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Australian officials are travelling to the Israeli prison where passengers from the pro-Palestinian flotilla carrying aid to Gaza are detained, as they await confirmation of the number of citizens locked up.

At least five Australians are reported to have been among those arrested after the Israeli navy stopped the flotilla overnight, intercepting all but one of the vessels attempting to breach the blockade.

Of the Global Sumud Flotilla’s 42 vessels all 42 are listed as having been confirmed or assumed to have been stopped by Israeli forces.

The flotilla was carrying about 500 people, including parliamentarians, lawyers and activists, such as Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate campaigner.

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In a statement on Friday afternoon, a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) said embassy officials in Tel Aviv were continuing to liaise with Israeli authorities after formally requesting confirmation of the detention of any Australian citizens.

The spokesperson confirmed officials were en route to Ketziot, the location of a prison in the Negev desert where passengers on the flotilla were transferred.

The Global Movement to Gaza group have raised concerns about the conditions in which the Australians are being held in detention, claiming they have been denied medication, food, water, sleep and access to bathroom facilities.

They also say the Australians have been subjected to aggression and forced to kneel for more than five hours while zip-tied, and were initially denied access to legal counsel.

Dfat has been contacted for comment about the claims of the reported conditions.

The shutdowns for the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur, which ran from Wednesday night to Thursday night, Israel time, are understood to have made it hard for Australian officials to secure quick confirmation of any detained citizens.

“Australia calls on all parties to respect international law, to ensure the safety and humane treatment of those involved,” the statement read.

“We understand that people want to help deliver aid to those suffering in Gaza – we also want to see critical aid delivered.

“For some time, we have warned against attempts to breach the naval blockade and strongly advised Australians not to do so because of the risks to their safety.

“We repeat our call on Israel to enable the sustained, unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”

The office of senator Mehreen Faruqi, the Greens deputy leader, said on Friday that among the Australians reportedly detained were Surya McEwen, Abubakir Rafiq, Hamish Paterson, Juliet Lamont and Bianca Webb-Pullman. Faruqi’s office said one other Australian, Cameron Tribe, was still at sea.

Australia’s health minister, Mark Butler, told Sunrise on Friday that the government had “put in a formal request to the Israeli authorities … to have clear information about how many Australians have been detained and obviously to have consular access to those Australians as well”.

He echoed comments that Australians had been warned not to join attempts to break the blockade “because of obvious safety risks”.

“For those who are detained, we’ll be providing consular assistance to them,” Butler said.

Israel’s foreign ministry, which had described the flotilla’s mission as a “provocation”, said all were “safe and in good health”.

“They are making their way safely to Israel, from where they will be deported to Europe,” it said on social media.

Guardian Australia has contacted the Israeli embassy in Canberra for comment.

The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, said the Coalition expected anyone detained to receive consular assistance.

But she said those protesting against the Gaza war – whether passengers on the flotilla or people hoping to attend the planned Sydney Opera House march to mark two years since the start of the current wave of conflict – should instead focus on supporting the Gaza ceasefire plan brokered by Donald Trump.

“The only hope for peace in the region is the one brokered by the US,” Ley told reporters in Perth.

The flotilla, which was carrying symbolic humanitarian aid, aimed to breach the Gaza blockade and establish a maritime corridor into Gaza. It is the first time since Israel imposed a naval blockade on Gaza’s waters in 2009 that an unauthorised humanitarian mission has reached closer than 70 nautical miles from the territory.

Videos have emerged showing Israeli vessels intercepting flotilla vessels, including one from the Israeli foreign ministry that showed Thunberg sitting on a deck surrounded by soldiers on the flotilla’s lead vessel, the Alma.

In a video posted on Instagram shortly before the interception, Thunberg said: “My name is Greta Thunberg. I am onboard the ship Alma. We are about to be intercepted by Israel.”

Thunberg and other activists were arrested and taken into custody at the Israeli port of Ashdod.

While some of the vessels were boarded by Israeli soldiers, others sailed on towards the Gaza Strip before being intercepted.

Protests have been held worldwide in response to the interception of the aid flotilla. On Thursday evening, snap protests were held in both Sydney and Melbourne.

Around 400 people attended the protest in Sydney, with video footage showing some were restrained by police. There were no arrests.

– with AAP

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Donald Trump ordered Israel to “immediately” stop bombing Gaza as he welcomed Hamas’s partial acceptance of his ultimatum to end the nearly two-year war.

