FM Sa’ar tells visiting UK counterpart Israel is working to reach hostage deal, waiting to see if Hamas ‘interested’

By Amy Spiro

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12 January 2025, 11:52 pm

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Amy Spiro is a reporter and writer with The Times of Israel

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar (right) meets visiting UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy in Jerusalem on January 12, 2025. (Shlomi Amsalem/ Foreign Ministry)

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar tells his visiting UK counterpart that Israel is working to reach a hostage deal and hopes Hamas is as well.

Following a meeting between the pair in Jerusalem, Sa’ar says in a statement that he told UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy that “Israel is intent on securing a hostage deal and is working to achieve it. Soon we will know if Hamas is interested in it.”

Sa’ar says they also discussed a wide range of issues, “including Syria, Lebanon and the Iranian threat,” and Lammy invited him for an official visit to the UK.

Earlier today, Lammy was in Saudi Arabia taking part in meetings with Arab and regional diplomats to discuss the future of Syria.