a humanitarian pause is something that all the players want. certainly, i think israel and the us would go for it if it includes a serious hostage release. we continue to believe that israel does not have to choose between| removing the threat of hamas and minimising the toll- on civilians in gaza. it has an obligation to do both and it has a strategic interest to do both. i a security council vote on the war in gaza, scheduled for this hour, has been delayed again, for a third day running. israel and its main ally the united states are resisting any language that refers to a ceasefire. we will get reaction from new york. also tonight, why is the security council not

focused on the war in sudan? the death toll is now well over 12,000, with reports tonight the rebels have overrun the country's second biggest city. and in colorado, the state supreme court strikes donald trump from the ballot, just weeks before the first presidential primary in iowa. good evening. counting the dead is a challenge in any war zone, and especially one in which journalists are locked out. and how can we possibly know what the true figure when so many bodies remain buried under the rubble? but tonight the death toll reached a grim new marker. according to the hamas—led health ministry, 20,000 people have now been killed. 20,000 people have now been killed, and among them 8,000 children and 6,200 women. the us has in recent days raised the alarm over the extent of the killing, and urged greater restraint. at home, president biden is under pressure. but tonight, a vote on a humanitarian pause, which was expected this hour

in the security council, has again been postponed. the us, which vetoed the first resolution, is still not satisfied with the language in the revised second draft, and a second veto is still a possibility. live to nada tawfik at the united nations. the vote was supposed to be on monday. it was delayed again yesterday and it's been pushed back again today. what is the complication?— again today. what is the complication? again today. what is the comlication? , . . , complication? christian, the latest on hearin: complication? christian, the latest on hearing is— complication? christian, the latest on hearing is they _ complication? christian, the latest on hearing is they have _ complication? christian, the latest on hearing is they have tried - complication? christian, the latest on hearing is they have tried to - on hearing is they have tried to resolve the situation of hostilities. the real sticking point is over this proposal to set up a un monitoring musket is up to deliver a gaza. —— mechanism. israel is

concerned that it could take away its control to really have say over that aid going into gaza. diplomats have allowed for additional negotiations so that the united states and egypt — which of course, also shares a border with gaza — could discuss what that mechanism would look like. given that this has been delayed numerous times, there was a real sense of frustration among councilmembers, but they decided it was better tojust among councilmembers, but they decided it was better to just wait a little bit longer to see if they could avoid a us veto and reach agreement. could avoid a us veto and reach agreement-— could avoid a us veto and reach aureement. . , a , ., agreement. can we pick up on the eiuht agreement. can we pick up on the eight issue? _ agreement. can we pick up on the eight issue? the _ agreement. can we pick up on the eight issue? the world _ agreement. can we pick up on the eight issue? the world food - eight issue? the world food programme said nine out of ten palestinian families have gone a day without food. as the dispute over the amount of aid that goes in and how quickly it goes in, and is the israel processing of this aid delaying the process?

israel processing of this aid dela in: the rocess? ., �* delaying the process? from the uae at the un is — delaying the process? from the uae at the un is that — delaying the process? from the uae at the un is that the _ delaying the process? from the uae at the un is that the intensity - delaying the process? from the uae at the un is that the intensity of - at the un is that the intensity of the fighting between israel and hamas is making it so that it's extremely difficult to get to them. then we heard from the uae, visited the rafah crossing with several ambassador that they saw aid wind—up outside too don't —— outside rafah. they said there is a need to get all crossings open. notjust that, gaza needs to notjust rely on aid, they needs to notjust rely on aid, they need to get commercial deliveries going again. all of that is stated in this resolution, and it's something the un is pushing for

because using those figures — about half of the civilians is starving. looking at them will humanitarian —— the whole humanitarian cost catastrophe... the whole humanitarian cost catastrophe. . ._ the whole humanitarian cost catastrohe... , . ., , catastrophe... just a quick word, is there daily — catastrophe... just a quick word, is there daily between _ catastrophe... just a quick word, is there daily between the _ catastrophe... just a quick word, is there daily between the united - there daily between the united states and the europeans? france is another security council member. emmanuel macron hasjust another security council member. emmanuel macron has just said that fighting terror does not mean flattening gaza. do you think they're now on different tracks? we heard they're now on different tracks? - heard from antony blinken that they want to see more strikes, but then he placed the blame on hamas, saying they want to see more pressure on those calling for hamas to

