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Written Question
British Nationals Abroad: Hostage Taking
Monday 26th February 2024

Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to implement the recommendation by the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee in its report, Stolen years: combatting state hostage diplomacy, published on 4 April 2023, that a position of Director for Arbitrary and Complex Detentions should be established.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The FCDO is committed to dedicating senior leadership and expertise in our approach to complex detention cases. We continue to believe that our current approach, led by the Foreign Secretary and his Ministers, and supported by senior officials and Heads of Mission, provides the most appropriate means for coordinating our case handling and responses to the most complex consular cases.


Written Question
Hamas: Hostage Taking
Friday 9th February 2024

Asked by: Nicola Richards (Conservative - West Bromwich East)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to help secure the release of Israeli hostages.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The Foreign Secretary met the Sharabi and Popplewell families on 16 January to hear about their relatives' horrendous ordeals at the hands of Hamas. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary also met with hostage families on 21 January.

We will continue to do all we can to secure the release of all hostages. We need a humanitarian pause now to allow for the release of hostages. We will continue to do all we can.


Written Question
Hamas: Hostage Taking
Tuesday 30th January 2024

Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he is taking to help secure the release of hostages held by Hamas 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. Release of hostages was a priority for the recent Foreign Secretary visit to the Middle East where he held high level talks with regional leaders and met with hostage families. We are calling for an immediate humanitarian pause now to get aid in and remaining hostages out, and as a vital step towards building a sustainable, permanent ceasefire. To achieve that, Hamas must agree to the release of all hostages.


Written Question
Hamas: Hostage Taking
Monday 29th January 2024

Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the International Committee of the Red Cross concerning securing access to Israeli hostages being held in Gaza.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Since October 7, the UK government has been working with relevant partners across the region, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to help secure the release of hostages and better understand their status, including working to gain information on proof of life and access to medical professionals. As the Foreign Secretary has said, we need a humanitarian pause now to allow for the release of hostages.


Written Question
Hamas: Hostage Taking
Friday 12th January 2024

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 that (a) were taken on 7 October 2023, (b) have died, (c) have been released and (d) remain in captivity.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

Over 240 hostages were taken on 7 October 2023. Israel estimates that there are still 132 hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza, including civilians and military personnel (this includes individuals who are believed deceased but death has not been confirmed). We understand the number of recorded deceased to be at 15. During the humanitarian pause, it is reported that Hamas freed 108 hostages, including 80 Israelis/ dual nationals. Urgent work is continuing at all levels with regional leaders and others to ensure all remaining hostages are safely freed. We are not going to give a running commentary on hostage negotiations, which are highly sensitive and ongoing, but we are involved in intensive diplomatic efforts to secure the release of hostages and working with Israel, the US and others.


Written Question
Hamas: Hostage Taking
Friday 29th December 2023

Asked by: Lord Shinkwin (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) the government of Israel, (2) the International Red Cross, and (3) the Gulf states, about the conditions in which the hostages of Hamas are being held, and their health and wellbeing.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The safety of British Nationals is our utmost priority, and we are working around the clock to get them home. Urgent work is continuing at all levels with regional leaders and others to ensure all remaining hostages are safely freed. We are not going to give a running commentary on hostage negotiations, which are highly sensitive and ongoing, but we're involved in intensive diplomatic efforts to secure the release of hostages and working with Israel, the US and other diplomatic partners.


Written Question
Palestinians: Hostage Taking
Wednesday 13th December 2023

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December to Question 3979 on Israel: Disclosure of Information, whether information not related to hostage rescue will be passed to authorities not involved with hostage rescue.

Answered by James Heappey

As a matter of long-standing policy, the Government does not comment on the specific detail of intelligence matters.


Written Question
Hamas: Hostage Taking
Wednesday 13th December 2023

Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what (a) diplomatic, (b) operational and (c) other steps his Department is taking to help secure the release of British citizens being held hostage in Gaza.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Our full sympathies are with families affected by the horrific terrorist attacks committed by Hamas. Since the attacks on 7 October, we have worked tirelessly to support the British people affected. Intensive diplomatic efforts are ongoing with the Qataris, Israelis and others to secure the release of all hostages. We will keep working until all the hostages are freed and returned to their families. We are not commenting on individual cases. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have met with the family members of hostages to directly hear their concerns both in Israel and in the UK and will continue to do so.


Written Question
Hamas: Hostage Taking
Wednesday 13th December 2023

Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)

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 (a) British, (b) British born and (c) British dual nationals who were kidnapped in Israel on 7 October 2023.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We have been working with partners across the region to secure the release of all hostages, including British nationals. We are providing consular assistance to the families of British national hostages. Due to the sensitive nature of these cases, we do not provide further details.


Written Question
Gaza: British Nationals Abroad
Monday 11th December 2023

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 actions he is taking to provide support to British nationals with family members held hostage in Gaza.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Our full sympathies are with families affected by the horrific terrorist attacks committed by Hamas. Since the attacks on 7 October, we have worked tirelessly to support the British people affected. Intensive diplomatic efforts are ongoing with the Qataris, Israelis and others to secure the release of all hostages.

The Foreign Secretary met British nationals with family members held hostage, and other families with British links, on Monday 4 December. He also met with family members on his visit to Israel. The Foreign Secretary and other Ministers will continue to meet with and support family members.