CNN
–

Brazilian police swooped early on Friday at Jer Bolsonaro’s home and political headquarters, searching for property, ordered the former president to wear an electronic ankle tag, banned talking to foreign officials, approaching the embassy and banning the use of social media.

The restrictions ordered by Brazil’s Supreme Court were motivated by concerns that Bolsonaro would flee the country during his trial over a lawsuit overturning the outcome of the 2022 presidential election. Bolsonaro denied any misconduct.

Federal police also accused Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo of conspiring with the US government to impose sanctions against Brazilian officials, court documents said. The lawsuit “will directly benefit father and investor Jair Messias Bolsonaro,” the court said.

Federal police also seized unspecified US dollars of cash.

Speaking outside the police station on Friday, Bolsonaro called the ankle tag “the greatest humiliation” and “had never thought about leaving Brazil.”

“My doubts (my leaving the country) are exaggeration… I am the former president of the Republic – I am 70 years old,” he said.

Bolsonaro added that police have seized “about 14,000 US dollars” and claimed the money is for personal use, and that he has a receipt to prove it.

The attack came when US President Donald Trump tried to force his current Brazilian counterpart, Louise Inacio Lula da Silva.

Trump threatened Brazil with 50% tariffs from August 1st, according to a letter posted to his social media platform Truth Social last week.

In the letter, Trump linked the tariff threat to what he described as a “witch hunt” trial against his close ally, Bolsonaro.

Brazil’s Supreme Court on Friday accused Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo of working with the US to impose tariffs.

Court documents highlighted Bolsonaro’s confidential meeting with US State Department officials, highlighting Trump’s letter as “aggressive” and “clear threat” to Brazil’s sovereignty.

Da Silva, widely known as Lula, spoke only to CNN’s Thursday, and said Trump’s threat has left the “protocol” and argued that the fate of his predecessor is not part of the trade negotiations.

“The judicial division of Brazil is independent. The President of the Republic has no effect at all,” he said, adding that Bolsonaro “is not judged personally. He is judged by his attempt to organize a coup.”

Lula added that if the actions he took place during the January 6th rebellion took place in Brazil, Trump would be on trial in his country.

On Friday, Trump posted a letter to Bolsonaro about the True Society. There, he suggested that the former Brazilian leader was a victim of a “unjust system” and said he was “watching closely.”

Bolsonaro posted Trump’s letter to his official X account, and in subsequent videos he thanked Trump for his support with “eternal thanks.”

Bolsonaro previously appeared to be preparing for the outcome of his trial, dismissing the idea that he might be considered a flight risk, saying, “I’m faced with the process.”

“I don’t think I’m doing anything. I don’t think of anything, I don’t think of anything,” he says, “I’m not a criminal. They are the ones who are persecuting me.”

Bolsonaro could face more than 40 years behind the bar if it turns out he’s committed the crime of masterminding a coup.

He is among 34 people charged with five crimes, including attempted coups. Prosecutors argue that some of the coup conspiracy could potentially assassinate his vice president and the Supreme Court minister.

Brian Winter, executive vice president of the American Association and Council of America, told CNN that for Brazil, the United States is not as important trading partner as China.

“Brazil only sends about 11% of its exports to the US,” Winter said. “That’s half of what Brazil sends to China, and for some, not all, but for some, we can find a market outside the US.”

“The problem is, if this continues to escalate, President Trump can use even more painful measures, such as financial sanctions on a large group of people,” Winter asked that Trump had previously threatened to travel bans on Colombian citizens during his disagreement with the Colombian government over migrant flights.

“President Trump may continue to escalate this in ways that could ultimately cause quite a lot of pain for the Brazilian government and the people of Brazil,” Winter said.

This story has been updated.

Duarte Mendonca and Marcelo Medeiros of CNN contributed the report.

CNN
–

Catholic and Greek Orthodox leaders visited Gaza’s only Catholic church on Friday. There, three people died in an Israeli strike a day ago.

This visit is very unusual given Israel’s strict control of access within and outside the territory.

Israel says it “deeply regrets” the incident and blames stray ammunition for strikes. An investigation is underway.

Pizzabara, Cardinal Piebattista, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited the enclave to demonstrate his support for the Catholics of Gaza, according to a statement from the Latin Tribal Chief of Jerusalem.

