
Starmer welcomes King of Jordan as Gaza conflict continues
The Prime Minister hailed Abdullah's 'leadership, particularly in the region' and described his work on the conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas as 'really, really important'.
He said: 'We share the objective of getting back to a ceasefire just as quickly as we can, getting those hostages out and getting humanitarian aid in fast and at speed.
'And of course we both agree that the only long-term solution is that two-state solution.'
King Abdullah said: 'I think this is a timely visit, there's a lot happening, and I think the coordination and the exchanges we will have today will be very helpful, to not only Jordan but countries in my region and Europe too.'
The meeting in Downing Street comes after the UK backed a resolution at the UN Security Council calling for Israel to lift restrictions on aid entering Gaza, which was ultimately vetoed by the US.
A Downing Street spokesperson later said the leaders 'agreed on the importance of the Palestinian Authority's reform agenda as part of the path to a two-state solution and lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians'.
They added: 'The leaders also discussed the wider bilateral relationship between the UK and Jordan, and the opportunity to deepen business and investment links between the two countries.
'Both looked forward to speaking again soon.'

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Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Dawn French apologises after ‘mocking tone' in video about Israel-Hamas conflict
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.' 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.'

Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Dawn French apologises after ‘mocking tone' in video about Israel-Hamas conflict
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.'


The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Why so many Thai nationals are among the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza
Israel has announced the retrieval of the body of Nattapong Pinta, a 35-year-old Thai national taken hostage during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Pinta was among 31 Thais abducted during the assault that triggered the ongoing conflict. Thailand's foreign ministry confirmed Pinta's death in a statement on Saturday, noting that he was the last Thai hostage held in Gaza. The ministry added that the bodies of two other Thais killed in the conflict have yet to be recovered. According to the foreign ministry, 46 Thais have died since the start of the war. Thai citizens comprised the largest group of foreign nationals held captive by Hamas, and were among tens of thousands of Thai workers residing in Israel at the time of the attack. Why are there so many Thais in Israel? Israel once relied heavily on Palestinian workers, but it started bringing in large numbers of migrant workers after the 1987-93 Palestinian revolt, known as the first Intifada. Most came from Thailand, and Thais remain the largest group of foreign agricultural laborers in Israel today, earning considerably more than they can at home. Thailand and Israel implemented a bilateral agreement a decade ago to ease the way for workers in the agriculture sector. Israel has come under criticism for the conditions under which the Thai farm laborers work. A Human Rights Watch report in 2015 said they often were housed in makeshift and inadequate accommodation and 'were paid salaries significantly below the legal minimum wage, forced to work long hours in excess of the legal maximum, subjected to unsafe working conditions and denied their right to change employers.' A watchdog group found more recently that most were still paid below the legal minimum wage. How many Thai nationals work in Israel? There were about 30,000 Thai workers, primarily working on farms, in Israel prior to the attack by Hamas. In the wake of the attack, some 7,000 returned home, primarily on government evacuation flights, but higher wages than those available at home have continued to attract new arrivals. The Thai ambassador to Israel, Pannabha Chandraramya, recently said there are now more than 38,000 Thai workers in the country. What happened after some left? Faced with a labor shortage in the wake of the exodus, Israel's Agriculture Ministry announced incentives to try to attract foreign workers back to evacuated areas. Among other things, it offered to extend work visas and to pay bonuses of about $500 a month. Thailand's Labor Ministry granted 3,966 Thai workers permission to work in Israel in 2024, keeping Israel in the top four destinations for Thais working abroad last year. Thai migrant workers generally come from poorer regions of the country, especially the northeast, and even before the bonuses, the jobs in Israel paid many times what they could make at home.