Farage to unveil ‘mass deportation’ plan and could revive Rwanda deal

Nigel Farage is to publish plans for mass deportations of asylum seekers who come to the UK on small boats.

His Reform UK party would seek to put these plans in place if it entered government.

Arresting asylum seekers on arrival, automatic detention and forced deportation to countries such as Afghanistan and Eritrea are among the proposals reported to be announced on Tuesday.

They also include deals with third countries, which could include reviving the Conservatives’ Rwanda link-up, and sending asylum seekers to British overseas territories such as Ascension Island as a “fallback” option.

Mr Farage said the plans could see hundreds of thousands of people deported and five charter flights taking off from the UK every day.

It comes amid rising tensions over asylum hotels and as the Government said it planned to appeal against a court ruling blocking the use of a hotel in Epping, Essex.

The first step of Reform UK’s plans would be to leave the European Convention on Human Rights and to scrap the Human Rights Act, followed by legislation to bar those who come to the UK on small boats from claiming asylum.

“The aim of this legislation is mass deportations,” Clacton MP Mr Farage told The Times.

“We have a massive crisis in Britain. It is not only posing a national security threat but it’s leading to public anger that frankly is not very far away from disorder.

“There is only one way to stop people coming into Britain and that is to detain them and deport them.”

Sir Keir Starmer’s Government is struggling with rising tensions over hotels housing asylum seekers and a record number of people crossing the English Chanel in small boats so far this year.

Those arriving on small boats would face immediate arrest under Reform UK’s plans, and the party would also seek to build detention centres to house 24,000 people, Mr Farage told The Times.

He wants to sign deals with countries such as Afghanistan and Eritrea to send people back.

Reviving the Conservative Party’s Rwanda plan or a deal with Albania could also be on the table under plans to send people to third countries.

After a temporary injunction was granted on Tuesday to Epping Forest District Council to remove asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel in Epping, councils across the country controlled by Labour, the Conservatives and Reform UK are considering following suit with their own legal challenges.

On Friday, the Home Office said it would appeal against the High Court’s refusal to allow it to intervene in the case of the Bell Hotel, and to further appeal against the temporary injunction.

Somani Hotels, the owner of the Bell Hotel, also plans to appeal against the court order blocking the use of its site as accommodation for asylum seekers.

A wave of protests outside hotels used to temporarily house asylum seekers is expected in the coming days.

The Home Office has a legal obligation to provide accommodation to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute and can move people to alternatives such as hotels and large sites, like former military bases.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said ministers are working to close hotels housing asylum seekers “as swiftly as possible” as part of an “orderly” programme that avoids creating problems for other areas.

South Norfolk Council said on Friday that it had been informed that the Home Office intends to stop housing asylum seekers at the Park Hotel in the town of Diss.

The hotel’s operator had warned it would close if the Home Office followed through with plans to begin placing men at the site instead of families.

Protests took place outside the hotel last month.

Council leader Daniel Elmer said: “The Home Office thought it could just impose this change and that we would accept it.

“But there is a right way of doing things and a wrong way and the decision by the Home Office was just plain wrong.

“The council had to make a stand to support the women and children and our local community and that’s exactly what we did.

“Although I welcome the decision, in reality it does mean that the women and children who we fought so hard to protect will now be moved elsewhere, and that is a shame.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “As part of our ongoing effort to reduce the number of hotels in use and close them all by the end of this parliament, we are not planning to use this site beyond the end of the current contract.”

The Government has also pledged to crack down on smuggling gangs to deter Channel crossings.

Nearly 28,000 people have arrived in the UK so far in 2025 after crossing the English Channel, a record for this point in the year since data collection began in 2018.

Corbyn’s new party in chaos as co-leaders squabble over antisemitism remark

Jeremy Corbyn has hit back at Zarah Sultana after she accused him of “capitulating” over antisemitism when he was Labour leader as tensions at the top of their new left-wing party grow.

The Islington MP said it was “not really necessary” for Ms Sultana, with whom he is currently co-leading the as-yet-unnamed party, to “bring all that up”.

It came after Ms Sultana used an interview with the New Left Review to say Mr Corbyn as Labour leader “capitulated to the IHRA definition of antisemitism”.

