UK's new solicitor general under fire for meetings with Hamas figures

Andy Slaughter, the UK's new solicitor general, is facing criticism after photographs and reports resurfaced showing him meeting Hamas officials during visits to Jerusalem and Gaza in 2010. These meetings occurred before Hamas was proscribed as a terrorist organization by the UK in 2021. Slaughter, who will advise the government on legal matters including terrorism prosecutions, met figures like Mohammed Totah, Ahmed Attoun, and Khaled Abu-Arafeh, all with documented Hamas affiliations, and also met Hamas Justice Minister Faraj al-Ghoul and Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmed Yousef. Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy called the appointment an “absolute disgrace.” The Attorney General's Office defended the appointment, stating Slaughter will perform his duties impartially and has consistently condemned Hamas's actions.