are governments in the us and europe complicit in humanitarian law violations? that's the allegation from more than 800 senior officials in an unprecedented coordinated warning to leaders. also tonight — a "brutal and sadistic" attack. the murderers of 16—year—old student brianna ghey are sentenced to life, after she was stabbed to death in broad daylight last february. a return to power—sharing — we'll assess the priorities for northern ireland's assembly as it prepares to resume government at stormont after a two—year hiatus. and what is the "axis of resistance"? our analysis editor ros atkins will make sense of the week in the middle east, as america vows to retaliate against iranian—backed milita. but we begin tonight with an unprecedented warning

from more than 800 serving officials in the us and europe denouncing their governments�* policy on israel and the war in gaza. in a signed a statement, they warn that their own governments�* policies on the israel gaza war could amount to "grave violations of international law". one signatory to the statement — a us government official with more than 25 years�* national security experience — told the bbc those who understand the region were not being listened to. the statement warns that their administrations risk being "complicit in one of the worst human catastrophes of this century," but that their expert advice has been sidelined. it says israel has shown "no boundaries" in its military operations in gaza, which has resulted in tens of thousands of preventable civilian deaths. it also calls for the us and european governments to "stop asserting to the public that there is a strategic and defensible rationale behind

the israeli operation". the statement is signed by civil servants from the us, the eu, and 11 european countries including the uk, france, and germany. meanwhile, un aid agencies say they�*re deeply concerned that the fighting in gaza could spread to rafah, the territory�*s southernmost city. the area is now sheltering more than half of gaza�*s two million population. on thursday, the israeli defence minister said his country�*s forces would advance into the area once they�*d completed their mission against hamas in the nearby city of khan yunis. there remain hopes of a ceasefire according to qatar hamas has received a truce proposal that would include the release of hostages, but has yet to respond. let�*s make sense of all this tonight. lord darroch — kim darroch — is a former british ambassador

to the united states and former uk national security adviser. good to have you on the programme with us tonight, and i wonderfirst of all, that coordinated a letter signed by those 800 senior officials — what does it tell us tonight about the level of dissent within the governments of some of israel�*s key allies? governments of some of israel's key allies? �* , , , . allies? ben, this is unprecedented i think, and it — allies? ben, this is unprecedented i think, and it is _ allies? ben, this is unprecedented i think, and it is extraordinary. - allies? ben, this is unprecedented i think, and it is extraordinary. i- think, and it is extraordinary. i can recall opposition within the government, within the civil service and for an office to, for example, the invasion of iraq in the early to thousands —— for an office. but i�*ve never seen anything like this, with 800 diplomats or servants from across europe and the united states signing something like this in quite stark terms about what�*s going on. so it is exceptional, extraordinary, and it�*s a signal aboutjust how

much unhappiness there is in foreign ministries across the west about what is going on, and about how their own governments are reacting to it. we their own governments are reacting to it. ~ ., ., ,., their own governments are reacting to it. ~ ., ., ., to it. we ran through some of those iuotes to it. we ran through some of those quotes from — to it. we ran through some of those quotes from the _ to it. we ran through some of those quotes from the letter _ to it. we ran through some of those quotes from the letter - _ to it. we ran through some of those quotes from the letter - one - to it. we ran through some of those quotes from the letter - one really. quotes from the letter — one really stands out to me, and i�*d be interested in your thoughts on this, that signatory, a long serving us government official, 25 years worth of experience, telling the bbc their concerns have been two continually dismissed even though, as they highlight, they have experience of the region and its dynamics. what assumes they are —— one assumes they are employed for their understanding of the region, but they say their concerns were dismissed. why would those warnings not be heated? it�*s a those warnings not be heated? it's a ve iood those warnings not be heated? it's a very good question. _ those warnings not be heated? it's a very good question, and _ those warnings not be heated? it�*s —. very good question, and it's very very good question, and it�*s very difficult to know the answer to that. i say two things about this —

one, it�*s always been clear to anyone who knows the region, who has even visited the region, i�*ve visited many times, that there are a lot of risks attached to what is going on, of which the most prominent at the moment is the risk of escalation of this sparking off conflict across the arab world. and you said in the bulletin earlier, the risk of something kicking off in the risk of something kicking off in the west bank appears to be rising. so everyone knows about the implications of the risks of this. the second thing is also clear, i think, that this is really a ground operation. they have the right to self—defense and to respond to those terrible events in october, the hamas attack on israeli settlements in the west bank — but this is really operation has gone on far too

