Good afternoon. The United Nations says it has been told by the Israeli military that some 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza should relocate to the enclave’s south within the next 24 hours, in what Palestinians fear could be a precursor to a planned Israeli ground offensive.
The UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement: “The United Nations considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences.”
Locally, New South Wales police have been criticised for threatening to use “extraordinary powers” against a planned pro-Palestine protest on Sunday. The Australian Lawyers Alliance called the police threat “deeply troubling” and said it would set a “dangerous precedent”.
A pro-Palestine rally is planned tonight in Brisbane, which Queensland police say they will treat like any other march.
Top news
Gaza death toll soars | At least 1,500 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, 500 of whom are children, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Human Rights Watch says Israel has used white phosphorus, which “poses a high risk of excruciating burns and lifelong suffering”, in Gaza and Lebanon this week. Meanwhile, Israel began the process of burying the victims of the weekend’s attacks by Hamas. The most recent death toll in Israel stands at 1,300.
Ken Wyatt accuses Liberals and Peter Dutton of creating ‘fear and division’ | The former Coalition minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt says his former party is using the same “fearmongering” tactics it deployed during the native title debate to sink the voice, and has accused Peter Dutton of spreading fear and division. The final polls indicate that the majority of Australians intend to vote no tomorrow.
Visit Victoria spent $1.9m on marketing for Commonwealth Games | The taxpayer bill included $590,000 for a promotional video that was launched at the 2022 Birmingham Games closing ceremony, and $100,000 spent sending Visit Victoria’s chief executive, Brendan McClements, and former Victorian governor Linda Dessau to the British city for the event.
Hardliner Steve Scalise drops out of House speaker race | The Republican congressman Steve Scalise is ending his bid to become the US House speaker after failing to secure enough votes to win the gavel. Next steps are uncertain as the House is now essentially closed.
Heated final debate in New Zealand election race | The Labour leader, Chris Hipkins, and National leader, Christopher Luxon, have made a last-ditch effort to sway votes in their favour on the final day of campaigning. Polls have indicated Labour is unlikely to hit the threshold of 61 seats needed to govern, even with the Green party’s predicted seats.
Sam Bankman-Fried accused of laughing as ex-girlfriend testified | The founder of the crypto exchange FTX “scoffed” as his former paramour and business partner, Caroline Ellison, testified against him in his Manhattan federal court crypto fraud trial, prosecutors alleged. Bankman-Fried is facing seven counts related to the collapse of FTX.
In video
Debunking the no campaign’s favourite misinformation
On the eve of the referendum, Amy Remeikis presents a rundown of some of the most prevalent misinformation that continues to be pushed by some no campaigners.
What they said …
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“Palestinians have been told we have no right to grieve, we have no right for public assembly, for freedom of expression, we have no right to protest against war crimes in Gaza.” – Fahad Ali, co-organiser of the Palestine Action Group
Palestinian community leaders are responding to the NSW police’s threat to use “extraordinary powers” against pro-Palestinian protesters this Sunday.
In numbers
Scientists at the University of Leeds have calculated that 67tn tonnes of ice was lost in the west while 59tn tonnes was added to the east between 1997 and 2021, resulting in a net loss of 7.5tn tonnes.
Before bed read
Our investigations team have been hard at work uncovering the secretive rightwing firm that’s been providing “clout” for the voice no campaign.
“Whitestone Strategic was previously listed as donating $263,483 to the Northern Territory’s Country Liberal party, of which Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is a member, during the 2022 federal election. That election return has now been amended to remove the donation.” Read the investigation.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: SESS. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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