benjamin netanyahu says an assault on rafah will go ahead as the un secretary general says nothing can justify what he called the collective punishment of the palestinian people in gaza. an offensive on the city would not only be terrifying for more than a million palestinian civilians sheltering there, it would put the final nail in the coffin of our aid programmes. wrong and unacceptable — prime minister rishi sunak condemns comments from a suspended mp about the mayor of london. hungarian politicians are set to approve sweden joining the nato military alliance later — the final hurdle in their membership. hello, i'm lewis vaughanjones. welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction.

farmers have been demonstrating in brussels. tires have been set on fire. police have been using water cannons. huge demonstrations and huge protests in brussels today. the reason is a meeting of agricultural ministers inside the buildings nearby. that is the particular focus but the protest is out in force as they have been notjust in brussels but in countries right across europe. some of the reasons, let's take a look at them. that leads to do with the green deal, measures to bring in and reforms to subsidies, free trade deals, farmers opposed some of those which brings in cheaper imports. a general increase

in costs making earning a decent living much more challenging. so there are a number of different factors for the protests. some are country specific and some are more broadly to do with the bureaucracy and the way it is organised. we have been keeping an eye on these live pictures for the last couple of hours. there has been plenty of activity on the streets and our correspondent is also there. this is right in the heart of brussels. the immediate future is this huge trafficjam because take a look at all these tractors that have been brought into the heart of the capital city today. they back all the way down as far as the eye can see and if you come along here you can probably hear in the background some of the firecrackers that are going off to stop this white stuff on the floor has come from the water cannon that the police have been

firing this morning, not at the farmers themselves but at the fires that have been started. some tyres were set alight earlier on today. a few fires have been set off now. these are all european institution buildings. let's have a chat to someone who has come from the czech —— czech republic. we met about 20 minutes ago. can you explain what sort of farming you do and why you are here? we sort of farming you do and why you are here? ~ . ., , ., are here? we are farmers from the czech republic _ are here? we are farmers from the czech republic. we _ are here? we are farmers from the czech republic. we found - are here? we are farmers from the czech republic. we found grains i are here? we are farmers from the | czech republic. we found grains and cereals _ czech republic. we found grains and cereals and — czech republic. we found grains and cereals and things like that. it's been _ cereals and things like that. it's been really hard to sell produce because — been really hard to sell produce because of the imports notjust from ukraine _ because of the imports notjust from ukraine but— because of the imports notjust from ukraine but also from southern america — ukraine but also from southern america and russia. the european union _ america and russia. the european union depends a lot on farmers when it comes _ union depends a lot on farmers when it comes to— union depends a lot on farmers when it comes to the environment and that drives— it comes to the environment and that drives the _ it comes to the environment and that drives the cost up and it's really hard _ drives the cost up and it's really hard for— drives the cost up and it's really hard for us _ drives the cost up and it's really hard for us to survive.— drives the cost up and it's really hard for us to survive. what you say to eo - le hard for us to survive. what you say to peeple who _ hard for us to survive. what you say to peeple who say _ hard for us to survive. what you say to people who say european - hard for us to survive. what you say| to people who say european farmers have had support and subsidies and this is causing disruption and they

