were islamophobic. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu tells us television they are "weeks" away from "total victory" in gaza. if we have a deal, it will be delayed. we will do it anyway. total victory is our goal and within reach. president zelensky reveals 31,000 ukrainian troops have been killed in the two—years of war with russia. supporters of jair bolsonaro rally in sao paulo, as the former brazilian president faces claims he plotted a coup to stay in power. hello, i'm catherine byaruhanga — welcome to the programme.

we start in the uk, where the conservative party is finding itself under increasing pressure — after an mp made comments described as "islamophobic, anti—muslim and racist". lee anderson was suspended from the party after saying london's mayor was controlled by "islamists". the suspension was not for the comments but for refusing to apologise. the party's leadership was drawn further into the argument on sunday — the deputy prime minister refusing to say whether he thought the comments were islamophobic. 0ur political correspondent iain watson reports. he's known for speaking his mind, but lee anderson kept his lips firmly sealed following his suspension from the parliamentary conservative party. here are the comments about london's mayor that got him into trouble. i don't actually believe that these islamists have got control of our country. but what i do believe is they've got control of khan and they've got control of london. lee anderson was quite literally

in the doghouse this afternoon. it's a pub in his constituency. sadiq khan and labour have described his remarks as islamophobic. but the deputy prime minister seemed keen to avoid that specific accusation. i don't believe that lee anderson was intending to be islamophobic. but nonetheless, i understand the concern about this, particularly when it's in relation to the mayor of london, how those words have caused offence. you're talking about... and that has, and because of that, that is precisely why he was given the chance to apologise. and when he failed to do so, action was taken. but were the comments themselves islamophobic? i think i've been clear that they could be taken that way. he also said if lee anderson had apologised, he'd still be a conservative mp. the conflict in the middle east is having a profound effect on uk politics. labour had to kick out

their candidate in the forthcoming rochdale by—election over anti—semitism and are now keen to move the focus onto the prime minister and the problems in his party. what's unfolded in the conservative party, the absolute poison that's been allowed to seep into their political debate, and a prime minister that's seemingly unwilling to even acknowledge the term islamophobia, let alone stand up to senior politicians in his party dragging our politics into the sewer. rishi sunak, shame on you. against a backdrop of demonstrations, the prime minister today warned against polarisation in politics. his critics say, though, he needs to get his own house in order and openly challenged statements made by some of his own representatives. naveed asghar is the deputy chair of the conservative muslim forum — the only muslim group directly affiliated to the conservative party. he told us what the group thought of lee anderson's comments.

we do not accept these comments and we are against anybody from any party or mps elected to come out with comments which can be seen to be misaligned with the british muslim population.— be misaligned with the british muslim population. some in your -a muslim population. some in your party have _ muslim population. some in your party have called _ muslim population. some in your party have called mr _ muslim population. some in your party have called mr anderson's. party have called mr anderson's comments islamophobic. fire party have called mr anderson's comments islamophobic. are they? you can call them — comments islamophobic. are they? you can call them islamophobia, _ can call them islamophobia, anti—muslim, whatever way, they were there to cause absurd to the muslims. they have caused upset and we've been inundated with messages from our members stating we have to take action. i'm glad the prime minister has taken action and he has been removed. in minister has taken action and he has been removed.— minister has taken action and he has been removed. in your statement on this controversy, _ been removed. in your statement on this controversy, you _ been removed. in your statement on this controversy, you have _ been removed. in your statement on this controversy, you have written i this controversy, you have written on the forum it is vital for all leaders to stand firmly against

racism anti—muslim hatred, islamophobia and discrimination. what do you make of the park in his statement, the prime minister did not mention anti hatred or islamophobia?— not mention anti hatred or islamohobia? , , ., ., islamophobia? this is a conversation we will have — islamophobia? this is a conversation we will have this _ islamophobia? this is a conversation we will have this week _ islamophobia? this is a conversation we will have this week with - islamophobia? this is a conversation we will have this week with the - we will have this week with the prime minister's office and try to understand where they are coming from and the reasoning behind it. as a muslim organisation, these are words which deeply hurt and cause deep hurts and it makes it difficult for us to represent muslims when it comes to conversations like this. i will go back to it, maybe it comes down to the prime minister isn't muslim and neither is a deputy prime minister, so maybe they don't understand the effect of the words. two people of a muslim faith, these are deeply insulting and words that worry them. we are 70 years of muslims in britain, third generation, and we're looking to get

