Lord Levy speaks of family distress over Hamas hostage ordeal

Lord Michael Levy has spoken of the distress currently shared by his entire family after revealing that his 27 year-old cousin is among the hostages taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7.

In an emotional interview, the Labour peer said it had been a “very distressing time” for the family, adding: “What happened was absolutely tragic, barbaric. There are no other words to describe it.”

Levy revealed he had spoken with the cousin regularly prior to her being taken hostage, and that “her mum was actually a bridesmaid at our wedding.”

He had also been out to Israel to visit his family there to share their pain over the hostage ordeal of his cousin.

But the 79-year-old peer was also keen to stress how what had taken place in Gaza, as Israel responded to the terror atrocity, had also been “horrendous.”

He told Sky News: “Similar deaths, seeing young babies killed. Just seeing the destruction that’s taking place. It really is just terrible.”

Levy said the past seven months had been stressful both for Jewish and Muslim communities alike.

Reflecting on his time serving Tony Blair as prime minister, Levy said a two-state solution was a “real possibility” for Israel and the Palestinians at that time.

But he added: “I think that’s gone as we sit here now. I pray there is a way forward. How can a society live like that? For Israel to be constant fear, but for the Palestinians, how can they live like that? There has to be a way forward.”

Levy was asked about the forthcoming general election, and claims Muslim voters might reject Labour because Keir Starmer was not viewed as supportive enough.

He said he could not speak for Muslim voters, but said he had “many Muslim friends.” Levy added he was certain these friends would be “looking at the economy, the cost of living, what is going on in the health service.

“What’s going on in terms of education in this country, those will be the factors.”

Levy added he would hope that “extremism will not be part of this election, neither from the Jewish population, or any other population in this country.”

He continued: “We’re all part of the United Kingdom. And frankly, extremism has no part in our society today.

“We’re in a difficult time. Whether you’re Jewish, whether you’re Muslim, or any other faith, what is going on in that region at the moment …something has to happen.

“And it really has to happen, because in Gaza right now frankly intolerable.”