we cannot have protect our sailors. we cannot have a situation — protect our sailors. we cannot have a situation where _ protect our sailors. we cannot have a situation where a _ major sea route, a major ability to move _ major sea route, a major ability to move goods — major sea route, a major ability to move goods around _ we cannot have a situation - where a major sea route and major ability to move goods around the world is being _ cut off by terrorists and thugs. red alert in the red sea. rishi sunak is holding a full cabinet as we go to air, as the uk and the united states prepare to launch military strikes against the houthi rebels in yemen. we against the houthi rebels in yemen. will get reactil security we will get reaction from our security correspondent. later. also tonight, the genetic sequencing of tumours, which could yield new cancer treatments, tumours, which could yield new cancertreatments, if tumours, which could yield new cancer treatments, if you receive them in time. over the next two months many patients are awaiting treatment and we will look at what

that means. also, we are looking at artificial intelligence with al decoded. good evening to you. we are told rishi sunak is holding a full cabinet meeting as we go to air, as the uk and the united states prepared to launch military strikes against the goofy rebels in yemen. —— against the houthi rebels. grant shapps, the defence secretary, suggested yeterday that military action was imminentjust hours after us and uk destroyers in the red sea shot down a barrage of drones and missiles that were launched by the iran—backed group. the government held a cobra emergency meeting this morning, along with a meeting of the national security council. in washington the national security spokesmanjohn kirby said it cannot be allowed to continue. are there any red lines or steps that the us would not take or would not be a part of that you could outline? no. do those red lines exist or you just wouldn't outline them? to talk about ar speculate about any potential future military operations, one _

way or another, that the commander—in—chief is weighing or has weighed. we take seriously the responsibility to protect our ships and our sailors at sea, as well as the responsibility to protect the flow of international commerce. you talked to this man here about how important that waterway is. it is. it is vital. and we take those responsibilities seriouslv — i would add that we are not the only one. other nations are joining us in that effort, some 20 plus nations now— involved in operation prosperity guardian. these attacks need to stop and we are going to do what we have to to protect that shipping and protect our sailors. to do to protect that shipping and protect our sailors. the two governments have accused iran of being "heavily behind" these attacks by providing the "eyes and the ears" for the houthi missions. today 50 nautical miles off oman, iran seized a tanker. armed intruders boarded the ship, the st nicolas, reportedly wearing military style uniforms and black masks. two different areas of action

2,000 kilometres apart, but of course tightly connected. the first job, it seems, is to deal with the houthis. the former first sea lord and chief of the naval staff, admiral lord west, told the bbc that all options will be on the table. my my advice now is having made a warning, we haven't seen exactly who that warning was too, but if they continue attacks there will be a response and there should be a response, they should be very heavy and focused because there is nothing worse than threatening someone with things and then not doing it, it just becomes worse and worse. and we can't allow the houthis to just continue messing with shipping, some 40% of the world's shipping used to go down the red sea, with no response. we go down the red sea, with no resoonse-_ go down the red sea, with no response. we are going to get reaction from _ response. we are going to get reaction from our _ response. we are going to get reaction from our political - response. we are going to get l reaction from our political editor chris mason, who is with us at westminster, but let's start with our security correspondent frank gardner, who is here in the studio. as an bra lord best hasjust said, they have been warning the houthis

for several weeks now. in terms of the strategy, thanks, what will they be weighing up? this the strategy, thanks, what will they be weighing up?— be weighing up? this is a heck of a dilemma for— be weighing up? this is a heck of a dilemma for the _ be weighing up? this is a heck of a dilemma for the westie _ be weighing up? this is a heck of a dilemma for the westie because i be weighing up? this is a heck of a i dilemma for the westie because they are damned if they do and damned if they don't. if they don't do anything because all of these warnings were meant to scare the houthis into stopping their attacks, so that hasn't worked, so they don't do anything in the west looks weak. what is the point of having a great big us armada in the red sea with guided missiles destroyers and an aircraft carrier if it doesn't do anything? but if they do hit the houthi positions, which frankly i think is imminent, then there's the risk that this will be portrayed throughout the middle east as the us and britain and their alliesjoining in the gaza war israel's side. and it will be portrayed as such, people will die, almost certainly, it will be portrayed as such, people will die, almost certainty, and they will die, almost certainty, and they will be called martyrs, it will play very well domestically at home, the risk for governments in the region is this could generate popular

