Two British hostages are still held by Hamas, Lord Cameron confirms

Sign up for the View from Westminster e mail for professional evaluation straight to your inbox

Get our free View from Westminster e mail

Two UK nationals are still being held hostage by Hamas as Israel’s battle in Gaza continues, the international secretary has stated.

Lord Cameron confirmed the determine throughout his first look earlier than MPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee since returning to frontline politics.

The former PM stated he wouldn’t say any extra in regards to the hostages, and stated there are different hostages who are “very connected to Britain”.

An estimated 240 folks had been taken prisoner in Gaza after Hamas’s October 7 assaults in opposition to Israel.

During a ceasefire in November, 105 had been launched.

Lord Cameron stated the authorities is doing “everything we can” to attempt to assist.

It got here as he was grilled by MPs over whether or not Israel has damaged worldwide regulation in its response to the October 7 Hamas terror assaults.

He stated: “Am I nervous that Israel has taken motion that could be in breach of worldwide regulation, as a result of this explicit premises has been bombed or no matter? Yes, in fact I’m nervous about that.”

Lord Cameron called on Israel to restore water supplies to northern Gaza as a “very good thing” the country could do.

But, pressed on whether it was a breach of international law to turn water off in an occupied power, Lord Cameron refused to answer. His permanent under-secretary in the foreign office Sir Philip Robert Barton said it is a breach of international law.

Committee chairman Alicia Kearns pressed Lord Cameron on whether he had received any advice saying Israel is in breach of international law.

“I can’t recall every single piece of paper put in front of me,” Lord Cameron said.

But, in a bid for caution from the Israeli government, he added that he “would have differences” with how the country has responded to Hamas attacks against it on October 7.

The foreign secretary also said a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine is possible as the conflict in Gaza rages on.

“Out of a crisis should come some opportunity,” Lord Cameron said.

Asked if the two-state solution, which would see Israel alongside an independent Palestinian state, is “remotely feasible” after the bitter war, he replied: “Yes, you’ve got to hope that it’s feasible.”

It came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israel’s leaders to avoid civilian harm in the war in Gaza and maintain a path towards the creation of Palestinian state, at meetings with prime minster Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet.

Blinken, who toured Israel’s Arab neighbours for talks on plans for the future governance of Gaza and integration in the Middle East, said earlier he would be discussing the “approach ahead” in the war during the meetings.

Blinken met one-on-one with Netanyahu at Tel Aviv’s Kirya military base and then with the war cabinet formed in the wake of the attacks by Palestinian Hamas militants.

Repeating the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s right to prevent a repeat of the attacks, Blinken “careworn the significance of avoiding additional civilian hurt and defending civilian infrastructure in Gaza,” state department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

As well as trying to tamp down regional tensions, the US top diplomat has been discussing plans for the future governance of Gaza, which could involve Israel’s Muslim-majority neighbours.

Blinken earlier met Israel’s President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Israel Katz. He told Katz there were opportunities for regional integration and connectivity “however we have now to get by means of this very difficult second”.

In the meetings with Netanyahu, Blinken “reiterated the necessity to guarantee lasting, sustainable peace for Israel and the area, together with by the realisation of a Palestinian state,” Miller said.

Blinken was also set to meet with families of hostages taken by Hamas, and discuss the “relentless efforts” to deliver them again.

Several dozen protesters gathered exterior the lodge the place Blinken was having conferences and referred to as for a ceasefire to safe the discharge of hostages.