of genocide brought by south africa. and rishi sunak makes a suprise visit to kyiv — as the uk announces its £2.5 billion aid package for ukraine. hello, i'm lucy grey. let me take you straight to these live pictures from the hague, where the united nations�* highest court is about to start hearing israel's response to south africa's allegations that it's committing genocide in gaza. it's the second and final day of hearings at the international court ofjustice. south africa is asking the icj to issue an injunction to stop israel's military campaign and protect the palestinian people.

israel is expected to argue it's acting in self defence in accordance with international humanitarian law. on thursday, south africa accused the highest levels of the israeli state of nurturing genocidal intent against palestinians in gaza. israel is expected to say statements by senior israeli politicians — referenced by south africa — have been misinterpreted or taken out of context. will bring you all the latest from there as we get it. iran and russia have condemned the military strikes carried out by the uk and the us against houthi rebels in yemen, and china has expressed concern. the attacks are in response to the houthis, backed by iran, attacking israeli and commercial ships passing through the red sea in protest at israel's military operation in gaza. these pictures are from the uk's

ministry of defence. this is the moment royal air force jets took off from cyprus, to carry out strikes on two houthi targets in yemen. other aircraft, ships, and a submarine were also involved in operations. the us says it hit more than 12 sites, including in the yemeni capital of sanaa and the city of hudaydah, a red sea port controlled by the houthis. president biden released a statement shortly afterwards saying... british prime minister rishi sunak addressed the attacks by houthis, saying...

the houthis spokesman has also responded. he said... our reporter louisa pilbeam has more details. uk fighterjets launched their attacks on yemen from an raf base in cyprus overnight, directed by the prime minister tojoin us planes striking yemeni rebel targets. the results were captured on houthi television, showing these explosions and reporting significant damage in cities, including the capital, sanaa. yemen's houthi rebels are a tribal mountain militia that controls much

of yemen and its red sea coast. they've declared their support for hamas in gaza, and since november they've been attacking ships in the red sea. britain, the us and un have all demanded a stop to the attacks. the uk government say they've been forced to act after giving repeated warnings. we cannot have a situation where a major sea route, a major ability to move goods around the world, is being cut off by terrorists and thugs, and we therefore must act. this was a houthi helicopter raid on a container ship in november, seizing the vessel and its crew and steering it back to yemen. the rebels have defied all warnings to stop targeting shipping. their attacks are having a global effect. around 15% of world trade passes through the nearby bab el—mandab strait. but now major shipping companies like bp and maersk are having to avoid the red sea altogether. they're re—routing around the far side of africa, adding days to the journey,

and driving up costs in europe and elsewhere. the ministry of defence said the bombings followed houthi attacks on the hms diamond and us navy vessels on tuesday. in a statement, prime minister rishi sunak said the uk stands up for freedom and the free flow of trade, adding that the strikes were limited and necessary. the us presidentjoe biden said the strikes were in direct response —— this morning, us central command released this footage of military planes taking off from an aircraft carrier at sea. the us presidentjoe biden said the strikes were in direct response to unprecedented houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the red sea. the houthis, helped by iran, have plenty more missiles and have vowed to use them, which is why the us and uk say they must now bear the consequences. louisa pilbeam, bbc news.

what has been the reaction to all of this in the region? there is a big fear about escalation, isn't there? that is right, it has been linked to the possibilities of regional escalation in the war in gaza. israel has not formally commented on what is happening but we have had hamas say that the us and the uk will bear responsibility for those strikes, for the impact on the security of the middle east. they have strongly condemned the strikes as well. otherwise, the saudis have been commenting and they have warned about the possibility of an escalation here. they said they are monitoring things very closely, that they are gravely concerned. of course, in recent months, the saudis have been involved in peace talks

with the houthis, saudi arabia neighbours of yemen, where they are based. neighbours of yemen, where they are based, , ., neighbours of yemen, where they are based. , ., ., , ., based. some strong words from the houthis in terms _ based. some strong words from the houthis in terms of— based. some strong words from the houthis in terms of what _ based. some strong words from the houthis in terms of what might - houthis in terms of what might happen next, in terms of what they have said, they have said the us and uk will pay a heavy price for this blatant aggression. can you just explain first of all what the objective is of the houthi bell in terms of the attacks in the red sea? is it purely that they are trying to show their support for hamas? the? show their support for hamas? they are t in: show their support for hamas? they are trying to — show their support for hamas? they are trying to show _ show their support for hamas? tie: are trying to show their support show their support for hamas? tie1: are trying to show their support for hamas, they are backed by iran, as is hamas, and other organisations, armed organisations around the region. going back years, now, mass rallies where the houthi bell have called for, one of their official slogans is death to america and death to israel, they will say that when they having rallies but until

