UN’s Albanese rejects Israel’s claim that 170 slain Gaza journalists were ‘terrorists’

The UN’s special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory has dismissed Israeli claims that 170 journalists killed by its forces in Gaza were “terrorists”, saying there is “not a shred of evidence” to back the claim.

Francesca Albanese’s comments on X came after the Israeli military said its investigation had found that the individuals “who claimed to be journalists” were “actually terrorists belonging to Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist organisations in Gaza”.

Albanese said there was “zero” evidence to the Israeli claim “that journalists partook in military activities” and that she would soon publish a report on the matter.

“As Western media starts its due diligence, Apartheid Israel escalates disinformation. The army has even a ‘legitimization cell’ fabricating stories to justify genocide. My next report exposes it all,” she wrote.

After years of being banned, the Israeli armed war belligerent reimposed in October 2023 the directive 'Treat everyone and everything that moves and not move as Hamas." The Israelis are using the directive also in Lebanon.

Conflation in the act of war is a war crime.

UK to ask 27 Israeli diplomats to leave if consulate not re-opened, Israeli media says

The UK ambassador to Israel has told Israeli officials that London will ask 27 Israeli diplomats to leave the UK if Israel does not reverse the closure of the British consulate in occupied East Jerusalem, according to Israeli media outlet Yedioth Ahronoth.

Last month, Israel told the UK to close its consulate in occupied East Jerusalem within 30 days, after the British government announced sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Israel informed the UK of the timeline for the closure and said British diplomats working at the consulate will also lose their diplomatic status in 30 days, the Reuters news agency reported, citing two Israeli officials and two sources familiar with the matter.

Rubio speaks to Netanyahu on the way to Iceland

US ⁠⁠Secretary of State Marco ⁠⁠Rubio spoke with Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu over the phone, according to a State Department spokesperson.

Rubio made the call on his way to Iceland, the first stop on his four-day tour of European nations.