The UK and US have split over their policies in regard to Israel and its war with Hamas, after the government suspended some arms sales to the country.
The move marked the UK’s first wholesale divergence with the US since the 7 October attacks and came as US officials were reaffirming their support for Israel.
Image: Foreign Secretary David Lammy has announced the UK will halt some arms sales to Israel.
Last week, Kamala Harris told CNN she wouldn’t waver in her backing of Israel.
“Let me be very clear. I’m unequivocal and unwavering in my commitment to Israel’s defence and its ability to defend itself,” she said.
Then, on Tuesday, Matt Miller, a spokesman for the US Department of State said the UK’s decision had no bearing on the US and they wouldn’t be stopping arms sales.
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Image: Democratic presidential nominee and US vice president Kamala Harris reaffirmed her support for Israel in recent days. Pic: Reuters
He said: “They came to this conclusion. We have reviews that are ongoing.”
Mr Miller did say that the two countries had spoken before the announcement, but that the US position remained unchanged.
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Deflecting from a question over how the US felt about the UK’s decision, Mr Miller instead said: “The UK is a sovereign country, it’s a decision for them to make ultimately.”
US announces charges against Hamas leaders
The difference in policy comes as the US announced criminal charges against senior Hamas leaders including Yahya Sinwar, in connection with the 7 October attacks.
Image: Sinwar in 2021, during an anti-Israel rally in Gaza City. Pic: Reuters
The impact of the case is mostly symbolic as Hamas’ newly elected leader Sinwar is believed to be deep in hiding within Gaza and three of the six defendants are thought to be dead.
“The charges unsealed today are just one part of our effort to target every aspect of Hamas’ operations,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a video statement. “These actions will not be our last.”
Image: A demonstrator holds a sign calling for an immediate ceasefire deal amid protests on Tuesday night. Pic: AP
Protests for third consecutive night
Meanwhile large protests have continued for the third consecutive night in Tel Aviv, as many Israelis demand their government reach a deal to bring the hostages home.
In the 7 October attack around 1,200 people were killed by Hamas and over 200 people taken hostage – triggering an invasion that has claimed over 40,000 Palestinian lives.
One of Israel’s stated key aims of this war has been to get the hostages home safe, but Mr Netanyahu has come under increasing criticism for his prolonged failure to do so – with many Israelis now holding him responsible for the hostage deaths.
One key sticking point in ceasefire talks is Mr Netanyahu’s insistence on Israeli control over the Gaza-Egypt border – in the form of the Philadelphi corridor.
Benny Gantz, a former defence minister and military chief of staff, said Israel’s focus should be on bringing the hostages home instead.
Image: This week has seen large-scale protests against Mr Netanyahu’s government for its handling of any attempts to free hostages. Pic: Reuters
He said Israel could return to the Philadelphi corridor if needed, describing it as an “operational challenge, not an existential threat”.
The government is warning people not to travel to Israel under any circumstances, as the country’s missile exchange with Iran shows no sign of abating.
On Friday, the Foreign Office warned against “all but essential travel” to most of Israel.
The areas around Gaza, the West Bank and the Golan Heights were already classed as red zones, with warnings to avoid travel to these areas.
But the government has now updated the warning for the remainder of the country to red.
This puts Israel on the same level as Iran, and the change of advice is also likely to impact travel insurance.
However, with Israel’s airspace closed, it is unlikely many people will be attempting the journey, and Israel’s national airline El Al has announced it is cancelling flights to and from many European cities, as well as Tokyo and Moscow, until 23 June.
The change in travel advice comes after a second night of ballistic missile barrages from Iran following Israel’s attack in the early hours of Friday morning.
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An eight-storey residential building in Tel Aviv was hit by a missile last night.
On Sunday morning, Israel’s health ministry said 12 people had been killed over the past day, taking the total since Friday to 15. It also said 385 people had arrived at hospital with injuries overnight.
Iran has not provided a total number of deaths or overall casualties, but has claimed dozens have been killed.
Iran’s health minister has said most of those injured and killed in Israeli strikes were civilians. According to comments carried by news agency IRNA, he said the majority were women and children.
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The chancellor said UK forces could “potentially” be used to help defend Israel.
The UK government is sending military assets, including fighter jets, to the Middle East.
