Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent progress his Department has made on helping to secure the release of hostages in Gaza.

The UK Government has been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals and their families.

We have been clear that the release of all the hostages is one of the vital elements for a lasting peace and the Foreign Secretary has reiterated that we want to see the safe release of all hostages unconditionally.

The Government continues to call for an immediate humanitarian pause now to allow for the release of hostages.