UK sends military planners to Israel for ceasefire monitoring mission

A small group of British planning officers has been deployed to Israel to join a US-led multinational taskforce established to help monitor the Gaza ceasefire, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed to the BBC.

The task force, known as the Civil Military Coordination Centre, is expected to include personnel from Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates, according to earlier statements by US officials.

The MoD clarified that British troops are not entering Gaza and are not being sent into any combat zones.

The Israeli government has recently approved the first phase of a deal with Hamas, which brought about a ceasefire and initiated the exchange of hostages and prisoners.

Earlier this month, American officials announced that up to 200 US troops already stationed in the Middle East would be relocated to Israel to support the new coordination centre. The unit is to be led by US Central Command (Centcom) and will be tasked with monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire agreement as well as coordinating the delivery of humanitarian aid.

In a statement, an MoD spokesperson said the United Kingdom “continues to work with international partners to support the Gaza ceasefire and to determine where the UK can best contribute to the peace process.”

Speaking at Mansion House on Monday, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that Britain had sent a senior commander to act as deputy to a US officer leading the coordination centre in Israel, following a request from Washington.

Healey said the UK’s participation would focus on supporting rather than directing the mission: “Britain can contribute to the monitoring of the ceasefire, but others will take the lead. Britain will play an anchor role, contributing specialist experience and skills where we can, but we do not expect to lead in this effort.”

A MoD source added that the initiative was part of demonstrating “the UK is playing its part in setting the framework on what comes next.” Discussions are continuing on what additional support the UK might provide.

Over the past two decades, the British military has developed extensive experience in building the capacity of security forces, first in Iraq and later in Afghanistan — a key reason why Centcom requested the UK’s involvement. Since 2006, British officers have also been working in the West Bank to train the Palestinian police.

However, the deployment also carries historical resonance. Britain was the colonial power in the territory known as Palestine after World War I, maintaining control for 25 years before its hurried withdrawal in 1948 as the State of Israel was established. Many Palestinians continue to view Britain’s legacy in the region negatively, blaming it and the 1917 Balfour Declaration for their subsequent displacement and suffering.

The latest UK move follows a visit to Israel by US Vice-President JD Vance on October 21. Vance said the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire was “going better than expected” but warned that “if Hamas does not co-operate, it will be obliterated.” He declined to specify a deadline for when the Palestinian group must disarm — a key unresolved element of US proposals.

Vance appeared in southern Israel alongside Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the two US envoys who helped broker the ceasefire deal.

One of the provisions in US President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan envisions the creation of a temporary international stabilisation force, deployed in Gaza in coordination with Arab and international partners. That element of the plan has yet to be finalised and would only be implemented once the exchange of hostages and prisoners is fully completed.

Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. Since then, at least 68,229 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run Health Ministry.

By Tamilla Hasanova