Britain sends small number of troops to monitor Gaza ceasefire

John Healey said the UK had sent a ‘first-rate, two-star officer’ as a deputy commander as part of a group of planning officers. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

British troops have been sent to Israel to help monitor the ceasefire in Gaza after a request from the US.

The defence secretary, John Healey, announced the deployment of a small number of planning officers, including a senior commander, at an event on Monday night. He said the UK would play an “anchor role”. Ten days ago the foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, said the UK had “no plans” to send soldiers to Gaza.