unrest and it could ignite and metastasise the entire middle east tension into something much bigger than schwartz. that is why they have been hesitating up until now. can than schwartz. that is why they have been hesitating up until now.- been hesitating up until now. can we talk about the _ been hesitating up until now. can we talk about the arabic _ been hesitating up until now. can we talk about the arabic countries, - been hesitating up until now. can we talk about the arabic countries, how| talk about the arabic countries, how they will view this? victory blinking has been in cairo today, rishi sunak as i understand how they call with the egyptian president. they are crucial, of course, because the ships go through the suez canal. what will the egyptians make of it first? ~ .,, what will the egyptians make of it first? ~.,, ., what will the egyptians make of it first? ~ ., ~ ., , what will the egyptians make of it first? ., ~ , first? most of the arab countries in the region. — first? most of the arab countries in the region. the _ first? most of the arab countries in the region, the government - first? most of the arab countries in the region, the government cannot stand the houthis. saudi arabia, the big neighbour to the north, has spent several years fighting a war inconclusively against them. the houthis took over yemen or most of yemen in 2014, backed by iran, they have since supplied themselves with the powerful weaponry, with missiles, drones, cruise missiles, which are now threatening shipping and that is why we are having this conversation, because they have punched way and above the beyond the

borders of their country, which is the poorest arab nation, but they are being supplied by iran and they position and themselves as champions of the cause, which is playing very well there, which is why this is so dangerous for the west. thea;e well there, which is why this is so dangerous for the west.— well there, which is why this is so dangerous for the west. they are not a state actor. — dangerous for the west. they are not a state actor, the _ dangerous for the west. they are not a state actor, the houthis, _ dangerous for the west. they are not a state actor, the houthis, but - dangerous for the west. they are not a state actor, the houthis, but they i a state actor, the houthis, but they are no mugs that have been taking on saudi arabia for years now. what sort of things will be alliance be focusing on?— sort of things will be alliance be focusing on? you're talking about the targeting. _ focusing on? you're talking about the targeting, that _ focusing on? you're talking about the targeting, that can _ focusing on? you're talking about the targeting, that can be - focusing on? you're talking about the targeting, that can be drawn l focusing on? you're talking about l the targeting, that can be drawn up by central command, the part of us defence that deals with the middle east. their headquarters are in tampa, they will have drawn up a number of multiple target sets, ranging from ones with minimum casualties, and i think it is most likely that if a strike goes in, it would be very limited. they will be looking to do the minimum amount of damage in terms of human casualties. they will be looking to destroy boats, weapon supplies, missiles, spare parts, warehouses, that kind

of thing. if the houthis persist in their attacks, then i would expect them to move on to command and control centres in something bigger. so there will be a calculated, graded response. just so there will be a calculated, graded response.— so there will be a calculated, graded response. just a final word on iran, graded response. just a final word on iran. in — graded response. just a final word on iran, in respect— graded response. just a final word on iran, in respect of— graded response. just a final word on iran, in respect of the - graded response. just a final word on iran, in respect of the ships - on iran, in respect of the ships that have been taken today, i understand that this ship had been subject of sort of sanctions enforcement operations, so, which the us had led, so was this a tit—for—tat operation? the us had led, so was this a tit-for-tat operation? exactly that, the ship was _ tit-for-tat operation? exactly that, the ship was carrying _ tit-for-tat operation? exactly that, the ship was carrying 145,000 - tit-for-tat operation? exactly that, i the ship was carrying 145,000 tonnes of fuel oilfrom basrah, crude oil, rather, from basrah in iraqi on its way to turkey. the same ship was impounded last year by the us, carrying 1 million barrels of oil, because the us accused the ship and iran of smuggling oil to china against sanctions. so this was a tit—for—tat by iran, they say it is

