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Israel allies threaten trade rupture over Gaza. Here's what's at stake.

Israel allies threaten trade rupture over Gaza. Here's what's at stake.

Washington Post23-05-2025

Several of Israel's top allies and trading partners said this week that they would reconsider trade arrangements with the country over humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, amid an acute humanitarian crisis.
Britain said Israel's blockade on Gaza and new ground operation would prevent 'advance discussions' on a new trade pact, without affecting its existing accord with Israel. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced that the 27-member bloc, Israel's largest commercial partner, would launch a review of its trade deal with Israel.

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Israel says it has killed leader of Palestinian militant group that took part in October 7 attack
Israel says it has killed leader of Palestinian militant group that took part in October 7 attack

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Israel says it has killed leader of Palestinian militant group that took part in October 7 attack

The Israeli military says it has killed the leader of a Palestinian militant group that took part in the October 7, 2023, terror attacks on southern Israel. Asaad Abu Sharia, who led the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement and its armed wing the Mujahideen Brigades, was killed in a joint operation with Israel's Shin Bet security agency, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday. His death and that of his brother Ahmed Abu Sharia were confirmed by the militant group hours after Gaza's Civil Defense reported that an Israeli airstrike had hit their family home in the Sabra area of Gaza City. Hamas run Al-Aqsa TV said the strike killed at least 15 people and injured several. Video showed people searching through the debris of a demolished four-story house. The Mujahideen Brigades took part in the October 7 attacks alongside Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups and took hostage some of the most high-profile captives, including a family whose suffering became a symbol of the attack. According to the Israeli military, Sharia was among the militant leaders who stormed Kibbutz Nir Oz, a small Israeli community near the Gaza border where many residents were killed or taken hostage during the brutal terror assault that led to Israel's war in Gaza. Despite not being aware of Hamas' plans in advance, fighters from the jihadist group joined in the cross-border assault 'as an extension of the Hamas attack,' the Israeli military said. According to Israel, Sharia was directly involved in the abduction and murders of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas – a family that became one of the most recognizable victims of the attack, partly because of the young ages of Kfir and Ariel, who were nine months and four years old respectively at the time. Kfir was the youngest hostage kidnapped into Gaza and the youngest to have been killed. The boys' mother, Shiri, was 32 at the time of her kidnap. Their father Yarden was also captured, but was released alive in February after 484 days in captivity. Reacting to news of Sharia's killing, the Bibas family expressed their 'heartfelt gratitude' to the Israeli military, saying his death was 'another step on the journey towards closure.' 'While Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir cannot be brought back, we find some measure of comfort knowing these despicable murderers will not harm another family,' the Bibas family said in a statement shared via the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Israel's military said Sharia was also involved in the abduction of the Israeli-American couple Gad Haggai and Judi Lynn Weinstein Haggai and the abduction and killing of Thai national Nattapong Pinta. The Israeli-American couple were killed near their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the attack in 2023. The body of Nattapong, an agricultural worker who was abducted alive on October 7, was recovered from southern Gaza in a military operation on Friday. Israel said it believes the Mujahideen Brigades are still holding the body of an additional foreign national. The group has previously denied killing their captives.

Dawn French apologises for 'clumsy tone' in Gaza clip
Dawn French apologises for 'clumsy tone' in Gaza clip

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Dawn French apologises for 'clumsy tone' in Gaza clip

Dawn French has posted a public apology after posting a video about the war in Gaza, and removed the item from her social media. The 40-second video posted earlier this week showed the star of BBC sitcom The Vicar of Dibley share her views on the conflict, saying "Complicated, no, but nuanced. But bottom line is no." Switching into a high-pitched voice, she continued: "Yeah, but you know they did a bad thing to us, yeah but no. But we want that land... and we have history... No. Those people aren't really even people, are they really? No." Following a backlash with people complaining she was mocking the 7 October attack that ignited the war, French removed the video on Saturday and said she never meant to "mock, or dismiss, or diminish the horror" of the event. "I hope you will understand my intention was not to offend, but I clearly have. For which I am sorry and I have removed the video." French said that she had posted a video in the style that she has been using for social media "in an effort to convey an important point", although she added that she had "clumsily used a mocking tone". "My intention was never to mock, or dismiss, or diminish the horror of what happened on 7 October 2023 and what continues to unfold from that brutal unthinkable, unforgivable, savage attack." She said her intention had been "to point the finger of shame at the behaviour of the cruel leaders on all sides of this atrocious war".

Dawn French apologises after ‘mocking tone' in video about Israel-Hamas conflict
Dawn French apologises after ‘mocking tone' in video about Israel-Hamas conflict

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Dawn French apologises after ‘mocking tone' in video about Israel-Hamas conflict

Comedian Dawn French has apologised after posting a video online about the Israel-Hamas conflict, saying she 'clumsily used a mocking tone' and it 'appeared one-sided'. The Vicar Of Dibley actress posted a video on social media this week in which she switched between her normal voice and a higher pitched voice. In the video about the conflict, she said: 'Complicated, no, but nuanced', adding: 'Bottom line is, no.' — Dawn French 💙🔴🏳️‍🌈🇺🇦🇵🇸 (@Dawn_French) June 7, 2025 Then at one point she said in the higher pitched voice: 'Yeah, but you know they did a bad thing to us.' French has now posted a statement on X saying she has taken down the video and apologised, saying her intention was never 'to mock, or dismiss, or diminish the horror of what happened' on October 7 2023. The statement, posted on Saturday, says: 'Ok, it's important to address this. 'I posted a video in the style I've been using for social media in an effort to convey an important point. I clumsily used a mocking tone. 'My intention was NEVER to mock, or dismiss, or diminish the horror of what happened on 7 October 2023 and what continues to unfold from that brutal unthinkable, unforgivable, savage attack. 'My heart broke for the many innocent people and their families that were killed, tortured, r@ped and kidnapped. The fact that hostages are still held is utterly appalling. 'My intention was to mock and point the finger of shame at the behaviour of the cruel leaders on ALL sides of this atrocious war, who have continued to behave like the worst, dangerous, sickening bullies and seem to relish the tyrannical and childish oneupmanship of the violence. THEY were my target, but clearly I failed to do that, and that's on me. I apologise unreservedly. I'm particularly sorry that my disgust at Hamas didn't figure. It appeared one-sided, and that is wrong. 'I am a person, who like many others, is feeling increasingly helpless and hopeless as we witness the carnage and destruction worsen. The images of starving and wounded children have haunted me day and night. History has taught us never to stand by and allow this kind of inhumane violence to be wrought on anyone, especially innocent children. 'I have felt my silence is complicit or even somehow sanctioning. So in my small way I wanted to voice my desire to say NO – to BOTH sides – to any further violence. 'I hope you will understand my intention was not to offend, but clearly I have. For which I'm sorry and I have removed the video.'

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