so desperate for food, i for fresh, for any supplies that they risk their lives - in getting any food, any supplies. no excuses, the truth is aid flowing to gaza is nowhere nearly enough. rishi sunak says there are forces in britain trying to tear the country apart. on the steps of downing st tonight the prime minister promised he would lead the fight against the poison that is dividing us. is he right? was the rochdale bi—election a free and fair election — or did it reflect the increasingly divisive nature of the political debate. we will get reaction to that. in spite of the threats in moscow an extraordinary turnout for the funeral of the opposition leader alexei navalny. and we will get reaction on news

this past hour that washington will air drop humanitarian aid into the gaza strip. and that's where we are going to start. there's growing international pressure for a full investigation into what went wrong yesterday. as the aid convoy arrived in northern gaza. the israeli army has acknowledged that its soldiers opened fire at one point — but says most of the deaths were caused by a crush, or lorries running people over. our special correspondent fergal keane, working with bbc verify, has spent the day piecing together more details of what happened. his report contains some distressing images. shots cracked through the night. people start to move. then run to get away. in this section of the crowd there is panic. and as casualties streamed into local hospitals,

the testimony of witnesses. translation: the situation was unimaginably crazy. - if aid is going to come to us in this way, we don't want it. we don't want to live on the blood of our children. the israelis say that at 4:40am, the convoy left from here under israeli tank escort and began to move towards the crowds waiting for food. the army—supplied drone footage, but there is no way of telling the sequence of the images because there is no timestamp. at 4:16, the israelis say, crowds began to surge around the tracks. at 4:16, the israelis say, crowds began to surge around the trucks. in this sequence, bodies can be seen lying on the ground. also others can be seen crawling away. here, so it looks as if they are dragging themselves using their upper body. what we do not see is exactly what caused these casualties. in its first statement, the idf said people had been

trampled rushing the trucks and also that shots were fired by soldiers who felt threatened by a crowd. this tank is seen withdrawing from the scene. later the military blamed people in the crowd for the chaos. thousands of gazans dispensed upon the trucks. some began violently pushing and even trampling other gazans to death, looting the humanitarian supplies. the unfortunate incident resulted in dozens of gazans killed and injured. the israel defence forces operate according to the rules of engagement and international law. no idf strike was conducted towards the aid convoy. a doctor we spoke to in gaza said the dead and wounded he saw were all gunshot victims.

today aid was dropped by the georgian air force into northern gaza. ——jordan. the hungry rushed towards the food, but nearly five months into the conflict, there is still no operation to deliver aid on the skill it is needed in a place where 85% of the population is displaced. where 85% of the population is dislaced. .,, where 85% of the population is dislaced. , . where 85% of the population is dislaced. . ,, . displaced. people are so desperate for food, displaced. people are so desperate forfood. for— displaced. people are so desperate for food, for freshwater, _ displaced. people are so desperate for food, for freshwater, for - displaced. people are so desperate for food, for freshwater, for any i for food, for freshwater, for any supplies— for food, for freshwater, for any supplies that they risk their lives in getting — supplies that they risk their lives in getting any food, supplies to sunport— in getting any food, supplies to support their children, to support themselves. support their children, to support themselves-_ support their children, to support themselves. ., . , , ., support their children, to support themselves. ., ., themselves. how many were shot, how many trampled — themselves. how many were shot, how many trampled in _ themselves. how many were shot, how many trampled in a _ themselves. how many were shot, how many trampled in a desperate - themselves. how many were shot, how many trampled in a desperate crush. i

many trampled in a desperate crush. it is not yet possible to say. but without a secure aid operation in the mists of continuing war, the people of gaza wait for the next tragedy. well an very strong statement from the british foreign secretary david cameron tonight. "the deaths of the people in gaza waiting for an aid convoy yesterday were horrific," he said. "this must not happen again." and the foreign secretary sets it in the wider context: "we can't separate what happened yesterday from the inadequate aid supplies. in february only half the number of trucks crossed into gaza that did in january. this is simply unacceptable. israel has an obligation to ensure that significantly more humanitarian aid reaches the people of gaza." lord cameron said there are a series of bottlenecks that need addressing. there is news tonight that washington is moving past those, and will begin air dropping aid from us military aircraft john kirby has said they will try to find alternative routes into gaza

and will begin these eight drops a very shortly. more than one. the first will be food, he said, and they have cleared what they are about to do with the israeli. so air drops will begin in the coming days. back with us tonight is oliver mcternan, director of forward thinking. he's worked in hostage negotiation for over 20 years. he's just back from dozens of meetings in the israeli parliament the knesset, he's been to the west bank, to jordan. he really does have his finger on the pulse of what is happening at the pulse of what is happening at the moment and in light of what was just reported there, the difficulty getting in and use tonight that seven hostages have been killed in the israeli bombardment, what did you ascertain from the israelis. regrettably but understandably i think is real and in particular in the political leadership is in a

