The Times of Israel is liveblogging Tuesday’s events as they unfold.
Pro-Israel US Christian groups sue UN’s Albanese for alleged defamation
Pro-Israel US Christian groups sue UN rapporteur for the Palestinians Francesca Albanese for alleged defamation and libel.
The plaintiffs in the case are Christian Friends of Israeli Communities and Christians for Israel USA, two US-based nonprofits.
In a lawsuit filed in a federal court in Colorado, where Christian Friends of Israeli Communities is based, the two groups say Albanese has “spread malicious lies” to “harm their reputations and financial wellbeing” due to their support for Israel.
In April, Albanese sent letters to the two groups accusing them of complicity in “gross human rights violations that require immediate cessation,” war crimes, crimes against humanity and apartheid, according to the lawsuit.
The letters said the plaintiffs were at “serious risk of being implicated in international crimes” and potentially criminally liable.
The lawsuit includes copies of the letters, which accused the nonprofits of aiding illegal settlement activity, assisting the Israeli military, denying the Palestinians the right to self-determination and aiding the unlawful annexation of Palestinian land.
The letters drew a response from Leo Terrell, the head of an antisemitism task force at the US Department of Justice, who warned Albanese that her actions were false and defamatory, the lawsuit says.
Weeks later, Albanese published a UN report that attacked the two Christian groups. The report said the groups and others should be punished by governments, courts and the public; demanded the nonprofits cease any activity linked to “crimes against the Palestinian people” and pay reparations to Palestinians; be investigated by international and US authorities; and be subject to a boycott.
Albanese made the statements knowing they were false, which would constitute defamation and libel, the lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit says Albanese has claimed immunity as a UN official, but argues that she made the defamatory remarks outside of her official duties.
Albanese has a history of antisemitism and extremist rhetoric toward Israel and has been sanctioned by the US government.
Syria slams alleged Israeli strikes as ‘blatant infringement’ of regional stability
Syria’s Foreign Ministry condemns a wave of reported Israeli airstrikes in the country as “a blatant infringement” of its sovereignty and regional stability.
In a statement, the ministry charges that the attacks are part of an ongoing series of escalations pursued by Israel against Syrian territory.
Israel struck in the vicinity of Syria’s central Homs city, the coastal city of Latakia and the historic city of Palmyra, Syrian state-affiliated media has said.
There has been no immediate comment from Israel.
British PM meets Palestinian Authority chief; they agree no role for Hamas in future governance
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in London, as the UK government edges towards recognizing a Palestinian state.
The leaders discussed “the need for an urgent solution to end the horrific suffering and famine” in Gaza and the release of hostages held by the Hamas terror group, a spokesperson for Starmer’s Downing Street office says in a statement.
Abbas welcomed the UK’s “pledge to recognizing a Palestinian state ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting later this month, unless Israel changes its course,” the spokesperson adds.
Several countries, including Britain and France, have announced they intend to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations later this month. Starmer’s government has said it will take the step if Israel fails to agree to a ceasefire in the war, triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 onslaught, or doesn’t take “substantive” steps to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace.
His meeting with Abbas “is part of the prime minister’s ongoing efforts to reach a political solution to the ongoing conflict in Gaza,” Downing Street said ahead of the bilateral.
During their talks, both leaders “agreed there will be absolutely no role for Hamas in the future governance of Palestine” and reiterated the need for a “long-term solution” to the conflict.
Starmer “welcomed” Abbas’s “commitment to reform of the Palestinian Authority as a vital part of this work,” his office says.
Abbas, 89, arrived in London on Sunday night for a three-day visit.
He has been barred from attending the UN General Assembly in New York by the US State Department.
After reported Homs-area strike, vicinity of 2 more Syrian cities said hit by Israel
In addition to striking a military base near Syria’s central city of Homs, Israel has also hit targets in the vicinity of the coastal city of Latakia and the historic city of Palmyra, Syrian state-affiliated media reports.
There is no immediate comment from the IDF on any of the strikes.
Syrian media does not elaborate further on the size or the impact of the reported strikes.
Israeli airstrikes in Syria have been relatively rare in recent months.
Emanuel Fabian contributed to this report.
IDF strikes military base in Syria, local reports say
Syrian media reports an Israeli airstrike against a military base near the city of Homs.
There is no immediate comment from the IDF.
Israeli airstrikes in Syria have been relatively rare in recent months.
#Syria: explosion, resulting from an Israeli airstrike, occurred at a former Air Defense base located on outskirts of #Homs-city (area of Maskanah). https://t.co/GD21PQUDvR https://t.co/IMTxsyQXiR pic.twitter.com/JiEDyjfdZc
— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) September 8, 2025
UK doesn’t believe Israel is committing genocide, Lammy wrote last week, before he was ousted as foreign secretary
The British government does not believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, former foreign secretary David Lammy wrote in a letter last week, The Times reports.
“As per the Genocide Convention, the crime of genocide occurs only where there is specific ‘intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group,'” Lammy wrote to Sarah Champion, chairwoman of the British Parliament’s International Development Committee. “The government has not concluded that Israel is acting with that intent.”
He was responding to a letter from Champion asking why the UK was supplying parts for F-35 fighter jets that have made their way to Israel.
Lammy wrote the letter before he was replaced as foreign secretary last week.
Government ministers, including Lammy himself, have said previously that it is not up to the government to determine whether Israel is committing genocide. Israel adamantly rejects the charge.