live from london, this is bbc news. breaking news, the foreign secretary lord cameron says alongside the us, a maritime corridor will be opened to deliver aid directly to gaza. president biden gives his state of the union address and makes an impassioned pitch for a second term whilst taking swipes at his rival donald trump. here's the simple truth. you can't love your country only when you win! cheering. the nigerian army is searching for gunmen who seized more than 280 schoolchildren. and coming up, it's international women's day — a time to reflect on the achievements of women and progress towards gender equality.

hello, i'm nicky schiller. we start with that breaking news. the foreign secretary lord cameron has announced the us, uk and partners will open a maritime corridor to deliver aid directly to gaza but he said he would continue to urge israel to allow more trucks into gaza is the fastest way to get aid to those who need it. his full tweet says people in gaza are in desperate humanitarian need, alongside the us, the uk and partners, we have announced we will open a maritime corridor to deliver aid directly to gaza and he goes on to say, we continue to coach israel to say, we continue to coach israel to allow more trucks into gaza as the fastest way to get aid to those who need it. it comes as the eu commissioner ursula von der leyen is

expected to make a statement this hour and she is in cyprus. this was announced as part of the state of the union address by president biden last night and he confirmed he has ordered the you s military to build a temporary peer of the coast of gaza to ensure a massive increase in aid for palestinians. that aid is likely to go through cyprus so the details, we still do not have in full but we expect some sort of port to be built into gaza and that would be fed into gaza from cyprus. so thatis be fed into gaza from cyprus. so that is what we are looking out at the moment but we've had confirmation that the uk is going to be part of that operation, that president biden announced. also, we expect the eu to be part of that because the eu chief ursula von der leyenis because the eu chief ursula von der leyen is visiting cyprus later to

talk about that humanitarian corridor that we expect to go from cyprus, it will then go to the port that the us are building of gaza. in his state of the union speech overnight president biden confirmed he had ordered the us military to build the temporary peer of the coast of gaza to ensure a massive increase in aid for palestinians and he warned israel humanitarian assistance should never be used as a bargaining chip. let's listen into a ursula von der leyen, we are expecting her to speak shortly and cyprus. at the moment, this is the separate ministers there, who are building up to the speech from ursula von der leyen who will speak at this event in cyprus. it is all part as you can see, the cyprus maritime corridor, behind there. it

was announced by presidentjoe biden that the us was going to build a temporary peer of the coast of gaza and in the last hour we have that tweet from the british foreign secretary lord cameron saying the uk will be one of those partners that will be one of those partners that will help build the maritime college and now we are seeing is part of this coordinated effort, very shortly ursula von der leyen will speak in cyprus but first let's listen to our president biden said about building the pier in his state of the union address last night. protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. as we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two—state solution over time. applause.

and i say this. as a lifelong supporter of israel, my entire career, no—one has a stronger record with israel than i do. i challenge any of you here. i'm the only american president to visit israel in wartime. but there is no other path that guarantees israel's security and democracy. there is no other path that guarantees that palestinians can live in peace... with peace and dignity. let's ta ke let's take a back to cyprus, we expect the eu commission chief ursula von der leyen to speak very shortly. as you see it as part of this concerted effort to bring humanitarian aid into gaza via the sea. but let's listen into what the cypriot minister as saying at the moment. a . , cypriot minister as saying at the moment. a, . , , ., moment. madam president, you remember _ moment. madam president, you remember this _ moment. madam president, you remember this very _ moment. madam president, you remember this very well, - moment. madam president, you remember this very well, you i moment. madam president, you i remember this very well, you were moment. madam president, you - remember this very well, you were a staunch and vocal supporter of the cyprus maritime corridor from the very beginning, thank you for your vision and your leadership. cyprus