the war in gaza, we have not really seen any direct confrontation between the houthis, based in yemen, and israel itself. in the early days of the military offensive by israel, drones and missiles were being fired by the houthi pole towards the red sea, towards the red resort of eilat and they were intercepted by israeli warplanes and its arrow missile defence system which was used operationally for the first time here. but then the houthistarted to say that any ships that they saw as being linked to israel or heading to israeli port were for their legitimate targets because of the ongoing war, although many of the attacks that we have seen by the houthis on commercial shipping vessels, of course, so much international concern, don't appear to have had any actual link to israel. . ~ to have had any actual link to israel. ., ~ , ., ., israel. 0k, thank you for the moment — israel. 0k, thank you for the moment. bear _ israel. 0k, thank you for the moment. bear with - israel. 0k, thank you for the moment. bear with us. - israel. 0k, thank you for the moment. bear with us. we l israel. 0k, thank you for the l moment. bear with us. we are israel. 0k, thank you for the - moment. bear with us. we are going to the hate and the international court ofjustice.

the proceedings are getting under way,. yesterday we had four mice for the south african government saying that israel's military offensive amounts to genocide. let's listen in. persons with disabilities and holocaust survivors, some of them have been executed, many of whom have been executed, many of whom have been executed, many of whom have been tortured, sexually abused, and starved in captivity. representatives of the hostages�* families are in this courtroom today and we acknowledge their presence and we acknowledge their presence and their boundless suffering. we know of the brutality of the 7th of october, not only from the harrowing testimonies of the survivors, the unmistakable proof of carnage and sadism left behind, and the forensic evidence taken at the scene. we know it because the assailants proudly

filmed and broadcast their barbarism. the events of that day are all but ignored in the applicants�* submissions. but we are compelled to share with the court some fraction of its horror, the largest calculated mass murder of jew pole in a single day since the holocaust. we do because these acts, no matter how systematic, relieve israel of its obligations to uphold the law as it defends its citizens and territory. that is unquestionable. we do so because it is impossible to understand the armed conflict in gaza without appreciating the nature of the threat that israel is facing, and the brutality and lawlessness of the armed force confronting it. in the volume of materials submitted to members of the court, access has

been provided to a portion of the raw footage for separate screening. but i am obliged to put before the court today some small fragment of the scenes of unfathomable cruelty that took place in hundreds of locations on that horrible day. a wheat farmer and his wife, an activist for women�*s rights, lived in kibbutz nir oz. that activist for women's rights, lived in kibbutz nir oz.— in kibbutz nir oz. that is the israeli defence, _ in kibbutz nir oz. that is the israeli defence, the - in kibbutz nir oz. that is the - israeli defence, the proceedings just getting under way at the international court ofjustice, two days of hearings going on. we will keep listening in and bring you a summary of events as we get them. let�*s go back to yolande knell because we were talking to her in jerusalem about these attacks in yemen by the us and the uk and the reaction that there has been in the area and of course, the concerns about these attacks and what they could lead to, and as we were

saying, the houthi pole are backed by iran, as are botha and hamas. concerns about a wider concern about what that could entail and the fact that —— as our hezbollah and hamas. and the houthi pole is us and uk could expect more in terms of the attack on red sea ships. the? could expect more in terms of the attack on red sea ships. they said there was no _ attack on red sea ships. they said there was no justification - attack on red sea ships. they said there was no justification for - attack on red sea ships. they said there was no justification for the i there was no justification for the air strikes that were carried out and they were not in any way prevented from continuing with their attacks on commercial shipping. of course, to remind people that these attacks have led to many international shipping companies directing their roots. they are no longer using the red sea, going through the suez canal, the shortest, preferred route for many going between east and west. instead, they are taking a much longer route going all around the horn of africa so they can make journeys. it is having a big impact therefore on global trade, even the security of global food supplies is

