Hostage families call for urgent clarity over PM’s Hamas sanctions pledge
Last September the PM appeared to indicate new sanctions on individuals linked to Hamas would be imposed within weeks
Eight families of British hostages seized by Hamas on October 7 have written to Keir Starmer seeking “urgent clarity” on when he will a pledge to sanction Hamas officials.
In September last year, days before the prime minister announced he would recognise a Palestinian state, he said new sanctions on individuals linked to Hamas would be imposed within weeks.
Five months on and no measures have been announced.
According to the The Times, officials have admitted privately that there is no imminent sign of new penalties being imposed due to concern it could upset ongoing peace discussions involving Israel and Hamas.
A letter sent to the PM expresses “frustration with the lack of progress on sanctions, despite your clear commitment.
“By not pushing ahead with enhanced sanctions, your government is saying that it is the right thing to do but the wrong time to do it. This seems to us to be unprincipled.
“We cannot see how more aggressively sanctioning Hamas and its supporters and similar organisations and people will impact negatively on the ceasefire agreement, nor can we see how sanctioning Hamas-affiliated individuals in the UK could do so.”
Signatories to the letter, which is dated January 21, includes Adam Ma’anit, cousin of murdered hostage Tsachi Idan; Steve Brisley, whose sister and two nieces were murdered on October 7; Mandy Damari, mother of released British hostage Emily Damari, and others.
The letter, seen by Jewish News, said: “By not pushing ahead with enhanced sanctions, your government is saying that it is the right thing to do but the wrong time to do it. This seems to us to be unprincipled.
“We cannot see how more aggressively sanctioning Hamas and its supporters and similar organisations and people will impact negatively on the ceasefire agreement, nor can we see how sanctioning Hamas-affiliated individuals in the UK could do so.
The signatories of the letter include Steve Brisley, whose sister and two nieces were murdered in the October 7 attacks; and Kochav Levinson and Adam Ma’anit, both of whom lost family members.
Adam Wagner KC, one of the lawyers, said: “The families feel extremely frustrated and let down. These are bereaved and traumatised people whose lives have been ruined by Hamas.
“They sat in Downing Street and were told by the prime minister that the UK would get on with imposing new sanctions, a commitment he repeated publicly a few days later.
“Five months later nothing has happened, even though there are other authorities taking strong action like the US. So the families feel very let down.”
The Foreign Office said: “The UK has taken strong action against Hamas. We proscribed the terrorist organisation in its entirety in November 2021, making it a criminal offence to be a member of or support the organisation.
“We keep all potential sanctions under review but do not comment on future designations.”
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