In a week marked by high-stakes diplomacy and cautious optimism, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has firmly stated that the United Kingdom will not deploy troops to Gaza as part of the recently brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Speaking on October 10, 2025, Cooper made it clear that while the UK remains invested in the peace process, boots on the ground are not in the cards for British forces.
“That’s not our plan, there’s no plans to do that,” Cooper told BBC Breakfast on Friday, echoing a consistent message across several interviews and public appearances. Her remarks come in the wake of a historic deal, brokered by US President Donald Trump, which has paused the two-year war in Gaza and set the stage for the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The agreement, announced just two days after the somber second anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attacks, has been welcomed by many as a potential turning point in the conflict.
According to BBC, the first phase of the ceasefire deal has already come into effect, with Israel’s military confirming approval. The deal also triggered the immediate deployment of approximately 200 US troops to Israel—not Gaza—to help monitor and support the truce’s implementation. US officials have emphasized that their forces will remain outside Gaza, coordinating a civil-military center in Israel to oversee the ceasefire and facilitate humanitarian assistance. Forces from neighboring Arab and Muslim countries, including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, are expected to play a more direct role in observing the truce and reporting any violations.
Cooper stressed that the US will take the lead in monitoring the ceasefire process, with the expectation that “troops on the ground will be provided by neighboring states, and that is something that we do expect to happen.” She underscored that the UK’s contribution would focus on financial and diplomatic support, including exploring private investment options for Gaza’s reconstruction. “There is an immediate proposal for the US to lead what is effectively like a monitoring process to make sure that this happens on the ground, to oversee the process with hostage release, and also making sure that this first stage is implemented, getting the aid in place,” Cooper said, as reported by Press Association.
International discussions are underway regarding the formation of an “international security force,” but Cooper was adamant that British or European troops will not be part of it. “International discussions on an international security force are ongoing,” she confirmed, while reiterating that the UK is “continuing to contribute in other ways, including looking at getting private finance into Gaza.”
The UK’s stance has not gone unnoticed. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has voiced support for the ceasefire, crediting Trump’s leadership as instrumental in bringing the warring parties to the negotiating table. “The ceasefire would not have happened without the US President’s leadership,” Starmer stated. He also emphasized the UK’s behind-the-scenes role in the peace process, noting that the country had “played an important part behind the scenes” and stands ready to support the next stages of the plan alongside France and Germany.
Not everyone is content with the current arrangement. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called for the UK to play a “maximum role” in maintaining the ceasefire, suggesting that Britain should push to contribute to a peacekeeping force. “We’re prepared to play our part; the UK must step up,” he said, advocating for a more hands-on approach. Meanwhile, Labour MP Emily Thornberry, chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, pointed to the influence of “sensible friends” on Trump’s changing attitude toward the Middle East, highlighting the complex web of international relationships underpinning the peace efforts.
The ceasefire agreement comes at a time of immense human cost. The October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,200 people, mostly Israeli civilians, and the abduction of about 250 hostages. In response, Israel launched a massive military offensive in Gaza, which, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, has left more than 67,000 Palestinians dead—most of them civilians—and displaced much of the enclave’s population. The devastation has fueled urgent calls for humanitarian aid and reconstruction, with the UK and other European countries pledging substantive humanitarian aid packages during the ceasefire.
Cooper’s diplomatic efforts have taken her from Northern Ireland, where she and her German counterpart Johann Wadephul attended a Western Balkans foreign ministers’ meeting, to Paris, where French President Emmanuel Macron hosted round-table talks with the foreign ministers of France and Saudi Arabia, Jean-Noel Barrot and Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud. These gatherings have focused on lessons learned from past peace processes and the importance of international cooperation in resolving conflict and rebuilding nations. “What we know is that countries can come together to support peace, to resolve conflict, to rebuild nations,” Cooper reflected, expressing hope that these experiences could inform efforts in Gaza.
Yet, the peace remains fragile. Cooper acknowledged that “this is still a fragile process but it is one there is a huge momentum behind and a huge commitment to, so we have to make it work.” She also addressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent criticisms of Europe’s role in ceasefire plans, noting disagreements but emphasizing the need for unity: “The point now is that we need countries coming together to make peace a reality and to actually make it happen.”
The UK’s recognition of the state of Palestine and its contributions to a peace framework have been highlighted as evidence of its commitment to a lasting resolution. Moving forward, discussions with Arab states about financial investment in Gaza are expected to be a key focus, as the region grapples with the aftermath of two years of bombardment and humanitarian crisis.
While the ceasefire agreement is seen by many as “the beginning of the end of the war,” as Cooper described it, the road ahead is uncertain. The truce’s success hinges on the effective monitoring of its terms, the timely release of hostages, and the delivery of much-needed aid. According to Cooper, there were discussions about the ceasefire coming into effect within 24 hours of the Israeli cabinet agreement, with the return of hostages expected within 72 hours—a timeline the UK government hopes will be met even sooner.
As international actors continue to navigate the delicate balance between diplomacy, humanitarian assistance, and security, the UK’s decision to keep its troops at home reflects both a strategic calculation and a broader commitment to supporting peace through means other than military intervention. The world watches closely as Gaza’s fragile peace takes its first tentative steps, hoping that this moment marks a genuine move toward lasting stability in the region.