hungry palestinians loot aid trucks entering gaza through the rafah crossing, as israel opens another crossing for aid. israel's prime minister dismisses the latest calls for a "sustainable ceasefire" in gaza insisting they will "fight to the end" to eliminate hamas. former conservative peer baroness mone admits she stands to benefit from £60 million of profit from personal protective equipment sold to the government during the pandemic. i during the pandemic. wasn't trying to pull the wool over i wasn't trying to pull the wool over anyone�*s's eyes and i regret and i am sorry for not saying straight out, yes, i am involved. hello, i'm tanya beckett. in a sign of the growing hunger and desperation in gaza crowds

of people have looted aid trucks entering the besieged strip through the rafah crossing. for the first time since the war began, israel has also opened one of its crossings into gaza to aid. it's hoped the opening of the kerem shalom crossing will double the amount of food and medicine reaching gazans. until now, aid has only been able to reach the territory through the rafah crossing from egypt. israel has kept up its bombardment of gaza, killing dozens more people. gaza's hamas—run health ministry says 90 people were killed injust the jabalia area of gaza city. in a change of tone, the uk and germany havejoined calls for a "sustainable ceasefire". prime minister benjamin netanyahu insists israel will fight to the end, but the reuters news agency is quoting egyptian security sources as saying israel and hamas are both open to a ceasefire but still disagree over details. our correspondent lucy

williamson has more. the target for israel in gaza is hamas. for palestinians, it's survival. the rafah crossing point exploded in desperation today, each aid truck a lifeline, each minute of the journey, a lifetime of waiting. the border town of rafah has swelled to four times its normal size as people flee the fighting elsewhere. empty stomachs filled with hope, empty bowls held out for food. the un estimates that almost half the households here are facing very severe hunger. translation: what is happening in gaza is of the utmost concern to france. too many civilians are being killed. but the israeli prime minister is so far standing firm. translation: we are guided by the will of the fallen.

we will fight until the end and we'll achieve all our objectives — eliminating hamas, releasing all our hostages and ensuring that gaza will not become again a centre for terror, incitement and attacks against the state of israel. israel has released footage of what it said is the biggest hamas tunnel found so far, two and a half miles long and just inside the main erez crossing point to israel. this, the army says, is a hamas video showing how the tunnels were built, a major construction project using industrial tools. and the man on the right of this video, it says, is the project manager of gaza's tunnel network, muhammed sinwar, brother of the hamas leader blamed by israel for the 7th october attacks. but pressure for a ceasefire is growing in israel too, as funerals are held for three hostages mistakenly shot dead

by israeli forces this week. in gaza, the continued conflict is pushing hospitals to breaking point. pictures like this rarely make it to israeli tv screens, but they're shaping opinion abroad as each day, the war leaves more of gaza's dead and injured buried under the rubble and israel under more pressure to find a way out. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. pope francis has also been speaking about the war in gaza. at his weekly blessing, the pontiff again suggested that israel was using "terrorism" tactics in gaza. he was referring to the reported killing by the israeli military of two christian women who were sheltering inside a church in gaza. the israeli army says it found no evidence to show the incident took place. as we've mentioned, the uk and germany have joined together to call for a sustainable ceasefire in gaza. in a joint article

in the sunday times the british foreign secretary, lord cameron, and the german foreign minister, annalena baerbock, said they'd support a ceasefire that was sustainable in the long—term, and pushed for more humanitarian pauses to get aid in and hostages out. meanwhile, france has already taken a stronger position on the war. the french foreign minister reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire in gaza, saying too many civilians are being killed. let's get more on that diplomatic push for a ceasefire in gaza and go live to lord peter ricketts, who was the national security advisor to david cameron's government between 2010 and 2012 and more recently the former british ambassador to france. welcome to the programme. what does a sustainable ceasefire mean? what are britain and germany calling for? i think it is a significant intervention by the two countries that have been the staunchest supporters of israel in europe. i

think what they mean is that however much we all want this awful fighting to end as soon as possible, there is no point with an immediate ceasefire which would only break down because hamas would continue to attack israel and israel would respond. so a sustainable ceasefire is one that comes at the point where the two sides are willing to stop the fighting. in the meantime, there is a very strong call from the two foreign ministers to stop this terrible killing of civilians, that israel should be conducting the war in a different way, more targeted, and also a sustainable ceasefire needs a plan for what happens after the fighting and is the clearest statement yet i think of the uk vote on what that should be. i5 statement yet i think of the uk vote on what that should be.— on what that should be. is there an inclination on _ on what that should be. is there an inclination on the _ on what that should be. is there an inclination on the part _ on what that should be. is there an inclination on the part of _ on what that should be. is there an inclination on the part of britain - inclination on the part of britain and germany that the israeli forces are not conducting the war in a careful or sufficiently careful manner, that they are being reckless? i manner, that they are being reckless?—

