Sultana accuses Corbyn of ‘capitulation’ over antisemitism in attack on new party co-leader

Jeremy Corbyn has been accused by the co-leader of his new party of “capitulating” over antisemitism.

Zarah Sultana said the former Labour leader was wrong to accept the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism and said he alienated voters by “triangulating” on Brexit.

In an extraordinary attack just weeks after the pair announced the formation of Your Party, a left-wing challenger to Labour, Ms Sultana said Labour under Mr Corbyn “capitulated to the IHRA definition of antisemitism”.

She told the New Left Review: “It triangulated on Brexit, which alienated huge numbers of voters. It abandoned mandatory reselection of MPs for the trigger ballot compromise, keeping many of the party’s undemocratic structures in place.

“It didn’t make a real effort to channel its mass membership into the labour movement or tenants unions, which would have enriched the party’s social base.

“When it came under attack from the state and the media, it should have fought back, recognising that these are our class enemies. But instead it was frightened and far too conciliatory.”

In a bid to end the antisemitism crisis that gripped the party under his leadership, Mr Corbyn announced it would adopt the IHRA definition in 2018.

He had initially sought to resist calls to fully adopt the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism, including by adopting just seven of its 11 examples of antisemitic behaviour.

In her interview, Ms Sultana said the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism “famously equates it with anti-Zionism, and which even its lead author Kenneth Stern has now publicly criticised”.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said the IHRA definition is supported by the overwhelming majority of the country’s Jewish population. “Calling the recognition of the IHRA definition of antisemitism a ‘capitulation’ is a grave insult,” a spokesperson added.

The spokesperson said: “Labour’s real betrayal under Corbyn was unlawfully harassing and discriminating Jews. Those who seek to delegitimise and misdefine the IHRA definition in this way prove themselves to be no friend to the Jewish community and also call into question their wider commitment to anti-racism, the wellbeing of the Jewish community and social cohesion.”

Ms Sultana’s criticism of Mr Corbyn’s tenure as leader will heighten tensions between the pair as Your Party takes shape. The name is a holding title before a conference, expected this autumn, at which activists will decide a long-term name, leadership structures and ultimately who is in charge.

Ms Sultana initially announced that the pair would be co-leaders, blindsiding Mr Corbyn who had not yet committed to the structure.

The party has so far brought together pro-Gaza independent MPs, councillors and candidates who have opposed the Labour Party’s stance on the ongoing conflict.

One MP who joined the party unseated former Labour frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth in 2024, while others almost cost senior ministers Wes Streeting, Shabana Mahmood and Jess Phillips their seats.

Others likely to join include Faiza Shaheen, who was deselected at the last minute by Labour for Chingford and Woodford Green but ran as an independent, preventing her former party from taking the seat off ex-Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith.

Police make further arrests in Neal’s Yard Dairy cheese heist

Detectives investigating the theft of more than £300,000 worth of high-end cheddar cheese have now arrested six men.

Last October, Neal’s Yard Dairy said it had delivered 950 wheels of cloth-bound cheese to who they believed to be a wholesale distributor for a major French retailer.

However, the dairy had in fact been tricked by alleged fraudsters, who had spent months convincing them they were legitimate customers.

The London-based artisanal cheese company only realised they had given 22-tonnes of the cheddar to fraudsters when they did not receive payment for the goods, which were taken in two truckloads.

A 63-year-old man was arrested in the days that followed on suspicion of fraud by false representation and handling stolen goods.

News of the investigation went quiet for some time, but the force has now confirmed a total of six men aged between 37 and 63 have been arrested in connection with the plot.

The flurry of further arrests began in the new year, with a 37-year-old man being arrested on January 2 on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and handling stolen goods.

Two more men, aged 63 and 45, were also arrested in January, while a 57-year-old was arrested in April.

The latest arrest came on July 3, when a 54-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and handling stolen goods.

The Met Police said a further 50-year-old man was interviewed under caution on July 4.

All six have been released under investigation pending further enquiries and the investigation, being led by detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, is still ongoing.

Neal’s Yard Dairy has sold British and Irish farm-made and artisan cheeses since the 1980s. It has four shops in London and also sells online and by subscription.

The robbery involved artisan cheddars, including Hafod Welsh, Westcombe, and Pitchfork, sell from between £7 and £12 for around 300g.