shouldn't complain too much? the thin with shouldn't complain too much? the thing with subsidies, they come from the real— thing with subsidies, they come from the real tight bureaucracy. it's really— the real tight bureaucracy. it's really hard for farmers to work in the field — really hard for farmers to work in the field and working stables and then go— the field and working stables and then go to the computer for several hours _ then go to the computer for several hoursiust_ then go to the computer for several hoursjust to fill then go to the computer for several hours just to fill in the forms which — hours just to fill in the forms which nobody actually reads. this is one of— which nobody actually reads. this is one of the _ which nobody actually reads. this is one of the problems and also the subsidies— one of the problems and also the subsidies are quite low right now, notjust_ subsidies are quite low right now, notjust in— subsidies are quite low right now, notjust in the czech republic but throughout europe to go the same level as _ throughout europe to go the same level as in — throughout europe to go the same level as in 2014 and the inflation since _ level as in 2014 and the inflation since then— level as in 2014 and the inflation since then has been 30 or 40%. everything — since then has been 30 or 40%. everything has gone up and it doesn't — everything has gone up and it doesn't cover the costs any more. that— doesn't cover the costs any more. that is— doesn't cover the costs any more. that is the — doesn't cover the costs any more. that is the complete you here, no additional funding for the past ten years. you can hear a lot of the bangs now and this is the smoke that's been generated by the fire. quite a bit of disruption. brussels is a city used to protests but this is a city used to protests but this is quite considerable. you can see another big pile of tyres have been set on fire here. the police are

pretty used to demonstrations of the scale but from previous experience this could go one of two ways. either it peters out what it becomes bigger and we see more activity throughout the day. quite a lot of disruption in the heart of brussels for now. you talk to some of the different farmers, some guys from germany and we talked to a woman from france, they have all got different concerns. generally they don't like the way the european union has been implementing its green policies, they say they haven't been getting many to help them make the necessary adaptions and transitions. what we have today is a meeting of the agriculture ministers here in brussels. some of the farmers have been invited to talk to them and when you see these sorts of scenes outside that's probably why the politicians have done that. they want to try and take the heat out of the anger. 0ver done that. they want to try and take the heat out of the anger. over the weekend we know president macron in france received a pretty frosty

reception and this is something i think which is quite a big concern for a lot of politicians because the opinion polls to suggest that a lot of these farmers do have quite widespread public support. i am of these farmers do have quite widespread public support. i am “ust auoin to widespread public support. i am “ust going to show i widespread public support. i am “ust going to show you i widespread public support. i am “ust going to show you these i widespread public support. i amjust going to show you these pictures - going to show you these pictures from a bit earlier to give you an idea of what the police are using their water cannons on. a pretty significant disturbance there. we are keeping across events in brussels and we will be back a little later in the programme. we start with a warning from the united nations chief that an all—out israeli offensive on the city of rafah in southern gaza would put the final nail in the coffin of aid programmes there. he also said nothing could justify what he called the "collective punishment" of the palestinian people in gaza. his comments came hours after israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu said a ground invasion of rafah — where one—and—a—half million palestinians are sheltering — would go ahead, whatever happens

in the hostage negotiations. he said "it has to be done, because total victory is our goal, and total victory is within reach." the israeli military has now presented the war cabinet with a plan for the evacuation of palestinian civilians from combat zones in gaza, without giving any details of how or where they would be moved. antonio guterres was speaking at the opening in geneva of a six—week session of the human rights council. the council — composed of 47 member states — is designed to strengthen and promote the protection of human rights around the world. let's hear some of what mr guterres had to say. rafah is the core of the humanitarian aid operation, and unrwa is the backbone of that effort. an all—out israeli offensive on the city would not only be terrifying for more than a million palestinian civilians sheltering there, it would put the final nail in the coffin of our aid programmes. in another development,

the palestinian government, which rules parts of the israeli occupied west bank, has submitted its resignation to its president, mahmoud abbas. the prime minister, mohammad shtayyeh, explained his decision, saying "the new reality in gaza" required a consensus among the palestinian people about political arrangements following the israel hamas war. shtayyeh's comments come as us pressure grows on mahmoud abbas to shake up the palestinian authority and begin work on a political structure that can govern a palestinian state following the war. let's speak to dr sabri saidam, deputy secretary general of the fatah party, which holds office in the west bank. thank you for coming on the programme. can we start with these developments, the palestinian government offering its resignation, why? figs government offering its resignation, wh ? �* , government offering its resignation, wh? 4' ., government offering its resignation, why? as you know we have been saying da in, da why? as you know we have been saying day in. day out — why? as you know we have been saying day in, day out about _ why? as you know we have been saying day in, day out about the _ why? as you know we have been saying day in, day out about the importance i day in, day out about the importance of rearranging the scene as it were

