Sir Keir Starmer blasts ‘appalling' Gaza strikes and warns Netanyahu over deaths near food centres
Sir Keir said one MP was 'absolutely right to describe these as dark days'
PM ISRAEL BLAST Sir Keir Starmer blasts 'appalling' Gaza strikes and warns Netanyahu over deaths near food centres
SIR Keir Starmer said Israel's recent military action in Gaza was appalling — as he again called for a ceasefire.
The PM said Benjamin Netanyahu's approach was counterproductive, as he hinted more sanctions would be imposed.
Advertisement
3
PM Sir Keir Starmer said Israel's recent military action in Gaza was appalling
3
The PM said Benjamin Netanyahu's approach was counterproductive, as he hinted more sanctions would be imposed
Credit: Reuters
It came after at least 27 Palestinians were killed in shootings near Gaza's food distribution centres.
Britain has already suspended talks with Israel over a free trade deal.
Three MPs raised the situation at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday.
Sir Keir said one MP was 'absolutely right to describe these as dark days'.
Advertisement
READ MORE ON ISRAEL
ATTACK ARRESTS Family of terrorist who hurled Molotov cocktails at pro-Israel rally held
And he went on: 'Israel's recent action is appalling and, in my view, counterproductive and intolerable.'
Yesterday, Israel issued a warning to Greta Thunberg's so-called Freedom Flotilla as the climate activist aimed to sail into Gaza.
The Swede was pulling a dangerous stunt after leaving from Catania, Italy, on Sunday aboard the Madleen.
The boat, carrying 11 pro-Palestine protesters, sailed south of Crete and aimed directly for the terror hotbed with only a "symbolic" amount of aid.
Advertisement
The young campaigners said they were hoping to 'break the siege' and raise 'international awareness' of the humanitarian crisis on the Gaza Strip.
Thunberg, 22, posted on social media with a Palestine flag and wearing a keffiyeh scarf while on the pointless journey.
Israel is prepared to raid the ship, IDF spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said.
Israel issues warning to Greta's 'Freedom Flotilla' as eco-pest SAILS to Gaza
3
It came after at least 27 Palestinians were killed in shootings near Gaza's food distribution centres
Credit: AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
11 minutes ago
- Reuters
Unwelcome at Kennedy Center, LGBTQ+ orchestra defiantly plays in Maryland
NORTH BETHESDA, Maryland, June 6 (Reuters) - The program contained American favorites: pieces by Aaron Copland and George Gershwin and a choral performance of "America the Beautiful" to celebrate WorldPride, a biennial international festival in support of LGBTQ+ rights that this year is taking place in Washington. The International Pride Orchestra had hoped to play at the Kennedy Center, the most prestigious venue in the United States, but that was before U.S. President Donald Trump pledged on social media that there would be "NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA" at the public-private performing arts center. Instead, the orchestra took to the stage at the Strathmore Music Center in Maryland, just north of the capital, with sequin-clad drag queen Peaches Christ as host, and another drag queen, Thorgy Thor, playing a violin solo to Beyonce's "Crazy in Love" to an audience of 1,166 people. WorldPride events are taking place during a Trump administration that has issued executive orders limiting transgender rights, banned transgender people from serving in the armed forces, and rescinded anti-discrimination policies for LGBTQ+ people as part of a campaign, opens new tab to repeal diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Michael Roest, conductor and founder of the International Pride Orchestra, a nonprofit, reminded the audience that "people don't feel safe to live and love openly." "That is the reason why we have this orchestra," Roest said. The evening offered messages about equality and patriotic ideals as expressed in "America the Beautiful," sung by the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, which accompanied the orchestra in the second half of the show. A transgender pianist, Sara Davis Buechner, dazzled with her grand piano lead on "Rhapsody in Blue." U.S. and rainbow flags were hoisted at the close. Within weeks of taking office, Trump in February fired the leadership of the Kennedy Center and named himself chairman, complaining about what he said was the poor quality of performances. On February 10, he announced on social media that loyalist Richard Grenell would become interim director of the center and made the "NO MORE DRAG SHOWS" post. Two days later, the Kennedy Center sent Roest a message that said, "We are not in a position at this time to advance a contract," according to an email chain seen by Reuters. That message came after months of negotiations over securing the Kennedy Center, orchestra spokesperson David Perry said. Considering themselves "disinvited," event organizers began looking for alternative venues and the Strathmore offered its space, Perry said. Ryan Bos, executive director of the Capital Pride Alliance, which is leading the coordination of WorldPride, explained the move by saying, "We would not be allowed to have any official drag programming." "That defeats the purpose of Pride - in terms of creating a welcoming and safe environment for anybody to feel comfortable being their true, authentic self, which is what Pride's about," Bos said in comments to The Advocate, a magazine reporting LGBT+ news, that were confirmed by the alliance. Asked for a response, a Kennedy Center spokesperson referred Reuters to Bos' remarks and an X post by Grenell saying, "We didn't cancel a single show at the Kennedy Center. We simply ask that shows don't lose money and leave us with the bill." The three-year-old orchestra was created to give LGBTQ+ musicians an avenue to perform free of concerns about their sexual orientation or gender identity. "This performance is in and of itself a form of resistance," said Luke Spence, the orchestra's general manager and also a trumpet player. Jennifer Curtis, a violinist and concert master, welcomed the spotlight that came with the dispute. "That's what you want in the time of struggle, or if you're needing to make a statement," Curtis said. "We got extra publicity out of being at the butt end of Trump."