being pointed to. that is why we have had in the last week the un security council discussing this issue, coming out with a resolution calling for a stop to these attacks by houthi rebels. but at the moment, i think the concern will be that what has happened overnight may not have deterred the houthis and other iran backed groups, that they could actually exacerbate the conflict that we have mincing in the region. if i can ask about what is going on in the hague as well, we just dipped into the start of today�*s proceedings, israel�*s defence. we heard yesterday from south africa, talking about the genocidal intent when it came to senior israelis. can you remind us a bit about what was said yesterday from the south african side?— said yesterday from the south african side? , h, african side? yes, indeed, so the claim is really— african side? yes, indeed, so the claim is really that _ african side? yes, indeed, so the claim is really that the _ african side? yes, indeed, so the claim is really that the scale - african side? yes, indeed, so the claim is really that the scale of i claim is really that the scale of the killings of people in gaza,

which includes so many civilians, more than 23,000 people now killed, according to local health officials, including most of them women and children, that this, along with some of the statements that have been made by israeli leaders about their intent in gaza following the deadly attacks of the 7th of october, amounts to genocide. there has been caused by south africa —— has been calls by south africa for interventions by the court. it could ask for a halt to the fighting in gaza. it could come out with other suggestions, for example, that there should be an independent inquiry about what is going on, there should be an increase in aid going into gaza. really, that is very much being looked to by the palestinians in particular, who are really hoping that this could lead to an end to the fighting. israel has rejected those claims of genocide as being

hypocrisy and lies. the prime minister came out last night and said this was an indication that the world was upside down, that israel was being accused of genocide at a time when it was fighting genocide. what we are expecting from the israeli case is for them to come out saying this was not a war they wanted, it was a case of self—defence, that hamas launched no surprise cross—border attacks three months ago. it�*s —— launched those surprise cross—border attacks. its legal team will answer that the gaza siblings are not deliberately targeted by israel but hamas puts them in harms way because hamas has located many of its fighters and many of its tunnels and bases close to or underneath hospitals, schools, un facilities and the like. also, they will say that israel has been warning civilians that they should leave dangerous combat zones. we have seen that in recent days, when it has identified small areas,

telling people to flee from those. of telling people to flee from those. of course, the criticism that we have had even in the past couple of days from the united nations is, as people are continuing to flee fighting in the centre and south of the gaza strip, they are going to cities where there are also israeli air strikes taking place and we have seen that overnight, nine people said to have been killed in a house in rafah, for example.— said to have been killed in a house in rafah, for example. thank you for “oininu us. in rafah, for example. thank you for joining us. yolande _ in rafah, for example. thank you for joining us. yolande knell— in rafah, for example. thank you for joining us. yolande knell talking - joining us. yolande knell talking about what is going on at the icj and what has been happening in yemen, those strikes. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let�*s stay with those strikes in yemen, and hear from lord dannatt, a crossbench peer and former head of the british army. he explained why the uk and the us committed to military action. this situation has been building over the last few days and couple of

weeks. we have seen evidence, growing evidence of attacks by houthi missiles and drones on international shipping in the red sea. of course, that has begun to have quite a significant effect, diverting a lot of international shipping around the cape, obviously, extending journey times for international trade and commodity and increasing the costs of shipping and increasing the costs of shipping and that obviously is going to have and that obviously is going to have an effect on domestic economies. the decision has been i think quite rightly taken that action must be taken against the houthis to stop them attacking international shipping, to protect the international sea lanes of the world and hence we have seen the action that began late last night.- that began late last night. richard dannatt, there. _ that began late last night. richard dannatt, there. plenty _ that began late last night. richard dannatt, there. plenty more - that began late last night. richard dannatt, there. plenty more on i that began late last night. richard | dannatt, there. plenty more on the bbc website as well. let�*s speak now to frank gardner about these attacks that have been

going on between us and uk forces. in terms of the scale of the attacks, would it have done any damage to the houthi pole or is it about message sending primarily? primarily about message sending, i think. they have chosen the targets quite carefully, 60 targets in 16 locations including the capital sonar and hudaydah, the main port. they have hit airfields and missile storage sites and in one case at least a command and control centre but they have tried i think quite carefully to minimise casualties. they have been after equipment and sites rather than people. but it is too early to judge whether they are a success or not. did they hit the targets they intended? yes. we�*ll they have the desired effect? —— will they have. we will have to wait and see because the houthis have vowed to continue their attacks on

