hamas has said it would be open to extending the ceasefire with israel beyond today — its fourth and final day. the group freed more hostages who'd been held in gaza, including 1a israelis, in exchange for 39 palestinian prisoners yesterday. president biden said he wants the deal to go beyond today so all captives can be brought home and more aid can be sent to gaza. this is as eu foreign affairs chief josep borrell said a four—day truce is an important step, but more is needed to find a way out of the crisis. meanwhile a suspect�*s been arrested in the shooting of three students of palestinian descent in the us in an attack police are investigating as a suspected hate—motivated crime. a man wshot three victims, hisham awartani, tahseen ahmed and kinnan abdalhamid,

near the university of vermont and ran away. two victims are us citizens and the third is a us — the suspect jason eaton, the shooting comes amid a rise in anti—islamic incidents reported around the us. the first of our reports comes from middle east correspondent hugo bachega. free again. 14 israeli hostages released by hamas head home after their long ordeal, along with three foreign nationals. among them were is—year—olds dafna and ela elyakim, eight,

with about 180 people still in captivity in gaza, the painful wait of the families continues. earlier the bbc spoke to a man whose sister has been kidnapped by hamas, showers abducted along with her husband, her in—laws and her daughter. gili roman told the bbc about her story and his optimism despite the fact that she has not yet been released. they were put inside a vehicle towards gaza, and just before the border, they decided they are going to jump out of the vehicle, try to escape and run for their life. so, my sister was holding geffen in her arms, they were jumping out of the moving car, started to run away. 0bviously soon after, the terrorists started to run after them, shooting at them, and my sister did another act, a motherly outcome and she decided

to separate herself from the most precious thing that she has in her life, which is geffen, and she gave her to alon and he was able to run faster, while my sister was holding her hands above her head, stalling the terrorists, allowing alon and geffen to find a hiding spot. they were able to hide, and only after 2a hours without food, without water, no communication, complete silence, with three years old, they managed to reach out and save themselves back to the entrance of the kibbutz, to the idf. but my sister is a mother now separated from her child, and we are waiting for her to be released, we know that we are talking still about children and women and mothers mostly, and my niece is waiting over 50 days to see her mother back, the mother who saved her life.

we are absolutely supporting the extension. we were supporting this deal to begin with even in the stage is when we thought that my sister was not going to be included, there were periods when they talked only about children, of the different categories, that didn't include my sister. first of all because we think that this is the moral thing to do, to save dozens of people's lives, most of the most vulnerable ones, children, and we couldn'tjust imagine which kind of moral i'm joined now by a unicef spokesman, very good to talk to you at what must be a very busy time for you. i understand you got to gaza about four days ago, you were in the north yesterday, tell us about what the situation is like in the north first of all? it is

the situation is like in the north first of all? , ., ., first of all? it is trauma, stress and anxiety _ first of all? it is trauma, stress and anxiety written _ first of all? it is trauma, stress and anxiety written across - first of all? it is trauma, stress - and anxiety written across people's faces. people have thinned out, lack of food and water the deliveries is life—saving aid and people will literally drink it immediately. it is great stress among people, this life—saving aid across the united nations, it is the first a lot of people in the north have seen for a month. it is respite where people look for loved ones, bury loved ones, look for lost children. it is difficult days, very difficult in the north. it is difficult days, very difficult in the north-— it is difficult days, very difficult in the north. �* ,, , ., in the north. are you seeing more free movement _ in the north. are you seeing more free movement in _ in the north. are you seeing more free movement in the _ in the north. are you seeing more free movement in the north - in the north. are you seeing more free movement in the north now? in the north. are you seeing more l free movement in the north now? it is only people moving north to south, people who held on so long. they don't want to leave their homes. he wants to leave their home and everything you have worked so

hard for, particularly when you will come to the south and in a technical couege come to the south and in a technical college is now 40,000 people where your 15—year—old daughter... i saw people with disabilities crawling to get out. they have decided, they have made their decision and they don't think the peaceful whole. so desperately keep pushing factors in the case. in so desperately keep pushing factors in the case. , ., in the case. in terms of the devastation... _ in the case. in terms of the devastation... particularly l in the case. in terms of the l devastation... particularly in in the case. in terms of the - devastation... particularly in the north, what have you seen? it is everywhere- _ north, what have you seen? it is everywhere- i — north, what have you seen? it is everywhere. i have _ north, what have you seen? it 3 everywhere. i have seen apartment blocks scattered, trucks thrown into the sky onto buildings, churches, mosques, nowhere is safe. what sticks mostly at the moment is just the children. i don't thing in my 20 years with unicef i have seen the