a judicial decision. tit—for—tat by iran, they say it is ajudicial decision. i tit—for—tat by iran, they say it is a judicial decision. i don't think the us is going to want to deal with this right now. the fifth fleet did not react to this. the ship is currently in an iranian port. the crew are a filipino and one greek, and they have part of that problem. right now the immediate problem is the houthis in the red sea, which is driving up commodity prices, forcing ships to travel all the way round the far side of africa, putting ten days onto the trip and adding $2 million each time, so we have to deal with it one way or the other, if the houthis went back down. that brin . s if the houthis went back down. that brinus us if the houthis went back down. that brings us to — if the houthis went back down. that brings us to the _ if the houthis went back down. that brings us to the politics, frank gardner, thank you very much indeed. let's bring in our political editor, chris mason, who has been patiently waiting. what are you hearing tonight about the plans are being set out? let tonight about the plans are being set out? , ., ., ., set out? let me you through what we know in factual _ set out? let me you through what we know in factual terms _ set out? let me you through what we know in factual terms and _ set out? let me you through what we know in factual terms and then - set out? let me you through what we know in factual terms and then what l know in factual terms and then what i think_ know in factual terms and then what i think it _ know in factual terms and then what i think it is _ know in factual terms and then what i think it is reasonable to deduce from _ i think it is reasonable to deduce from what — i think it is reasonable to deduce from what we know factually. my understanding is that around about now, _ understanding is that around about now. in— understanding is that around about now, in fact, in the last 20 minutes or so, _ now, in fact, in the last 20 minutes or so, the _ now, in fact, in the last 20 minutes or so, the prime minister, rishi

sunak. — or so, the prime minister, rishi sunak, held a conference call for his cabinet— sunak, held a conference call for his cabinet and there was a briefing there _ his cabinet and there was a briefing there relating to the imminent prospect— there relating to the imminent prospect of the uk being involved in a military— prospect of the uk being involved in a military response, military strikes — a military response, military strikes against the houthis. what is happening — strikes against the houthis. what is happening right now and has been happening right now and has been happening injust the last couple of minutes, _ happening injust the last couple of minutes, as we were listening to frank— minutes, as we were listening to frank fair, — minutes, as we were listening to frank fair, is that other senior parliamentarians are being called in to government to be briefed. the speaker— to government to be briefed. the speaker of— to government to be briefed. the speaker of the house of commons, sir lindsay— speaker of the house of commons, sir lindsay hoyle, my understanding is also that— lindsay hoyle, my understanding is also that sir keir starmer, the labour— also that sir keir starmer, the labour leader, and john healey, the shadow— labour leader, and john healey, the shadow defence secretary, have also been called in. what can we read into this? — been called in. what can we read into this? we can read into this that— into this? we can read into this that it — into this? we can read into this that it is — into this? we can read into this that it is convention and it is entirely— that it is convention and it is entirely within the prerogative of the british government to embark upon _ the british government to embark upon military action, that it deems to be _ upon military action, that it deems to be necessary and should happen imminently, without consulting parliament, but it has become

convention too often to that. in what _ convention too often to that. in what we — convention too often to that. in what we are seeing this evening, it would _ what we are seeing this evening, it would appear there is a desire on the uk _ would appear there is a desire on the uk government's part, and here i am extrapolating a little bit the basis _ am extrapolating a little bit the basis of— am extrapolating a little bit the basis of the facts as we know them, that they— basis of the facts as we know them, that they want to briefly leader of the opposition, they want to brief the opposition, they want to brief the speaker of the house of commons, in lieu _ the speaker of the house of commons, in lieu of— the speaker of the house of commons, in lieu of being able to do anything more _ in lieu of being able to do anything more substantive with parliament prior to _ more substantive with parliament prior to what looks like the prospect of some sort of imminent strike _ prospect of some sort of imminent strike as — prospect of some sort of imminent strike as i — prospect of some sort of imminent strike. as i say, you heard my assembly— strike. as i say, you heard my assembly of the facts there and then from that— assembly of the facts there and then from that an extension into where we might— from that an extension into where we might be _ from that an extension into where we might be heading, on the basis of the choreography we are seeing play out at _ the choreography we are seeing play out at westminster in the last hour. frank— out at westminster in the last hour. frank touched on the problem that is therefore commercial shipping, going round the cape of hope, and it puts an extra 12 or 14 days on the trip, it is more expensive for insurance and the governor of the bank of england yesterday mentioned that possibly it could cause a new

