‘Shift in US policy over Gaza aid workers’ deaths’ – Paper Talk
Editorial 5 April 2024.
Many of Friday’s front pages report on Joe Biden’s phone call with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, during which the US president said his country’s support for Israel would depend on steps being taken to “address civilian harm” and “humanitarian suffering” in Gaza. It marks a significant shift in US Policy – the first time that Washington has attempted to leverage American aid to influence the conduct of the war in Gaza.
biden issues strongest rebuke
major shift in us policy
us leverage aid to influence conduct of war
Reviews of the new Netflix show Scoop – based on the famous BBC interview with Prince Andrew over his relationship with Jeffery Epstein – make several front pages.
The latest from the Premier League also features – as Liverpool return to the top of the table and United lose 4-3 after a strong early 2-0 lead.
Shift in US policy over Gaza aid workers’ deaths
The Guardian labels it as Biden’s “strongest rebuke yet.” The Daily Telegraph says the comments are Biden’s “sharpest” since the war began. The paper quotes a confidante of President Biden as saying that the US is “at that point” where it must consider putting conditions on arms sales to Israel.
The i newspaper reports Rishi Sunak is preparing to suspend arms sales to Israel if new legal advice suggests the UK has breached international law. It follows cross-party calls and a major intervention by former Supreme Court justices for the government to suspend exports.
The paper says the PM is being urged to publish legal advice received by the government on arms sales. It also adds that civil servants, who are overseeing the export of arms to Israel, are threatening legal action against the government over concerns they will be held “personally responsible” for any breach of the law.
‘MPs’ honeytrap’
The Times and the Daily Mail both lead on stories about Tory MP William Wragg, who admitted to handing over colleagues’ phone numbers to a man he met on a dating app.
Speaking to the Times he said he was scared the man “had compromising things” on him and said he was “so sorry” his weakness had hurt other people. The paper notes the incident has raised concerns over the vulnerability of MPs to cyber-attacks.
Honeytrap – what happened?
The MP for Hazel Grove told the newspaper: “They had compromising things on me. They wouldn’t leave me alone.
“They would ask for people. I gave them some numbers, not all of them. I told him to stop. He’s manipulated me and now I’ve hurt other people.
“I got chatting to a guy on an app and we exchanged pictures. We were meant to meet up for drinks, but then didn’t.
“Then he started asking for numbers of people. I was worried because he had stuff on me. He gave me a WhatsApp number, which doesn’t work now. I’ve hurt people by being weak.
“I was scared. I’m mortified. I’m so sorry that my weakness has caused other people hurt.”
It has been reported this week that a serving minister, some MPs, party staffers and political journalists were among those who received unsolicited messages from two unknown WhatsApp users.
‘UK lottery winners’
Away from the two leading stories, the rest of the papers – mostly the tabloids – lead on various domestic topics.
The Mirror reports on a couple who won the lottery in 1995. The paper says Elaine and Derek Thompson – who won £2.7m – used their winnings to buy three racehorses and set themselves the challenge of visiting all 57 racehorses in the UK.
The Sun carries a photo of King Charles and Camilla during their 2018 Australia visit. The paper reports that the couple are planning a two-week return visit in October, after what it calls a “positive” start to the King’s treatment for cancer.
The Daily Express leads on the migrant flights to Rwanda. The paper says every “loophole” is being closed to foil any attempt at blocking migrant flights. It says a source close to James Cleverly has confirmed there has been a real “step up” in preparations to deliver on the deportation scheme since Easter.