‘Real chance' hostages being freed by Hamas could be hurt or killed, lawyers say
There is a 'real chance' that hostages being released by Hamas could be injured or killed just before they reach safety, lawyers for the families of British-linked hostages have warned.
Hamas freed eight hostages on Thursday as part of the ongoing ceasefire deal with Israel, with some captives being escorted through a crowd of thousands and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later condemning 'shocking scenes'.
Adam Rose and Adam Wagner, who represent families of hostages with British links, highlighted safety concerns in a statement on Thursday afternoon and called on the UK Government to ensure 'violent scenes are not repeated'.
They said: 'We are extremely concerned, however, at the manner in which Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have facilitated the releases to date.
'Today, there appeared to be a very real risk to the hostages' safety as they were paraded by armed terrorists through what can only be described as a mob, being screamed at and jostled by the encroaching crowd.
'It is also clear that the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) transport vehicles, and the ICRC staff, are being put at significant risk by the grotesque methods being used by the terrorists to parade the hostages.'
Their clients Eli Sharabi, Oded Lifshitz and Avinatan Or are among hostages yet to be released.
We therefore call on the governments of Israel, the United States, Qatar and the United Kingdom urgently to do everything possible, including issuing public statements and using private diplomatic channels, to ensure that these violent scenes are not repeated for Saturday's release and beyond
Adam Wagner and Adam Rose
'If these scenes are allowed to continue, there is a real chance that a hostage is seriously injured or killed – moments before they are to reach safety,' Mr Rose and Mr Wagner said.
'As well as being an individual tragedy, this could put the entire deal at risk.
'We therefore call on the governments of Israel, the United States, Qatar and the United Kingdom urgently to do everything possible, including issuing public statements and using private diplomatic channels, to ensure that these violent scenes are not repeated for Saturday's release and beyond.'
The fragile ceasefire in the 15-month Israel-Hamas war has lasted more than a week with thousands of Gazans now returning to where they once lived in the north of the territory.
Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners on Thursday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
29 minutes ago
- Daily Record
UK to build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines in major defence shake-up
The UK will build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines and invest £15 billion in its warhead programme. The UK is poised to construct up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines and will pour £15 billion into its warhead programme, with the Prime Minister set to disclose these plans on Monday during the Government's strategic defence review. Major investments are queued for the UK's nuclear warhead programme this parliamentary session, along with commitments to maintain the current arsenal, as supported by 62 recommendations the Government aims to fully implement. However, there's been a debate over defence spending promises, after the Defence Secretary was unable to verify if the Treasury had secured budgeting to increase it to 3% of GDP by 2034. Part of the Aukus deal with the US and Australia, the creation of these submarines is projected to sustain 30,000 highly skilled jobs into the 2030s, along with generating 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate positions over the forthcoming decade, according to the Ministry of Defence. Defence Secretary John Healey remarked: "Our outstanding submariners patrol 24/7 to keep us and our allies safe, but we know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively to face down Russian aggression. "With new state-of-the-art submarines patrolling international waters and our own nuclear warhead programme on British shores, we are making Britain secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering on our Plan for Change with 30,000 highly skilled jobs across the country." The £15 billion investment into the warhead programme will bolster the Government's pledges to sustain the continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent, construct a new line of Dreadnought submarines, and facilitate all forthcoming enhancements. From the late 2030s, the array of up to 12 SSN-Aukus class attack submarines – conventionally armed yet nuclear-powered – are set to succeed the seven astute class submarines that the UK anticipates commissioning. The Government, in echoing the findings of the strategic defence review, has pledged to:. - Prepare the armed forces for readiness to engage in conflict should the need arise. - Enhance armament reserves and maintain scalability in production capacities to respond promptly in times of crisis or warfare. - Procure up to 7,000 domestically produced long-range missiles, a decision projected to preserve 800 jobs within the defence sector. - Establish a pioneering cyber command while committing £1 billion towards digital advancements. - Allocate an excess of £1.5 billion for refurbishing and updating service personnel accommodation. Sir Keir Starmer is expected to declare: "From the supply lines to the front lines, this Government is foursquare behind the men and women upholding our nation's freedom and security. "National security is the foundation of my Plan for Change, and this plan will ensure Britain is secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering a defence dividend of well-paid jobs up and down the country." The Shadow Defence Secretary, James Cartlidge, expressed scepticism regarding Labour's Strategic Defence Review promises, stating that they would be viewed with caution unless Labour could demonstrate that sufficient funding would be allocated. Labour's Shadow Defence Secretary, John Healey, had previously mentioned in an interview with The Times that there was "no doubt" the UK would achieve its goal of 3% defence spending. However, when questioned on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, he sidestepped queries about whether the Treasury had provided any guarantees for the necessary funding. Healey also acknowledged that he did not anticipate an increase in the number of armed forces personnel until the next Parliament, citing ongoing recruitment and retention challenges. When asked about the Army's target of 73,000 personnel, he replied, "We've narrowed the gap, but we've still got more people leaving than joining. "The first job is to reverse that trend and then I want to see in the next parliament our ability to start to increase the number." In response, James Cartlidge argued, "All of Labour's Strategic Defence Review promises will be taken with a pinch of salt unless they can show there will actually be enough money to pay for them. "Whereas, far from guaranteeing the funding, John Healey has been hung out to dry by Rachel Reeves. "As recently as Thursday, Healey promised that defence spending would definitely hit 3%, but today he's completely backtracked. "These submarines are not due to enter service till the late 2030s, so how can we have any confidence Labour will actually deliver them when they can't even sustain a policy on defence spending for more than 48 hours?" Lib Dem defence spokesperson Helen Maguire commented: "This signals absolutely the right intent about the need to bolster the UK's defences in the face of Putin's imperialism and Trump's unreliability. "But this must come with a concrete commitment and detail on full funding. "Labour's mere 'ambition' rather than commitment to reach 3% of GDP on defence leaves serious questions about whether the money for these projects will actually be forthcoming. "The 2034 timeline suggests a worrying lack of urgency from the Government. "Unless Labour commits to holding cross-party talks on how to reach 3% much more rapidly than the mid-2030s, this announcement risks becoming a damp squib."
