Israel's deadly air strikes on a refugee camp as part of its Rafah offensive have created a serious problem for Western allies.

The strikes killed at least 45 Palestinians and wounded dozens more in the Gazan city, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a "tragic mistake" and said his forces would investigate. 

The EU is preparing to issue an ultimatum that Israel comply with the International Court of Justice's ruling on Friday, which demanded an immediate halt to the offensive. Washington is "still assessing" whether the strike crosses President Joe Biden's "red line", White House officials told Axios, but has formally urged Israel to take more care to avoid civilian casualties.

What did the commentators say?
Israel has resisted many potential turning points in this war, said Sky's Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall, but Sunday's strike could be the point at which Netanyahu is "forced to turn".

After a meeting of the EU's foreign ministers today, Italy's defence minister Guido Crosetto told Sky TG24 that Israel's actions were "no longer justifiable", and "with respect to Rafah, all states agreed that Israel had to stop". Meanwhile, the US, Israel's staunchest ally and weapons supplier, has "spoken vehemently against the Rafah offensive", said The Telegraph. The White House described the graphic images from the aftermath of the strikes as "devastating".

There is a sense that "the walls are closing in" on Netanyahu and his government, said Bunkall. "The Israeli prime minister remains defiant, but he is losing friends, and fast."

What next?
Ireland, Norway and Spain have joined nine other European nations in formally recognising Palestinian statehood, with Ireland's prime minister Simon Harris saying he was "confident" more countries would follow suit.

The EU is considering possible measures if Israel continues to ignore the ICJ ruling. One "obvious option" could be to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which grants Israel preferential market access to the bloc, said Politico's Brussels Playbook. 

But what the US will choose to do is "still unclear", said Sky's Bunkall. Nevertheless, the White House position on the strikes is "likely to harden if it's found US-supplied weapons were used".

Whether they're a hometown hero or a global megastar, anyone with a notable achievement could have "their name in the hat" for a famous blue plaque, as the previously London-based scheme prepares to go national.

Historic England is asking the public for nominations to help "more people celebrate their heritage", said The Times.

'Dead white men'
England's first blue plaque was installed by the Society of Arts in 1867 to commemorate the poet Lord Byron. Now run by Historic England, the scheme is designed to highlight inspiring or significant people from all walks of life.

The plaques are placed on a building connected with the individual, such as where they were born, worked, lived or died. For instance, Guy Fawkes' birthplace in York and the home of his parents are "both labelled" and the house in Southwark where Boris Karloff was born has a plaque, though it is "now a fish and chip shop", said the BBC.

To address concerns over the lack of diversity, a working party was set up in 2016 "specifically encouraging" nominations for Black and Asian historical figures. By 2021, a quarter of new plaques commemorated notable Black and Asian people as the "age of an exclusive focus on dead white men" came to an end, said The Guardian.

In February, Daphne Steele, the first Black matron in the NHS, became the first person to be commemorated with an official blue plaque outside London. And last week, Historic England unveiled a blue plaque at George Harrison's birthplace – 12 Arnold Grove in Liverpool.

'Lasting connection'
Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said the plaques capture the "lasting connection" between people and places. "The actual places where this history happens are special, but not always well known," he said.

To be eligible for nomination at least 20 years must have passed since the candidate's death and they must have made a significant contribution to human welfare or happiness.

Also, at least one building associated with the figure must survive in a form that the commemorated person would have recognised, and it must be visible from a public highway. The full criteria is available on the Historic England website.

The only way to reach Vancouver Island is by boat or plane. Either way, arriving at this remote sanctuary off Canada's Pacific Coast is a memorable experience: cedar trees carpet the rocky shores, hazy mountains stretch as far as the eye can see. 

If you're lucky, you might be greeted with the bark of a seal or the whistle of a bald eagle returning to its nest. The island is teeming with wildlife; this is a place where black bears roam the forests and humpback whales can be spotted along the coast. Here are a few ways to experience the untamed beauty of Vancouver Island.

Catch waves at Tofino
In the manicured streets of Victoria on the southern tip of the island "you could be forgiven for thinking you were in Cheltenham", said Stanley Stewart in Conde Nast Traveller. "But things get rugged remarkably quickly." Around a three-hour drive up the coast lies Tofino – a little beach town known as the surfing capital of Canada. Cox Bay Beach hosts most of the surf competitions, while Mackenzie Beach is ideal for families thanks to its sheltered location and calm waters.

Hike the West Coast Trail
The 47-mile stretch of "ladders, bridges, creek crossings, rock-hopping and beachcombing hugs the Pacific shoreline for most of its course", said Brendan Sainsbury in Lonely Planet. Adventurous hikers will need a permit, camping gear and between five and seven days to complete it, but despite volatile weather and slippery conditions "the rewards are immense". Be sure to plan your route carefully in advance – and bring a sturdy pair of hiking boots.

Go wine tasting in Cowichan Valley
Those looking for something a bit more relaxing could consider taking a scenic drive from Victoria around an hour north along the Trans-Canada highway to Cowichan Valley. In Cobble Hill, craft cider maker Merridale offers tours and tastings, and has plush yurts on site for overnight stays. "The best place to eat is hidden in the woods near Lake Cowichan, where passionate locavore and chef Brock Windsor runs the Stone Soup Inn," said Carolyn B. Heller in Forbes. The menu is brimming with foraged ingredients and changes with the seasons.

Our schools don't prepare young people for life. National service could change that
Simon Jenkins in The Guardian
Rishi Sunak's national service plan is a "desperate, last-minute election gimmick", writes Simon Jenkins, "but that does not make it a bad idea". It would be "good to draw young people" out of their "social and digital 'bubbles'", and while a year of military training would be a "costly waste", having teenagers working "even for a few days" a month in the care sector, NHS or for charities "could be a civic duty welcomed by every public-spirited citizen".

I warned about illegal migration when it was a trickle – years of failure have turned it into a flood
Nigel Farage in The Telegraph
It "seemed obvious" back in 2020 that the "trickle" of migrants crossing the English Channel would "turn into a flood", says Nigel Farage, and I warned "many times" that an "invasion would occur unless we acted". Some 3,800 boats have since "arrived on our shores carrying 125,000 illegal migrants", which "outrages the majority of the population". Keir Starmer has "no credibility in dealing with this issue", and it appears that our current PM "can't stop the boats" either.

Now is the time for Biden to get Russia to stand down in Ukraine
The New York Post editorial board
The time has come to push Moscow to end its war on Ukraine – by supplying Kyiv with the right weapons fast" and "removing boneheaded restrictions on their use", says the New York Post. Joe Biden's approach to getting weapons and ammunition to Ukraine has so far been "tragically anaemic", but if he "truly wants Ukraine to survive", he "needs to shed his escalation fears and ramp up" US military aid deliveries immediately.