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South Korean lawmakers have called for the impeachment of the president after he declared martial law only to reverse the move hours later, triggering the biggest political crisis the country has faced in decades.

The surprise declaration late on Tuesday ignited a standoff with parliament which rejected President Yoon Suk Yeol’s attempt to ban political activity and censor the media.

After his earlier shock announcement, troops had entered the National Assembly building as police and protesters clashed outside. Lawmakers at one point used fire extinguishers to prevent troops from entering parliament.

The Swedish prime minister announced on Wednesday he has postponed his scheduled visit to South Korea this week.

Ulf Kristersson had been scheduled to hold a summit meeting with Mr Yoon.

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party's staff set up a barricade to block soldiers at the National Assembly after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in Seoul, South Korea.
Pic: Reuters
Image:
Staff in parliament barricaded doors to stop soldiers entering. Pic: Reuters

A coalition of lawmakers from opposition parties said they planned to propose a bill to impeach Mr Yoon on Wednesday, which should be voted on within 72 hours.

“The parliament should focus on immediately suspending the president’s business to pass an impeachment bill soonest,” Hwang Un-ha, an MP in the coalition, told reporters.

Mr Yoon told the nation in a TV address that martial law was needed to defend the country from nuclear-armed North Korea and pro-North anti-state forces, and protect its free constitutional order, although he cited no specific threats.

Within hours, South Korea’s parliament, with 190 of its 300 members present, unanimously passed a motion requiring martial law be lifted, including all 18 members present from the president’s party.

The president then rescinded the declaration.

Why was martial law declared in South Korea?

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South Korean president lifts martial law order

Protesters outside the National Assembly parliament shouted and clapped, chanting “we won”.

South Korea’s largest union coalition, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, said thousands of its members would strike until Mr Yoon resigned and will hold a rally in Seoul.

Several other protests are expected, including near the National Assembly where thousands of people gathered late on Tuesday to call to block Mr Yoon’s order – and then demand his arrest and resignation.

South Korean stocks opened down around 2% on Wednesday, while the won steadied to trade around 1,418 to the dollar, having plunged to a two-year low.

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What just happened in South Korea?

‘He cannot avoid treason charges’

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has called for Mr Yoon, who has been in office for two years, to resign or face impeachment.

“Even if martial law is lifted, he cannot avoid treason charges,” a senior DP member of parliament, Park Chan-dae, said.

“It was clearly revealed to the entire nation that President Yoon could no longer run the country normally. He should step down.”

People watch South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's televised address  at a bus terminal in Seoul, South Korea.
Pic: AP
Image:
The president made the martial law announcement on Tuesday night. Pic: AP

The National Assembly can impeach the president if more than two-thirds of lawmakers vote for it. A trial is then held by the constitutional court, which can confirm it with a vote by six of the nine justices.

Mr Yoon’s party controls 108 seats in the 300-member legislature.

“South Korea as a nation dodged a bullet, but President Yoon may have shot himself in the foot,” said Danny Russel, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute think tank in the United States.

The country has been a democracy since the 1980s and is a US ally and major Asian economy.

The crisis caused international alarm. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he welcomed Mr Yoon’s decision to rescind the martial law declaration.

“We continue to expect political disagreements to be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law,” Mr Blinken said in a statement.

South Korea’s previous period of martial law was in October 1979.

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Trump shares AI video of Gaza vision featuring golden statues, bearded belly dancers and Netanyahu on a sunbed

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Trump shares AI video of Gaza vision featuring golden statues, bearded belly dancers and Netanyahu on a sunbed

Donald Trump has shared a bizarre AI-generated video on his Truth Social platform showcasing what appears to be a vision of Gaza under his proposed plan.

The footage, which the 78-year-old shared without comment, shows the war-ravaged territory before a caption appears: “Gaza 2025… What’s Next?”

It then goes on to show the area transformed into a Middle Eastern paradise with exotic beaches, Dubai-style skyscrapers, luxury yachts and people partying.

Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump

Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump

It includes a “Trump Gaza” tower and a gigantic, golden statue of the US president – with miniature versions on sale in a souvenir gift shop.

A child is also shown walking in a street, holding a huge, golden balloon of the president’s head.

The video also features the world leader dancing with a scantily clad belly dancer in a bar – and sunbathing and sipping cocktails by a hotel resort pool with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Elon Musk appears in the footage several times – sitting on a beach eating humous with flatbreads as bearded belly dancers perform on the sand.

The billionaire boss of X, Tesla and SpaceX – who also leads the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which has been tasked with cutting government spending – is also shown throwing dollar bills in the air for people.

Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


A song written for the video also plays in the background.

The lyrics go: “Donald’s coming to set you free, bringing the light for all to see, no more tunnels, no more fear: Trump Gaza’s finally here.