long, in myjudgment, and it appears open—ended. we can�*t see an end point yet, and it really has to end soon. and there is no possibility of a complete victory with hamas being illuminated. so essentially, i think it�*s up to the israelis to define a point at which they think they�*ve done enough, and to declare it and just carrying on indefinitely for months more i think would be a huge problem for the west. yes. months more i think would be a huge problem for the west.— problem for the west. yes, and that is one of the — problem for the west. yes, and that is one of the key _ problem for the west. yes, and that is one of the key allegations - problem for the west. yes, and that is one of the key allegations as - is one of the key allegations as well in this letter — they say that governments must stop asserting to the public that there is a strategic and defensible rationale behind the israeli operation. the thing that i was quite taken with within this is making that distinction between not failing to prevent something and being actively complicit — and that is a significant difference, isn�*t

it? is a significant difference, isn't it? , ~ , , a it? yes, i think myself, including m self, it? yes, i think myself, including myself, western _ it? yes, i think myself, including myself, western governments, l it? yes, i think myself, including - myself, western governments, western foreign ministers are in a very difficult place on this. because they know that the only way you can get any influence, any traction in israel is to start from a position of full support for their right to respond, their right to self—defense, their right to defend themselves after october 7th. so that�*s why they�*ve taken the position they have publicly — and on the back of that, privately i�*m sure they are delivering some very tough messages to israel for the need for this ground operation to be over soon, first civilian casualties to be minimised. this device seems to have been pretty much ignored by israel. so to go from there, to say they are complicit, i�*m sure they are tortured by what�*s going on and feel a real hole about the way forward. the only thing i can say

is, i would advise them — and i sense this with what the british and american governments are saying publicly — we need to up the pressure and criticism of israel for the way it is conducting this, and to try and ramp up international pressure on them to bring the operation to an end, then to move on to the phase that will be very difficult for israel to accept, which is how we do the reconstruction of gaza and how we kick off a process on a two state solution. d0 kick off a process on a two state solution. , ., ., , solution. do you feel that this in an wa solution. do you feel that this in any way marks _ solution. do you feel that this in any way marks a _ solution. do you feel that this in any way marks a turning - solution. do you feel that this in any way marks a turning point . solution. do you feel that this in j any way marks a turning point in this war? just this week, we�*ve seen us presidentjoe biden issuing those sanctions on for west bank citizens, and tonight canada says it will consider those actions too. with the increasing pressure and now this letter, i wonder whether this changes some of that unconditional

support that�*s been promised from the likes of the us towards israel? and given the rising pressure as far as civilian casualties is concerned, whether it even changes the response from israel�*s allies or changes what israel does in gaza right now? i don't think it in itself marks a don�*t think it in itself marks a turning point, because i think the turning point, because i think the turning point, because i think the turning point has already been reached— and you can see its expression and what president biden did recently on those israeli settlers, on the toughening of the language that�*s coming out from the uk and us, and european capitals, and france declaring itself in un talks to be in favour of unconditional cease—fire. so that western messaging is already changing. what this letter demonstrates is just how much pressure there will be within governments from experts in the region, telling their ministers,

"look, you have to try and stop this," because apart from the human cost of what is happening, the risks and the implications are so dangerous in the region. always good to net our dangerous in the region. always good to get your insight — dangerous in the region. always good to get your insight into _ dangerous in the region. always good to get your insight into this, - dangerous in the region. always good to get your insight into this, we - to get your insight into this, we are gratefulfor you to get your insight into this, we are grateful for you spending time with us on the programme tonight. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let�*s look at some other stories making news. police have a new image of the man in connection with an attack on a woman and her children using a corrosive substance that has left the mother with life—changing injuries. more details have a arose of his actions before and after in south london on wednesday evening. a woman that drove at her fiance before dragging him more than 150 metres along a road has beenjailed

for a minimum metres along a road has beenjailed fora minimum of 18 metres along a road has beenjailed for a minimum of 18 years for his murder. they had been arguing after a party in may 2022, but she claimed his death was a tragic accident. and the tv presenterjohnny urban, who appeared on property shows including a place in the sun, has died at the age of 50. he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2020 after the disease spread from his lungs to his brain. a statement on social media said he touched the lives of so many with his kindness and infectious spirit. you�*re live with bbc news. the murder of brianna ghey last february shocked the uk. a 16—year—old transgender student was stabbed to death in a ferocious attack in a park in cheshire. today, two 16—year—olds were sentenced for her murder. scarlettjenkinson and eddie ratcliffe lured brianna ghey to a park in broad daylight, where they stabbed her 28 times. this afternoon they were given life sentences. our north of england correspondentjudith moritz

