hello, welcome to the programme. we begin with the crisis facing the un agency for palestinian refugees. several countries have paused funding for unwra —— several countries have paused funding for unwra, the latest to halt aid being germany, its second largest donor. eight others, including the us and the uk, have suspended funding to the agency known as unrwa. this comes after the agency announced it sacked several staff members over allegations they were involved in the october 7th hamas attacks. the uk said it was, quote, appalled by the accusations. the head of unrwa, philippe lazzarini, expressed shock at the suspension of funding, saying the decision to withhold thosefunds to withhold thosefunds threatens the lives saying the decision to withhold those funds threatens the lives

of people inside gaza who depend on unrwa, which helps coordinate aid, and run many of the schools and hospitals in the strip. other countries who halted financing include australia, italy, canada, finland, the netherlands and switzerland. from jerusalem, our correspondent mark lowen reports. crushed from the air. lives, homes, families, and now the very mission set up to help gaza's desperate is taking a hit, too — the un agency for palestinian refugees, or unrwa, firing several employees for alleged involvement in hamas�* assault on israel. a body set up to protect accused of attack. britain and a handful of other countries have now paused theirfunding. the foreign office said it was appalled by claims of complicity in what it called a heinous act of terrorism. hamas stormed israel on october 7th, killing more than

1,200 people and abducting at least 240. israeli intelligence has reportedly passed on material said to show the participation of unrwa staff and the use of its vehicles and facilities. its government has seized on the allegations, as the world remembers another massacre. translation: it was proven on international holocaust i remembrance day what we've been saying for years, that the unrwa employees are collaborators with the terrorist organisation hamas, and that the un has become not only a place where the existence of the state of israel is delegitimised, but also a place where employees are physically collaborating in the extermination of israel. the un, which has frequently batted away past israeli criticism, says it's horrified by the news, and will ensure any unrwa employee shown to have participated or abetted what transpired on the 7th of october, or in any other criminal activity, be terminated immediately and referred for potential criminal prosecution.

but as israel's offensive intensifies, driving 80% of gazans from their homes, the un plays a vital role there, and, say some, a mission with 30,000 staff shouldn't be tarred by the violations of a few. it certainly looks as if there is cause to be concerned about the actions of some of the members of unrwa, the un relief and works agency, but that does not, and nor should it, impugn the entire agency and all the body of work that they're doing. they have helped save literally thousands of lives in gaza. they do important work. the worst attack in israel's history has left scars here that will last generations. and with trauma comes rage towards those who aided the aggressors, not the victims. israel has long accused the un of bias, anti—semitism and worse. another foreign minister has

called unrwa the civilian arm of hamas and said it should not operate in gaza once the conflict ends. there is real anger here at these very serious allegations. but for a government increasingly under pressure, it's also an opportunity to bolster its argument. mark lowen, bbc news, jerusalem. let's take a closer look now at unrwa's role in gaza. the agency says it spends most of its funding — 54% — on education, including building and running schools in gaza, followed by health and support services. it also provides emergency relief assistance, and, since the recent conflict began, shelters for displaced palestinians. unrwa is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. pledges to the agency totalled more than $1 billion in 2022. the us, germany, eu and sweden were the agency's largest

individual donors that year, contributing 61% of its overall funding. well, earlier, the bbc spoke to chris gunness, a former chief spokesperson for unrwa, and now director of the myanmar accountability project. he gave his reaction to the situation. unrwa had a zero tolerance policy toward the fall violations of its neutrality. this is clearly happened, and what better evidence of their commitment to that policy and the fact that even before the investigation was finished, the chief executive of unrwa has dismissed this people. i think that's clear evidence of a zero tolerance policy. because the donors on the defunding, i have to say it's very sad because the donors

have said repeatedly when i was at unrwa and since that the work is life—saving. it has said that unrwa contributes its development and work to the stability of the middle east. so it's very sad be seeing those same donors withdrawing their funds to be regionally stabilising services. before i finish the answer, it may be with 15,000 staff, there are some bad apples among unrwa staff working in extremely complex and polarised environment. but let us not lose sight of the fact that even though there may be some bad apples, there are thousands and thousands of workers in unrwa who are committed absolutely and robustly to their humanitarian mandates. that was chris gunness. for more on the situation, i spoke to bonnie glick, a former deputy administrator of the united states agency for international development under the donald trump administration.