very traumatised situation. so the feeling that i got right across the party divides was the need to finish the job party divides was the need to finish thejob going to rafah and party divides was the need to finish the job going to rafah and then party divides was the need to finish thejob going to rafah and then move north and allow the displaced people up north and allow the displaced people up in the north to return to their homes and that means removing hezbollah from the south of lebanon. i do not think that is a very helpful atmosphere especially in light of what we have just witnessed. i think we will see more horrific incidents like this unless we have an immediate cease—fire and somehow return to proper inclusive negotiations. in somehow return to proper inclusive negotiations-_ negotiations. in light of things converging — negotiations. in light of things converging at _ negotiations. in light of things converging at the _ negotiations. in light of things converging at the moment, i negotiations. in light of things | converging at the moment, the deadline for ramadan which will be around march the 10th, the calls internationally for investigation into this horrific incident yesterday in northern gaza and in mind of the pressure they are under from the families and the hostages,

did you get any sense within knesset that things have to change within the coming days, is there any talk of the deadline thatjill biden has spoken about? ha. of the deadline thatjill biden has spoken about? h0. -- of the deadline thatjill biden has spoken about? ha. —— zhou biden. of the deadline that jill biden has spoken about?- -- zhou biden. spoken about? no. -- zhou biden. he is speaking — spoken about? no. -- zhou biden. he is speaking a — spoken about? no. -- zhou biden. he is speaking a language _ spoken about? no. -- zhou biden. he is speaking a language that _ spoken about? no. -- zhou biden. he is speaking a language that is - spoken about? no. -- zhou biden. he is speaking a language that is not - is speaking a language that is not understood in the writer is really society and i stress the trauma of the 7th of october is still deeply, deeply felt, even people who realise there is need for a change are still traumatised and do see the immediate action as a military one. they do not see the need to have an immediate cease—fire. we are alarmed and rightly so about what happened yesterday because it was all in the open air but we forget that practically every day of this war, 100 people or more have died. we saw

figures coming from america that 25,000 of those were women and children. so i think what more than anything israel needs now is critical friends. anything israel needs now is criticalfriends. friends who anything israel needs now is critical friends. friends who will put their arms around the country and say, enough is enough, you can michael on because no one can see what the consequences of these present actions will be. my fear is it will take a long, long time to get to a stage where we can have a sustainable stability in the whole of the region. sustainable stability in the whole of the region-— of the region. what about your conversations _ of the region. what about your conversations in _ of the region. what about your conversations in the _ of the region. what about your conversations in the arab - of the region. what about your l conversations in the arab world? hamas needs to release the hostages, another part of this. they been through an extremely traumatic period of time some killed in the fighting that has ensued, what pressure has been brought to bear on hamasit is very difficult. i got the mmuhkmwmmmmlwnm sense hamasit is very difficult. i got the sense actually that arab governments have a real problem because since

the horrors of the bombing in gaza are seen, there is a surge in the support of hamas. we are told right across the airport. so it would be difficult to see how they can put pressure. i think in a situation like this and i really feel for the families of those killed tonight, but also we have to realise the 2.3 million people in gaza in life—changing conditions every day. but the only way to solve this is to have proper negotiations. negotiations that are aimed at finding notjust, notjust getting all the hostages that our life back safely also the protection of the people in gaza. but a pathway or a process that will give us a real

security for both peoples in the region and will give a stability, a durable stability and peace. that is what is desperately needed and if that does not come through military pressure, it comes through negotiation and i think that is where all of the pressure should be on both sides. now is the time to enter into serious negotiation and to reach beyond the immediate war and the causes of that immediate war in to find a permanent peace in the region for both countries. i in to find a permanent peace in the region for both countries.— region for both countries. i want to talk about age _ region for both countries. i want to talk about age because _ region for both countries. i want to talk about age because i _ region for both countries. i want to l talk about age because i understand you are attending a one—day conference with the uk, arab league and others attending. the news tonight is that there are air drops in the country, i have seen air drops before and while i have been in gaza and i want to impress on people that it is not the answer to all of the problems that there are, far from all of the problems that there are, farfrom it all of the problems that there are, far from it because logistically it is very difficult to get food to

