Events

France Inter is reporting that 'des dizaines' of top Hamas politicians have been arrested. The BBC, in its 8:00 (BST) bulletin reported that 8 Palestinian cabinet ministers have been arrested; a few minutes later it was 9 cabinet ministers and 21 officials (with some 'at least's in there somewhere).

I don't often blog about events as they unfold and I haven't said anything about Israel and Palestine for a while, but it's time to say something now.

This is an entirely disproportionate response by the Israeli state. The recognition of Israel by Hamas should be an outcome of negotiations, not a precondition. Calling those who captured the Israeli soldier "terrorists" solves nothing.