and preparing ourselves for opening and preparing ourselves for opening a debate within palestinian ranks to prepare for tomorrow and as you quite rightly put it to prepare a government that is ready to engage in state building after this will with the hope that the international community will recognise an independent palestine. do community will recognise an independent palestine. do you have a timeline for this, _ independent palestine. do you have a timeline for this, do _ independent palestine. do you have a timeline for this, do you _ independent palestine. do you have a timeline for this, do you know - independent palestine. do you have a timeline for this, do you know what . timeline for this, do you know what the motor buses waiting for and when exactly a new structure will be in place? i exactly a new structure will be in lace? ., ., , ,., exactly a new structure will be in lace? ., ., , ., place? i am not sure whether you are referrin: place? i am not sure whether you are referring to — place? i am not sure whether you are referring to mamota _ place? i am not sure whether you are referring to mamota bus _ place? i am not sure whether you are referring to mamota bus or _ place? i am not sure whether you are referring to mamota bus or the - place? i am not sure whether you are referring to mamota bus or the one i referring to mamota bus or the one conducting the war. 0nce referring to mamota bus or the one conducting the war. once this war is over they will be a new government. according to the palestinian constitution, this government will have five weeks ahead of it to form a new government to replace it so we

will wait to see how things develop with the hope that before ramadan on the 10th of march there will be a total truce or cessation of hostilities that will build the grounds for a different future. and grounds for a different future. and are ou grounds for a different future. and are you confident that will happen with that deadline of ramadan, that they will be cessation of hostilities before then? ihla they will be cessation of hostilities before then? ., , .., , hostilities before then? no because we've “ust hostilities before then? no because we've just heard _ hostilities before then? no because we've just heard from _ hostilities before then? no because we've just heard from benjamin - we've just heard from benjamin netanyahu as he reported that he is going ahead with his plans in rafah and the secretary has expressed concern that benjamin netanyahu doesn't care what the world is thinking and is acting well beyond and above international law. so there is no time limit and if this operation is to be conducted in rafah according to what is leaked out of the israeli government, it will take weeks, so nobody knows and we will be ready. let’s

will take weeks, so nobody knows and we will be ready.— we will be ready. let's spend one more moment — we will be ready. let's spend one more moment on _ we will be ready. let's spend one more moment on the _ we will be ready. let's spend one more moment on the plans - we will be ready. let's spend one more moment on the plans in - we will be ready. let's spend one - more moment on the plans in rafah. what do you think the impact would be if and when benjamin netanyahu makes the decision was a military makes the decision was a military make the decision move in the ground. if make the decision move in the round. . make the decision move in the ground, ., ., , , make the decision move in the round. ., ., , , ground. if what happened was considered — ground. if what happened was considered to _ ground. if what happened was considered to be _ ground. if what happened was considered to be a _ ground. if what happened was considered to be a genocide, l ground. if what happened was - considered to be a genocide, what is going to happen in rafah is going to be a catastrophe. the situation is desperate. today we heard the israelis will allow some lorries into the northern parts of gaza so that means they are going to create certain ways to give the impression there is no mercy —— meaning he is going to displace people. that means he will be engaging in a ground operation that is going to claim more and more palestinian lives. the situation is very despairing and depressing and i and needs international community intervention immediately. this international community intervention immediately-— immediately. this evacuation plan that has apparently _ immediately. this evacuation plan