The Coventry MP also said Mr Corbyn alienated voters by “triangulating” on Brexit and that Labour under his leadership was “frightened and far too conciliatory”.

Asked about her comments by the Middle East Eye, Mr Corbyn said: “I think it was not really necessary for her to bring all that up in the interview, but that is what she decided to do.”

Mr Corbyn and Ms Sultana confirmed the launch of the left-wing challenger party last month, with a conference scheduled for the autumn to decide on a formal name and its leadership structure.

When news of the party first emerged, Ms Sultana said the pair will co-lead the party together, something Mr Corbyn did not appear to have agreed to.

In her interview, Ms Sultana praised the “energy, mass appeal and bold policy platform” of Labour under Jeremy Corbyn.

But she hit out at its “limitations”, adding: “It capitulated to the IHRA definition of antisemitism… 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.

Mr Corbyn said on Thursday that he preferred an alternative antisemitism definition but that the IHRA’s definition had a huge majority of support within the Labour Party when he was leader.

But he said “even the authors of the IHRA definition now disown it” and that his new party will adopt “a general anti-racist position”.

Mr Corbyn also hit out at Wes Streeting, touted as a potential future Labour leader, warning that he has “a great deal to be worried about” in his Ilford North constituency.

Mr Streeting was just 528 votes from losing his seat in the last general election, with independent pro-Gaza candidate Leanne Mohamad expected to run against him again for Mr Corbyn’s party.

The former Labour leader said: “I would think Streeting has a great deal to be worried about there, but maybe he’ll be looking for another constituency.

“The Labour Party is quite prepared to suspend all local democracy when it suits them, despite the leader being elected with a pledge that he would return democracy to the constituencies.” Mr Streeting has previously said he will not seek another constituency to run in at the next general election.

Lucy Connolly to meet with Trump envoy after release from prison

Lucy Connolly is set to meet with members of Donald Trump’s administration following her release from prison for inciting racial hatred.

The former childminder told Dan Wootton on his YouTube show that US president’s lawyers were “very interested in the way things are going in the UK” and “keen to speak” with her, adding they are “big advocates for free speech”.

The 42-year-old, speaking for the first time since her release, claims she was been made “[Sir Keir] Starmer’s political prisoner” after being sentenced to 31 months in jail for stirring up racial hatred against asylum seekers on the day of the Southport murders.

The case centred on her post on X that said: “Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the bastards for all I care … if that makes me racist so be it.”

Connolly, the wife of a Conservative councillor, had pleaded guilty to inciting racial hatred by publishing and distributing “threatening or abusive” written material after her post was viewed 310,000 times.

She served 40 per cent of her sentence, before being released on Thursday on licence.

Speaking to The Telegraph following her release, she said she made the post in a “red mist” fit of anger, before later deleting it after returning from a walk. Eight days later, she was arrested at her home and questioned by police.

She claimed the authorities wanted to “hammer” after she was refused bail and the Crown Prosecution Service released a statement that suggested she told officers in her police interview she did not like immigrants.

A press release from the CPS after her guilty plea on September 2 included a quote from Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit, which said: “During police interview Lucy Connolly stated she had strong views on immigration, told officers she did not like immigrants and claimed that children were not safe from them.”

Connolly claimed her words were “massively twisted and used against me”, and is now considering taking legal action, saying she didn’t believe she would have had a fair trial had she pleaded not guilty.

She said: “I don’t want to say too much because I need to seek legal advice on that, but I do think the police were dishonest in what they released and what they said about me, and I will be holding them to account for that.”

Also on Friday, she told Mr Wootton on his YouTube show that she was meeting representatives of the Trump administration on Saturday. Asked what she knew about the meeting, she said: “Not much, just that they’re very interested in the way things are going in the UK, and they are obviously big advocates for free speech, and their lawyers are keen to speak with me.”

The US State Department has previously accused the UK of having “significant human rights issues”, including restrictions on free speech.

Connolly also said in her interview with The Telegraph she believed she had been targeted because her husband was a Conservative councillor.

“I’m just a woman from Northampton living in a three-bed semi that worked as a childminder with a husband as an engineer,” she said. “Okay, he was a councillor. But that, people forget, that’s almost like a second job.