surrender. i think the rest of the world is really emphasising the point that even war has rules. i think there is a little bit of difference in imposition. the leader of hamas has _ difference in imposition. the leader of hamas has arrived _ difference in imposition. the leader of hamas has arrived in _ difference in imposition. the leader of hamas has arrived in gaza - difference in imposition. the leaderj of hamas has arrived in gaza today. egypt the wall stjournal reported today that israel has offered a one—week pause in the fighting in exchange for a0 hostages, that would include any remaining women,

the elderly and the sick or injured. egypt, alongside qatar, helped broker the week—long truce last month, which led to the release of some 100 hostages captured by hamas. but the terms set by hamas this time are much higher and refer to a permanent ceasefire. let's go live to oliver mcternan, director of forward thinking, who has worked in hostage negotiation for over 20 years. he played a key role in the negotiations surrounding the release of the israeli soldier gilad shalit, held hostage by hamas for five years. good of you to join us. does that sound familiar to you, a pause for more hostages?— sound familiar to you, a pause for more hostages? unfortunately, in this situation, _ more hostages? unfortunately, in this situation, it _ more hostages? unfortunately, in this situation, it does. _ more hostages? unfortunately, in this situation, it does. but - more hostages? unfortunately, in this situation, it does. but it's - this situation, it does. but it's not the normal circumstances in which you would negotiate the release of hostages. as i said before, the extraordinary challenges to achieve the purpose of getting the hostages home safely has to be

emphasised because i don't think prior prosecuting a military campaign at the same time negotiating hostages worst what —— works. ifearforthe negotiating hostages worst what —— works. i fear for the future and the safety of the hostages.— safety of the hostages. obviously, the israeli government _ safety of the hostages. obviously, the israeli government is - safety of the hostages. obviously, the israeli government is under i the israeli government is under pressure for two sites. the americans want them to move to a lower intensity conflict and the israeli conflict. where do you think he is right now?— he is right now? first of all, if we can take the _ he is right now? first of all, if we can take the american _ he is right now? first of all, if we can take the american situation, | can take the american situation, i don't think if you're saying to people to lower the level of killing and supplying the means by which people are killed, or i don't think they are taking the american message seriously. ifearthat

they are taking the american message seriously. ifear that is part they are taking the american message seriously. i fear that is part of the problem. i think benjamin netanyahu wants awards continue at the level it is. he knows the minute there is a cease—fire and the americans are serious about a cease—fire and reducing or stopping the killing rather than reducing the level, he knows that his future is in question. in that context, it's very difficult to see how the desire of the family and one empathises entirely with them the desire to see their loved ones reunited with them, i can't honestly see that being delivered in the present circumstances without an immediate cease—fire, a complete cease—fire. i don't think we will see... we can guarantee, rather, the safe return of the hostages.— guarantee, rather, the safe return of the hostages. bernie sanders, on the progressive _

of the hostages. bernie sanders, on the progressive wing _ of the hostages. bernie sanders, on the progressive wing of— of the hostages. bernie sanders, on the progressive wing of the - of the hostages. bernie sanders, on the progressive wing of the us - the progressive wing of the us senate, is saying tonight that there should be conditions attached to the aid. do you think in your mind, if israel isn't listening to the white house, maybe conditioning the aide is the only way to get through to prime minister netanyahu? weill. is the only way to get through to prime minister netanyahu? well, i think it is not _ prime minister netanyahu? well, i think it is notjust _ prime minister netanyahu? well, i think it is notjust conditioning, - think it is notjust conditioning, it is saying very clearly we're not giving the means to kill people. it's a disgrace. the possibility has been delayed over arguing over words. how many hundreds of lives will be lost? the scars and the consequences of this delay will be felt way in the future when president biden�*s out of austin office, we netanyahu is out of office. there will be the consequences felt. that is a terrible thing at the moment. i am currently in helsinki. i spent the

