LONDON

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Sunday welcomed the release of three hostages in Gaza, including British national Emily Damari, as part of a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.

In a statement, Lammy expressed gratitude to Qatar, Egypt, and the US for their efforts in securing the hostages’ freedom, describing their ordeal as "horrific."

“We welcome the release of three hostages in Gaza, including British national Emily Damari, and thank Qatar, Egypt, and the US for their support in bringing these individuals’ and their families’ horrific ordeal to an end," he said.

However, the foreign secretary also acknowledged that several British-linked hostages remain in captivity, including Eli Sharabi, Oded Lifshitz, and Avinatan Or, urging that all those still held be freed.

“We are clear the deal must be implemented in full; all hostages be returned and aid be allowed to flow into Gaza now,” Lammy added.

He stressed that this agreement should pave the way for a long-term resolution, calling for a “credible pathway towards a two-state solution in which Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also said, "We must now see the remaining phases of the ceasefire deal implemented in full and on schedule, including the release of those remaining hostages and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza."

Earlier, the Gaza ceasefire agreement finally took effect Sunday after a nearly three-hour delay, with Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, handing over three Israeli captives. As part of the agreement, 90 Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons were expected to be released on the first day of the ceasefire.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, nearly 47,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed, with over 110,700 injured in what Palestinian officials have called Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, according to local health authorities.