Shocked Lord Cameron demands hostages are released as he visits Israel massacre site
SHOCKED Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron insisted “I have heard and seen things I will never forget” as he visited a massacre site in Israel.
He wore a flak jacket at Kibbutz Be’eri, where more than 100 people were killed by Hamas terrorists in the October 7 atrocities.
Mr Cameron said: “I wanted to come here myself to see the horrific nature of the attacks that you suffered.”
Speaking as he met with Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president Isaac Herzog, the Foreign Secretary said he wanted all parties to the agreement to “make it happen”.
He insisted the potential lull in the fighting was an “opportunity crucially to get hostages out and get aid into Gaza”.
The meeting took place as it was confirmed by Qatari officials the ceasefire would begin on Friday morning from 7am local time, with aid “going in as soon as possible”.
The first set of civilians, including 13 women and children, taken hostage by Hamas are expected to be freed at about 4pm on Friday local time.
The four-day pause was meant to come into force on Thursday morning, but was delayed.
The former Prime Minister, who visited Kibbutz Be’eri, where over 100 people were killed by Hamas in the 7 October massacre, said: “There is never any excuse for this sort of hostage-taking.
“All the hostages should be released, but I hope that everyone who is responsible and behind this agreement can make it happen, to bring relief to those families, including, of course, there are British nationals who have been taken hostage.”
Mr Netanyahu promised to “continue with the goals of the war” and to “eradicate Hamas”.
He added: “There is no hope for peace between Israel and the Palestinians and between Israel and the Arab countries if we do not eradicate this murderous movement, which threatens the future of all of us.”
Meeting Mr Herzog, Lord Cameron said it was “very good” to be back in Israel and that the “worst days of being prime minister was when British hostages were taken in Syria”.
He went on: “I remember the effect that had on me as prime minister and thinking about that and so perhaps know a tiny bit of what your nation is going through.”
Lord Cameron’s visit comes after he met counterparts from Arab and Islamic countries – including the Palestinian Authority – in London to discuss the Middle East crisis.