shipping and i think probably i would compare this to the missile strikes that took place against very limited targets in syria some years ago in response to syria�*s use of chemical weapons. ago in response to syria�*s use of chemicalweapons. it ago in response to syria�*s use of chemical weapons. it didn�*t really have the desired effect. and the houthis are quite a resilient bunch. they are a mountain militia that have come down from the north of yemen, took over the country legally in 2014, but they have amassed a very serious arsenal with iranians help, drones, mrs, cruise missiles, antiballistic and anti—ship missiles. they have still got a lot of them left and they have vowed to inflict a painful retaliation on the us and uk and i think the most likely form of that is that they will try to hit western warships in the way that they did on tuesday, where they mounted a complex mass attack, a combination of drones and missiles in an attempt to overwhelm

the air defences of those western warships. in the case of hms diamond, the royal navy type 25 destroyer, it had to rely on its closing support weapons because the missiles that it had were not on their own going to be enough to stop some of the incoming ordnance. that is what they are trying to do, trying to punch a hole in a western warships up what can you explain the motivation behind what he houthis doing the red sea? as you say, they have been attacking the warships and they said they were primarily attacking israeli ships and ships that were heading towards what they call palestinian territories. what call palestinian territories. what are they getting _ call palestinian territories. what are they getting out _ call palestinian territories. what are they getting out of- call palestinian territories. what are they getting out of it, - call palestinian territories. what are they getting out of it, i - are they getting out of it, i suppose is my question? i won the houthis are punching well above their weight geopolitically because up their weight geopolitically because up until now their weight geopolitically because u- until no ., ., their weight geopolitically because u- until no . ., . up until now their war and conflict has been confined _ up until now their war and conflict has been confined to _ up until now their war and conflict has been confined to the - up until now their war and conflict has been confined to the borders| up until now their war and conflict i has been confined to the borders of yemen and just beyond where they have been hitting targets in saudi

arabia and in a couple of cases the uae. but they have decided to join in the gaza war on the side of hamas. they have professed themselves to be a part of the iranian—backed axis of resistance alongside hezbollah, hamas, and any other iranian allies in the region. they have decided that they are going to essentially police their part of the red sea coast and choose which ships can pass and which can�*t. they have accused a number of ships that have got no relation to israel and no connection whatsoever of being israeli owned or is israeli linked or calling it israeli is and have fired missiles at them. the western warships that are down there, mainly us and british but some other ones, they have been trying to fend off these attacks and have now found themselves to be the target of these attacks. initially, it started out with houthis firing

missiles at eilat in israel, and at the commercial ships and it has ended up with them targeting the warships themselves. i don�*t think we have seen the end of this. i think it is very possible that the houthi pole are going to try to show that they have not been beaten and keep on attacking ships and shipping. keep on attacking ships and shi inc. �* keep on attacking ships and shinina.�* ., ., shipping. and the impact of that, as we have seen. _ shipping. and the impact of that, as we have seen, is _ shipping. and the impact of that, as we have seen, is the _ shipping. and the impact of that, as we have seen, is the impact - shipping. and the impact of that, as we have seen, is the impact on - we have seen, is the impact on prices and it could be an impact in terms of goods and the price of fuel. thank you forjoining us. frank gardner, there. let�*s go back to the hague were as we have been seen, the united nations highest court, the international court ofjustice, has begun hearing israel�*s defence against accusations of genocide in gaza, which have come from south africa yesterday, in their time in court. let�*s go to anna holligan who is in the hague. talk us through

what israel has been saying this morning and also what we heard from south africa yesterday. israeli morning and also what we heard from south africa yesterday.— south africa yesterday. israel has accused south _ south africa yesterday. israel has accused south africa _ south africa yesterday. israel has accused south africa of— accused south africa of weaponisation the genocide convention and pointed out that israel was one of the first signatories to this convention. this is all a matter of interpretation for thejudges. is all a matter of interpretation for the judges. yesterday, is all a matter of interpretation for thejudges. yesterday, we heard from south africa, referring to the military bombardments, the enforced displacement of people, the lack of humanitarian aid, starvation, dehydration, statements by senior israeli politicians which, south africa said, amounted to proof of genocidal intent. israel is arguing today this is an inaccurate interpretation of events on the ground. israel says it is acting in self—defence, under international humanitarian law. lucy, ijust want to spin the camera around you might

