Specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams will be introduced to every police force in England and Wales by 2029.

Never mind Russia, China, and Iran. We have a real enemy within that hijacked a general election and tried to kill the free press: McSweeney.

<article data-history-node-id="429866" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-finance-minister-smotrich-says-hamas-must-be-destroyed-after" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-finance-minister-smotrich-says-hamas-must-be-destroyed-after" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Israeli finance minister Smotrich says Hamas must be destroyed after captives return</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>Israel's far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Thursday that Hamas must be destroyed following the return of captives from&nbsp;Gaza.</p> <p>Smotrich said on X that he&nbsp;fears of the consequences releasing Palestinian prisoners under the agreement, calling the detainees "the next generation of terrorist leaders."</p> <p>Smotrich said he will not vote in favour of a ceasefire deal with Hamas to end Israel's war on&nbsp;Gaza, but stopped short of threatening to bring down prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government.</p> <figure role="group" class="media-block"> <div class="group-inner"> <div alt="Israel's Finance Minister and leader of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich attends a meeting at the parliament, Knesset, in Jerusalem on March 20, 2023. (AFP)" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e9d1d46a-a6e5-4d68-bb52-7f926a4b175d" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"> <img src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/srael%27s%20Finance%20Minister%20and%20leader%20of%20the%20Religious%20Zionist%20Party%20Bezalel%20Smotrich%20attends%20a%20meeting%20at%20the%20parliament%2C%20Knesset%2C%20in%20Jerusalem%20on%20March%2020%2C%202023.%20AFP.jpg" width="1024" height="682" alt="Israel's Finance Minister and leader of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich attends a meeting at the parliament, Knesset, in Jerusalem on March 20, 2023. (AFP)" typeof="foaf:Image" fetchpriority="high"> </div> <figcaption>Israel's Finance Minister and leader of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich attends a meeting at the parliament, Knesset, in Jerusalem on 20 March, 2023. (AFP)</figcaption> </div> </figure> <p><span style="background: url(&quot;https://www.middleeasteye.net/modules/contrib/ckeditor/vendor/plugins/widget/images/handle.png&quot;) rgba(220, 220, 220, 0.5); top: -15px; left: 0px;"><img height="15" role="presentation" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==" title="Click and drag to move" width="15" loading="lazy"></span></p> </div> </div> </article>

Two RAF surveillance planes have flown over the eastern Mediterranean during the ceasefire, as campaigners demand inquiry into UK intelligence sharing with Israel.

The Global Sumud Flotilla has accused Italy of "dressing cowardice up as diplomacy" as Meloni tells them to stop their mission

Crowds marched to the Labour conference venue in support of the Palestinian people, against genocide - and against genocide-enabler Starmer

<article data-history-node-id="429292" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/iceland-israels-actions-gaza-cruel-inhumane-and-illegal" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/iceland-israels-actions-gaza-cruel-inhumane-and-illegal" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Iceland: Israel’s actions in Gaza cruel, inhumane and illegal</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>Iceland’s foreign minister, Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, on Saturday said that Israel’s actions in Gaza are “cruel, inhumane and illegal”.&nbsp;</p> <p>Speaking at the UN General Assembly, she said, “We are witnessing now crimes against humanity and war crimes in broad daylight; what appears before us is systematic ethnic cleansing.”&nbsp;</p> <p>“This needs to end. We need an immediate ceasefire, full humanitarian access, and the unconditional release of all hostages.”</p> <p>Gunnarsdottir added that “nothing” justifies the collective punishment, starvation and forced displacement of Palestinians.</p> </div> </div> </article>

More than 150 organisations, lawyers and KCs say they are being pressured into silence. This is an organised attempt to drive people out of public life for helping asylum seekers exercise their rights...

<article data-history-node-id="428990" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/tens-thousands-join-pro-palestinian-protests-blockades-and-strikes-italy" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/tens-thousands-join-pro-palestinian-protests-blockades-and-strikes-italy" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Tens of thousands join pro-Palestinian protests, blockades and strikes in Italy</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>Tens of thousands of people protested on Monday across Italy as part of a day of action to denounce Israeli genocide in Gaza, with blockades, strikes and marches.</p> <p>The demonstrations came on the same day as France and other countries prepared to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, following recognition by the UK, Australia and Canada on Sunday.</p> <p>Italy's right-wing government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said it will not recognise a Palestinian state for now.</p> <p>In Rome, around 20,000 people gathered in front of the main Termini train station, according to local police, many of them students, shouting "Free Palestine" and holding up Palestinian flags.</p> <p>In the northern city of Milan, where organisers said 50,000 people turned out, protesters burned a US flag, an AFP reporter said.</p> <p>Some demonstrators confronted anti-riot police at Milan's central train station, with police throwing teargas and protestors launching projectiles and smashing windows, an AFP photographer reported.</p> <p>In Bologna, more than 10,000 took to the streets, according to local police, with a group of demonstrators blocking the motorway before being dispersed by water cannons.</p> <p>Protests also took place in Turin, Florence, Naples and Sicily, while in Genoa and Livorno, dock workers blockaded port entrances, according to Italian media.</p> <p>The USB union organised a 24-hour national strike to demand that the government break off relations with&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;in solidarity with Palestinians.</p> <p>Local buses and the metro service were disrupted in Rome, while national train operators also warned of delays and cancellations.</p> <p><em>Reporting by AFP</em></p> </div> </div> </article>

RTE's announcement follows similar threats of withdrawal from Spain and Slovenia

Diplomatic immunity should not stop police from interviewing Isaac Herzog and otherwise investigating him over war crimes

At Stormont, protestors carried a 145ft crocheted blanket representing the 23,000 children killed by Zionist terrorists

Government position set out in letter to select committee as No 10 prepares for visit by Israeli president

New home secretary vows to move ‘further and faster’ to cut number of people entering by irregular routes