those who need it. the difficulty right now as you well know is that there is no one on the ground, the gaza police looking after these eight convoys coming in. aid agencies do not want to send their staff and you can well understand why truck drivers do not want to go in from what we saw yesterday unfolding in northern gaza. so what can be done to get sufficient aid to the people who need it?— can be done to get sufficient aid to the people who need it? really and trul the the people who need it? really and truly the pressure _ the people who need it? really and truly the pressure should _ the people who need it? really and truly the pressure should be - the people who need it? really and truly the pressure should be put - the people who need it? really and truly the pressure should be put on| truly the pressure should be put on israel to observe its duties. under international law, to provide. the area crossing should be used. there area crossing should be used. there are means of getting aid in without the air drops. i think that is a most unsuitable way. but i was told with talks with some un people in jerusalem and they showed video footage of, there are families trying to get ahead of this aid and

then charge starving people extraordinary prices for what we are told a bag of wheat was nearly $1000. so we have to find a way as you rightly said, the police are removed. it is the best and only way, i keep coming back is a permanent cease—fire and serious negotiations to end this conflict once and for all. we cannot go on in the cycle. this is the fifth war i have witnessed in 20 years, but i must say, nothing like the previous wars were nothing like the skill of the present. a, wars were nothing like the skill of the present-— wars were nothing like the skill of the resent. �* ., ., the present. a report from the hamas lead health ministry _ the present. a report from the hamas lead health ministry tonight _ the present. a report from the hamas lead health ministry tonight that - the present. a report from the hamas lead health ministry tonight that a - lead health ministry tonight that a tenth child in gaza has died from starvation. ten children have died already from starvation. a terrible situation at the moment. i was grateful for your time situation at the moment. i was gratefulfor your time on situation at the moment. i was grateful for your time on the programme and thank you.

around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news here in the uk... the metropolitan police say three people have been injured after a shooting in south london. officers were chasing a moped when a shotgun was fired from it. two people suffered shotgun pellet injuries and are being treated in hospital and a third was injured by the moped. none of the injuries are thought to be life—threatening. a man who murdered his ex—partner and her new boyfriend after lying in wait for them at a house in huddersfield — has been told he will never be released from prison. marcus osborne was handed a whole life order for the killings of katie higton and steven harnett in may last year. the government's spending watchdog says the uk will pay at least 370 million pounds to rwanda as part of its plan to relocate asylum seekers there. up to a 150,000 pounds

will also be paid for each person sent to the east african country — over a five—year period. labour says the new figures are a "national scandal". you're live with bbc news. thousands of people have gathered on the streets of moscow, defying a heavy police presence, to pay their last respects to russia's main opposition leader, alexei navalny. the crowds chanted his name as his funeral service was held, two weeks after he died in prison. alexei navalny�*s mother was among the mourners allowed into the cemetary to see him buried — but his wife decided not to travel to russia. our russia editor steve rosenberg sent this report from moscow. they came to say goodbye to the man who had given them hope, but died in prison. and outside the church, longer and longer, the queue of russians wanting to pay their last respects to alexei navalny. he was our hope, anna tells me. ifeel like i am burying my own son. he is the only person i can...i could trust,

and i was dreaming of him to become our president, and it's a huge tragedy for me and for my people. the kremlin had called mr navalny an extremist, a criminal, but listen to the reaction when his coffin arrived. chanting by now, the whole street was watching. in chanting the name of vladimir putin's fiercest opponent. navalny! "we won't give in", they cry. and suddenly, the climate of fear that has descended on russia seemed to clearfor a time, despite all the police that were here. "no to war", they chanted.

in the church, alexei navalny�*s parents sat by the open coffin. as an orthodox priest recited prayers for the soul of the sun. mr navalny�*s death first and foremost a family tragedy. as an orthodox priest recited prayers for the soul of their son. mr navalny�*s death first and foremost a family tragedy. when the service was over the coffin was carried back to the hearse. then, from his supporters, a spontaneous show of respect for the man who had challenged the kremlin. with carnations and roses, they sent him on his finaljourney. and the crowds followed. as they walked towards the cemetery, they chanted the kind of anti—government slogans unheard on russian streets for two years. "freedom to political prisoners," and "russia will be free". the authorities didn't want

the funeral to become a very public event, a public display of sympathy for the man who was a vocal critic of the kremlin. but that is what it is turning into. lots of flowers, but one tribute today came in a message from mr navalny�*s wife yulia. she's abroad and risks arrest if she returns. she said farewell by posting, "i don't know how to live without you, but i will try my best to make you up there happy for me and proud." as alexei navalny was laid to rest a band played music from terminator two and the sinatra classic, my way. his way had been to try challenge the kremlin and he had lost. james nixey leads the russia and eurasia programme chatham house. he met alexei navalny back in 2011.