young british muslims to into office, counsellors, member of the scottish and welsh parliament, uk parliament. whatever political role and when issues like this rise, it is difficult when politics is so polarised. i is difficult when politics is so polarised-— is difficult when politics is so olarised. ., ., .,~ ., ., polarised. i want to take you to sao paulo in brazil. _ polarised. i want to take you to sao paulo in brazil. you _ polarised. i want to take you to sao paulo in brazil. you can _ polarised. i want to take you to sao paulo in brazil. you can see - polarised. i want to take you to sao paulo in brazil. you can see these l paulo in brazil. you can see these live pictures from the centre of the city there. the former brazilian presidentjair bolsonaro, he's at the centre of the picture crossing his hands in front of him. he is expected to address tens of thousands his supporters shortly in the biggest opposition rally since he left office just over a year ago. a huge crowd wearing mostly green and yellow colours of the national flag of brazil, in sao paulo. you

can see another speaker speak in there, butjair bolsonaro can see another speaker speak in there, but jair bolsonaro you can see in the centre of the picture, he is due to be addressing crowds estimating to be in the tens of thousands. we will go live to sao paulo and our correspondent for the latest. in an interview with us broadcaster cbs, israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, says, once troops begin their operation in rafah, what he described as "total victory" would be just weeks away. gaza's hamas—run health ministry says more than 90 people in the strip were killed over night. while in the israeli city of tel aviv, police used water cannon against anti—government protesters demanding the release of the hostages held by hamas. paul adams reports. tel aviv last night.

israel's deep divisions on raw display. these streets are used to protests, but they're bigger now, angrier. for the first time since october, the police resorting to tougher measures. the loathing for israel's prime minister and his hardline cabinet goes back more than a year, but it's spurred on by the war in gaza and the fear that their government is more interested in defeating hamas than freeing hostages. we cannot keep on doing the military solutions because they are not working. it's becoming worse. a lot of people are dead on both sides. we're waiting for any development and we want them home. the government here says that talks aimed at getting the hostages back are making progress, something hamas denies. the process is due to continue in qatar this week, but the government is also saying that it's about to approve plans for an assault on rafah. the israeli military,

which released these pictures, is still fighting in nearby khan younis. an assault on rafah could be weeks away. israel has yet to signal any real preparations. speaking on american television today, mr netanyahu said it was just a matter of time. if we have a deal, it'll be delayed somewhat. but it'll happen if we don't have a deal. we'll do it anyway. it has to be done because total victory is our goal and total victory is within reach. if israel and hamas do strike a deal on hostages, which families and friends so desperately need, the shooting could stop before the start of ramadan in two weeks' time. it would be the first respite since the end of november, a chance for everyone to draw breath and figure out what happens next. paul adams, bbc news, jerusalem. as you just heard, israel's prime minister netanyahu has spoken about the prospect of a ground invasion in rafah. what would that mean for the million

and a half palestinians sheltering in the region with growing reports of malnutrition? our special correspondent fergal keane sent this report — you may find some of it distressing. it is mostly a story of exhausted waiting. each long minute, the children seek anything to fight the pain of hunger. when it is served, the thin soup is eagerly gathered up. hunger along with so much else. two—month—old mahmoud fatu is one of the vulnerable victims. the doctor examining him told us how he had died.

israel says it allows aid into northern gaza and that the un is failing to organise distribution. but the un says law and order has collapsed with the war. drivers are terrified of being attacked and aid looted. in israel, opinion polls suggest many support the views of zico mor, whose son item is a hostage in gaza and who opposes any aid being sent without the return of the hostages. that sounds very, very harsh when you're talking about civilians, babies, children dying. yeah. yes. but we have babies and women and the elders. 0k. it's very, very simple. give us our people and we will give you food and medicines. the un is warning of famine.

this is rafah at the southern end of the gaza strip, where ii—year—old mohammad zarrab spends every day seeking food for his family. when i go back to my family with this food, says mohammad, they're happy and we all eat together. there is also sickness at home. mohammed's mother, samar, has bone cancer. this is a family stranded where history and hunger have trapped them. fergal keane, bbc news, jerusalem. let's turn to ukraine. president zelensky has said 31,000 ukrainian troops have been killed so far during the two years of war with russia. it's the first time in many months that figure has been revealed. he said tens of thousands of civilians in the russian occupied territories had also died. speaking at a news conference

to mark saturday's second anniversary of russia's invasion, mr zelensky said he couldn't reveal the number of people injured because that information would help russia, but the loss was very painful. he was hopeful of a peace summit in the spring... ..and was sure the us congress would pass its aid package for ukraine. speaking at a press conference in kyiv, president zelensky stressed the importance of western support if ukraine is to defeat the threat from russia. translation: we cannot lose. what will mean if ukraine loses? it means there will be no us, no us in existence. definitely this is not the end of our existence that we like. if ukraine loses, if it becomes complicated, the number of victims, it will depend on, on our partners, on the western world. if we are strong with the weapons that we get, this or that, we won't lose the war.

