Today’s news summary – Paper Talk: Israel preparing for ground invasion of Gaza despite calls for ceasefire

Thursday’s front pages continue their coverage of the Middle East crisis, as Israel reportedly is preparing for its ground invasion despite growing calls for a ceasefire. 

Several of the papers claim Sir Keir Starmer is “said to have failed to heal the rift” in his party over how it should respond to the crisis.

Israel preparing for ground invasion of Gaza

The Daily Express says “Where is the hope amidst shared grief?” – along with a picture of three Palestinian boys covered in blood and dust. The paper also shows mourners at the funeral of a British-Israeli family murdered in the Hamas attacks.

The Guardian also carries a picture of young mourners at the graves of British woman Lianne Sharabi and her two teenage daughters, Noiya and Yahel.

The Times has a picture of their coffins side by side with Israeli flags draped over them. The paper says the three were laid to rest after an emotional service lit by the setting sun. 

The Daily Telegraph reports on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s televised address last night. During the address, he said Israel was preparing for its ground invasion of Gaza. “We are preparing for a ground invasion… Hamas is doomed,” says the headline. The paper says the PM “cast the coming war in biblical terms.”

The Daily Mail says “Labour is tearing itself apart” over how to respond to the crisis. In an interview earlier, Sir Keir seemed to say Israel had the “right” to cut off power and water in Gaza – he later said he meant only to say they had the right to self-defence. The Mail reports that four shadow ministers are “said to be on resignation watch” over the issue. 

The interview, according to the Times, “prompted thousands of emails from Muslim voters, councillor resignations, and open letters from those still representing the party” and that a meeting with around 12 of his Muslim MPs only “made matters worse.” 

The i newspaper calls for Israel to “pause” strikes on Gaza. The paper says UK diplomats are working with the UN to “convince” Israel to halt strikes temporarily to let more aid reach civilians. It adds the PM has “stopped short of backing a ceasefire.” 

The Guardian carries a warning from the UN’s Relief and Works Agency – the main provider of aid in Gaza – that its operations there will be forced to stop unless fuel supplies are allowed in. The agency says hospitals, bakeries, and water pumps may cease to function – making the humanitarian crisis even worse by the hour. 

Oxfam is quoted as saying Gaza is “receiving just 2% of its usual supply of food”.

Poppy’s Go Green

Away from the Gaza crisis, several papers lead on stories closer to home. 

The Daily Mirror leads on a parole hearing next month for Jon Venables – one of the men who killed toddler James Bulger in 1993. Venables was 10 years old when he took part in the kidnap and murder. His hearing will take place behind close doors. James Bulgers’ mother had argued the parole hearing should take place in public. 

The Daily Star reports that a scientist has “shockingly claimed that astrology is not very scientific”. The paper says physicist Maggie Aderin-Pocock, presenter of the BBC’s Sky At Night, has “dissed the esteemed science” and insisted “the stars have no influence” on people. “Typical of a Pisces!” it says.

The Sun leads with a story about Ed Sheeran being on a flight with a “foul-mouthed lout sparked trouble by demanding booze” and then “racially abused crew”. 

The Metro reports the news that a police officer Lewis Edwards, 24, has been jailed for life. Edwards blackmailed underage girls into sending him explicit photos of themselves. He messaged 210 girls aged 10 to 16 and pictures of 207 of them were found on his devices. 

The Financial Times reports there is Turmoil in government bond markets and a rise in corporate borrowing costs have “forced US companies to delay borrowing plans” and led to the slowest October for debt issuance since 2011. 

Many of the papers report on this year’s Poppy Appeal “going green” as the Royal British Legion is launching the first plastic-free poppy in more than 50 years. The new poppy will be totally biodegradable and made from coffee cup production off-cuts.