Friday evening news briefing: US could negotiate directly with Hamas
Good evening. The US is considering dealing directly with Hamas to free the remaining four American hostages in Gaza.
Elsewhere in today’s newsletter, Sir Tony Blair has said an uncompetitive Conservative Party is a “bad thing” for the UK, and Sir Ian McKellen has claimed that Prince Harry is “probably not bright enough” to have survived royal life.
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US could negotiate directly with Hamas to free American Gaza hostages
Relatives of hostages still held by Hamas have been calling for the US to break with Israel and hold talks on a separate deal. It is not clear how a deal would work and what the US would offer in exchange, but any negotiations would significantly undermine Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
Uncompetitive Conservative Party is bad for the UK, says Sir Tony Blair
The former Labour prime minister cautioned the Tories against going into their “own little corner of politics” and only talking amongst themselves as they decide who will replace Rishi Sunak as leader. Sir Tony told LBC: “The Tories have got to decide whether they’re going to make themselves competitive or not.”