While the prime minister would not confirm to reporters that UK forces could be used to defend Israel from future Iranian attacks, the chancellor told Sky News earlier that the government is “not ruling anything out”.
Speaking to Sky’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, Rachel Reeves said sending military assets to the Middle East “does not mean that we are at war”, and emphasised that “we have not been involved in these strikes or this conflict”.
“But we do have important assets in the region,” she continued. “And it is right that we send jets to protect them. And that’s what we’ve done. It’s a precautionary move, and at the same time, we are urging de-escalation.”
Pushed on the question of what the UK would do if Israel asked for support with its operations, the chancellor replied: “I’m not going to rule anything out at this stage. It’s a fast-moving situation, a very volatile situation. But we don’t want to see escalation.”
A helicopter carrying Hindu pilgrims has crashed in India, killing seven people on board.
The accident happened within minutes of the helicopter taking off, officials said, on what should have been a 10-minute flight.
The helicopter was flying to Guptkashi, a prominent Hindu pilgrimage site in the Himalayas, from Kedarnath temple town in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand.
It comes three days after an Air India flight crashed less than a minute after taking off from Ahmedabad airport in northwestern India, killing at least 270 people.
The helicopter, which was operated by private helicopter service Aryan Aviation, went down in a forested area several miles from the Kedarnath pilgrimage route at around 5.30am local time.
Officials said the crash was believed to have been caused by poor weather conditions.
Authorities say they have launched a search and rescue operation and are expected to review operational protocols for flights in the region.
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The dead include the pilot and pilgrims from the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh and western states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, according to officials. The bodies were badly burned in a fire that followed the crash, they said.
Image: Smoke and debris at the site. Pic: Reuters
Tens of thousands of pilgrims visit Kedarnath, which is home to one of the four most sacred Hindu temple shrines, each summer. Many use helicopter services due to the difficult mountainous terrain.
Helicopter mishaps are not uncommon in the region, where sudden weather changes and high-altitude flying conditions can pose risks.
Earlier this month, a helicopter operating in the Kedarnath Valley made an emergency landing shortly after taking off on a highway due to a technical fault. The pilot was injured but all five passengers on board were unharmed.
In May, a helicopter crashed in Uttarkashi district, killing six people, including the pilot. One person survived.
An Irish politician who was detained in Egypt trying to cross into Gaza says the police were violent towards the group after seizing his phone.
People Before Profit-Solidarity TD (MP) Paul Murphy was part of a large demonstration attempting to march to the Rafah crossing in a bid to get aid into the region.
The opposition politician said his phone and passport were confiscated on Friday before he was put on a bus to Cairo airport for deportation.
Footage of the seconds before his phone was seized shows authorities forcibly dragging protesters away from the sit-down demonstration.
Ireland’s deputy premier said several Irish citizens who were detained have now been released. Mr Murphy confirmed he was among the released protesters, posting a photo on his Facebook page saying he was back in Cairo and “meeting shortly to decide next steps”.
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In a message from Mr Murphy after he was detained, posted online by his social media team, he said: “I’m ok, but they still have my phone.
“Egyptian police say we’re going to airport but this isn’t the road we came on because there are 1000s of marchers on the streets. They’re taking us south past a lake, then west towards Cairo.
“Violence got worse after they seized my phone.
“One American woman in my group was badly kicked & beaten, and had her hijab torn off.”
Sky News has contacted Egypt’s police regarding Mr Murphy’s claims of violence towards the group.
Mr Murphy previously said other Irish citizen were among those who had been stopped from entering Gaza.
“The world has watched a horrific genocide for the past 20 months. Since March, a total attempt of starvation,” he added.
“And that this is a peaceful march to demand that it be ended and demand that western governments stop their complicity.”
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Mr Murphy’s partner, Councillor Jess Spear, had previously appealed to Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister and deputy premier Simon Harris to make a public statement on Mr Murphy’s detention.
She expressed “relief” that the group had been released from detention.
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The deadly road to Gaza aid point
She said: “However, they still want to reach Rafah to try and get humanitarian aid into Gaza. That has been the sole purpose of being in Egypt.
“Paul has appealed to Tanaiste Simon Harris to put pressure on the Egyptian authorities to let the marchers reach Rafah. The situation of the people of Gaza worsens by the day as they suffer starvation imposed by Israel.”