thank you so much for your time today. they terminated those contracts before the investigation was even completed. is that enough action interview?— completed. is that enough action interview? that's not enou:h action interview? that's not enough action _ action interview? that's not enough action at _ action interview? that's not enough action at all. - unrwa, as chris said, hospitals and health care, what has been uncovered that the last 130 days since october the 7th is a vast system of tunnels that hamas has built using us hamas has built using assitance dollars that have come from donors, hundreds and hundreds including through unrwa, to build this hundreds and hundreds of miles long tunnel system that they are holding hostages in and that they're using for... unrwa does deny that.

can i read other statements by unrwa? philippe lazzarini said anyone involved will be held accountable. it reiterates its combination of the important facts. he went on to demand the release of hostages. do you believe those statements? i don't believe the statements. you think he's lying? no, i think he's disingenuous. i didn't take the moment of having his funding cut off. for him to say they will investigate allegations for years and years and has unrwa and its operations. unrwa has never shown any support for the attacks of october the 7th. not publicly yet. tuesday of this week, there will be a hearing in congress, where the un watch

is being called as a witness to testify under oath that 3,000 named employees of unrwa all names, all with their employee id numbers, all laid out, have been sharing the efforts of hamas, cheering and publicly supporting the october the 7th massacre. unrwa denies all of these accusations, and written letters and to the state department saying they have safeguards to protect against some of the things that you just laid out. it's really important to be clear about that. it's also worth saying that as chris gunness said, we're talking about a few employees here. the ones that evidence were brought forward from israel, and yet they have 13,000 employees in gaza, so should the whole organisation be tarnished in that way by these few employees? look, under the trump administration, we could all aid to one.

this is never happened before this trip. this is not something that has never happened. we cut all aid because it is actually illegal for the united states to fund because the palestinians for programme of pay to slave. appointment terrorists are paid lifetime salaries while they are in prison or theirfamilies are in prison or theirfamilies are paid annuities in perpetuity. in march 2018, the us congress passed the taylor force act in a bipartisan manner, which makes it illegal for the united states to fund... �* fund... the biden administration . fund... the biden| administration did fund... the biden - administration did not fund... the biden _ administration did not agree with that assessment. that's why they start funding unrwa again. i also really want to get to this point, which is a,

taking everything that you said into account, it is extremely difficult to get this assistance. they're facing a very serious food crisis. the word meant there is many with who was going to give that support? it's very simple. all of us can be ended when hamas surrenders and every single hostage is released. should innocent palestinians continue to suffer because of this? there are six americans being held hostage currently currently by hamas. hamas can be turned over by gazan civilians, and hamas leaders can surrender, put down their arms and release all of the hostages. the situation changes magically, but as that moment, there can't be any. sorry to interrupt, running out of time. the icj has ordered israel to provide more humanitarian assistance

to the palestinians in gaza. they have one month to report back. you think israel should ignore that order, palestinians should not receive not only additional humanitarian aid, whatever assistance they were getting until now? the international court ofjustice has proved that it is a kangaroo court that he even took up the issue that south africa presented to it of this being an israeli genocide. at the end of the day, the genocide and the genocidal intent comes from hamas. they have stated explicitly, including all of their leaders, that this will continue. october the 7th was a start. it will go on and on. but you don't think there should be a differentiation between the civilian lives? kamala harris has that too many have been killed. kamala harris has said too many have been killed. you disagree?

