live from london, this is bbc news. israel's military says three hostages who were mistakenly killed by its soldiers in gaza were holding a white flag. the killings have increased the pressure on the israeli government to resume negotiations with hamas — on the release of those still held captive. if there is an opportunity to free hostages, we will take that opportunity, but we think the application of military force on hamas, on its leadership, is the way to help release people. the aljazeera tv news network says one of its camera operators has been killed in gaza by an israeli air strike. a cardinal has been sent to jail for

embezzlement, the highest official to stand trial before a vatican court. italy's prime minister holds a right—wing festival. rishi sunak and elon musk are in attendance. hello. welcome to the programme. the israeli army says three hostages who were mistakenly shot dead by troops in gaza had been holding a white flag. early findings from an official investigation said the men were fired on in breach of the army's rules of engagement. an israeli soldier began shooting when three shirtless men emerged from a building in the suburbs of gaza city. alon shamriz, yotam haim and samer el—talalqa were killed in shejaiya, in the north of gaza. the idf say their killing was "very tragic".

an army spokesman said they had made a mistake and would not be punished. in a separate development, an aljazeera journalist and cameraman, samer abu daqa, was killed on friday in an israeli strike. from jerusalem — our security correspondent, frank gardner sent this report. in the war zone that is gaza, israeli forces have committed a tragic error. in the effort to free hostages, they shot three of them, mistaking them for hamas fighters. the young israeli men were all their 20s, seized by hamas in the raid into israel. now, an investigation has revealed they were carrying a white flag. relatives of the more than 100 hostages still held in gaza have been gathering in tel aviv, demanding the government do more to get their loved ones out. israel's policy is to put pressure on hamas by force, which they say isn't working. translation: there is no price for the hostages, - they must be willing to pay any

price, to pay anything now. that is what i am saying. yesterday — not now. in gaza, anotherfuneral, this time for a well—known palestinian cameraman who worked for the aljazeera network, killed in a drone strike. friends describe him as a veteran journalist and talented cameraman. he is a compassionate soul, very dedicated to bringing the coverage to the world. he had the opportunity to emigrate to belgium, to brussels, where his family is residing. he refused, he said gaza's story is my story. across gaza, the humanitarian situation deteriorates. aid trucks are getting in, but un workers say in many cases they are mobbed and stripped of their food. washington want israel to wrap up its operation soon. israel says it needs months

more to finish the job of destroying hamas. israel's spokesperson mark regev said the idf�*s killing of the three hostages was a tragic mistake. it is obviously a tragedy and the idf is investigating exactly what happened. first and foremost, our hearts go out to the families of these three hostages who were tragically killed. it was obviously a combat zone. i know from that area where the three were, there had been hostile fire before, and afterwards there was also hostile fire from the area towards our forces. the whole area is a war zone. it doesn'tjustify what happened, that is why it is being investigated at the highest level by the idf. it is unacceptable. an initial report by israel's military says these deaths

went against israel's rules of engagement. what are those rules of engagement? so, some of them we have to keep confidential because hamas is listening to our conversation. we want to keep some things from the enemy. it is clear we don't want to kill innocents, we don't want to kill our hostages. if we find them, it is clear this was a charger, tragic error by ourforces. we have to do our own checking to make sure it doesn't re—occur. one of the problems we face is hamas don't wear uniforms, they wear civilian clothes. they are terrorists. there have been incidents in the past where supposedly surrendering and then they attack our forces. it is very difficult house to house combat.

you think an area is clean and someone comes out of a door or underground tunnel and can open fire. it is difficult. i am notjustifying what happened. if soldiers broke the rules of engagement, there has to be action taken. i have just given the context of how these things happen. i did my military service. anyone who has been in the army knows there's always a danger of what the experts call blue on blue, orfriendly fire casualties. in this case it is even more egregious because the victims of the tragic incident were in fact civilians. they were taken hostage by hamas. we have to get to the bottom of what happened. we are seeing protests now, and we've had relatives of hostages here on the bbc news expressing their frustration.