manner, that they are being reckless? ~' , ., . ., reckless? i think there is a clear indication that _ reckless? i think there is a clear indication that the _ reckless? i think there is a clear indication that the two - reckless? i think there is a clearj indication that the two countries think israel is not taking anything like enough care to protect civilians, which is one of the duties under international law. the continuing, enormously high casualty level, the humanitarian catastrophe thatis level, the humanitarian catastrophe that is overwhelming gaza, shows that is overwhelming gaza, shows that israel has not been thinking enough about that. they are getting the same pressure from the americans. antony blinken has been calling for weeks for israel to reduce sharply the attacks that lead to civilian casualties. yes, i think there is a clear message there, coupled with the recognition that israel does have the right to defend itself and will have to go on reducing hamas' military capacity and striking at its sites and its leaders but avoiding civilian deaths. it leaders but avoiding civilian deaths. , ., ., ., . deaths. it diverges from what france is sa in: , deaths. it diverges from what france is saying. doesn't — deaths. it diverges from what france is saying, doesn't it? _ deaths. it diverges from what france is saying, doesn't it? yes, _ deaths. it diverges from what france is saying, doesn't it? yes, and - deaths. it diverges from what france is saying, doesn't it? yes, and the l is saying, doesn't it? yes, and the french have _ is saying, doesn't it? yes, and the french have always _ is saying, doesn't it? yes, and the french have always been - is saying, doesn't it? yes, and the french have always been a - is saying, doesn't it? yes, and the french have always been a bit - french have always been a bit further along from us in calling for a ceasefire. they have an enormous

muslim community in france and many are very angry and they have had a lot of street demonstrations and their first act of terrorism there, so they are conscious of the domestic context of all of that. yes there is a nuance of difference between them. for there is a nuance of difference between them.— there is a nuance of difference between them. ., ., between them. for those calling for a ceasefire. — between them. for those calling for a ceasefire, sustained _ between them. for those calling for a ceasefire, sustained or _ between them. for those calling forj a ceasefire, sustained or otherwise, is it incumbent upon them to suggest how one might move beyond that in order to sustain that ceasefire? i think that is the other important part of what david cameron is saying in this letter. you have to look at the whole thing, all the elements of this enormous puzzle, and one of them is what happens when the fighting stops. this article today is the clearest indication from the uk side that the government expects it should be the moderate arab countries, the gulf states and egypt to step up and take a major role in the post—conflict were, as they have been doing in the humanitarian work. and the israelis have to make it possible for that to happen after

the fighting stops. in other words, the fighting stops. in other words, the way israel conducts the fighting will determine whether a moderate palestinian leadership can be created, that it is prepared to turn its back on violence, and the arab states come in behind them with the financing, with maybe military peacekeeping forces to help reduce a peaceful and stable situation in gaza. because a ceasefire without a plan afterwards will fail. miiiii gaza. because a ceasefire without a plan afterwards will fail.— plan afterwards will fail. will this call have any _ plan afterwards will fail. will this call have any impact _ plan afterwards will fail. will this call have any impact if— plan afterwards will fail. will this call have any impact if it - plan afterwards will fail. will this call have any impact if it doesn't| call have any impact if it doesn't include the voice of the united states? �* . ., , include the voice of the united states? �* . . , ., , include the voice of the united states? a . , ., , ., , , states? actually what this does is re states? actually what this does is pretty much _ states? actually what this does is pretty much align _ states? actually what this does is pretty much align the _ states? actually what this does is pretty much align the uk - states? actually what this does is pretty much align the uk and - states? actually what this does is - pretty much align the uk and germany with the us. antony blinken and president biden have moved to the americans on further than the uk was prepared to go in calling out the terrible civilian casualties, in demanding action from the israeli government to change the way they have been fighting. i think now the uk, germany and the us are very well