be able to hear some of the crowds here outside the international court ofjustice in the hague. we arejust going to see if we can focus down on some of those flags which will be very familiar by now. what you can�*t see is just around the other side of the palestinian supporters down here police have separated them from a group of israeli supporters who have set up a traditional shabbat table just on the other side of the peace palace, with images of the hostages who remain in gaza, attached to the back of their chairs. all of this is turning into something of a legal battle field, and what we are seeing is countries increasingly seeing that this court, the un�*s highest court, as a place where they can try to bring some form of influence in these types of conflicts. it is important to note now that we are hearing from israel today, then it

will probably take within two weeks for thejudges to will probably take within two weeks for the judges to issue a ruling will probably take within two weeks for thejudges to issue a ruling on these interim measures requested by south africa. these interim measures requested by south africa-— south africa. thank you for “oining us. anna holligan �* south africa. thank you for “oining us. anna holligan in t south africa. thank you for “oining us. anna holligan in the h south africa. thank you forjoining us. anna holligan in the hague. i south africa. thank you forjoining i us. anna holligan in the hague. we will of course have plenty more from that live feed from inside the court at anna holligan throughout the day on bbc news. stay with us. hello. we have got a window slightly less cold weather for the next couple of days. we did not see such widespread ice and frost around this morning, certainly compared to earlier in the week. still quite chilly and cloudy for many of us. temperature is not as low as they have been. high—pressure holding onto the weather. the wind rotating, coming in off the atlantic at the north sea, bringing quite a lot of moisture and that blanket of cloud for most of us. clearer skies today

across scotland. could be the odd lingering misty patch around. temperature 2—4 across scotland but for most of us, typically 6—8. into the evening and we will see this weather front in the north slipping further south, weather front in the north slipping furthersouth, bringing weather front in the north slipping further south, bringing a bit of overnight train to scotland and some snow on the very highest mountains. that will slip further south across parts of northern ireland and northern england on saturday morning but either side of that, clear spells. a bit of frost first thing tomorrow, a colder morning than this morning. through the day on saturday, a fair amount of dry and bright weather, a few splashes of light rain for northern ireland, north wales and perhaps in the midlands. sunny spells breaking through the cloud either side of that. reasonably mild, 5—8 on saturday. still lower than average but not as cold as it has been. into sunday, the wind turns more northerly. you can see the white colours of snow showers starting to move on across north and north—eastern scotland in particular. most of us still relatively dry and quiet on sunday. the change in wind direction through

sunday into monday brings a chance of some snow showers, particularly parts of scotland and also some exposed coasts around the irish sea and the north sea as well. heading through into tuesday, we could well see this area of low pressure starting to move in. the potential for a bit more sleet and snow for parts of northern ireland, scotland, perhaps into northern england for tuesday and wednesday. mid week onwards, as we head through wednesday and into thursday, we still have a cold northerly wind in the north. low pressure may waste —— we may well stay across france but it has the potential to be a bit further north. just a small chance on wednesday and thursday of snow in the far south of england but again it will mostly be parts of scotland and northern ireland that see the chance of something a bit more wintry. eitherway, next week looks colderwith wintry. eitherway, next week looks colder with northerly wind setting in. some snow showers, could be some disruption. keep tuned to the latest forecast.

this is bbc news, the headlines: explosions across yemen as us and uk forces launch air strikes against houthi rebel targets in retaliation for attacks on commercial ships in the red sea. prime minister rishi sunak says that the strikes are a "limited, necessary and proportionate action in self—defence". a senior houthi leader warns that the us and uk would "pay a heavy price" and says the attacks on ships are set to continue. this is the scene live

at the international court ofjustice, which is today hearing israel�*s defence against accusations of genocide brought by south africa. and rishi sunak makes a surprise visit to kyiv as the uk announces its £2.5 billion aid package for ukraine. let�*s go straight to the hague and bring you some of the pictures from inside the international court of justice, where it is hearing israel�*s response to south africa allegations that it is committing genocide in gaza. this is the final day of hearings at the un�*s hi scott. south africa is asking the icj to issue an injunction to stop israel�*s campaign and israel is arguing that it is acting in self—defence according to humanitarian law. yesterday south africa achieves the highest levels

of the israeli state of nurturing