it seems to be the case that getting the hostages out by force isn't working, when a temporary ceasefire worked and we saw dozens of hostages released. is it time for a change of course? we would argue, and we believe we are correct, that we only had the release of the hostages. hamas only agreed to their release when it was desperate for a ceasefire. they didn't suddenly become humanitarians, that they will release hostages out of the goodness of the heart or respect for international humanitarian law. they have no respect, their whole behaviour is against the rules of armed conflict. that is who hamas are. just as they butchered israelis, they have no qualms of butchering innocents. hamas will only release hostages if they are under pressure, and we believe the military pressure

is the way to do it. we understand the hostage families, one can only start to begin to understand their pain and suffering, having a loved one held by hamas and knowing what terrible, gruesome violence they are capable of. one feels for them. if there is an opportunity to free hostages, we will take that opportunity. we can go live tojerusalem, where frank gardner is. in we can go live to jerusalem, where frank gardner is.— frank gardner is. in the last few minutes, frank gardner is. in the last few minutes. we _ frank gardner is. in the last few minutes, we were _ frank gardner is. in the last few minutes, we were listening - frank gardner is. in the last few minutes, we were listening to i minutes, we were listening to families of those still being held hostage. they were very frustrated, because they say they aren't getting face time with the israeli government.— face time with the israeli government. face time with the israeli covernment. , , ., ., , government. yes, it is not only that, they _ government. yes, it is not only that. they are _ government. yes, it is not only that, they are running - government. yes, it is not only that, they are running out - government. yes, it is not only that, they are running out of. that, they are running out of patience with the israeli

government's policy of not negotiating, because as you pointed out in that interview, negotiations, mediation was what got the hostages out. you can argue about whether hamas were under pressure, but it was a deal that got those dozens of hostages out area. the families and relatives we have seen protesting and gathering, holding up placards in tel aviv, are frustrated. one of them said it is easier to get a meeting with president biden with their own government. clearly this is bad optics for the benjamin netanyahu government because they have opted for maximum force of putting hamas under enormous military pressure in the belief that will either force hamas to give up the hostages or they will rescue them by force. that isn't happening, that's the problem. there's only one hostage who has got out that way.

she was freed, a relativelyjunior idf woman. the others were, their release was in negotiations with the release was in negotiations with the release of the sabine prisoners —— palestinian prisoners. the israeli government doesn't want to do the pause because if they fear if they hold their campaign, hamas will attack again. hamas have said they would do that. they are in a tight spot, but i think why is are starting to prevail and there now are persistent reports of the head of mossad, the external intelligence by agency, is due to meet the qatari prime minister and foreign minister

somewhere in europe, to discuss possibly some kind of mediation, some deal. hamas is showing signs it wants to make a deal, but they've got a vested interest in pausing the conflict because they are under enormous pressure. let's not forget the wider context. while israel's military campaign grinds on in gaza, it is levelling that area, killing enormous numbers of palestinian civilians everyday and causing enormous suffering, while they go about the business of eliminating hamas. and even that is debatable if it is achievable.— it is achievable. frank gardner from jerusalem- — it is achievable. frank gardner from jerusalem- i— it is achievable. frank gardner from jerusalem. i am _ it is achievable. frank gardner from jerusalem. i am now— it is achievable. frank gardner from jerusalem. i am nowjoined - it is achievable. frank gardner from jerusalem. i am nowjoined by - it is achievable. frank gardner from i jerusalem. i am nowjoined by rachel jerusalem. i am nowjoined by rachel goldberg, a mother of since her son's abduction, she has

been an advocate in gaza. we spoke a few weeks ago. i'm sorry to hear you are still not reunited with your son. we heard from some family members in the news conference, expressing their frustration, particularly with the israeli government. is that a sentiment you share? ~ ~ ., government. is that a sentiment you share? ~ ~ . , , share? well, i think that because the initial stated _ share? well, i think that because the initial stated goals _ share? well, i think that because the initial stated goals by - share? well, i think that because the initial stated goals by the - the initial stated goals by the israeli government for this war that has taken place were equal goals to this minish the threat of hamas to israel —— diminish. they are real threats, as we know. equally, to get the hostages home. but if you have two equal goals, the families feel you should be giving equal time to