is deeply appreciative of the full support but you personally, by the european commission as well as that of the united arab emirates, the united states, and other partners with whom we have been in intense confrontations in the last weeks and months. at the same time, the un special coordinator will coordinate and increase and standardise humanitarian assistance going into gaza, important elements in making the corridor a sustained and long—term maritime lifeline for the civilians in gaza. today, we stand united by a common vision to alleviate the humanitarian tragedy of the civilians in gaza, here at the joint rescue coordination centre which is a integralfacility the joint rescue coordination centre which is a integral facility of the critical structures. they are critical structures. they are

critical facilities in the centre for land, open seas and port security establishing close cooperation with the us. here, at the jayel cc, we also monitor all sea traffic going into and out of cyprus, and as we have discussed the number of migrants from syria and lebanon have been consistently increasing in recent months which is deeply concerning for cyprus. i look forward to working with you also on this, schiller, and just as we are doing today, to do so in an intense and result in that manner. i also discussed with the presidents this morning our efforts to restart negotiations in line with eu resolutions, a solution to the cyprus problem will have a

resounding regional impact as well. we agree that the european union can be a driverfor we agree that the european union can be a driver for developments on the cyprus question and in this regard we exchange views on the state of play with eu turkey relations in the cyprus question which is a core and component part. there are schiller, once again, it is a great pleasure to host you and your team to cyprus. in order to implement the amalfi initiative of the maritime corridor for the delivery of aid into gaza. ourjourney is onlyjust beginning. welcome. ourjourney is only 'ust beginning. welcome. . ~ ourjourney is only 'ust beginning. welcome. ., ~ , ., , ourjourney is only 'ust beginning. welcome. ., ~ , . ~ welcome. thank you very much, mr president. thank— welcome. thank you very much, mr president. thank you _ welcome. thank you very much, mr president. thank you very _ welcome. thank you very much, mr president. thank you very much - welcome. thank you very much, mr president. thank you very much for| president. thank you very much for welcoming — president. thank you very much for welcoming me and my team here to larnaca _ welcoming me and my team here to larnaca and — welcoming me and my team here to larnaca and in particular the joint rescue _ larnaca and in particular the joint rescue coordination centre. we are here because palestinians and in particular— here because palestinians and in particular those in gaza need all

our help — particular those in gaza need all our help. the humanitarian situation in gaza _ our help. the humanitarian situation in gaza is_ our help. the humanitarian situation in gaza is dire. with innocent palestinian families and children desperate for basic needs and today we are _ desperate for basic needs and today we are facing a humanitarian catastrophe in gaza. and we stand by innocent _ catastrophe in gaza. and we stand by innocent civilians of palestine and this is— innocent civilians of palestine and this is why— innocent civilians of palestine and this is why europe is financing a major— this is why europe is financing a major humanitarian aid effort for palestinians in gaza and in the region — palestinians in gaza and in the region. 250 million euros this year alone _ region. 250 million euros this year alone but— region. 250 million euros this year alone but the key challenge is to -et alone but the key challenge is to get the — alone but the key challenge is to get the aid to the people on the ground — get the aid to the people on the ground in— get the aid to the people on the ground in gaza. and we know the difficuities— ground in gaza. and we know the difficulties faced at the land borders— difficulties faced at the land borders in gaza whether through the rafah— borders in gaza whether through the rafah crossing or the jordan corridor— rafah crossing or the jordan corridor and that is why today the republic— corridor and that is why today the republic of cyprus, the european

commission, the united arab emirates and the _ commission, the united arab emirates and the united states of course supported by other critical partners, announce our intent to open — partners, announce our intent to open the _ partners, announce our intent to open the maritime corridor to deiiver— open the maritime corridor to deliver much—needed additional amounts — deliver much—needed additional amounts of humanitarian assistance by see _ amounts of humanitarian assistance by sea. together, our nations intend to build _ by sea. together, our nations intend to build on— by sea. together, our nations intend to build on this model to deliver significant additional aid by c. so i significant additional aid by c. so lam _ significant additional aid by c. so i am extremely grateful to you, mr president — i am extremely grateful to you, mr president and to the people of cyprus — president and to the people of cyprus for your leadership in establishing this initiative. it was impressive to see and to visit the different— impressive to see and to visit the different sites and how they are evolving. — different sites and how they are evolving, supplementing the efforts to visit _ evolving, supplementing the efforts to visit significant additional aid. we are _ to visit significant additional aid. we are launching this cyprus maritime _ we are launching this cyprus maritime corridor together, cyprus,

