Hamas must relent, and food needs to keep flowing to civilians in Gaza
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23 minutes ago
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Iran asks Taliban for ‘kill list' so it can hunt down MI6 spies
Leaders of Iran's Revolutionary Guards have asked the Taliban for access to a leaked list of Afghans who helped Britain so they can hunt down MI6 spies. The Tehran regime hopes to examine the list of nearly 25,000 Afghans who worked with British forces as they seek leverage with the West ahead of nuclear negotiations this autumn. The so-called 'kill list' contains the names of Afghans who were applying for asylum, including soldiers who had worked with the British Army, intelligence assets and special forces. Some are believed to have subsequently fled to Iran. In a sign that the two sides are already collaborating, at least one Afghan whose name was allegedly on the list has been deported from Iran to Kabul in the past few days. A senior Iranian official in Tehran confirmed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had formally requested that the Taliban government share the leaked list. It is understood that MI6 intelligence assets will take priority in the search. He said: 'On the Iranian side, there are also efforts to find the list, with a special committee assigned for it. There have been discussions on cooperation between Tehran and Kabul on this issue as it can help both countries for negotiations with the West.' The Telegraph understands that Taliban leadership in Kandahar has also ordered officers in Kabul to arrest as many individuals as possible from the leaked document to use them as leverage in exerting diplomatic pressure on London. The database was accidentally leaked in February 2022 when a Royal Marine emailed the complete file to Afghan contacts in Britain instead of sending a small extract. The spreadsheet contained names, telephone numbers and email addresses of Afghan soldiers, government workers and family members who applied to relocate to Britain under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy after the 2021 Western military withdrawal. The list also included identities of more than 100 British special forces personnel and MI6 operatives who had vouched for Afghan applicants. A Taliban government official told The Telegraph that they obtained the spreadsheet in 2022. Speaking to this newspaper last month, he said: 'After the reports were published in England, it became clear how significant this leak was. The order is to arrest as many individuals as possible to use them as a tool of diplomatic pressure against England.' The IRGC's demand comes after Britain, France and Germany threatened Tehran with a so-called snapback mechanism, which would restore UN Security Council resolutions against Iran, if no progress is made on negotiations over its nuclear programme by August 30. The most significant resolution that would return is 1929, adopted in June 2010, which expanded sanctions beyond technical nuclear restrictions to target Iran's broader economy. The resolution required all UN members to take 'all necessary measures' to enforce Iran's enrichment ban and ballistic missile restrictions. Iran has refused to abandon uranium enrichment that could ultimately lead to a nuclear weapon, despite a bombing campaign by Israel and the US last month. Iranian authorities want to check borders and detain Afghans in Iran whose names appear on the list, with particular focus on those who worked as intelligence operatives, according to the Iranian official. He said: 'There is an urgency to find as many of them as possible before the snapback deadlines arrive to use them as backdoor bargaining tools.' A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'We take the safety of our personnel very seriously and personnel, particularly those in sensitive positions, always have appropriate measures in place to protect their security. 'The independent Rimmer Review concluded that it is highly unlikely that merely being on the spreadsheet means an individual is more likely to be targeted, and this is the basis on which the court lifted its super-injunction.' David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, is prepared to trigger sanctions against Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons, The Telegraph revealed last year. The UK remains a participant in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and can unilaterally force a return to sanctions if it considers Iran has violated the deal's terms. At least one Afghan whose name appeared on the leaked list, and who had escaped to Iran after the leak, was detained for deportation on Friday. His son was ill, and his wife and two daughters remained in Iran, the deported man said, 'unable even to go out and buy bread.' 'They arrested me on the street, handcuffed me, and sent me to a deportation camp,' he told The Telegraph from Kabul. 