The families of hostages who are being held in Gaza have criticized the UK government for not doing enough to free their relatives. Speaking at a news conference in London along with UK-Israeli relatives of those murdered on 7 October, they called on the government to take a “hands-on approach” towards the situation. They also expressed concerns that if Israel launched a limited ground incursion into Lebanon, the focus would shift. Lawyers for the hostages said that the families had received a message of support from the King and Queen of Britain.
The family members have fought for the release of their loved ones for almost a year, with little progress made. Steve Brisley, who lost his British sister and UK-Israeli nieces last year, said it felt like the “cold-blooded brutal murders” of his family had been forgotten. His brother-in-law Eli is still a hostage. He urged the UK government to do more to bring them home. At the news conference, the families called on the UK government to develop their own strategy to release their relatives, and asked the Israeli Prime Minister to accept a proposition that would bring about the release of the hostages.
Ayelet Svatitzky lost her British-Israeli brothers Nadav and Roi Popplewell. Nadav was taken hostage, forced to record a video while held, and his body was recovered from Gaza in August last year. Sharone Lifschitz’s father, 84-year-old Oded, is still being held. Her mother Yocheved was released last October. Ms Lifschitz said that the families had had a productive conversation with the Prime Minister and said that the UK government can and should do more. She emphasized that hostages with British links were the UK government’s problem and that the families hoped that the government would take the situation seriously and help to secure the release of those being held.
In October 2020, Hamas gunmen perpetrated an unprecedented attack on southern Israel and took 251 people hostage. Israel launched a military campaign in response, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people. Since then, at least 41,615 people have been killed in Gaza according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry. The families of those still being held in captivity hope that the UK government will take a more active role in securing the release of their relatives
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