Mentions:
1: Oliver Heald (Con - North East Hertfordshire) needs to be put on them by their interlocutors who are working with them to do something solid on the hostage - Speech Link
2: Rehman Chishti (Con - Gillingham and Rainham) Why is it taking us so long to make a decision, when our European counterparts have made theirs? - Speech Link
3: David Rutley (Con - Macclesfield) As I have said, we are also taking action to have this lifesaving aid corridor by sea to Gaza. - Speech Link
4: Eleanor Laing (Con - Epping Forest) It did occur to me, as the exchanges were taking place, that the hon. - Speech Link
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what information his Department holds on the number of Israeli hostages taken on 7 October 2023; and how many and what proportion (a) have died, (b) have been released and (c) remain in captivity.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The FCDO holds information on the hostages being held in Gaza, which is taken and updated regularly from official Israeli government sources. As of 10 April 2024;
• On 7 October, 253 hostages were kidnapped and taken into Gaza.
• 124 hostages have been returned to Israel (112 alive and 12 deceased). 129 hostages remain in Gaza. Of these 129 hostages, the Israeli government has stated that it has evidence that 34 are deceased. The remaining 95 hostages are either presumed alive or their status is unknown.
Mentions:
1: Christine Jardine (LD - Edinburgh West) We should not forget that in some cases individuals may be the hostage of another state, may have been - Speech Link
2: Hannah Bardell (SNP - Livingston) Member for Edinburgh West (Christine Jardine): it is wonderful to see another Member taking up this cause - Speech Link
3: David Rutley (Con - Macclesfield) Foreign Affairs Committee has issued a report and a follow-up report on what it calls “combating state hostage - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Rishi Sunak (Con - Richmond (Yorks)) This weekend, they rejected the latest hostage deal, which offered a road to a ceasefire. - Speech Link
2: Suella Braverman (Con - Fareham) is the world’s chief sponsor of terrorism, funding and promoting terrorist plots, radicalisation and hostage - Speech Link
3: Dawn Butler (Lab - Brent Central) If we want to ensure that the hostages come home—like the hostage who has been adopted in Brent, Noa - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Lord True (Con - Life peer) This weekend, it rejected the latest hostage deal, which offered a road to a ceasefire. - Speech Link
2: Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston (XB - Life peer) Will the noble Lord assure the House that we are taking steps such that the aid that is going in should - Speech Link
3: Lord True (Con - Life peer) I repeat that Hamas can end this by taking a whole series of actions. - Speech Link
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent progress his Department has made on helping to secure the release of hostages in Gaza.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK Government has been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals and their families.
We have been clear that the release of all the hostages is one of the vital elements for a lasting peace and the Foreign Secretary has reiterated that we want to see the safe release of all hostages unconditionally.
The Government continues to call for an immediate humanitarian pause now to allow for the release of hostages.
Asked by: Lord Touhig (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with international partners about securing Red Cross access to hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government strongly supports and advocates for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) being given access to hostages. Ministers and senior officials have discussed this in multiple meetings with ICRC officials in the UK and overseas. In line with their mandate, the ICRC has called for the immediate release of all the hostages and for access to them whilst in captivity. So far, the ICRC has been denied access to the remaining hostages in Gaza. The ICRC has no means to compel conflict parties to provide it access and requires agreement from the respective parties to the conflict to visit hostages. The ICRC facilitated the release of 105 hostages as part of the deal agreed between Hamas and Israel in November 2023. The Government continues to call for a humanitarian pause to allow for the release of the remaining hostages.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Southwark (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken, together with allies, to persuade those holding Israeli citizens hostage in Gaza to release them without delay.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government has been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages. The Foreign Secretary met with hostage families on 18 March, reaffirming the UK's commitment to see the release of all hostages.
We have been clear that the release of all hostages is one of the vital elements for a lasting peace. The Government continues to call for an immediate humanitarian pause to allow for the release of hostages.
Oral Evidence Mar. 26 2024
Committee: Liaison Committee (Commons)Found: We are taking evidence from the Prime Minister.
Mar. 26 2024
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