‘Highly likely’ Britons are among hostages held by Hamas, Grant Shapps says
It is “highly likely” that British people are among the hostages held by Hamas, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has said.
At least 130 people have been taken hostage and held captive in Gaza since Hamas militants launched their attack nearly a week ago.
Asked whether this includes any British citizens, and what the Government is doing to rescue them from Gaza, Mr Shapps told Sky News: “It seems very likely that there are. We don’t have exact data on that for obvious reasons.
“But within Gaza there will also be Brits or possibly people with dual nationalities as well. The Prime Minister has spoken to the Egyptian president about using that border to get people out.”
The Defence Secretary suggested that the Government has sent intelligence personnel to the region to help get the hostages back.
He told the broadcaster that the Government is sending “assistance and expertise, including intelligence” to the region, another other location.
“But this is not the same as saying we’re sending people into Gaza itself,” he added.
It comes after i revealed that the UK is aiding international efforts to find hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, citing multiple intelligence sources.
UK Government intelligence agencies are actively engaged in a widespread international search for information that could help pinpoint the location of missing people taken during the deadly attacks by Hamas on southern Israel on Saturday.
This story is being updated.
