Britain pledges to provide $27 million in aid to Gaza.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that his country will provide a £20 million ($27 million) aid package to deliver water, sanitation, and hygiene services in Gaza, as he arrived in Egypt to attend a summit of world leaders on ending the conflict.

The funding will be provided through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme, and the Norwegian Refugee Council, and is designed to reach those facing famine, malnutrition, and disease.

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel came into effect at 12:00 PM on Friday Jerusalem time (9:00 AM GMT), after the Israeli government approved the agreement early in the morning.

The agreement is based on a plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which calls for an end to the war, a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army, mutual release of prisoners, immediate entry of aid into the sector, and disarmament of Hamas.

Trump announced on Thursday that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement on the first phase of his plan for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, following indirect negotiations between the two sides in Sharm El Sheikh, with the participation of Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar, under U.S. supervision.

Britain also stated that it will host a three-day summit on the reconstruction of Gaza, which will include representatives from world governments, the private sector, and representatives from development funding entities, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank.

London has provided £74 million in humanitarian support for Palestine during the current financial year, which it officially recognized as a state last month.

For her part, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the United Kingdom will play a pivotal role in bringing parties together and attracting expertise and investment from London to support reconstruction efforts in Gaza.

She added that Palestinians must lead long-term recovery efforts, but it is essential to mobilize significant investments for reconstruction.

Cooper stated that debris must be removed, infrastructure repaired, healthcare services restored, and homes rebuilt in the Gaza Strip, and continued that we now need to work with the same seriousness and speed to develop a reconstruction plan for Gaza.