Kate Thompson

This is brilliant. Everyone should read it.

Reading now. Very interesting idea.

What I'm reading today.

Arms lobbyists told clients: participate in neutrality forum ‘To the fullest extent possible.’

An Irish arms lobbying group urged clients to participate in the government's controversial neutrality forum – while one of its co-founders moderated a discussion with her lobbying role undisclosed in event literature.

www.ontheditch.com/arms-lobbyis...

IDF missile launchers illegally transported over Ireland Weeks after The Ditch told government the airline was using Irish airspace to transport weapons to Tel Aviv.

Silkway Airlines illegally transported missile launchers for Israel Defense Forces (IDF) F-35 fighter jets through Irish territory – just weeks after The Ditch told government the airline was using Irish airspace to transport weapons to Tel Aviv.

www.ontheditch.com/idf-missile-...

It's not complicated.

Israeli military conduct armed raids of UNWRA schools in Jerusalem <article data-history-node-id="422282" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-military-conduct-armed-raids-unwra-schools-jerusalem" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-military-conduct-armed-raids-unwra-schools-jerusalem" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Israeli military conduct armed raids of UNWRA schools in Jerusalem</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p style="margin-bottom:11px">Israeli military conducted an armed raid on three UN-operated schools in East Jerusalem in the West Bank before forcing more than 550 children out of their classrooms and detaining one UNWRA staff member on Thursday.</p> <p>The raid led to an outcry from the UNWRA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini and caused UNRWA to close down three other schools in the area out of fear for their students' safety.</p> <p>Lazzarini described the Israeli authorities’ closure of several UNRWA-run schools in the Shuafat refugee camp in Jerusalem as “an assault on children. An assault on education.”</p> <p>Writing on X, he said it was “a sad day in occupied East Jerusalem… Storming schools and forcing them shut is a blatant disregard of international law. These schools are inviolable premises of the United Nations.</p> <p>“Now, nearly 800 girls and boys - some as young as 6 years old- are left in shock and trauma,” he added.</p> <p>Earlier this morning, heavily armed Israeli forces entered three UNRWA&nbsp;schools in Shu’fat Camp in occupied East Jerusalem which children aged between the ages of six and 15 attend..”</p> <p>The government issued a decision prohibiting anyone from entering the school building after May 8, including principals, teachers, staff, and parents. The BBC reported a closure order on the wall of the school read: "It will be prohibited to operate educational institutions, or employ teachers, teaching staff or any other staff, and it will be forbidden to accommodate students or allow the entry of students into this institution."</p> <p>In October 2024, the Israeli Knesset passed a law banning the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Israel.</p> <p>Lazzarini added, “By enforcing closure orders issued last month, the Israeli authorities are denying Palestinian children their basic right to learn. UNRWA schools must continue to be open to safeguard an entire generation of children.”</p> </div> </div> </article>

Israeli military conduct armed raids of UNWRA schools in Jerusalem - https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-military-conduct-armed-raids-unwra-schools-jerusalem

UK sent Israel thousands of military items despite export ban, study finds Trade data analysis shows British firms have exported items including munitions since suspension of key licences

Read more here:

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

A message to Simon Harris from his old teacher. Pass the Occupied Territories Bill Now

No to an EU army. No to an EU army. Irish people want neutral peacebrokers not warmongers. Reject EU Battlegroups.

"Ireland should continue its tradition of peacekeeping within UN-mandated operations only and should refuse to participate in or support increasingly militaristic EU operations"

Add your name to the petition today!
#Speirgorm #Uplift
my.uplift.ie/petitions/no...

It's not complicated.

More essential reading.

Essential reading

UK Arrest Warrant for Israeli Minister | glanlaw ​An arrest warrant is being urgently sought for a senior member of Israel’s security cabinet, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar during his visit to the UK. The charges focus in particular on the siege of ...

1/ 🚨BREAKING: An arrest warrant is being urgently sought for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar during his UK visit. The charges focus on his role in the siege of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, which led to the abduction +torture of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya
www.glanlaw.org/uk-arrest-wa...

Arrest warrant sought for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on visit to UK <article data-history-node-id="421333" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/arrest-warrant-sought-israeli-foreign-minister-gideon-saar-visit-uk" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/arrest-warrant-sought-israeli-foreign-minister-gideon-saar-visit-uk" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Arrest warrant sought for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on visit to UK</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>An arrest warrant is being urgently sought in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/uk" target="_blank">Britain&nbsp;</a>for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank">Israeli&nbsp;</a>Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who secretly met British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Tuesday.</p> <p>Middle East Eye&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-foreign-minister-gideon-saar-visit-uk" target="_blank">revealed</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday afternoon that Saar was visiting the UK on a private trip this week, and then&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/exclusive-israeli-foreign-minister-met-david-lammy-london-unannounced-trip-tuesday" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday evening that he had met British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London.</p> <p>The secretive nature of Lammy's meeting with a representative of a government accused of widescale human rights abuses has drawn&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-politicians-slam-lammy-over-unannounced-meeting-israeli-foreign-minister" target="_blank">heavy criticism</a>&nbsp;from opposition MPs and politicians in Britain.</p> <p>Now, MEE understands that&nbsp;the UK-based Global Legal Action Network (Glan) and the Hind Rajab Foundation have formally submitted a request to the UK's attorney general and director of public prosecutions.</p> <p>They are seeking consent from the senior British legal officers to apply for an arrest warrant targeting the Israeli foreign minister.</p> <h3>Read more:&nbsp;<a aria-label="Arrest warrant sought for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on visit to UK" href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/arrest-warrant-sought-israeli-foreign-minister-visit-britain">Arrest warrant sought for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on visit to UK</a></h3> <p><img alt="Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar arrives at the EU headquarters in Brussels on 24 February 2025 (AFP)" src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/max_2600x2600/public/images-story/000_36YF2RW.jpg.jpg?itok=nQ8iZ-oL"></p> </div> </div> </article>

Arrest warrant sought for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on visit to UK - https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/arrest-warrant-sought-israeli-foreign-minister-gideon-saar-visit-uk

📆 Mon 28 April, GLAN joins New Internationalist for their event ‘How to Stop the Arms Trade’. From Palestine to Sudan, our governments and institutions are fuelling armed conflict and genocide. What we can do about it?

🕗19.00-22.00, London. Register free here:
www.tickettailor.com/events/newin...

How do we know it belonged to someone of high status?

EP Thompson

We have always been at war with Eurasia.

We have always been at war with Eastasia.

(George Orwell, 1984)