scale of children with the wounds of war. a mortar bomb hit your apartment block, your home, it is multiple injuries, broken bones, but also shrapnel. horrendous burns on kids, so hospitals here are war zones, no other way to describe it. car parks and gardens are full of makeshift emergency wards. i was in a church yesterday in a hospital which had been hit, it is an emergency ward. i spoke to a little boy who lost his mum, seven years old, lost his dad and twin brother. i asked him why he keeps closing his eyes as he speaks and he is so terrified he is going to forget what his mum and his dad look like, so he wants to keep picturing them, not lose them in his mind as much as he has lost them in real life. those stories are north to south across the gaza strip, sadly. it is stories are north to south across the gaza strip, sadly.— stories are north to south across the gaza strip, sadly. it is hard to resond the gaza strip, sadly. it is hard to resmnd to _ the gaza strip, sadly. it is hard to resmnd to a _ the gaza strip, sadly. it is hard to respond to a story _ the gaza strip, sadly. it is hard to respond to a story like _ the gaza strip, sadly. it is hard to respond to a story like that, - the gaza strip, sadly. it is hard to l respond to a story like that, james. respond to a story like that, james.

what exactly needs to be done to help people like that little boy you have just described.— have just described. psychological su - ort, have just described. psychological support, massive _ have just described. psychological support, massive trauma - have just described. psychologicalj support, massive trauma support. everyone looks traumatised. it is risky to see every child is, now i have sat and listened to hundreds of people, everybody looks traumatised. from adults my age two children, because of what they have seen, what they have lost. those children in hospital, we need much more medical supplies that we are getting in. unicef doctors urgently need these things. i am looking at doctors in emergency wards, making decisions as they do a calculation between who might survive, that includes children. these brave, brave and tireless palestinian health workers should not be forced into that. most of all, what they pray for is this clause does turn into a ceasefire. that is what they need. the

destruction of gaza, the killing of children, that is not going to bring peace to the region. we just want more and more hostages to get home and bull stories like that for—year—old girl going home. i think people around the world have a natural impulse to protect children. but we have to ask ourselves if we are losing that. get the hostages home but make sure we don't see continued devastation for the boys and girls in gaza. let continued devastation for the boys and girls in gaza.— and girls in gaza. let me ask you this one thing — and girls in gaza. let me ask you this one thing many _ and girls in gaza. let me ask you this one thing many aid - and girls in gaza. let me ask you | this one thing many aid agencies, including unicef have been calling forfor a long time is feel to be allowed into gaza. we have seen significant amounts of fuel cross in. where is it going and how does it bridge the gap of needs? that in. where is it going and how does it bridge the gap of needs?- it bridge the gap of needs? that is a ureat it bridge the gap of needs? that is a great question. _ it bridge the gap of needs? that is a great question. the _ it bridge the gap of needs? that is a great question. the three - it bridge the gap of needs? that is a great question. the three things | a great question. the three things we ask for here, water, food and stop the war. what in each field because that is what pumps the desalination plants. as you say, the

comedy, so if you are going on and unicef is a big part of that. get the fuel, get the desalination working again and gets water to people. it is a game changer and i am seeing far too many children with bad gastro illnesses. 0ften parents, who know what to do but don't have clean water. clean water is a game chain and feel equates to clean water. at the last part of what they ask for is peace. i cannot tell you how many people say to me in english, you know, are you here to stop the war? of course, my answer is no, your life is being decided by people elsewhere, we are here to deliver aid and i guess, to stem the bleeding. james elder, speaking to us live from gaza and unicef, thank you for speaking about your first—hand accounts from girls and bringing us up today on the

situation on the ground. let's speak to francesca albanese, the un special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied palestinian territory. thanks very much forjoining us, i want to get your reaction to what you are listening there from james, his first—hand accounts of the situation, particularly in northern gaza? ., ~' situation, particularly in northern gaza? ., ~ ., ., gaza? thank you for having me. i was very touched — gaza? thank you for having me. i was very touched about _ gaza? thank you for having me. i was very touched about what _ gaza? thank you for having me. i was very touched about what i _ gaza? thank you for having me. i was very touched about what i heard - very touched about what i heard before, both the release of the hostages, who should all return safe and sound to the homes and start rebuilding their lives after this very traumatic 50 days. but the people in gaza, the question is is there a possibility to even think of it because almost 15,000 people have been killed, which means there is no one in gaza who has not lost many members of their family. and the

loss of children are shocking, 6000 children dead, like the unicef representative, i cannot imagine another tragedy of this proportion in my lifetime. how can life be rebuilt among all this destruction? because in gaza, even if you stop the hostilities and never resume, which is my hope and what should happen, it will take years to reconstruct gaza. all the more, it will take another generation to heal the trauma. the people in gaza were already traumatised, 80% of the children had already seen symptoms of depression because in living conditions in gaza for the last 15