Tom Calver, director of Westcombe Dairy in Westcombe, Somerset, produced some of the stolen cheese and said he was “hugely distressed” when he heard the news.

“It is ridiculous – out of all the things to steal in the world – 22 tonnes of cheese?” Mr Calver, 42, added. “What it does show, which I am amazed about, is the value people put on these amazing artisan foods.”

In the wake of the incident, the Southwark-based company urged cheesemongers around the world to contact them if they suspect they have been sold the stolen cheddar, particularly cheese wheels in a 10kg or 24kg format.

It said it had still paid the producers of the cheese so the individual dairies would not have to bear the costs and is now working with police to identify the perpetrators.

Patrick Holden, owner of Holden Farm Dairy, previously told The Independent that two-and-a-half tonnes of his Hafod Welsh cheddar, made using a hundred-year-old recipe from his 90-cow herd, was among the stock allegedly stolen.

He said: “It was the biggest order we ever had – so it was quite a shock.

“Our cheese is limited in quantity but we had it in storage and we worked out it was the most we could spare.”

‘My cancer symptoms were mistaken for signs of menopause – now I’m unable to walk’

A woman has been left unable to walk after her spinal cancer symptoms were mistaken for signs of the menopause and a gardening injury.

Karen Davey, 54, from Cornwall, began experiencing hot flushes, fatigue, and loss of appetite in early 2024, but she assumed these were menopause symptoms.

But by March 2024, she developed pain in her kidneys and went to visit her GP. However, she was told the back pain was due to gardening, despite having only done 20 minutes of this.

Over the next two months, her symptoms worsened and she stopped eating properly, lost weight, and developed a temperature, later losing all sensation in her legs, as well as bladder and bowel function. After being taken to the hospital and admitted for two weeks, she was given the devastating news that she had stage four non-Hodgkin lymphoma in her kidneys, and a tumour wrapped around her spinal cord.

After one round of radiotherapy and further chemotherapy, she is now in remission. However, she has been left unable to walk.

The “life-changing” impacts of the cancer have meant she has to reduce her working hours to four a week, while her husband has given up work to be a full-time carer.

Ms Davey told the Spinal Injuries Association she felt her symptoms were “dismissed” by her GP and continued to be dismissed until she was admitted to hospital.

She said: “I’d gone from somebody who was quite active before. I’d do a lot of hiking across the moors, I used to go cold-water swimming all year round. One of the last things I did before I got ill was an abseil off a 120-foot viaduct.

“This isn’t what I’m supposed to be doing at this time of life. I’ve not yet been able to get back to driving or anything like that. I’m completely reliant on my husband; it’s messed up my social life, just going out to meet friends or going swimming or popping into town to look around the shops. Emotionally, it’s just completely messed me up.”

Ms Davey said she wanted to spread awareness of her situation and help others who might be experiencing similar symptoms.

She said, “I had no idea that hot flushes would lead to all this. The symptoms you’ve got aren’t always menopause symptoms, and we need to be more mindful of that.

“I just get annoyed that it was attributed to menopause and doing gardening when it needed looking into a bit more. I didn’t know anything about spinal cord injury and when my toes started going tingly, it didn’t occur to me that that’s what it was. There’s not enough information.”

Spinal Injuries Association supports people living with spinal cord injuries. Dharshana Sridhar, campaigns manager at the association, said: “Karen’s story is a powerful reminder that women’s health symptoms should never be dismissed or explained away without proper investigation.

“Too often, women with spinal cord injuries face delays in diagnosis and unnecessary barriers to equitable care, leaving them to cope with life-changing consequences that could have been prevented. Across the board, women’s concerns are frequently overlooked and when disability or other intersecting factors are involved, the barriers to timely diagnosis and treatment become even greater. Through our women’s health campaign, we’re calling for better awareness, earlier diagnosis, and accessible healthcare for every woman, no matter her disability.”

I’m 23 and single – why do so many guys want women my mother’s age?

Last week, I found myself at a party chatting to a guy I desperately fancied. As our conversation danced from one subject to the next, he came out with the one thing you really don’t want to hear from someone you’re trying to flirt with: “Your mum is so hot.”

Hoping I could find my way out of this conversational cul-de-sac, I offered him another drink, commenting on the quality of the warm wine I was reluctantly consuming. But no – the topic of my 52-year-old mother and, yes, her undeniable good looks proceeded to be drawn out to such a painful extent, I was left with no choice but to ditch him, and abandon all hopes that this boy would ever become the love of my life.

