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Mishcon de Reya acts for the families of hostages in Gaza

Posted on 7 February 2024

Adam Rose and Katy Colton, Partners at Mishcon de Reya, together with Adam Wagner, barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, are acting for families of Hamas hostages.

The families represent hostages who are currently held in Gaza: Eli Sharabi, Nadav Popplewell and Oded Lifschitz. There is a fourth British hostage whose family do not wish to be named. All are British or have strong British connections.

On 6 February 2024, the families took part in high level delegations in London, meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, the Minister of State for Qatar in the Foreign Ministry, and His Excellency Charles Hay MVO, Director Gaza Hostages at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

At a press conference at Mishcon de Reya on 7 February, some of the family members discussed their personal experiences since their relatives were taken hostage on 7 October 2023, exactly four months ago, and continued to press the case for the immediate, safe return of their relatives.

The families stated that they were grateful to the British and Qatari governments for meeting with them at this vital moment while a hostage deal is being negotiated.

The family of Yossi Sharabi, who was murdered whilst in captivity, and whose brother Eli is still a hostage, told the Prime Minister that Yossi’s death “is what failure looks like”, and “now is the time” to exercise all the influence that stakeholders have to ensure a deal is reached. Sharone Lifschitz (daughter of Oded Lifshitz) commented that "124 days for civilians to be held hostage is not humane. We need the hostages back."

The families implore all parties to reach a deal for the release of the hostages.