Free Republic

The United States has joined Israel in accusing Sir Keir Starmer of “rewarding Hamas” after he declared the UK will recognise Palestine in September unless Benjamin Netanyahu’s government makes peace. The Prime Minister issued the ultimatum to his Israeli counterpart after an emergency meeting of his Cabinet. Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the US State department, said Sir Keir’s remarks were a “slap in the face for the victims of October 7” which “rewards Hamas”. “It allows it to continue. It gives one group hope, and that’s Hamas. It is a rewarding of that kind of behaviour,” she said, adding: “There’s...

Elon Musk has said he will “go to war” with Maga Republicans over visas for skilled migrants. The Tesla billionaire, chosen by Donald Trump to be co-head of his new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has infuriated anti-immigration elements of the Republican Party by defending the H-1B visa, which permits highly educated foreigners to work in the US for up to six years. Mr Musk responded to the backlash from the Make America Great Again (Maga) faction by vowing to kick out “hateful, unrepentant racists” from the Republican Party. At least 14 conservative holders of accounts on Mr Musk’s social...

Dozens of Syrian government troops have been filmed surrendering to rebels after they were abandoned by their comrades at a town south of Aleppo. The men are filmed being led at gunpoint by rebel fighters who shout at the prisoners and chant, “Allahu Akbar”. The prisoners, who are not wearing military uniforms, run across sand dunes towards a group of buildings with their hands behind their heads. They were captured after being left behind by retreating Assad forces near the town of Khanaser, some 50 miles southeast of Aleppo, which was seized by rebels on Saturday. Since the shock rebel...