This is not an irregular occurrence – it happens depressingly frequently. Never have any of my male friends met my mother without soon making at least one of three comments: “Your mum’s so hot”, “Your father’s so lucky” and “Are you adopted?”

I’m told that when people comment on your parent’s appearance, it’s a way of complimenting you – after all, you are just a product of their genes. Over time, I’ve learnt to distinguish between polite chit chat and a full-on “Stacy’s Mom” moment.

When it comes to dating norms, my male friends’ fondness for middle-aged women is no longer an exception. A 25-year-old friend told me that the guy she was seeing (who was already three years younger than her) had dumped her for someone in their late thirties – “He’s rejected me for a milf!” was how she worded it.

It’s not the age gap per se that’s horrifying – it’s that dating is hard enough as it is without now having to compete with a demographic of women far more romantically mature and confident than us.

And it’s not just hot midlifers who are swamping our dating pool: appearing on Radio 4’s Broadcasting House on Sunday morning, veteran stage actress Sheila Hancock explained that, at 92, she won’t be getting married for a third time, because “I only want 18-year-old boys, and they’re not going to be interested”. Don’t count yourself out, Dame Sheila!

When I asked a male friend what it was about older women that makes them so attractive, the only answer I got was “because they’re hot” – which is always the downside with young admirers: don’t be expecting scintillating conversation.

While I am left no closer to understanding the male psyche when it comes to dating across the generational divide, I am far more excited about reaching my forties. We have a few age-gap poster couples to cling to: Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra, who is a decade older than him; actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson was around my age when he got married to film director Sam Taylor-Johnson, who is 23 years his senior. (Just don’t mention the Macrons…)

These days, developments in the wellness and beauty industry mean that one’s youth need not fade with age, or at least quite so quickly. Whether it’s surgical tweakment, out of a bottle or from lifestyle changes, the baton of beauty can be clung to by Boomers and Gen X-ers. With women ageing gracefully, young men can see all the perks of a middle-aged partner and none of the wrinkles.

So where does this leave me? In a world where the dating pool is so slim I assumed that I at least had youth on my side. Turns out, even this is now a turn off. Do I keep looking, knowing that in a decade or so I might have more luck? Or maybe what’s required is a change of tactics altogether. If older women are taking the men from my generation, should I be taking them from theirs?

Large families could gain £20k if Labour scraps two-child benefit cap

Tens of thousands of families with multiple children could receive thousands of pounds more in annual payments if ministers scrap the two child benefit cap, according to official figures.

More than 70,000 households would be entitled to over £18,000 a year in child benefits if the policy is lifted, with the largest families gaining more than £20,000 compared with the current system.

The cap, introduced under Conservative welfare reforms, blocks parents from claiming the child element of Universal Credit worth £292.81 a month for a third or subsequent child born after April 2017.

Figures released in response to a parliamentary question show 71,580 families with five or more children would benefit from its removal. That includes nearly 15,000 families with six children, almost 5,000 with seven, and more than 400 with ten or more, who could be eligible for the child payments.

Labour MPs are pressing Sir Keir Starmer to deliver on his pledge of fairness by abolishing the cap, which they argue is punishing children growing up in poverty. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has previously estimated that ending the policy would lift around half a million children out of hardship.

But Conservatives insist the cap is a matter of fairness for taxpayers, arguing that it prevents families on benefits from receiving packages worth more than the minimum wage. Nigel Farage has also called for it to be scrapped, leaving the Conservatives increasingly isolated in defending the measure.

The prime minister must find around £3.5 billion to fund the move. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is weighing proposals, including a push from Gordon Brown to raise gambling levies.

Helen Whately, the shadow work and pensions secretary, said: “Without a cap, Labour will end up giving households thousands of pounds in extra benefits — a top-up worth more than a year’s full-time pay on the minimum wage. Not only is this unaffordable, it’s also unfair. If you’re in work you don’t get extra pay for another child, so it doesn’t make sense for parents on benefits to get more.”

She added: “Working people shouldn’t see their taxes go up to fund uncapped payouts to others who’ve opted out of work but opted in to multiple children.”