aligned on that. i can't pretend that this intervention today is going to change minds in the israeli government, but it all adds to increasing global pressure on the israeli government, which they can't defy indefinitely. {line israeli government, which they can't defy indefinitely.— defy indefinitely. one wonders now the death toll — defy indefinitely. one wonders now the death toll is _ defy indefinitely. one wonders now the death toll is close _ defy indefinitely. one wonders now the death toll is close to _ defy indefinitely. one wonders now the death toll is close to 19,000 i defy indefinitely. one wonders nowj the death toll is close to 19,000 as we understand it in the gaza strip, and this military operation has been going on for some time and there has been consternation almost right from the start, if not right from the start, why ask for a sustainable ceasefire now?— start, why ask for a sustainable ceasefire now? well, because the oint ceasefire now? well, because the point would _ ceasefire now? well, because the point would be — ceasefire now? well, because the point would be that _ ceasefire now? well, because the point would be that israel- ceasefire now? well, because the point would be that israel will- ceasefire now? well, because thel point would be that israel will have done enough damage to the military capacity of hamas to be able to think of a situation where the fighting. and we moved to the post—conflict period. it will not go straight back to violence. any earlier and the israelis would justifiably have said all that will happen is that hamas will continue to fire rockets, will continue to attack, and we will then need to go

in and retaliate. so the conditions for a ceasefire have to be created where both sides are prepared to stop the fighting and have at least some confidence there will be a period of relative calm in which the international community can get on with the crucial humanitarian work. i think it is fair enough to say that situation has not existed yet, but i think the american, british and german position now is that it is getting very close to the point where we will get there. lard where we will get there. lord ricketts, _ where we will get there. lord ricketts, thank _ where we will get there. lord ricketts, thank you _ where we will get there. lord ricketts, thank you very - where we will get there. lord ricketts, thank you very much. here in the uk, after years of denials, the former conservative peer, baroness mone has admitted that she stands to benefit from tens of millions of pounds of profit made from personal protective equipment that was sold to the government during the coronavirus pandemic. the company was led by her husband doug barrowman. she says she did help broker the deal, but claims she was made a scapegoat for the government s failings. our political correspondent laura kuenssberg has more.

questions about the pandemic, profit and politics have followed baroness mone and her husband to southern europe. for years, they denied links to a firm that received £200 million in taxpayers' money for desperately needed masks and gowns. only now the truth — that she does stand to gain. if one day, if, god forbid, my husband passes away before me, then i am a beneficiary as well as his children and my children. so, yes, of course. my family will benefit in due course. our family will benefit. that's what you do when you're in the privileged position of making money. a successful businesswoman and member of the lords, she didn't tell parliament she was helping broker a ppe contract. she now admits she didn't tell the truth when her links to the deal first emerged. you both denied it — why? we were simply listening to our advisers.

hindsight�*s a wonderful thing. i wasn't trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes. and i regret and i'm sorry for not saying straight out, "yes, i am involved". my family have gone through hell with the media over my career and i didn't want another big hoo—ha in the press and my family to be involved in it. i don't honestly see there's a case to answer. i can't see what we've done wrong. doug and the consortium have simply delivered a contract — a delivery contract of goods. but after everything, you can't see what you've done wrong when you've admitted today that you lied to the press? that's not a crime. essentially, you lied to the public. laura, saying to the press that i'm not involved to protect my family, can ijust make this clear? it's not a crime. the company's being taken to court by the department of health. the pairare under criminal investigation.

but the government wouldn't comment on the couple who only now want to have their say. laura kuenssberg, bbc news. our political correspondent damian grammaticas has more on the reaction from the government. so the government has been speaking today on the record, but not addressing directly this case. the deputy prime minister oliver dowden was on the laura kuenssberg programme today. he didn't want to go into this case, he said, because of the ongoing proceedings relating to it and i remind you they are a criminal investigation by the national crime agency looking at conspiracy to defraud and bribery, and separately a civil claim from the department of health which is seeking to recoup £122 million because it is alleging breach of contract and unjust enrichment. baroness mone and her husband deny

they have ever done anything wrong. what the government has been saying today, the deputy prime minister mr oliver dowden, he said generally, broadly in the pandemic, with the handing out of contracts there was no cronyism, no favouritism, he said, and he said now the government was where it should be trying to recoup the money. there were no favours or special treatment, everyone had ultimately the same tests applied to them. and indeed if it is the case where allegations of fraud and misconduct have occurred there is either the civil or criminal, which you can see going on in respect of the interview that you have just broadcast. in addition to that we set up the public sector fraud authority which already in its first year has recovered double its initial target. the labour party says there was shocking incompetence and recklessness from the government in the way it behaved in the pandemic, it claims, in the way it handed out contracts through the vip fast lane. this was the labour shadow health

