Six British nationals are suspected to be amongst these being held hostage by Hamas, a minister has informed Sky Information.
Victoria Atkins, monetary secretary to the Treasury, mentioned the lacking Britons have been the federal government’s “absolute precedence”.
“It is a very, very fast-moving scenario however the newest determine I have been given is that there are suspected to be six British nationals,” she informed Sky Information.
Requested whether or not they have been lacking or being held hostage, she mentioned: “We perceive … that they’re hostages.
“I do acknowledge that it is a very fast-moving scenario and that determine might or might not change, and I understand how tough that should be for the households and the buddies at dwelling right here within the UK who’re grappling with unimaginable fear and concern about their family members.”
Ms Atkins earlier confirmed that the variety of Britons killed both throughout or since Hamas’s shock assault on Israel had risen from nine to 10.
Among the many {dead} are two youngsters, a soldier, individuals visiting Israel on vacation, and a music pageant safety guard.
Hamas launched two Israeli hostages on Monday evening, after releasing two US residents on Friday.
Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper have been taken from their properties by Hamas militants throughout the 7 October raids.
Sixteen days later, Hamas mentioned it was releasing them for “humanitarian causes”.
Egyptian TV confirmed the ladies being taken out of Gaza on the Rafah crossing and put into ambulances.
The husbands of Ms Lifshitz and Ms Cooper are nonetheless being held hostage by Hamas – the militant group didn’t clarify why solely the ladies had been launched.
American hostages Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie Raanan have been the primary to be launched by Hamas final week. They too have been let go for “humanitarian causes”.
Each of them maintain Israeli citizenship and have been on a visit to Israel from their dwelling in Chicago to rejoice the Jewish holidays after they have been seized.
Natalie Raanan’s father mentioned she was “doing superb” after her launch.