Starmer welcomes ‘wonderful and long-overdue’ news of hostages’ release

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the “wonderful and long-overdue” quality that 3 hostages including British national Emily Damari person been released by Hamas.

British-Israeli Ms Damari was freed connected Sunday, astatine the commencement of a ceasefire woody with Israel which secured the phased merchandise of those successful captivity arsenic good arsenic a intermission successful the 15-month agelong conflict.

Sir Keir besides said that contiguous “represents different time of suffering for those who haven’t made it location yet”.

In a connection connected Sunday afternoon, the Prime Minster said: “The merchandise of 3 hostages contiguous is fantastic and long-overdue quality aft months of agony for them and their families.

“Among them is British national Emily Damari, who volition present beryllium reunited with her family, including her parent Amanda who has ne'er stopped her tireless combat to bring her girl home.

“I privation them each the precise champion arsenic they statesman the roadworthy to betterment aft the intolerable trauma they person experienced. We basal acceptable to connection assistance and support.

“However, contiguous besides represents different time of suffering for those who haven’t made it location yet – truthful portion this ceasefire woody should beryllium welcomed, we indispensable not hide astir those who stay successful captivity nether Hamas.

“We indispensable present spot the remaining phases of the ceasefire woody implemented successful afloat and connected schedule, including the merchandise of those remaining hostages and a surge of humanitarian assistance into Gaza.

“The UK stands acceptable to bash everything it tin to enactment a imperishable and peaceful solution.”