The Foreign Office has shut a unit tracking potential law breaches by Israel in Gaza because of cuts, the Guardian reported.
The unit was responsible for monitoring whether Israel’s actions in Gaza might violate international law.
Its closure follows broader budget reductions across government departments.
The Guardian also reported that the UK Biobank data breach was found for sale on three separate listings last week.
Biobank holds genetic and health data from half a million UK participants.
The exposure of this data raises serious privacy and security concerns for participants.
A civil servant tasked with compiling documents for Lord Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the US said she had not been given files relating to his security vetting.
This echoes earlier revelations that Mandelson failed security vetting but was cleared after Foreign Office officials overruled the recommendation.
A photo of women mourning and carrying red posters of journalist Amal Khalil, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Lebanon, was published alongside the reports.
Why the Foreign Office unit was closed
The unit tracking potential law breaches by Israel in Gaza was shut due to funding cuts, according to the Guardian.
No alternative mechanism for monitoring compliance with international law in Gaza has been announced.
What the Biobank breach means for participants
The sale of Biobank data on three separate listings last week exposes participants to risks of misuse of genetic and health information.
Biobank has not confirmed whether any data was actually downloaded or used maliciously.
What was the Foreign Office unit monitoring?
The unit was tracking whether Israel’s actions in Gaza might breach international law.
How much Biobank data was exposed?
The source does not specify the volume of data exposed, only that it was found for sale on three separate listings last week.