Rod Stewart criticizes Israel's Gaza offensive and ends friendship with Trump over Israel arms support
In a recent interview with Radio Times, British music icon Rod Stewart condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's military actions in Gaza, stating that they amount to efforts to 'annihilate' the Palestinian people.
'What Netanyahu is doing to the Palestinians is exactly what happened to the Jews,' Stewart said. 'It's annihilation, and that's all he wants to do — get rid of them all. I don't know how they sleep at night.'
His comments come amid heightened international scrutiny of Israel's operations in the Gaza Strip, as well as continued debate surrounding arms sales and foreign policy in the United States.
Stewart's remarks also signal a rupture in his longtime friendship with former U.S. President Donald Trump. The 80-year-old singer explained that Trump's unwavering support for Israel has caused a personal rift. 'No, I can't anymore,' Stewart said of maintaining their relationship. 'As long as he's selling arms to the Israelis — and he still is. How's that war ever gonna stop?'
Stewart and Trump had been neighbors for years in Palm Beach, Florida, frequently attending social events together. 'We're both on the beach. I used to go to his Christmas parties,' Stewart recalled. 'He's always been a bit of a man's man. I liked him for that. But he didn't, as far as I'm concerned, treat women very well… Since he became president, he became another guy. Somebody I didn't know.'
As political tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, Stewart's remarks add a high-profile celebrity voice to the growing global debate over the humanitarian cost of the conflict and U.S. policy in the region.
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Business Recorder
an hour ago
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Iran-Israel tensions threaten Pakistan's fragile economic recovery
The world is holding its breath as tensions between Iran and Israel reach a boiling point. What began as a shadow war – fought through covert attacks, cyber strikes, and regional proxies – now teeters on the edge of open warfare. For many, this may seem like another distant Middle Eastern flashpoint. But for Pakistan and other oil-importing, investment-hungry economies, the potential fallout from a full-scale Iran-Israel war could be immediate, destabilising, and enduring. Trump to decide on US action in Israel-Iran war within two weeks, White House says The Strait of Hormuz Iran has long warned that if it is attacked directly, it would retaliate by closing or disrupting the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly a fifth of the world's oil and one-third of global LNG passes. If war breaks out and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps acts on this threat, the effect would be seismic. Oil prices could jump to $120–$130 per barrel, if not higher, within days, according to JP Morgan. 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Iran says no nuclear talks under Israeli fire, Trump considers options US Involvement: The risk of a regional war Should Israel launch a significant military operation against Iran's nuclear infrastructure, US involvement is almost guaranteed – if not militarily, then through security and diplomatic cover. Iran could retaliate through its extensive network of regional allies: Hezbollah in Lebanon, armed groups in Syria and Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen. In response, Israel may strike across multiple fronts. The Gulf, already skittish, could be drawn into this widening circle of conflict. This would be a pan-regional war, not a bilateral spat – and global markets would respond accordingly. For Pakistani businesses and policymakers, this isn't just an oil story – it's about the collapse of confidence. 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And as regional tensions rise, other initiatives – such as Iran's role in China's Belt and Road – could also stall, indirectly affecting Pakistan's own the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) trajectory. The perils of regime change Some voices in Western capitals quietly suggest that an Iran–Israel war could trigger regime change in Tehran. But regime change rarely brings instant democracy or economic liberalism. More often, it brings chaos, uncertainty, and power vacuums. In Iran's case, a collapsed regime could unleash internal civil strife, embolden separatist movements, and leave critical oil and gas infrastructure vulnerable. A successor regime – military, clerical, or revolutionary – might be more aggressive, not less. And either way, it would take years to stabilise one of the region's largest energy exporters, further compounding oil market disruption and regional instability. Implications for Pakistan Pakistan has always maintained a careful balancing act between Iran, the Gulf Arab states, and the West. A full-scale Iran–Israel war would make that balance nearly impossible to maintain. Moreover, if the conflict spreads to the Gulf, the implications for Pakistan's diaspora workers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and beyond – who send home billions in remittances – could be severe. Even minor disruptions to Gulf economies or airline connectivity would affect the lifeblood of Pakistan's foreign exchange. The Iran–Israel confrontation is no longer a question of if – but how far it spreads. For Pakistan and many in the Global South, the imperative now is economic preparedness: building energy buffers, accelerating regional trade alternatives, and strengthening diplomatic channels that could help de-escalate tensions. The current war has the power to reorder global energy, unsettle regional politics, and cast a long shadow over Pakistan's fragile economic recovery. The article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Business Recorder or its owners
Business Recorder
2 hours ago
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Iran-Israel tensions threaten Pakistan's fragile recovery
The world is holding its breath as tensions between Iran and Israel reach a boiling point. What began as a shadow war – fought through covert attacks, cyber strikes, and regional proxies – now teeters on the edge of open warfare. For many, this may seem like another distant Middle Eastern flashpoint. But for Pakistan and other oil-importing, investment-hungry economies, the potential fallout from a full-scale Iran - Israel war could be immediate, destabilizing, and enduring. Trump to decide on US action in Israel-Iran war within two weeks, White House says The Strait of Hormuz Iran has long warned that if it is attacked directly, it would retaliate by closing or disrupting the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly a fifth of the world's oil and one-third of global LNG passes. If war breaks out and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps acts on this threat, the effect would be seismic. Oil prices could jump to $150–$180 per barrel, if not higher, within days. 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Iran could retaliate through its extensive network of regional allies: Hezbollah in Lebanon, armed groups in Syria and Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen. In response, Israel may strike across multiple fronts. The Gulf, already skittish, could be drawn into this widening circle of conflict. This would be a pan-regional war, not a bilateral spat – and global markets would respond accordingly. For Pakistani businesses and policymakers, this isn't just an oil story – it's about the collapse of confidence. Equity markets across the region would take a hit, FDI flows into emerging economies would pause, and the risk premium for countries like Pakistan – already contending with political instability and IMF obligations – would rise further. That means higher borrowing costs, capital flight, and declining investor appetite for anything deemed 'exposed to the region.' Trade corridors under threat Even beyond the Strait, Iran serves as a critical trade conduit to Central Asia and Turkey. 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A successor regime – military, clerical, or revolutionary – might be more aggressive, not less. And either way, it would take years to stabilize one of the region's largest energy exporters, further compounding oil market disruption and regional instability. Implications for Pakistan Pakistan has always maintained a careful balancing act between Iran, the Gulf Arab states, and the West. A full-scale Iran–Israel war would make that balance nearly impossible to maintain. Pressures to align with either the OIC consensus or international sanctions regimes could limit Islamabad's diplomatic bandwidth and expose it to both economic and political costs. Moreover, if the conflict spreads to the Gulf, the implications for Pakistan's diaspora workers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and beyond – who send home billions in remittances – could be severe. Even minor disruptions to Gulf economies or airline connectivity would affect the lifeblood of Pakistan's foreign exchange. The Iran–Israel confrontation is no longer a question of if – but how far it spreads. For Pakistan and many in the Global South, the imperative now is economic preparedness: building energy buffers, accelerating regional trade alternatives, and strengthening diplomatic channels that could help de-escalate tensions. The current war has the power to reorder global energy, unsettle regional politics, and cast a long shadow over Pakistan's fragile economic recovery. The article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Business Recorder or its owners
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