"islamists have got control" of the mayor of london, even after rishi sunak said the comments were unacceptable. 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. chaotic scenes in brussels — police fire water cannon as farmers bring parts of the belgian capital to a standstill. you can probably hear on the background some of the firecrackers that are going off. this white stuff on the floor has come from the water cannon that the police have been firing this morning. in the last few minutes, hungarian politicians have approved swedenjoining the nato military alliance. hundreds of posters across london's

tube network including points of the greats have been donated to the library. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. welcome to verified live. rishi sunak has denied accusations of islamophobia within the conservative party. mr sunak was responding for the first time to comments last week by the former deputy party chairman about the mayor of london. lee anderson claimed sadiq khan was "under the control of islamists". the prime minister told the bbc the comments were unacceptable and wrong, but insisted the conservatives did not have a problem with islamophobia. during with islamophobia. this try to ask mr anderson questions during this try to ask mr anderson questions about this outside of parliament earlier today. do you accept comments you been called a racist from your party? h0 called a racist from your party? no comment. earlier today, rishi sunak was asked whether the comments

were islamophobic. i have been very clear that what he said was wrong and unacceptable and thatis said was wrong and unacceptable and that is why we suspended the web, and it is important that everybody, particularly elected politicians are carefully with their words and do not inflame tensions.— not inflame tensions. there's a difference _ not inflame tensions. there's a difference between _ not inflame tensions. there's a difference between wrong - not inflame tensions. there's a difference between wrong and | not inflame tensions. there's a - difference between wrong and islam a phobic, _ difference between wrong and islam a phobic, where there is a phobic? the phobic, where there is a phobic? important phobic, where there is a phobic? tie: important thing is phobic, where there is a phobic? ti2 important thing is they were wrong and oxidant unacceptable and that is why the web has been suspended, and i think everyone can see that tensions are already running high and what i want to do, and what your country want to see is that he'd taken out of this debate and i think thatis taken out of this debate and i think that is the right thing to do. let's speak to sajjad karim, the first british—muslim member of the european parliament. thank you for being here on the programme. you are listening to rishi sunak there. what do you make of what he said?—

of what he said? good evening. i think the first — of what he said? good evening. i think the first thing _ of what he said? good evening. i think the first thing that - of what he said? good evening. i think the first thing that i - of what he said? good evening. i think the first thing that i did - of what he said? good evening. i | think the first thing that i did was listen to what mr anderson had stated, and then i looked to see how it would fit within the definition of islamophobia that the european union uses. i'm sorry to have to tell mr anderson this but it falls fairly and squarely within the definition of islam a phobic commentary. therefore we should not shy away from calling it all —— out for what it is. shy away from calling it all -- out for what it is.— for what it is. before you go on, i'm sorry _ for what it is. before you go on, i'm sorry to _ for what it is. before you go on, i'm sorry to cut _ for what it is. before you go on, i'm sorry to cut across _ for what it is. before you go on, i'm sorry to cut across you, - for what it is. before you go on, | i'm sorry to cut across you, does that extend to the prime minister, because you heard them say words are important and lee anderson was wrong, words are important but he did not say it was racist, and did not say it was islam a phobic. when ou

not say it was islam a phobic. when you consider— not say it was islam a phobic. when you consider prime _ not say it was islam a phobic. when you consider prime minister- not say it was islam a phobic. when you consider prime minister he - not say it was islam a phobic. tav'i2'i you consider prime minister he also happens to be the leader of the conservative party and the conservative party and the conservative party and the conservative party have refused to accept that islamophobia in itself is a definable form of discrimination and that is what is preventing him from actually stating this out from what it actually is but the prime minister himself quite rightfully acknowledges that in the current circumstances in the country there is a need to ensure that all that can be done to calm the situation is done in one of the first things that ought to happen is that they should be recognised as a form of discrimination that is within the definition of islamophobia, when the accepted definition of islamophobia, so should not act as just a leader of

the conservative party, but provide real leadership of the issue. fits real leadership of the issue. as directly called in and out, it's interesting because you describe the last time the conservative party had a look at this, and inquiry a few years ago, as a whitewash, and in terms of what we've heard from the party today the prime minister said they don't have a problem with islamophobia, do you think the conservative party has a problem with islamophobia?— conservative party has a problem with islamophobia? there is no basis to arrive at that _ with islamophobia? there is no basis to arrive at that conclusion _ with islamophobia? there is no basis to arrive at that conclusion that - to arrive at that conclusion that the conservative party has no problem with islamophobia and there is substantial evidence to say that the conservative party needs to carry out a proper and thorough inquiry and investigation into its own practices and processes to determine whether incidences in the past due for into the definition of islamophobia and whether they were properly dealt with or not. this a

