Daily Archives: 5 July 2026

Foreign minister swerves questions about Britons fighting for Israel

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https://www.declassifieduk.org/foreign-minister-hamish-falconer-swerves-questions-about-britons-fighting-for-israel/

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Hamish Falconer ran through traffic in Whitehall when asked why his government allows British citizens to fight in Gaza

Foreign minister Hamish Falconer refused to answer questions on Wednesday about the UK government’s failure to stop British nationals fighting for the Israeli army in Gaza.

It comes after more than 25,000 people signed a letter to the Foreign Office demanding they investigate UK citizens who fought in Gaza and may have committed war crimes.

Thousands of British nationals have served in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) since the Gaza conflict began in 2023, according to a Freedom of Information response from the IDF first published by Declassified.

Britain’s Foreign Office does no monitoring of its own and was initially only aware of just 80 UK-Israeli soldiers. Falconer has specific responsibility for British policy towards the Middle East.

With the UK government yet to respond to the open letter, Declassified doorstepped Falconer while he walked from the Foreign Office to Parliament, asking him: “Are you worried that war criminals might be walking the streets of Britain?”

Watch Hamish Falconer avoid our questions

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https://www.declassifieduk.org/foreign-minister-hamish-falconer-swerves-questions-about-britons-fighting-for-israel/

Continue ReadingForeign minister swerves questions about Britons fighting for Israel

Fourteen Years in Prison for Quoting Hamas? New Law Could Criminalise Journalists

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https://zeteo.uk/p/fourteen-years-in-prison-for-quoting

The UK Parliament, London. Photo by Hesther Ng/SOPA Images/Sipa USA via Reuters

Starmer is rushing legislation through parliament that experts say threatens free speech, public interest journalism and international humanitarian aid

Sir Keir Starmer’s historically unpopular and soon-to-be-replaced administration is using its last gasps to push through a new national security law that experts believe will pose serious threats to free speech, public interest journalism and the provision of international humanitarian aid.

The new legislation, called the national security (state threats) bill, is intended to update existing national security legislation. It has been introduced by the current home secretary, Shabana Mahmood. Mahmood is widely seen as a hardliner in Starmer’s government, responsible for introducing tougher restrictions on the settlement rights of asylum seekers and immigrants. The bill has been rushed through the Commons and is now being pushed at pace through the Lords. The government wants to have the law on the statute books within weeks.

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Free speech and press freedom groups argue that the bill threatens public interest journalism – a view endorsed by two independent reviewers of terrorism legislation. David Anderson, the government’s former independent reviewer, has said that journalists would be “at risk of prosecution if they were to have contact of any kind with sources within designated bodies or their agents”. Any journalist who works with a source in a hostile foreign government, or simply approaches them for information, could face more than a decade in prison.

Jonathan Hall, the government’s current independent reviewer, has raised similar concerns. He has pushed for the law to include a “reasonable excuse” defence covering the exchange of information.

The practical implications of the bill for journalism are wide-ranging and devastating.

https://zeteo.uk/p/fourteen-years-in-prison-for-quoting

Keir Starmer confirms that he doesn't know anything about democracy.
Keir Starmer confirms that he doesn’t know anything about democracy.
Continue ReadingFourteen Years in Prison for Quoting Hamas? New Law Could Criminalise Journalists

Elon Musk posted twice as often on UK race and immigration as about SpaceX in IPO run-up

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https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/04/elon-musk-uk-race-immigration-spacex-ipo

Elon Musk posted 303 times about race and immigration in the period leading up to SpaceX’s listing on the Nasdaq on 12 June. Photograph: Isaac Wasserman/NCAA Photos/Getty Images

Guardian analysis of X feed shows how keen world’s richest person was to air his views and ‘interfere’ in British politics

Elon Musk posted about race and immigration in the UK on his social media network X twice as often as he did about SpaceX, which he also owns, in the run-up to the aerospace and AI company’s initial public offering.

A Guardian analysis of Musk’s posts, replies and reposts between 31 May and 12 June has shown the extent to which the social media activity of the world’s richest person, who lives primarily in the US, has focused on UK politics.

The period was one of heightened tension and concern in the UK about online activity, particularly from rightwing social media accounts, after the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa for the murder of teenager Henry Nowak, which led to claims of “anti-white” policing, and far-right protesters clashing with police. It also coincided with violent riots across Belfast in Northern Ireland, when protests erupted after a knife attack.

While UK ministers were appealing for an end to the violence, in the US Musk was preparing for one of the biggest moments in his business career on 12 June. That was the day SpaceX, his social media, satellite internet and aerospace conglomerate went public, making him the world’s first trillionaire.

