uninhabitable as israel continues its bombardment of the strip. with unrest threatening to spread across the middle east, us secretary of state antony blinken arrives in turkey for another trip to the region. and three months on from the october seven attack, the families of those taken hostage by hamas at the nova music festival visit the nova music festival visit the site, still hoping for their return. hello. i am carl nasman. the israeli war against the masses continuing amid concerns for those in the region. martin griffiths, un humanitarian chief says the area has been

rendered uninhabitable. for the next half—hour we will focus in on the conflict in the escalation in violence in a week where israel as laid out plans for what happens in gaza post— conflict. we will look at when that end might come as international pressure continues to build on israel and we will hear from families of hostages taken from the nova festival almost three months ago on october seven, as they visit the place where their loved ones were abducted by hamas. but let's zoom in on the plight of those stuck in gaza. i spoke to a programme director for human rights watch. thank you for being here to discuss what is becoming a humanitarian disaster, really, in gaza. i want to start with those comments from the united nations official who said that the gaza strip is now uninhabitable. you agree with that assessment? i

uninhabitable. you agree with that assessment?— that assessment? i do. and there is a — that assessment? i do. and there is a reason _ that assessment? i do. and there is a reason for- that assessment? i do. and there is a reason for it. - that assessment? i do. and there is a reason for it. the| there is a reason for it. the reason is the warring parties, israel, hamas, and islamic jihad, are flouting very basic principles of the laws of war, would say that you have to protect civilians. if we look at why people in gaza don't have enough food and water, are life—threatening sanitation situations, it is because the israeli military has refused to abide by the obligation to ensure that civilians in gaza are adequately supplied. i was do this all this time that make all the time and that is what they have to do. when you prepare for war, you have to prepare for war, you have to prepare for war, you have to prepare for how the civilian population will survive the war. that is what israel hasn't been doing. d0 war. that is what israel hasn't been doing-— war. that is what israel hasn't been doing. do you think israel has not put _ been doing. do you think israel has not put on _ been doing. do you think israel has not put on a _ been doing. do you think israel has not put on a planning - been doing. do you think israel has not put on a planning or. has not put on a planning or paid enough attention to the fate of civilians and how they might survive this conflict? it isn'tjust that they might survive this conflict? it isn't just that they haven't planned, they are actually using starvation as a weapon of

war. i want to be really clear. the laws of war say that israel is an occupying power, that trips present in gaza, as an obligation to ensure that civilians are adequately —— adequately supplied. as they march through the gaza strip they should be bringing supplies to civilians, opening crossings, and ensuring that people have what they need, because the hostilities are not supposed to be conducted against civilians, only against fighters. instead the israeli military has been wilfully impeding the efficient delivery of humanitarian relief, they have refused to allow aid organisations to get access to the north, where people are in very, very dire situations, without enough food and water. they have bombed hospitals and made roads impassable. that is the opposite of what they should be doing to protect civilians. i am should be doing to protect civilians. iam particularly concerned because the actions

have been accompanied by statements from the israeli military saying that there are no civilians in gaza, that we are fighting a war against human animals, and therefore we will not allow humanitarian aid into gaza. , ., will not allow humanitarian aid into gaza-— into gaza. israel says it is allowing _ into gaza. israel says it is allowing aid _ into gaza. israel says it is allowing aid into - into gaza. israel says it is allowing aid into gaza - into gaza. israel says it is| allowing aid into gaza and into gaza. israel says it is - allowing aid into gaza and part of the checks are to ensure that aid and other supplies don't end up in the hands of the hamas. i know you are also the hamas. i know you are also the founder or co—founder of gisha access, an israeli and you're protecting the free movement of palestinians. beyond the bombardment and the civilian casualties we have also seen a restriction, haven't we, the part of palestinians not being able to enter israeli territory, where they might make their living or havejobs? they might make their living or have jobs?— have “obs? yes. at this stage of have jobs? yes. at this stage ofthe have jobs? yes. at this stage of the world _ have jobs? yes. at this stage of the world where _ have jobs? yes. at this stage of the world where people i have jobs? yes. at this stage of the world where people in | of the world where people in gaza are facing a threat of severe physical harm, neighbouring countries like israel and egypt have an obligation under refugee lord