we will prevail. 0ur ukraine correspondent james waterhouse was at the news conference in kyiv, and asked president zelensky about delays in military aid. frustrated. losing time means losing money, that's my biggest frustration. longer with the war, the more casualties. and casualties can be different. they can be civilian casualties, military casualties, children, and the more people are staying on the occupied territories, the more ukrainians are being deported or taken to russia. the longer the war, the more

countries starting to kind of balance. time is not in favourfor everyone. what else can be disappointed with or frustrated with? i am gratefulfor this help to maintain. it is important this system comes on time. the war as a technological one and we are waiting for weapons and armed vehicles, but the time it arrives, we fight with drones. you are waiting are locked for the long—range weapons and the people are fighting for missiles. maybe let's say we cannot lose the time. ., ., ., ., ,, time. for more analysis, let speak to the senior _ time. for more analysis, let speak to the senior fellow _ time. for more analysis, let speak

to the senior fellow at _ time. for more analysis, let speak to the senior fellow at the - to the senior fellow at the institute and author. thank you for joining us on the programme. i want to ask your thought as you listen to the press conference from president zelensky, where he openly talks about the frustration when it comes to the delays of deliveries of munitions to ukraine. what do you think when you hear his voice and what he has to say struck he's quite right. what he has to say struck he's quite ri . ht. ,, what he has to say struck he's quite riuht. ,, ., , , what he has to say struck he's quite riuht. ,, ., ,, ., right. the us congress, or the seaker right. the us congress, or the speaker of _ right. the us congress, or the speaker of the _ right. the us congress, or the speaker of the house - right. the us congress, or the speaker of the house will - right. the us congress, or the speaker of the house will not. right. the us congress, or the i speaker of the house will not put forward a bill which we know that the majority of the people in the house of representatives support to give $60 billion of aid to ukraine, and supply more weapons. zelensky said in the press conference, if ukraine doesn't gets the weapons in the next month, the situation could get diet. as we heard from zelensky, they need the long—range missiles and advanced weapons which only the us can supply. they are getting a

lot from other european countries, but zelensky is recognising the fact ukraine is in an extremely difficult position. if it doesn't get more assistance, things will get worse during this year.— assistance, things will get worse during this year. how do you think it -la s during this year. how do you think it plays out _ during this year. how do you think it plays out in _ during this year. how do you think it plays out in russia, _ during this year. how do you think it plays out in russia, when - during this year. how do you think| it plays out in russia, when russia sees the confusion as to when ukraine might get the next delivery of arms? how does it play out in russia? , , ., , russia? the kremlin is please with what is happening _ russia? the kremlin is please with what is happening in _ russia? the kremlin is please with what is happening in the _ russia? the kremlin is please with what is happening in the us. - russia? the kremlin is please with. what is happening in the us. people arguing with each other and not coming to a decision. and also to a lesser extent in europe, people arguing about how much they should support ukraine. putin is in for the long game, waiting for the november elections in the united states where he hopes the next president will cut off all assistance to ukraine. and so the kremlin must think things are going its way. i think it was

putin's calculation from the beginning. he was shot by western solidarity at the start of the war and an agreement on sanctions, but he thought if he waited long enough, the solidarity would free and it is happening. the the solidarity would free and it is ha eninu. ., the solidarity would free and it is haueninu. . the solidarity would free and it is happening-— the solidarity would free and it is ha ntenin . ., .,, .., ., ., happening. the war has come at a treat happening. the war has come at a great course _ happening. the war has come at a great course for _ happening. the war has come at a great course for russia. _ happening. the war has come at a great course for russia. we - happening. the war has come at a great course for russia. we don't| great course for russia. we don't know the number of soldiers who have died, but it estimated at tens of thousands. the cost and impact on the economy. how long can putin carry on with the conflict? i the economy. how long can putin carry on with the conflict?- carry on with the conflict? i think the british _ carry on with the conflict? i think the british have _ carry on with the conflict? i think the british have calculated - carry on with the conflict? i think the british have calculated the i the british have calculated the russian losses could be as much as 315,000 dead and wounded. russia can continue this war as long as it gets revenues from oil and gas, as long as it gets its ammunition from north korea, the drones from around. it is stepping up its own production of weaponry. its economy had the