Remote retreats: idyllic British breaks for the perfect escape

For a restorative getaway where you can truly unwind, relax and reset, there’s nothing like escaping into nature, whether it’s a coastal bolthole, lakeside idyll or a country retreat surrounded by forests and fields. To help you find your perfect escape, we’ve rounded up some of the best remote breaks around Britain, from luxe cabins to country houses and everything in between.

What’s more, they’re all accessible by train, making it even easier to get away from it all, wherever you’re based. Plus, Railcard offers a third off rail travel around Britain. With nine Railcards to choose from, saving customers an average of £172 a year, it pays for itself in no time. Find the one for you at railcard.co.uk. What’s more, Railcard have created a handy online calculator to determine what you could save – simply enter your journey details and the relevant Railcard and it will calculate the discount you can get.

Read on for some truly special stays where you can go off grid in style…

Follow the herd, or rather flock, to a collection of luxury shepherd’s huts situated on a farm in Romney Marsh in Kent, where you’ll be surrounded by sheep (the owners also run a sustainable wool business). Just three miles away from the busy Ashford International Station, you’ll feel a million miles away from the stresses of everyday life. The huts each have a fully fitted kitchen, fridge, bathroom with a power shower and even a log burner for chilly evenings. You can add on various extras to your stay, from BBQ boxes and cocktail kits to local vineyard tours and even alpaca trekking – or just sit back under the vast open skies and feel your worries melt away.

Nearest station: Three miles from Ashford International Station

Nature lovers will relish a stay at Whitby Log Cabins, which offer a slice of rustic luxury in three acres of peaceful ancient woodland, complete with a stream and waterfall, just a mile from Whitby train station. There are three cosy but luxe cabins to choose from, each in its own private area and not overlooked by anyone else – aside, perhaps, from some local wildlife. Guests have spotted deer, badgers and owls outside their cabins and it’s the perfect place for a spot of stargazing. If you want some human life, Whitby town centre, with its many attractions (including the famous Whitby Abbey – an inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula) is just a 40-minute scenic walk away, along the Cinder Track, a former railway line.

Nearest station: Whitby, about one mile away (the owners are happy to pick people up from the station)

There’s no better place to camp than in one of Britain’s dark sky reserves – areas officially designated excellent for observing the night sky. While by their very nature (a lack of artificial light), these areas are usually fairly remote, some are reachable by train. Woodfire at Westerlands is a 15-minute taxi ride from Pulborough station, in the heart of the South Downs National Park. They have pre-pitched tents available if you don’t want to lug your own stuff (though there’s no lighting onsite, so pack your torch!) In Wiltshire, Tisbury has the only “dark sky friendly” train station in Britain – from there it’s four miles to Marshwood Farm Camping, in the where you can stay in a bell tent or shepherd’s hut, or pitch your own.

Nearest station: Various, see above.

Moreton-in-Marsh, in the heart of The Cotswolds, is a pretty market town full of honey-coloured stone houses and beautiful surrounding countryside. It’s also one of the few Cotswolds towns with a train station, making it a convenient spot from which to explore this delightful part of the country. Attractions like Cotswold Falconry, the award-winning Bourton House Garden, Sezincote House and Gardens (a 200-year-old Indian palace set in 3,500 acres of English countryside) and Batsford Arboretum – a 60 acre collection of rare and beautiful trees – are all nearby and can be reached by local footpaths. Back in Moreton-in-Marsh itself, Lord of The Rings fans will enjoy exploring spots frequented by JRR Tolkien — particularly The Bell Inn, said to be the inspiration for Middle Earth pub the Prancing Pony.

Nearest station: Moreton-in-Marsh, about a five minute walk to the town centre

If you’re after some relaxed luxury, the 19th century Hampton Manor is just a five minute stroll from Hampton-in-Arden station (a 15 minute rail journey from Birmingham). Set across 45 wooded acres, it has two award-winning restaurants, a cookery school and artisan bakery. There’s a real emphasis on sustainability – the estate is powered by 100 per cent renewable energy and works with local farmers, producers and craftspeople. You can choose from three different but equally plush areas to stay: the manor house, the walled garden suites or the walled garden cottage. A daily vinyl (and cake) hour, along with informal wine tastings and impromptu fire pits help make it feel like you’re in a friend’s country pile rather than a hotel.

