Today, the families of four hostages who are British or have strong British connections, concluded a high-level delegation to London which took place on 2 and 3 December. The families represent four hostages who are currently held in Gaza: Emily Damari (28), Avinatan Or (31), Eli Sharabi (52) and Oded Lifshitz (84).

Each of the four hostages has close British relatives. The British Government agreed in December 2023 to treat the hostages with strong British connections “exactly the same” as British citizens.

The families:

• met with UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign office with responsibility for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer MP, at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), who reiterated the UK Government’s commitment to their immediate and unconditional release;
• met with His Excellency Charles Hay MVO, Director of the Gaza Hostages Unit at FCDO, together with his team, and the head of consular services and deputy head of the antiterrorism unit. Hay confirmed the UK’s continued commitment to support the families and to seek the release of their family members;
• met with Her Excellency, United States Ambassador, Jane Hartley, at the US Embassy in London. The Ambassador repeated her call that the hostages must be freed without condition.
• spoke at an event in Parliament attending by MPs and Lords, at which among other things, they launched a major new twinning campaign (where MPs and Lords are twinning with each the 101 hostages being held in Gaza, coordinated by the Hostage and Missing Families Forum UK.

The families are all determined to see their family members released immediately and in good health, and call on leaders of all countries to ensure that some 14 months after they were taken hostage, they are remembered every day.