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Article continues at https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/04/elon-musk-uk-race-immigration-spacex-ipo

Elon Musk urges you to be a Fascist like him, says that you can ignore facts and reality then.
Elon Musk urges you to be a Fascist like him, says that you can ignore facts and reality then.
A parody ‘Tesla – The Swasticar’ advert posted at a London bus stop. Photograph: People vs Elon
A parody ‘Tesla – The Swasticar’ advert posted at a London bus stop. Photograph: People vs Elon
Continue ReadingElon Musk posted twice as often on UK race and immigration as about SpaceX in IPO run-up

Iranian president criticises international silence over Israeli actions

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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivers a speech during the “Leader of Resistance: Imam Khomeini International Conference” in Tehran, Iran, on July 4, 2026. [Iranian Presidency / Handout – Anadolu Agency]

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday criticised international institutions for what he described as their failure to stop Israeli actions in the region, saying global bodies have remained silent while Israel openly speaks of assassinations and targeted killings, Anadolu reports.

Speaking at a conference in Tehran’s Summit Hall held in commemoration of slain former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Pezeshkian said international organisations and human rights advocates were expected to prevent such actions, but instead political and logistical support was being provided.

He said Israel attacked multiple countries in the region and was responsible for many of the crises and instability across the Middle East, adding that Muslim countries had not initiated such aggression.

Pezeshkian also referred to the beginning of a “new leadership” for the Islamic community, saying the current leadership bears a heavy responsibility and that his government would continue working toward the ideals of the revolution, strengthening Islamic unity and expanding solidarity among Muslim nations.

The remarks came as funeral ceremonies for Khamenei got underway in Tehran, where thousands of mourners gathered at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Mosque.

READ: Iran rejects UK-France Hormuz statement, warns against foreign military presence

Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, which triggered weeks of war before a ceasefire was reached under Pakistan’s mediation in April, followed by an interim deal in June.

According to the official schedule, memorial ceremonies will continue in Tehran through the weekend with the participation of heads of state, senior officials and religious figures.

Public farewell ceremonies are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, followed by the main funeral procession in Tehran on Monday. The funeral rites will then move to Qom on July 7.

On July 8, ceremonies are scheduled in Iraq, including in Baghdad, Najaf and Karbala, where the body will be received by religious and political figures before being transferred to major Shia shrines.

The final funeral and burial ceremony is scheduled for July 9 at the Imam Ali Reza Shrine in the northeastern city of Mashhad, one of Shia Islam’s holiest sites.

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Donald Trump explains why he established his Bored of Peace
Donald Trump explains why he established his Bored of Peace

Continue ReadingIranian president criticises international silence over Israeli actions

Israeli strike kills Palestinian in Gaza as army continues demolitions

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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Citizens and relatives of the three Palestinians, including 9-year-old Tariq Sabah and his uncle Omar Sabah, who died as a result of the Israeli attack on the tents of displaced Palestinians in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Yunis despite the ceasefire, attend the funeral ceremony in front of Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza, Palestine, on July 1, 2026. [Abed Rahim Khatib – Anadolu Agency]

At least one Palestinian was killed and several others injured in an Israeli strike on Gaza City on Saturday, while the Israeli army continued demolishing buildings and shelling areas across the enclave in the latest reported violations of the ceasefire in force since October 2025, Anadolu reports.

The developments came hours after the Palestinian presidency warned that Israel’s “daily killing policy” in the Gaza Strip, along with settler attacks in the occupied West Bank, could lead to an “uncontrollable explosion” of the situation.

A medical source told Anadolu that the body of Mohammad Najib Ashour and several wounded were taken to Al-Shifa Hospital and Al-Ahli Arab Hospital after an Israeli drone strike targeted a young man riding a bicycle near the Asqula junction in the Zeitoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City.

Ambulance crews also recovered the bodies of two Palestinians killed by Israeli forces near military deployment areas in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, according to medical sources.

Local sources identified them as Bilal Hussein Abu Rabia and Hamza Imad Hamdouna, who had gone missing days earlier before their bodies were recovered Saturday.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said seven Palestinians were killed and nine more bodies were recovered over the past 48 hours, while 16 others were injured.

Israeli intelligence rejects Netanyahu’s request to back claim Iran’s nuclear program was completely destroyed: Report

The ministry said the overall death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza since October 2023 has risen to 73,090, with 173,553 injured.

Meanwhile, Israeli artillery shelled the Al-Salatin area west of Beit Lahia, accompanied by heavy gunfire from military vehicles.

Earlier Saturday, the Israeli army demolished Palestinian-owned buildings and facilities in areas under its control east of Bani Suheila near Khan Younis, triggering a large explosion but causing no reported casualties, according to Anadolu correspondents citing eyewitnesses.

Since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, Israeli forces have continued carrying out airstrikes, shootings and demolitions across Gaza.

Israel has expanded its control to around 70% of Gaza’s territory, confining Palestinians to less than 30% of the strip, according to local estimates.

The Israeli war on Gaza, launched on Oct. 8, 2023 with US backing, has devastated nearly 90% of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure and killed more than 73,000 Palestinians.

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Donald Trump explains why he established his Bored of Peace
Donald Trump explains why he established his Bored of Peace

Continue ReadingIsraeli strike kills Palestinian in Gaza as army continues demolitions