inflationary shock to our economies, just at the very time that the prime minister is starting to point to inflation coming down?- minister is starting to point to inflation coming down? yes, so i think the bigger _ inflation coming down? yes, so i think the bigger picture - inflation coming down? yes, so i think the bigger picture here - inflation coming down? yes, so i think the bigger picture here in l inflation coming down? yes, so i think the bigger picture here in aj think the bigger picture here in a uk context is one where we have seen first the _ uk context is one where we have seen first the pandemic, then the war in ukraine, _ first the pandemic, then the war in ukraine, then the israel — gaza conflict — ukraine, then the israel — gaza conflict and then the prospect, the fear of— conflict and then the prospect, the fear of an— conflict and then the prospect, the fear of an escalation into a wider regional— fear of an escalation into a wider regional conflict. we have already seen _ regional conflict. we have already seen the — regional conflict. we have already seen the concerns and the pressures on commercial shipping in the red sea. _ on commercial shipping in the red sea. which — on commercial shipping in the red sea, which has seen a good number of shipping _ sea, which has seen a good number of shipping operators divert via a much more _ shipping operators divert via a much more circuitous route, as you are referring — more circuitous route, as you are referring to — more circuitous route, as you are referring to there. and the concern, expressed _ referring to there. and the concern, expressed by the governor of the bank— expressed by the governor of the bank of— expressed by the governor of the bank of england and others, that, were _ bank of england and others, that, were things to escalate in the red sea, where we to see you far more shipping _ sea, where we to see you far more shipping having to go all the way round _ shipping having to go all the way round africa, then that would

obviously _ round africa, then that would obviously be a concern. what knock-on _ obviously be a concern. what knock—on confidence could there be? and again. _ knock—on confidence could there be? and again, we are extrapolating here. _ and again, we are extrapolating here. but— and again, we are extrapolating here. but i_ and again, we are extrapolating here, but i don't think it is an unreasonable extrapolation, around potential _ unreasonable extrapolation, around potential oil prices, for instance, there _ potential oil prices, for instance, there is— potential oil prices, for instance, there is clearly concern about the ramifications this could have. but let's return — ramifications this could have. but let's return to the here and now, christian. — let's return to the here and now, christian, and what we know because there _ christian, and what we know because there is— christian, and what we know because there is another thing that we know, you were _ there is another thing that we know, you were touching on it a few moments _ you were touching on it a few moments ago with frank. the defence secretary— moments ago with frank. the defence secretary grant shapps just yesterday was talking about, when asked _ yesterday was talking about, when asked about the potential prospect of imminent western military strikes on houthi _ of imminent western military strikes on houthi targets, to quote, watch this space — on houthi targets, to quote, watch this space. which implied the prospect— this space. which implied the prospect that something might be relatively imminent. politicians particularly defence secretaries are school _ particularly defence secretaries are school and — particularly defence secretaries are school and being very careful in what _ school and being very careful in what they— school and being very careful in what they utter out loud and in ducking — what they utter out loud and in ducking questions they would rather not engage with. mr grant shapps did

engage _ not engage with. mr grant shapps did engage with that, said out loud what was at _ engage with that, said out loud what was at least a potential relatively imminent— was at least a potential relatively imminent prospect and tonight there is the _ imminent prospect and tonight there is the beginnings of evidence that the imminence of that has been fast forwarded _ the imminence of that has been fast forwarded and could come very soon. just forwarded and could come very soon. just quickly. — forwarded and could come very soon. just quickly, in terms of protocol, chris, obviously the us is the bigger power here, they will lead, the pentagon will take the decisions, but there is a slight fly in the ointment and that is that the secretary of defence, lloyd austin, has been out of the picture, he has been treated for prostate cancer in hospital in washington. is there any suggestion that actually, given we have been talking about this for several days now, that that might have held things up, as it held discussions between the two countries?— discussions between the two countries? , , , , . countries? there is every prospect it could have _ countries? there is every prospect it could have contributed - countries? there is every prospect it could have contributed to - countries? there is every prospect it could have contributed to it. - it could have contributed to it. what — it could have contributed to it. what i — it could have contributed to it. what i am _ it could have contributed to it. what i am struck by right now, as we are talking. — what i am struck by right now, as we are talking, is that what we are seeing — are talking, is that what we are seeing and the noises i am hearing from _ seeing and the noises i am hearing from sources here in westminster appear— from sources here in westminster appear to — from sources here in westminster appear to be, from sources here in westminster appearto be, at from sources here in westminster appear to be, at this stage, more advanced — appear to be, at this stage, more advanced than the equivalent in