years. the situation is dramatic and it is a lot of good thinking and what is happening so it needs to come from the international community. come from the international community-— come from the international communi . ., community. looking at your title, the un raconteur— community. looking at your title, the un raconteur on _ community. looking at your title, the un raconteur on the - community. looking at your title, the un raconteur on the situationj community. looking at your title, i the un raconteur on the situation of human rights, what would your role will be right now in terms of human rights and looking at ensuring that people get the aid that they need? it is in the occupied palestinian territory and it is one of the main issues. in the future, whatever happens, there is one condition that needs to be met. the status quo has gone, whatever it was, the situation from the 7th of october, it is nonexistent any more. and to move forward, of course there is a need

forward, of course there is a need for an enduring ceasefire, there is a need for hostages to be returned home. but there is a need for the violence to stop. because while much has happened in the gaza strip, also 200 palestinians have been killed in the west bank by soldiers and settlers. israel today want to expand the colonies. this cannot be allowed to continue. for the future it is necessary to end the military occupation. this is the only way to prevent further violence. qm. occupation. this is the only way to prevent further violence. ok, thanks ve much prevent further violence. ok, thanks very much for— prevent further violence. ok, thanks very much forjoining _ prevent further violence. ok, thanks very much forjoining us _ prevent further violence. ok, thanks very much forjoining us and - prevent further violence. ok, thanks very much forjoining us and of - very much forjoining us and of course, since the attacks by hamas on the 7th of october, 1200 people were killed and there attacks, 240

people taken hostage and the health ministry, run by hamas, more than 14,000 people have been killed in israel's military campaign. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the tobacco company, bat, is calling for �*more stringent�* regulations on vaping, including a ban on flavours based on desserts or sweets that could appeal to children. it says the products should be licensed in the same way as alcohol or cigarettes. the uk government is already considering regulations over concerns that many young people are vaping. legislation that could transform the leasehold system and make it cheaper and easier for homeowners to buy their freehold will be introduced to parliament today. currently leaseholders in england and wales often have to pay ground rent and expensive maintenance charges. the housing secretary, michael gove, said he's confident the bill will be passed. this year's booker prize has been awarded to �*prophet song' — a dystopian vision of ireland in the grips of totalitarianism. set in dublin, it tells the story of a family grappling

with a terrifying new world in which the democratic norms they are used to begin to disappear. it was written by ireland's paul lynch — marking the first time he has won the prestigious fiction writing prize. you're live with bbc news. leaked documents obtained by the bbc suggest that the united arab emirates has been using its role as host of this year's un climate talks, as an opportunity to strike oil and gas deals. briefings prepared for the cop—28 president, dr sultan al—jaber, who's also the ceo of the state oil company, appear to show that the uae�*s cop team suggested arranging deals with at least twenty—seven countries at meetings ahead of the conference — a breach of un standards.

and now more than ever, we need to unite on climate and deliver a clear message of hope. the united arab emirates government appointed dr sultan aljaber to head up its cop28 team, but he is also the head of the uae�*s huge state oil company and its renewable energy business. the documents show that in meetings with at least 27 foreign governments arranged as part of the un climate process, drjaber was briefed to discuss business for these firms, including oil and gas deals. now, attempting to do business deals — especially oil and gas deals — during the cop process, appears to be a serious breach of the standards the un expects of cop presidents. it told the bbc presidents should be impartial and act without bias or self—interest. professor michaeljacobs is an expert on un climate politics. this looks breathtakingly hypocritical. but i actually think it's worse than that because the uae at the moment is the custodian of a united nations process aimed

at reducing global emissions. and yet in the very same meetings, it's actually trying to do side deals which will increase global emissions. we know at least one country followed up a potential fossil—fuel deal raised in a meeting arranged by the uae�*s cop28 team. but 12 countries say there was either no talk of business deals, or meetings did not take place. the state oil company's hq towers over the abu dhabi skyline. the cop28 team did not deny using climate meetings to discuss fossil fuel deals. it told the bbc private meetings are private, adding mrjaber was focused on delivering ambitious and transformational climate outcomes. justin rowlatt, bbc news. new zealand's newly formed coalition government has made it's first move — it's axing its world—leading smoking ban to fund tax cuts. new prime minister,

christopher luxon, the leader of the centre—right national party, agreed a three way coalition agreement with the leaders of the new zealand first party, winston peters, and the act party, david seymour on thursday. as part of concessions, new zealand first said it would stop a foreign home buyers tax and find cuts elsewhere. the legislation, introduced under the previous jacinda ardern—led government, would have banned cigarette sales next year to anyone born after 2008. smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in new zealand, and the policy had aimed to stop young generations from picking up the habit. health experts have strongly criticised the sudden reversal. earlier i spoke with sir michael baker, professor of public health at the university of 0tago in new zealand. here was his reaction to the reversal of the smoking ban.