highest growth rate in europe last year. that's because it's on a war footing. in the long run the economy will overheat and there will be problems. forthe will overheat and there will be problems. for the moment, they can keep this up. do problems. for the moment, they can keep this up— keep this up. do you think it is siml keep this up. do you think it is simply that — keep this up. do you think it is simply that if _ keep this up. do you think it is simply that if president - keep this up. do you think it is simply that if president biden | keep this up. do you think it is i simply that if president biden wins the next election, then more aid will go to ukraine? is it as simple as that, or will there be more negotiations christmas if president biden wins the election we have to see which party controls the senate. in terms of voting on this. a new biden administration would continue to support ukraine, but most people believe in the coming years it would not get the level of support it has had of two note from the us. we are running out of some of the weapons __ up running out of some of the weapons —— up to now from the us.

running out of some of the weapons -- up to now from the us.— -- up to now from the us. thank you for “oininr -- up to now from the us. thank you forjoining us— -- up to now from the us. thank you forjoining us on _ -- up to now from the us. thank you forjoining us on bbc— -- up to now from the us. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. - -- up to now from the us. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. let's i -- up to now from the us. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. let's go | forjoining us on bbc news. let's go back to brazil where supporters of the former presidentjair bolsonaro are protesting in sao paulo. thousands of his backers rallied in the city's main avenue. the first major demonstration of its kind since he left office over a year ago. 0rganisers since he left office over a year ago. organisers say since he left office over a year ago. 0rganisers say bolsonaro is the victim of political persecution by the left wing government. we are going to show you these live pictures from sao paulo, and there he is, addressing the crowd. it is estimated tens of thousands of people have joined that demonstration to listen to him. that speak to our correspondent who is there for us. just how significant are these demonstrations? i think

from former— are these demonstrations? i think from former president _ are these demonstrations? i think| from former president bolsonaro's perspective, he wants to share the big crowd that has turned out in support of him is a sign he still has supporters, still a big fan base in a polarised brazil. why this is significant is this rally was called in response to an ongoing investigation into bolsonaro. he faces a number of investigations, but one of the major ones is whether he incited an alleged coup last after he lost the election. thousands of his supporters turned up thousands of his supporters turned up in the capital last year and stormed the presidential palace, congress and the supreme court. he is under investigation into whether he incited his supporters to go and do that, and encouraged military chiefs to be part of a coup as well. he will be careful at the speech today because if any comments he makes in his speech now are seen as

inciting further riots, that could prove more problematic. we can't 'ust sue prove more problematic. we can't just sue the _ prove more problematic. we can't just sue the pictures _ prove more problematic. we can't just sue the pictures of— prove more problematic. we can't just sue the pictures of mr - just sue the pictures of mr bolsonaro addressing the crowds. what is he expected to say to his supporters? he what is he expected to say to his supporters?_ supporters? he is going to be claimin: supporters? he is going to be claiming his — supporters? he is going to be claiming his innocence - supporters? he is going to be claiming his innocence and i supporters? he is going to be i claiming his innocence and trying to reiterate a lot of the things which he feels were unjustly alleged against him. he has repeatedly not been afraid to repeat unproven claims at the last election, that it was fraudulent, even though there was fraudulent, even though there was no evidence to suggest it. that's one of the reasons many of his supporters came last year to roddyin his supporters came last year to roddy in support of him. he may make those allegations, but one of the main purposes today is to show he still has a big fan base. when i've been speaking to supporters in the crowd today, a lot of saying they are here demonstrating for freedom,

freedom of speech and alleging bolsonaro is facing potential investigations and even prison for, investigations and even prison for, in their view, expressing his opinion. as i touched on, this is really a reference to the fact he's under a police investigation at the moment into whether he incited an alleged coup against the authorities last year. he's had his passport sees, he's had multiple police raids, and this is him trying to show his strength and support base as the investigation nears the end. mr bolsonaro that offers a year ago, but how influential izzy in brazil politics, and how is he viewed in the country? this politics, and how is he viewed in the country?— politics, and how is he viewed in the country? as i mentioned, he still does have _ the country? as i mentioned, he still does have a _ the country? as i mentioned, he still does have a big _ the country? as i mentioned, he still does have a big support i the country? as i mentioned, he l still does have a big support base, which can be evidenced by the thousands of people who have turned up thousands of people who have turned up today. i think in terms of more generally, politics is still polarised, still divided. he still

