Latest news with #foreignoffice
Arab News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan decries use of torture in Palestine, Kashmir on UN anti-torture day
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday expressed grave concern over the use of torture as a tool of repression in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Indian-administered Kashmir, accusing the 'occupying powers' of systematically inflicting abuse to suppress demands for self-determination. The statement came on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, marked each year on June 26 to promote the eradication of torture and support survivors. The UN General Assembly designated the day in 1997, coinciding with the anniversary of the 1987 entry into force of the UN Convention Against Torture. Human rights groups have long reported widespread abuse in both Palestine and Kashmir, including arbitrary detentions, custodial beatings and torture, particularly of young men and boys. 'The people of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continue to be subjected to the worst forms of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the occupying powers to suppress their right to self-determination,' the foreign office said in a statement. Reaffirming its commitment to human dignity and justice, Pakistan said it was strengthening legal reforms, institutional safeguards and oversight mechanisms to prevent torture and promote accountability. It also underscored its provision of medical, legal, and psycho-social support to victims. Citing the values of justice and compassion in religious teachings, the foreign ministry said any act of torture was incompatible with Islam and international law. Pakistan called on the international community to condemn what it described as systematic crimes by occupying forces and to take steps to hold them accountable.
The Sun
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Furious Brits stuck in Israel slam Foreign Office for failing to evacuate them from Iran's ballistic missile blitz
BRITONS stuck in Israel say the Foreign Office has abandoned them to their fate by failing to help them flee from Iran's ballistic missile blitz. They claim officials have refused to draw up evacuation plans and are instead telling those trying to leave that they should take a risky bus journey to Egypt or Jordan. 2 2 There are up to 60,000 British citizens who live in Israel and more are likely to have been visiting as the air battle with Iran began. Those stranded are also angry that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, led by David Lammy, evacuated the families of diplomats working at the Embassy in Tel Aviv but offered them nothing. Israeli airspace has been shut since last week and the only flights entering are IDF repatriation jets. Max Radford, who is stuck in Tel Aviv, said he had 'no clear sight' on when he might get back to the UK. He hit out at the advice to head to Jordan or Egypt with little shelter on route. He told TalkTV it was against local guidance to hunker down, adding: 'What are you supposed to do? Hide in a sand dune if there's a rocket attack.' 'There is no way that I'm making my way to Jordan or Egypt, which are not particularly friendly countries. What should be happening is preparation in Cyprus. It's 30 minutes to an hour away on a flight. It's 200km by vessel. 'The Foreign Office guidance is absolutely ludicrous.' Judah, who is also stuck in Tel Aviv, told TalkTV that he had called the Foreign Office but was given 'zero advice or help or a return phone call'. An FCDO spokesman said: 'The safety and security of British nationals is our top priority. We recognise this is a fast-moving situation that has the potential to deteriorate further, quickly and without warning. That is why we are encouraging British nationals to register their presence and pay close attention to travel advice.'
The Guardian
18-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Concerns mount as Brits in Israel told to stay put while embassy families flown out
The UK government removed families of Foreign Office officials from Israel due to security concerns but is continuing to advise British nationals to remain and follow local guidance – prompting questions over whether the approaches are consistent. While the dependents of diplomatic staff were flown out as a 'precautionary measure', with staff remaining at the embassy in Tel Aviv and the consulate in Jerusalem, the broader travel advice has not changed. British nationals currently in Israel are being urged to register their presence online, but are not being advised to leave. Instead they are being told to monitor Israeli government alerts and make individual decisions based on their location and circumstances. Although thousands of people currently in Israel or the occupied Palestinian territories are understood to have registered their presence with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the government has not moved to advise a general departure. Israel and Iran have exchanged fire over the past six days after Israel launched air strikes which it said were aimed at preventing Iran developing a nuclear weapon. Iranian officials insist the country's nuclear programme is peaceful. The disparity in approach has prompted confusion and a growing sense of unfairness, particularly among those questioning why the government acted pre-emptively to protect its own personnel but not ordinary citizens. It is understood that the department believes the two positions are consistent, citing a distinct duty of care to diplomatic staff. The decision to remove family members was based on the view that they are non-essential and more exposed to movement-related risks. For the wider public, the guidance remains to monitor Israeli government alerts and remain close to shelters where advised. Ministers say the overall threat level is being closely monitored, with consular teams deployed across Israel and neighbouring countries. The Foreign Office has said land borders with Jordan and Egypt remain open, and consular teams are in a position to provide assistance to British nationals who choose to leave Israel by land. But officials maintain that the threshold for advising a general departure has not yet been reached, pointing instead to the continued availability of commercial flights and overland border crossings into Egypt and Jordan. The prime minister chaired an emergency Cobra meeting on Wednesday to assess the escalating situation in the Middle East and review contingency planning. A senior government source described the situation as 'grave and volatile', and said ministers were 'working round the clock' with international partners to support de-escalation and keep British nationals safe. 'We want to de-escalate and do our first job – keep British nationals safe,' the source said. More than a thousand people have now registered their presence with the FCDO. Ministers say this does not indicate that assisted departures are being prepared, but that it enables the UK to better assess who is on the ground and what kind of support may be required if the situation worsens. While many of those registered are thought to be dual British-Israeli nationals who may not seek UK consular assistance, a smaller number of people have made active requests for support. The government has deployed extra consular staff to Jordan and Egypt, with rapid deployment teams on standby. For now ministers continue to rely on commercial options and Israeli public safety instructions as the basis of their advice to British nationals – a stance that has prompted unease given the parallel decision to evacuate diplomatic families. Keir Starmer has said that Donald Trump was interested in de-escalation in the Middle East, saying 'nothing' he had heard from the president suggested Washington was poised to get involved. However the US president told reporters outside the White House on Wednesday that he was considering strikes. 'I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.'