“Trump Gaza’s shining bright, golden future, a brand new life.

“Feast and dance the deal is done, Trump Gaza number one.”

Sky News has established the video was first shared online in early February by accounts with no apparent connection to the White House.

Read more from Sky News:
Large bruise on Trump’s hand prompts speculation over health
What you need to know about Trump’s Gaza plan

Mr Trump announced his plan – for when the war between Israel and Hamas ends – earlier this year.

It includes relocating two million Gazans to neighbouring Arab countries and developing the territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East“.

He described Gaza as a “demolition site” where “virtually every building is down”.

Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


Laying out his idea of what would happen beyond an Israel-Hamas ceasefire, he proposed: “The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too.”

He said America would be “responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site”, before it would “get rid of the destroyed buildings”, and “level it out”.

“Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs,” he added.

The White House described the proposal as “out-of-the-box” and “visionary” – but it was condemned as the effective “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians from Gaza.

Hamas described the proposals as “ridiculous and absurd” in a statement from one of its officials.

Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, which as fellow Arab nations support the Palestinian cause, also rejected Mr Trump’s plan.

Read more:
Analysis: Trump’s Gaza plan is so outrageous it might be something bigger

There was a mixed reaction to the video in the comments section below.

One person wrote: “I don’t think that’s funny or cool. Sorry. Am I missing something??? I hope it’s a joke a bad joke..”

“I hate this. I love our president, but this is horrible,” said another.

One Truth Social user wrote: “Mr President while I appreciate what you do, is not about you. To God be the glory and the honor, for without Him, you couldn’t have accomplished anything. The statue is a symbol of the antichrist, please humble yourself to God. Jesus is king and only Him.”

“You’re doing great Mr President. But don’t let it get to your head. God put you in that position for His Glory, not yours,” said another.

“Can we transform our US cities to look like this 2025 vision first? Our cities are dumps with ugly buildings and homeless people,” wrote one user.

“Everything looks good, just stay away from these guys,” said another, reposting a screengrab of the bearded belly dancers.

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Trump posts AI video of Gaza vision featuring golden statues, bearded belly dancers and Netanyahu on a sunbed

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Trump posts AI video of Gaza vision featuring golden statues, bearded belly dancers and Netanyahu on a sunbed

Donald Trump has shared a bizarre AI-generated video on his Truth Social social media platform showcasing what appears to be his vision of Gaza under his proposed plan.

The footage, which the 78-year-old posted without comment, shows the war-ravaged territory before a caption appears: “Gaza 2025… What’s Next?”

It then goes on to show the area transformed into a Middle Eastern paradise with exotic beaches, Dubai-style skyscrapers, luxury yachts and people partying.

Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump

Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump

It includes a “Trump Gaza” tower and a gigantic, golden statue of the US president – with miniature versions on sale in a souvenir gift shop.

A child is also shown walking in a street, holding a huge, golden balloon of the president’s head.

The video also features the world leader dancing with a scantily clad belly dancer in a bar – and sunbathing and sipping cocktails by a hotel resort pool with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Elon Musk appears in the footage several times – sitting on a beach eating humous with flatbreads as bearded belly dancers perform on the sand.

The billionaire boss of X, Tesla and SpaceX – who also leads the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which has been tasked with cutting government spending – is also shown throwing dollar bills in the air for people.

Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


A song written for the video also plays in the background.

The lyrics go: “Donald’s coming to set you free, bringing the light for all to see, no more tunnels, no more fear: Trump Gaza’s finally here.

“Trump Gaza’s shining bright, golden future, a brand new life.

“Feast and dance the deal is done, Trump Gaza number one.”

Sky News has established that the video was first shared online in early February by accounts with no apparent connection to the White House.

Read more from Sky News:
Large bruise on Trump’s hand prompts speculation over health
Trump: Zelenskyy to visit Washington to sign minerals deal

Mr Trump announced his plan – for when the war between Israel and Hamas ends – earlier this year.

It includes relocating two million Gazans to neighbouring Arab countries and developing the territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East“.

He described Gaza as a “demolition site” where “virtually every building is down”.

Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


Laying out his idea of what would happen beyond an Israel-Hamas ceasefire, he proposed: “The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too.”

He said America would be “responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site”, before it would “get rid of the destroyed buildings”, and “level it out”.

“Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs,” he added.

The White House described the proposal as “out-of-the-box” and “visionary” – but it was condemned as the effective “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians from Gaza.

Hamas described the proposals as “ridiculous and absurd” in a statement from one of its officials.

Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, which as fellow Arab nations support the Palestinian cause, also rejected Mr Trump’s plan.

Read more:
What you need to know about Trump’s Gaza plan
Analysis: So outrageous it might be something bigger

There was a mixed reaction to the video in the comments section below.

