Latest news with #MartinGriffiths
Sky News
2 days ago
- General
- Sky News
Israel-Gaza latest: Israel says it has killed Hamas military leader; Hamas submits response to ceasefire proposal
Analysis: Former UN chief's labelling of Gaza war as 'genocide' marks extraordinary shift By Yalda Hakim, lead world news presenter In a stark and direct intervention, Martin Griffiths, the former UN humanitarian chief, has described the situation in Gaza as genocide. The statement, made during an interview I conducted with Griffiths on The World, marks one of the most pointed accusations yet from a figure known to be deeply embedded in the world of international politics and diplomacy. "I think now we've got to the point this is unequivocal. Of course it is genocide. Just as it is weaponising aid. "We don't need to look behind ourselves to see that's the case. That should encourage us even more because we, of course, all doubted whether it would come to that level of definition. "We all doubted whether famine is actually there. I think starvation is killing people. That's bad enough. We don't have to worry about famine, which is obviously there lurking in the shadows. "Also, genocide… of course that's what has happened. We only need to look at the statements made. Prime Minister Netanyahuhas the virtue of being very clear about his objectives." Watch Yalda Hakim's interview with the former UN humanitarian chief in the video below His choice of words is extraordinary - not just for its gravity, but because it's Griffiths who is saying it. A veteran diplomat with decades of experience navigating complex international crises, Griffiths is known for his calm and thoughtful demeanour - not for inflammatory language. For him to use the term "genocide" in a television interview signals a significant shift in how some within the international system are now interpreting events on the ground in Gaza - 20 months since Israel launched its war.
Sky News
3 days ago
- General
- Sky News
Former UN chief's labelling of Gaza war as 'genocide' marks extraordinary shift
In a stark and direct intervention, Martin Griffiths, the former UN humanitarian chief, has described the situation in Gaza as genocide. The statement, made during an interview I conducted with Griffiths on The World, marks one of the most pointed accusations yet from a figure known to be deeply embedded in the world of international politics and diplomacy. "I think now we've got to the point this is unequivocal. Of course it is genocide. Just as it is weaponising aid. "We don't need to look behind ourselves to see that's the case. That should encourage us even more because we, of course, all doubted whether it would come to that level of definition. "We all doubted whether famine is actually there. I think starvation is killing people. That's bad enough. We don't have to worry about famine, which is obviously there lurking in the shadows. "Also, genocide… of course that's what has happened. We only need to look at the statements made. Prime Minister Netanyahu has the virtue of being very clear about his objectives." 3:14 His choice of words is extraordinary - not just for its gravity, but because it's Griffiths who is saying it. A veteran diplomat with decades of experience navigating complex international crises, Griffiths is known for his calm and thoughtful demeanour - not for inflammatory language. For him to use the term "genocide" in a television interview signals a significant shift in how some within the international system are now interpreting events on the ground in Gaza - 20 months since Israel launched its war. 4:40 The timing is also noteworthy. Just weeks earlier, Tom Fletcher, another respected former British ambassador and current UN humanitarian chief, came close to using the phrase during a UN Security Council session. He said: "What more evidence do you need now? Will you act decisively to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law? Or will you say instead: 'we did all we could?'" Whilst he stopped short, his tone showed a clear change in how leading international figures now view the direction of Israeli military operations in Gaza; staggering civilian deaths, and the statements made by Israeli officials prosecuting this war. 31:58 Griffiths' remarks now go a step further. It comes as the British government continues to grapple with public anger over the mounting civilian toll - and faces growing scrutiny over its continued arms exports to Israel. 6:00 This latest statement by Griffiths doesn't just reflect humanitarian concern. As a former ambassador, he knows the weight his words carry. And with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsening, his warning challenges Israel's allies to ask deeply uncomfortable questions. South Africa to the International Court of Justice last year - accusing its actions in Gaza of amounting to genocide - called the claims "unfounded", "absurd" and amounting to "libel".
