Two UK nationals stay hostage in Gaza because the Israel-Hamas battle continues, David Cameron has mentioned.
The Foreign Secretary mentioned he did “not want to say any more” when requested in the event that they have been alive. Lord Cameron confirmed the determine as he confronted his first grilling by MPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee since returning to Cabinet.
“There are two British nationals who remain as hostages. I don’t want to make any further comment on them,” he mentioned. Asked whether it is recognized whether or not they’re nonetheless alive, he added: “I just don’t want to say any more. We don’t have any information to share with you.”
An estimated 240 individuals have been taken prisoner in Gaza after Hamas’s October 7 assaults in opposition to Israel. During a ceasefire in November 105 have been launched.
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PRU/AFP by way of Getty Images)
Israel started its army marketing campaign in Gaza after Hamas’ assault, wherein round 1,200 individuals have been killed. Since then a minimum of 20,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been reported killed.
Lord Cameron mentioned he was “worried” Israel might need breached worldwide regulation within the Middle East battle, saying he asks questions on a regular basis about whether or not extra might be completed to keep away from civilian causalities in Gaza. “Am I worried that Israel has taken action that might be in breach of international law, because this particular premises has been bombed or whatever? Yes, of course I’m worried about that,” he mentioned.
“And that’s why I consult the Foreign Office lawyers when giving this advice on arms exports. If you put it that way, I’m happy to say, yes, of course, everyday I look at what’s happened and ask questions about: Is this is in line with international humanitarian law? Could the Israelis have done better to avoid civilian causalities? Of course I do that.”
But he refused to say whether or not he had seen recommendation from Foreign Office attorneys that explicitly mentioned Israel had breached worldwide regulation. “The reason for not answering this question, I cannot recall every single bit of paper that has been put in front of me,” he mentioned. “I look at everything. Of course, there are a lot of things that have happened where you think surely that was something that shouldn’t have happened.”
Lord Cameron did acknowledge that he had seen issues concerning the battle which were “deeply concerning” whereas additionally calling on Israel to revive water provide to Gaza. He declined to be drawn on whether or not the deprivation of water to the civilian inhabitants breached worldwide humanitarian regulation regardless of the committee suggesting it was a “flagrant breach”. Lord Cameron mentioned: “I’m not a lawyer. My view is they ought to switch it on.”
Tory MP Bob Seely requested him whether or not Foreign Office attorneys have suggested that Israel is susceptible to problem from the Hague. Mr Seely requested whether or not “reading between the lines” attorneys are saying that the Israelis are “vulnerable to a challenge from the Hague court and from elsewhere that in some of the things they are doing in potentially in relation to proportionality, there is a vulnerability.” Lord Cameron responded: “It’s close to that.”
Downing Street mentioned Israel must “act carefully” and keep away from risking additional escalation in its battle with Hamas. Asked whether or not Rishi Sunak shared Lord Cameron’s considerations about whether or not Israel was appearing inside worldwide regulation, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman mentioned: “It’s an issue we continue to keep under review and obviously we have made our views clear to the Israeli government at a number of levels on this.”
The spokesman added: “We continue to want Israel to act carefully and avoid doing anything that could endanger civilians or risk potential further escalation. Fundamentally, though, we recognise that it is Israel that is responding to a terror attack, first and foremost.”