washington. now, the conversation will be _ washington. now, the conversation will be very— washington. now, the conversation will be very live between london and washington, of course it will, in this kind — washington, of course it will, in this kind of— washington, of course it will, in this kind of situation, but as things— this kind of situation, but as things stand, 8:15pm in the evening uk time. _ things stand, 8:15pm in the evening uk time, the emerging picture from here. _ uk time, the emerging picture from here. the _ uk time, the emerging picture from here, the emerging choreography, such as _ here, the emerging choreography, such as we — here, the emerging choreography, such as we can see it, suggests that the uk _ such as we can see it, suggests that the uk is _ such as we can see it, suggests that the uk is that bit further advanced. speaking _ the uk is that bit further advanced. speaking to colleagues in washington, that seems to match with their interpretation of what they are seeing there. let's see how the coming _ are seeing there. let's see how the coming hours play out and crucially, what we _ coming hours play out and crucially, what we hear from some of those opposition— what we hear from some of those opposition voices and others as they emerge _ opposition voices and others as they emerge from their meeting and indeed from other— emerge from their meeting and indeed from other government sources, once the cabinet _ from other government sources, once the cabinet meeting is concluded, which _ the cabinet meeting is concluded, which it— the cabinet meeting is concluded, which it would appear it as, to see what _ which it would appear it as, to see what might— which it would appear it as, to see what might happen and when. but meetings — what might happen and when. but meetings like this, let's be absolutely clear, meetings like this. _ absolutely clear, meetings like this, emergency cabinets conference calls followed by the summoning of senior— calls followed by the summoning of senior opposition leaders and the speaker— senior opposition leaders and the speaker of the house of commons,

happen— speaker of the house of commons, happen very, very rarely indeed and are usually— happen very, very rarely indeed and are usually prior to the expectation that the _ are usually prior to the expectation that the government might be willing to take _ that the government might be willing to take military action relatively soon~ _ to take military action relatively soon. that doesn't mean it will, but it means _ soon. that doesn't mean it will, but it means that usually in scenarios like this— it means that usually in scenarios like this it — it means that usually in scenarios like this it is expected to pretty soon _ like this it is expected to pretty soon. . . . like this it is expected to pretty soon, ., ., , , like this it is expected to pretty soon. . . , , soon. that cabinet meeting is coming to an end. soon. that cabinet meeting is coming to an end- we — soon. that cabinet meeting is coming to an end. we will _ soon. that cabinet meeting is coming to an end. we will let _ soon. that cabinet meeting is coming to an end. we will let you _ soon. that cabinet meeting is coming to an end. we will let you go - soon. that cabinet meeting is coming to an end. we will let you go away, . to an end. we will let you go away, chris, and get some reaction from it. thank you very much for your time. as chris said, things seem to be moving a little quicker beside than in the united states, but we are very closely watching a pentagon briefing under way right now i'd be we get any further detail from them we get any further detail from them we will bring that to you. around the world and across the uk, we were watching bbc news. —— you are watching bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. petrol prices have fallen to the lowest level since october 2021, new figures show. the aa said the average price for a litre of the fuel fell below £1.40 for the first time since october 2021.

the uk government is planning the biggest expansion of its nuclear power industry in 70 years. a new nuclear plant would quadruple supplies by 2050, which the government claims would lower bills and improve energy security. nuclear power currently provides around 15% of the uk's electricity, but many of the country's ageing reactors are due to be decommissioned over the next decade. researchers at oxford university say the death rate among pregnant women and new mothers rose during the pandemic to its highest level in nearly two decades. the department of health says, "last year, nhs england published a three—year plan to make maternity and neonatal care safer". blood clots in the veins was the most common cause of death, with heart disease and mental health also common. you're watching bbc news. a team of lawyers representing

the south african government has presented evidence to the united nations highest court today, alleging that israel's offensive in gaza amounts to genocide. on the first of two days of hearings at the international court ofjustice, the south africans said israel's offensive, which since october, has demolished much of the gaza strip, killing more than 23,000 people, was designed to bring about "the destruction of the population". the international community continues to fail the palestinian people, despite the overt, dehumanizing, genocidal rhetoric by israeli governmental and military officials, matched by the israeli army's actions on the ground. the case for the defence will be presented tomorrow. the israeli president has condemned the south african case as atrocious and preposterous. the united states has registered its opposition to the case. in a press briefing last week the us security counciljohn kirby called the submission emeritus,

