaired, healthcare restored, and homes rebuilt,” Cooper said. “We now need to work with the same intensity and urgency to develop a plan for Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction.”
Mixed Political Reactions
While some praised the UK’s leadership role, others criticized Starmer’s priorities. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson reaffirmed the government’s stance on supporting a two-state solution, calling for “a viable Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.”
However, Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel questioned the Prime Minister’s decision to attend the summit, saying the UK had “no significant role” in the current ceasefire.
Despite political divides, the international community views this week’s summits — in both Egypt and the UK — as pivotal. With humanitarian aid scaling up and diplomatic dialogue underway, the world watches closely for signs of genuine progress.
For many, these developments offer a rare glimpse of hope amid the chaos — a step toward healing a region long scarred by war and displacement.