final thought. — properly dealt with or not. this a finalthought, in _ properly dealt with or not. this a final thought, in terms _ properly dealt with or not. this a final thought, in terms of - properly dealt with or not. this a final thought, in terms of the - final thought, in terms of the damage this test to muslim communities across the uk, your assessment and your worries. this is not 'ust assessment and your worries. this is not just about _ assessment and your worries. this is notjust about the _ assessment and your worries. this is notjust about the muslim _ not just about the muslim communities, it's about the nature of the type of society that the united kingdom is and wishes to be. it was built upon open and liberal values as a society that was welcoming for all parts of the united kingdom and all communities. when you segregate out one section of the british population and make it seem —— seem, or provide signage that that particular community would not be protected in the same way as other communities among what that does is it actually gnaws away at the very fabric of our society and the very fabric of our society and the values it is built upon, and that cannot carry on.—

the values it is built upon, and that cannot carry on. sa"ad karim, we have to * that cannot carry on. sa"ad karim, we have to leave h that cannot carry on. sa"ad karim, we have to leave it h that cannot carry on. sajjad karim, we have to leave it there _ that cannot carry on. sajjad karim, we have to leave it there but - we have to leave it there but thank you very much, former conservative you very much, former conservative you forjoining us in the programme. the un secretary—general has said — nothing justified what he called the �*collective punishment�* of the palestinian people in gaza. speaking at the un's human rights council in geneva, antonio guterres accused member states of "turning a blind eye to international law, the geneva conventions and even the united nations charter". his comments came hours after israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, said a ground invasion of rafah — where 1.5 million palestinians are sheltering — would go ahead, whatever happens in hostage negotiations. the israeli military has now presented the war cabinet with a plan for the evacuation of palestinian civilians from rafah. the us has previously warned israel that an offensive, without proper planning, would be a "disaster". the palestinian government, which administers parts of the israeli occupied west bank, has submitted its resignation to the president, mahmoud abbas.

mr abbas is under pressure to shake up the unpopular palestinian authority. more on all that in a moment. but first, let's hear some of what mr guterres had to say in geneva. the security council is often deadlocked, unable to act on the most significant peace and security issues of our time. the councils lack of unity on russia's invasion of ukraine and on israel's military operations in gaza following the horrific terrorist attacks by hamas on the 7th of october has severely perhaps fatally undermine its authority. they council needs serious reform to its composition and working methods. nothing can justify humans deliberately killing, injuring and torturing and kidnapping of civilians. the use of sexual violence and the indiscriminate launching of rockets toward israel. but nothing justifies

the collective punishment of the palestinian people. paul adams sin jerusalem. and paul adams sinjerusalem. and when it comes to what we expect in rafah, we know that plan is being delivered, when is the public and most importantly, palestinians who would have to move, when will they find out? ., , , ., ., ., find out? perhaps not for a while. the thing we _ find out? perhaps not for a while. the thing we have _ find out? perhaps not for a while. the thing we have to _ find out? perhaps not for a while. the thing we have to watch - find out? perhaps not for a while. the thing we have to watch out i find out? perhaps not for a while. | the thing we have to watch out for is to look up to the skies and see whether leaflets are being dropped under rafah because that would be among the first signs that something is happening think back to what happened in gaza, gaza city, in october in khan younis in december each time the ground operation into those cities was prefaced by a massive dropping of leaflets, lots

and lots of phone calls and text messages, signalling through social media and maps that were published showing evacuation routes, israelis say they went to great efforts to try and make sure the civilian population had opportunities to get out of harms way. many palestinians would argue those opportunities were there in name only and that pretty quickly everywhere became dangerous. the israelis did that and that is what we have to watch out for ahead of any operation in rafah, and it is that much more difficult because all of those people, in large part of them who fled from other places, ended up in rafah, and so that is a place absolutely teaming with —— teaming with refugees and to launch a military operation there in the presence of a significant number of those people as antonio guterres indicated, would be absolutely catastrophic. it would take something of a miracle to get those