counter—productive and completely without any basis. is it does south africa have a case? that speaks to... let's speak to oona hathaway, a professor of international law at yale law school. what did you make of the presentation today? it what did you make of the presentation today? it was very powerful. _ presentation today? it was very powerful. they _ presentation today? it was very powerful, they really _ presentation today? it was very powerful, they really put - presentation today? it was very powerful, they really put a - presentation today? it was very | powerful, they really put a good case out, laying out the details of the argument that they made first in a written application that was over 80 pages that lays out the case. there is, in fact, both genocide and incitement to genocide and they mixed the sort of dry, legal argument with some visual, elements of a kind of show, the terrible situation taking place in gaza and they really tried to make the case and i think made a powerful case that there is at least enough here for the court to order a provisional measures. for the court to order a provisional measures-— for the court to order a provisional measures. . ., ., , , ., ., ., measures. what does israel have to do tomorrow _ measures. what does israel have to do tomorrow in _ measures. what does israel have to do tomorrow in their— measures. what does israel have to

do tomorrow in their defence? - measures. what does israel have to i do tomorrow in their defence? while, the are do tomorrow in their defence? while, they are going — do tomorrow in their defence? while, they are going to _ do tomorrow in their defence? while, they are going to have _ do tomorrow in their defence? while, they are going to have to _ do tomorrow in their defence? while, they are going to have to show - do tomorrow in their defence? while, they are going to have to show that l they are going to have to show that there is not enough here for the court to determine that there is what we call a prima facie case. so basically that there hasn't really been enough here to establish a possibility that there is violation of the genocide convention. for genocide, you have to not only establish that there are genocidal acts taking place, but you also have to show specific intent, that is, you have to show show that those acts were taken with a specific intent to destroy a group, here the palestinians, in whole or in parts. and south africa laid out their case today, explaining why they think that in fact this specific intent is met. i think we will see that really be the target of the argument tomorrow from israel, suggesting that yes, of course, there is no denying the fact that people have been killed, but they are going to argue this is a legitimate act of self defence in response to an attack by hamas and on israel, and

an ongoing threat of attack to israel, and while they are doing everything they can, they will argue, to avoid civilian deaths, thatis argue, to avoid civilian deaths, that is impossible, but what they are doing is carrying out a legitimate military operation and there is no specific intent to commit genocide. i imagine that'll be the argument they will make tomorrow. . , be the argument they will make tomorrow-— tomorrow. certainly watch developments _ tomorrow. certainly watch developments in - tomorrow. certainly watch developments in that - tomorrow. certainly watch | developments in that case. tomorrow. certainly watch - developments in that case. oona hathaway, thank you very much for that. the us secretary of state antony blinken arrived in cairo today for a new round of talks on a possible prisoner swap. egypt, qatar and the us have served as mediators between israel and hamas. around half the captives taken by hamas were released in november, in exchange for some of their captives. but since then efforts to negotiate another round of exchanges has failed. this week secretary blinken met with families of the american hostages in tel aviv, to reassure them that bringing them home was still the administration's top priority. well, earlier today the hostage families held an event at the gaza border near khan yunis,

equipped with loudspeakers to shout to their loved ones, in hopes of being heard. there are still136 hostages that are being held, among them this woman. she is 39, an occupational therapist from tel aviv. she was visiting her parents in a kibbutz on october seven when the mass attack killed her mother. her cousin is with us tonight. thank you very much for coming on the programme. tell me about your cousin. have you muted yourself? on your nude? flan about your cousin. have you muted yourself? on your nude?— about your cousin. have you muted yourself? on your nude? can you hear me? yes, yourself? on your nude? can you hear me? yes. tell— yourself? on your nude? can you hear me? yes, tell me _ yourself? on your nude? can you hear me? yes, tell me about _ yourself? on your nude? can you hear me? yes, tell me about carmel. - yourself? on your nude? can you hear me? yes, tell me about carmel. good evenin: , me? yes, tell me about carmel. good evening. this — me? yes, tell me about carmel. good evening. this is _ me? yes, tell me about carmel. good evening, this is my _ me? yes, tell me about carmel. good evening, this is my cousin, _ me? yes, tell me about carmel. good evening, this is my cousin, carmel, i evening, this is my cousin, carmel, she is 39 years old, an occupational therapist, a peace—loving person and we are really hopeful that we will see her with us at home when there was the last ceasefire, but then it collapsed, the deal collapsed and