to open their borders and allow families to flee to keep themselves safe. that hasn't been happening. the economy isn't functioning anymore. and this is something that is quite unprecedented. in previous hostilities, as brutal as they were, the israeli military had plans for how they were going to ensure adequate supplies. very detailed calculations. and what we see here is just a flouting of that kind of obligation without inadequate response from the international community, and in particular the us government, which is arming the israeli military. it should also be insisting that the israeli military abide by the israeli military abide by the obligations it owes to civilians.— civilians. just briefly to follow-up _ civilians. just briefly to follow-up on _ civilians. just briefly to follow-up on that, - civilians. just briefly to follow-up on that, us| civilians. just briefly to - follow-up on that, us secretary follow—up on that, us secretary of state antony blinken is in the region, visiting israel and the region, visiting israel and the west bank. what message do you hope he will deliver on that trip? i you hope he will deliver on that trip?— you hope he will deliver on that tri? ., ., that trip? i would say that the absolutely _ that trip? i would say that the

absolutely appropriate - that trip? i would say that the absolutely appropriate horror| absolutely appropriate horror that us government expressed at the massacre and kidnapping of israeli civilians on october seven should be accompanied by a consistency of principle. the united states government should make it clear that it isn't ok to target israeli civilians, and it isn't ok to starve palestinians civilians in order to pursue military purposes. aha, to pursue military purposes. a programme director at human rights watch, thank you for joining us. to talk more about the situation on the ground, my colleague katrina perry spoke to the executive director for the un's agency for palestinian refugees in the us. thank you forjoining us. can you tell is a bit about the situation such as your colleagues are seeing it? what operations like there at the moment?— operations like there at the moment? gaza is a place of desperation _ moment? gaza is a place of desperation and _ moment? gaza is a place of desperation and despair. i moment? gaza is a place of. desperation and despair. there are tens of thousands of women

and children, mostly, who have been killed or injured, 70% killed and injured have been women and children. families are sleeping in the streets, in increasingly colder temperatures. we have seen the rain and floods there. areas where civilians have been told to relocate that are coming under bombardment. the medical facilities in the strip are under relentless attack, unfortunately. and we know that of the 36 hospitals there in gaza, only 13 operational. most of those are really sell. those hospitals in the south are seeing three times the number of patients that they are meant see. and they are —— frankly there isn't enough medicine or equipment to do with the patients coming into those hospitals in the south. we know only six of the unrwa centres are functioning at the moment.

that is with the 1.2 5 million people facing famine at the moment. i5 people facing famine at the moment-— people facing famine at the moment. , . , people facing famine at the moment. , ., , , ., moment. is there anywhere your colleagues _ moment. is there anywhere your colleagues can — moment. is there anywhere your colleagues can tell _ moment. is there anywhere your colleagues can tell people - moment. is there anywhere your colleagues can tell people to - colleagues can tell people to go that is safe?— go that is safe? no, unfortunately, - go that is safe? no, unfortunately, as i go that is safe? no, | unfortunately, as the go that is safe? no, - unfortunately, as the israeli military has told the population to go south, unfortunately where they have been told to go has been bombarded. there are — there frankly is no safe place in gaza, even three, un institutions play the blue flag do not say. there has been some 217 incidences of unrwa premises being bombed, or bombarded, and 62 of those are direct hits, each violations of international humanitarian law. we have 22 instances of the is really military using unrwa installations for military operations. —— israeli military. we have had little palestinians who have been

