UN chief says world must reject ‘hunger as weapon of war’
Speaking via video at a UN conference in Ethiopia, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns of conflict-driven hunger spreading “from Gaza to Sudan and beyond”.
“Hunger fuels instability and undermines peace. We must never accept hunger as a weapon of war,” the UN chief said.
Palestinians wait to receive food from a charity kitchen in Gaza City on July 26
Lawyers meet some Handala crew members detained by Israel
Lawyers from the Israeli legal rights centre Adalah had met 17 of the 21 detained activists from the Handala aid vessel as of Sunday evening, finding them in a “relatively stable condition”, the Freedom Flotilla said in a post on social media.
“Israel is treating them as if they entered illegally, despite abducting them from international waters,” the statement said.
“Detainees were told to either accept ‘voluntary deportation’ or remain detained and appear before a tribunal,” the statement added.
Two US-Israel dual nationals were interrogated and released, while three were being deported, and 12 others were still detained, the group said.
Adalah was yet to meet activist Ange Sahuquet, retired international law professor Frank Romano, and journalists Mohamed El Bakkali and Waad Aal Musa, as of 8pm Jerusalem time (17:00 GMT) on Sunday.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DMoKrhnss_8
Keir Starmer to recall cabinet over Israel’s war on Gaza
The British PM has called an emergency meeting on Israel’s war on Gaza, as pressure mounts at home and abroad to push for a ceasefire.
Sources told The Guardian the government would call ministers back from their summer holidays, setting out the next steps to help resolve the crisis in Gaza.
It comes as Keir Starmer is set to meet Trump in Scotland on Monday, where he will urge the US to take a tougher stance on Israel and help restart stalled ceasefire negotiations.
Starmer will reportedly press Trump at his Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire to use US influence over the Israeli government to push for renewed peace talks.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy is also expected to attend a UN conference in New York this week focused on a two-state solution, where the issue of formally recognising a Palestinian state will be discussed.
British media have reported that the UK’s recognition of Palestinian statehood is now considered a question of “when, not if”, as reports emerge of dissent within the government over the UK’s failure to act over Gaza.
