“The prime minister expressed deep regret,and apologised to the family,that the State of Israel did not succeed in returning Alexander and the other five hostages alive,” Netanyahu said to the parents of one of the six,Alex Lubnov on Sunday,his office said in a statement reported by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Key ally the United States is showing impatience with Netanyahu.

US President Joe Biden spoke to reporters as he arrived at the White House for a Situation Room meeting with the US mediation team in the negotiations. Asked if Netanyahu was doing enough,Biden responded,“No.”

He insisted that negotiators remain “very close” to a deal,adding,“Hope springs eternal.”

Hamas’ armed wing said on Monday that,since June,the group had been operating under new instructions on how to handle hostages should Israeli forces approach their locations in Gaza.

Abu Ubaida,spokesperson for Hamas’ al-Qassam Brigades,did not provide details on what the instructions were. He said his group held Israel responsible for the hostages’ deaths.

The new instructions,Abu Ubaida said,were given to guards of hostages after a rescue operation by Israel in June. At that time,Israeli forces freed four hostages in a raid in which dozens of Palestinians,including women and children,were killed.

“Netanyahu’s insistence to free prisoners through military pressure,instead of sealing a deal means they will be returned to their families in shrouds. Their families must choose whether they want them dead or alive,” he said.

Later on Monday,the Hamas armed wing published a prerecorded video of one of the six dead hostages,urging Netanyahu to conclude a deal to free them,saying she feared she could die in captivity. The date of when the video was recorded was unclear.

Britain meanwhile said it would immediately suspend 30 of its 350 arms export licences with Israel because there was a risk such equipment might be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law,Foreign Minister David Lammy said on Monday.

Lammy said the decision to suspend the licences did not amount to a blanket ban or an arms embargo,but only involved those that could be used in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

“We recognise,of course,Israel’s need to defend itself against security threats,but we are deeply worried by the methods that Israel’s employed,and by reports of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure particularly,” he told parliament.

Soon after the Labour Party won the election in July,Lammy said he would update a review on arms sales to Israel to ensure they complied with international law.

“It is with regret that I inform the House[of Commons] today the assessment I have received leaves me unable to conclude anything other than that for certain UK arms exports to Israel,there does exist a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law,” Lammy said.

British exports amount to less than 1 per cent of the total arms Israel receives,and the minister said the suspension would not have a material impact on Israel’s security,and Britain continued to support its right to self-defence.

Unlike the US,Britain’s government does not give arms directly to Israel but rather issues licences for companies to sell weapons,with input from lawyers on whether they complied with international law.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the decision was disappointing and “sends a very problematic message” to Hamas and its patrons in Iran.

Both Israeli and Palestinian leaders are being investigated for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity following the October 7 attacks by Hamas in southern Israel,which killed 1200 people,by Israeli tallies.

The Israeli response in Gaza has killed more than 40,700 people,according to Palestinian health authorities.

Reuters

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