Hamas has agreed to release all hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, as well as surrender governing power in the Gaza Strip, in accordance with Trump’s plan.

In a statement on Friday evening, the Palestinian militant group asked for further negotiations on other parts of the plan, and did not say whether it would lay down its arms – a key part of Trump’s proposal unveiled on Monday.

Despite the qualified response by Hamas, Trump said in a post on Truth Social: “Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE.

“Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that.

“We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”

In a brief video message posted separately Trump said it was a “very special day, maybe unprecedented” and added that “Everybody will be treated fairly.”

The unprecedented order from Trump underlined that Israel and Hamas are the closest they have been in two years to achieving an end to the war in Gaza.

Trump is widely seen as the only international leader with the power to compel the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to agree to a ceasefire deal.

In a statement earlier on Friday night, Hamas said it was giving its “approval of releasing all occupation prisoners – both living and remains – according to the exchange formula contained in president Trump’s proposal, with the necessary field conditions for implementing the exchange”.

Hamas also said it was prepared to turn over “the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independent technocrats based on Palestinian national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic backing”.

However, the group said “other issues” in Trump’s proposal would need to be discussed further “within a unified Palestinian national framework”. The unspecified issues would likely include arms, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and international guarantees for a permanent ceasefire.

Trump’s plan called for an immediate end to fighting in Gaza, an exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners within 72 hours of the deal’s signing, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and a transitional authority led by Trump.

The deal also stipulated a surge of aid to Gaza, parts of which are experiencing famine, and the reconstruction to the mostly demolished strip.

The deal was largely seen as unfavourable to Hamas and, if agreed in full, would likely spell the group’s end as an armed Palestinian faction while demanding few concessions from Israel. International pressure on the group to accept the plan has been intense, with most regional and international powers welcoming the Trump initiative.

The catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, with Israel’s continued aid blockade and daily bombing, also puts pressure on the group to reach an agreement to end the war.

Though Hamas did not immediately agree to disarm, its acceptance of a hostage handover will be seen as significant. The 48 hostages have been used as leverage throughout the nearly two-year war. Giving them up would we leave the group with few bargaining chips going forward.

Israel’s war in Gaza has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians and wounded about 170,000, according to the Gaza health authority, mainly civilians. The figure does not include the thousands buried under the rubble or those killed by indirect consequences of the war.

The war was launched by Israel in response to Hamas-led militants killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages in Israel on 7 October 2023.

The Qatari ministry of foreign affairs also welcomed Hamas’s response, and said it had begun working with fellow mediator Egypt to coordinate with the US on negotiations towards ending the war in Gaza.

A spokesman for the UN secretary general, António Guterres, said he “urges all parties to seize the opportunity to bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to an end”, while the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, called for the Trump plan to be implemented “without delay”, saying Hamas’s acceptance of it was “a significant step forwards”.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, wrote on social media that “the release of all hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza are within reach!”, and the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said that “after almost two years, this is the best chance for peace”.

A serving Metropolitan police officer has been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, after undercover footage showed colleagues at Charing Cross police station making racist and sexist comments.

The footage, gathered for a BBC Panorama documentary, appears to show officers at a central London station calling for immigrants to be shot and boasting about using violence against suspects.

The Met confirmed that a sergeant attached to the Central West Basic Command Unit was arrested following an “incident” on 2 October. The officer has since been bailed and suspended from duty.

A force spokesperson said: “The allegation relates to an incident that took place at Charing Cross police station on 2 October and is linked to matters disclosed in BBC Panorama.

“The investigation is ongoing so it would not be appropriate to go into further detail at this time.

“The Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is independently investigating allegations in relation to Charing Cross, has been informed.”

Deputy assistant commissioner Andy Valentine said: “We have been extremely clear we will be unrelenting in our approach to tackling issues at Charing Cross, and anywhere else across the Met.

“This fresh matter came to light through our internal reporting mechanisms and we continue to encourage and support all our officers and staff to report allegations of criminal and misconduct behaviour so we can act swiftly.

“Professional standards officers immediately acted to make the arrest and the officer has been suspended from duty.

“We will not hesitate to take rapid action around any further allegations, as part of our deeper probe into corruption and ridding the Met of those who are not fit to serve the people of London.”

Reacting to the documentary earlier this week, Keir Starmer said: “I’ve not yet seen the footage, but I’ve had it described to me, and it’s shocking, and I’m glad the commissioner is responding. He needs to be very robust in his response.”