people out of the way. in gaza, not everyone left, i run 300,000 people remained when the attack began and probably more in fact was up i don't think anyone is thinking that some have —— and somehow rafah will be emptied, but there has to be visibly concerted effort by the israelis to try and move people to something approximated a safe area before any of this can begin, and at the moment we have no idea where those safe areas are going to be. pauli we have no idea where those safe areas are going to be. paul adams there in jerusalem, _ areas are going to be. paul adams there in jerusalem, thank- areas are going to be. paul adams there in jerusalem, thank you - areas are going to be. paul adams there in jerusalem, thank you very there injerusalem, thank you very much. today marks the deadline for israel to respond to the un's top court — the icj — and the provisional measures they announced at the hague in the genocide hearing that was heard injanuary. the court outlining a number of actions they were demanded that israel did and today was a deadline israel did and today was a deadline israel is to respond. let's talk about that for the next few minutes. let's speak to ambassador vusi madonsela, south africa's ambassador

to the netherlands. thank you for being here with us the deadline has come and in terms of any sort of evidence of israel listening to what the icj actually outlined at the end of january, what is your assessment?— is your assessment? thank you for havin: is your assessment? thank you for having me — is your assessment? thank you for having me on _ is your assessment? thank you for having me on your— is your assessment? thank you for having me on your show, - is your assessment? thank you for having me on your show, the - is your assessment? thank you for having me on your show, the point is your assessment? thank you for i having me on your show, the point is that what we have seen underground does not signal anything that indicates that israel is complaining with the provisional measures indicated by the court on the 26th of january one to 24. as to what is contained in their report, i'm afraid we haven't had sight of it. ordinarily, they would send it to the court via the office of the registrar and at the earliest possible opportunity, the registrar would then make that copy available

to us for us to have sight of it and we would be given an opportunity to consider the contents and give our comments. consider the contents and give our commente— consider the contents and give our comments. ~ ., ., , , ., , comments. would you at this stage be urt int comments. would you at this stage be urttin the comments. would you at this stage be urging the court _ comments. would you at this stage be urging the court to _ comments. would you at this stage be urging the court to publish _ comments. would you at this stage be urging the court to publish that - urging the court to publish that because one assumes when one sees what israel's response is that can be tested with facts on the ground? the court would indicate to us when they meet the court available to us whether it would be me for publication or made confidential, so we have to operate within direction over the court, but if we take the view that the contents thereof should be made public, we would request the court to make it public, but we will be up to the courts to decide whether or not whether in their view should be made public. in our limited experience, we have seen similar reports and other instances kept confidential, so we would be surprised if the court were to take

a similar view surprised if the court were to take a similarview in surprised if the court were to take a similar view in this incense. th a similar view in this incense. in terms of the directions from the icj at the end of january, is terms of the directions from the icj at the end ofjanuary, is it terms of the directions from the icj at the end of january, is it your assessment that two of the most important rulings or indications for action by israel was on a greater amount of humanitarian aid getting into gaza, and also trying to rein into gaza, and also trying to rein in the sorts of comments that can be described as incited genocide or actions or rhetoric we have heard from all decisions in israel? th from all decisions in israel? t'i regards so that, the report from all decisions in israel? t�*t regards so that, the report nets are all over the media indicate that not sufficient to manage hearing it is getting into gaza. sometimes there are reports that citizens of israel are reports that citizens of israel are preventing humanitarian aid trucks from entering the area. in

some instances there are reports indicated that the even the israeli defence force is prevented trucks from making orfinding their way to where the gazans are to be found. the dig trenches in front and behind the truck for the truck not to move forwards or backwards, and those are some of the reports we have received. to that extent, we have a sense that there has not been any complaints with the provisional measures relating to that aspect. of course, there may well be some fruits of humanitarian aid that has found its way but the bulk of it has remained in excess the people of gaza. with regards to incitement of genocide and effectively dehumanizing common interior ——

commentary, the truth is that what we have seen soon after the provisional measures were handed down on the 26th of january, is that a sizeable number of ministers and members of the israeli parliament went to some parliaments where discussions were being made where, in fact, calls for invasion and other areas, in fact, calls for invasion and otherareas, including in fact, calls for invasion and other areas, including the west bank, were open in the discussed. the courts provisional measures were not be taken seriously. t put the courts provisional measures were not be taken seriously.— not be taken seriously. i put that to the former _ not be taken seriously. i put that to the former ambassador - not be taken seriously. i put that to the former ambassador of - not be taken seriously. i put that to the former ambassador of the | not be taken seriously. i put that. to the former ambassador of the un when he was on the programme earlier, but thank you for being with us on today's verify life and for joining with us on today's verify life and forjoining us. around the world and across the uk.

