
Ahmed Al Shara declared Syrian President and Gaza hostage release set for Thursday
Trending Middle East brings you the latest social media and search trends from the region and around the world. Here are today's headlines.
The rebel coalition that overthrew Bashar Al Assad has declared Ahmad Al Shara President of Syria, in a consolidation of power for the man who played the leading role in toppling the former government.
The constitution that was in place under the former regime has been annulled and the military and 'all security agencies of the bygone regime' have been also dissolved, according to Col Hassan Abdul Ghani, spokesman for the rebel umbrella group known as the Operations Room.
A Palestine advocacy group said Israeli authorities will release 110 Palestinian detainees on Thursday as part of an exchange under a Gaza ceasefire deal as agreed to with Hamas.
The group includes 30 minors. Three Israeli hostages and five Thai captives will be released.
President Sheikh Mohamed on Wednesday hosted Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, at Abu Dhabi's Al Shati Palace
The leaders discussed ways to bolster bilateral relations and enhance co-operation, particularly in the economic, trade, investment and development fields, state news agency Wam reported.
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Middle East Eye
27 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
By threatening the ICC, David Cameron disgraced Britain
By threatening the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, former British Foreign Secretary David Cameron has joined Russian President Vladimir Putin among a small group of unsavoury world leaders who have menaced or bullied the ICC. In plain English, the former foreign secretary (and former prime minister) has been caught red-handed in an attempt to pervert the course of justice. The motive for Cameron's appalling conduct: a determination to protect Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, from war crimes charges. In the words of the ICC, these war crimes included 'starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts'. Cameron told ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan that issuing an arrest warrant against Netanyahu and Gallant would be 'like dropping a hydrogen bomb'. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Cameron's contempt for the rule of law and readiness to resort to menace and intimidation is standard procedure from the likes of Putin, Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. But Britain is a country that prides itself on respect for the rule of law. We claim to be part of a moral international order. We ought to be better than that - much better. No excuses The fact that Cameron resorted to menace in order to protect the reputation of Netanyahu, a suspected war criminal, places Britain as a part of a group of gangster nations and rogue states for whom might is right. Cameron has therefore disgraced himself and the Conservative Party - and above all, he has disgraced Britain. There are no excuses. He cannot claim inexperience. Cameron was British prime minister for six years, and he had been brought back as foreign secretary when he sought to intimidate Khan. Exclusive: David Cameron threatened to withdraw UK from ICC over Israel war crimes probe Read More » So far, there has been no response from the Foreign Office or Downing Street to Middle East Eye's revelations about Cameron's despicable behaviour. The Foreign Office declined to comment in response to an MEE request. That silence is deafening. To avoid Britain's reputation being permanently besmirched, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has a duty to come out and make a statement, conveying that he is horrified and disgusted by Cameron's conduct as foreign secretary. He also needs to restate Britain's commitment to the ICC and the values it embodies. This intervention is all the more urgent, because putting pressure on the ICC could constitute a criminal act under British domestic law as well as international law. The Rome Statute that established the ICC does not just prosecute those who commit war crimes. It also criminalises those who seek to prevent war crimes from being prosecuted. The relevant passage of the Rome Statute, Article 70, awards the court jurisdiction over those responsible for 'impeding, intimidating or corruptly influencing an official of the Court for the purpose of forcing or persuading the official not to perform, or to perform improperly, his or her duties'. Cameron's threat to 'defund the court and withdraw from the Rome Statute' falls squarely within ICC jurisdiction. Reckless actions There are also potential consequences under domestic law. Section 54 (1) of the International Criminal Court Act 2001 notes: 'A person intentionally committing any of the acts mentioned in article 70.1 (offences against the administration of justice in relation to the ICC) may be dealt with as for the corresponding domestic offence committed in relation to a superior court in England and Wales.' In short, Cameron now finds himself in hot water. One lawyer with whom I spoke last night, while not conversant with all the details, told me that in his judgment, the case for a prosecution is strong. A British foreign secretary tried to subvert the course of justice. Cameron needs to break his silence and to explain himself In Britain, the maximum penalty for perverting the course of justice is life imprisonment, though in practice sentences are likely to be much lower. Leaving aside the possible long-term consequences of Cameron's reckless behaviour, the immediate political reverberations are immense. Britain is a country that prides itself on the rule of law. We claim to be part of the rules-based international order. To his eternal credit, Khan, a British citizen, stood up to Cameron's threats. But the inescapable fact remains that a British foreign secretary tried to subvert the course of justice. Cameron needs to break his silence and to explain himself. Meanwhile, Starmer would be well-advised to order an urgent enquiry into the shocking revelation that Cameron sought to intimidate the chief prosecutor of the ICC. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.


Middle East Eye
27 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
UK and allies sanction Israeli ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich over 'monstrous' Gaza comments
The United Kingdom and several of its allies have sanctioned far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich over over their "monstrous" comments about Gaza. In a significant break from Washington, the UK is imposing asset freezes and travel bans on Israel's National Security Minister Ben Gvir - a West Bank settler - and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The two have fiercely opposed the entry of international aid into Gaza and advocated for the forced expulsion of Palestinians from the territory, with Ben Gvir has called for Israel to "encourage the voluntary emigration of the residents of Gaza". Meanwhile, Smotrich pledged last month that "Gaza will be entirely destroyed" and that Palestinians will "leave in great numbers to third countries." Speaking to the BBC, UK Foreign Secretery David Lammy said the ministers, along with the Israeli government had been repeatedly warned against "encouraging egregious abuses of human rights." New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "Alongside our partners, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway today, we are announcing sanctions against those individuals, because we have been absolutely clear this has to stop. "We stand by a two state solution, and the violence that we've seen in the West Bank, particularly, is entirely unacceptable and must stop." Smotrich vows to 'rebuild temple' during Jerusalem Day celebrations Read More » Smotrich has long advocated for extending Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and Gaza, and across the Middle East as part of his vision of a 'Greater Israel'. He also declared that Israel would 'apply sovereignty' in the occupied West Bank before the next Israeli general elections in October 2026. 'Within a few months, we will be able to declare that we have won. Gaza will be totally destroyed,' Smotrich said. 'In another six months, Hamas won't exist as a functioning entity.' On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that Israel had been informed by the UK of its decision to impose sanctions on the two government ministers, describing the move as "outrageous". "We were informed about the UK decision to include two of our ministers on the British sanctions list," Saar told a press conference. "It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kinds of measures."


Al Etihad
28 minutes ago
- Al Etihad
UAE strongly condemns shooting incident in Austria
10 June 2025 18:40 ABU DHABI (WAM)The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the shooting incident at a school in the Austrian city of Graz, which resulted in the death and injuries of a number of innocent a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed that the UAE expresses its strong condemnation of these criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence targeting innocent people. The Ministry expressed its sincere condolences to the families of the victims, and the government and people of Austria over this heinous criminal attack, as well as its wishes for a speedy recovery for all the injured.