Note to reader: We wanted to give you a trigger warning on what you may read below. We have chosen, as with every one of these briefings, to not share horrific images, however we want to alert you as sensitively as we can to the reports coming out of Israel and Gaza.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak: “Legitimate protests hijacked by extremists to promote and glorify terrorism”
“Legitimate protests hijacked by extremists to promote and glorify terrorism, elected representatives verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted, and antisemitic tropes beamed onto our own Parliament building”, said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over the weekend in a statement.
“It is toxic for our society and our politics and is an affront to the liberties and values we hold dear here in Britain”, he added. “Our democracy cannot and must not bend to the threat of violence and intimidation or fall into polarised camps who hate each other. The explosion in prejudice and antisemitism since the Hamas terrorist attacks on the 7th October, are as unacceptable as they are un-British. Simply put, antisemitism is racism. And speaking as someone who has experienced racism, I know it when I see it”.
The Prime Minister’s comments followed antisemitic messaging projected onto Big Ben and threats made to Parliamentarians last week.
Former Attorney General Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Ellis MP today called for the prosecution of protestors responsible for projecting “antisemitic, terrorist-originating slogans onto Big Ben last week”, after the Police Commissioner said he was “powerless”. Sir Michael called the claim “utter nonsense”, citing a number of bases on which people could be prosecuted.
Rachel Maclean MP agreed that the slogans were “extreme”, “antisemitic” and a “genocidal statement”, stating that “decent people around the country, not just Jews, find this appalling” and urged the Government to call on the police to prosecute the individuals responsible.
Jonathan Gullis MP condemned the “hate mob” which appeared outside a Stoke-on-Trent Conservative fundraiser on the weekend and entered the building where the meeting was taking place, “to intimidate, to harass and to bully”, allegedly including one former member of now-proscribed Hizb ut-Tahrir.
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister and Government resigns
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has officially resigned from his post, having served in the position since 2019.
The Palestinian Authority Government has also resigned.
“We will remain in conflict with Israel until the establishment of a Palestinian State,” he stated upon resigning, adding that the decision is to allow for broad consensus about political arrangements after Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
Hamas have reportedly welcomed the move, telling Saudi Arabia media that “someone even more corrupt” will be appointed in Shtayyeh’s place, pointing to Hamas’ aims to solidify power in the West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority rules.
The Palestinian Authority and the ruling Fatah Party of which Shtayyeh and its President, Mahmoud Abbas, are members, is seen as corrupt by a majority of Palestinians according to recent polls. The Authority has failed to stem Iran-sponsored violence in the West Bank.
IDF plan to evacuate civilians from combat zones in Rafah
The IDF has presented its plan for the evacuation of over 1 million Palestinian civilians from potential combat zones in Rafah, southern Gaza, according to Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office.
The plan is reportedly still awaiting the approval of the War Cabinet, although plans to deliver humanitarian aid have already been approved.
“The fighting is weeks away from completion, not months”, once Israel begins its operation in Rafah, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We can’t leave the last Hamas stronghold”, he added.
The plan comes amid international calls for the safeguards prior to Israel’s operation to defeat Hamas’ last battalions in Gaza, near the Egypt border.
Together with the evacuation, the proposal seeks to provide “humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip in a manner that will prevent the looting that has occurred in the northern Strip and other areas”, the Prime Minister’s Office added.
Hostage deal advances in Paris
Late last week, representatives from Israel, the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt met in Paris to advance negotiations regarding a hostage release.
Hamas was reported to drop some of its harsher demands, including on the key areas of the length of a ceasefire, number of Palestinian prisoners that it’s demanding should be released, and the condition of a complete IDF withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
The terror group initially demanded the release of 1,500 Palestinian prisoners for 40 hostages but that has allegedly now been dropped.
However, the terror group is still demanding on IDF withdrawal from central Gazan cities and the removal of military barriers from the Strip.
Israeli media has reported that 25-40 Israeli hostages are being discussed for release in exchange for 200-300 Palestinian terrorists in Israeli prisons and a six-week temporary ceasefire.
Israel’s Economy Minister Nir Barkat talks with Saudi Arabia Commerce Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi
Israel’s Economy Minister Nir Barkat met with Saudi Arabia’s Commerce Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi at the biennial World Trade Organisation (WTO) conference in Abu Dhabi today.
The two reportedly shook hands and traded business cards, after Barkat told his Saudi counterpart that “we can make history together”.
Israel and Saudi Arabia have long been engaged in U.S.-brokered negotiations following the historic 2020 Abraham Accords which saw Israel, Bahrain, Morocco and the U.A.E. establish full recognition and diplomatic relations.
Hezbollah fire large barrage of 60 rockets
Hezbollah fired a volley of around 60 rockets toward Israel today, with several exploding near a bus carrying passengers who fled the vehicle for cover.
Two Hezbollah terrorists were killed earlier today when the IDF struck Hezbollah targets deep inside Lebanon, according to reports.
Strikes were carried out in Baalbek, northeast Lebanon, after Hezbollah claimed to shoot down an IDF Elbit Hermes 450 model drone hours earlier, later confirmed by Israel.
Mother of hostage whose body was stolen by UNWRA calls to meet UN Secretary-General
Ayelet Samerano, mother of Yonatan Samerano, whose body was stolen and taken to Gaza by an UNRWA employee on 7 October, has demanded to meet with the UN Director General while she is in Geneva.
“Mr. Guterres — look at my eyes and answer me now, where is my son?” she told a UN Watch forum on Monday. “You are next door, you’re here and you have the opportunity to meet me today and tell me what are you going to do (…) I’m just a mother who lost the most precious thing in the world”.
Mr. Guterres was meeting with the Foreign Minister of Iran, in Geneva, at the time of her address.