also 100 un were workers. tell me this — did israel ask to be attacked? the answer to that is no. the responsibility lies 100% with hamas, including any pain and suffering that is befalling the palestinian people in gaza. 100% of that responsibility, as the white house has said, resides with hamas. bonnie glick, thank you so much for your time. we do appreciate it. former deputy administrator of the united states agency of international development. as regional tensions continue to escalate — an oil tanker with links to the uk has been attacked by houthi missiles. the marlin luanda, which is operated by a uk registered company,

was travelling in the red sea off the coast of yemen when it was struck. the uk government says it reserves the right to respond appropriately. it is the latest attack in and around the red sea, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. our diplomatic correspondent paul adams reports. this was the marlin luanda this morning. indian navy personnel dousing a fire that threatened to ignite the ship's cargo of russian oil — the end of a perilous night for the crew. the houthis were quick to take credit for the attack, their spokesman saying once again that this was being done to support the palestinians in gaza, and in response to what he described as american—british aggression. it's been two weeks since britain and the us first hit back, striking military targets inside yemen, aiming to deter the houthis. so far, the strategy does not appear to be working. so, the attack on marlin luanda in the gulf of aden signify a great extension and escalation from the red sea to the gulf of aden — so a geographical extension. and also with the type of weapons, the missile used yesterday was a ballistic missile and the houthis started their attacks in the red sea using drones. so we're seeing

a technological expansion and a geographical extension. the houthis are using the attacks to bolster support at home, orchestrating huge rallies on the streets of the capital, sana'a, relishing this confrontation with the west — something they've thought about and planned for for years. they're being helped by iran. when us navy seals seized a dhow off the coast of somalia earlier this month, they found parts of ballistic and anti—ship cruise missiles. diplomats say weapons are also being smuggled through oman. this afternoon, the defence secretary, grant shapps, condemned what he called this intolerable and illegal attack and said britain remained committed to protecting freedom of navigation. paul adams, bbc news. diplomats say weapons are also being smuggled through oman. this afternoon, the defence secretary, grant shapps, condemned what he called this intolerable and illegal attack and said britain remained committed to protecting freedom of navigation. paul adams, bbc news.

saturday marks international holocaust remembrance day — and around the world, people are urged to light a candle in a window to signal their opposition to hatred and prejudice. here's our religion editor, aleem maqbool. the holocaust robbed joan salter of many members of her extended family. today in particular, she remembers them. the bravery ofjoan's mother meant she survived. my mother climbed over the mountains and to spain and then she gave me up, in the hope that i would survive. that is where prejudice gets you. littlejoan was shipped to the us until the war was over, when she was reunited with her parents in the uk. she says she feels the lessons of the holocaust have not yet been learned. it's just to get over what hatred does and how quickly people turn on each other.

that, to me, is the message on holocaust memorial day, and the hope is that people will understand that. holocaust memorial day has been established to commemorate the 6 millionjews that were murdered by the nazis, but also the victims of other genocides since. at this year's main remembrance event, there was special focus on rwanda, 2024 marking 30 years since the horrific massacres of hundreds of thousands of tutsis there. earlier this week, referring to the case against israel at the international court ofjustice, the uk's chief rabbi, ephraim mirvis, said the accusation of genocide was an affront to the victims and survivors of the holocaust around this memorial day. he sings.

and the conflict in gaza and associated rise in anti—semitism has meant that the holocaust memorial day trust advised on fewer public events this year. particularly the jewish community, but also muslims, are much more anxious about being out in public and visibly being jewish or muslim. so we've worked very closely with the police to issue guidance and actually, ourjob on holocaust memorial day is to remind people of what can happen when hatred gets out of hand. the holocaust memorial day trust is encouraging people to light a candle and place it in a window too, in its words, remember those who were killed for who they were and to stand against prejudice and hatred today. aleem maqbool, bbc news, in north london. live now to dana arschin. she's the granddaughter of a late holocaust survivor. she works as a �*holocaust storyteller�* for the holocaust