Nearest station: Hampton-in-Arden, a five minute walk away

On the fringe of the Northumberland Coast, Bilton Barns Farm has soul-nourishing views over the village of Alnmouth to the sea beyond. There’s a selection of accommodation here, including a range of cottages, but for something a bit different, book into one of their two bespoke cabins, each with a sea view, hot tub and fire pit – plus luxury touches like Egyptian cotton bedding, fluffy towels and robes. The Bilton Lookout has two storeys, so you can stare out at the stars from your cosy loft bedroom. While the Bilton Bothy is an L-shaped cabin with large outdoor decking, perfect for al fresco dining. Nearby you’ll find numerous walking trails including one that takes you directly down to the Northumberland coast path.

Nearest station: Alnmouth train station on the east coast main trainline (short taxi ride of one mile)

The Cairngorms National Park is the UK’s largest National Park, home to a quarter of its rare and endangered species – and the ultimate destination for an outdoor adventure. Aviemore is an ideal gateway to explore it from, offering incredible views, thrilling outdoor activities, and wonderful wildlife. Hire a bike and head out on the many local trails. Put on your walking boots and head for the stunning Loch An Eilen (Loch of the Island) – famous for its island castle ruin – around an hour’s walk from Aviemore. Take a trip on the Strathspey Heritage Railway, with its incredible views of the Cairngorm mountains and River Spey. And be sure to visit the Cairngorm Brewery to try some award-winning tipples.

Nearest station: Aviemore, in the town centre.

Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa is an award-winning spa hotel set in a breathtaking location on the shores of Lake Windermere, just a two mile taxi ride from Windermere Railway Station. Whether you’re looking for some adventure or just want to do some serious unwinding, there’s plenty to suit every mood here. The hotel spa has both indoor and outdoor infinity pools with lake views, along with saunas, hot tubs and thermal experiences. And at the on-site water sports centre you can try your hand at kayaking, paddle boarding, waterskiing, sailing and more. When you’ve worked up an appetite you might want to try the hotel’s signature wood-fired afternoon tea, which includes toasted slider sandwiches, peri peri chicken wings and flamed lemon meringue cheesecake. Be sure to force yourself to leave the hotel though – it’s the perfect base for enjoying scenic walks in the spectacular surroundings.

Nearest station: Short taxi ride from Windermere Railway Station

The Sharpham Trust is on a mission to reconnect people with nature, through a series of mindfulness and nature connection retreats on the stunning Sharpham Estate in Devon. There’s a whole range on offer, from beginner’s mindfulness and those focused on learning more about the natural world to singing and silent retreats. You can even spend a few days canoeing along the idyllic River Dart, or learn some new skills on a rewilding or foraging course. Accommodation options include a Grade I listed Georgian mansion, a converted 18th century stable block, The Barn Retreat Centre and bell tents in the Woodlands. The perfect way to escape in every sense.

Nearest station: Totnes, 15 minutes in a taxi

Buddha Beach House is a 400-year-old fish cellar turned modern coastal hideaway, perched on the cliffs above Whitsand Bay on the south east coast of Cornwall, just a 10-minute taxi ride from St Germans train station. Beyond the unbeatable sea views, there are four plush bedrooms (the house sleeps up to 10), a cedar hot tub and a bathroom aquarium the kids will love. Spend days beachside, surfing, exploring rock pools or hiking the coastal path. The owners have another property nearby, On The Rocks, which sleeps seven and is just 30 metres from the beach. Cornwall can get hectic during the summer, but this quiet corner is hidden from the crowds, ensuring a peaceful and picture perfect break.

Nearest station: St Germans, 10 minutes by taxi

Enjoy great value British adventures by train

From stunning nature and the great outdoors, to culture, cuisine and incredible scenery, there’s no doubt Britain has it all in spades, and these unmissable adventures are just a simple, enjoyable train ride away. So there’s never been a better time to start planning some Great British getaways, from day trips to weekends away or a longer staycation.

With Railcard, whether you’re travelling solo or with a friend, on a couples weekend or off on holiday with the family, you can save on all sorts of train journeys around Great Britain. Railcard helps you save a third off rail travel and for just £35 for the year, it pays for itself in no time. With nine different Railcards available, find the one for you at railcard.co.uk

Hurricane Erin could bring end to UK dry spell with rain

Nationwide rain could bring an end to the UK’s ongoing dry spell in just a few days as Hurricane Erin continues to advance over the Atlantic Ocean.

Upgraded to category four on Monday, the hurricane is threatening to bring severe storms and waves to the Caribbean and the east coast of the US in the coming days.