The Met commissioner, Mark Rowley, said people in London could trust the “vast majority” of its officers, and added he was “horrified” by the documentary.

Nine serving officers, one former officer and one detention officer are under investigation for gross misconduct by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Allegations include excessive use of force, making discriminatory and misogynistic comments and failing to report or challenge inappropriate behaviour.

The documentary footage shows one officer, PC Phil Neilson, referring to an immigrant who had overstayed his visa, saying: “Either put a bullet through his head or deport him. And the ones that shag women, rape women, you do the cock and let them bleed out.”

While drinking at a pub off-duty, he also told undercover reporter Rory Bibb that Algerians and Somalians are “scum”, and claimed there was an “invasion” of the UK by migrants.

Another officer, PC Martin Borg, bragged about a colleague stamping on a detainee’s leg and laughed about the suspect screaming.

He also appeared to say he offered to fill in a false witness statement about the incident.

Kash Patel, the FBI director, says the agency is cutting ties with two organizations that for decades have tracked domestic extremism and racial and religious bias, a move that follows complaints about the groups from some conservatives and prominent allies of president Donald Trump.

Patel said on Friday that the FBI would sever its relationship with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), asserting that the organization had been turned into a “partisan smear machine” and criticizing it for its use of a “hate map” that documents alleged anti-government and hate groups inside the US. A statement earlier in the week from Patel said the FBI would end ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a prominent Jewish advocacy organization that fights antisemitism.

The announcements amount to a dramatic rethinking of longstanding FBI partnerships with prominent civil rights groups at a time when Patel is moving rapidly to reshape the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency. The organizations over the years have provided research on hate crime and domestic extremism, law enforcement training and other services – but have also been criticized by some conservatives for what they say is an unfair maligning of their viewpoints.

That criticism escalated after the 10 September assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk amid renewed attention to the SPLC’s characterization of the group, Turning Point USA, that Kirk founded. For instance, the SPLC included a section on Turning Point in a report titled “The Year in Hate and Extremism 2024” that described the group as a “case study in the hard right”. Prominent figures including Elon Musk lambasted the SPLC in recent days about its descriptions of Kirk and the organization.

A spokesperson for the SPLC, a legal and advocacy group founded in 1971 as a watchdog for minorities and the underprivileged, did not directly address Patel’s comments in a statement Friday but said the organization has for decades shared data with the public and remains “committed to exposing hate and extremism as we work to equip communities with knowledge and defend the rights and safety of marginalized people”.

The ADL has also faced criticism on the right for maintaining a “Glossary of Extremism”. The organization announced recently that it was discontinuing that glossary because a number of entries were outdated and some were being “intentionally misrepresented and misused”.

Founded in 1913 to confront antisemitism, the ADL has long worked closely with the FBI – not only through research and training but also through awards ceremonies that recognize law enforcement officials involved in investigations into racially or religiously motivated extremism.

James Comey, the former FBI director, paid tribute to that relationship in May 2017 when he said at an ADL event: “For more than 100 years, you have advocated and fought for fairness and equality, for inclusion and acceptance. You never were indifferent or complacent.”

A Patel antagonist, Comey was indicted on 25 September on false statement and obstruction charges and has said he is innocent. Patel appeared to mock Comey’s comments in a post Wednesday on X in which he shared a Fox News story that quoted him as having cut ties with the ADL.

“James Comey wrote ‘love letters’ to the ADL and embedded FBI agents with them – a group that ran disgraceful ops spying on Americans,” he said in a post made as Jews were preparing to begin observing Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. “That era is OVER. This FBI won’t partner with political fronts masquerading as watchdogs.”

An ADL spokesperson did not immediately comment Friday on Patel’s announcement. But CEO and executive director Jonathan Greenblatt said in a statement Friday that the ADL “has deep respect” for the FBI.

“In light of an unprecedented surge of antisemitism, we remain more committed than ever to our core purpose to protect the Jewish people,” Greenblatt said.

To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the US’s independence, the treasury department is mulling production of a $1 coin displaying Donald Trump with a clenched first under an American flag and the words “fight, fight, fight”.

The words overtly reference what Trump said immediately after narrowly surviving an assassination attempt four months before he won a second presidency.

US treasurer Brandon Beach effectively announced a draft design of the coin Friday on X, saying: “No fake news here. These drafts honoring America’s 250th birthday and [Trump] are real.”

The X post – which boosted another account commenting on the draft design – said Beach looked “forward to sharing more” after the end of the partial government shutdown that began after midnight Wednesday when Senate Democrats demanding concessions on healthcare and other spending priorities refused to provide the votes necessary to pass a Republican-backed funding bill.

