At the UN Security Council on 18 February 2026, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper set out four urgent steps to shift from a fragile Gaza ceasefire to Phase 2 of the peace plan. She cited over 70,000 Palestinian deaths since 7 October 2023, continuing Hamas attacks on Israeli forces and more than 600 Palestinians reportedly killed since the truce began, warning that progress is at risk even as hostages return home. (gov.uk)
Security Council Resolution 2803, adopted on 17 November 2025, endorsed a comprehensive Gaza plan, welcomed a new Board of Peace and authorised an International Stabilisation Force. The text links Israel Defense Forces’ withdrawal to demilitarisation milestones, requires six‑monthly progress reports and keeps these arrangements in place until 31 December 2027. (un.org)
On security, the UK called for the decommissioning of Hamas weapons, the dismantling of weapons production sites and a clear end to any Hamas role in Gaza’s administration. Cooper backed strengthening a vetted Palestinian police force, deployment of the Stabilisation Force and a sequenced IDF withdrawal tied to agreed conditions. (gov.uk)
On governance, London urged sustained support for the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza to deliver basic services and recovery, building credibility as a pathway to a reformed Palestinian Authority. The UK argued this approach is the most effective route to render Hamas irrelevant in day‑to‑day administration. (gov.uk)
To preserve the viability of a Palestinian state, the statement pressed for West Bank de‑escalation. It criticised Israel’s withholding of the Palestinian Authority’s tax revenues, record‑high settlement expansion and settler violence as illegal under international law and counter‑productive, saying these trends make Israelis and Palestinians less secure. (gov.uk)
On humanitarian access, the UK reported contributing over $100m for Gaza in 2026 but warned that restrictions on medical equipment, field hospital components and shelter items still impede operations. Cooper urged Israel to reverse the deregistration of international NGOs, including Save the Children, and stressed protection for UNRWA staff and UN facilities. (gov.uk)
The statement reaffirmed the UK’s recognition of the State of Palestine on 21 September 2025, taken alongside Canada and Australia, as a step to safeguard a two‑state solution. Ministers have been clear that Hamas will have no role in future governance and that recognition sits alongside a programme of Palestinian Authority reform. (gov.uk)
Implementation now moves to delivery. The UK will convene a Peacebuilding Conference in March 2026 to bring Israeli and Palestinian civil society leaders together to build trust. Stakeholders will watch for deployment of the Stabilisation Force, activation of the Board of Peace and service delivery by the Gaza Committee, alongside regular Council reporting under Resolution 2803. (gov.uk)