both, and right now we see that what these past many weeks, we've been giving 24—7 to the diminishing hamas's threat, attacking in gaza. we aren't giving 24—7 attention and negotiation attempts to the hostage situation. we do feel very frustrated, and as you can imagine, anyone put yourself in our place, pretend this is your only son who kissed you goodbye 71 nights ago and said, i will see you tomorrow, love you. that was 71 nights ago, and i know, because i have seen the video, he had his arm blown off. everyone is suffering horribly. he lost his dominant hand, dominant arm from the elbow down. that is terrifying for us personally. but everybody is suffering, every hostage family is

suffering, every hostage family is suffering like us. do suffering, every hostage family is suffering like us.— suffering, every hostage family is suffering like us. do you know any more about _ suffering like us. do you know any more about how _ suffering like us. do you know any more about how he _ suffering like us. do you know any more about how he is? _ suffering like us. do you know any more about how he is? are - suffering like us. do you know any more about how he is? are you i more about how he is? are you getting any updates? figs more about how he is? are you getting any updates?— more about how he is? are you getting any updates? as you know, because it has _ getting any updates? as you know, because it has been _ getting any updates? as you know, because it has been widely - getting any updates? as you know, i because it has been widely expressed in the press, the international red cross has not had access to any of the hostages, nor has any other international aid organisation on planet earth. non—us have any idea how any of our loved are. many know they were wounded before taken captive. many were raped, many were very badly injured and we are all in deep anguish and despair, knowing that nobody has gone into check on them. ., ,., , ., ., them. nobody in the whole world. rachel, them. nobody in the whole world. rachel. we _ them. nobody in the whole world. rachel, we heard _ them. nobody in the whole world. rachel, we heard early _ them. nobody in the whole world. rachel, we heard early from - them. nobody in the whole world. | rachel, we heard early from ruby, them. nobody in the whole world. - rachel, we heard early from ruby, he was making the statement in tel aviv, and he was saying it was

easier for aviv, and he was saying it was easierfor him to get aviv, and he was saying it was easier for him to get a meeting with joe biden than it was to meet with the israeli cabinet. you yourself have metjoe biden. tell us when it happens and what that meeting led to a what came out of it. we happens and what that meeting led to a what came out of it.— a what came out of it. we have had two meetings _ a what came out of it. we have had two meetings with _ a what came out of it. we have had two meetings with president - a what came out of it. we have had | two meetings with president biden, and ruby and i were in the same meeting last week. and he is correct that we still have eight american citizens who are being held in gaza, and the american administration, everyone we have reached out to has been very open to meeting with us. and it has been very effective, and they have been very supportive, not just emotionally and being sympathetic, but they've been sharing what they can share and they are very honest about, as you can imagine, things they are working on their con share and we trust them.

of the hostages still held, we feel terrible all these innocent goals in civilians are suffering horribly. innocent civilians in gaza are suffering horribly, notjust gazans suffering. there are also the police, french, mexican, british, american, israeli innocents all suffering because they are all part of that hostage cohort that were taken on october the 7th. it is important to remember that as well. rachel, what do you think needs to happen now? are you pushing now, as some of the families are, for direct negotiations to resume? is that what you think is the next upper head question luck, i thought how the negotiations were handled two and a half weeks ago for more than 100

hostages to come out and the aids to get in, it was held together by a fragile thread. but get in, it was held together by a fragile thread.— get in, it was held together by a fragile thread. but it worked, and aids aet fragile thread. but it worked, and aids net in fragile thread. but it worked, and aids get in and — fragile thread. but it worked, and aids get in and hostages - fragile thread. but it worked, and aids get in and hostages out. - fragile thread. but it worked, and aids get in and hostages out. i i aids get in and hostages out. i would love to see that same template applied immediately. there is no time left. we know from those freed hostages that the hostages were ensuring starvation, torture, sexual abuse. they were freezing, the conditions were very unsanitary. there were people who did not shower at all. they got out, they were showered by the red cross before they got into the red cross truck. these are the situations that we are dealing with, and so there's no time left. it is 71 days then, and there needs to be action immediately, immediately. people are probably

