Britain has sent a senior commander and a small number of troops to Israel to help international efforts to monitor a fragile Gaza ceasefire following an American request.
John Healey, the defence secretary, revealed the deployment barely a week after Yvette Cooper, the new foreign secretary, said the UK had “no plans” to send soldiers.
The British officer will work as the deputy to a US commander, who is tasked with running a civil-military coordination centre that is also expected to include troops from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
The ceasefire deal, brokered by Donald Trump, between Hamas and Israel has created the “opportunity for a long-term peace”, Mr Healey said.
“We have specialist experience and skills that we have offered to contribute,” he said, answering questions after delivering a lecture on wider defence issues to business leaders at an event in London on Monday evening.
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The defence secretary said: “We can contribute to the monitoring of the ceasefire. That is likely to be led by others.
“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.
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“So 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.”
The British officer is being accompanied by a small team of UK military personnel, with expertise in planning.
The United States, for its part, is sending up to 200 troops to Israel. They will not enter Gaza.
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The British contingent will also not be operating inside the strip.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “A small number of UK planning officers have embedded in the US led CMCC, Civil Military Coordination Centre, including a 2* deputy commander to ensure that the UK remains integrated into the US led planning efforts for Gaza post-conflict stability.
“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.”
Details about the US plans – headed by Central Command – to help facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid as well as logistical and security assistance into the territory emerged after Mr Trump brokered a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel on 10 October.
One official said the new team will help monitor implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the transition to a civilian government in Gaza.
It is separate to a planned international stabilisation force that would deploy into the territory to help secure the peace.
That force is a key part of Mr Trump’s 20-point peace plan.
In a sign of potential problems, though, The New York Times reported on Tuesday that countries that might contribute soldiers to the international force are nervous about putting boots on the ground while Hamas remains an armed group.
The arrival of British troops in Israel comes as the ceasefire deal remains under pressure, with Israel and Hamas accusing each other of breaching its terms.
Israel briefly resumed airstrikes over the weekend after its troops were reported to have come under attack.
Meanwhile, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza yesterday reported more than 50 deaths in the last 24 hours.
