Six Britons believed to be held hostage in Gaza, UK minister says

Victoria Atkins says hostages are ‘absolute priority’, as British death toll in Hamas attack rises to 10

At least 10 British nationals have been killed and six are suspected to be among the hostages being held by Hamas, a UK government minister has said.

Victoria Atkins, the financial secretary to the Treasury, said it was a “very, very fast-moving situation”, as the number of British killed rose from nine. Six British nationals were believed to be held, she said. “We understand that they are hostages,” she told Sky News. “They are our absolute priority.”