“His first job as an engineer, as a father, as a husband, we are nobody. We are not known to anybody. So I will never understand how it got to this.

“There’s people that have done far worse and people wouldn’t be able to name them, but they’d know my name, and I just find it all really, really bizarre.”

A Northamptonshire Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of comments made by Lucy Connolly in an interview following her release from prison. We hope to contact Mrs Connolly in the coming days to understand the issues she has raised around Northamptonshire Police.”

Dominant England show why they are World Cup favourites with USA rout

A new stage, new levels of interest, but on the opening night of a World Cup that may transform women’s rugby, it was the same old Red Roses. It is hoped that this record-breaking tournament will turn England’s dominant women’s rugby side into household names, particularly if it results in home triumph in late September – and for the uninitiated, this was a perfect demonstration of why the hosts are such strong favourites. An imperfect first half performance – the Red Roses were overly ambitious at times and overly disorganised at others – gave way to a scintillating second half as England powered over, away from and eventually out of sight of an overmatched United States.

The result – as will be the case for England until the semi-final stage – was never really in doubt, as talented and experienced as many in the USA ranks are. Right now, though, they are simply at a different stage to their opening-night opponents; there is no shame in losing heavily to England, because almost everyone else tends to, too. Their bigger battles are to come later in the Pool A itinerary, the clash with Australia in York next weekend likely key in determining which of the pair joins the Red Roses in reaching the last eight.

There were moments of excellence from the US, with lock Erica Jarrell-Searcy’s sensational solo score a particular highlight, but after a slightly troublesome first 25 minutes, England escaped to rack up a sizeable score. In doing so, they demonstrated the qualities that make them so good: each and every player’s comfort with ball in hand; the sheer number of strike-running threats across the park; the depth evident when the bench made a significant impact. After a few clunks in the first half, John Mitchell would have been pleased with the ruthlessness and efficiency his side showed with Ellie Kildunne, Meg Jones and Hannah Botterman among their standouts.

As an occasion, this felt like a special night at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. 42,723 were in attendance in all, more than were at the final of the last World Cup that broke the then-record for a women’s rugby game. In a city rugby seldom visits, and an area not renowned for its passion for the sport, a crowd of such size was a considerable achievement – and a sign of things to come at a tournament set to break all existing marks for women’s rugby spectatorship.

The maul was England’s chief weapon of destruction at that last World Cup, the agonising end to the final a rare malfunction as Lark Atkin-Davies failed to find Abbie Ward’s hands five metres out from the Black Ferns’ line. The Red Roses have since sought to evolve a wider game to be more multitudinous, but they showed in the warm-up win over France that their lineout drive remains a real strength – and Sadia Kabeya was the buried beneficiary inside 10 minutes to get them going.

The USA have shown in the past against England an ability to stick in the contest for a while and make things awkward with their array of power carriers and nous around the park. They managed to frustrate the hosts for a good portion of the first half here, the second try only arriving through prop Botterman thanks to two contrasting bits of brilliance from Jones – the centre first leaving Georgie Perris-Redding on the floor with a bruising carry and then producing a cross kick to Abby Dow to set up the position from which Botterman bundled through.

If that was a sign of the athletic talent within the England ranks, the United States would soon show some of their own. Jarrell-Searcy was a strong cross country runner in her youth and showed off some of that speed and stamina with a superb score from distance having evaded Natasha Hunt and Jess Breach – even the rapid Red Roses wing was left trailing in her wake.

Yet Alev Kelter’s cynical slapdown at a ruck earned her a yellow card and England a player advantage, one which they made count. First tighthead Maud Muir bashed over from close range before the backs produced something rather more extravagant from range, Kildunne a popular scorer after a lovely passing move that began inside their own 22. Abby Dow had been prominent in that passage and soon had a try of her own after the resumption.

Kildunne snared a second after good work from Jones, and might have had a third shortly after an Amy Cokayne score if not for an unselfish decision to put Breach in. The pair were at it again following Lark Atkin-Davies’s try, Kildunne with a wonderful bit of dexterity down the left touchline to grant her back three colleague, and fellow “Cowboy”, a clear run to the line. Atkin-Davies added try No 11 before the end.