As Politico pointed out, in 2020, at the end of his first presidency, Trump signed bipartisan legislation authorizing the treasury secretary to issue $1 coins during the calendar year 2026 that are “emblematic of the United States semiquincentennial”.

One side of the coin on whose draft design Beach commented Friday showed Trump’s profile alongside “Liberty”, “In God we Trust”, and “1776-2026”.

The other side referenced the attempt on Trump’s life at a political rally in Pennsylvania last year, when authorities said a sniper injured Trump’s right ear and wounded two others before being shot to death by the US Secret Service.

Trump raised his fist after the attack – one of two attempted assassinations for him as he successfully ran for a second Oval Office term in 2024 – and shouted, “Fight! Fight! Fight!” with an American flag looming nearby.

A statement from a treasury department spokesperson to Politico said the draft which Beach’s X post discussed was not the “final $1 coin design”. But the statement maintained that “this draft reflects well the enduring spirit of our country and democracy, even in the face of immense obstacles”.

Trump’s approval rating on average has plummeted to -9.5%, as his second administration has cut healthcare protections and nutrition assistance that benefits the poor, while also implementing tariffs that preceded a reported rise in consumer prices.

Among other things, the administration has also deployed US military troops into the streets of multiple cities, axed roughly half a billion dollars in funding for vaccines such as the ones that helped end the Covid pandemic, and struggled to contain a scandal over his past friendship with late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The families of the two men killed in the Manchester synagogue attack have described them as heroic people who cared about their community.

The family of 53-year-old Adrian Daulby, who is believed to have been accidentally shot by police, described him as a “hero” who “tragically lost his life in the act of courage to save others”.

Daulby was one of the worshippers who stopped an attacker from entering Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue on Thursday, Greater Manchester police said.

The other man who died was 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz, who is thought to have been stabbed to death by the attacker at the gate of the synagogue.

Though his body has yet to be formally identified, his family paid tribute to a “kind, caring” man who would be sorely missed.

In a statement provided by police, they said: “Melvin would do anything to help anyone. He was so kind, caring and always wanted to chat and get to know people.

“He was devoted to his wife, family and loved his food. He will be sorely missed by his wife, family, friends and community.

“We ask for privacy as we try to come to terms with this shocking loss.”

Police said Daulby’s injury “may have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by our officers to bring a vicious attack to an end”. It is thought he was behind a synagogue door holding it closed when he was fatally shot, alongside another man, Yoni Finlay, who remains in hospital being treated for a shooting injury.

In a tribute issued by the force, his family said: “Adrian Daulby was a hero and tragically lost his life in the act of courage to save others. He was a beloved brother, loving uncle to his four nieces and one nephew, and a cherished cousin.

“The family is shocked by the tragic, sudden death of such a lovely down to earth man. His final act was one of profound courage and he will forever be remembered for his heroic act on Thursday 2 October 2025.”

The men were killed after the attacker used a car to ram into the grounds of the synagogue in Crumpsall, north Manchester, then stabbed worshippers in a six-minute rampage that ended only when armed officers shot at him twice.

Three others were seriously injured in the attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Police named the attacker on Thursday night as Jihad al-Shamie, 35, a British citizen of Syrian descent. Greater Manchester police said three other people – two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s – had been arrested “on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism”.

Postmortem examinations of the victims – both of whom were from Crumpsall – will take place later on Friday.

In a message on social media on Friday, Daulby’s family said they were “heartbroken” by his loss and would be seeking “the answers that we need”.

They said: “As Adrian’s family, we are heartbroken by his passing. We kindly ask for privacy at this time as we grieve and seek the answers we need. Thank you for your understanding and respect.”

At a vigil near the scene on Friday afternoon, Rabbi Daniel Walker, who was in the synagogue at the time of the attack, said Daulby and Finlay had “blocked the terrorist”. He described Finlay as “one of the heroes of the Heaton Park community, who is today in hospital recovering from terrible wounds”.

He added: “We also remember Adrian and Melvin, truly wonderful, special men whose lives were so truly snatched from them as they tried to pray as Jews on the holiest day of the year on Yom Kippur.”

DCS Lewis Hughes, who is coordinating the casualty response, said: “My deepest sympathies are with Mr Daulby and Mr Cravitz’s loved ones at this extremely hard time.