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Reform UK council leader in Northants criticised on net zero
A newly elected Reform UK council leader has been criticised over his remarks about net zero this week, North Northamptonshire Council's Martin Griffiths questioned the role of local authorities in tackling climate appointed council leader on 22 May, said his party was not made up of "climate change deniers" but believed that net zero was a "global matter" that was "making everyone poorer".But the leader of the Green Party group on the council, Emily Fedorowycz, said his statements on net zero were "irresponsible" and "dangerous". Fedorowycz said there was an "enormous" economic opportunity from climate projects and there would be future costs to residents if targets were ignored."Blaming climate action for rising poverty is a deliberate distraction from the real causes: a broken energy system, years of underinvestment in insulation and public transport, and global reliance on fossil fuels." Labour MP for Kettering Rosie Wrighting also criticised the comments, writing on social media: "Constituents regularly raise concerns with me about the climate emergency and bills."Tackling net zero is vital to both issues, so I am disappointed to read these comments by the new Reform leader of [North Northamptonshire Council]."Wrighting added: "Councillor Griffiths describes [net zero] as a 'global matter', brushing it off as someone else's problem."But local councils have a role to play and I will be watching [the council's] climate approach closely." North Northamptonshire Council declared a climate emergency in 2021 and committed to becoming a carbon-neutral authority by council's targets align with the UK's national legal requirement to reach net zero emissions by 2050 or Reform administration is expected to lead the council until 2029, shaping local environmental and policy decisions during that time. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service earlier this week, Griffiths said on other areas relating to the climate and environment, he agreed with wanting to plant more trees and clean up the county's stance taken by the new leader of the council mirrors the opinions of the Reform party at the national has been contacted for further Iain Staffell of Imperial College London said that in the long term, renewables "will be bringing down overall energy bills, and specifically electricity bills, for the UK".But some analysts have said in the short term, green energy prices could rise due to the rush to secure enough renewables to meet the 2030 net zero goal. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Reform UK formally votes in new council leader
Newly elected members at a Reform UK-led council have come together for the first time at the authority's annual meeting. North Northamptonshire Council's chamber in Corby saw 65 of its 66 elected councillors attend and formally approve the new leader of the unitary local authority, as well as appoint other positions and make committee arrangements. The Conservatives lost control of the council as Reform UK won 39 seats in the local elections earlier this month. Martin Griffiths said it was a "privilege to be chosen as leader of the council". The new political make-up of the 68-seat council is: 39 Reform UK councillors 13 Conservative 8 Green 4 Labour 1 Liberal Democrat 1 Independent There are currently two vacancies in the Higham Ferrers ward, where the election was postponed due to death of a Liberal Democrat candidate. The election for those seats will take place 12 June. The Tories had been in control of the council since the first elections for the authority in 2021, but lost 37 seats. It is now the largest opposition group and its deputy group leader David Howes said: "Hopefully we will all work together as much as we can." The Greens gained five councillors after the 1 May poll and group leader Emily Fedorowycz said: "We will not support leadership or action that is dictated by Westminster. "We don't want national figureheads or parties running this council. We want it to be run by local people and represented by us in this room." Labour lost eight seats in the elections and group leader Mark Pengelly told the meeting: "We will work with everybody on the council, but we will be holding you to account where we have to, and hopefully we can see four years of improvements for all of North Northamptonshire." A new group has been formed made up of the Independent and Liberal Democrat councillors called the Communities Alliance and it is led by long-serving independent councillor Jim Hakewill, who also stood for Parliament in Kettering in last year's general election, when Labour's Rosie Wrighting won the seat. Griffiths told the meeting: "The first residents survey for the council will take place in the first few months and we will also consult on our priorities we propose in our new corporate plan." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Councillor 'honoured' to lead local authority Reform seize control of two Northamptonshire councils Reform UK take control of two Northants councils North Northamptonshire Council
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
North Northamptonshire Council's first meeting since Reform UK win
Newly elected members at a Reform UK-led council have come together for the first time at the authority's annual Northamptonshire Council's chamber in Corby saw 65 of its 66 elected councillors attend and formally approve the new leader of the unitary local authority, as well as appoint other positions and make committee Conservatives lost control of the council as Reform UK won 39 seats in the local elections earlier this Griffiths said it was a "privilege to be chosen as leader of the council". The new political make-up of the 68-seat council is:39 Reform UK councillors13 Conservative8 Green4 Labour1 Liberal Democrat1 IndependentThere are currently two vacancies in the Higham Ferrers ward, where the election was postponed due to death of a Liberal Democrat election for those seats will take place 12 Tories had been in control of the council since the first elections for the authority in 2021, but lost 37 is now the largest opposition group and its deputy group leader David Howes said: "Hopefully we will all work together as much as we can."The Greens gained five councillors after the 1 May poll and group leader Emily Fedorowycz said: "We will not support leadership or action that is dictated by Westminster."We don't want national figureheads or parties running this council. We want it to be run by local people and represented by us in this room." Labour lost eight seats in the elections and group leader Mark Pengelly told the meeting: "We will work with everybody on the council, but we will be holding you to account where we have to, and hopefully we can see four years of improvements for all of North Northamptonshire."A new group has been formed made up of the Independent and Liberal Democrat councillors called the Communities Alliance and it is led by long-serving independent councillor Jim Hakewill, who also stood for Parliament in Kettering in last year's general election, when Labour's Rosie Wrighting won the told the meeting: "The first residents survey for the council will take place in the first few months and we will also consult on our priorities we propose in our new corporate plan." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
