Anti-Israel protesters breach roof of Australia’s Parliament, unfurl banners

Anti-Israel protesters have climbed the roof of Australia’s Parliament House in Canberra and unfurled banners, accusing Israel of war crimes, TV footage shows.

Footage shows four people dressed in dark clothes on the roof of the building, unfurling black banners including one reading, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a common refrain that critics say is a call for the elimination of Israel.

Meanwhile in Canberra watch these protestors on the parliament room #Auspol pic.twitter.com/l9Pbgrl4qh

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One of the protesters begins a speech using a megaphone accusing the Israeli government of war crimes, an accusation Jerusalem firmly rejects.

“We will not forget, we will not forgive and we will continue to resist,” the protester says.

A handful of police and security have advised people not to walk directly under the protest at the main entrance to the building, but there appears to be no immediate attempt to remove the protestors, a Reuters witness says.

“This is a serious breach of the Parliament’s security,” opposition Home Affairs spokesperson James Paterson says in a post on social media platform X.

“The building was modified at great expense to prevent incursions like this. An investigation is required.”

Democratic governors say they stand behind Biden amid questions about his shaky debate

A group of Democratic governors of US states say they are standing behind US President Joe Biden amid increasing calls from some in their party for him to leave the presidential race.

Biden met for more than an hour at the White House in person and virtually with more than 20 governors from his party. The governors tells reporters afterward that the conversation was “candid” and say they expressed concerns about Biden’s debate performance last week.

But they did not join other Democrats in urging him to leave the race.

“The president is our nominee. The president is our party leader,” says Governor Wes Moore of Maryland. He adds that, in the meeting, Biden “was very clear that he’s in this to win it.”

Minister for advancement of women helps sink bill for equal representation in boards of directors

The minister of social equality and the advancement of women’s status voted today against a law bill proposing equal representation for women in boards of directors of publicly listed companies.

May Golan is one of 49 coalition members who opposed the legislation in the Knesset plenum, enough to sink the bill which was backed by 41 opposition members.

Man killed, 3 injured in shooting incident in Umm al-Fahm

A man in his 30s has been killed and three others injured in a shooting incident in the Arab city of Umm al-Fahm, according to the Magen David Adom ambulance service.

MDA medics have taken the three non-fatal casualties — men said to be aged 19, 25 and 40, all in moderate condition — to nearby hospitals.

Police forces are at the scene, with an investigation launched.

Israel’s Arab community has for years been suffering an epidemic of violent crime.

Blinken, Saudi FM discuss Israel-Hamas truce talks, plans for postwar Gaza

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to discuss efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller says in a statement.

The two, the statement says, “continued discussions about how to establish governance, security and reconstruction in the post-conflict period in a way that builds lasting peace and security, as well as steps to further greater regional integration.”

They also spoke about “efforts to deescalate tensions along Israel’s northern border,” amid daily skirmishes with Hezbollah.

Blinken condemns the arrests of UN officials, diplomats and others by Yemen’s Houthis, calling for their immediate release.