the european union, the united arab emirates _ the european union, the united arab emirates and the united states and it is your— emirates and the united states and it is your relentless work to get this corridor up and running despite all the _ this corridor up and running despite all the challenges and this is truly inspiring — all the challenges and this is truly inspiring. we are now very close to the opening — inspiring. we are now very close to the opening of the college, hopefully this sunday and i am very -lad hopefully this sunday and i am very glad to— hopefully this sunday and i am very glad to see that an initial pilot operation will be launched today, thus it _ operation will be launched today, thus it is — operation will be launched today, thus it is the partnership that started — thus it is the partnership that started today with the world central kitchen _ started today with the world central kitchen whom i want to thank wholeheartedly for their tireless and so _ wholeheartedly for their tireless and so important work. mr president, cyprus _ and so important work. mr president, cyprus has _ and so important work. mr president, cyprus has always been a bridge between — cyprus has always been a bridge between europe and the middle east. and thanks to this initiative, it is proving — and thanks to this initiative, it is proving this historical role once again— proving this historical role once again today. i welcome leadership of

you, again today. i welcome leadership of you. mr_ again today. i welcome leadership of you, mr president by serving as a mediator— you, mr president by serving as a mediator for all parties involved and i_ mediator for all parties involved and i would like to commend the particular— and i would like to commend the particular effort of the president of the _ particular effort of the president of the united arab emirates to mobilise — of the united arab emirates to mobilise support, to activate this corridor— mobilise support, to activate this corridor by— mobilise support, to activate this corridor by securing the first of many— corridor by securing the first of many shipments of goods to the people _ many shipments of goods to the peopie of— many shipments of goods to the people of northern gaza. and i call on all— people of northern gaza. and i call on all the _ people of northern gaza. and i call on all the actors who have a role to play here _ on all the actors who have a role to play here to — on all the actors who have a role to play here to help this corridor deliver— play here to help this corridor deliver on— play here to help this corridor deliver on its potential. one thing is for— deliver on its potential. one thing is for sure. — deliver on its potential. one thing is for sure, you can count on us! the _ is for sure, you can count on us! the maritime _ is for sure, you can count on us! the maritime corridor can make a real difference in the plight of the palestinian people. but in parallel, our efforts— palestinian people. but in parallel, our efforts to provide assistance to palestinians through all possible routes _ palestinians through all possible routes of— palestinians through all possible routes of course will continue. as part of— routes of course will continue. as part of our— routes of course will continue. as part of our eu humanitarian air

bridge — part of our eu humanitarian air bridge operation, we have launched 41 ftights _ bridge operation, we have launched 41 flights carrying over 1800 tonnes of aid _ 41 flights carrying over 1800 tonnes of aid and _ 41 flights carrying over 1800 tonnes of aid and we will consider all other— of aid and we will consider all other options including air drops if our humanitarian partners on the ground _ our humanitarian partners on the ground consider this effect. but our action— ground consider this effect. but our action does— ground consider this effect. but our action does not stop there. we must also focus _ action does not stop there. we must also focus our attention, our efforts — also focus our attention, our efforts and outreach on preventing an ignition — efforts and outreach on preventing an ignition of violence across the whole _ an ignition of violence across the whole region. i an ignition of violence across the whole region. lam in regular contact — whole region. lam in regular contact with president al cc of egypt — contact with president al cc of egypt and king abdullah ofjordan. the situation in the red sea is particularly concerning with maritime security deteriorating day after day _ maritime security deteriorating day after day. and critical infrastructure damaged due to the repeated — infrastructure damaged due to the repeated attacks by houthi rebels on this is— repeated attacks by houthi rebels on this is why— repeated attacks by houthi rebels on this is why we have launched the eu