secretary, wes streeting. the fact is that people ripped our country off and we have to get our money back and also send a signal to people in the future that you don't get away with this. i'm sure we will come on to talk about this in the context of the nhs, but it also applies to the broader public services. money is tight in this country, the public finances are a disaster thanks to this government. and this evening the labour party have written directly to the government. they are asking for an urgent statement in the house of commons before mps go away for their christmas break because they say there are now questions that need to be answered about michelle mone, about her contacts with government ministers, her contacts with civil servants, and labour is taking a step back. they say were they to win the next election they would create the post of a covid corruption commissioner to try to claw back money where they could from the contracts that were given out.

polls have closed in serbia's snap parliamentary elections, which are seen as a test of president aleksandar vucic and his progressive party, which have been in power since 2012. he says he expects a landslide victory even though they are up against a largely united opposition of fifteen parties, which formed a coalition after protests over two mass shootings earlier this year. the turnout looks set to be around 60%, which is similar to last year's elections. and the polls at the moment suggest that progressive party are in the lead. we will keep you up—to—date. now it's time for a look at today's sport. we start with an entertaining day in the english premier league, where arsenal have returned to the top of the table after a convincing 2—0 win over brighton. they opened the scoring in the second half with a gabrieljesus header. kai havertz then got their second — that's his fourth

goal in seven games. the win ensures arsenal bounce back from last weekend's loss to aston villa. brighton slip a place to ninth. an incredible performance. i think it was a joy to watch from the start to the end, the way we did it against his very very good team. the players deserve a lot of credit. they generated so much and even at half—time the score line didn't reflect that. we kept going and we won the game. at anfield, bitter rivals liverpool and manchester united played out a goalless draw. in a cagey game, liverpool were unable to make the most of their chances against a stubborn united defence. the visitors went down to ten men in injury time when diogo dalot was sent off. liverpool drop to second in the league, a point behind arsenal and afterwards, jurgen klopp criticised his players the main thing i don't like is

obviously the result, we should have won this game but they didn't. that is a fact and you can create i'm not sure if you can create more finishes in a game against manchester united, but if you have the number a few more should be on target and a few more should be on target and a few more chances should be there. we had enough to score and we had massive chances. that should have been more. i had a game plan, the players were brilliant, _ i had a game plan, the players were brilliant, how they worked together, stitched _ brilliant, how they worked together, stitched together, how they were in in the _ stitched together, how they were in in the fight. maybe the only criticism _ in the fight. maybe the only criticism would be in possession we could _ criticism would be in possession we could have — criticism would be in possession we could have hurt them more. we kept three _ could have hurt them more. we kept three passes in but that is the only thing _ three passes in but that is the only thing. when we scored in two big opportunities, we could win this game _ elsewhere, aston villa came back to beat brentford 2—1 in a fiery encounter, which saw each side reduced to ten men. west ham bounced back to win

3—0 at home to wolves. an update to bring you on the luton town captain tom lockyer now. the defender collapsed in their game at bournemouth on saturday, suffering a cardiac arrest. the club confirmed he was responsive when taken off the field. the club released a statement on social media, saying that he �*remains in hospital�* and that they �*understand that supporters are concerned for him and that there is widespread media interest in his condition.�*. they added that lockyer is still undergoing tests and scans, and is awaiting the results before the next steps for his recovery are determined. in italy, third placed ac milan beat monza 3—0 in the early game in serie a. fiorentina won 1—0 against verona. and it finished 2—2 between udinese and sassuolo. bologna are up to fourth after their 2—0 victory over roma. lazio are in action against inter milan — it�*s 2—0 to inter after 70 minutes played there.

three matches in the german bundesliga this sunday. leverkusen are top after their 3—0 win over frankfurt, thanks to a goal and two assists from nigeria striker victor boniface. they now have a lead of four points over bayern munich who beat stuttgart by the same score — harry kane with his 20th goalfor the club. elsewhere, freiburg were 2—0 winners over cologne. nathan lyon has become just the 8th bowler to take 500 test wickets, with the spinner helping australia to a huge win over pakistan in the opening test in perth. lyon took two on the final day as pakistan were bowled out forjust 89, giving australia a 360 run victory. the tourists haven�*t won a test in the country since 1995. next up is the boxing day test in melbourne. always a great day.