she is still there and as we understand right now, there are crimes against humanity being committed right now on the hostages. we are talking about sexual assault, we are talking about torture, we are talking about anything you can imagine being done on innocent people held by a terrorist group and we are very worried about the fact that she is still there and we really want to get her back home. i think once we get the hostages back home, this war could stop. the traced home, this war could stop. the tragedy of _ home, this war could stop. the tragedy of this, _ home, this war could stop. the tragedy of this, as _ home, this war could stop. the tragedy of this, as you say, she was on the final list, which had seven names on it and then three bodies and it was rejected by the israeli government because they wanted ten more hostages and the fighting resumed. i’m more hostages and the fighting resumed. �* , ., ., more hostages and the fighting resumed. , ., ., , resumed. i'm sorry, i am not sure that this is — resumed. i'm sorry, i am not sure that this is the — resumed. i'm sorry, i am not sure that this is the case. _ resumed. i'm sorry, i am not sure that this is the case. i'm - resumed. i'm sorry, i am not sure that this is the case. i'm not - resumed. i'm sorry, i am not sure that this is the case. i'm not sure | that this is the case. i'm not sure if the israeli government was the one that didn't want to receive the offer or that part of the deal, but we know that hamas did not comply with the terms of the deal at all in

the first few days and they tried to explain that they don't have the women or anything. i don't see why you have to take the side of hamas all the time. what we see here is a terrorist organisation that used psychological warfare, psychological terror against us and told us that israel rejected the offer. i can't believe this, i don't believe this... ., . ~' believe this, i don't believe this... ., .,~ believe this, i don't believe this... ., this... know, take your point, lease this... know, take your point, please don't _ this... know, take your point, please don't think _ this... know, take your point, please don't think i _ this... know, take your point, please don't think i am - this... know, take your point, please don't think i am taking j this... know, take your point, - please don't think i am taking the side of hamas, i am certainly not, i wanted to impress on our viewers, really, what carmel gat will be going through. i mean, i have seen the pictures of this tunnel network. i presume she will know that her mother is dead and yet, for three months she has been underground, unable to grieve, in fear of her life. it is an intolerable situation for any human being to be in. that's ritht, that for any human being to be in. that's right. that is — for any human being to be in. that's right, that is right. _ for any human being to be in. that's right, that is right. we _ for any human being to be in. that�*s right, that is right. we understand that she knows her mother is dead, but she doesn't know anything about anyone else in the family, she doesn't know about the fact that her brother survived or that her father

survived. we really hope that she could hear some news from us, knowing that we tried to do anything to get her back, but we can't really be sure. and we tried not to think about what is happening to her, but how can you? how can you when you hear the testimony is? and the facts about what is actually happening right now in gaza? you can't not think about this. and we have to make it stop. i have heard the talks about you calling it a prisoner swap between israel and hamas. it is not a prisoner swap because she is not a prisoner. she is a hostage. just tuickl prisoner. she is a hostage. just quickly because _ prisoner. she is a hostage. just quickly because i _ prisoner. she is a hostage. just quickly because i am really tight for time, quickly because i am really tight fortime, butjust quickly because i am really tight for time, butjust quickly, there was some reporting that document she is a therapist, of course, she does yoga. there are children that are still being held by hamas and reportedly she was doing yoga with the children that were being held? yes, yes, she was with them, they were practising yoga together, it was a way for her to keep strong for them and to keep them strong, and i think we should all look at this and