navai— this is why we have launched the eu navat force — this is why we have launched the eu naval force operation and i know that cyprus has deployed to naval officers _ that cyprus has deployed to naval officers for this mission and we really— officers for this mission and we really thank you for that, mr president. with this operation, europe — president. with this operation, europe is— president. with this operation, europe is acting to ensure freedom of navigation of the red sea, working — of navigation of the red sea, working alongside with international partners _ working alongside with international partners. finally, a word on the day after~ _ partners. finally, a word on the day after~ we _ partners. finally, a word on the day after. we agree that we must start preparing — after. we agree that we must start preparing today with a viable perspective and this perspective continues to lie in the two state soiution~ — continues to lie in the two state solution. this requires an immediate humanitarian pause that would lead to a sustainable ceasefire. it is clear— to a sustainable ceasefire. it is clear that _ to a sustainable ceasefire. it is clear that there can be no forced displacement of palestinians and no blockade _ displacement of palestinians and no blockade of gaza but it is equally clear— blockade of gaza but it is equally clear that — blockade of gaza but it is equally clear that gaza cannot be a safe haven _ clear that gaza cannot be a safe haven for — clear that gaza cannot be a safe haven for terrorists and that we will keep—

haven for terrorists and that we will keep on calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by hamas. europe — of all hostages held by hamas. europe will continue to help build momentum for this political horizon so thank— momentum for this political horizon so thank you again, mr president and i so thank you again, mr president and i want _ so thank you again, mr president and i want to— so thank you again, mr president and i want to thank everyone working here _ i want to thank everyone working here at— i want to thank everyone working here at the jr cc. you will play a central— here at the jr cc. you will play a central role _ here at the jr cc. you will play a central role in this initiative, you are already— central role in this initiative, you are already playing an important and central— are already playing an important and central role — are already playing an important and central role overall in the region here _ central role overall in the region here so— central role overall in the region here so something comes on top of your responsibility. you embody the soiidarity _ your responsibility. you embody the solidarity of europe at its best. and i_ solidarity of europe at its best. and i know that the people of cyprus themselves know what suffering and loss themselves know what suffering and toss can _ themselves know what suffering and loss can feel like and therefore we in the _ loss can feel like and therefore we in the european union stand by you, mr president, in your efforts to resume — mr president, in your efforts to resume the peace talks for the

solution — resume the peace talks for the solution of the cyprus question and here too, _ solution of the cyprus question and here too, you can count on us. many thanks. — here too, you can count on us. many thanks. t hank— here too, you can count on us. many thanks. thank you so much. studio: _ thanks. thank you so much. studio: that was ursula von der leyen and the president of cyprus in larnaca at the launch of what is a humanitarian aid colder from larnaca at the launch of what is a humanitarian aid colderfrom cyprus into gaza. the eu commission chief ursula von der leyen at the launch of the city coroner said that they hoped it would be open this sunday. she said palestinians need all our help, the humanitarian situation is dire and people are desperate for basic needs. she said they were facing a humanitarian catastrophe and she said the key aim was to get aid in and she outlined the difficulties that we know have been happening by road and that is fine they have turned to cyprus, the uk, they have turned to cyprus, the uk,

the uae and the us and others to bring humanitarian aid in by sea. she said it would see significant amounts of aid being brought in. as i said she said they hoped to open that the sunday although a pilot operation will start today, and as you head she thanked the president of cyprus and the president of the united arab emirates for helping to get this maritime corridor up and running. she called on everyone to help deliver it saying it can make a real difference for palestinians and at the end she called for that a humanitarian pause in the fighting and eventually a ceasefire and she again, we reiterate, she called for the release of all the hostages being held to be released on the president of cyprus said they were united in a common vision of bringing it into gaza adding that ourjourney bringing it into gaza adding that our journey was only just bringing it into gaza adding that ourjourney was onlyjust beginning. let's go straight to our middle east correspondent injerusalem. it is