this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news a study by the resolution foundation — has that found people, in their early 20s, are more likely to take time off work because of illness, than those in their 40s. 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. 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 onjanuary i7. and... by bbc verify of car insurance quotes stress the areas with people of high publishes of ethnic icons were more higher than elsewhere the stock prices were higher in these neighbourhoods even where similar areas had less

accidents, insurance agency says ethnicity was not a factor. your life with bbc news. in belgium, some special bracket barricades near the headquarters, farmers from belgium and across europe says gm —— cheap imports are putting their lives at risk, the streets were choked with smoke from burning tires and fireworks. earlier, our correspondent nick beake described events on the ground. beake described events on the round. , ., ,., ., beake described events on the round. , ., ., ., ground. these are some of that tractors that — ground. these are some of that tractors that have _ ground. these are some of that tractors that have been - ground. these are some of that tractors that have been brought ground. these are some of that i tractors that have been brought in today. it's a central avenue and is backed up as far as i can see. the farmers here that have driven the vehicles have come with a message for the politicians at the european commission and other institutions

here. you can see today the billings being guarded by the water cannon, which are there were adults in the flames of that big pile of tires set ablaze. the pharmacy did not been treated fairly and there is lots of red tape and they have to put up with new rules which they are generally behind but they are not brought in too quickly. let me show you what is happening over here, becausejust as the smoke blows right across the city, is a sort of barricade been set up and the police have been trying to hold people back. some of the tractors have been bashing into the tractors have been bashing into the barriers. so this is a view in brussels today. the significant thing to mention here is there some seem to public support in europe is behind the farmers and they have already won some concessions, for example, some farmers have been told

to keep part of their land empty to increase biodiversity having been told they don't actually have to do that now, and they help other measures they have been told they have to bring in will actually be put on pause or be cancelled. this continues today. i do not think it would be all day but certainly the farmers here believe they have made their voices heard. to a store in pakistan and the city of lahore, but he said to risk a woman where an angry crowd accuser of blasphemy. the authorities say a crowd gathered within minutes to —— up to two 200-300 within minutes to —— up to two 200—300 people, blasphemy is punishable by death in pakistan. this one was saved by a police

officer who escorted her to safety. translation or i have served you as a police officer for years translation or i have served you as a police officerfor years now translation or i have served you as a police officer for years now and no one has had any completes. i've that with three cases like this. you should trust _ that with three cases like this. you should trust me _ that with three cases like this. you should trust me to stop that was a police _ should trust me to stop that was a police officer talking to that code and she — police officer talking to that code and she has also been talking to me and she has also been talking to me and spoke _ and she has also been talking to me and spoke about how scared the woman was as— and spoke about how scared the woman was as the _ and spoke about how scared the woman was as the mud was her on her. she was as the mud was her on her. was absolutely was as the mud was her on her. §t2 was absolutely terrified. was as the mud was her on her. st2 was absolutely terrified. there's no question about the fact that she wasn't terrified. no question about the fact that you could not sense the fact that you could not sense the fear in the air and the kind of emotionally charged environment the people had created in the name of religion will stop no denying of this fact. ~ , ., ., religion will stop no denying of this fact. ~ i. ., ,.. .,, this fact. were you not scared as well addressing _ this fact. were you not scared as well addressing a _ this fact. were you not scared as well addressing a crowd, - this fact. were you not scared as well addressing a crowd, and - this fact. were you not scared as i well addressing a crowd, and angry mob, as we saw you doing?

unfortunately, we've grown immune to it because such incidents have mushroomed across the pre—since all our province, it's very often, so you tend to know how to handle these issues. if you're going to a certain issues. if you're going to a certain issue which has been charged because of some religious factor, you already have certain points in your head and as a professional police officer, when you're going in, the primary concern for you is the person who is being charged of being charged with the crime, it needs to be kept safe. the primary policy of any police officer should be, is that the person here being charged with this crime should be kept safe so that the law can take this course. �* so that the law can take this course. ~ , .,

