The Prime Minister’s spokesman declined to elaborate on the ‘vital’ role played by the UK in getting to this point
October 13, 2025 14:11
Sir Keir Starmer has spoken about his “relief” at the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
The Prime Minister, who is in Egypt for a summit of world leaders to discuss the ceasefire in Gaza, made a particular mention of Avinatan Or, the partner of former hostage Noa Argamani, whose mother Ditza is a British-Israeli dual national.
“I share the deep feeling of relief as Avinatan Or and other hostages are released today. But this is also a stark reminder of the treatment that he has been subject to at the hands of Hamas, and the atrocities that shook the world two years ago”, Starmer said.
He continued: “Having met his family, I know that no one can truly understand the torture and agony they suffered for two drawn-out years and my thoughts are with them.”
Starmer also said his thoughts were with the family of Yossi Sharabi, who was killed by Hamas after being taken from his home in Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7.
Sharabi’s brother Eli – whose wife Lianne, originally from Bristol, and the couple’s two daughters, Noiya,16, and Yahel, 13, were murdered on October 7 – was released from Hamas captivity in February and has since championed the plight of fellow hostages.
As well as thanking the United States and mediating countries for helping secure a ceasefire in Gaza, Starmer said that it was important that Trump’s plan led to a lasting peace.
“The UK will support the crucial next stage of talks to ensure the implementation of the peace plan”, he added.
In Egypt, Starmer has had bilateral meetings with world leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and met with leaders including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
He is also set to announce £20 million in funding to aid in Gaza to ensure water, sanitation and hygiene services reach tens of thousands of civilians.
The funding will be delivered through Unicef, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
On top of this, the Government will also host a three-day summit in Wilton Park in Sussex to discuss the post-war reconstruction of Gaza.
Representatives from Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority will attend the summit, as well as private sector and international development financiers, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank.
Although Starmer has appeared keen to highlight the UK’s role in reaching a fragile peace agreement, questions have been asked regarding Britain’s specific contributions to the ceasefire in Gaza.
US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar both shared posts on social media suggesting that Starmer’s Government played a negligible role.
However, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff this morning heaped praise on the UK’s “vital role” in getting to today and singled out “the incredible input and tireless efforts of national security adviser Jonathan Powell”.
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 Advisor Jonathan Powell.
— Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (@SEPeaceMissions) October 13, 2025
In July, the JC reported that during an emergency Cabinet meeting convened to discuss Gaza, after which Starmer announced his decision to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state, the Prime Minister also updated his colleagues about his “credible and realistic peace plan” for the region.
Powell, who helped broker the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which helped bring peace to Northern Ireland, is said to have contributed his expertise to the plan and to have been present at Starmer’s bilateral meeting with Trump in Scotland, also in July, where the plan was discussed.
Asked to give concrete examples of what Witkoff described as the UK’s “vital” role, a Downing Street spokesman said: “I don't think it's for me to get into the behind the scenes discussions on these peace talks”.
“I think the focus today, frankly, is the deep feeling of relief for the families and indeed, hostages that are being released today”, he said, adding: “We are now all focused on working together to implement President Trump's peace plan. That's the focus of his meetings in Egypt today, and will be over the coming weeks and months ahead”.
The spokesman added that he disagreed with Ambassador Huckabee’s assessment of Bridget Philipson’s claims about the UK’s contribution to the Gaza deal.
“We've been clear that we have offered our full support for these [peace] efforts over the last few weeks and months. The Prime Minister has paid credit to President Trump's leadership and the vital work of his team, as well as, obviously, the mediators from Egypt, Turkey and Qatar.”
He added: “We've offered our full support, including working behind the scenes to develop these plans, and we will continue to give our full backing to the next phase, which … will include the deployment of a ceasefire monitoring mission an international security force, the implementation of transitional governance arrangements in Gaza and the decommissioning of Hamas.”
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