UK troops deployed in Israel at Trump admin's request

 The United Kingdom has deployed a small number of troops to Israel, after a request by the United States, to monitor the Gaza ceasefire, Reuters reported.

A UK Ministry of Defense spokesperson said in a statement obtained by the outlet that a “small number of UK planning officers,” including a two-star deputy commander, had embedded in a U.S.-backed stabilization force known as the Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC).

The CMCC is meant to ensure security in Gaza, the outlet reported.

Why It Matters

President Donald Trump announced on October 8 that Israel and Hamas had signed the first phase of a peace plan, a significant development in the war that began when the Palestinian militant group attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023. 

The two sides both agreed to a ceasefire. Hamas agreed to return the remaining living hostages and bodies of deceased hostages, while Israel agreed to release nearly 2,000 prisoners.

What To Know

British Defense Secretary John Healey said that a senior officer has also been sent to act as the deputy to a U.S. commander, who has been tasked with running a civil-military coordination center, Sky News reported. The center will also include troops from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

“We have also, in response to the American request, put a first rate two-star officer into a civilian-military command, as the deputy commander,” Healey said, answering questions after delivering a lecture on defense issues to business leaders at an event in London on Monday, according to Sky News.

The United States is also sending up to 200 troops to Israel to monitor to deal.

Vice President JD Vance told reporters on Tuesday that the return of the deceased hostages “is not going to happen overnight.”

“I’m not going to do what the President United States has thus far refused to do, which is put an explicit deadline on it. Because a lot of this stuff is difficult,” Vance said.

Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday, “Numerous of our NOW GREAT ALLIES in the Middle East, and areas surrounding the Middle East, have explicitly and strongly, with great enthusiasm, informed me that they would welcome the opportunity, at my request, to go into GAZA with a heavy force and ‘straighten our Hamas’ if Hamas continues to act badly, in violation of their agreement with us.”

What People Are Saying

British Defense Secretary John Healey, per Sky News: “Britain will play an anchor role, contribute the specialist experience and skills where we can. We don’t expect to be leading… but we will play our part.”

President Donald Trump, on Truth Social on Tuesday: “The love and spirit for the Middle East has not been seen like this in a thousand years! It is a beautiful thing to behold! I told these countries, and Israel, ‘NOT YET!’ There is still hope that Hamas will do what is right. If they do not, an end to Hamas will be FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL! I would like to thank all of those countries that called to help.”

What Happens Next

The second phase of the peace plan calls for Hamas’ disarmament and for it to have no role in the future governance of Gaza. Hamas has not yet agreed to that phase of the agreement.