reports from manchester. brianna ghey found it hard to socialise with other teenagers, so when she arranged to hang out with one school friend by herself, it was a big step. a friend told her to buy a one—way ticket and she�*d meet her at the bus stop. but when breanna arrived, there were two teenagers waiting. brianna couldn�*t have known what the other children had in mind. they led her to this park, and on a weekend afternoon in broad daylight, they stabbed her so brutally she stood no chance. leaving her to die, they ran off across these fields and, with blood still on his hands, one of the teenage murderers caught the bus home. now the two children who butchered brianna can be identified. scarlettjenkinson was 15 at the time. sentenced today, the court heard she enjoyed the killing and remains dangerous. scarlett, i have concluded that the primary motivation for brianna�*s murder was your deep desire to kill.

the messages reveal your fantasies and show your sadistic motives. brianna�*s murder was exceptionally brutal. eddie ratcliffe brought the hunting knife to kill brianna and had different reasons for targeting her. you dehumanised brianna by constantly referring to her as "it", and your messages about wanting to see if she would scream like a man or a girl show your own interests in killing brianna link to your hostility towards her as a transgender person. scarlet, you are under arrest on suspicion of murder. the teenagers were caught quickly. scarlet�*s mum had called the police because her daughter had been with brianna. how come you're a suspect? it isn't the last - person seen her, is it? all the information i have| is you are a suspect, 0k? eddie was arrested at his house and told officers he could

explain what had happened. i can explain everything. scarlett and eddie showed no emotion as they were being sentenced. she fidgeted and doodled, he clutched a book of crossword puzzles. the emotion in court today came from brianna�*s family, who spoke about the impact that her murder has made on them. brianna�*s father said he�*d initially found his daughter�*s transitioning difficult, but they�*d been forming a new relationship, and the murderers had stolen that from them. and her mother said no parent should ever have to bury their child. "brianna should have been around for the rest of my life", she said, adding that she believes that scarlet and eddie are still a danger to society. i feel like they need to be off the streets for a very long time, if not forever, because i can�*t see that level of... ..of darkness, i suppose, could ever be rehabilitated.

i think that they�*re both very dangerous and, like i say, they�*re both in the right place and they should be kept away from society, because i feel like they would be a risk of them committing crime in the future. brianna was at school in warrington, but with extra needs, was often taught in a special area called the inclusion room. that�*s where she met scarlett, who had been transferred from a different school. a bbc investigation has revealed that she had offended before — drugging a younger pupil and moving schools as a result — but the new school wasn�*t aware of it. a council review is now under way. in terms of scarlett, there were no red flags that came up. i think sitting and listening in court to the messages between eddie and scarlett was very, very surreal, and trying to imagine that anyone would talk in that way,

plan in that way and for it to be a child that you have actually met is even more shocking. the teenagers will be in prison until they�*re early in their 40s, and even then, they�*ll only be released once it has been established they�*re no longer a danger to the public. brianna�*s parents say they deprived her of the life she wanted to live — not because she�*d done anything wrong, butjust because one hated trans people and the other thought it�*d be fun. judith moritz, bbc news, manchester. it�*s set to be a significant weekend in northern ireland, as party leaders and officials prepare to resume power—sharing, after it was suspended two years ago. the northern ireland assembly will sit on saturday to elect a government for the first time in two years, after the british parliament agreed to alter post—brexit trade rules to break a political stalemate. northern ireland is part of the uk with a devolved adminstration, but pro—british unionists are concerned the new arrangements

could weaken the link with london. live now to stormont — our correspondent lewis vaughan—jones is following the story from there. it really will be a significant, symbolic moment, won�*t it? it really will be a significant, symbolic moment, won't it? that's riiht, it symbolic moment, won't it? that's right. it really _ symbolic moment, won't it? that's right, it really will _ symbolic moment, won't it? that's right, it really will be _ symbolic moment, won't it? that's right, it really will be because - symbolic moment, won't it? that's right, it really will be because we l right, it really will be because we have,in right, it really will be because we have, in terms of the imagery, in terms of the history, for the very first time we will have sinn fein, a nationalist party, as first minister here. so a party whose existence wants to remove northern ireland from the uk altogether will become first minister — a hugely symbolic, powerful moment and we will get those images here tomorrow. now there are a few caveats around that, and i think the main one is that yes, first minister will be from sinn fein, but the way the system