killed while in un installations. even in the south, where someone million, 1.25 million palestinians have thread, even there it is not safe, and again, there is no safe, and again, there is no safe place for civilians in gaza right now. —— some one million, 1.25 million. gaza right now. -- some one million, 1.25 million.- gaza right now. -- some one million, 1.25 million. what you ho -e for million, 1.25 million. what you hope for from _ million, 1.25 million. what you hope for from antony - million, 1.25 million. what you| hope for from antony blinken's visit? ~ . .., hope for from antony blinken's visit? . ., . ., ., hope for from antony blinken's visit? ~ ., ., ., visit? we are calling for an immediate _ visit? we are calling for an immediate ceasefire, - visit? we are calling for an - immediate ceasefire, meaning we need full throated humanitarian access into gaza. i know there was a un resolution to this effect, but we have seen very little change on the ground. the border that allows trucks into it has opened, but it is still very difficult, if not sometimes impossible, for unrwa to get those resources that come in which are not enough by any means, but even to get those meagre resources to those in need, because within the

border in rafah, the areas have been bombed. our own staff at unrwa has come underfire. we have lost many of our own staff members, as i said, and the roads leading out from rafah and have been damaged. some of unrwa's own trucks are stuck in the north with no access to them. we need not only more goods, more food, more medical supplies, there is only that we are estimating one quarter of the diapers needed for kids. and there are 50,000 pregnant women in gaza right now. 180 are giving both a day. we don't have enough supplies to help this population in the way that any single human being on earth deserves. . ~ any single human being on earth deserves. ., ~ , ., . deserves. thank you. executive director of _ deserves. thank you. executive director of unrwa _ deserves. thank you. executive director of unrwa usa - deserves. thank you. executive | director of unrwa usa national committee, thank you for joining us on bbc news. thank ou. we joining us on bbc news. thank you- we put — joining us on bbc news. thank you. we put the _ joining us on bbc news. thank you. we put the claims - joining us on bbc news. thank you. we put the claims about i you. we put the claims about israeli straits _ you. we put the claims about israeli straits on _ you. we put the claims about israeli straits on un - israeli straits on un installations and what she described as 62 breaches of

international humanitarian law to owes of samir, the former is really tourism minister and formal consul general in new york. �* formal consul general in new york. . york. -- asaf zamir. it wouldn't _ york. -- asaf zamir. it wouldn't be _ york. -- asaf zamir. it wouldn't be fair - york. -- asaf zamir. it wouldn't be fair to - york. -- asaf zamir. it - wouldn't be fair to dismiss what unrwa says our exact reality. we have found that infrastructure hidden inside unrwa centres. we have revealed this to the world. they are brought in gas that was stolen by him as the day after, hidden hamas operatives inside their schools, and we have found double walls where they hid ammunition. at this point what they say should be regarded factual and what we say should be. i want to remind you — israel is a democracy. it has transparency. it has free press. it has the opposition and coalition and its functions

that make it functions as a full democracy. we are at war with a terrorist organisation that doesn't abide by international law or any walker declaration to begin with. so we're doing everything we possibly could to try and abide by these rules. ——or any war crimes declaration. when sometimes may not succeed, it is a war zone. sometimes may not succeed, it is a war zone-— is a war zone. unrwa has not been able _ is a war zone. unrwa has not been able to _ is a war zone. unrwa has not been able to confirm - is a war zone. unrwa has not been able to confirm the - is a war zone. unrwa has not. been able to confirm the claims of what asaf zamir has said. there have been repeated requests from media organisations for better access to report from inside gaza. it was one of the most shocking moments of the october seven attack on israel, hamas fighters storming into the super nova music festival, killing more than 360 people and taking more than a0 horses back into gaza. now nearly three months on, some of the families have visited the site.

our corresponded worry davis went with them to the place where their loved ones were taken. —— wyre. there is little left now at the site of the nova music festival, apart from hundreds of photographs planted in the desert earth — mainly young people who were killed or abducted on october 7. among them, this woman, a wife and mother of an infant son — a boy who will never see his mother again. we told him that his mother won't come back and that his father is missing, that we are looking for him, but i try to keep my eyes on my mission, to bring him back and we'll bring the rest of them back. three months ago this weekend, thousands of heavily armed hamas fighters burst through the gaza fence. among their targets, the nova festival. pa rtygoers fled for their lives. more than 360 were killed.