dying every single dayjust immediately. people are probably dying every single day just from being there. dying every single day 'ust from being meat dying every single day 'ust from bein: there. .. ,., , being there. 0k, rachel goldberg, thank ou being there. ok, rachel goldberg, thank you for— being there. 0k, rachel goldberg, thank you forjoining _ being there. 0k, rachel goldberg, thank you forjoining us. _ being there. 0k, rachel goldberg, thank you forjoining us. we - being there. 0k, rachel goldberg, thank you forjoining us. we do - being there. 0k, rachel goldberg, thank you forjoining us. we do of| thank you forjoining us. we do of course you are reunited with your son very soon. course you are reunited with your son very soon-— course you are reunited with your son very soon. thank you so much. there is more _ son very soon. thank you so much. there is more on _ son very soon. thank you so much. there is more on developments - son very soon. thank you so much. there is more on developments in | son very soon. thank you so much. i there is more on developments in the middle east on the bbc news website where we are running a live page. you can go there for more information. the papal contender had denied charges of embezzlement and abuse of office. with more on this story, emily brown is in the newsroom. it is being called italy's trial of the century because it is the most senior vatican official ever to be charged with financial crimes. the

vatican court has sentenced the cardinal to five years and six months injail. the 75—year—old is a former adviser to pope francis and is the most senior clergyman to face a vatican criminal court. at the heart of the trial was a 350 million euros purchase of a property in london, which used to be a harrods warehouse, bought with church money but incurred a huge loss and ended up but incurred a huge loss and ended up costing the vatican tens of millions of euros. the trial, which began more than two years ago, has shone a light on the holy see is finances and has been seen widely as a test of pope francis's for. weeks before the trial, pope francis gave the court the power to trial cardinals and bishops where previously they were judged by a court beside overbite cardinals. he resigned in september 2020 after

being informed of an investigation against him. he and nine other defendants denied charges. a panel metjust a few hours ago before retiring ahead of their verdict, this brings an end to an historic trial of a once italian cardinal. it is time to take a look at the sports. the four games are well under way. this is how things stand. bournemouth have found an equaliser. they were trailing after three minutes. chelsea are now 2—0 up against sheffield united. cole palmer with the first goal. nicholas jackson doubling their lead against

the bottom side. manchester city have a 2—0 lead against crystal palace. jack grealish in the first half, lewis doubling in the second. newcastle united still struggling to breakdown ten man fulham. fulham had a man sent off in the first half, but it remains goalless. newcastle without a win in their last three. the late game is burnley against everton. barcelona are back in action later away at valencia, aiming to put a difficult week behind them. they lost to royal antwerp in the champions league after being shocked by la liga leaders girona last sunday. it leaves them fourth in the primera division — seven points off the top, but manager xavi is unhappy with criticism coming his way. translation: a month ago you told me i was the ferguson _ translation: a month ago you told me i was the ferguson of _ translation: a month ago you told me i was the ferguson of barcelona. - translation: a month ago you told me i was the ferguson of barcelona. you i i was the ferguson of barcelona. you said i was going to be the alex

ferguson. you told me that. i am about to go crazy, so now i'm out of about to go crazy, so now i'm out of a job? what is the reality? you get it? the club needs stability. hat it? the club needs stability. not ha - . it? the club needs stability. not happy- one _ it? the club needs stability. not happy. one result to bring you. to cricket — for the first time india have beaten england in a women's test match at home — after crushing the tourists in mumbai. set an improbable a78 to win — the highest—ever chase in women's test cricket — england were dismissed forjust 131 with only two batters, reaching 20 runs. the conditions very much favouring the bowlers, with india winning this one off test by 3117 runs. england's captain was taking some positives from the tour as a whole though.

india played well, obviously. we will take a lot from it, winning the t20. there's a lot coming up with the world cup. we played outstanding. i think it is great for some of our younger players for the conditions, super extreme. the t20 is our main cricket coming up, and next year, so really pleasing things. australia's men are in a commanding position in their first test against pakistan in perth. nathan lyon took 3 for 66 — he's now on 499 test wickets — with pakistan bowled out for 271 on day three. the aussies will resume on sunday on 811—2, that's a lead of 300 runs. golf, and south africa's louis oosthuizen is on course to make it back—to—back wins on the dp world tour. he leads the mauritius open by a shot heading into the final round.

