A fourth body returned to Israel last night does not belong to a hostage, according to the IDF. Examinations at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine suggest the body is that of a Palestinian. The remaining three returned bodies have been identified as Eitan Levy, Tamir Nimrodi, and Uriel Baruch. Trump warned last night that he’s “not playing games” with Hamas…
U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff says the IDF’s withdrawal from Gaza is underway. Now the onus shifts to Hamas:
“CENTCOM has confirmed that the Israeli Defense Forces completed the first phase withdrawal to the yellow line at 12PM local time. The 72 hour period to release the hostages has begun.”
The clock is ticking…
Keir Starmer has ‘welcomed’ the news that Trump’s peace deal in Gaza is pushing ahead. Speaking in India, the Prime Minister said:
“I strongly welcome the news that a deal has been reached on the first stage of President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza… This is a moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world, but particularly for the hostages, their families, and for the civilian population of Gaza, who have all endured unimaginable suffering over the last two years.”
Read his full statement below…
Continue reading “WATCH: Starmer ‘Strongly Welcomes’ First Phase of Gaza Peace Deal”
Hamas and Israel agreed to the first phases of Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza overnight. The IDF says it is making operational preparations to enact the plan already…
Hamas is preparing to release its 20 living hostages and Israel will free a number of Palestinian prisoners it has. Starmer said this morning:
“This is a moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world… we call on all parties to meet the commitments they have made, to end the war, and to build the foundations for a just and lasting end to the conflict and a sustainable path to a long-term peace. The UK will support these crucial immediate steps and the next stage of talks to ensure the full implementation of the peace plan.”
DWP Minister Pat McFadden is praising Trump on the morning round:
“I think he does deserve credit for this, I think the mediators deserve credit, and I think it opens up potentially big possibilities, not just as I say in the immediate few days, but for the longer term future.”
The Israeli government will gather to vote on the plan at midday and should withdraw IDF troops in 24 hours. Hamas then has 72 hours to release hostages. Trump said the first hostages should be released on Monday. He added “All Parties will be treated fairly!”…
Keir Starmer has called the Israeli security cabinet’s plan to take full control of Gaza City “wrong” and insisted Netanyahu should “reconsider immediately“. Net Zero Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh has used the same line on the broadcasting round this morning…
Starmer said:
“The Israeli Government’s decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and we urge it to reconsider immediately. This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed.
Every day the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens and hostages taken by Hamas are being held in appalling and inhuman conditions. What we need is a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages by Hamas and a negotiated solution. Hamas can play no part in the future of Gaza and must leave as well as disarm.
Together with our allies, we are working on a long-term plan to secure peace in the region as part of a two-state solution, and ultimately achieve a brighter future for Palestinians and Israelis.
But without both sides engaging in good faith in negotiations, that prospect is vanishing before our eyes. Our message is clear: a diplomatic solution is possible, but both parties must step away from the path of destruction.”
Starmer’s plan to recognise Palestine as a state by September is inching closer…
Greta Thunberg has recently landed in Paris CDG after being carted from the port at Ashdod to Tel-Aviv. This follows the sad flop of Thunderberg 2’s mission to break the Israeli sea blockade…
Thunberg refused to watch videos of the 7 October atrocities and was packed onto a commercial flight back to Paris. Flight, you say?
Guido had a look at the flight on which Greta was put – a Boeing 787-800. Which churns out 146.7 grams of CO2 per seat per mile…
From Ben Gurion to Charles de Gaulle airports you’re looking at over four hours in the air and 2043.3 miles travelled. That is 300 kilograms of toxic material emitted by Thunberg alone on the one flight back…
Greta immediately gave a press conference on her landing in France to claim she had been “kidnapped.” Will anyone think of the planet?
Lucy Powell on LBC, asked by Tom Swarbrick for her reaction to Labour MP Samantha Niblett’s call for a ‘summer of sex’ debate in Parliament: “I personally don’t own any sex toys, but each to their own… I’m not really sure that’s the right place for it, no.”