'Our utmost priority is to free Britons still in Hamas hands'

SHAPPS' GAZA PLEDGE

- Giles Sheldrick

SETTING free five British hostages held captive by Hamas is the UK's "utmost priority", Defence Secretary Grant Shapps vowed last night.

Britain is hopeful all the hostages can be located using RAF surveillance flights over Gaza.

It comes amid rising fears for the safety of the five, missing since terrorists slaughtered up to 1,400 Israelis on October 7.

Mr Shapps said: "British hostages are still held by Hamas. Their freedom is our utmost priority. Hamas should release them and all hostages now. To aid ongoing rescue efforts, unarmed UK aircraft will begin surveillance flights over Gaza to help locate hostages.

The RAF said aircraft deployed include the pride of the intelligence gathering fleet, the twin turbo-prop Shadow R1, which gives "comprehensive intelligence particularly where valuable to ground commanders".

Intelligence on locations hostages are held will be shared with Israel. There are thought to be at least 137 captives from 20 nationalities still being held.

After the Hamas massacre, Downing Street said at least 12 British nationals were killed with some of the five missing thought to have been kidnapped and bundled across the border into Gaza.