The two expressed “The common idyllic solicitation of the Holy Land churches and the patriarchy, which has the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholics of Gaza, shares their concerns about the communities of the sacred area.

They brought food aid and medical supplies to territory facing humanitarian crisis. The patriarchy also said its leaders ensured that those injured in the Israeli attacks would be evacuated outside Gaza for treatment.

The Gaza church became a shelter for the small Christian communities and others in the enclave during the conflict.

Pope Leo received a call from Netanyahu on Friday. There, clergymen expressed the importance of protecting places of worship, the Vatican said.

During a call that Netanyahu’s office has not yet commented, Leo updated his call to reach the ceasefire by the fighting side of Gaza.

Pope Leo said, “We have re-expressed concerns about the dramatic humanitarian situation in Gaza’s population, where the Gaza population is being paid heartbreaking prices, particularly by children, elderly people and sick people.”

There have been international condemnation of the attacks from major Israeli allies.

Nearly 59,000 people have been killed during the conflict, says the Palestinian Health Ministry, and the ceasefire talks remain at a deadlock.

Dr Fadru Naim, director of Al Ali Hospital in Gaza, asked why those injured in the attack could leave when others were banned.

“Is it an attempt to hone the image of the profession or a discriminatory act. Do you treat the injured differently based on religion?” he asked in X.

“What about tens of thousands of injured Palestinians who are denied the basic right to travel for treatment?”

CNN
–

A group of British and Irish musicians say they formed a syndicate to defend artists against the Israeli war in Gaza and the role of foreign governments that fund it.

Read the social media posts from the band’s massive attacks “For the sake of our expression of conscience, we have been subject to various threats from within our industry,” and “legally through organised groups such as the UK attorneys in Israel (UKLFI)”.

The musician said he knows it is designed to censor and silence “an aggressive and troublesome campaign run by UKLFI and multiple personal outbreaks of threats within the music industry itself.”

UKLFI director Caroline Turner said in a statement on CNN on Friday: “The massive attacks have launched an attack on our organization.

“Unfortunately, anti-Semitism has become a part of daily life in the UK, and those seeking to protect their victims are now subject to malicious attacks by the perpetrators,” added Turner.

The post comes after Northern Irish rapper Kneecap and British rappunk duo Bob Villain portrayed criticism of their pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel rhetoric. Both face police investigations for their performance at the Glastonbury Music Festival following a report by UKLFI.

Uklfi said he reported Bob Bilan’s singer to police after chanting “death to IDF” during the set at Glastonbury, referring to Israeli forces. It also reported that the UK public broadcaster The BBC has displayed the set. The BBC later called Bob Bilan’s performance “anti-Semitism” and said it shouldn’t be broadcast.

A critic of Israeli voices and member of Kneecap, who was the war in Gaza, was charged with a terrorist crime last month, following a report by the UKLFI, where London police allegedly displayed a flag “in support of Hezbollah.”

British terrorism police said they were investigating the group after a video emerged that allegedly showed the band seeking to be killed by British politicians.

Kneecap has never previously supported Hamas or Hezbollah, and the circulating footage online has been “deliberately removed from all contexts” as part of a “smear campaign” following criticism over the 20-month war in Gaza.

Both Bob Vylan and Kneecap face widespread gig cancellations.

Uklfi said he wrote at a venue in the UK where Kneecap is scheduled to perform this summer, warning “about the risks that will allow them to play.”

The US State Department banned Bob Bilan from performing in the US.

In a joint social media post, musicians from the newly formed alliance encouraged other artists who would like to speak up but are afraid to contact them.

“The Gaza scene moved beyond explanation,” said the post, which announced the formation of a syndicate calling for a ceasefire. “Immediate, free access” to help Gaza. The end of British arms sales to Israel. Other means.

“Because we have endured these campaigns of attempted censorship, we do not allow other artists, especially those in previous stages of their careers or other positions of professional vulnerability, to be threatened by silence or career cancellation.”

British singer Paloma Faith lends her support in a post shared by Kneecap.

“Go to everyone who’s about to change in the end! It’s hanging out there,” she wrote a comment via her Instagram-verified account.