day with european officials and with officials from the gulf region. the gulf between us that is growing as enormous. the americans aren't listening in a proper way to what the saudi �*s, the immoralities and all of these countries want to see. they want to see a stable and prosperous region and they're not being listened to because they're not understanding the consequences of what their people are witnessing day in, day out. the killing of tens of thousands of palestinians. i of thousands of palestinians. i suppose the israelis would say they can't go back to a situation where rockets are coming across the border. when it comes to the negotiation, the terms that hamas demanded right now of the release of people with blood on their hands, some of the highest value prisoners, releasing those in the context of

what happened on october the 7th just isn't acceptable to the government.— just isn't acceptable to the covernment. , . . , government. christian, always, we can understand. _ government. christian, always, we can understand. when _ government. christian, always, we can understand. when i— government. christian, always, we can understand. when i explainedl government. christian, always, we - can understand. when i explained why they take soldiers, i don't agree or endorse it at all. but the process is a means of because there is no review of cases of palestinians in israel the jails —— israeli jails, this is the situation. i stressed, i do not endorse this. this is a system. netanyahu knows if he's going to get soldiers released, there has to be a price. what everyone has to look at, the consequences of not now engaging in a meaningful dialogue in creating a meaningful process. there's no way hamas are going to disappear from the scene. i was in ramallah last

week. the americans recognise that there is no future without in some way hamas being included. that's what we learnt in our own eyes. it took the british government hundreds of years to understand that without... there is no military solutions when you have militant groups. he has —— it has to be a political process. that's precisely, i think, what the americans now have to apply in israel and what the israelis have to learn — that the security is not in arms and bombs, but it is an actually creating a meaningful peace process and seeing the security in palestinians. inclusive of that has to be hamas. oliver, always good to get your thoughts.

let's get some reaction from the united states. we can speak to guy ziv, associate director at the american university's center for israel studies. very welcome to the programme. just some reaction of what you heard that hamas will have to engage on some of the demands if they want soldiers back —— they will have to engage on some of hamas�*s demand. back -- they will have to engage on some of hamas's demand. certainly, the devastation _ some of hamas's demand. certainly, the devastation of— some of hamas's demand. certainly, the devastation of the _ some of hamas's demand. certainly, the devastation of the southern - the devastation of the southern communities in israel has been a game changer in a israeli politics. but at this point, the debate over whether or not the us was going to veto or adopt a un security council resolution seems pretty clear, which is why this latest vote has been postponed time and again. the us is in a very precarious situation given the outright support for israel's right to defend itself. as we're seeing, it's facing mounting

pressure to back a cease—fire. the problem with a cease—fire is that it would lead hamas and other terrorist groups and charge of the gaza strip, it would prevent gaza the country would serve only hamas. crosstalk i was just going to say it seems there's a delicate interplay of things that are going on in the middle east in the region in terms of the negotiation. and what is going on is new york —— is going on in new york. is it linked to what is going on within these talks perhaps in cairo tonight, and is that why the americans are playing for time? i don't know if the americans are playing for time. i think they're

negotiating over the language and making it very clear that they are not looking for a cease—fire, which would only enable hamas to reorganise and rebuild its terror infrastructure. it openly says it has every intention to plan an assault on israel. just a few hours ago, the idf uncovered hamas's elite corridor under palestine square. this is where the senior officials hid from israeli army, and isjust the latest milestone. i hid from israeli army, and is 'ust the latest milestonei hid from israeli army, and is 'ust the latest milestone. i suppose what i'm sa in: the latest milestone. i suppose what i'm saying is — the latest milestone. i suppose what i'm saying is when _ the latest milestone. i suppose what i'm saying is when we _ the latest milestone. i suppose what i'm saying is when we talk _ the latest milestone. i suppose what i'm saying is when we talk about - the latest milestone. i suppose what i'm saying is when we talk about a i i'm saying is when we talk about a humanitarian pause in new york, even if that resolution was adopted and america didn't veto the resolution, i don't see how there'll be a pause without some of the hostages out first. that's why i'm saying the two processes must be linked.-

processes must be linked. when it comes to the _ processes must be linked. when it comes to the hostage _ processes must be linked. when it comes to the hostage situation, i comes to the hostage situation, absolutely, there is a link because israel has two goals and i think the us supports israel's two goals. one goal is to free its hostages and the other goal is of course to cripple hamas, even if it doesn't succeed in destroying hamas altogether. what to prevent hamas from ever being able to execute the kind of massacre and continue to shoot rockets into israeli cities. but demands that more be done to protect civilians in gaza increasing the amount of humanitarian aid, those are all the things that the united states supports and i think israel could certainly support as well. but as we've seen, even as israel has taken additional steps to ease the humanitarian concerns, including opening the shalom border crossing to allow you trucks to deliver aid. we've seen hamas gunmen stealing