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Families of 1994 Chinook crash victims to sue MoD after 29 died
They want a High Court judge to be able to review information which they say was not included in previous investigations, and which they believe will shed new light on the airworthiness of the helicopter. RAF Chinook ZD576 was carrying 25 British intelligence personnel from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to a conference at Fort George near Inverness when it crashed in foggy weather on June 2, 1994. All 25 passengers – made up of personnel from MI5, the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the British Army – were killed, along with the helicopter's four crew members. READ MORE: Podcaster arrested after targeting councillor with racial abuse The families of the victims, who have coalesced into the Chinook Justice Campaign, said failing to order a public inquiry is a breach of the UK Government's human rights obligations. In a letter to the Government 31 years after the crash, the group said: 'The investigations conducted to date, whether considered individually or in combination, have failed to discharge the investigative duty.' They have also called for the release of documents that were sealed at the time of the crash for 100 years, something revealed in a BBC documentary last year. Solicitor Mark Stephens, who is representing the families, said: 'In this case, the families of those who were killed have seen more than enough evidence to convince them, and us, that there was a failure by the MoD to apply appropriate safeguards in order to protect the passengers and crew. 'In fact, they were put on board an aircraft that was known to be positively dangerous and should never have taken off. 'That is why we are seeking a judicial review into the Government's failure to hold a public inquiry – which the families have sought for more than a year.' Following the crash, the Chinook's pilots, Flight Lieutenants Richard Cook and Jonathan Tapper, were accused of gross negligence, but this verdict was overturned by the UK Government 17 years later, following a campaign by the families. READ MORE: Hamilton by-election campaign enters final days as parties make final pleas to voters A subsequent review by Philip set out 'numerous concerns' raised by those who worked on the Chinooks, with the MoD's testing centre at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire declaring the Chinook Mk2 helicopters 'unairworthy' prior to the crash. Esme Sparks, who was seven years old when her father Major Gary Sparks was killed in the crash, said: 'We don't want to have to take legal action against the Government and MoD but we do want and need answers surrounding the circumstance of this crash. 'We want to know who or what is being protected? Who made the decision to let this helicopter take off? What is being hidden? In our view, a public inquiry is key.' Andy Tobias, who was eight when his father, Lt Col John Tobias, 41, was killed, said: 'It's clear to me that a complete lack of duty of care was given to those passengers because they got on a Chinook that wasn't fit for flight. 'And really, the government need to show their duty of candour and really be open and transparent about what's in those documents and give us the opportunity to really understand anything that's in them that could give us more answers about what happened.' The MoD said that records held in The National Archives contain personal information and early release of those documents would breach their data protection rights. An MoD spokesperson said: 'The Mull of Kintyre crash was a tragic accident and our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families, friends and colleagues of all those who died.'
