UK contribution to Gaza peace plan mocked as Starmer heads to Egypt

— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) October 12, 2025

Phillipson was also pressed on the government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state. In August, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the decision made by France and other European countries to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state had hindered negotiations to achieve a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages held in Gaza.

Phillipson said recognition was “the right thing to do” given the scale of the conflict in Gaza and to protect the viability of the two-state solution.

However, after her remarks came to Huckabee’s attention, the former Arkansas governor ridiculed Phillipson, calling her comments “delusional” in a post on social media.

“She can thank Donald Trump anytime just to set the record straight”, he said on X.

Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar also publicly criticised the suggestion that Britain played any role in bringing about an end of the conflict in Gaza.

As well as re-posting Ambassador Huckabee’s attack on Phillipson, Sa’ar also shared a critical post by a former British army colonel.

“The British government played no role in the ceasefire agreement, except a negative one by encouraging Hamas to resist through recognition of a non-existent ‘Palestinian state’. This agreement was reached only because of Trump, Netanyahu and the IDF”, Colonel Richard Kemp, a former commander of British forces in Afghanistan said on X.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer yesterday flew to Egypt for a summit of world leaders. The summit, set to commence later today in Sharm-al-Sheikh, will be chaired by the country’s president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and US President Donald Trump, who landed in Israel for a flying visit this morning.

However, Conservative figures openly mocked Starmer’s attendance.

Sharing news footage of the Prime Minister arriving in Egypt, shadow attorney general Lord Wolfson said: “Every committee has someone who only turns up for the group photo”. His post was shared by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch.

Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, accused Starmer’s government of spending “months undermining Israel, emboldening Hamas and fuelling antisemitism across the UK”.

She added: “It is an insult to the victims of Hamas and the people of Gaza who have suffered from Hamas’ brutality that Labour now claims credit for the work of the United States and our partners in the Middle East. Starmer has prioritised photo opportunities with world leaders above resolving the appalling divisive hatred we are witnessing on our streets towards Britain’s Jewish community which is shameful.”

But this morning, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff appeared to contradict Ambassador Huckabee, and Starmer’s UK-based critics, by praising the UK’s “vital” role in securing the Gaza ceasefire.

“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 recognise the incredible input and tireless efforts of national security adviser Jonathan Powell”, he said in a post on X.

Trump arrived in Israel on early this morning where he was greeted by the country’s President Isaac Herzog.

He is scheduled to address a special session of the Knesset and meet with the families of hostages before departing for Egypt.

Many Israelis credit the US president’s critical role in securing the release of hostages. 

A mural in the sand thanking the US president was displayed on a Tel Aviv beach thanking him.