your reflections on what you witnessed in moscow today? obviously, it is quite an astonishing site in the atmosphere of oppression of russia today to see so many thousands of brave russians out in the streets when it is been proven that protests, kgb infiltrators can be in plain clothes, get into the crowd and antagonize the population in order to spur more hard—line reactions from the police and authorities. so my principal reaction of course is one of deep sadness for the mother and father and brother and husband who have lost their other halves it etc so really, russia does not have another alexei navalny. there is not another alexei navalny. there is not another one waiting in the wings right now certainly not in russia itself. than right now certainly not in russia itself. �* , ,., right now certainly not in russia itself. �* , , ., itself. an interesting point you make because _ itself. an interesting point you make because i _ itself. an interesting point you make because i asked - itself. an interesting point you make because i asked earlier i itself. an interesting point you | make because i asked earlier in itself. an interesting point you - make because i asked earlier in the week who will carry the mantle. not

only oppose putin but lift the lid only oppose putin but lift the lid on the corruption that surrounds the kremlin. it was capable of fulfilling that role?- kremlin. it was capable of fulfilling that role? that is a good cuestion. fulfilling that role? that is a good question- you _ fulfilling that role? that is a good question. you are _ fulfilling that role? that is a good question. you are right _ fulfilling that role? that is a good question. you are right to - fulfilling that role? that is a good question. you are right to point i question. you are right to point out the corruption aspect because that is exactly how putin, that is how alexei navalny came into the public eye. it is but all russians agree on is not on the war, they are split there, but that russia is a corrupt country. in terms of who else, so many have been killed and exiled and there is certainly no one in russia that would be far too risky a prospect and we know of recent main challenger to aid in the elections, so elections in two weeks' time has been prevented from running. so that doesn't leave alexei navalny�*s widow, there have been arguments and discussions and site his team in the past as to whether she would carry on this mantle in the event of his

death. that was foretold, foreseen. that is still unknown. she says she will but alexei navalny himself was against it, i have to say. but in light of what has happened, that may change her mind. in light of what has happened, that may change her mind.— change her mind. in strasburg this week it was _ change her mind. in strasburg this week it was said _ change her mind. in strasburg this week it was said sanctions - change her mind. in strasburg this week it was said sanctions were i change her mind. in strasburg this| week it was said sanctions were not working and somehow the european parliament house into the thousands people who came out today who are the real opposition in russia. in spite of the intimidation and the pressure that is there, perhaps there is more antigovernment feeling than we often suppose. it is there is more antigovernment feeling than we often suppose.— than we often suppose. it is a comlex than we often suppose. it is a complex sleep _ than we often suppose. it is a complex sleep in _ than we often suppose. it is a complex sleep in picture. - than we often suppose. it is a | complex sleep in picture. take than we often suppose. it is a - complex sleep in picture. take the war, we know the war is unpopular certainly if you go to send your son son or husband to work and we also know a great mass of the russian population is broadly behind the war in many cases. russia is not some sort of frustrated democracy trying

to get out only held back by putin because the russian population has been imbibed with historical regionalism and ultimately state run tv which tells the truth. we know the funeral was not shown on television the day whatsoever. but if ou to television the day whatsoever. but if you to join us this evening and thank you very much. the british prime minister rishi sunak has made a direct appeal to the country tonight to come together and "beat the poison" that he believes is tearing the country apart. it is unusualfor a prime minister to speak from the podium in downing st but mr sunak said he was increasingly concerned by a "shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality". he was speaking in the wake of a bi—election in rochdale in which some candidates have complained they faced intimidation from certain sections of the community. let's speak to our political correspondent, leila nathoo. iamjust i am just looking at a response here from the labour leaders are keir starmer who said rishi sunak is

right to advocate for the unity and condemn the intimidator re—behavior be have seen. what has prompted this in this format?— in this format? interesting because we heard from _ in this format? interesting because we heard from rishi _ in this format? interesting because we heard from rishi sunak- in this format? interesting because we heard from rishi sunak earlier i in this format? interesting because | we heard from rishi sunak earlier in the day when he responded to the watch to buy election results talk about the campaign being very divisive —— divisive and few hours later he decided he had not given enough of the responsive action result of the rochdale election, the election of george galloway and a controversial figure a former labour and p and now representing the workers party of britain, he decided to make his big speech about extremism and took aim at george galloway himself describing the victory as beyond alarming and talking about the extremists directing democracy, strong rhetoric talk about forces trying to tear us apart and people trying to hijack protests. so some tough rhetoric from rishi sunak. i think there was a bit more of an attempt to reach