food, water, medicine and fuel intended for the civilians. this is one of the major challenges of providing this aid. gut; one of the major challenges of providing this aid.— one of the major challenges of providing this aid. guy ziv, really crateful. providing this aid. guy ziv, really grateful. thank _ providing this aid. guy ziv, really grateful. thank you _ providing this aid. guy ziv, really grateful. thank you very - providing this aid. guy ziv, really grateful. thank you very much i grateful. thank you very much indeed. like pictures from the un, where they are scheduled to vote on this tomorrow, ongoing in new york. everything is still very much in the balance. around the world and across the uk. you're watching bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the government has welcomed official figures showing that the rate of inflation has fallen by more than was expected. the rate — as measured by the consumer prices index — was at 3.9% last month. it's the lowest level for more than two years. analysts said the news would put more pressure on the bank of england to begin cutting interest rates next year. sentence for her part in the murders of two young women — the ex—wife of a french serial

killer has been given a second life sentence for her part in the murders of two young women — one of whom was a british student. monique olivier helped to lure 20—year—old joanna parrish, from gloucestershire, to her death in auxerre in 1990. joanna's family said the sentence was a moment they had been "waiting a lifetime" for. residents in scotland were amazed by a rare sight in the sky on tuesday evening. the shimmering colours of nacreous cloud were spotted — one of the highest clouds in our atmosphere. often referred to as "mother—of—pearl", nacreous cloud form in very cold conditions over cold conditions over polar regions nacreous cloud form in very cold conditions over polar regions. you're live with bbc news. in his year—end briefing to the press today, the us secretary of state antony blinken said he wants to see a shift towards more targeted operations by israel, and a lower intensity in the bombing. but he said that needs to go hand in hand with a stronger international call for hamas to surrender.

it has not been no mac obligation to do both and has a strategic interest to do both. latest estimates... hamas are still holding 129 hostages. 108 of them are thought to be still alive, including an 11—month—old child, and 21 are thought to be dead. but as we have just heard from oliver, there are still big gaps between the two sides on how a humanitarian pause might be agreed. and while the negotiations are intense both in qatar and in egypt, the suffering continues for families on all sides. our correspondent fergal keane has this report. the boy lies on the body of his father.

his father is among the 20,000 reported dead. but the survivors do not think of the dead in figures of thousands. theirs is an intimate reckoning, counted in the vanished faces of those they love. from the beginning, they have known there is no escape. from gaza... ..orfrom grief. in al—aqsa hospital in central gaza, the wounded child holds to symbols of a vanished normality. in a bed nearby, rama, aged 13, who lost ten members of her family, and fears she will lose her arm and leg. translation: i appeal to the arab

countries to help me get urgent - urgent treatment abroad before i lose my limbs. i dream of a life like other children around the world, where i can once again run and draw. fear of death is ever present. we interviewed tala abu nahal over a month ago. as she tried to escape gaza with her disabled brother. today, our colleagues caught up with tala and yazid. without vital medicine, he's suffering from seizures and is terrified by the israeli drones in the skies above. it's been really hard everytime i hear a rocket, that's going to drop, it's horrible to say this, but sort of it gives us this sort of relief that it's not us. but that does not mean that we're fully safe.

it's like we're next. these are the latest funerals in gaza. the dead, part of a casualty announcement that is, with no ceasefire in sight, almost certainly already being surpassed. fergal keane, bbc news. hugo bachega is live injerusalem for us. we've just been hurrying from nada that part of the difficulty is over a going in and who processes and checks on the aid and whether they get enough in. i want to show you a tweet that was posted today by the israeli foreign minister.

