Latest news with #AdamWagner
Times
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Times
Families criticise Starmer and say hostages ‘will rot in Hamas dungeons'
Hostages held captive in Gaza will continue to 'rot in Hamas dungeons' under Sir Keir Starmer's plan to bring peace to the Middle East. Lawyers representing the relatives of British people who were held by Hamas and those who had been murdered said the prime minister's peace plan would harm the remaining hostages in Gaza. Adam Wagner KC and Adam Rose, acting for the seven British families of hostages in Gaza, said four of the families met with senior Foreign Office officials on Thursday evening. In a statement, they said that British recognition of a Palestinian state if Israel and Hamas failed to reach a ceasefire by September would 'disincentivise Hamas from agreeing a deal'. They asked: 'Why would Hamas agree to a ceasefire if it knew that to do so would make British recognition of Palestine less likely?'. They said the families had 'held out some hope that the policy could not be as they feared and that since the UK had chosen to impose conditions on recognition, those conditions would also be on Hamas, as otherwise they would essentially be rewarded for continuing to commit war crimes, including hostage taking and encouraged to continue that path'. But that 'it was clear from the meeting last night that the British government's policy will not help the hostages, and could even hurt them'. Wagner and Rose claimed the release or otherwise of hostages would 'play no part' in the decision ministers will make in September and added: 'In other words, the 'vision for peace', which the UK is pursuing and which the families heard much about last night, may well involve our clients' family members continuing to rot in Hamas dungeons, just as British and British-linked hostages Emily Damari and Eli Sharabi did before them.' Starmer said the UK would only refrain from recognising Palestine if Israel allowed more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank, agrees to a ceasefire and signs up to a long-term peace process over the next two months. While he also called for Hamas to immediately release all remaining Israeli hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and 'accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza', he did not explicitly say these conditions would factor into a decision on whether recognition would go ahead. The US accused Starmer, Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, and President Macron of France of being 'clumsy' by saying they would recognise a Palestinian state before all hostages were released. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said recognition of Palestine as a state was 'irrelevant' and told Fox News Radio: 'The UK is like, well, 'if Israel doesn't agree to a ceasefire by September, we're going to recognize a Palestinian state. So if I'm Hamas, I say, 'you know what, let's not allow there to be a ceasefire.' If Hamas refuses to agree to a ceasefire, it guarantees a Palestinian state will be recognized by all these countries in September.' The British families want the government to 'confirm that without the hostages being released, there can be no peace, and that this will be an important part of its decision as to whether to proceed with recognition and its current plan'. Starmer said this week that 'I've been absolutely clear and steadfast that we must have the remaining hostages released, that's been our position throughout'. However, Damari, a British-Israeli woman who was held captive by Hamas, accused him of 'not standing on the right side of history' and said she was 'deeply saddened' by his decision. The families of Damari and Sharabi were among those who met with the Foreign Office. Also present were relatives of Nadav Popplewell, who died while held captive, as well as those of Oded Lifshitz, who also died, and Yocheved Lifschitz, who was released. The government said: 'We have announced our intention to recognise Palestine in September to protect the viability of the two-state solution. The first step in that process must be a ceasefire and there is no question about that. 'Our demands on Hamas have not changed. For there to be any chance of peace, the hostages must be released. Hamas must lay down its weapons and commit to having no future role in the governance of Gaza. 'We must also see significant progress on the ground including the supply of humanitarian support and for Israel to rule out annexations in the West Bank, and a commitment to a long-term sustainable peace. We will make an assessment ahead of UNGA (the United Nations general assembly) on how far both Israel and Hamas have met the steps we set out. No one side will have a veto on recognition through their actions or inactions.' President Trump had also expressed his 'displeasure and disagreement' with Starmer over the promise to recognise a Palestinian state. The US president, who had previously suggested he was relaxed about the prospect, even though he disagreed, hardened his stance after more countries said they would recognise Palestine. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said Trump had expressed his 'displeasure and his disagreement with the leaders of France, the United Kingdom and Canada'. She told reporters: 'He feels as though that's rewarding Hamas at a time where Hamas is the true impediment to a ceasefire and to the release of all of the hostages.' Dame Diana Johnson, the crime and policing minister, said there would be an assessment in September on whether the British government will recognise a Palestinian state. Asked if hostages being released would be a condition of that, she told Times Radio: 'Neither side has a veto on what the British government choose to do in September. And that will be an assessment that will be taking place in September. 'The prime minister has set out what he expects from Israel. Obviously, that's a democratically elected government, very different to Hamas, which is a terrorist organisation.' She said: 'We need to actually have the ceasefire, and then move on to trying to re-establish that peace process and the establishment of what my party and I think generally is accepted, a two-state solution.'
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘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'. STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BY LAWYERS FOR THE BRITISH HOSTAGE FAMILIES 30 January 2025 We and our clients are delighted that eight more hostages have been released today, bringing the total to 14. We are extremely concerned, however, at the manner in which Hamas and… — Adam Wagner (@AdamWagner1) January 30, 2025 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. '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. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'We welcome the release of eight hostages today, they have been through an unthinkable ordeal after almost 15 months in captivity. 'Ensuring the safe release of hostages is paramount. 'This ceasefire marks a critical moment for the Middle East and the importance of implementing this deal in full cannot be overstated.'
The Independent
30-01-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
‘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.