works here is there is a deputy who will be from the dup, the unionist party, and basically these two jobs work together and are equal. nothing can be done or signed off without the approval of both of them. so symbolic, yes, but in practice, the existing structures remain the same. the other i think important caveat here, when we�*ll see those images around the uk are on the road tomorrow is that this doesn�*t mean sinn fein, the nationalists, have an overall majority here— they won the last election and are the largest party, but that is different from having overall majority. so things like a board of pole on the future status of northern ireland is not immediate. the other recent tomorrow is so significant is the politicians will be back here and working — they haven�*t done that in two years. power—sharing will be back, we expect, thanks to this deal between

the dup in the uk government about post—brexit trade arrangements. so significant moments, yes, for the symbolism but the practicalities too. politicians have a lot to do, they haven�*t been able to do anything for a couple years, civil servants have been keeping the lights on and keeping things going, but no big decisions made or financial commitments — that all comes in the weeks and months ahead. good to have you there, i know you�*re there throughout the weekend with the very latest, as you say, that significant symbolic moment tomorrow will be on full coverage and the bbc. let�*s let�*s talk to paul murphy. thank you for being with us on the programme tonight, louis running through some of the logistics will take place tomorrow. is it your view that stormont will be up and running at full force this weekend?— full force this weekend? almost certainl , full force this weekend? almost certainly. no — full force this weekend? almost certainly, no doubt _ full force this weekend? almost certainly, no doubt at _ full force this weekend? almost certainly, no doubt at all - full force this weekend? almost certainly, no doubt at all that i full force this weekend? almost. certainly, no doubt at all that the assembly and the executive will be formed this weekend, and that by

monday, hopefully ministers will be at their desks sorting out the problems that have piled up over the last two years, and which are absolutely intense, particularly in the health service, and it�*ll happen. he really is a considerable achievement, and i congratulate both the government answerjeffrey donaldson, the leader of the dup, who managed to put this difficult deal together. yes, ithink who managed to put this difficult deal together. yes, i think it�*ll be a significant date tomorrow— significant also, of course, as ear correspondent said, it�*s the first time that a first minister from northern ireland has come from the nationalist republican side. of course it�*s exactly the same powers as the deputy first minister, but symbolically it is different, and it really is a very good day for northern ireland, and for that matter for the united northern ireland, and for that matterfor the united kingdom too. and i want to come onto some of theseissues and i want to come onto some of these issues you raised here in this

democrat second, but coming back to the situation, you said the leader of the dup welcoming the deal — he also said yesterday that this deal is not perfect, but it is one that works in the interests of the people of northern ireland. what is your assessment of where the compromises have been here, and perhaps where the pressure has come from? because yes, this is about changing those post—brexit trading rules, but also about a frustration and northern ireland at the government there has been suspended for two years, and there is a growing list of priorities and challenges for the government to tackle — and we are facing even more strikes in the coming weeks. without enough to get politicians back around the table? i think it was probably a catalyst, the fact that over 100,000 people marched in the streets of belfast a week or so ago, trade unions went on strike, and the public services have not been covered at all politically for two years — civil servants took the decisions — and the problems

have been piling up, no doubt that his pressure. but we can�*t underestimate the problems that the dup and the unionist community faced after brexit and with the protocol which gave them a perceived border on the irish sea — a lot of that has been resolved, i think the trade issues are now much easier for unionists than they were before. but ultimately i think you�*re absolutely right, itjust couldn�*t carry on like this, you can�*t have part of a country not having a proper government and parliament in the way that scotland and wales has. so the pressure was intense, but of course the pressure will be even more intense in the weeks to come because of the enormous problems that the assembly and executive face as a consequence notjust of what�*s happened in northern ireland, but because of the cost of living and the problem with public service generally. the problem with public service ienerall . ., . ., ., generally. you chaired talks in the lead u- to

generally. you chaired talks in the lead up to the _ generally. you chaired talks in the lead up to the peace _ generally. you chaired talks in the lead up to the peace deal in - generally. you chaired talks in the lead up to the peace deal in 1998, j lead up to the peace deal in 1998, and i wonder if we make parallels between the importance of that government operating at full capacity. you talk there as well about the significance that the first minister will be from the nationalist republican side for the first time — does that store up further challenges down the line about the future of the union, and northern ireland�*s place within the union? so it solves the current crisis, but does it store up other issues later down the line that will inevitably need to be dealt with? they will have to be dealt with, and a united ireland will be dealt with ljy a united ireland will be dealt with by a referendum. and when the secretary of state thinks that there is a strong case for holding one, he or she would have one. i don�*t think personally that is imminent, i think the problems that the government of northern ireland now faces are enormous, so they really have to deal with those. and of course, to

