Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of reported allegations of the widespread abuse of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

After more than 200 days in captivity, 132 hostages remain in Gaza, including British nationals and others with strong UK links. We are extremely concerned about reports regarding the conditions they are being held in.

The implications for the health and psychological well-being of hostages can be catastrophic, as is the impact and lasting trauma on their families and on their communities. We reiterate our call for the ICRC to be granted urgent access to all hostages and for their immediate release. Nothing can justify their continued detention. Their families are showing great courage in horrific circumstances.

Hamas must act on this now. It was wrong to kidnap them on 7 October, it has been wrong to hold them in captivity for so long and it is wrong to hold them any longer. We strongly support the intensive diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States to secure their release.