Cameron welcomes Israel-Hamas truce which paves way for hostage release

Hamas will release dozens of hostages being held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli prisons.

The Foreign Secretary said this was a crucial opportunity to provide aid for the Palestinians (AP) (PA Wire)

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the truce between Israel and Hamas was a “crucial step” towards releasing hostages and providing humanitarian relief in Gaza.

Hamas will release dozens of hostages in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli prisons.

The Israeli government said the deal will see Hamas free 50 of the roughly 240 hostages held in the Gaza Strip over a four-day period.

The lull will be extended by an additional day for every 10 hostages released.

Qatar, which helped broker the agreement, said it also includes “the release of a number of Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons, the number of those released will be increased in later stages of implementing the agreement”.

Lord Cameron said: “This agreement is a crucial step towards providing relief to the families of the hostages and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“I urge all parties to ensure the agreement is delivered in full. Of course, we want to see all hostages released immediately and families affected by the horrors of the October 7 terror attack reunited.

“This pause provides an important opportunity to ensure much greater volumes of food, fuel and other life-saving aid can reach Gaza on a sustained basis.

“We have already doubled our aid commitment to Palestinians this year and will work closely with the UN to ensure it reaches those who need it.

“The UK will continue to work with all partners in the region to secure the release of all hostages, restore security and reach a long-term political solution which enables both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace.”

Lord Cameron hosted foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic countries including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority and Turkey at Lancaster House on Wednesday to discuss co-operation on the crisis.

“We discussed how to use this step forward to think about the future and how we can build a peaceful future which provides security for Israel but also peace and stability for the Palestinian people,” the Foreign Secretary said.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the deal and said the truce should be used “to take more steps on a path towards a full cessation of hostilities”.

His party has been deeply split over whether to back an immediate ceasefire, with Sir Keir calling for humanitarian pauses while Israel continues military operations against Hamas.

Sir Keir also called for the international community to push for a lasting two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine question.

We must now ensure this pause is used to tackle the urgent and unacceptable humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza

Sir Keir Starmer, Labour leader

“A substantial humanitarian pause is what Labour has been calling for alongside our international partners,” he said.

“We must now ensure this pause is used to tackle the urgent and unacceptable humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

“There must be immediate access to aid, food, water, fuel and medicine to ensure hospitals function and lives are saved. Aid and fuel need to not just get in but be distributed widely and safely.

“We must also use the space this pause creates to take more steps on a path towards a full cessation of hostilities rather than an escalation of violence.

“It must start a process that ensures Israelis feel safe and secure from terror and that innocent Palestinians, who have endured far too much death and destruction, can return home and rebuild their lives free from bombardment and Hamas control.”