And what of Ilona Maher? The USA centre had bopped along on the big screen to Florence & The Machine ahead of kick off, a sly smirk acknowledging her outsized status in comparison to others at this tournament. It had been her name, rather than those of the Red Roses, to generate the largest cheers when the teams had been read out earlier. Yet she was largely kept quiet by England – and Jones particularly. “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog,” the significantly-smaller centre quipped about her encounter with Maher earlier in the week, an adage she showed with a typically irrepressible performance in attack and defence, the Welsh-born terrier England’s menace throughout.

It shows the talent within the ranks that Jones was almost overshadowed by Kildunne and the rest of the back three as they romped and rollicked to another mighty victory. The tougher battles will come down the line, but the party has started in style.

Antoine Semenyo says he got more racial abuse after Anfield incident

Antoine Semenyo has revealed he was subjected to further racial abuse following the incident agains Liverpool last week.

The Bournemouth forward reported racial abuse by a supporter during his side’s Premier League opener against Liverpool at Anfield.

The London-born Ghana international, who scored twice in the match, reported the incident to referee Anthony Taylor and a 47-year-old man was subsequently arrested.

The man was released on bail on suspicion of an aggravated public order offence and has been banned from any regulated football match in the UK as part of his bail conditions.

The 25-year-old, who thanked the team-mates, opponents and fans who showed him support on the day, also revealed he was subjected to further abuse on social media in the aftermath of the incident.

“I feel like in this day and age it just doesn’t make sense and we want to know why it keeps happening. It was pretty painful to hear,” he told ITV.

“I got back on the coach and I was just going through my messages. I wanted to reply back to family and friends, to be honest and then it obviously popped across the screen on Instagram, I was getting racially abused as well, and it’s just like straight after the game that’s happened.

“Someone has felt the need to come online and do that, so that made me angry, to be honest. Why would you want to do that?”

Semenyo went on to say that believes prison sentences should be considered as a punishment for racial abuse in football.

He said even more should be done – by both football and legal authorities.

“Whatever the Premier League are doing, it’s not enough and there’s more that needs to be done,” he said.

Expanding the theme, he added: “It could be jail time, it could be banned from stadiums for a lifetime, it could be anything along the lines of that, but I feel like there has to be something else.”

Summer escapes made easy: find your perfect sunbreak fuss-free

When it comes to booking your summer getaway, finding the perfect break can sometimes feel like a bit of a challenge. Whether it’s a fun-packed family holiday, a romantic couples trip, an activity-filled solo break or a group trip where you need to tick everyone’s travel boxes, there’s a lot to consider, and a vast range of options to choose from. So it can be tricky knowing where to start.

To make it easier to plan your perfect break, holiday experts Travel Republic have you covered, whether you’re researching dream destinations or making last-minute plans. With over 20 years of travel know-how, plus big-name airlines, top hotels and exciting attractions – they make booking your next great value getaway easy, affordable and totally stress free.

From trending destinations to incredible money-saving deals and travel ideas tailored to you, Travel Republic has everything you need to find and book your perfect trip. On top of all that, they offer flexible payment plans, super low deposits, are ATOL protected and offer all the holiday extras you need such as car hire, airport parking, transfers and travel insurance.

Ready for some travel inspo? Here’s our guide to four diverse, versatile destinations that offer it all: dreamy beaches, family entertainment, culinary delights, active adventure, and history and culture by the spadeful.

With over 6000 islands and islets, 200 of which are inhabited, not to mention a culture-rich mainland, Greece definitely has something for every type of traveller. For couples, friends and singles looking to party, head to the clubs and beach parties of Ios, Zante (Zakynthos) or Mykonos – enjoy the growing foodie scene in the pretty white-washed, streets of Mykonos Town, while adrenaline junkies will feel at home on the water, with kitesurfing, windsurfing, scuba diving and jet skiing on offer. For sandy beaches and calm waters, book into the islands of Rhodes or the family friendly Kos. If chilling on the beach is your priority, some of the world’s best can be found in Crete or Halkidiki – sporty types take note of the 13km scenic coastal cycling route. Or head to Faliraki with the kids for banana boat rides, snorkelling and splashing about at Faliraki Waterpark.