reemphasize the point — although sinn fein holds the first ministership, it is exactly the same in terms of power and authority as the deputy first minister. indeed, there are some who have said perhaps we should call them joint first ministers, but we didn�*t do that backin ministers, but we didn�*t do that back in 25 years ago. and he mentioned the talks in 1997—98, we realised then that there was going to be a really rocky path after the good friday agreement was signed. we didn�*t think for one minute that suddenly, all things were going to be brilliant and bright. it wasn�*t going to be like that because we were dealing with decades and decades of a terrible relationship between the two communities. so inevitably, things would go up and down — but happily at this time, they are not. it�*s a good day for us they are not. it's a good day for us all. ., , they are not. it's a good day for us all. . , ., ., ,, all. really good to have you with us, all. really good to have you with us. grateful _ all. really good to have you with us, grateful for _ all. really good to have you with us, grateful for your _ all. really good to have you with us, grateful for your insight. - all. really good to have you with | us, gratefulfor your insight. lord us, gratefulforyour insight. lord

paul murphy. full coverage throughout bbc news this weekend, of events, significant symbolic events as power—sharing resumes at stormont. stay with us. hello. the weekend�*s looking mild for most of us, but it�*s often going to be cloudy, very blustery, and on top of that, some rain in the forecast, too — heaviest of which is expected across western and northwestern scotland. let�*s have a look at the satellite picture from the last couple of days, and you can see big swirls, patterns in the clouds here. big storms moving from the north atlantic across the norwegian sea. they�*ve been slamming scandinavia, especially norway, in the last couple of days. so, this is thejet stream here. the air is relatively mild across the southern half of the uk through this evening and overnight. weather front here and lots of layers of cloud, bits and pieces of rain. to the north of that, just about cold enough, i think, for a touch of frost in the highlands. but glasgow will be seven,

belfast nine, and look how mild it is in the morning across the bulk of england and wales. we�*re talking about double figures. now, the forecast for saturday — high pressures to the south, some nasty lows across the norwegian sea. a lot of ice after that big pressure gradient and those strong west, south—westerly winds. and i think it�*s going to be, again, quite blustery and relatively cool across scotland. some sunny spells here, temperatures will be around about 7—9 celsius. i say relatively cool compared to the south where it�*ll be perhaps as high as 1a celsius, often cloudy with some dribs and drabs of rain. how about the six nations? also spots of rain certainly possible, at least for a time, maybe a little bit heavier for a moment or two, and relatively mild, but blustery. here�*s the forecast into sunday — another weather front moves in again, mild southwesterlies across the southern half of the uk. but further north, this weather front here will be responsible for that very heavy rain across western and northwestern scotland, particularly sunday night into monday. and in fact, the met office warns that widely across that part

of scotland, the west and the northwest could be around 50mm, perhaps as much as 100—150mm, maybe even a little bit more in the extreme case, and very blustery, too. but south of that, you can see on monday, certainly south of the lowlands, it�*s generallyjust cloudy with spots of rain from time to time. a bit of sunshine i think towards the east is certainly not impossible. the outlook through next week — well, there is an indication there could be colder weather heading our way, so a long way off. but initially, i think at least reaching northern parts of the uk from thursday onwards.

hello, i�*m ben thompson. you�*re watching the context on bbc news. the risk of injury in contact sports like rugby could amount to child abuse, that�*s the conclusion of a new report suggesting children should no longer play it at school. we�*ll have more on that story for you a little later but we are going to stay with the sports theme and all the latest sports news from the bbc sport centre. thank you. the 2024 six nations is under way, with a blockbuster opening match in marseilles between the joint

favourites france and ireland. it's it�*s ireland who have made an impressive start in france. a penalty put them in front. try was put over. so far so good for andy farrell�*s side, 10—0 they lead, 25 minutes played. ireland are hoping to repeat the success of their grand slam campaign. france have won 18 of their last 19 tests at home. the two other fixtures of the opening round take place on saturday. england begin their campaign away at italy in the stadio olympico. whilst scotland and wales meet each other in cardiff. and ahead of that match scotland have made a u—turn. they initially asked for the roof at the principality stadium to be open, but now want it to be closed, with rain forecast. wales are happy with the change, with six nations regulations saying both sides have to agree on the roof being closed. day one of the second test between india and england saw the tale of two of the sport�*s newest talents making the headlines.