This atmospheric activity is likely to bring a “changeable” period of weather to the UK in the coming days, the Met Office’s long-term forecast said, especially in the North and West.

Independent forecasters predicted that countrywide rain could begin to hit the country from Wednesday 27 August, with storms stretching as far as 600 miles as most of the nation is hit. At its heaviest this rain could reach around 5mm an hour, but most regions will see between 0.2 and 3mm.

The Met Office said the chance of widely wetter and windier weather like storms developing is “small”, but admits it is “highly uncertain” at this stage.

The cause of the uncertainty is the area of low pressure that Hurricane Erin will send towards the UK from across the Atlantic. This leads to unsettled weather conditions, while high pressure causes settled and fine weather conditions.

Brits will likely enjoy fine and dry weather owing to high pressure over the bank holiday, which will be “increasingly eroded” by the low pressure from the West in the following days, the Met Office said.

After Hurricane Erin has travelled northwards, past the eastern side of Canada, “it’s likely to push its way across the Atlantic,” said Alex Burkill from the Met Office.

This can “really play havoc with the forecast confidence for what’s going to happen as we go through next week”, he added. Forecasts are likely to become clearer in the coming days.

The UK has seen back-to-back heatwaves this summer, as European nations across the continent also grapple with high heat.

The Met Office has said that summer 2025 may is shaping up to be the UK’s hottest on record, according to provisional statistics.

Met Office scientist, Emily Carlisle, said: “It’s looking like this summer is on track to be one of the warmest, if not ‘the’ warmest, since the series began in 1884. What’s striking is the consistency of the warmth. June and July were both well above average and even outside of heatwaves, temperatures have remained on the warmer side.”

In the coming week, dry weather is set to continue for most of the UK following last week’s high heats. Parts of the country could see temperatures reach 27C on Monday and Tuesday.

A northeasterly breeze means northern and eastern parts of the UK will be cooler on these days, reaching the low 20s.

The continued dry spell comes after officials warned England was suffering from “nationally significant” water shortfalls, despite rain in July.

Sunday’s highest temperature was 27.7C in Somerset, while West Sussex and Inverness in Scotland also reached 27C.

Ex-IDF intelligence chief called 50,000 Palestinian deaths ‘necessary’

The former head of military intelligence for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) called the deaths of 50,000 Palestinians in Gaza “necessary and required for future generations”, in leaked audio.

Aharon Haliva can be heard in newly released audio clips saying that for every person who died during 7 October, “50 Palestinians must die, even if they are children”. The audio clips were aired by Israeli broadcaster Channel 12.

“The fact that there are already 50,000 dead in Gaza is necessary and required for future generations. OK, you humiliated, you slaughtered, you murdered, everything is true,” said the former military chief.

It is unclear when the statements were made, but Gaza’s health ministry has recently reported that more than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed since 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people.

“The price, I said before the war… For everything that happened on October 7, for every person on October 7, 50 Palestinians must die,” Mr Haliva said in a translation reported by the Jerusalem Post and other media. “It doesn’t matter now if they are children. I’m not speaking out of revenge, I’m speaking out of a message to future generations. They need a Nakba every now and then to feel the price.”

The term “Nakba” means catastrophe in Arabic and is used to describe the expulsion of 700,000 Palestinians from their homeland in 1948 during the creation of the Israeli state.

Mr Haliva was the IDF’s head of military intelligence when the 7 October attack happened. He resigned from his position in April 2024 over his “leadership responsibility”, becoming the first senior IDF officer to do so.

It remains unclear who Mr Haliva was speaking to in the lengthy recordings, as Channel 12 does not identify them. He claims throughout the recordings that the Israeli military is not the only organisation responsible for the failures that led to the attacks. He pointed fingers at Israel’s political leadership and the country’s home security service, Shin Bet, for believing Hamas would not carry out an attack. The Independent has contacted the IDF for comment.

Mr Haliva responded to Channel 12’s reporting by expressing his regret for the recorded conversations: “The leaked recordings were published from things said in a closed forum, and I can only regret that.”

He called the recordings “fragments of partial things, which cannot reflect the full picture – certainly when it comes to complex, detailed issues, most of which are highly classified”.

“The October 7 disaster occurred on my watch as head of the Intelligence Division”, he said, adding: “I bear ultimate responsibility for what happened.”