LORD David Cameron has said two British nationals are still being held hostage by Hamas as the war in the Middle East rages on.
The ex-Prime Minister confirmed the figure during his first appearance before MPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee since returning to Cabinet this afternoon.
AlamyDavid Cameron has said two British nationals are still being held hostage in Gaza[/caption]
The Foreign Secretary told the committee that the pair were still in Gaza.
Lord Cameron said: “There are two British nationals who remain as hostages.
“I don’t want to make any further comment on them.”
Asked whether it is known if they are still alive, Lord Cameron said: “I just don’t want to say any more.
“We don’t have any information to share with you.”
Labour’s Graham Stringer had earlier asked how many UK citizens remain in Gaza – specifically in the north of the strip.
Lord Cameron says “we have got a lot out”, but he knows there are two who “want to get out… who haven’t yet got out”.
He adds: “We think there is quite a number still of British nationals or dual nationals [in Gaza] who haven’t asked to leave.”
But neither the Foreign Secretary nor Sir Philip can confirm the total number of British hostages who have already been brought back to the UK.
An estimated 240 people were taken prisoner in Gaza after Hamas’s October 7 attacks against Israel.
During a ceasefire in November 105 were released.
The Foreign Secretary said he had seen figures showing that Hamas’ ability to launch rockets into Israel has been “considerably degraded” since the Israeli bombardment.
Lord Cameron also said he had seen figures that Hamas has “lost over 50 per cent of their capability and capacity in terms of being able to launch rockets and all the rest of it”.
Following a suggestion from Foreign Affairs Committee chair Alicia Kearns that such a major dismantling of Hamas might be an opportunity for a pause in fighting in northern Gaza, he said that was a “very good point”.
“It is more helpful to have a human pause covering the whole of Gaza … but frankly anything would help,” he told MPs.
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