Senior Hamas source says Gaza truce deal possible despite Israeli stalling
The source said Hamas' response to the latest ceasefire proposal included requesting a clause that would prevent Israel from resuming the war if an agreement was not reached within the 60-day truce period.
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Israeli military says it intercepted missile from Yemen toward Israel
CAIRO, July 25 (Reuters) - The Israeli military said on Friday it had intercepted a missile from Yemen towards Israeli territory. The IDF also said sirens were activated in several areas in Israel.
Telegraph
a minute ago
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Rayner pushing Starmer to follow Macron and recognise Palestine
Angela Rayner is pressing Sir Keir Starmer to follow Emmanuel Macron and formally recognise a Palestinian state. The Deputy Prime Minister is understood to be '100 per cent' behind other Cabinet ministers pressuring the Prime Minister over the decision. A third of Labour MPs signed a letter on Friday saying it was time for 'immediate recognition'. It comes after Emmanuel Macron, the French president, pledged to recognise Palestine as a state at the next UN General Assembly in September. The Labour Government backs Palestinian statehood but has argued for months that it should be formally recognised at the right moment to further peace in the region. However, there is growing pressure in the party for a change to be made sooner. An ally of Ms Rayner told The Telegraph: 'She absolutely thinks it has to happen, 100 per cent. She realises the massive electoral consequences of it. 'We are in a much, much worse place now. We would lose 20 seats over the issue at the moment, not five.' At the last general election, Labour shed votes on the left to several independent pro-Gaza candidates. It is also likely to face further pressure after Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana launched their new hard-Left party. In a statement issued after a phone call on Friday evening, Mr Macron, the French President, Friedrich Merz, the German Chancellor and Sir Keir said the 'appalling scenes in Gaza are unrelenting' and appeared to criticise Israel over the 'starvation and denial of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people'. But Sir Keir has so far stopped short of saying when he will recognise a Palestinian state. Ms Rayner is one of several cabinet ministers understood to be increasingly pressing Sir Keir to take the move. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, also wants the Prime Minister to pivot to a policy of immediate recognition, according to the Guardian. His view is shared by Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland Secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary. Speaking on Thursday night, Ms Mahood said that while British recognition of Palestine would have 'multiple benefits' and send a 'strong message' to Israel, the immediate priority must be delivering aid to Gaza. Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, also wants to see Palestine recognised straight away, according to Bloomberg. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also repeated his calls on social media on Friday for a Palestinian state to be recognised by the UK. The Government's language towards the Israeli government has hardened considerably in recent weeks amid increasing humanitarian concern. Peter Kyle, the Science Secretary, told Sky News the situation was 'untenable', saying: 'Like any other person, I look at these images and I am deeply, deeply offended by them. 'The people of the region have been let down by successful generations of lots of world leaders but including particularly the leadership in the region itself, who have failed to deliver the kind of leadership that could have solved this problem.' Meanwhile, 221 MPs from across different political parties have urged the Government to recognise a Palestinian state ahead of a United Nations conference in New York next week. The MPs' letter, co-ordinated by Labour's Sarah Champion, chairwoman of the International Development Select Committee, said: 'We are expectant that the outcome of the conference will be the UK Government outlining when and how it will act on its long-standing commitment on a two-state solution; as well as how it will work with international partners to make this a reality.' Parliamentarians from Labour, the Conservatives, Lib Dems, SNP, Greens, Plaid Cymru, SDLP and independents are amongst those who signed the letter. Some 135 Labour MPs – one in three – signed the letter, indicating the strength of feeling on the matter across the backbenches in Sir Keir's party. In a video posted on social media on Friday, Mr Sarwar said: 'I have long supported the immediate recognition of the State of Palestine and continue to do so. But whilst pressing for that, we must see the end of the war right now. 'What we're seeing on our screens and in our social media feeds is intolerable, unjustifiable and heartbreaking. The mass starvation of a population, the innocent killing of innocent civilians and the destruction of infrastructure. 'That's why we need an immediate ceasefire – we need the free flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, we need to see the end of illegal occupation and the pathway to a two-state solution.' He called for the release of the 50 remaining Israeli hostages who are still being held in captivity by Hamas.