dozens were abducted to gaza. some survivors made an emotional return to the nova site today. the safe return of their friends, their only goal. the world's attention is still very much focused on the ongoing warjust over in gaza, and more than 22,000 people have been killed, most of them civilians. but israel doesn't want the world to forget what happened in places like this on october 7. everything is gone from where the festival site was but what happened here has not been forgotten. virtually everything from the festival site has been brought to this installation in tel aviv. the stage, the sound systems, and the music. it's an emotional project but with a positive message. as a community, we look forward. we have this passport of "we will dance again" — we mean it. we want to dance again, we want to dance for the memory of my friends, my friends will

be happy to see me dance again. with thousands of personal possessions that will never be claimed, the burned—out cars in which fleeing people were killed, this is also a difficult reminder of one of the darkest days in israel's history. wyre davies, bbc news. nation of iran is involved of the conflict, it is one of the most powerful backers of hamas and link to powerful militant groups in the region. hezbollah has conducted _ groups in the region. hezbollah has conducted 670 _ groups in the region. hezbollah has conducted 670 military - has conducted 670 military operations on the border with israel since october eight, according to its leader, also in the middle east the iranians back houthi rebels have declared this court for hamas and continue to attack shipping vessels in the red sea. for more in the role of iran i spoke to the executive vice president of the quincy

institute and co—founder of the iranian american council. thank you so much for being with us, iran is one of the largest financial backers, and some waters of hamas, how would you rate iran's involvement in this current conflict with israel? iran and israel have had their own secret war going on for more than two decades now, and within that, the iranians have been supporting hamas for quite some time, are the main providers of military and military support ought to hamas. but he ran not directly involved in the war in terms of actually being part of the fighting or having been part of the hamas attack on october seven but we may get to a point in which the war gets enlarged, and which both hezbollah, iran and which both hezbollah, iran and others who have been more directly involved and potentially dragging the united states into it, that is

unfortunately the trajectory we are on which would lead to a devastating regional war. the easiest way of preventing that is to have a ceasefire in gaza. israel would say a ceasefire would simply allow hamas to regroup, potentially give hezbollah an upper hand as well, right?— well, right? that is the israeli argument - well, right? that is the israeli argument but i well, right? that is the israeli argument but atj well, right? that is the - israeli argument but at the same time we have seen now the israelis have failed to achieve the their objectives, the former israeli prime minister said the chances of complete the defeating hamas which is what the israeli government seeks to do is put those charges at nil and we have a completely unacceptable amount of civilian deaths. if this goes on for much longer israel will not achieve its objectives but it will lead to a larger war which could drag in the us. this week we saw the killing of the deputy head of hamas had

strong ties with iran and hezbollah as well, how do you think his bowler might react, we have heard from the lead on friday saying a response was inevitable?— inevitable? some form of response _ inevitable? some form of response probably - inevitable? some form of response probably is - inevitable? some form of - response probably is inevitable but the question has been well his bowler read this as the crossing of a redline that would force them to go out on a with israel or will be treated as an escalation that will warrant a counter escalation from hezbollah but something thatis from hezbollah but something that is short of all—out war, it appears to be the latter, it does not appear to be hezbollah has much of a desire for a full—scale war, in fact a full—scale war, in fact a full—scale war, in fact a full—scale war would be to its detriment strategically but it is also very unlikely it would leave the and responded to. again, all these small steps are bringing us closer and closer to a much much larger conflict. ,, .