so that the law can take this course. ~ i. .. , ., so that the law can take this course. ~ i. , ., ., course. and you did exactly that and now there is — course. and you did exactly that and now there is talk _ course. and you did exactly that and now there is talk of _ course. and you did exactly that and now there is talk of giving _ course. and you did exactly that and now there is talk of giving you - now there is talk of giving you a really prestigious metal, and i'm sure that would proceed in the next couple of weeks in terms of that actually happening. i read it that you actually said to the crowd, or about the crowd, had i not screamed and convince the crowd, it would've turned nastier. in your mind, you think there was a very real potential here of a possible lynching?— potential here of a possible lnchint? �*, ., ., ., lynching? there's always a potential of a possible — lynching? there's always a potential of a possible lynching _ lynching? there's always a potential of a possible lynching when - lynching? there's always a potential of a possible lynching when you're l of a possible lynching when you're looking at a crowd, it a mob. any factor that is political or social drives that, because you cannot actually been the responsibility on actually been the responsibility on a particular person and the mob is taken responsibility and is a collective responsibility, who would you charge a crime to after the incident has taken place? we realised how bad it was getting when

there was a store nearby, and a cafe, and it was on, and it got the potential thing the frustrated god would do was to put fire and set fire to the cafe. so we had to, no matter what risk, we had to just get her out of that particular situation there and then stop and then we realised the extent of how bad it had gotten when when we had gotten her in the car, they started hitting the car and as we drove off, the mob was shouting slogans and following us till we reach the main road. than us till we reach the main road. an extraordinary story there and that was the police officer that saved the woman talking to me until earlier on the programme. sweden has become a member of the nato alliance after hungry as parliament voted to allow its accession of the swedish premise or was just been talking, call it in a historic date and his

country was ready to shoulder its responsibility. hungary, was the lass of 31 nato members to rectify sweden's application which was prompted by russia's full—scale invasion of ukraine. neighbouring finland joined last year. the nato secretary—general has also spoken about it today, and said everyone would be stronger and safer after today's accession, sweden's membership comes after two centuries of known elements, hungry�*s by minister had previously opposed sweden entrance,. so, that going through in the last couple of hours. more on all of our headlines here in a moment on bbc news. hello there, good evening. a rather wet start across the south east of england today, but for many, it was largely dry. the best of the sunshine

towards the west today, such as here in northern ireland or say western scotland, wales, in the southwest of england, seeing lots of blue sky around, some sunny spells, but also some showers blowing in from the north sea, though, further east. and the general forecast, as we head through the rest of the week, it's going to be changeable — wet and windy at times and frost and fog forming perhaps for some over the next couple of nights. and then the air turns briefly milder through the middle part of the week. now, overnight tonight, we look out towards the north west of scotland, into northern ireland, where we see a couple of weather fronts approaching. temperatures dipping away for a while, but they're rising again as the cloud starts to thicken and the rain pushes through. but further south, for england and wales, it's going to be rather chilly. there will be a frost and also some fog developing as the winds light in the fog, most likely for the east midlands and into east anglia. but this is how we'll start of the day on tuesday. now, that fog will be slow to lift and clear. there will be some hazy sunshine across the southeastern quadrant of the uk.

further north and west, that front just continues to slip further southwards and eastwards, but as it bumps into the high pressure, it's fizzling out. so, the rain will be really quite negligible by the time we get to the end of the day. brighter skies developing behind the front. a scattering of showers and temperatures are milder across much of scotland, northern england and northern ireland, 9—10 degrees celsius here. now, as we head through tuesday night, again, a frost possible across england and wales, but to windy for any frost to form really further north than that and another warm front approaches now this is going to drag with it some milderfeeling air and also some further outbreaks of rain, heaviest towards the west across northern ireland, western scotland, down through north west england, west and wales and the south west of england. but it's a largely dry day, but with thickening cloud through the afternoon across eastern england. temperatures here reaching double figures as that milder air gradually sweeps its way eastwards. but then a couple of cold fronts will be pushing through as we head through thursday. so again, it will be turning colderfor most. this rain pushes across east anglia through central southern england, perhaps popping up at times brighter skies, but also a good

scattering of showers and some chillier feeling air. some of these showers could be wintry, perhaps over the scottish mountains, so turning colder. bye— bye.

welcome to bbc news. do you accept comments he been called a racist from your party? a tory mp refuses to apologise

for claiming "islamists have got control" of the mayor of london, even after rishi sunak said the comments were unacceptable. chaotic scenes in brussels — police fire water cannon as farmers bring parts of the belgian capital to a standstill. relief for ever ten as their points is reduced to from six after in appeal. —— everton. undercover police officers in the northeast of england come up with an unusual way of tackling anti—social behaviour. and poems of the underground, displayed across london featuring the words of literary greats, have been donated to cambridge university library. all this coming up in a moment. first, let's head to the bbc sport

centre.