all coming together. we had president biden talking about this port, we have the british foreign secretary lord cameron saying the uk will be involved and now we have the full details from bishop underlying the eu commission president, and the president of cyprus. it’s the eu commission president, and the president of cyprus.— president of cyprus. it's a couple of months _ president of cyprus. it's a couple of months ago — president of cyprus. it's a couple of months ago we _ president of cyprus. it's a couple of months ago we started - president of cyprus. it's a couple | of months ago we started hearing more from cyprus about this proposed route to bring aid into gaza and britain has shown a lot of interest in that. lord cameron, prior to this announcement, what is really new now is the time frame that is being brought on this new emphasis on the project as a way of hurrying aid into gaza and it comes after the foreign secretary had said that the allies of israel were losing patience and there have been calls for some weeks for an increase in the flow of aid. we have the un warning of mask debating, this

potentially could be in place for the third of the islamic holy month of ramadan. this the third of the islamic holy month of ramadan-— the third of the islamic holy month of ramadan. �* , . ., , ,, ., ., of ramadan. as far as we know what the israelis — of ramadan. as far as we know what the israelis cooperate _ of ramadan. as far as we know what the israelis cooperate with _ of ramadan. as far as we know what the israelis cooperate with us - of ramadan. as far as we know what the israelis cooperate with us in - the israelis cooperate with us in cyprus and for a draw will they have in checking the old? the cyprus and for a draw will they have in checking the old?— in checking the old? the idea as we understand — in checking the old? the idea as we understand it _ in checking the old? the idea as we understand it is _ in checking the old? the idea as we understand it is that _ in checking the old? the idea as we understand it is that there - in checking the old? the idea as we understand it is that there would i in checking the old? the idea as we| understand it is that there would be a screening process that could take place in cyprus with this role overseeing that and actually, we already a couple of months ago had one of the israeli ministers in cyprus, looking at the test of a screening process there but then we did not hear too much about that so the idea seems to be that this is coordinated with the israelis and then the aid is brought in, once it has been screened, into gaza. there is not a deep sea port in gaza so what we are looking at is the construction of some sort of temporary peer, it is not made clear that the logistics about or how it will be stored and distributed in

gaza, it seems perhaps private contractors, the un might be involved but a lot more detail still to come on this but what is clear is that there is a lot of coordination and enthusiasm for this deal. it looks as though some kind of concrete step for all these players in the region, and across the world, something they have looked for, to try and have a positive announcement after we have had in past days, the failure of truce talks in cairo through egyptian mediators with a hamas delegation to achieve a true steel which would allow in ramadan as had been hoped, a new surgeon aid going into gaza in exchange for israeli hostages coming out on palestinian prisoners being field —— freed from israeli jails but this is another initiative that can be taken in parallel. another initiative that can be taken in arallel. ., ~' , ., another initiative that can be taken in arallel. ., ,, . ., in parallel. thank you so much and i know ou in parallel. thank you so much and i know you will _ in parallel. thank you so much and i know you will go _ in parallel. thank you so much and i know you will go off _ in parallel. thank you so much and i know you will go off and _ in parallel. thank you so much and i know you will go off and try - in parallel. thank you so much and i know you will go off and try to - in parallel. thank you so much and i know you will go off and try to get i know you will go off and try to get more details follows. around the

world and the uk, this is bbc news. a police officer has been named in the murder case of chris cabo. his trial is expected to start later this year. mps are warning that the uk will be left increasingly reliant on military allies due to a £29 billion financial black hole in defence spending. the influential public accounts committee warned the government currently lacked a credible plan to fund the ministry of defence. the chancellor says defence spending will rise to 2.5% of gdp when economic conditions allow. patients in parts of england are facing an uphill struggle to see a gp, after an analysis showed wide regional variation in doctor numbers. the nuffield trust think tank found kent and medway had the fewest gps per person, followed by bedfordshire, luton and milton keynes. it comes as ministers have struggled to hit the pledge

