Britain will convene a high-level peacebuilding conference next March aimed at shaping an International Peace Fund for Israel and Palestine…reports Asian Lite News
The UK will host a key peacebuilding conference on 12 March next year, bringing together civil society leaders from Israel, Palestine and the wider international community to advance plans for a new International Peace Fund. The gathering at Lancaster House fulfils the Prime Minister’s commitment to convene such a meeting and help create a fund capable of delivering the long-term finance required for transformative peacebuilding efforts.
The initiative comes at a critical moment following October’s US-led ceasefire agreement and President Trump’s 20-Point Plan, which together have opened the door to what diplomats regard as the most significant opportunity in years to secure lasting peace and security in the Middle East. Since the agreement, all living hostages have been released, though the UK continues to press for the return of the remaining deceased hostage. While some humanitarian aid is now reaching Gaza, British officials acknowledge that “much more needs to be done”, and continue to call for all restrictions to be lifted to allow supplies to enter at the scale and speed required, particularly with winter approaching.
Civil society organisations across Israel and Palestine are expected to play a central role in turning the fragile progress of recent months into a sustainable peace process. Over the past year, the UK has worked closely with partners on the ground, as well as international allies, to ensure that these organisations are prepared to lead efforts to support long-term stability and advance the objective of a two-state solution that guarantees security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “After two years of the most horrendous suffering, the US-led ceasefire agreement has now been in place for two months. But it remains highly fragile, and there is still a long journey ahead to implement the 20-point plan endorsed by the United Nations, and achieve a just and lasting peace. This conference will be a crucial step in that journey, bringing together representatives of Palestinian and Israeli civil society to build common ground between their communities, challenge entrenched divisions, and work towards a future where both states can live side-by-side in peace and security.”
Officials say the UK-hosted meeting will convene global peacebuilding experts and leading civil society organisations from the Middle East to map existing initiatives and support the establishment of the new fund. Participants will examine how best to reinforce local peacebuilding efforts and identify gaps where international support could have the most meaningful impact.
A central part of the discussions will be the practical steps the Peace Fund should prioritise, as well as lessons that can be drawn from analogous efforts elsewhere. The International Fund for Ireland – which played a pivotal role in fostering dialogue between unionist and nationalist communities well before the Good Friday Agreement – is expected to serve as a key reference point. British officials believe its model of sustained, long-term engagement offers valuable guidance for the challenges facing Israeli and Palestinian communities today.
The proposed International Peace Fund is envisaged as a mechanism to support activities that bring people together across hardened divides, reduce violence, build trust, and create the conditions required for a lasting and just peace. UK ministers argue that only a combination of diplomatic momentum, practical support and grassroots leadership can turn the current opening into a durable settlement.
By hosting the conference, the UK aims not only to support immediate peacebuilding efforts but also to help embed a structured, long-term framework capable of sustaining dialogue well beyond the political volatility of the moment.
