Would You like a feature Interview?
All Interviews are 100% FREE of Charge
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is to urge the leaders of Qatar and Egypt to put more pressure on Hamas to negotiate the release of British hostages and open the Rafah border crossing to let civilians out and humanitarian aid in.
Mr Cleverly will on Wednesday make his second visit to the Middle East since the 7 October Hamas attacks.
In the wake of the blast at the al-Ahli hospital in Gaza, which has escalated already fraught tensions in the region, the Foreign Secretary said it was a time for “cool heads and determination to make a positive difference”.
The Foreign Office is in regular contact with a number of British nationals trapped in Gaza and consular officials and Border Force staff in Egypt will alert them if and when the Rafah crossing,on the border with southern Gaza, is opened.
But Cairo has so far refused to open the corridor to let humanitarian aid and civilians out, insisting it is not for Egypt but Israel to handle the ensuing refugee crisis.
Mr Cleverly will hold talks with counterparts in Egypt to urge them to open the border crossing. He will then travel to Qatar, where Hamas holds political offices, to ask the Doha government for help in negotiating the release of Britons being held hostage by the terrorist group in Gaza.
It is feared that more than 12 British people are being held by Hamas militants after their raid on Israel on Saturday 7 October. Seven Britons are now confirmed to have been killed in the Hamas attacks, and a further nine are missing.
The Foreign Secretary will also ask Qatar’s leaders to urge Egypt to open the border at Rafah.
Mr Cleverly told the Commons he had been engaged in talks with G7 allies and regional leaders as well as visiting Israel since the Hamas attacks.
He added: “Because we recognise that this will require intensive effort none of us know how this complex protracted situation will develop.
“The Government is committed to keeping the House updated, and both here in the UK and in the region. This is a time for cool heads and determination to make a positive difference.”