Hamas holding up to 10 Britons hostage in Gaza, says foreign secretary

Separately, Cleverly said it was proving ‘incredibly difficult’ to open the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Photograph: Tayfun Salcı/Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock

Up to 10 Britons are being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, the foreign secretary has said, higher than previous informal estimates.

Israel estimates that 126 people from different countries are being held hostage, with reports previously suggesting six of those taken were British. Up to 17 British people, including children, are thought to be dead or missing since the conflict began last weekend.