he made three eagles in a third round seven under par 65, to take him clear of compatriot jacques de villiers. oosthuizen may have a slight advantage as he helped design the course layout at the heritage golf club. newcastle have the lead against fulham. stay across that on the bbc website. �* , , , ., fulham. stay across that on the bbc website. �*, , i. website. let's bring you some breakin: website. let's bring you some breaking news. _ website. let's bring you some breaking news. a _ website. let's bring you some breaking news. a story i website. let's bring you some breaking news. a story that i website. let's bring you some l breaking news. a story that was major news in the uk in the last week, and detectives investigating the disappearance of the mother of three gaynor lord has said there is no evidence that a third party was involved in her death. her body was found in a river during the search. gaynor lord was 55 and went missing after she left work in norwich city centre on the 8th of december. she

left work early at 2:45pm, and police in norfolk say a body was found in the river on friday. today, saturday, a postmortem examination was carried out this morning and, as i was saying, officials say they found no indication that a third party was involved. police say a formal identification is due to take place on sunday, and herfamily has been informed of the development. the chief superintendent dave buckley said the postmortem examination has found no signs any other parties were involved, although our searchers have concluded, officers are continuing to work to establish the full circumstances around gaynor lord's disappearance. on that story we end this half hour on bbc news. we will have more on that and the rest of the news, so do stay with us on bbc

news. hello there. good afternoon. well, it's cloudy, it's windy. it's really very mild across the whole of the uk as we head throughout the weekend. temperatures are well above the seasonal average. there is some sunshine around at times, notably across northern england earlier on this morning and generally towards the lea of high ground we will see some breaks in the cloud, too. that milder air is coming streaming in on a brisk south—westerly wind, really quite blustery towards these northwest facing coasts and aligned with the wind. some heavy downpours of rain and that willjust continue to pile into western scotland as we head throughout this afternoon and through the day tomorrow. it will be relentless that rain and the rainfall totals will start to rack up as much as 200 millimetres, perhaps for some western slopes. there's a met office amber weather warning enforced throughout the day tomorrow, valid from argyll and bute all the way as far north as sutherland. and there could even be some landslips, most likely across the south highlands. so the rain continues in the west.

further east across eastern scotland, the murray coast will see some breaks in the clouds and breaks too across northern england and north east wales. further south it's cloudy and it's really very mild, 12 or 13 degrees celsius pretty much across the board. that brisk south—westerly wind just continues through this evening and overnight the rain continues to pile into western scotland. but further south it is a mostly dry picture but plenty of cloud. a few breaks in the cloud perhaps for south east england. here, temperatures will drop to eight or nine degrees, but that's very mild. it's the sort of temperature that we'd normally expect to see by day at this time of year. now, sunday, a repeat performance again, some very heavy downpours of rain into western scotland throughout the day. the rain will start to sink a little further southwards into northern ireland and perhaps north west england as we go through the afternoon. so drying out a little across the far north of scotland, temperatures 10 to 1a degrees celsius and breaks in the cloud again just in the shelter of the pennines towards the east and cross northeast wales. again, perhaps for south east england too. as we head through sunday

night and into monday, that rain clears away from much of scotland. it will push further southwards and it will start to pick up again across england and wales, particularly towards the south as we head through the day on tuesday. so some very wet weather then in the south on tuesday, the rain clears away, but there will be some showers following on behind and eventually some colder feeling air. keep an eye on the forecast for the rest of the week. bye.

this is bbc news. the headline israel says the three hostages who were mistakenly killed by israeli troops in gaza were holding a white flag when they were shot. the families of israelis still held in gaza have intensified their calls on the israeli government to resume negotiations with hamas to try to secure their release. a spokesman for israel's prime minister has defended his government's approach. if there is an opportunity to free hostages, we will take that opportunity. but we think the application of military force on the hamas military machine, on the hamas leadership, is the way to expedite the release of the israeli people. and the aljazeera tv news networks

is one of its camera operators was