Two British families of Israeli hostages have urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to take decisive diplomatic action to help end the war in Gaza. In a letter addressed to Sir Keir and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, they have called for bold steps and diplomatic intervention to prevent further escalation.
The plea comes as Israel intensifies its military operations in Gaza, with Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz describing the current offensive as “expanding to crush and clean the area” of militants, while seizing large areas for Israel’s security.
A call for diplomatic intervention
In her letter to the Prime Minister, Dr Sharone Lifschitz, whose parents were kidnapped on 7th October 2023, implored Sir Keir to prevent the conflict from worsening and push for a return to negotiations.
“Today, I urge you once again to do everything possible to prevent the escalation of war in Gaza and encourage both sides to return to negotiations.”
Dr Lifschitz’s father, Oded Lifschitz, was killed in captivity, while her mother, Yocheved, was later released. She appealed directly to Sir Keir to prioritise the rescue of hostages who are still alive.
“It’s not too late to help the hostages who are in unimaginable pain. Recent actions by the Israeli government show a troubling willingness to risk their lives. Please take bold steps to bring everyone back to the negotiation table and aim for a deal that secures the return of all hostages and ends this war.”
‘Now is the time for diplomacy, not devastation’
Another British family member, Steve Brisley, has also written to Sir Keir Starmer and David Lammy, urging immediate diplomatic action.
Mr Brisley’s sister Lianne was killed in the 7th October attacks alongside her two teenage daughters. His brother-in-law, Eli Sharabi, was recently released, but another relative, Yossi Sharabi, was killed, with his body yet to be returned.
In his letter, Mr Brisley wrote:
“Now is the time for the war to end. Now is the time to complete the deal and bring them home.”
His message echoed the wider calls from hostage families and international mediators who believe diplomacy is the only way to secure the safe return of those still held captive.
Families call for a ceasefire and renewed negotiations
More than 150 released hostages and their relatives, including Dr Lifschitz and Mr Brisley, issued a statement on Wednesday, urging a return to negotiations and an immediate halt to the fighting.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum released a statement, urging maximum international pressure to facilitate a deal that would see all remaining hostages freed and an end to the war.
“A deal that includes the return of all hostages and an end to the war must be signed without further delay. Every moment lost could mean another life extinguished.”
The statement continued:
“We must stop the fighting and immediately return to the negotiating table to reach a comprehensive agreement for their return: all hostages in exchange for ending the war and finding a solution for the day after.”
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The ongoing conflict and humanitarian toll
The war in Gaza began on 7th October 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a coordinated attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and taking 251 hostages.
In response, Israel launched an extensive military campaign, which has resulted in over 50,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The latest strikes have killed hundreds more since the collapse of a temporary ceasefire around two weeks ago. However, Gaza’s health ministry does not distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties in its figures.
Pressure on Starmer to take a stand
Sir Keir Starmer has faced growing political and public pressure to take a clearer stance on the conflict. While the UK Government has supported Israel’s right to self-defence, it has also called for greater humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza.
With hostage families directly appealing to him, there is mounting expectation for the Prime Minister to take a stronger diplomatic role in the efforts to secure a ceasefire and a negotiated resolution to the ongoing war.