and that�*s all the sport for now. let�*s get into the christmas mood now with some carols sung early in london�*s trafalgar square, and sung in ukrainian. our reporter olga malchevska spoke to those taking part — and a warning there is some flash photography. we�*re here in trafalgar square in central london. and look, there are hundreds of people here singing lovely christmas songs and wearing ukrainian costumes. and here is why. there are several organisations who decided to tell british people thank you for their support and also to introduce some songs in ukrainian, because that�*s the first year when ukraine celebrates christmas at the same time with all the catholic clothes and with the uk. so now behind me are these beautiful singers in ukrainian traditional clothes and they�*re going to sing good evening to you in ukrainian. choir sings in ukrainian.

let�*s see where we can catch the festive spirit. and now we will try to speak to one of the ladies here, because there is also remarkable story behind this singing. and next to me now is darina, who is from donetsk, which is now occupied by russia. and, darina, great to speak to you.

how are you, first of all? and how is your family? are they safe? like many ukrainians, we lost our home in 2014. so everybody is now spread around the country as well as other countries as well. but more than anything, i think it�*s the battle that has been happening for over 400 years. russia has been trying to suppress our culture, and that�*s one of the many reasons why we are here, trying to share the joy, show show how rich and vibrant and beautiful our culture is because it�*s so important, especially now that we are not at home, we are in the uk. which has become a new home for many. but still our heart will always be with ukraine, understandably. thank you so much. and there is also a story behind the famous song castle of the bells. few people know that it was actually written by ukrainian composer mykola denisovich, who has managed to escape the soviet union regime and who managed to flee to the us, where he performed that song and where it became viral. and now the girls are going to sing it to us in ukrainian and how it was written originally.

are you ready? let�*s do it. choir sings in ukrainian. hello there, good evening. it�*s been cloudy, windy and mild this weekend. some sunshine spotted today, particularly across the southeast of england and generally to the lea of high ground. but across western scotland, a very wet weekend with rain sinking south—west this afternoon into dumfries and galloway, northern ireland and into northwest england as we head into this

it has been cloudy and windy this weekend, some sunshine spotted today in the south. the wet rain will sink southward into dumfries and galloway, northern ireland and north—west england as we head into this evening. that mild air come streaming in on a brisk south—westerly wind, still windy conditions across north—east england and the south—east of scotland and irish sea coasts. that rain is feeding in on that brisk south—westerly wind and sinking southwards and will continue to do southwards and will continue to do so as we head through the rest of the evening overnight. for scotland some clear spells emerging in the north and here it will feel colder. the rain across the hills and dales as we head into tomorrow and it is a frost free start to the day. a bit colder in the north of scotland,

similar temperatures still in double figures. stilla similar temperatures still in double figures. still a weather front in the south across parts of wales and it stretches across into the midlands and east anglia. a bit of rain in the south—west of england. a dry start to the day in scotland but there will be another weather front moving into the west of scotland by the end of the afternoon. sunshine in northern ireland and eastern scotland and it is mild in places. the colder air is in the far north. this is the situation on tuesday. in the west there will be rain pushing eastwards, so a wet and soggy start to the day. on tuesday it will be in the south of england and wales. in scotland there could be wintry showers pushing southwards and eastwards. much of northern england has sunshine and that rain will clear in the south as we head into the afternoon. the air is still mild in the south of the east. it will be

colder further north. as we head through wednesday that cold air is displaced eastwards and it starts to bring in those mild conditions again from the west, so if anything pulls out of the sky on wednesday it should be falling as rain. these are the temperatures in cities as we head through the week. watch out for colder weather as we head into christmas day.

this is bbc news. the headlines. hungry palestinians loot aid trucks entering gaza through the rafah crossing, as israel opens another crossing for aid. israel�*s prime minister dismisses the latest calls for a "sustainable ceasefire" in gaza, insisting they will "fight to the end" to eliminate hamas. former conservative peer baroness mone admits she stands to benefit from £60 million of profit from personal protective equipment sold to the government during the pandemic. voting wraps up in serbia�*s snap elections, called after two mass shootings shook the ruling party�*s hold on power. and a site in the shetland islands becomes the uk�*s first spaceport for vertical rocket launches. it has been given approval to begin launches in 2024 from the small island of unst.