US to send troops to Israel as world holds its breath over fragile Gaza ceasefir

The Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said that there are no plans to deploy British troops to the area as part of force to monitor peace.

The US is moving up to 200 troops already based in the Middle East to Israel to co-ordinate it, officials say.

Troops on the ground to be provided by “neighbouring states”, Ms Cooper said.

The UK will be contributing in different ways, such as by providing private finance to Gaza for its reconstruction, she added.

She reiterated that there will be no role for Hamas in the future government of Gaza nor Palestine.