One person wrote: “I don’t think that’s funny or cool. Sorry. Am I missing something??? I hope it’s a joke a bad joke..”

“I hate this. I love our president, but this is horrible,” said another.

One Truth Social user wrote: “Mr President while I appreciate what you do, is not about you. To God be the glory and the honor, for without Him, you couldn’t have accomplished anything. The statue is a symbol of the antichrist, please humble yourself to God. Jesus is king and only Him.”

“You’re doing great Mr President. But don’t let it get to your head. God put you in that position for His Glory, not yours,” said another.

“Can we transform our US cities to look like this 2025 vision first? Our cities are dumps with ugly buildings and homeless people,” wrote one user.

“Everything looks good, just stay away from these guys,” said another, reposting a screengrab of the bearded belly dancers.

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Brother of former hostage Eli Sharabi says he was tortured and starved while captive in Gaza

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Brother of former hostage Eli Sharabi says he was tortured and starved while captive in Gaza

The image of Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi being released from Gaza a little over two weeks ago, looking gaunt and weak, shocked and angered Israel and leaders around the world.

His brother Sharon, who fought for months to secure his release, has told Sky News that Eli was tortured by Hamas and barely saw daylight but is slowly recovering his strength after almost sixteen months in Gaza.

“Since day one, Eli was held in extremely difficult conditions, dozens of metres beneath the ground and the treatment he received from his captors was very, very humiliating and very threatening,” said Sharon.

Sharon, being an observant Jew, didn’t watch the live television feed of his brother’s release because it happened over shabbat, but he barely recognised his sibling when they were reunited a few hours later in hospital.

Eli Sharabi and family
Image:
Eli Sharabi and his family

Israeli captive Eli Sharabi, is escorted by Hamas fighters before being handed over to the Red Cross. Pic: AP
Image:
Eli being escorted by Hamas fighters before being handed over to the Red Cross. Pic: AP

“Eli was starved in an extreme way. He was humiliated, beaten. He didn’t receive minimal conditions for living. The most basic things a person needs for his health – to breathe clean air, to drink clean water.

“He was kept in very difficult conditions in captivity, which included extreme starvation, torture, humiliations, for 16 months in the tunnels of Hamas, I think his appearance says it all.”

Eli was taken from his home in kibbutz Be’eri on 7 October 2023.

More on Hamas

“I will be back, I’ll come back to you,” he had promised his British wife Lianne, and teenage daughters Noiya and Yahel as he was being dragged into Gaza.

Sharon Sharabi
Image:
Sharon Sharabi

They were murdered shortly after.

Read more from Sky News:
Businessman’s body ‘found in sack of pineapples’
CCTV shows moment thieves roll £4.75m gold toilet out of palace

As Eli was paraded on stage by Hamas before his release, he said he was looking forward to being reunited with them – it was only when he reached Israel that he found out they were dead.

“Only once he was in the safe arms of Israel, Eli received the news, when he was told that our mother and older sister were waiting for him [at the border],” explained Sharon.

The family had been given specialist advice to help them deliver the tragic news to Eli.

Eli Sharabi and his family
Image:
Eli Sharabi and his family

“Then he asked, ‘where are Lianne and the girls?’ And when they told him that they hadn’t survived October 7th, it broke his heart.

“We know that from this extremely low point, the lowest point possible, you cannot go down further. We are going to embrace Eli, and we are going to let him process this terrible loss.”

Eli’s release, after 490 days in captivity, was a bittersweet moment for the family.

Yossi Sharabi, Eli and Sharon’s brother was also kidnapped on 7 October 2023 and his body is still in Gaza.

Sharabi brothers
Image:
The Sharabi brothers

Hamas said Yossi had been killed by Israeli airstrikes, which an IDF investigation said was likely.

Though it couldn’t rule out the possibility he was murdered by his Hamas captors.

The family are campaigning to get him back so he can be buried properly. Any disruption to the ceasefire could threaten that.

“We’ve been in this struggle for 16 months now and I think that everyone deserves, at the very least, for their people to be brought back for a final resting place.

“If not on their feet and alive, then at least, even if that person lost his life, he should be brought back with dignity, he needs to be given the proper respect, to be brought back to his soil, to his land.

“Yossi is sorely missed, it’s a great loss to mankind in general, but especially to his family, his wife and daughters, who had survived Hamas’s brutal attack on October 7th.

“And my commitment, just as I fought for Eli, I’ll fight for Yossi, and for all the hostages, until the very last one, in order to try and process what happened to us and especially to try and return to my private ordinary life, the life I had before October 7th.”

The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire is almost complete – four more bodies of hostages are due to be released on Thursday – but there has been little negotiation on the next phase.

Unless an agreement can be reached to temporarily extend phase one, then the war could resume, and with 63 hostages still being held in Gaza.

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