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As it happenedended1699420539

Rishi Sunak confirms 6 Britons dead and 10 missing after Hamas ‘pogrom’ in Israel – live

The PM’s statement will be followed by a Commons session where MPs will debate the UK’s involvement

Holly Evans
Wednesday 08 November 2023 05:15 GMT
Comments
Sunak: Israel ‘has every right to defend itself’.

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Head shot of Eric Garcia

Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

Rishi Sunak has provided an update on the number of Britons missing or killed as a result of the conflict in an address to Parliament today: 6 dead and ten missing.

It comes after the prime minister’s visit to a Jewish school in north London, where he repeated his belief that Israel has “every right to defend itself and its people to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again”.

He added that in his conversation with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he had also raised the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where 2,700 Palestinians have been killed and 9,700 people wounded in retaliatory airstrikes.

Mr Sunak’s statement to the Commons is expected to set out how the UK is aiding British nationals caught in the fighting and supporting Israel, as well as detailing the response to the impact on Palestinians trapped in the strip.

Hospitals across Gaza are expected to run out of fuel, while international aid is being held up in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula pending a deal to ensure its safe delivery.

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Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu says Gaza is 'surrounded'

Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu says Gaza is 'surrounded'
Athena Stavrou8 November 2023 02:00
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Hamas denies Israel is making major military gains in Gaza

Hamas has denied that Israeli forces were making any significant military gains or that they had advanced deep into Gaza City.

The Israeli military on Tuesday said they were fighting the militants “in the heart of Gaza City”, following a month of prolonged bombardment that has killed 10,300 civilians in besieged Gaza.

“They never give the people the truth,” Hamas spokesperson Ghazi Hamad.

He added that numerous Israeli soldiers were killed on Monday and “many tanks were destroyed”.

“The Palestinians fight and fight and fight against Israel, until we end the occupation,” said Mr Hamad, who left Gaza days before the attack.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 November 2023 02:52
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Brits returning from Gaza describe chaos and crisis at Rafah crossing

A British doctor who found himself stranded in Gaza for weeks has finally returned to the UK to be with his family.

Dr Abdelqader Hammad, a consultant transplant surgeon with the Liverpool University Hospital, traveled to Gaza to carry out the only kidney transplants offered in the region when war broke out.

After crossing the Rafah border on Thursday he was one of the first foreign nationals allowed through to Egypt.

Maira Butt reports:

Brits returning from Gaza on chaos at Rafah crossing: ‘They saw us as protection’

Dozens of Brits remain in Gaza as the Rafah crossing opens again

Athena Stavrou8 November 2023 03:00
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UK Labour MP resigns over party stance on Gaza

A Labour frontbencher has resigned over Sir Keir Starmer’s position on the crisis in the Middle East, adding to pressure on the Labour leader over his stance on conflict.

Imran Hussain, MP for Bradford East, said he was quitting his role as shadow minister for the new deal for working people to be able to “strongly advocate” for a ceasefire.

In a letter to Sir Keir, he said he was “deeply troubled” by the Labour leader’s interview on LBC in which he appeared to suggest that the Israeli government had a right to withhold water and power from citizens in Gaza.

More here.

Labour frontbencher resigns over party stance on Gaza

He said he had been ‘proud’ to work alongside Sir Keir Starmer and his deputy Angela Rayner.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 November 2023 03:14
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Israel to control 'overall security of Gaza' after war

Benjamin Netanyahu has revealed that Israel will "for an indefinite period" have "overall security responsibility" for the Gaza Strip after the war ends with Hamas.

"When we don’t have that security responsibility, what we have is the eruption of Hamas terror on a scale that we couldn’t imagine," the prime minister said in an interview with ABC News.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 November 2023 03:45
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Pictures: Commemoration in Jerusalem one month after Hamas attacks

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
(REUTERS)
Athena Stavrou8 November 2023 04:00
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Rep. Rashida Tlaib chokes up condemning House resolution to censure her

US Representative Rashida Tlaib choked up as she condemned a resolution to censure her.

House Republicans have introduced two separate measures to censure the Democrat amid cross-party criticism of her comments on the Israel-Hamas war.

Ms Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American member of Congress, posted a video accusing Joe Biden of supporting genocide in Gaza.

“I will not be silenced and I will not let you distort my words,” Ms Tlaib said on Tuesday.

More here.

Rashida Tlaib chokes up condemning House resolution to censure her

US Representative Rashida Tlaib choked up as she condemned a resolution to censure her. House Republicans have introduced two separate measures to censure the Democrat amid cross-party criticism of her comments on the Israel-Hamas war. Ms Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American member of Congress, posted a video accusing Joe Biden of supporting genocide in Gaza. “I will not be silenced and I will not let you distort my words,” Ms Tlaib said on Tuesday 7 November. “No government is beyond criticism. The idea that criticising the government of Israel is antisemitic sets a very dangerous precedent, and it’s been used to silence diverse voices speaking up for human rights across our nation.”

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 November 2023 04:30
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Democrats join GOP in censuring Rashida Tlaib over Israel-Palestine comments

The House of Representatives voted to censure Rep Rashida Tlaib for her remarks about Israel and Palestine on Tuesday evening, with some Democrats joining with Republicans.

The censure resolution formally criticised Ms Tlaib for her comments after the 7 October attack on Israel wherein Hamas militants killed 1,400 people in Israel and took at least 230 hostages.

Ms Tlaib, one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress in 2019 and the House’s sole Palestinian-American member of Congress, has come under fire for saying that Israel was behind the bombing of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital when US and Israeli intelligence said that a misfired Hamas rocket caused the destruction of the hospital.

Eric Garcia reports.

Democrats join GOP in censuring Rashida Tlaib over Israel-Palestine comments

Democrats have criticised the sole Palestinian-American congresswoman for repeating the slogan ‘from the river to the sea’

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 November 2023 04:45
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Met Police say Armistice Day demo to go ahead as ‘law gives no absolute power’ for ban

A pro-Palestinian demonstration is set to go ahead on Armistice Day after the head of the Metropolitan Police said there is “no absolute power” to ban protest.

Sir Mark Rowley resisted pressure heaped on the force by politicians including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to try to block the gathering in London on Saturday.

In a statement on Tuesday, Sir Mark said intelligence surrounding the potential for serious disorder this weekend does not meet the threshold to apply to prohibit the march.

“The laws created by Parliament are clear. There is no absolute power to ban protest, therefore there will be a protest this weekend,” Sir Mark said.

“The law provides no mechanism to ban a static gathering of people. It contains legislation which allows us to impose conditions to reduce disruption and the risk of violence, and in the most extreme cases when no other tactics can work, for marches or moving protests to be banned.”

Police say Armistice Day demo to go ahead as ‘law gives no absolute power’ for ban

Sir Mark Rowley resisted pressure heaped on the force by politicians including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to block the gathering

Athena Stavrou8 November 2023 05:00
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Aid trucks damaged in bombardment of Gaza

The International Committee of the Red Cross said two of its trucks were damaged when a convoy of its vehicles in Gaza came under fire.

The ICRC vehicles were hit as they were transporting vital medical supplies to hospitals and health facilities in the besieged enclave, the aid group said. A driver was lightly wounded.

“These are not the conditions under which humanitarian personnel can work,” said William Schomburg, the head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Gaza. Officials did not provide further details on the location of the trucks inside Gaza.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 November 2023 05:15

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