Sunak tells MPs government is doing ‘everything we can’ to secure release of hostages in Gaza

Rishi Sunak has insisted the government is doing “everything we can” to try to secure the release of British hostages kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in Gaza including engaging “intensively in diplomatic activity” in the region.

The prime minister was responding to a question at PMQs from Dawn Butler, the Labour MP for Brent Central, who mentioned her constituent Noam Sagi, whose mother Ada was kidnapped by Hamas in Israel on 7 October. 

Sunak said it had been a “pleasure” to meet with Sagi, and to hear her “pain” over the hostage ordeal. 

But then updating MPs on efforts to bring home hostages taken by Hamas in the October 7th massacre in Israel, the PM added:”We are doing absolutely everything we can to bring hostages home.

“We are engaged intensively in diplomatic activity in the region and working together so foreign and British nationals are released.

“Well over 200 have now left Gaza and we will continue to do everything we can.”

Butler had said “we all condemn Hamas’s actions and fight for the return of all hostages” adding that her constituent Noam “wants the language of love to be louder than the language of hate”.

Sunak faced criticism for Stephen Flynn the SNP’s Westminster leader who claimed Gaza was an “open-air prison” that faced being into a “graveyard” if there was no immediate ceasefire.

No-one can deny the suffering that the people in Gaza are undergoing,” Sunak said.He said the government is doing “everything we can to get aid into the region”, and  believes in “humanitarian pauses” to get aid in and let hostages out.

Flynn claimed it was |a question of values and it is a question of conscience,” as he called for a free vote for MPs on calling for a ceasefire.

Former Conservative minister David Davis raised concerns that the government had still not proscribed Iran’s IRGC in the aftermath of the October 7th.