closer to a much much larger conflict. ,,, . , , ., ,, ., conflict. speech -- speaking of a laraer conflict. speech -- speaking of a larger conflict, _ conflict. speech -- speaking of a larger conflict, the _ conflict. speech -- speaking of a larger conflict, the houthis, i a larger conflict, the houthis, another group widely thought to be backed by iran. now we are seeing these attacks on ships in the red sea. what role to the houthis play and could this also be a risk towards a broader conflict in the region? absolutely and the houthis are backed by iran but they are not an iranian proxy, houthis would say the risk of an escalation to a full—scale war may actually be the greatest in the red sea because that is we have the us fleet �*s, ready to go and in full kinetic force against the houthis which would lead to an enlarging of the war. i think one thing that is often times in mr discussion of this these groups have been explicit they will cease attacks if there is a ceasefire and during the six days in november when there was a ceasefire, there was not a single attack against us troops

or bases. there were six attacks a day before but during the ceasefire it went to zero. so we have some strong evidence of a ceasefire with minimum would prevent the risk of escalation of a full—scale war in the region, and from a us national interest standpoint that has to be the number one priority, to make sure the united states does not get dragged to get another war in the middle east.— the middle east. let's talk about the _ the middle east. let's talk about the middle - the middle east. let's talk about the middle east - the middle east. let's talk about the middle east we | the middle east. let's talk - about the middle east we know the secretary of state is making another tour of the region, what you think that says what is the signal about how worried the white house might be about being dragged a little bit deeper or further into this conflict? i little bit deeper or further into this conflict?- little bit deeper or further into this conflict? i think the biden administration - into this conflict? i think the biden administration is - into this conflict? i think the biden administration is very | biden administration is very worried about the rest, they recognise that, according to the narrative the israelis were seeking to attack hezbollah after the october seven attacks but us reported that hibbert and conceded —— seceded in

convincing them to hold off. the question is not so much whether you us recognises the risk and the dangers, does, the westerners why doesn't the biden administration take the measure that is with the most effective way of preventing it which is a ceasefire. what is so useful about israel's continuing bombardment of gaza. a ceasefire with these various groups, say there is a ceasefire with hamas, that is necessarily a ceasefire with iran which you have said is backing various militant groups in the region? fin backing various militant groups in the region?— in the region? on the contrary as i mentioned _ in the region? on the contrary as i mentioned earlier - in the region? on the contrary as i mentioned earlier on - in the region? on the contrary as i mentioned earlier on on i as i mentioned earlier on on the six days there was a ceasefire these other groups also ceased their attacks, the one group that is more dicey as the houthis but we have evidence through that ceasefire there has been a deescalation of the region and the question is why is the administration resisting the most obvious and clear way of keeping the united

states out of this war.— states out of this war. quick ruestion states out of this war. quick question how _ states out of this war. quick question how many - states out of this war. quick - question how many republicans were getting into the heart of this next presidential election here, many republicans in the us have criticised the democrats, saying the biden administration and obama administration and obama administration were too soft on iran, what you make of that, has the us potentially dropped the ball here is the republicans might say? the ball here is the reublicans miaht sa ? , ., , republicans might say? tensions between us _ republicans might say? tensions between us and _ republicans might say? tensions between us and iran _ republicans might say? tensions between us and iran have - republicans might say? tensions between us and iran have been l between us and iran have been going on for years and the last couple of years they have just been increasing, the idea either side has been soft on the other, really is not compatible with reality. what it does reflect however is iran as a political football in the united states as much as the united states as much as the united dates as a political football in iran and you have a responsible, hawkish voices on both sides pushing for further escalation out of the calculation it benefits them politically, while taking very reckless risk in terms of what that will mean for the peoples

of the region, for the people of the region, for the people of the region, for the people of the united states and the people of iran if it leads to ace full—scale war. people of iran if it leads to ace full-scale war. executive vice president _ ace full-scale war. executive vice president at _ ace full-scale war. executive vice president at the - ace full-scale war. executive vice president at the quincy | vice president at the quincy institute, thank you very much for your perspective. with the conflict raging and a pressing humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region there's been less attention paid to a post—war dossier. but the military minister has outlined new chip for the governance of gaza once the war is over between israel and hamas. he said there will be limited palestinian rule in the territory as long as there is no threat to israel. our chief corresponded examines what this could mean in the weeks ahead.

