The British Ministry of Defense said that a small group of British military planning officers were sent to Israel to join a US-led task force to support stabilization efforts in Gaza, according to what was reported by the Reuters news agency.
The mediators – the United States, Egypt and Qatar – intensified their efforts this week to stabilize the first stages of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas and advance US President Donald Trump’s 20-item plan to end the war.
The US-backed stabilization force, known as the Civil-Military Coordination Center, aims to ensure security in Gaza. Its formation, role, chain of command, legal status and other issues have not yet been agreed upon.
The United States agreed to send up to 200 soldiers to support the force, without deploying them in Gaza itself. American officials said they are also talking with Indonesia, the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and Azerbaijan to contribute to this force.
A spokesman for the British Ministry of Defense said in a statement that “a small number of British planning officers” have joined the Civil-Military Coordination Center, including a senior-ranking officer holding the position of deputy commander.
The spokesman said that the aim of deploying this group is to continue Britain’s participation in the US-led planning efforts to achieve post-war stability in Gaza.
The spokesman added: “Britain continues to work with international partners to support the ceasefire in Gaza to see where it can best contribute to the peace process.”
British media quoted Defense Minister John Haley as saying, yesterday, Monday, that Britain has “specialized experience and skills that we have offered to contribute,” adding that Britain will not lead these efforts, but will participate in its role.
Haley stated that the deployment of the military came in response to a request from the United States.
