America’s envoy to Israel is ridiculing a claim by a senior British government official that the United Kingdom played a key role in the U.S.-brokered Gaza peace deal.
On Sunday, Bridget Phillipson, education secretary in the cabinet of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said on Sky News’ “Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips” that the U.K.’s behind-the-scenes contributions played a major part in shaping an agreement expected to secure the release of 48 Israeli hostages — 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
“These are complex matters of diplomacy that we are involved in,” Ms. Phillipson said when pressed to elaborate on Britain’s contribution to the peace deal. “We do welcome and recognize the critical role that the American government played in getting us to this point.”
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee dismissed Ms. Phillipson’s assertions that Mr. Starmer’s government made significant contributions to the final plan to end the fighting in the Palestinian enclave.
“I assure you she’s delusional,” Mr. Huckabee said Sunday on X. “She can thank President Donald Trump anytime just to set the record straight.”
Israel’s deputy foreign affairs minister, Sharren Haskel, said British and French recognition of a Palestinian state before the hostages were released prompted Hamas to embolden their position and refuse a proposed ceasefire two months ago.
“President Trump has delivered real results — not pathetic posturing like [French President Emmanuel] Macron and Starmer. American leadership brought a ceasefire and the return of our hostages,” Ms. Haskel said Sunday on X. “France and Britain chose virtue signaling over action — a total moral failure that recognized a Palestinian state before all the hostages were released.”
