Good afternoon. More than 2,500 homes in Gaza have been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable amid Israel’s heavy bombing campaign.
The US president, Joe Biden, has called on Israel to “operate by rules of war”, while pledging more military support and saying Hamas’s “campaign of pure cruelty” was the “deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust”.
The UN says Israeli strikes have caused the displacement of more than 338,000 Palestinian residents in Gaza. The death toll in Gaza has climbed to at least 1,200, including 326 children, 11 UN staff and eight journalists, as the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, sets up a war cabinet that has vowed to “wipe this thing called Hamas off the face of the earth”.
Top news
Asio warns against ‘inflamed’ public statements on Israel-Palestine | The Asio chief, Mike Burgess, has urged all parties to choose their words carefully when making public statements to safeguard “social cohesion”. “Asio has seen direct connections between inflamed language and inflamed community tensions,” he said. The war in the Middle East has become a hot political issue in Australia, with the New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, attempting to block pro-Palestine protests and opposition leader Peter Dutton calling for pro-Palestine protesters on visas to be deported.
High demand for Australian repatriation flights | The Australian government is planning a third repatriation flight from Israel, anticipating “quite large demand” to flee the conflict. Yesterday, Anthony Albanese announced that the first two flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport to London would depart on Friday and Sunday.
Pro-Palestine rally in Sydney to go ahead as ‘static’ protest | Organisers have changed plans in favour of a “static demonstration” at Hyde Park after the premier, Chris Minns, vowed to block a planned march through the streets of Sydney.
Saudi-Iran discuss conflict | Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, spoke by phone to discuss ways to end the crisis – their first call since a surprise rapprochement in March. Analysts say the war is a major setback for US and Israeli efforts to normalise ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
PwC apologises to Australia | PwC Australia’s chief executive, Kevin Burrowes, faced a Senate grilling today over what senators described as “terrible” business practices that led to the misuse of confidential government misinformation. But consultancy work between government bodies and former PwC staff can resume, with the government approving the transfer of existing contracts to PwC’s new spin-off firm, Scyne Advisory.
Queensland government apologises to alleged teen rape victim | The state’s health minister, Shannon Fentiman, has unreservedly apologised to a 17-year-old girl who told Guardian Australia she was left humiliated and suicidal by treatment at a Queensland hospital after an alleged rape attack.
Senate inquiry report on Qatar Airways criticised | The Australian women currently suing Qatar Airways after invasive body searches in 2020 have criticised a Senate inquiry report into the airline’s blocked push for extra flights, claiming the investigation focused too much on Alan Joyce and Qantas, without holding the Qatari carrier to account. The report urged the Albanese government to immediately review its decision to block the Qatari request.
Climate silence in NZ election campaign | Conservation organisations have criticised the lack of meaningful debate over the climate emergency ahead of this weekend’s general election.
Birkenstock shares fall 12.6% after IPO | The German shoemaker was valued at $7.5bn (A$11.7bn) after landing on the US stock market as investors bet there was less mileage in consumer demand for its cork-soled sandals, which have become an unlikely fashion success story.
Full Story
Amy Remeikis factchecks misinformation about the voice
Misinformation and fear about the Indigenous voice to parliament are spreading like wildfire. With just days to go before voting day, Guardian Australia political reporter Amy Remeikis factchecks pervasive misinformation of the campaign. Listen to this 18-minute episode.
What they said …
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“I think Hamas was surprised at the ease it was able to take hostages. Israel was completely bewildered by everything that’s happened.” – Gershon Baskin, Israeli commentator
Baskin, who helped to negotiate the 2011 release of Staff Sergeant Gilad Schalit after more than five years of Hamas captivity, adds that current Egyptian, Turkish and Qatari mediation efforts don’t appear to be going anywhere.
In numbers
The resources minister, Madeleine King, concedes the fossil fuel’s emissions are “significant”, but still says it would be “part of the world’s energy mix for the foreseeable future”. Environment reporter Graham Readfearn writes: “That’s an interesting observation of an industry that’s trying to position itself as part of the solution to the climate crisis.”
Before bed read
The Guardian’s view on war in the Middle East: protecting civilian lives is essential.
“The pressing need now is to address what lies ahead. Israel has a right to defend itself. Nations must also obey the laws of war, refrain from collective punishment and protect civilians. Palestinians are not Hamas. Almost half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are children. They should not have to ask their parents whether they will live.” Read the editorial.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: PINS. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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