has a very active social media campaign behind him, some of which has been orchestrated by his sons, who are still active in leading the social media campaign in support of bolsonaro. he doesn't like to think of himself as an influential figure. in terms of whether he could realistically have a challenge to the current president, at the moment it's unlikely, given he's been banned from running for office for eight years, partly because of his comments and actions which were seen to undermine the electoral system by the repeated unproven claims of electoral fraud last year. the repeated unproven claims of electoralfraud last year. i electoral fraud last year. i understand there's been large demonstrations against mr bolsonaro. tell us more about that.— tell us more about that. actually, onl a tell us more about that. actually, only a cripple _ tell us more about that. actually, only a coople of— tell us more about that. actually, only a couple of weeks _ tell us more about that. actually, only a couple of weeks ago i tell us more about that. actually, only a couple of weeks ago on i tell us more about that. actually, only a couple of weeks ago on the anniversary of the riots in brazil, we were here on this very same street and there were demonstrations

against the former president and in support of the current president. that's because many people are incredibly unhappy about the influence bolsonaro had and the violence which took place. there have been counter protests and rallies against them, but today this is about him showing he has some support in the country.— support in the country. thank you very much- _ support in the country. thank you very much- our — support in the country. thank you very much. our south _ support in the country. thank you very much. our south american l very much. 0ur south american correspondent. we will leave you with these pictures from sao paulo, and that is jair bolsonaro addressing crowds of tens of thousands who he has called out to demonstrate in support of him. the former president is being investigated for allegedly trying to carry out a two. you were hello, there. much of the country enjoying a fine

and dry part two of the weekend, with quite a bit of sunshine around after that cold, frosty and in places foggy start. so, much of the country will remain dry with sunny spells. however, low pressure to the south of the uk will continue to bring wet and windy weather to south wales, south—west england, increasingly south—west england, increasingly so across the south and south—east of england through this evening and overnight. we'll see some showers driving into central northern scotland, a few across north sea coasts of england, as well, wintry in nature. but further north, where we have the clearer skies, a ridge of high pressure toppling in. it's going to be cold and frosty, less cold in the south and east because of the cloud, the wind and rain from this feature which will eventually pull out into the near continent for monday, taking the rain with it, but it will remain quite windy across england and wales. we remain in the colder air mass with this ridge of high pressure which will bring much of the country a lot of dry and sunny weather throughout the day on monday before it turns wet and windy in the far north—west later on. so, quite a windy day to come across southern and eastern areas, the rain eventually clears from sussex and from kent. a few showers across north sea coasts, otherwise mostly dry

with some sunshine thanks to that ridge of high pressure. winds lighter in the north compared to the south and east, that will really take the edge off the temperatures, very windy for the northern isles later on ahead of this weather front. so temperatures on the face of it 6-9, it so temperatures on the face of it 6—9, it will feel colder than that in the south—east when you factor in the south—east when you factor in that strong north—easterly breeze. as we head through monday night, clearer skies for england and wales with the breeze tending to die down. it turns wetter, windier and cloudierfor it turns wetter, windier and cloudier for scotland and cloudier for scotland and northern ireland, so here less cold than it will be across england and wales, where we will have again a frost, perhaps even a few mist and fog patches around to start the day. tuesday, we see this weather front pushing southwards and eastwards across the country, it will be weakening as it pushes into that ridge of high pressure. some heavy rain likely across scotland and northern ireland for a time, maybe some snow on the hills, that weather front weakens as it pushes into england and wales, so a rather cloudy afternoon here. brighter for scotland and northern ireland into the afternoon, but there will be some blustery

showers and these will have a wintry to them, temperatures range from 7—10. looks like it remains unsettled for the rest of february, could turn a bit milder midweek but then it turns colder as we head into the first few days of march.

this is bbc news. the headlines...

the conservative party is under increasing pressure after suspending an mp over claims of racism. lee anderson said "islamists" had "got control" of the mayor of london. but the deputy prime minister won't say whether he considered the comments to be islamophobic. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu has told us television that his country's forces are "weeks" away from a total victory in gaza — we'll hear more from him president zelensky reveals 31,000 ukrainian soldiers — and tens of thousands of civilians — have been killed in the two years of war with russia. it's the first time in months that official casualty figures have been released. the former brazilian president, jair bolsonaro, is addressing tens of thousands of his supporters, in the biggest opposition rally since leaving office just over a year ago. he's being investigated over an alleged coup plot. now on bbc news it's sportsday.