The Independent
19 minutes ago
- The Independent
Richard Tice says Reform should ‘discuss' burqa ban after party chair quits
Reform 's deputy leader, Richard Tice, is advocating for a national debate on banning burqas in Britain, despite it not being the party's official policy. The call for a debate follows the resignation of Reform's chairman, Zia Yusuf, who deemed the proposal to ban burqas as "dumb." Sarah Pochin, Reform's new MP for Runcorn and Helsby, raised the issue during PMQs, urging the government to consider a ban on burqas for public safety reasons, similar to some European countries. Prime Minister Keir Starmer rejected the call, and a Reform spokesman clarified that banning burqas was not party policy, leading to criticism from the far-right. Nigel Farage said he supported a broader debate on face coverings in public, while Mr Tice denied the party was in chaos and praised the work of the outgoing chairman.
Reuters
28 minutes ago
- Reuters
Russia faces struggle to replace bombers lost in Ukrainian drone strikes
LONDON, June 6 (Reuters) - Russia will take years to replace nuclear-capable bomber planes that were hit in Ukrainian drone strikes last weekend, according to Western military aviation experts, straining a modernisation programme that is already delayed. Satellite photos of airfields in Siberia and Russia's far north show extensive damage from the attacks, with several aircraft completely burnt out, although there are conflicting versions of the total number destroyed or damaged. The United States assesses that up to 20 warplanes were hit - around half the number estimated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy - and around 10 were destroyed, two U.S. officials told Reuters. The Russian government on Thursday denied that any planes were destroyed and said the damage would be repaired, but Russian military bloggers have spoken of loss or serious damage to about a dozen planes, accusing commanders of negligence. The strikes - prepared over 18 months in a Ukrainian intelligence operation dubbed "Spider's Web", and conducted by drones that were smuggled close to the bases in trucks - dealt a powerful symbolic blow to a country that, throughout the Ukraine war, has frequently reminded the world of its nuclear might. In practice, experts said, they will not seriously affect Russia's nuclear strike capability which is largely comprised of ground- and submarine-based missiles. However, the Tu-95MS Bear-H and Tu-22M3 Backfire bombers that were hit were part of a long-range aviation fleet that Russia has used throughout the war to fire conventional missiles at Ukrainian cities, defence plants, military bases, power infrastructure and other targets, said Justin Bronk, an aviation expert at the RUSI think tank in London. The same fleet had also been carrying out periodic patrol flights into the Arctic, North Atlantic and northern Pacific as a show of strength to deter Russia's Western adversaries. Bronk said that at the outset of its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia was operating a fleet of 50-60 Bear-Hs and around 60 Backfires, alongside around 20 Tu-160M nuclear-capable Blackjack heavy bombers. He estimated that Russia has now lost more than 10% of the combined Bear-H and Backfire fleet, taking into account last weekend's attacks and the loss of several planes earlier in the war - one shot down and the others struck while on the ground. These losses "will put major pressure on a key Russian force that was already operating at maximum capacity," Bronk told Reuters. Russia's defence ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Replacing the planes will be challenging. Both the Bear H and the Backfire are aircraft that were designed in the Soviet era and have been out of production for decades, said Douglas Barrie, aerospace expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, although existing planes have been upgraded over the years. Barrie said that building new ones like-for-like was therefore very unlikely, and it was unclear whether Russia had any useable spare airframes of either type. Western sanctions against Russia have aimed to restrict the import of components such as microprocessors that are vital to avionics systems, although Moscow has so far been comparatively successful at finding alternative sources, Barrie added. Russia has been modernising its Blackjack bomber fleet, and Putin sent a pointed signal to the West last year by taking a 30-minute flight in one such aircraft and pronouncing it ready for service. But production of new Blackjacks is slow - one Russian military blogger this week put it at four per year - and Western experts say progress in developing Russia's next-generation PAK DA bomber has also been moving at a crawl. The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) said in a report, opens new tab last month that Russia had signed a contract with manufacturer Tupolev in 2013 to build the PAK DA, but cited Russian media reports as saying state test flights are not scheduled until next year, with initial production to begin in 2027. While it would be logical for Russia to try to speed up its PAK DA plans, it may not have the capacity, said Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the FAS. He said in a telephone interview that Russia is facing delays with a range of other big defence projects including its new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile. RUSI's Bronk was also sceptical of Moscow's chances of accelerating the timeline for the next-generation bomber. "Russia will struggle to deliver the PAK DA programme at all in the coming five years, let alone accelerate it, due to budgetary shortfalls and materials and technology constraints on industry due to sanctions," he said.
