British prime minister Keir Starmer and opposition leader Kemi Badenoch traded barbs over the peace agreement between Hamas and Israel, with Starmer claiming that his recognition of Palestine had helped secure the agreement while Badenoch said that this move was a reward to terror, had strained UK-Israel relations and in no way contributed to Hamas’s agreement to release hostages, which was due both to Israeli military pressure and Trump’s diplomatic initiative.

President Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said the UK played a vital role “in assisting and coordinating efforts that have led us to this historic day,” particularly  citing the “tireless efforts” of the UK’s National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell.

Starmer told Commons that he was “proud” of Witkoff’s acknowledgment of Britain’s role: “He knows absolutely the role we played, and this house should be proud that we played that role.”