Israeli strikes kill more than 50 people in Gaza Strip
The dead included Hasan Samour, a journalist working for Qatari television network Al Araby TV. The network announced on social media that he had been killed along with 11 members of his family in one of the strikes in Khan Younis.
READ MORE: Ben & Jerry's co-founder arrested after Gaza protest at US Capitol
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the strikes.
It was the second night of heavy bombing, after Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday on northern and southern Gaza killed at least 70 people, including almost two dozen children.
The latest strikes come as US president Donald Trump visits the Middle East – although he is not visiting Israel – amid hopes of a ceasefire deal or a renewal of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Earlier this week, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces were days away from entering Gaza 'with great strength to complete the mission … It means destroying Hamas'.
And on Thursday, international rights group Human Rights Watch said that Israel's stated plan to capture the entire Gaza Strip and remain in the territory for an unspecified amount of time "inches closer to extermination".
Israel's war on Gaza has killed nearly 53,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children, and displaced 90% of the population in Gaza, often multiple times.
READ MORE: Trans Westminster staff call for clarity over Supreme Court ruling
Gaza's Health Ministry said almost 3000 people have been killed since Israel broke the ceasefire deal on March 18.
On March 2, Israel halted the entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza, with experts warning of famine if Israel does not lift its blockade.
Nearly half-a-million Palestinians are facing possible starvation, while one million others can barely get enough food, according to findings by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a leading international authority on the severity of hunger crises.
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The National
19 minutes ago
- The National
Independence won't come to a nation feart of itself
Thing is, water doesn't really do borders. Seemingly, this (and much else) seems to have escaped the US president, who thought he could make the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of America with a swift stroke of a handy Sharpie. (Such is his legendary vindictiveness; he subsequently banned a news agency from White House press conferences following their refusal to sign up to this geographical lunacy!) In truth, land borders are always more problematic. Just ask Ukraine. Or Canada, for that matter, given Donald Trump's sudden enthusiasm for turning an entire country into nothing more than a US state. READ MORE: Tree-planting is not climate change fix, report urges And land borders became rather more difficult for Scotland when, despite voting Remain – as did Northern Ireland – we found ourselves adjoining a non-EU country in the shape of England. The difference with NI obviously is that they are now adjoining an EU country in the south unlike our being yoked to EU refuseniks; what Rishi Sunak rather infelicitously labelled 'the best of both worlds'. Indeed, Rishi. Meanwhile, the three Baltic states nervously eye their combined 543-mile-long border with Russia, protected, sort of, by their membership of Nato. Protected too by their somewhat belated withdrawal from an agreement which meant they accessed electricity from Russia rather than the EU. And also meant Moscow called the electric shots. However, they have had to contend with a whole spate of sabotage incidents damaging pipelines and cables under the Baltic Sea. Not a peep from the Kremlin, of course, but Vlad the bad would seem to have his fingerprints all over these incidents which, oddly, only occurred after the Baltic states did a new deal with the EU. When they indicated they were leaving the Russia/Belarus one, there was also a sudden spate of social media posts alleging huge price rises and supply shortages. Neither of which came to pass. What differentiates ourselves from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia is the widespread enthusiasm for independence they enjoyed at the time of severance. Mind you they already thought themselves independent at the end of the First World War until the then Soviet Union contrived to annex them. But they managed to maintain their culture and their ambitions and so Lithuania declared full independence in March 1990, while Estonia and Latvia followed in August 1991. One of the highlights of their independence movements was a giant linkage of hands across all three countries and one of the most moving, the sight of Lithuanian weans singing their anthem word perfectly despite decades of suppression. Some of these activities were labelled 'The Singing Revolution'. Would that we could orchestrate something similar. According to the current First Minister, his plan is the only one which would confer international legitimacy on declaring ourselves a separate state. Some 43 SNP branches choose to differ. It will be, to quote his party, a huge 'democratic deficit' if the annual conference body swerves a proper debate on ALL the options. The longer the wait goes on, the more impatient I become for a Scottish government to stop being super cautious and risk-averse. READ MORE: Kate Forbes: Scotland's stories are being lost as tourists focus on aesthetic posts Meanwhile, amid the publishing furore accompanying Nicola Sturgeon's memoir, not many people have cottoned on to the reasons she gives for our not having Baltic-style smeddum. She traces it back to the referendum of March 1979, when a London-based Scottish MP came up with the notorious 40% rule which said that only if 40% of the entire electorate voted Yes, could it succeed. Not only would a simple majority not suffice (although, at 51.6%, one was obtained) but effectively everyone who couldn't be bothered to vote was assumed to be a No. Sturgeon wasn't old enough to have a vote herself at that juncture but she declares in Frankly: 'The effect of this on the Scottish psyche is hard to overstate. It's always been part of the Scottish character – or at least the caricature of it – that we talk the talk much better than we walk the walk. We are full of bravado but, when push comes to shove, lack