around the world that might have been considered? well, hopefully other governments will take a far more evidence — informed approach and accept that reducing tobacco has so many long—term benefits. in new zealand it was estimated to save more than $1 billion for the health system over the next 20 years, and also prevent around 5,000 deaths a year in new zealand. so i think most informed people in new zealand felt that this policy would be intact, it would survive any change in government, because it did enjoy support from

across the house during its introduction and discussion. so, this has come as a major shock i think for most thinking new zealanders. the president of sierra leone, julius maada bio, has said the most of the leaders behind an attack on a military barracks and prisons in the capital he described the events as an attack on democracy, but gave no details about the perpetrators. in bulgaria, officials issued a state of emergency. for large parts of the country due to the severe weather. before we leave you this half—hour, let's take you live to the scene at the israel—gaza border. is that temperate ceasefire

continues, you can see clearer skies than we are used to seeing. we are expecting to see more hostages released today and more palestinians also released from prisons in israel. we will have more on that so do stay with us here on bbc news. hello, we have the start of meteorological winter and the weather is taking its cue. we are starting the week with relatively mild air compared with what we're about to have. low pressure bringing outbreaks of rain but plots on the air mass, which is where the cold air the milder it is, it pushes up area of low pressure with us bringing outbreaks of rain. but if i put on the air mass to that, notice, as that area of low pressure pushes

off into continental europe, bringing quite a bit of snow here, the blue colours take hold, air gets colder and what falls in that could be wintry, especially later this week, we will have to watch where this low pressure goes, it looks like it could go through france but it could be a bit further north and bring a more significant area of rain, sleet and snow to southern counties of england and wales — we'll will keep you updated. even today it will be feeling colder and colder as the rain eases away, the wettest conditions through the afternoon will remain across parts of the midlands, east anglia and the south—east. we'll see brighter weather out towards the western fringes of england and wales, so a big improvement for northern england but a few showers east of the pennines. best of the weather, south—east scotland, northern ireland, with the clearest skies, this is where it will be coldest tonight. to the north and east of scotland, frequent showers, turning to sleet and snow over the hills. for many of you, temperatures dropping through the day, most notably through the midlands and southern england after what was a reasonably mild start. tonight, whilst we start with cloud and outbreaks of rain in central and eastern areas, most places will become drier tonight with clearer skies, north of scotland will see some more wintry showers pushing southwards and there will be a frost tonight. colder night and colder start

to tomorrow morning, coldest conditions, south—west scotland and parts of north—west england. tomorrow will be a lovely day for many, back to the crisp, sunny weather many saw on saturday, there will be a bit more cloud around, compared with that, to the north—east of scotland, some wintry showers, bit of cloud, south—west scotland and northern ireland with the occasional shower and one or two running down the eastern coast. can't rule one out to the far western fringes of wales but note the temperatures, 4—8, down on where we should be at this stage in november. another chilly night will follow to take us into wednesday with a widespread frost, bit more cloud out towards the west and not quite as sunny but it will feel cold here. one or two rain showers, a few wintry showers in the north and east and in some upland areas temperatures will not get above freezing all day long. with the cold air in place we run the risk of that more widespread area of rain, sleet and snow into the south

on thursday and friday, but note the temperatures in the capital cities, it stays cold through the weekend and into next week, too. take care. this is bbc news. we are bringing you another highly anticipated week of the covid inquiry led london. we

are in the second module of the inquiry, which is very much about decision—making and political governance and the timing of the pandemic. the inquiry began with regional mayors, and we will also see many ministers from the time of before the inquiry. we can expect to hear from before the inquiry. we can expect to hearfrom sadiq khan, who is the mayor of london. andy burnham, the mayor of greater manchester. and then later on today we are going to hearfrom then later on today we are going to hear from steve rotherham, then later on today we are going to hearfrom steve rotherham, who is the mayor of liverpool city region. dominic raab and michael gove and others are expected to appear at the inquiry later on in the week. we can go live now to the inquiry, our reporter is there for us as we wait for it to get under way. we heard

from advisers to the government last week, didn't we?— week, didn't we? that's right, we had a week _ week, didn't we? that's right, we had a week of _ week, didn't we? that's right, we had a week of scientific _ week, didn't we? that's right, we had a week of scientific evidence, j had a week of scientific evidence, if you like, last week, sir patrick vallance, the former chief scientific adviser, professor sir chris whitty, still the chief medical officer, and we had quite a lot from medical officer, and we had quite a lot from them, medical officer, and we had quite a lot from them, really, medical officer, and we had quite a lot from them, really, about medical officer, and we had quite a lot from them, really, about some key aspects of whether the science was listened to, was followed and the extent to which perhaps the government as politicians lent into the idea of saying they were following the science. saying they did not really like the phrase, that the government was following the science, hinting may be that the government should have been following a greater level of input, business, economic impacts as well, putting it all together, rather than just saying they were following the science. we also heard during last week that there were claims that

rishi sunak, now prime