that has apparently been - immediately. this evacuation plan | that has apparently been submitted to the war coalition, do you think it's feasible to move on if people to safety? it it's feasible to move on if people to safe ? , ., , it's feasible to move on if people to safe ? , .,, ., ., to safety? if people are moved in rafah the average _ to safety? if people are moved in rafah the average person - to safety? if people are moved in rafah the average person would l to safety? if people are moved in - rafah the average person would have moved five times. this is an total madness. to ignore the calls of countries that are continuing their deliberations to call for a cessation of hostilities and continue with the ground operation in rafah to displace people at this magnitude is a recipe for disaster. thank you very much for coming on the programme. let's take you back to brussels and those extraordinary pictures from the streets of the belgian capital. this is a farmers protest but you can hardly call it a single farmers protest. we have been seeing scenes like this with

tractors out on the streets in cities right across europe over the last few weeks. it's a collection of different grievances, many focused around the bureaucracy of the european union and the way farming is run, many to do with more international factors and things like international free trade deals which bring in cheaper goods comparatively to farming produce produced in the country is here like and italy where we have seen all these countries right across europe. right now we have piles of tyres on fire and water cannons trying to put them out from the police. plenty more to come. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. we arejust going to bring across the uk, this is bbc news. we are just going to bring you some of the story is now hitting the headlines across the uk.

a study by the resolution foundation has found people in their early twenties are more likely to take time off work because of illness than those in their forties. the think tank says mental health is of particular concern, with around a third of 18 to 24 year olds reporting they have conditions such as anxiety or depression more than 2,000 migrant have arrived in the uk so far this year after crossing the english channel. the home office says around 290 people crossed the channel in small boats on sunday. this is the highest daily number for more than a month, after 358 people were recorded onjanuary17. analysis by bbc verify of car insurance quotes in england suggests those for areas with the biggest population of people from ethnic backgrounds were a third more expensive than elsewhere. prices were higher in these neighbourhoods even when less diverse areas had similar road accident and crime levels. you are live with bbc news.

the uk prime minister rishi sunak has described comments made by one of his mps lee anderson about the mayor of london, as wrong and unacceptable. mr anderson, the former conservative party deputy chairman said the mayor of london, sadiq khan, was controlled by islamists and he lost the tory whip when he refused to apologise. mr khan said the comments were islamophobic, anti—muslim and racist. speaking on bbc radio york this morning the prime minister denied live to westminster, and our political correspondent ben wright. what has rishi sunak been saying? the conservative's party position on the edison because the deputy prime minister of the weekend was telling interviewers the reason mr anderson had the tory whip suspended was that he hadn't apologised those comments you quoted that he made on gb news on friday. but today the prime minister said quite clearly that the remarks themselves were unacceptable and wrong and that rishi sunak said

was widely anderson had the tory whip withdrawn. so it hardens the government's line only anderson and makes it far less likely he will return to the cardiff —— conservative party anytime soon. about an hour a statement was issued put up on gb news from mr anderson in which he says or accuses city carnival was seeing double standards and in the way that pro—palestinian marches a place in london and goes onto say that even things —— even though he thinks his words were clumsy he is not apologising because he thinks is right. so he's doubling down on his view. i don't think there's any chance in the near future he's going to be returning to the conservative party and this is a phobia row around the tory party is deepening. phobia row around the tory party is dee onenin. . ~ phobia row around the tory party is dee-oenin. ., ,, i. ., phobia row around the tory party is dee-oenin. . ~' ,, ., ., hungarian politicians are expected to ratify sweden's membership of the nato military alliance later. hungary 5 nationalist government, led by viktor 0rban, had been blocking sweden's

membership, claiming its politicians unfairly criticised its democratic standards. hungary had been the only nato member still raising concerns, but the government is now recommending the approval of sweden's application. these are live pitches —— pictures of victor 0rban making comments. let's see if there is a translation on offer. we are going to be listening across that and if we get a translation we will bring it to you. let's speak to mark laity, he's a former special advisor to the nato secretary general and also was previously the director of communications for shape, the military headquarters that commands all nato operations worldwide. thank you very much for coming on the programme. as we hear and see, victor 0rban is speaking, talk to us

