At this afternoon’s urgent question on the Middle East, Labour MP Peter Prinsley asked the Middle East Minister about efforts to free 28-year-old Emily Damari, a British-Israeli dual national who has been held hostage in Gaza since 7 October last year.
He asked: “Emily is a British citizen who, as the Minister has said, has been held hostage ever since the attacks. Would the Minister explain what measures the Government are taking to make contact with those holding the hostages so that we can bring Emily home?”
To which Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer replied: “Hostage cases are some of the most horrifying situations that a family can face. I know that many people in this House have met with Emily’s family, and have seen at first hand their bravery, but also the agony that they feel a year on. I regret deeply that the best chance of release for all of the hostages is through negotiated agreements, and I call on all parties to come back to the table to try to advance the agreement necessary to secure a release of hostages, an immediate ceasefire, and a reduction in the awful violence that scars us all.”