see the kinds of people that hamas is holding right now is not any kind of prisoners. it is just innocent people, it could have been you and me there, just the same. she was in the wrong place at the right time. she shouldn't be there in gaza, she should be here with us and i think it is not in israel — gaza conflict, it is not in israel — gaza conflict, it is not in israel — gaza conflict, it is a life and death conflict. you should be on the right side of this, be on the side of life, get them back home and then you can get the ceasefire. . . back home and then you can get the ceasefire. , ., ., ., ,, ., ceasefire. yes, i want to talk more, but i ceasefire. yes, i want to talk more, but i want — ceasefire. yes, i want to talk more, but i want to _ ceasefire. yes, i want to talk more, but i want to say — ceasefire. yes, i want to talk more, but i want to say goodbye _ ceasefire. yes, i want to talk more, but i want to say goodbye to - ceasefire. yes, i want to talk more, but i want to say goodbye to our. but i want to say goodbye to our viewers on pbs. thank you for watching bbc news. gil dickmann, let's continue our conversation. what i was trying to get to the heart of is how you feel about the negotiation and whether you, let's set hamas aside from this, i want to know whether you think all the parties involved in this are doing enough to get the hostages out or do you think they are being forgotten? the focus on the aid operation and on the trauma that a lot of

palestinians are going through, which is real. rb hostages being forgotten? i which is real. rb hostages being fortotten? .. which is real. rb hostages being fortotten? .,, ., , which is real. rb hostages being fortotten? ., , ., ., forgotten? i was actually afraid that they were _ forgotten? i was actually afraid that they were for _ forgotten? i was actually afraid that they were for a _ forgotten? i was actually afraid that they were for a few - forgotten? i was actually afraid that they were for a few days i forgotten? i was actually afraid | that they were for a few days or even for a few weeks, we were told to stay silent and let the negotiations you know continue, but they are not here and it is almost 100 days, so we were very, very much, we were very worried and very afraid that they had been forgotten. we tried to put the focus and put the spotlight on their stories and on the fact that they are there and that they are alive. and i think that they are alive. and i think that right now, the israeli government is doing whatever it can. it finally put the focus on what actually matters and what matters is getting the hostages back. this is why the war started in the first place, because we were infiltrated by a terror organisation and they took so many of our family members hostage. i think that right now many people in israel understand that the most important thing is to get the

hostages back and then you can treat all the other things, you can treat the annihilation of hamas, which is very important, but first of all get the hostages back home and then you can get a ceasefire. flan the hostages back home and then you can get a ceasefire.— can get a ceasefire. can you give us information — can get a ceasefire. can you give us information about _ can get a ceasefire. can you give us information about carmel— can get a ceasefire. can you give us information about carmel gat's - information about carmel gat's mother and what has happened to her? she was actually in the same house where carmel gat was staying because she came to visit her parents. she was the first want to see the terrorists and she told her husband, should, they are coming, he went back and locked himself in the bathroom, he saved his own life, but her mother was taken, we actually saw a video. hamas was bragging about this, they were posting videos of her being led throughout the kibbutz and 36 hours later i found another video showing her brutally murdered a few metres from her house. cold—blooded, without any reason whatsoever, maybe because the car didn't come to pick her up and

to kidnap her. that is why she was killed. i don't want to see more hostages be executed or killed in captivity. what we want to see is all the hostages coming back home and actually all innocent civilians coming back home to the gaza strip. i don't want to see war, i don't want to see revenge on any sides of the border. what i want to see is life coming back to the middle east and specifically of course my cousin, back home. gill. and specifically of course my cousin, back home.- and specifically of course my cousin, back home. . ., ., , cousin, back home. gil, our thoughts are with you — cousin, back home. gil, our thoughts are with you and _ cousin, back home. gil, our thoughts are with you and obviously _ cousin, back home. gil, our thoughts are with you and obviously with - are with you and obviously with carmel gat, doo, the koga programme again, thank you very much. —— do come on the programme again. we'll be back shortly, thank you.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. donald trump speaks out — saying he's done nothing wrong — on the final day of a civil fraud trial in new york.

full if you are justjoining us this hour, let me bring up to speed, fast—moving events in downing street, that cabinet—making hasjust wrapped up as the uk and united states are prepared to launch military strikes against the who the rebels in yemen. just hours after us and uk shut down missiles and drones by that iran backed group. along with a meeting of the national security council and chris mason our political editor has been telling us in the last few minutes that rishi sunak has spoken to the leader of the opposition and has informed the speaker in the house of commons which does tend to suggest that things are imminent. we are watching events of the pentagon as well, not

much reaction thus far in the united