Rishi Sunak meets Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, ruler of Qatar, during his information tour of the Middle East. Photo: No 10 Downing Street
Rishi Sunak on Friday thanked Qatar for its «efforts» to free the British hostages, raising hopes that around seven people are still missing after the Hamas attack.
This happened several hours before Hamas reported it. with the mediation of Qatar, he freed two American hostages.
“In response to Qatari efforts, the [Ezzedine] al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens [a mother and her daughter] on humanitarian grounds,” Hamas said in a statement published on Telegram.
Qatar hosts Hamas leaders. and is seen as key to the release of hostages, especially foreign nationals.
Mr Sunak met Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the ruler of Qatar, whom he thanked for his assistance in negotiating the release of the hostages. .
He told the Qatari leader that “the UK Government will use every tool at our disposal to support these efforts and end the suffering of the victims and their families.”
“The leaders agreed to remain in close contact to continue these efforts.” “Downing Street added. Hamas is estimated to be holding around 10 British citizens.
Mr Sunak met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, ruler of Qatar. Photo: Amiri Divan/Reuters “Fascist Biden Administration”
Abu Ubaydah, a Hamas spokesman, said the American hostages were freed after Doha intervened from named after the White House.
In a message published on Telegram, he said the decision was made “to prove to the American people and the entire world that the claims of the fascist Biden administration are false and untrue.”
The news will boost hopes that the British hostages could also be released by the group in the near future following Mr Sunak's operation. speaks to Sheikh Tamim.
It also suggests that even Hamas supporters in the region are beginning to put pressure on the group following the huge global backlash against its actions in Israel.
Mr Sunak flew to Egypt, where he became the first world leader to meet with a Palestinian leader. Mahmoud Abbas.
Mr Abbas condemned Hamas' attack on Israel during the talks as «terrorism», Downing Street said.
The remarks, published by Number 10 in minutes of the meeting, represent his strongest criticism yet of the militant group, the militants which are based in the Gaza Strip.
Mr Sunak held talks with Mr Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, while in Egypt on the second day of his diplomatic tour of the Middle East.
“A decision of two states»
A Downing Street spokesman said afterwards that the pair «condemned Hamas terrorism and stressed that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people.»
«Leaders agreed on the need for all parties to take steps to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and also minimize the loss of innocent lives,” they added.
“The Prime Minister reaffirmed the UK’s long-standing commitment to a two-state solution and to achieving a future in which Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security.”
It will be seen how harsh criticism of Hamas will be ensured. as a major diplomatic coup for Mr Sunak and comes after the Palestinian leader refused to meet Joe Biden.
These are the harshest language Mr Abbas has used against the group, which earlier this month killed more than 1,300 people. Israelis in a terrorist attack.
On Sunday, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA published a statement on his behalf, saying that «Hamas' policies and actions do not represent the Palestinian people.»
But the report details a telephone conversation he had. with Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, and was later amended to remove any mention of Hamas.
Mr Sunak also held talks with Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the Egyptian president, in a bid to ease tensions in the region. and secure aid routes into Gaza.
El-Sisi nodded as the prime minister told him: «I want to share with you my thoughts that what Hamas did — and I know you agree — was a horrific act of terrorism.»
Praised the Egyptian leader
In a subsequent speech, Number 10 said the pair «agreed that world leaders must do everything possible to avoid the spread of conflict in the region, and that every effort must be made to stop terrorism and protect civilians.»
The Prime Minister also praised the Egyptian leader for agreeing to open the Rafah crossing to allow humanitarian aid to pass into Gaza.
As he left the country on Friday afternoon, he said he had been assured that the border will reopen “immediately.”
James Cleverley, the foreign secretary, was due to travel to Egypt on Saturday to attend the Cairo peace summit along with leaders from the Middle East and Europe.
He will join colleagues from Germany and France, as well as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, to discuss the war between Israel and Hamas.
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