UK officers join US-led taskforce for Gaza ceasefire

The UK has deployed a small number of planning officers to Israel to join a US-led taskforce monitoring the Gaza ceasefire, according to the BBC on October 21st.

The objective being to assist a US-led multinational unit in monitoring the ceasefire, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The taskforce, named the civil military coordination centre, will likely be made up of troops from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the UAE, reiterating the key role of Arab states in the US plans for the transition of security forces in Gaza.

US officials stated earlier in October, up to 200 US troops operating in the Middle East would relocate to Israel to assist the taskforce. It would be led by US Central Command (Centcom), with the objective to monitor the advancement of the ceasefire, whilst also helping organise humanitarian support. This comes after Israel said that it would block aid supplies through crossings following an alleged Hamas violation of the ceasefire agreement.

In a statement, an MoD spokesperson said the UK “continues to work with international partners to support the Gaza ceasefire to see where the UK can best contribute to the peace process”, echoing the key role the UK is said to have played in ceasefire negotiations.

Defence Secretary John Healey stated the UK “can contribute to the monitoring of the ceasefire,” while other partners take the lead. “Britain will play an anchor role, who will contribute the specialist experience and skills where we can, but we don’t expect to be leading in the way,” said the Defence Secretary.

Centcom’s request for UK participation is contextualised by the military’s extensive experience in capacity-building for security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as training Palestinian police in the West Bank since 2006. This experience took place under former prime Minster Tony Blair, who is expected to be a key figure in Gaza’s post-war plan.

The Ministry of Defence said the deployment remains limited to planning and coordination, with no plans for British troops to take part in operations inside Gaza.