about the significance of this moment? i about the significance of this moment?— about the significance of this moment? ~ �* , , moment? i think it's genuinely significant _ moment? i think it's genuinely significant because _ moment? i think it's genuinely significant because to - moment? i think it's genuinely significant because to get - moment? i think it's genuinely i significant because to get sweden into the nato is a big dealfor sweden and the big dealfor into the nato is a big dealfor sweden and the big deal for nato with nato having finland and sweden having joint. they are both very important nations for significant defence capabilities and the general approach. they will be a huge benefit to nato. i think it also is a slap in the mouth for vladimir putin who wanted to invade ukraine. nato enlargement and instead reversed it. so i think it is very significant and also ends some embarrassment that has taken so long to get sweden in because of internal stuff. �* , . ~ to get sweden in because of internal stuff. �*, ., ,, ., ., stuff. let's talk about that delay. ana was stuff. let's talk about that delay. angry was the — stuff. let's talk about that delay. angry was the last, _ stuff. let's talk about that delay. angry was the last, why? - stuff. let's talk about that delay. angry was the last, why? this i stuff. let's talk about that delay. | angry was the last, why? this has ouzzled angry was the last, why? this has puzzled people — angry was the last, why? this has puzzled people as _ angry was the last, why? this has puzzled people as well _ angry was the last, why? this has puzzled people as well because i

puzzled people as well because turkey whether you like the reasons are not, they had genuine reasons which needed to be resolved. hungary's reasons seem to have been almost personal and supreme minister victor 0rban who is the leader and authoritarian leader who said that sweden was basically showing no respect hungary and was blocking it in the eu and criticising it too much. it seems to have been unlocked because the swedish prime minister went and paid a visit and made his peace. i think there is puzzlement why they went so long but we have to acknowledge that victor 0rban is pretty friendly with vladimir putin in russia. so they are not exactly, they are a bit of the black sheep in they are a bit of the black sheep in the nato family at the moment. let’s the nato family at the moment. let's focus quickly — the nato family at the moment. let's focus quickly on _ the nato family at the moment. let's

focus quickly on sweden. what took sweden so long, years and years of not being involved, what changed? basically the double russian invasion of ukraine. sweden looked at being neutral with very strong armed forces throughout the cold war and would say it's working for us, we are neutral, we're safe the problem? then the russian intervention in ukraine and the second invasion and that's the problem. certainly sweden felt very unsafe as did finland and they believe that neutrality was no longer enough. sweden has always been quite close to nato it has to been quite close to nato it has to be said. quite a lot of quiet cooperation in the quiet sense of nato security commitment to sweden but they needed something more. so neutrality worked and then they thought it's not working any more.

thank you very much for coming on the programme. let'sjust take thank you very much for coming on the programme. let's just take you live to budapest. victor 0rban speaking and we are expecting this to be the last hurdle for sweden to join nato. angry expecting to ratify sweden's nato accession and basically clearing those years of neutrality lasting through two world wars and the cold war. her vote expected in the hours ahead in budapest after these opening remarks and we will of course bring that to you. russia says the idea of peace talks with ukraine is ridiculous, after volodymyr zelensky said he hoped to hold a summit in spring to discuss ukraine's vision for peace. it's after president zelensky said 31,000 ukrainian soldiers have been killed in two years of war with russia. ukrainian officials rarely discuss casualty figures, but mr zelensky said he wanted to counter inflated claims by russia.