out as well. we did not hear from him repeating this phrase mob rule that was threatening democracy and careful to reference both of islamophobia, both anti—monthly —— anti—muslim and anti—semitism and islamist and far right extremism as two sides of the same coin. so an attempt to try to talk about not letting people hijack democracy, but also, he found himself in an uncomfortable position taking aim at a newly elected democratic mp. ihla a newly elected democratic mp. no response —— in response he said i despise the premise or into his message to the prime minister is the skins are under you. he message to the prime minister is the skins are under you.— skins are under you. he sees this as a hue skins are under you. he sees this as a huge two — skins are under you. he sees this as a huge two fingers _ skins are under you. he sees this as a huge two fingers up _ skins are under you. he sees this as a huge two fingers up to _ skins are under you. he sees this as a huge two fingers up to the - a huge two fingers up to the main party. he thinks this is a reflection of white or popular patient with her that plays out in the general election would like to see. but it is certainly a big

victory for french party, if you would like. a victory for independent candidates as well considering an independent candidate came second in the rochdale election. interesting that the prime minister has now on reflection decided that the election of george galloway had been introduced on parliament on monday with this big speech on extremism —— prompted them to make this big speech on extremism.— to make this big speech on extremism. ,, ._ , to make this big speech on extremism. ,, ., , ., ~ extremism. stay with us we will talk about the row _ extremism. stay with us we will talk about the row of _ extremism. stay with us we will talk about the row of europe _ extremism. stay with us we will talk about the row of europe over- about the row of europe over critical supplies of aid to ukraine. stay with us. hello there. february in england and wales was the mildest on record, but the first day of march has brought something quite chilly. a lot of showers, too, for england and wales. and in norfolk, we had some hail in those showers as well. and again, we've seen a bit more snow over some of the higher hills — here in derbyshire, a very slushy mix earlier on today. we've got cold air in place right the way across the uk. we're going to stay in cold air through the weekend as well.

and with that cold air, we've got low pressure in charge, which is why we're seeing this wet weather with some winteryness over the hills. that weather front has been taking some rain and hail, snow across northern england. that's moving away, but heading its way into scotland overnight tonight. the same time, we'll see a northerly wind bringing showers into northern ireland and some wet weather developing in the south east of england, pushing into the midlands and other eastern parts of england. that could keep temperatures just above freezing. but it's touch and go. it will be a cold and frosty start for many, i think, on saturday morning, especially where we have the clearer skies. but through the weekend, we do stay in this cold air, and it's on saturday that will see most of the showers or longer spells of rain. drier picture on sunday, but more mist and fog around. and there will be some frosty mornings, as we've seen already. we've got this wetter weather on saturday across the south east of england, moving through east anglia, the midlands, up into northern england. also some wet weather and some hill snow for northern parts of scotland. that northerly wind keeps those cold showers across northern ireland, wales in the southwest, the midlands and the south east

of england should improve during the afternoon with some sunshine, but those temperatures aren't really improving from today. again, we're going to be around 7—8 degrees fairly widely. that low pressure is still with us. it's tending to drift northwards and weakening, hence something a bit drier. but this weather front is not far away. it looks like at the moment it's bringing rain through the north sea and up towards the northern isles. we're going to start with a bit more mist and fog, central, southern england, the midlands and northern england lifting and brightening up with some sunshine. a bit cloudy though, i think, for scotland and the odd shower out across these western areas. but many places will have a dry day, i think, on sunday with some light winds, hence the mist and fog. those temperatures still struggling to seven or eight degrees — below par for this time of the year. now, heading into next week, we start with a bit of rain around, particularly towards western areas. but crucially, it does become drier, but it also becomes less cold as well.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. as india prepares to heads to the polls this month, we look at the influence of the country's larger than life prime minister. now for sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre.

hello from the bbc sport centre. formula one returns this weekend — and red bull's max verstappen has picked up where he left off last year. by coming top in qualifying for the season opening bahrain grand prix. the three time defending champion has taken pole position for the race, which is taking place on saturday because of ramadan, verstappen finished ahead of ferrari's charles leclerc. mercedes george russell was third quickest but his team—mate lewis hamilton could only finish ninth fastest, two places behind another british driver — lando norris in his mclaren. it was a lot of fun filled up the track had a lot of grip. but the wind, the last few days have been quite tricky to get all lapped together. it's a semi—qualifying units naturally go a bit faster for the to really get everything out was little more difficult. it was a little more difficult. it was a little bit unexpected but luckily qualifying the car came to us i'm happy with the whole car.

meanwhile red bull team principal christian horner,