“Even though the Hamas proposal is far from Israel’s basic requirements, Israel will send a delegation of mediators to exhaust the possibility of reaching an agreement under conditions acceptable to Israel.”

Her case will now be fast-tracked to the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne for trial, with her first hearing scheduled for 23 May.

“Our thoughts are with the families and all those affected who continue to wait for word of their loved ones,” said George Mayor Ald Van Wyk.

“Therefore going forward this court will have to consider a jail sanction,” he said. “It is important that you understand that the last thing I want to do is put you in jail.”

Ukrainian authorities are accusing a member of parliament of stealing more than £220,000. They say this MP bought a lot of stuff that they couldn’t afford with their official salary.

Governor Eduardo Leite asked for urgent help to rescue hundreds in many towns. Helicopters are searching for stranded folks. In some places, the floods are so bad that helicopters can’t land, so they have to lift people to safety.