UK hostage families call on Lammy to do more to secure release of relatives held captive by Hamas
In statement issues by their lawyers, the families say meeting with the Foreign Secretary was 'not an easy one'
The families of eight British and UK-connected Gaza hostages have called on David Lammy and the government to do more to secure the release of those still cruelly held captive by Hamas.
A statement released by the two lawyers acting for the group, following a meeting with the Foreign Secretary on Tuesday, questioned what pressure the UK government was placing on the terror group to free the hostages still held in Gaza.
It was also confirmed that Lammy had told the families that the UK could go ahead with recognising a Palestinian state later this month, while the hostages were held by Hamas.
The Foreign Decretary had earlier told Jewish News of his “deeply moving” meeting with family members, and his attempt to persuade them that the UK was not “rewarding Hamas” by proceeding with recognition.
The statement, released on Wednesday by lawyers Adam Wagner and Adam Rose, said: “We are grateful to the Foreign Secretary for meeting with us.
“The meeting was not an easy one for us, but it is hugely important that the British state continues to hear the voices of the hostages and hostage families”.
It said that those meeting with Lammy held a range of political views and held “no collective view on whether recognition of a Palestinian state is in itself right or wrong”.
The British families were united, it said, by a continued demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all the hostages still held by Hamas, including two hostages with very close British connections and the other 46.
The living hostages, added the statement, are being starved and tortured by Hamas and need to be released before it’s too late.
At the meeting, it was confirmed that the Foreign Secretary “gave us a straight answer to a question which officials in our previous meetings had avoided, namely whether it is possible the UK could recognise a Palestinian state if hostages were still held by Hamas. He answered: ‘Yes’.”
In criticism of the government, they added:” We have been asking for almost two years for the UK to take more of an active role in ceasefire negotiations. Now it has, but appears to be applying pressure only on one side.
“The UK should apply pressure to both Israel and Hamas, including their leadership, to reach a ceasefire. If there is a workable deal on the table, the sides should be pressured to accept.”
The statement continued:” It is clear what pressure it is placing on Israel. It is not clear what pressure, if any, the UK is placing on Hamas to release the hostages. What additional sanctions or any other measures are being imposed on Hamas or its funders and supporters? Why have no conditions been placed on Hamas in relation to recognition? ”
It was also confirmed that the Foreign Secretary was emphatic that recognition of Palestine was not a “prize” for Hamas, which he rightly said was a “brutal terrorist organisation”.
“These are fine words, but we want to see action,” added the statement. “There is still time.
The Foreign Secretary said that no decision had yet been taken on recognition, and that recognition of a Palestinian state was only a “process” and even if taken, would not amount to “recognition by anyone on day one”.
The family’s lawyers said their demand is a simple one. “The UK must apply more pressure on Hamas, including on those countries that continue to work with Hamas, to get all of the hostages freed,” they said.
“We want to see sanctions, arrest warrants, and other punitive measures. We hope to be making this demand to others in power in the UK in the coming days. Tomorrow may be too late: the UK must act now.”
At the meeting were family members of British hostages Emily Damari, who has been freed, Nadav Popplewell, who was murdered and relatives of British-connected hostages Avinatan Or, still alive, Yossi Sharabi, understood to be deceased, Eli Sharabi, Channah Peri, and Yocheved Lifshitz, all released, and Oded Lifshitz, who was murdered and released.
On Tuesday, Jewish News revealed how Lammy had met with the families and their representatives.
“I assured the families today that our commitment to securing the release of the remaining hostages is resolute,” revealed the foreign secretary.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to end this nightmare and to ensure that Hamas can never again inflict such terror on innocent people. The hostages must come home, and we will not rest until they do.”
He continued: “Our intention to recognise a State of Palestine is not about rewarding Hamas, which is a terrorist organisation.
“It’s about protecting the two-state solution’s viability at a critical moment. This is essential to Israel’s long-term security and regional position.”
Praising the “incredible strength” the families of hostages have shown through the horrendous ordeal, Lammy added: “Hamas are a brutal terrorist organisation and bears full responsibility for the appalling atrocity on October 7 2023, and for the continued suffering of the hostages who remain in Gaza.
“Our demands on Hamas are unconditional and absolute. Commit to a ceasefire — now. Release the hostages — now. Disarm — now.
“End your governance of Gaza – now. We will not hand Hamas any veto or role in the future of a Palestinian state. This is a matter of principle.
“Hamas do not represent the Palestinian people, and we will never recognise them as a governing entity”.
The Foreign Secretary also made strong criticism of the Israeli government, telling the families: “At the same time, the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza are causing an unbearable humanitarian catastrophe and will not bring the hostages home or make them safer, as hostage families have recognised.
“The two-state solution – the only path to lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians – faces unprecedented threat, including from settlement expansion in the West Bank”.
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