History lovers won’t want to leave Greece: explore the archeological wonder that is the Athens Acropolis, walk the capital’s charming old Plaka neighbourhood and stop at one of the many local cafes to enjoy souvlaki, moussaka and gyros. For another UNESCO World Heritage Site, visit the island of Corfu’s Old Town and submerge yourself in a world of Venetian cobbled streets, fortresses and tunnels.

Whether you want the perfect package holiday with breathtaking beaches, buzzing bazaars and cafes on your city break or a boutique stay to explore a multitude of ancient ruins, Turkey has a dream holiday for everyone.

Istanbul will keep every generation entertained: visit the impressive Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosques, go haggling in the Grand Bazaar, then grab a traditional pide (folded pizza) and a Turkish tea before making a trip to the array of castles and fortresses. There’s also a zoo, aquarium and entertainment parks.

Turkey has an abundance of historical sites, with many accessible from top beach resorts such as Side and Izmir. Head to the Dalaman region, often referred to as the Turquoise Coast in reference to the picture-perfect Blue Lagoon beach. Make the short journey from Daylan town to the magnificent ancient port city of Kaunos, which dates back to the 9th century BC and be sure to go turtle spotting at the neighbouring İztuzu Beach. Thrill seekers should head to the nearby resort of Fethiye, to spy its rugged scenery and historic sites from a paraglider. While Marmaris offers everything from parties and waterparks to romance. Head inland to Anatolia to experience the ‘fairy chimney’ rock formations of Cappadocia from the skies in a hot air balloon — a true bucket list experience.For resorts that offer a bit of everything, choose Bodrum and Antalya for everything from Roman ruins, bazaars and nightclubs to yacht-filled marinas, waterparks and pristine beaches. Lots to keep little ones entertained, and party goers busy while couples can enjoy luxe adult-only hotels.

From the Costas to the Canaries and Barcelona to the Balearics, Spain really does have it all. If it’s a city break you’re after, choose the cosmopolitan capital of Madrid: take in art at the impressive Prado Museum, stroll through the peaceful Royal Botanic Gardens and tour the famous Bernabeu Stadium, home to the mighty Real Madrid. Or if you like beach vibes with your culture, opt for the city of Barcelona. Visit the Gothic Quarter for breathtaking architecture, marvel at the iconic Sagrada Família and enjoy tapas and cava in the narrow streets of the El Born district – home to the Moco and Picasso museums.

For full-on beach action, stay on the mainland and choose between Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, Costa Brava or the ‘Golden Coast’ of Costa Dorada. Here,Salou is a good option for those looking for buzzing restaurants and bars, active types keen on coastal walks, kayaking and snorkelling and kids keen to mix rollercoasters and waterparks at PortAventura theme park.

If you’re more about ‘island life’ there’s no shortage of options: head to Ibiza or Majorca for parties galore and secluded beaches with crystalline waters or opt for one of the equally idyllic Canaries. For a break that feels out of this world, choose volcanic island Lanzarote, which offers pristine white sand beaches across the island, including the main holiday resorts of Puerto del Carmen, Playa de los Pocillos, Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca. The latter offers a wealth of bars and restaurants, waterparks, 5km promenade and lively marina with a daily market.

Dramatic coastlines with crystal clear waters, buzzing city life with pop-up restaurants and dolphin and whale watching for wildlife lovers are just some of what is on offer in Portugal, making it a must-visit for group and solo travellers alike. Head to the south coast for the holiday haven of the Algarve, home to some of Europe’s top beaches. There’s 30km of coastline to enjoy at Albufeira alone, peppered with beachfront family friendly and adult-only hotels. Be sure to explore the cobbled streets and palm tree-lined squares of the Old Town before settling down for local seafood specialities including the Cataplana stew. Want to get active? Hike the coastal Seven Hanging Valleys Trail for views of rock formations against the backdrop of turquoise waters. While nightlife lovers should head to the Algarve cities of Lagos and Faro for rooftop cocktails and tunes that play until the sun comes up.

For culture fans, head to capital city Lisbon for countless museums, galleries and beautiful historic buildings including the huge, Gothic Jerónimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lose yourself in the cobbled alleyways of the Old Town of Alfama and soak up the smells and tastes of Portuguese baking including the delicious Pastéis de Belém. Beach lovers worry not, you can have sand between your toes after a quick bus ride, while surf lovers can train it to Estoril or Cascais to catch some waves.

