Cameron: UK Will Not Pay Ransom for ISIS Hostage

British Prime Minister David Cameron has said the UK government will not pay any ransom to the ISIS militants who are holding a British hostage.

Speaking ahead of the Nato summit in Wales, the Prime Minister said that it was a “desperately difficult situation”, but defended his decision, saying that the money would only be used to fuel the conflict.

Two US journalists – James Foley and Steven Sotloff – have already been killed by the group in retaliation for American air strikes. At the end of the most recent video, the militants also showed a British hostage who they have threatened to kill next.

However, David Cameron has ruled out giving money to ISIS in exchange for the man’s life. Speaking to Sky News, the Prime Minister said: “We don’t pay ransoms to terrorists when they kidnap our citizens.

“On other occasions, payments have been made and sometimes I think governments have turned a blind eye and I think that is deeply regrettable.

“From the intelligence and other information I have seen, there is no doubt this money helps to fuel the crisis that we see in Iraq and Syria.”

He also reiterated his view that the terror group pose a direct threat to the UK, saying: “The world would be a safer place if we could squeeze this organisation out of existence.”

However, he also ruled out working with Syrian president Bashar al Assad: “I think President Assad is part of the problem, not part of the solution.”