memorial and tolerance center of nassau county. pena, of nassau county. thank you so much for joining pena, thank you so much for joining us, especially today. i want to ask you, it's impossible to ignore the fact that this is happening after the events of october the 7th, 1200 people killed at least and 240 taken hostage. what are the emotions you're feeling today? thank you so much for it to you and to the entire ddc team for having me and recognising this day. —— bdc. i interview holocaust survivors every week, and when they hear about what's happening, the rise of anti—semitism, they are horrified because it brings so many emotion. as a grandchild of a survivor, we are seeing what was reminiscent of prewar nazi germany in the 1930s when we were seeing a rise in

anti—semitism all over europe. my anti—semitism all over europe. my grandfather said even before the war, when he was a young boy in poland, he couldn't walk on the sidewalk that his non—jewish neighbours would say to him, pigs walk in the street. it's terrifying for the survivors. my grandfather was at auschwitz survivor. holocaust remembrance day to this day also marks the 79th anniversary of the liberation of auschwitz, so it is an extra meaningful day for my family. it is frightening. all because can do is educate and speak out and that's what i'm trying to do. �* �* ., , ., do. and the fbi has warned a . ainst do. and the fbi has warned against the _ do. and the fbi has warned against the rise _ do. and the fbi has warned against the rise of - against the rise of anti—semitism and hate crimes after the events of october the 7th. i wonder what made you decide to dedicate your work to telling your grandfather's story in the story of so many other survivors.— story in the story of so many other survivors. so, my copy is my inspiration. _ other survivors. so, my copy is my inspiration. he _ other survivors. so, my copy is my inspiration. he passed - other survivors. so, my copy is| my inspiration. he passed away on december 23just a my inspiration. he passed away on december 23 just a few weeks

ago —— my papi. he was 101 years old. i always felt it was my obligation to keep his story alive because i would not be here if it weren't for him. he had so many close calls. every day, he made the decision to live or die. he watched people in auschwitz runs the electric fence to take their own lives because they were so miserable and they wanted to kill themselves before the nazis could do it their way. every day, he made a decision to live. i dedicate my life to this work because i feel like i have to. i was a news reporter for a long time in new york city, and i had a wonderful opportunity at my last station to be able to create a holocaust series. i went around the area interviewing survivors, and i got such positive feedback on that work and people could see my passion and people could see my passion and i started to think that i kind of only wanted to do that. i was exploring different opportunities and i wrote up a pitch and i sent it to a local

holocaust museum and i said, "i want to become your first ever storyteller." basically take the stories i was doing on tv and bring it to this museum on long island new york, and my stories, and have broadcast on tv, they are now blasted out all over social media, on instagram alone. over 100,000 views. it has been incredibly rewarding and fulfilling and the fact that it is getting so many views shows that people still want to hear the story. dana, ijust want still want to hear the story. dana, i just want to sound so sorry for your loss, especially since it's so recent. and the fact that he's passed away of its this war right now. i wonder what was his, what were his feelings during this time? he witnessed what was happening and claiming he was unwell. what did he say to you? you know it was _ what did he say to you? 7m, know it was incredible, my grandfather always was in new york with me, but during the pandemic, they moved down to florida. i would go to visit

once a pricier, —— ones upon here, but i had interviewed a 101—year—old survivor sharp as a knife, ithought 101—year—old survivor sharp as a knife, i thought she live forever, and she passed away a few weeks later. "i'm supposed see my grandfather, but i feel like i need to see him sooner." i booked a trip to visit him and iflew i booked a trip to visit him and i flew out the morning i booked a trip to visit him and iflew out the morning of october the 7th, and i had no idea what was to happen that day. i booked just weeks earlier. i wake up that morning to fly to florida my husband says, "i think israel has been attached." we couldn't figure out —— karen was happening. i was with him in florida he was trying to grapple with what going on. all he kept saying is that the will persevere. "we have been through this over and over and" he felt like we would be strong and fight. he did shield him from what was happening to the extent, and we really did want to bring up