For more travel ideas, inspiration and great value getaways, visit Travel Republic

BA flight attendant ‘caught naked and high on drugs in plane toilet’

A British Airways flight attendant was found high on drugs and completely naked in an onboard toilet during a flight from California to London, a court has heard.

Haden Pentecost, 41 – who was described as agitated, sweating and babbling – had to be stood down by the flight’s manager when he failed to help with any pre-flight safety checks.

After complaining of stomach cramps and saying he needed to change his clothes, the air steward locked himself in one of the plane’s bathrooms.

When he opened the door, his colleague found him naked and oblivious to the fact that he had no clothes on. She had to dress him before moving him into a free seat, the court was told.

Mr Pentecost appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Friday, where he pleaded guilty to performing an aviation function while impaired by drugs.

The flight attendant was spoken to by the captain before a health professional was called for, magistrates were told.

He had dilated pupils, a high heart rate, and had to be checked every 20 minutes until the plane arrived at Heathrow – where paramedics took him to hospital.

A blood test later revealed Mr Pentecost had methamphetamine and amphetamine in his system, the court heard.

He has since been sacked by British Airways, and lives with his husband, the court was told.

Mr Pentecost, of Basingstoke, was granted bail to be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court at a later date.

British Airways has been approached for comment.

UN declares famine in Gaza despite Israeli denials

Gaza’s largest city is officially suffering from a manmade famine that has already affected more than half a million Palestinians and is likely to spread, the world’s leading authority on food crises declared on Friday.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system said 514,000 people – close to a quarter of all Palestinians in Gaza – are experiencing famine, with the number due to rise to 641,000 by the end of next month.

Foreign secretary David Lammy called it a “moral outrage” and blamed Israel’s “refusal to allow sufficient aid into Gaza”.

Israel, which has repeatedly downplayed the extent of hunger inside Gaza, dismissed the report as false and biased; Benjamin Netanyahu said it was an “outright lie”.

But United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said it was “irrefutable testimony” and described the declaration as a “moment of collective shame for the world”.

“It is a famine that we repeatedly warned of but that the international media has not been allowed in to cover,” he said at a news conference.

“It is a famine in 2025. A 21st-century famine watched over by drones and the most advanced military technology in history. It is a famine openly promoted by some Israeli leaders as a weapon of war. It is a famine on all of our watch … a famine that will and must haunt us all.”

Some 280,000 of the affected Palestinians are in a northern region covering Gaza City – known as Gaza governorate – which the IPC said was now in famine following nearly two years of war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas.

It is the first time the IPC has recorded famine outside of Africa, and the global group predicted that famine conditions would spread to the central and southern areas of Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of next month.

It added that the situation further north could be even worse than in Gaza City, but that limited data prevented any precise classification. Reuters has previously reported on the IPC’s struggle to get access to data required to assess the crisis.

For a region to be classified as in famine, at least 20 per cent of people must be suffering extreme food shortages, with one in three children acutely malnourished and two people out of every 10,000 dying daily from starvation or malnutrition and disease.

Previously, the IPC has only registered famines in Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. UN secretary general Antonio Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages still held by Hamas and unfettered humanitarian access.

Israel controls all access to Gaza. Cogat, the arm of the Israeli military that oversees aid flows, said the IPC report ignored Israeli data on aid deliveries and was part of an international campaign aimed at denigrating Israel.

“The IPC report is not only biased but also serves Hamas’s propaganda campaign,” the agency said.

Israel has long counted on the United States, its most powerful ally, for military aid and diplomatic support. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released this week found that 65 per cent of Americans believe the US should help those starving in Gaza. Donald Trump last month said many people there were starving, putting him at odds with Mr Netanyahu, who has repeatedly said there is no starvation.

The IPC said its analysis only covered people living in Gaza, Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis governorates. It was unable to classify North Gaza governorate due to access restrictions and a lack of data, and it excluded any remaining population in the southern Rafah region, as it is largely uninhabited.

The Gaza war was triggered on 7 October 2023, when Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. The Gaza health ministry said on Thursday that at least 62,192 Palestinians have been killed in the war.

Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report