israel is bowing to destroy hamas, the armed group that ran gaza for 16 years failed as a terrorist group by britain. it will govern gaza when the war ends, it is called the day after and israel has been under pressure to spell out its plans for the first time it is set out what it calls guiding principles for the future of gaza. it says it will retain overall security control even when its military operations are over. it wants a multinational task force to rebuild gaza that would be led by the us. it says scars and civil servants once not hostile to israel will run the territory. advanced neighbouring egypt to play an important role, those four points raise issues. egypt along withjordan and other arab states say they will not buy any role in hours of all israeli forces remained there. us wants the palestinian authority which runs the occupied west bank to play a role. and some regional powers say hamas must be included.

that is unacceptable for the israeli prime minister netanyahu for his right—wing coalition which keeps him in power. and some of his ministers are even calling for israel to reoccupy gaza, to push out the palestinians. america israel's most important partner will have a say, secretary of state anthony blank and is starting another visit to the region. so, the day after in gaza is deeply uncertain. and while this war goes on the main worry of most gazansis goes on the main worry of most gazans is whether they will still be alive. a special report on the israel — hamas conflict. we leave you with a live look at the gaza strip that you from southern israel where it is 530 in the morning. the big news the un calling the territory uninhabitable. stay tuned, more coming up at the top of the hour.

hello. after such a wet week, i can bring you some better news in the weekend weather forecast — because, although it will be colder, it is also going to be drier. now, not completely dry — still a few showers around, a few bits and pieces of rain, particularly as we start saturday across northern and eastern areas where we have had a fair amount of cloud. but this slice of clear sky spilling in from the west — that's been allowing temperatures to drop, with some frost and fog, and ice to start saturday morning, with so much water around. where temperatures have dropped to freezing or below, we're likely to see some ice. some of the fog could be slow to clear across parts of north west england and south west scotland. some rain persisting across the northern isles into the afternoon, this band of cloud quite persistent, as well, across eastern counties of england with a few bits and pieces of showery rain. the odd shower out west, but some sunshine to you — highs of 5—9 celsius. during saturday night, this band of cloud in eastern england will roll, i think, a little bit further westwards back into the midlands, again, could bring the odd shower. but where we keep clear, starry skies overhead, it will get cold —

a widely cold night, temperatures around or below freezing, maybe down to —a—5, or perhaps even lower than that in some parts of scotland. and then, we head into sunday with a bit of cloud, and quite a brisk wind in the south—east corner — that will provide the odd shower. but elsewhere, mainly fine conditions, some spells of sunshine, but it will feel cold — 2—6 celsius, particularly cold, actually, if any morning fog lingers for any length of time. now, as we head into monday, this area of high pressure, if anything, will be strengthening, centred across the north of the uk. quite a few isobars down to the south, though — that means some quite strong winds, and those easterly winds, combined with some quite cold air, will make for a decidedly chilly feel. so, there's brisk winds down towards the south. further north, not as windy, but we could have some persistent fog, certainly some misty, murky conditions, some sunny spells, as well. but top temperatures maybe just 2—3 celsius in parts of scotland — northern ireland, england and wales, 3—6 celsius. but, when we factor

in the strength of the wind, look at these "feels like" temperatures — this includes the wind—chill — in some places, it will feel subzero. so very chilly on monday, perhaps turning a little bit less cold as the week wears on, but staying mostly dry.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. the rohingya are often called the most persecuted minority in the world. six years ago, they had to flee their home country of myanmar after a deadly military campaign that the united states government has called a genocide. now, in the refugee camps of bangladesh, they're being murdered. hundreds have been killed by drug gangs and militants and the violence is ongoing. unhcr is paid tens of millions of dollars to run a protection programme for refugees. but with rohingya dying every week, is that protection programme working?