that trauma. —— we really did not. i don't think he fully understood the severity of the conflict, but he was in assisted limited. he was horrified. he was telling the jewish people have always become stronger as a result of being attacked over and over again, i did that was his hope for the future.— for the future. dana, i'm very sorry for— for the future. dana, i'm very sorry for your _ for the future. dana, i'm very sorry for your loss, _ for the future. dana, i'm very sorry for your loss, but - for the future. dana, i'm very sorry for your loss, but thank| sorry for your loss, but thank you for sharing this with us, especially today.— you for sharing this with us, especially today. thank you so much for having _ especially today. thank you so much for having me. - let's turn to some important news around the world. the united states has warned it could restore sanctions against venezuela, after a top court there upheld a ban preventing opposition presidential candidate maria corina machardo from holding office. the us state department called the ruling deeply concerning. the opposition has convinced —— condemned the ruling. britain's king charles is staying in hospital for a second night after a procedure for

an enlarged prostate. queen camilla visited her husband at the london clinic, where the princess of wales is also staying following abdominal surgery. the king is said to be doing well — following the procedure. there is plenty more on all of our top stories on our bbc news website. please do read them. stay with us here on bbc news. there's plenty more to come. hello there. saturday brought quite a bit of sunshine to england and wales, a dry day for many, and a lovely end to the day here in north somerset. further north, though, for northern ireland and scotland, the day turned out to be quite windy and we did have a fair bit of cloud coming in off the atlantic, associated with the jet stream pattern. well, thisjet stream pattern for sunday is going to be bringing a very mild air mass across the uk and we could well see some exceptional temperatures across northern areas of scotland through sunday afternoon, as we will

see injust a moment. before we get there, though, the southerly wind at the moment is bringing occasional patches of drizzle to coast and hills for scotland and for northern ireland, although many areas will stay dry and have a dry start to the day on sunday. mild across the north—west, we've got the cooler air across england and wales, a few mist patches to start the day on sunday quickly clearing, and then a lovely morning for most of you. into the afternoon, though, a cold front will bring a spell of rain to northern ireland and western scotland, and some very strong winds working into the hebrides and the north—west of the highlands. 60, maybe 70—mph gusts here, but on the other side of the mountains, helped on by the fern effect, we could see temperatures get boosted all the way up to maybe as high as 16 celsius — well above the average for this part of the world. and the uk all—timejanuary temperature record stands at 18.3 celsius, so 16 wouldn't be that far away from that. although we don't see those dizzy heights across england and wales, it is going to be a mild day nationwide. now, looking at the weather picture into monday, we keep the mild air

across england and wales, but further north, the air�*s getting colder across scotland and northern ireland. it looks like being quite wet across this area, with 20—40 millimetres of rain. could see a few flakes of snow over the highest hills of the southern uplands. colder weather pushing back into scotland and northern ireland — i say colder, actually, temperatures are coming back closer to average. but across england and wales, still very mild. temperatures could reach 15 degrees in the warmest spots. heading into tuesday, that area of low pressure is working away. a ridge of high pressure follows in for a time from the west, so the cloud will thin and break and many of us will have a day where the weather will improve and get brighter with a bit more in the way of sunshine coming through. the rest of the week ahead, often quite wet and windy at times in the north, dry and bright largely in the south.

goodbye for now.

this is bbc news, we will have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. hello, and welcome

to unspun world. is the war in gaza beginning to slip away from israel? and are we seeing the start of a wider middle east conflict? for all of the words and all of the warnings, here we are, months on, and so many red lights are flashing across the region. after its involvement with the three hs — hamas, hezbollah and the houthis — is iran getting an inflated sense of its own importance? the iranian authorities felt overconfident in projecting their power in the middle east and they felt that they can get away with doing the same in pakistan. and prime minister modi of india inaugurates the hugely controversial hindu temple in ayodhya. does it represent the start of his election campaign? there was definitely a sense of political colour in that event. it is something the

government will deny. they will say this is a religious ceremony,