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Boulder attack: 6 people injured after an event for Israeli hostages
Four victims were taken to Boulder Community Hospital, and two others were airlifted to a hospital in the Denver metropolitan area, Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said. He added that at least one victim was "very seriously" injured and other victims received "more minor injuries." Sunday's attack falls on the Jewish holiday of Shavuot and comes over a week after the slaying of two Israeli Embassy aides outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. The attack occurred at a "regularly scheduled, weekly peaceful event," according to Michalek. He said witnesses reported seeing the suspect use a makeshift flamethrower and throw an incendiary device into the crowd. Earlies on Sunday, Boulder dispatch received several calls to the county courthouse on Pearl Street at around 1:26 p.m. local time, Redfearn said at an afternoon news conference. Initial reports indicated that there was a man with a weapon, and people were being set on fire at the scene. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a statement that the attack appeared to be a "hate crime given the group that was targeted." Weiser said the group meets weekly at the Pearl Street Mall in downtown Boulder to "call for the release of the hostages in Gaza." "Hate has no place in Colorado," Weiser added. "We all have the right to peaceably assemble and the freedom to speak our views. But these violent acts -- which are becoming more frequent, brazen and closer to home -- must stop and those who commit these horrific acts must be fully held to account." President Donald Trump has been briefed on the attack in Boulder, a senior White House official told USA TODAY. Michalek said the FBI is processing the crime scene and the subject vehicle as well as interviewing key witnesses. "As a result of these preliminary facts, it is clear that this is a targeted act of violence and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism," Michalek said. "Sadly, attacks like this are becoming too common across the country. This is an example of how perpetrators of violence continue to threaten communities across our nation." Several blocks remained closed off in downtown Boulder surrounding the county courthouse, according to Redfearn. Multiple teams, including canine, bomb squad, and hazmat, were in the area, Redfearn said. Authorities were still working on clearing the area for devices. Hours before the attack in Boulder, 18 to 20 buildings on the University of Denver campus were vandalized with anti-Israel graffiti. The vandalism took place either late Friday or early Saturday, said Adam Rovner, director of the university's Center for Judaic Studies. Rovner said the graffiti was spread among buildings across the campus, including dormitories. It was not immediately clear whether the graffiti was tied to the attack in Boulder, which is about half an hour northwest of Denver. "In the wake of the murders in DC at the Jewish Museum and in the wake of this horrific attack on a peaceful vigil in Boulder, this kind of thing is what globalize the Intifada means," Rovner said. "It means attacks on innocent people." It's 'the definition of antisemitism': People react to Israeli embassy shooting In a statement on social media, the Boulder Jewish Community Center said it was in touch with law enforcement about the Jewish community in the city and noted that safety is its "highest priority." "We are saddened and heartbroken to learn that an incendiary device was thrown at walkers at the Run for Their Lives walk on Pearl Street as they were raising awareness for the hostages still held in Gaza," the Boulder Jewish Community Center said. Run for Their Lives is an organization that facilitates global running or walking events calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, according to the organization's website. The website states that local communities meet once a week for a 1-kilometer walk or run while wearing matching t-shirts and carrying flags of the countries where the hostages are from. The events are shared on social media by local organizers. "The term 'Run' is symbolic, emphasizing that the hostages cannot run for their lives," according to the website. "We run or walk on their behalf, because they can't--and to act before it's too late." An organization that works to fight antisemitism and bias said in a statement that it has reviewed videos of the suspect believed to have thrown the Molotov cocktails. "We believe he can be heard saying, 'How many children have you killed?' 'We need to end Zionists,'" the ADL said. The organization said the man also gestured toward what appeared to be victims of the attack and proclaimed: "They are killers." At 2:08 p.m. local time, the Boulder Police Department said in a post on X that they responded to a report of several victims near the Boulder mall, about 30 miles northwest of Denver. Pearl Street is a four-block pedestrian mall that stretches from 11th Street to 15th Street. Multiple businesses and restaurants, as well as the Boulder County Courthouse, are located in the area. About an hour later, the police department said it was evacuating several blocks around the area between Walnut and Pine streets as they continued "to investigate this active incident." "There was a lot of people out -- a very beautiful day," Redfearn said, adding that there was a group of people that were conducting a peaceful demonstration in support of Israel. The police chief said he believed the demonstration occurred frequently in the area. Redfearn called the incident "unacceptable," noting that it was too early for police to speculate on a motive. Civil rights and advocacy groups have reported a surge in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. According to Israeli tallies, the attack killed about 1,200 people, and 251 Israelis were taken hostage into Gaza. Israel's subsequent military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians and has destroyed much of the enclave, said Gaza health officials. The attack also occurred after two Israeli embassy employees were fatally shot in Washington, D.C., on May 21. The victims were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when the suspect opened fire, killing Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. The suspect shouted, "Free, free Palestine" while in custody, authorities said. Israeli embassies immediately increased security measures following the incident, USA TODAY previously reported. Just days after the shooting, federal authorities announced that a dual U.S. and German citizen was arrested in New York for allegedly attempting to firebomb a branch office of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel. DC shooting: Shooting victim Sarah Milgrim remembered as 'a light' who fought antisemitism Dan Bongino, the FBI's deputy director, said on X that the agency's leadership team was on the ground in Boulder and would soon have an update on the attack. "This act of terror is being investigated as an act of ideologically motivated violence based on the early information, the evidence, and witness accounts," Bongino said. "We will speak clearly on these incidents when the facts warrant it." -- Charles Ventura and Joseph Garrison Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said on X that the state was working with local and federal law enforcement to support the investigation. "I am closely monitoring the situation in Boulder, and my thoughts go out to the people who have been injured and impacted by this heinous act of terror," Polis said in the post. "Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable." The Anti-Defamation League said it was monitoring the situation "as we approach the holiday of Shavuot." "We are aware of reports of an attack at today's Boulder Run for Their Lives event - a weekly meeting of Jewish community members to run/walk in support of the hostages kidnapped on 10/7," the organization said on X. According to Jewishcolorado, a Denver-based non-profit that is part of the Jewish Federations of North America, the Run for Their Lives walk is a repeating event in downtown Boulder. "We have been walking in Boulder, CO since Thanksgiving 2023 to show solidarity for the plight of the hostages still being held in Gaza," according to the organization's website. "We will continue to walk until all hostages are released." (This story was updated to add new information.)