0ther estimates have put the number much higher. the ukrainian president also said tens of thousands of civilians had died under russian occupation. let's speak to maksym dotsenko, director general of red cross ukraine. thank you for coming on the programme. we want to talk a little bit about the humanitarian situation and aid efforts and the state of the country two years on and some of the challenges, what springs out as some of the big challenges right now? there is an understanding that the needs in ukraine are increasing but this is the wrong approach. this is the pillocks —— biggest challenge for us because needs are still growing and the range of needs in ukraine are very different from the

essential needs in the eastern and south of ukraine where the hostilities are more complex development needs and support and development needs and support and development of the systems of the country in the western and central parts. i can say that the biggest challenge is the complexity of the needs. we sometimes forget about millions of the ip piece was settled in central and western parts of ukraine. ., ., ~' central and western parts of ukraine. ., ., ,, ., ukraine. you talk about the geographical _ ukraine. you talk about the geographical spread - ukraine. you talk about the geographical spread and i ukraine. you talk about the i geographical spread and various different challenges and it's interesting how these challenges link into each other because once you've got cold temperatures and

internally displaced people not in the normal homes, heating and basic needs like that make it harder. yes of course. needs like that make it harder. yes of course- you _ needs like that make it harder. jazz of course. you are absolutely right. more than 5 million people are now internally displaced in ukraine. you can imagine the suffering of these people, despite the fact they have tried to be involved in normal life and we are trying to make everything possible to simplify the lives of these people. but the suffering is continuing. still these people are waiting to come back home. this winter was not as difficult as the last one. the question of the system

support and access to services and social services and medical services, still there is a problem here in ukraine and we are doing everything possible to make these services closer to people who are in need. ., ~ services closer to people who are in need. ., ,, i. services closer to people who are in need. ., ~' ,, , services closer to people who are in need. ., ,, i. , . ., need. thank you very much for talkin: need. thank you very much for talking us _ need. thank you very much for talking us through _ need. thank you very much for talking us through that. i need. thank you very much for talking us through that. we i talking us through that. we appreciate your time. just to let you know, plenty more coming up, we will be back with the headlines in just a few minutes and we will have all the latest from hungary and all the latest from brussels with all those developing stories. this is bbc news. there is a lot of dry weather around

especially in the west. lots of blue sunshine in swansea. further east, although they will be some sunny spells, expect to see shells on the north sea. more of the same as we head through the rest of the afternoon. some of the showers getting to eastern areas of wales. across western wales and the south—west of england is largely dry. a wind chill to factor into those temperatures as well. a brisk north—easterly wind and it will feel colder out towards the east. highs between seven and 10 degrees. the strong winds across the channel islands eventually easing down as we head through this evening. 0vernight tonight a couple of weather fronts approaching the far north—west of scotland and northern ireland in north west england. high—pressure topples further southwards and the winds will lighten and for patches will develop tomorrow morning. a touch of frost and many but temperatures will rise as we head through the small hours of tomorrow morning. we sat the day off with

many of our temperatures slightly above freezing. the fog lingering across south—east england and gradually clearing away. this weather from gradually slipping further southwards and eastwards bringing some outbreaks of rain but gradually petering out. behind it the skies will brighten again towards the north and the west but expect the safety showers and possibly a bit wintry of ohio ground. as we head through tuesday and into wednesday another warm front approaches so again a touch of frost in any on tuesday night into wednesday. this weather front is going to drag behind its milder a but it's quite a wet start to the day across western scotland and northern ireland and western wales. drier and likely to stay dry for most of the day further east with hazy sunshine. we will see temperatures creep back up again into double figures with that milder air starting to take hold. but as we head through thursday, colder air follows behind the second weather front and it's going to sweep in from the west. some of the showers

on thursday could be wintry particularly over higher ground. some spells of sunshine as well and the milder air hangs on in the east.

this is bbc news. the headlines: chaotic scenes in brussels. police fire a water cannon as protesting farmers bring parts

of the belgian capital to a standstill. benjamin netanyahu says an assault on rafah will go ahead as the un secretary general says nothing can justify what he called the collective punishment of the palestinian people in gaza. wrong and unacceptable — prime minister rishi sunak condemns comments from a suspended mp about the mayor of london. these are live pictures of brussels where farmers are protesting. these protests have been happening in countries right across europe. let's go now to hungary. this is inside the parliament. they are expected to ratify sweden's membership of nato,

the final