'I pleaded with them. I told them my life would be in danger in Afghanistan. I shouted, 'Where are human rights?' But they didn't care. They sent me straight to the border.' 'They can come and kill me any moment' He questioned whether the Government was truly unaware of what was happening in Iran. 'There are many people like me there – being deported, being arrested,' he said. 'The British know all of this. If they wanted to help, they would've done it already. But they don't want to.' Now in Kabul, he said he was constantly on the move, hiding in a different place each night, afraid for his own safety and for his family left behind in Iran. 'They can come and kill me any moment,' he said. 'But it doesn't matter to anyone any more. That's just my life now.' He expressed bitter frustration over the UK's resettlement priorities. 'I hope the Brits are happy – they took cooks and masseurs to Britain, but those who lost their eyes serving British forces, and many more are left behind,' he said. 'Maybe that's what they wanted. I just regret not realising it sooner.' He asked how it was possible that the Government – 'once rulers of half the world – could remain blind to the situation'. 'They took cooks, but left behind generals and colonels,' he said. 'What kind of logic is that?' The Telegraph has revealed that former Taliban members were brought to the UK on British evacuation flights from Afghanistan after the leak. The individuals were flown out for their safety, but among them were suspected jihadists, sex offenders, corrupt officials, and people previously jailed by US-led forces – raising concerns over poor vetting. Insiders say some Afghans are also exploiting a family reunion scheme set up after the leak and are using it to enter the UK under false pretences. The Telegraph understands that evacuated migrants are offering people in Afghanistan help to get to Britain, including fake family links for up to £20,000 per person. Iran is using espionage allegations against Afghans as a pretext for the mass arrests and deportations following the recent conflict with Israel. The Telegraph spoke to Afghans in Iran, at the border, and in Afghanistan, who said the regime in Tehran was targeting them to divert public attention from its 'humiliation' by Israel in last month's 12-day war. During the conflict, daily deportations jumped from 2,000 to over 30,000 as Iranian authorities turned public anger toward the vulnerable minority. Those persecuted by the regime also reported suffering widespread abuses including beatings and arbitrary detention. The Government imposed a super-injunction in September 2023 preventing media coverage of the data breach, which has been described as one of the most damaging intelligence leaks in recent history. The injunction was extended before last year's election, despite a judge's decision to lift it in May 2024. Johnny Mercer, the former Conservative veterans minister who served in Afghanistan, called the leak 'gut-wrenching.' The Government established an emergency scheme called the Afghanistan Response Route in March 2024 to airlift people named in the breach to the UK. The total relocation program for Afghans could cost up to £7bn of taxpayers' money. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Israeli group of artists, intellectuals call for 'crippling sanctions' on Israel
'Our country is starving the people of Gaza to death and contemplating the forced removal of millions of Palestinians from the Strip,' the letter alleged. Thirty-one Israeli filmmakers, artists, academics, and former politicians called for the international community to impose 'crippling sanctions' on Israel to pressure it into a ceasefire with Hamas in a Wednesday letter to The Guardian. The signatories include Academy Award recipient Yuval Abraham, former attorney-general Michael Ben-Yair, former speaker of the Knesset and former Jewish Agency head Avraham Burg, and former MK Tamar Gozansky. 'Our country is starving the people of Gaza to death and contemplating the forced removal of millions of Palestinians from the Strip,' the letter alleges. 'We, Israelis dedicated to a peaceful future for our country and our Palestinian neighbors, write this with grave shame, in rage and in agony,' it states. The European Commission announced on Monday that it would recommend to the European Union to partially suspend scientific and technological cooperation with Israel in the Horizon research and innovation program as an initial step against Israel's actions in Gaza. The UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway sanctioned National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in June. The US and the EU have also sanctioned select Israeli settlers and groups in the West Bank for violence against Palestinians. Awdah Hathaleen, a Palestinian activist who was featured in Abraham's No Other Land, was killed during clashes with settlers in the village of Umm al-Khair in the West Bank on