the gumption to follow through.' There will be those who would turn the same judgement on her, given the various trigger points ignored during her term of office. But the point is well made. In various tests of resolve Scotland has proved too feart to take the ultimate plunge. Maybe we won't until, Baltic-style, we construct a huge and enthusiastic majority. If we needed further proof that Scotland is indeed a goldfish bowl for frontline politicians, we need look no further than the media furore surrounding the publication of the Sturgeon memoir. How much of this is down to the publishers extracting maximum coverage for their much-anticipated book launch, and how much is self-inflicted we might never know. What is undeniable is that every jot and tittle of the former First Minister's thoughts have been minutely scrutinised and analysed. Every time she opens her mouth these days, it seems to prompt another media feeding frenzy. It was the late Margo MacDonald who declared that if every indy-minded person convinced just one other voter, the 2014 poll would have spelled victory for the Yes camp. She wasn't wrong then; she still isn't. It won't be an easy ask. There are those who are implacably opposed to breaking the Union, and nothing and nobody will dissuade them. Their views can and must be respected but, to quote a certain PM, they are not for turning. Not ever. However, there is a soggy centre who can be won over with an honest appraisal of the benefits independence might bring. Not to mention an honest look at how the statistics are continually pochled and never in our favour. There must be a similarly frank flagging up of the downsides; few countries have made an entirely seamless transition to determining their own destinies. The bumps in the road will soon enough appear. Then again, no country has ever concluded that reverting to servile status is an option. I've just been reading a book about Scottish timelines which puts all of our significant milestones into both a UK and a global context. Among much else, it reminded me what an ancient and proud nation we have been, one which long preceded the Unions of the Crowns and Parliaments. Obviously, one of our milestones was the 1707 Act of Union, which rarely, these days, feels much of a union and certainly not a partnership. In those days, the electorate consisted of feudal nobles, lesser nobles with feudal rights, and representatives from royal burghs (with varying electorates). Even so, with Jock Tamson's bairns only able to look on impotently, the majority was a mere 43. That all led to a British parliament in which 150 Scottish peers were graciously permitted to anoint 16 of their own to the Upper House, 30 MPs were to represent the counties, and a whole 15 covering all the burgh districts. As ever, the establishment looked after its own. Thus were the most powerful recipients of feudal favours able, rather modestly, to shape the new parliament. Of course, we still await the answer to the question often posed but never answered; if this is an alleged partnership of equals, how can this alleged partner extricate themselves? Not that the breath is being held.
Daily Record
30 minutes ago
- Daily Record
John Swinney joins Gazan student and MP in plea to Keir Starmer over visa fiasco
SUNDAY MAIL EXCLUSIVE: The PhD candidate is among dozens fo students with places to study in the UK but are being blocked by UK visa red tape A Palestinian woman who fears for her life in Gaza has pleaded with Keir Starmer to help her take up a place at Edinburgh University. John Swinney has backed the 32-year-old's calls for the Prime Minister to open an emergency visa route and said he is 'appalled' students are being prevented from reaching safety in Scotland. Shaymaa, who is using only her first name due to safety concerns, is one of 10 Palestinians who have fully-funded courses in Scotland, out of 78 in total across the UK. But they're stranded in Gaza and unable to leave due to visa processing problems, fearing for their lives every day and struggling to find basic shelter and food. Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine and Edinburgh university have been lobbying the UK Government for months over the issue but fear time is running out as courses are due to start in a fortnight. Shaymaa is still hoping to begin her English Literature PhD at Edinburgh University on September 1. Speaking to the Sunday Mail from Gaza, the student and former lecturer issued a direct appeal to Starmer and said: ' Education is the path to the future. It is one of the few remaining pathways to survival and dignity for Palestinians right now. 'The UK has an opportunity to offer practical, life-saving solutions to students like me. 'I urge him to implement an emergency route for students and researchers from Gaza, including biometric deferral and safe passage, so we are not excluded from opportunities we have rightfully earned.' The UK government said students have to go through biometric processing – where their fingerprints and photos are recorded – to be considered for a visa. Normally, they would select their nearest processing centre but the facility in Gaza is closed and all routes out of the region are blocked due to the Israeli bombardment, leaving them with no way to complete the checks. Swinney said: 'I am appalled at the situation Shaymaa and other students from Gaza are facing. We must see urgent action from the UK Gov-ernment to support them in taking up their university places in Scotland. 'The people of Gaza are already suffering unimaginably at the hands of the Israeli government – the idea that these students could also be denied the chance to take up the university places in Scotland they have worked so hard to attain is not acceptable to me.' The First Minister said education secretary Jenny Gilruth has contacted the UK Government calling for urgency over the issue, adding: 'I am aware other countries including France, Ireland and Italy have managed to successfully evacuate students, so the UK Government cannot simply duck its responsibilities here. Where there is a political will, a resolution can be found – and failure to act is literally putting these people's lives at risk. 'I am clear that the international community must put a stop to Israel's killing in Gaza and that we must see the immediate recognition of a sovereign, independent Palestine. But until that point, the UK Government must do everything it can to ensure ordinary Gazans are not punished further. 