Politic headlines on Friday 2023 October 13

By Sam Ashworth-Hayes Assistant Comment Editor Afternoon, The Israeli response to Hamas’s terror attacks continues to develop, with the country’s armed forces preparing for an expected ground assault into Gaza. In Britain, concerns over Hamas sympathisers and weak institutional responses are dominating the headlines, with the ongoing jockeying for position ahead of next year’s election relegated for the moment. Israel prepares to move into Gaza A flurry of Israeli air-strikes into Gaza have struck over 750 targets overnight, killing a senior Hamas commander as well as military compounds, weapons storage warehouses and underground tunnels. A primary focus for Israeli operations is likely to be the destruction of Nukhba, Hamas’s commando force which reportedly led the assault on Israel. Some 1.1 million Palestinians have been ordered to leave northern Gaza as the Israeli armed forces prepare for a ground assault into the region. Hamas has urged residents not to leave, once again highlighting its use of the civilian population as human shields for its military activities. The rest of the world is doing what it can to assist. A package of British military support is set to be dispatched to Israel, taking place alongside a US carrier group. Domestic concerns While Israel prepares to confront Hamas, Britain is also stepping up. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick has ordered officials at the Home Office to look into revoking the visas of students, academics and workers who praise the terrorist organisation. Not all British institutions responded alike, however. Seven former culture secretaries have rebuked the BBC for refusing to call Hamas “terrorists”, while the FA is receiving heavy criticism after refusing to light the Wembley arch for Israel and banning Israeli flags from the stadium. While the FA and the BBC equivocate, four Jewish schools in London have been forced to close their doors over fears for the safety of their pupils. Electoral jockeying Elsewhere in politics, the parties are attempting to firm up their offerings for the next election. For the Labour party, well ahead in the polls, this means avoiding disaster. For the Conservatives, it means finding a new tactic. Undecided voters appear to prefer Sunak to his rival Sir Keir Starmer, but are still leaning towards Labour. The path to changing that may well run through the culture wars; James Johnson of JL Partners notes that gender identity “is an incendiary issue that people do feel concerned about”. Liz Truss, speaking in Texas, wants tax cuts added to that offering. Starmer, meanwhile, is attempting to avoid coming unstuck over Europe. Labour wants to negotiate a much closer deal with the EU to address the Irish Sea border, but denies it would see Britain become a “rule-taker”. Sir Keir is holding talks with the DUP over what these changes might look like. Spare a thought also for Humza Yousaf of the SNP, who has lost a by-election and a defecting MP in the space of a week. His appeal to “heal the divisions” in his party seems likely to fail, particularly when his own mandate is so slender. Sam