British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed deep concern and outrage on Sunday over the killing of six Israeli hostages in Gaza, blaming Hamas for their deaths. He described the killings as “horrific and senseless,” offering his condolences to the families of the victims. Starmer demanded the immediate release of all hostages and called for a ceasefire agreement to be reached by all parties involved in the conflict, urging an end to the ongoing suffering.
The announcement of the hostages’ deaths came as Israel confirmed its troops had found the bodies in a Gaza tunnel. This discovery further escalated tensions in the region, following a separate “shooting attack” in the occupied West Bank that left three Israeli police officers dead. The incident near Hebron, which is geographically separated from Gaza by Israeli territory, highlighted the rising violence in the West Bank. Israel has been conducting a large-scale military operation in the area since Wednesday, sparking international concern.
US President Joe Biden also expressed his “devastation and outrage” over the deaths of the hostages. While acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Biden expressed cautious optimism that a truce agreement and the release of the hostages could still be achieved. He emphasized the need to end the war, calling for a swift resolution to the conflict. The Biden administration, along with Qatar and Egypt, has been actively involved in ceasefire mediation efforts.
The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, echoed the international condemnation, describing the killings as “horrifying.”
The six deceased hostages were among 251 people taken captive during Hamas’s October 7 attack, which triggered the ongoing war. 97 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza, including 33 confirmed by the Israeli army to be deceased. A negotiated one-week truce in November resulted in the release of a significant number of hostages.
