Minister slams Hamas as he confirms Gaza aid organisations not reaching hostages
Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel told the Commons she had met with British-Israel hostage Emily Damari’s 'suffering' mother
Hamas is acting outside any “international norm”, the Middle East minister has told MPs as he confirmed no aid organisation had yet been able to reach the hostages who remain in Gaza.
Hamish Falconer told the Commons on Tuesday: “Ensuring the release of all hostages including British national Emily Damari and three other hostages with strong UK links remains a top priority for this Government.
“We support efforts of negotiators and call on the parties to return to negotiations.
“We continue to work alongside allies and partners in the region towards hostage releases. Negotiations remain the best chance to get hostages, cruelly detained by Hamas, home to their loved ones. I relayed these points to the Israeli deputy foreign minister yesterday.”
Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel told the Commons she had met with Ms Damari’s mother last week and said “it’s obvious that she and so many other hostage families are going through the most unimaginable suffering”.
She asked Mr Falconer whether any aid organisations have had humanitarian access to the hostages “and if not, what kind of pressure is being exerted on these agencies”.
The minister replied: “Regrettably no organisation has had access to the hostages. We continue to call for access for ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) and other appropriate NGOs in the usual way.
“Let us be clear: Hamas hold these hostages, they are behaving abominably, outwith any international norm.
“They aren’t abiding by any convention that you could possibly think of.
“We will continue to press them to ensure that British nationals get the access that they require, but this is very regrettable for the whole House that we are in this position.”
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