to boost the gp workforce. you can get more on that story on the bbc news website and app. you are watching bbc news. let's turn to nigeria now, where there have been two mass kidnappings — one in the northeast and one in the north west of the country. in the north—east — authorities are searching for at least 200 people kidnapped by suspected boko haram militants. the victims are thought to be mostly women and children who lived in a camp in the town of gambaru — after fleeing their homes because of attacks by the insurgents. in a second mass kidnapping in the country this week, reports say more than 200 nigerian school students have been abducted in the north—western town of kuriga. the students, between the ages of 8 and 15, were taken away. the regional governor has vowed to bring every child home. we have also sat down with the parents of those children that have been kidnapped. in doing that, we sent a strong message to the mothers, and we made it clear

to them that one of the most important things for the government is to ensure that we protect the lives and properties of our citizens. let's speak to our west africa correspondent, mayenijones, who's in maiduguri. there is a big search underway for these 280 pupils but what do we know about the incident when they were taken? ., ., , ,._ , about the incident when they were taken? ., ., , , ., taken? the authorities say they are throwin: taken? the authorities say they are throwing everything _ taken? the authorities say they are throwing everything at _ taken? the authorities say they are throwing everything at trying - taken? the authorities say they are throwing everything at trying to - throwing everything at trying to find these children who were abducted 34 hours ago, sitting in the morning assembly on thursday morning when armed men walked into the school compound, a primary and secondary school, operated by a line of trees and apparently the assailants rounded up the children and take them into a nearby forest. some of them including teachers managed to escape and they said they

tried to get local militias, vigilante groups to go after the children, they were not successful and one of the community members that went after them were killed. a teenager a pupil at the school has also been killed, it has emerged. this is the second mass kidnapping in a week, is it likely boko haram is behind both of these?- is behind both of these? there is definitely the _ is behind both of these? there is definitely the sentiment - is behind both of these? there is definitely the sentiment on - is behind both of these? there is definitely the sentiment on the l definitely the sentiment on the ground, in the north—west of nigeria, the area for it happened is dominated by a splinter group of boko haram and here in the north—east, some of the women who were taken who were able to make the back to the camp, people said it was boko haram fighters that had taken dozens of women and children that went missing late last week, they were out gathering firewood by the camp when they disappeared. thea;r camp when they disappeared. they have famously _ camp when they disappeared. they have famously done _ camp when they disappeared. they

have famously done that before with the cheque—book school children, who are still missing many years after they were taken.— they were taken. absolutely, but will soon be _ they were taken. absolutely, but will soon be ten _ they were taken. absolutely, but will soon be ten years _ they were taken. absolutely, but will soon be ten years when - they were taken. absolutely, but - will soon be ten years when hundreds of women and girls, were taken from their school dormitories. —— chibok. nigerians were still being kidnapped, although a much smaller number so it is interesting that as the chibok anniversary comes around, we see a rise in this sort of attacks that always brings publicity to boko haram.— to boko haram. thank you for brinuain to boko haram. thank you for bringing us — to boko haram. thank you for bringing us the _ to boko haram. thank you for bringing us the latest - to boko haram. thank you for bringing us the latest news. l to boko haram. thank you for i bringing us the latest news. you to boko haram. thank you for - bringing us the latest news. you can get more on that and indeed the rest of the news for today and the bbc news website or the app, and you will find that online. stay with us

on bbc news. hello. 0ur reasonably dry and settled spell of weather continues for another couple of days. things do turn a little more unsettled as we head into the weekend, but certainly for today, a pretty chilly wind coming in from an easterly direction, but most of us should see some spells of sunshine. fairly cold air mass with us. we've got high pressure to the north and the low pressure to the south—west, and that combination is drawing in these fairly brisk winds from the near continent. i think the best of the sunshine today will be across parts of east anglia, southern england, also west wales. but where we've had a lot of cloud over recent days, so north—east england and eastern scotland, we've still got the cloud but it's tending to be a little bit thinner, so some brighter intervals breaking through. these are the gusts of wind we are likely to see, so 30, possibly 40 miles an hour, the windiest weather down towards the far south—west. we could see some big waves around some of the coasts as well. 6 or 7 degrees in the north—east,