in response, unrwa condemned his comments and spoke of the direct hits on 55 installations in gaza. it does speak of the bad blood between the two sides at the moment which complicates which is being done in new york. .. , . , complicates which is being done in newyork. , . , , complicates which is being done in new york. , . , , . new york. exactly, and this is a long-running — new york. exactly, and this is a long-running dispute _ new york. exactly, and this is a long-running dispute between i new york. exactly, and this is a i long-running dispute between the long—running dispute between the israeli authorities and this un agency for progeny and refugees. the israelis have long accused unrwa of not knowing that some of its installations, or at least buildings near unrwa and building in gaza are being used by hamas to launch attacks against israel. i think last week, the israeli military released a video showing the positions near those facilities in gaza being used by hamas to launch those attacks. obviously, those accusations have been rejected by unrwa, and again,

calls for donations to be stopped and funding to be halted have been rejected by the agency. again, it shows this tweet and these messages by the israeli authorities. the latest chapter in this long—running dispute between israel and the united nations agency. hugo bachega, thank ou united nations agency. hugo bachega, thank you very — united nations agency. hugo bachega, thank you very much. _ united nations agency. hugo bachega, thank you very much. i _ united nations agency. hugo bachega, thank you very much. i want _ united nations agency. hugo bachega, thank you very much. i want to - united nations agency. hugo bachega, thank you very much. i want to talk - thank you very much. i want to talk about sudan the other side over the break. so many millions of people are displaced and now dependent on humanitarian aid. where is the resolution for sudan. we will distrust out of the break. —— discuss that after the break. hello again. we're still in for some windy weather all the way into the run—up to christmas day itself. but maybe the strongest of the winds will be happening overnight tonight and continuing into thursday —

and this is where we've got the greatest risk of some travel disruption. now, the winds have been picking up today and managing to punch a few holes in the cloud. but if i show you the satellite picture — you can see the extent of the cloud that's streaming in from the atlantic — and is continuing to bring some rain and drizzle mainly to western hills and coast. those strengthening westerly winds are drawing in mild air, mind you, around the top of that area of high pressure. but it's that deep low that's moving away from iceland that'll track to western hills and coasts. those strengthening westerly winds are drawing in mild air, mind you, around the top of that area of high pressure. to the north of scotland, and then, into scandinavia that will really strengthen the winds around it — into scandinavia that will really and that's been named storm pia by the danish weather service. so, overnight tonight, the winds continuing to strengthen. the winds continuing to strengthen, so, overnight tonight, the winds continuing to strengthen and it's going to be a noisy night, particularly in this heavy rain in scotland — that will move down into northern england and northern ireland. replaced by squally showers, slight change in the wind direction, the air gets a bit

colder in scotland. but elsewhere, those temperatures not changing very much from what we've seen during the afternoon. but it will be a windy day everywhere on thursday, the strongest of the winds further north. we could see higher gusts over into the east of high ground, and the top gusts of 70—80mph in the north and northeast of scotland, so very windy here. now, we still have this cloud and increasingly patchy rain that's going to move southwards to southern england. it'll be replaced by sunshine, but streams of squally showers coming in, and some wintriness over the hills in scotland. things are turning a little bit colder here, but we've still got that milder air across the far south — temperatures 12—13 celsius. now, as the storm tracks further into scandinavia, we get this surge of stronger winds just for a while down those north sea coasts. we still have that weather front there, and that's the boundary between this milder air that's trying to push back northwards across the uk, and the colder air that's still particularly in scotland. and along that boundary, we've got this area of rain here. now, south of it, in the milder air, there's still a lot of cloud, but maybe some sunshine. in the colder air,

mainly in scotland, there'll be some showers. wintry over the hills, but to lower levels across the far northeast, the northern isles, where it's particularly cold. milder elsewhere, but not quite as windy on friday.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. the un vote on a pause in the fighting in gaza has been delayed yet again.

it's now due to take place at 10am tomorrow, new york time. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's olly foster. hello from the bbc sport centre. we'll have all the latest football scores from across europe in a moment, but we've heard from nuno espirito santo on his return to the premier league. the portuguese has been given a 2 and half year contract at nottingham forest, replacing steve cooper who was sacked on tuesday. his lastjob in the premier league was at tottenham 2 years ago, where he was sacked afterjust it months. he was well regarded in a four—year spell at wolves, gaining promotion from the championship and also qualifying for europe. his lastjob was in the saudi pro—league where he won the title with al—ittihad but he was sacked by them last month. hejoins forest one place

above the reelgation zone with just one win in 13.