Monday, allegedly by sanctioned settler Yinon Levi. Levi was released to house arrest by the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. The full list of signatories: Yuval Abraham: Academy Award recipient for No Other Land (2025) Ra'anan Alexandrowicz: Sundance world cinema jury prize recipient for The Law in These Parts (2012) Udi Aloni: Tribeca Film Festival best international narrative feature recipient for Junction 48 (2016) Liran Atzmor: Peabody Award recipient for The Law in These Parts (2013) Professor Tali Bitan: University of Haifa Michael Ben-Yair: Former attorney general of Israel and former acting Supreme Court judge Nir Bergman: Ophir award recipient for Here We Are (2020) Avraham Burg: Former speaker of the Knesset and former head of the Jewish Agency Peter Cole: Poet, translator, and MacArthur Fellow Guy Davidi: International Emmy Award recipient for 5 Broken Cameras (2013) Ari Folman: Golden Globe recipient for Waltz with Bashir (2009) Shira Geffen: Camera d'Or recipient for Jellyfish (2007) Prof. Emeritus Amiram Goldblum, Hebrew University of Jerusalem Prof. Oded Goldreich: Weizmann Institute of Science and Israel Prize recipient (2021) Tamar Gozansky: Former Knesset member Prof. Uri Hadar: Tel Aviv University Prof. Moty Heiblum: Wolf prize in physics recipient (2025) Adina Hoffman: Writer, Windham Campbell prize recipient (2013) Eran Kolirin: Screenwriter and film director, Ophir Award recipient for Let It Be Morning (2021) Nadav Lapid: Screenwriter and film director, Golden Bear recipient for Synonyms (2019) Alex Levac: Israel Prize recipient (2005) Hagai Levi: Television writer and director, Golden Globe recipient for The Affair (2015) Samuel Maoz: Film director, Golden Lion recipient for Lebanon (2009) Dr. Adi Moreno: Tel Aviv-Yafo Academic College Prof. Michal Na'aman: Painter, Israel prize recipient (2014) Ohad Naharin: Choreographer, Israel Prize recipient (2005) Daniella Nowitz: Cinematographer, Ophir Award recipient for Asia (2020) and Israel TV Academy Award recipient for Carthago (2023) and Bad Boy (2024) Prof. Adi Ophir: Tel Aviv University Inbal Pinto: Choreographer and dancer, Israeli Culture Ministry award recipient (2011) Aharon Shabtai: Poet and translator, Israeli Prime Minister's Prize recipient (1993) Eyal Weizman: Director of Forensic Architecture Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Every home in Gaza is filled with antisemitic propaganda': Fauda star slams anti-war petition
'Go into a tunnel. Fight for one day like tens of thousands of reservists, and then sign a petition. You're worthless - I've had enough of you.' Singer and Fauda star Idan Amedi, who was injured during his reserve service, sharply criticized a forthcoming petition reportedly signed by several Israeli creatives to stop the war in Gaza. The petition was allegedly signed by Israeli celebrities such as Chava Alberstein, Gidi Gov, and Oshik Levi. Israeli media reported that the full petition will be published within the coming days. Amedi called the petition 'detached and fake news.' 'Every home in Gaza is filled with antisemitic, anti-Jewish propaganda. From images of 'martyrs' to stickers saying, 'With blood and fire we will reach Jerusalem,'' he wrote. 'A group of privileged people echoing stupidity, ignorance, and lies. There is no other army in the world that operates in such a densely populated area with such a low civilian casualty rate. This is proven - go check.' 'On a day when we see our brothers in 2025 as 'Muselmann' digging their own graves underground,' he added, referring to the video Gaza terror groups released of two hostages over the weekend. He also referenced the term Muselmann, which was used during the Holocaust to describe Jewish prisoners in Nazi concentration camps who were starved to the brink of death. 'Go into a tunnel. Fight for one day like tens of thousands of reservists, and then sign a petition. You're worthless - I've had enough of you.' Petition blames Israel for starving Gazans 'Our country is starving the people of Gaza to death and contemplating the forced removal of millions of Palestinians from the Strip,' the letter says, as reported by KAN. 'We, Israelis dedicated to a peaceful future for our country and our Palestinian neighbors, write this with grave shame, in rage and in agony.' While the petition is rumored, over 30 Israeli artists and intellectuals signed a letter to the Guardian calling for an end to the war. The signatories included Academy Award recipient Yuval Abraham, former attorney-general Michael Ben-Yair, former speaker of the Knesset and former Jewish Agency head Avraham Burg, and former MK Tamar Gozansky. 'Our country is starving the people of Gaza to death and contemplating the forced removal of millions of Palestinians from the Strip,' the letter alleges. 'We, Israelis dedicated to a peaceful future for our country and our Palestinian neighbors, write this with grave shame, in rage and in agony,' it states.
