Israel Weighs Expelling UK Officials From Gaza Coordination Center

Israel is considering expelling British officials, along with potentially other European representatives, from a U.S.-led coordination center overseeing post-war arrangements in Gaza, according to a Financial Times report published Thursday.

The Israeli government has discussed removing the United Kingdom from the International Gaza Support Center in recent weeks, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the discussions.

The multinational center was established as part of efforts to oversee and support the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. It serves as an international headquarters for coordinating activities related to Gaza following months of conflict.

According to the Financial Times, Israeli officials are weighing whether British representatives should continue participating in the center. The discussions could also extend to officials from other European countries, although the report did not identify which governments might be affected.

Any decision to remove UK or European officials from the Gaza coordination center could add further strain to Israel's diplomatic relations with European governments at a sensitive stage in efforts to maintain the ceasefire and develop a framework for Gaza's future.

Britain and other European countries have been involved in diplomatic initiatives surrounding the Gaza conflict, while the United States has taken a leading role in negotiations aimed at securing and maintaining the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The reported discussions come as international attention remains focused on the implementation of the ceasefire and the longer-term political, security and humanitarian arrangements for Gaza.

The International Gaza Support Center is intended to provide a multinational mechanism for monitoring and coordinating elements of the U.S.-brokered agreement, making participation by allied governments an important part of the broader diplomatic process.

However, no formal decision to expel British or other European officials has been confirmed.

Reuters said it was unable to immediately independently verify the Financial Times report. Further details about Israel's discussions, including the reasons behind the potential removal of British officials and whether other European governments could be affected, were not immediately available.