“Specially trained family liaison officers are in contact with them. They will continue to update them on the investigation and support them throughout the coronial process.

“While there are processes which must be followed, we commit to being mindful of cultural preferences and sensitivities and to ensuring that these men and their loved ones’ wishes are respected.”

The attack drew widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum, with Keir Starmer calling the knife attacker a “vile individual” who “attacked Jews because they are Jews, and attacked Britain because of our values”. The Conservative and Reform leaders, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage, were among those joining the prime minister in showing support for the Jewish community.

The attack happened days before the second anniversary of the 7 October attacks by Hamas in Israel. Police said there would be heightened security at synagogues and Jewish community centres in the coming days.

Starmer flew back to the UK early from a gathering of European leaders in Denmark on Thursday to chair an emergency Cobra meeting after the incident before speaking to the nation from Downing Street.

On Friday morning, Greater Manchester police confirmed extra officers would provide a “high visibility” presence in north Manchester, Bury and Salford within Jewish communities and around synagogues.

There would also be increased visits to local places of worship.

With PA Media

The US government has put $2.1bn in funding for infrastructure projects in Chicago on hold, Russ Vought, the office of management and budget director, said on Friday, in another jab at a Democratic-led city during the federal government shutdown, presented as a move against diversity efforts.

Vought said the money for major projects on Chicago’s subway mass transit system – including extensions of the Red Line route and modernizations “have been put on hold to ensure funding is not flowing via race-based contracting”.

On Wednesday, Vought said the Trump administration had frozen $18bn for major transit projects in New York, too, including a rail tunnel under the Hudson River that flows between New York from New Jersey, and an extension of the Second Avenue subway underground rail system, citing the same justification.

The outgoing administration of former president Joe Biden finalized a nearly $2bn award of federal funds in its final days to help extend the Red Line 5.5 miles to connect Chicago far South Side to the main subway rail system, known locally as the “L”, for elevated, as a lot of the lines run overground and above the streets in the downtown area.

Vought cited a new rule from the US transportation department that took effect on Wednesday to review whether any small-business contractors are engaged in what the White House would regard as improper diversity initiatives. This is one of a series of efforts intended to pressure Democratic lawmakers in the US Congress over the partial government shutdown that began just after midnight on Wednesday.

Any substantive delays in federal funding over partisan political squabbles are almost certain to face swift legal challenges.

In New York, the $17.2bn Hudson River tunnel project, which received more than $11bn in federal grants, involves repairs to an existing tunnel, and the building of a new one for passenger railway operator Amtrak and commuter lines between New Jersey and Manhattan.

Any failure of the current Hudson tunnel, which was heavily damaged by 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, would hobble commuting in the metropolitan area that produces 10% of US economic output.

In a separate move on Friday, the Trump administration reversed its plan to cut $187m in security funds for New York, said Kathy Hochul, the state’s Democratic governor.

Reuters contributed reporting

The US killed four people in a strike against a vessel just off the coast of Venezuela that was allegedly carrying illegal drugs, US defense secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday.

The strike came a day after Trump officials notified Congress that the US was entering a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels.

It was at least the fourth such extraordinary and controversial attack by US forces outside American waters in recent weeks. Hegseth, said in a social media post that he had directed the latest strike on Trump’s orders.

Hegseth wrote that the boat was struck in international waters off the coast of Venezuela and that an intelligence assessment had confirmed it was carrying drugs bound for the US.

“The strike was conducted in international waters just off the coast of Venezuela while the vessel was transporting substantial amounts of narcotics – headed to America to poison our people,” Hegseth said on X.

“Our intelligence, without a doubt, confirmed that this vessel was trafficking narcotics, the people onboard were narco-terrorists, and they were operating on a known narco-trafficking transit route,” Hegseth said.

The latest attack on a boat comes as the Trump administration provided a notification on the issue to Congress in the form of a memo that attempted to legally justify the increasingly expansive use of military force against alleged Venezuelan drug boats.

The notification was provided by senior Pentagon officials as part of an attempt to explain the Trump administration’s legal arguments for the strikes. It also included a classified briefing to members of the Senate armed services committee that took place on Wednesday.

The memo also states that Trump has deemed cartels as “non-state armed groups” whose actions smuggling drugs “constitute an armed attack against the United States”. The administration is required by law to report to Congress the US government’s use of armed forces.

Hegseth’s social media post claimed the boat was “affiliated with Designated Terrorist Organizations”, a term the administration introduced for the first time in the confidential memo to Congress reviewed by the Guardian.