A British citizen is missing in Gaza after Hamas attacked a music festival in Israel.
Twenty-six-year-old Jake Marlowe, from London, has not been heard from since the early hours of Saturday morning when he was providing security for a music event in the desert near Kibbutz Re’im, close to the Gaza border.
His mother Lisa told the Jewish News: “He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over.
“Then, at about 5.30am, he texted to say ‘signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you’, and that he loves me.”
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That was the last time Marlowe was heard from, sparking concerns for his safety.
According to reports in Israeli media, at least 300 people were killed in the attack, including 26 soldiers, prompting PM Benjamin Netanyahu to say they were at ‘war’ as the country launched a military response.
The Israeli embassy in London confirmed that Marlow, who is reported to have moved to Israel two years ago, was missing, but it had not been confirmed that he had been kidnapped.
A spokesperson told the PA news agency: “He is missing, we don’t know for sure that he is taken hostage or dead or in a hospital.”
Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Tzipi Hotovely told Sky News: “I know there is one British citizen who is in Gaza at the moment.
“The Israeli government is doing everything we can to help those who are held hostage and every citizen who is taken is returned.”
Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns said the Government’s priority would be ensuring the safety of the missing Briton and as well as other British nationals in Israel.
She told Sky News: “What we did see yesterday was British families having to hide in safe rooms some with, I believe, a baby as young as 10 days old, and so many international victims being taken hostage.
“Obviously, that will be a priority for the British Government, I would expect the ministers will be in today working on precisely how we can get that individual to safety working with our allies.
“It’s crucial we do not give the terrorists what they want but, at the same time, first and foremost the duty of the British Government is to keep British nationals safe.”
A Foreign Office spokesperson said they would not comment on individual cases but added: “However, we can confirm we are in contact with – and assisting – the families of several individuals in Israel and the OPTs (Occupied Palestinian Territories).
“The safety of all British nationals continues to be our utmost priority and we urge everyone to continue to follow our travel advice which is updated regularly.”
Topics: UK News, World News
Claire Reid