Times
a minute ago
- Times
Starmer rejects call to follow Macron in recognising Palestinian state
Sir Keir Starmer has rejected a call by more than 130 Labour MPs to follow Emmanuel Macron and formally recognise a Palestinian state amid concerns that the issue would overshadow President Trump's visit to the UK. The French president announced on Thursday that he would formally recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, increasing pressure on Starmer. Cabinet ministers have privately been urging the prime minister to do the same and on Friday more than a third of his backbenchers signed a letter calling on him to follow suit. The issue threatens to dominate Trump's four-day visit to the UK, which formally begins on Saturday. Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, said that Macron's decision was 'reckless' and 'only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace'. 'It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7,' he added. Speaking on Friday before flying to Scotland for a five-day visit, Trump said that Macron's announcement 'doesn't matter'. 'He's a very good guy. I like him, but that statement doesn't carry weight,' he said, adding: 'Here's the good news: What he says doesn't matter. It's not going to change anything.' Starmer's reluctance is likely to deepen divisions within the cabinet, with one member of the government immediately branding the response 'deeply inadequate'. A senior government source said that there were concerns that recognising a Palestinian state while Trump was visiting could derail discussions over a US-UK trade deal. Starmer is meeting Trump at his Turnberry golf course on Monday. In a statement released after talks with Macron, Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, and Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, Starmer made clear that he would not bring forward an announcement. Starmer said that while he was 'unequivocal' about recognising a Palestinian state, he would only do so at a time of 'maximum utility to improve the lives of those who are suffering'. It means that the UK will not recognise a Palestinian state until there is a ceasefire with the return of the October 7 hostages, and humanitarian aid is restored to Gaza. Starmer said: 'Alongside our closest allies, I am working on a pathway to peace in the region, focused on the practical solutions that will make a real difference to the lives of those that are suffering in this war. 'That pathway will set out the concrete steps needed to turn the ceasefire, so desperately needed, into a lasting peace. 'Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that. But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis. This is the way to ensure it is a tool of maximum utility to improve the lives of those who are suffering — which, of course, will always be our ultimate goal.' He said that the scenes in Gaza were 'appalling' and 'unrelenting'. 'The continued captivity of hostages, the starvation and denial of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, the increasing violence from extremist settler groups, and Israel's disproportionate military escalation in Gaza are all indefensible,' he said. A total of 136 Labour MPs — equivalent to a third of Starmer's parliamentary party — have signed a cross-party letter calling for Britain to stand up to its 'historic responsibility' and recognise a Palestinian state. The letter was signed by 221 MPs in total. It said: 'Whilst we appreciate the UK does not have it in its power to bring about a free and independent Palestine, UK recognition would have a significant impact due to our historic connections and our membership on the UN Security Council, so we urge you to take this step. 'British recognition of Palestine would be particularly powerful given its role as the author of the Balfour Declaration and the former Mandatory Power in Palestine. Since 1980 we have backed a two-state solution. Such a recognition would give that position substance as well as living up to a historic responsibility we have to the people under that mandate.' • Why Israel can't brush off France's recognition of a Palestine state The letter was organised by Sarah Champion, a Labour MP and chair of the international development select committee. It was signed by 19 select committee chairs in total including the Labour MPs Emily Thornberry, Tan Dhesi, Debbie Abrahams and Florence Eshalomi. Jess Morden, the chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party, was also a signatory. Israel condemned Macron's decision. Binyamin Netanyahu said the announcement 'rewards terror' and warned that a Palestinian state would be a 'launch pad to annihilate Israel'. The Knesset, Israel's parliament, voted to annex the West Bank — a move which would make a Palestinian state impossible. Itamar Ben-Gvir, national security minister and the most outspoken far-right minister in Netanyahu's cabinet, said: 'Complete halt of 'humanitarian' aid. Total occupation of the Strip. Total destruction of Hamas. Encouragement of migration. Settlement. 'This is not the alternative path — this is the royal road to securing the release of the hostages and achieving victory in the war.' • Israel and US pull out of Gaza ceasefire talks with 'selfish' Hamas Sir Jeremy Greenstock, a former British ambassador to the UN, was one of 50 diplomats who signed a letter calling for Starmer to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state. He said it would go beyond 'rhetoric' and encourage countries in the Middle East to follow suit.