'Scotland looks forward to welcoming Shaymaa and the other students from Gaza seeking to take their places at our universities – the UK Government must do the right thing and do everything in its power to allow them to get here.' Earlier this month, around 80 MPs signed an open letter to Starmer urging him to take action to help the 78 students, including Shaymaa, get to the UK for their studies. A number of Scottish MPs joined the calls including Brian Leishman, Pete Wishart and Wendy Chamberlain. Shaymaa said the chance to study in Edinburgh wouldn't just further her education but would save her life. She said: 'Coming to Scotland wouldn't just allow me to continue my academic journey– which has been severely disrupted – but would also give me the chance to live and study in physical safety. "It's not just about personal safety either. It would be a chance to reclaim a sense of direction, to write and think and teach without fearing for my life every second. It would allow me to begin healing and to carry the stories of Gaza into spaces where they urgently need to be heard.' Shaymaa was offered a fully-funded PhD at Edinburgh University in English Literature and said the opportunity would help 'build stronger academic bridges between Scotland, the UK, and Palestine' as well as advance her own education. She said: 'Studying in Scotland would give me the space, tools, and mentorship to develop that work further and to contribute meaningfully to the field of literature and build a lasting academic career. 'This isn't just a degree to me. It's a way to keep going, to hold on to my intellectual life and to honour everything that has been taken from us.' Originally from Abasan al-Kabira, east of the city of Khan Younis in the south of Gaza, Shaymaa and her family were forced to flee when the bombings started and have been displaced multiple times in the last 18 months. Shaymaa is now living in a tent on a beach in al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, with 11 others including her two sisters and their children. She said: 'The last we heard our house was severely damaged but we haven't been back. 'Now my face and hands are sunburnt and sweaty all the time. Daily life in Gaza is almost impossible to describe. There's little access to basic resources like clean water and food. 'Most days are spent trying to secure food, charge devices at solar points when possible, and stay safe amid ongoing bombings.' Edinburgh West MP Jardine said: 'When I was contacted by the University, I wrote to the Foreign Office to ask what they are doing to help students who have been offered places but, because they live in Gaza, are finding it impossible to complete the required UK immigration process to come here. 'Due process needs to happen but we should be doing everything in our power to make sure it's possible to get people out of a warzone.' A UK Government spokeswoman said: 'We are aware of these students and are actively considering how we can best support.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Trump rows back threat of ‘secondary tariffs' against India and China after Putin summit
US president Donald Trump has played down the prospect of imposing so-called 'secondary tariffs' on buyers of Russian oil after his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump had proposed the levies as a new way of pressuring Russia's war-time economy if it failed to stop its invasion of Ukraine, and they were largely due to impact China and India, by far the two biggest buyers of Russian crude. Mr Trump earlier this month doubled duties on Indian products to 50 per cent after imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff for buying Russian oil, kicking off from 27 August. New Delhi was facing the risk of even higher tariffs if Mr Trump's summit in Alaska failed to end Russia's war in Ukraine after the US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that 'secondary tariffs could go up' if things don't go well at the meeting. In recent days, Mr Trump has expressed his anger with India for its refusal to stop buying oil from Russia. He has accused India of financing Russia's war in Ukraine by purchasing discounted crude from Moscow. China remains the largest market for Russian oil exports. However, raising tariffs on Beijing threatens to break a delicate truce deal between China and the US after it was extended for another 90 days. The truce saw both countries lowering tariffs on each other's goods after the trade war between the two biggest economies threatened to upend global markets. On board Air Force One on his way to meet Mr Putin in Alaska, Mr Trump still appeared undecided on whether he would impose secondary tariffs or not, saying they would be 'very devastating' for China in particular and suggesting Russia had already 'lost an oil client' in India. ''If I have to do it, I'll do it. Maybe I won't have to do it,' he said. After the nearly three-hour-long meeting with Mr Putin, Mr Trump hailed the Alaska summit as a 'great and very successful day' although 'we didn't get there' on agreeing an immediate ceasefire. He instead endorsed Russia's longstanding position – that Kyiv and Moscow would need to agree a full peace deal while fighting continued in the background. And in a post-summit interview with Hannity, Mr Trump said he would hold off on imposing secondary tariffs on China for buying Russian oil after making progress with Mr Putin. He did not mention India directly. "Because of what happened today, I think I don't have to think about that now," Mr Trump said of the tariffs. "I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don't have to think about that right now." India has previously said that it needs Russian oil to meet the energy needs of its fast-growing economy. The country has been sourcing nearly a third of its oil from Russia since the Ukraine war began in early 2022 and Moscow started offering it at a discounted rate. New Delhi has decried the double standards of the US sanctioning its oil purchases while continuing to buy Russian uranium hexafluoride, palladium and fertiliser. Narendra Modi's government called the US tariffs "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable" and vowed to "take all actions necessary to protect its national interests'.