10 or 11 towards the south. but wherever you are, it's going to feel a touch colder when you add on that wind chill. most of us, dry tonight, a little bit of low cloud drifting north. but some rain, as you can see, across parts of central and southern england, into wales, by first thing tomorrow. so with more cloud and that wet weather, it won't be as cold here as it was last night, but we are still expecting a touch of frost, i think, across the sheltered glens of central scotland. now, into saturday, high pressure to the north, low pressure to the south. we've still got that easterly wind. that low pressure will bring some showery rain, particularly for parts of wales, perhaps the midlands. a few splashes into northern ireland as well. nothing particularly heavy. any of that rain will be quite showery in nature. more moving into the far south—west with blustery winds later in the day. but elsewhere, actually a fair amount of dry, bright weather, some sunny spells. 13 degrees or so for london, but only 6 in aberdeen. into the second half of the weekend, and that low stays with us towards the south. this frontal system just pushes a bit further north, so i think by sunday we could see some slightly more persistent rain, initially for southern and eastern parts of england, drifting across other parts of england and wales. probably the best of any brighter

weather will be in scotland and northern ireland, towards the far north—west. but still a few showers possible here. just 5—11 degrees, so a little below par for the time of year, feeling chilly with the wind and the rain around for some of us too. but that low pressure eventually drifts off towards the east as we head through the day on monday. a ridge of high pressure working in behind it, so i think we'll see a little bit of a drier interlude but there will be plenty of rain symbols, as you can see on the outlook charts here. so a bit of a mixed picture but things turn a little bit milder into next week. bye— bye. this is bbc news, the headlines... london has become a "no—go zone forjews" during weekend pro—palestinian marches, the government's counter—extremism commissioner has said.

robin simcox urged ministers to "be bolder and be willing to accept higher legal risk" when tackling extremism. last week prime minister rishi sunak warned in a speech of forces "trying to tear the country apart". the stop the war coalition, a group taking part in the marches, said there was "no need" forjewish people to be scared. let's speak to mark gardner, chief executive of the community security trust, a charity whose purpose is to provide safety and security to the britishjewish community. thank you forjoining us. i wondered if you agreed with the comments from robin simcox. i if you agreed with the comments from robin simcox— robin simcox. i very broadly agree with him. robin simcox. i very broadly agree with him- i — robin simcox. i very broadly agree with him. i won't _ robin simcox. i very broadly agree with him. i won't go _ robin simcox. i very broadly agree with him. i won't go into _ robin simcox. i very broadly agree with him. i won't go into central. with him. i won't go into central london when there are demonstrations taking place, and nor will my family orfriends, norwill taking place, and nor will my family orfriends, nor will my taking place, and nor will my family or friends, nor will my colleagues at the community security trust. why would we when we would be confronted with so much hatred.— with so much hatred. people wonder what the threats _

with so much hatred. people wonder what the threats are _ with so much hatred. people wonder what the threats are that _ with so much hatred. people wonder what the threats are that you - with so much hatred. people wonder what the threats are that you would | what the threats are that you would get, explain what you are concerned about and what otherjewish people have said to you about the threats they feel they are under. h have said to you about the threats they feel they are under.— have said to you about the threats they feel they are under. i think we should distinguish _ they feel they are under. i think we should distinguish between - they feel they are under. i think we should distinguish between the - should distinguish between the levels of anti—semitic and anti—jewish hate crimes which are at their highest ever at the moment, and take place all around the uk every single day of the week, and what is going on in these demonstrations. the two things are not one and the same, but obviously that rise in anti—semitism plays a big part injewish people's concerns about these demonstrations and what they fundamentally are all about. these are the same demonstrations we have seen for decades. they have never, ever, not once called for peace between israelis and palestinians, never, because they believe in the destruction of the state of israel, which obviously is something mostjewish people, not

all, but mostjewish people would