British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will announce £20 million ($25 million) in new aid for water, sanitation and hygiene services in Gaza during the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit for Peace in Egypt, the UK government said Sunday. "Prime Minister pledges UK leadership in Gaza's reconstruction at historic Egyptian Peace summit." the statement read, saying Starmer will attend the signing ceremony of the Gaza Peace Plan. The funding, to be channelled through UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), aims to support civilians facing famine, malnutrition and disease "following two years of conflict and bloodshed in Gaza," it said. The new assistance is part of the UK's £116 million aid commitment to Palestinians this year, including £74 million already allocated for food, shelter, and other emergency needs in Gaza. Of the new package, £9.7 million will go to UNICEF, £7 million to WFP and £3.5 million to the NRC, according to the statement. The British government also said it would host a three-day conference on Gaza's recovery and reconstruction, known as the Wilton Park Summit, to coordinate postwar planning and mobilise international support. The meeting will bring together representatives from governments, international organisations, businesses, and civil society. The reconstruction would be "Palestinian-led, with absolutely no role for Hamas in its future governance." The conference is expected to include participants from Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, and development financiers such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank. "The UK will also play a crucial part in that process, convening different partners we are doing today with Egypt and bringing in expertise, experience, and investment from the City of London to support (Gaza) reconstruction." Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English I'm in Egypt, where I'll meet with international leaders to mark the first, crucial step towards peace in the Middle East. The UK stands ready to support rebuilding Gaza and we will work with partners to secure a stable future for the region. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 12, 2025 Today is the first, crucial phase in ending the war in the Middle East. Now we must deliver lasting peace and a secure future for the whole region. The UK is providing additional humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, and we will lead efforts to accelerate its reconstruction. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 13, 2025
