and wrong. and you say if the same man wanted to give another £10 million today for the conservative party you would take the money? that's right. i understand the situation, yes. what racist woman hating threat of violence would he have to make before the prime minister plucked up the courage to hand back the £10 million that he is taken from him? the gentleman apologised genuinely for his comment. and that remorse should be accepted. she describes frank hester his remarks as a textbook definition of racism and sexism. pressure grows on rishi sunak to hand back the money given by the tory party donor embroiled in a racism row. the mp who was targeted — diane abbott — stood up 30 times in the commons this

afternoon, and 30 times was ignored by the speaker. we will get reaction tonight from our political editor chris mason. also tonight an exclusive interview with the israeli teenager held by hamas for three months — who says everything should be done to save the remaining hostages. and. tokyo we have a problem — the private space rocket that blew up just five seconds into takeoff. good evening. rishi sunak is resisting pressure, some of it from within his own party, to return the £10 million donated by frank hester, the businessman who allegedly said of mp diane abbott that she made him want to "hate all black women" and should be shot. the prime minister told the commons this afternoon that the alleged remarks were "racist" and "wrong". frank hester has apologised for making what he called "rude" comments about britain's first black female mp.

the row dominated prime minister's questions as labour called on the conservatives to give the money back. here's our political editor chris mason. will you give the money back, prime minister? i the big questions ringing in the ears of rishi sunak today... would the party take more money from mr hester? . ..after a morning in which two senior conservatives answered these questions rather differently. i would think about the company i kept, and i would give that money back. i have to give you my view, rather than what the party should do, but i've thought about how i would handle that situation. if mr hester today said i'd like to give you another £10 million, would you take it? 0n the basis that we don't believe mr hester's a racist, yes. - we now come to questions to the prime minister! how low would he have to sink? what racist, woman—hating threat of violence would have to make before the prime minister plucked up the courage to hand back the £10 million that he's taken from him?

mr speaker, as i've said, l the gentleman apologised genuinely for his comments, - and that remorse should be accepted. and look carefully at what is happening on the back row on the right—hand side. diane abbott is standing up again and again and again, hoping to be called to speak. the gentleman in question apologised for being rude. he wasn't rude. he was racist, he was odious and he was downright bloody dangerous! the prime minister had repeated frank hester had apologised and that should be accepted. again diane abbott stands up. again she isn't called. in november, the prime minister accepted a non—cash donation to the tune of £15,000 from frank hester for the use of his helicopter, so will he reimburse him, yes or no? no, mr speaker, and i'm pleased |that the gentleman is supporting|

a party that represents one - of the most diverse governments in this country's history, | led by this country's first british—asian prime minister. as question time ended, look at keir starmer, heading alongside many others to see diane abbott, who i reckon had stood up 37 times to catch the speaker's eye without success. the speaker's office said there wasn't enough time to call her. and in case diane abbott's views were in any doubt, look at this. she was furious. she wanted to speak, and i was shocked, as i think many others were, that she wasn't given an opportunity to speak. as for those big questions at the start of the day, including will the prime minister return the £10 million donation, the answer tonight sounds like this — no. chris mason, bbc news, westminster.

chris is at milbank tonight to give us more reaction. when you've got the two leaders across the dispatch box about which of their respective party is the most races and then the person who is the target does amy get a chance to speak about it, not parliaments finest hour. you get a chance to speak about it, not parliaments finest hour.— parliaments finest hour. you see parliaments _ parliaments finest hour. you see parliaments political— parliaments finest hour. you see parliaments political parties, - parliaments political parties, individuals, institutions wondering when they're confronted by these weighty and passionate subjects —— and freedom of speech and belonging and freedom of speech and belonging and identity and notions of being canceled. in many senses they reflect debates we're seeing in so many countries around the world. these debates are happening very awkwardly. as if to illustrate that point diane abbott currently sits as an independent mp because she was suspended from the parliamentary labour party nearly a year ago over an article she wrote which keir

starmer regarded as anti—semitic. she has apologised but she sits today as independent. here is somebody who is the victim of alleged racism who herself is accused of anti—semitism. she personifies that awkwardness that so many institutions, individuals, political parties, society at large is wrestling with around so many of these concepts.— is wrestling with around so many of these concepts. we've seen her bob u . these concepts. we've seen her bob u- and these concepts. we've seen her bob up and down — these concepts. we've seen her bob up and down in _ these concepts. we've seen her bob up and down in the _ these concepts. we've seen her bob up and down in the top _ these concepts. we've seen her bob up and down in the top right-hand i up and down in the top right—hand corner nearly times. the speaker is already on thin ice about what happened with the gaza vote. where does this leave _ happened with the gaza vote. where does this leave him? _ happened with the gaza vote. where does this leave him? it's _ does this leave him? it's interesting because it felt the row about the speakers future was dying down a little bit. a slightly more normal circumstances at ministers questions as far as the speakers role was concerned. a couple of weeks ago what to prime minister's questions for the first time since he had that role it was transparent he had that role it was transparent he was losing authority. he wasn't

containing questions that riddle gone forever. last week prime minister questions was low—key because it was to the budget. this week he wasn't admonishing mps are being too rowdy or going on too long for the first time since he had that role it was transparent he was losing authority. he wasn't containing questions that riddle gone forever. last week prime minister questions was low—key because it was to the budget. this week he wasn't admonishing mps are being too rowdy or going on too long. he was then you get this moment. you heard me say there that his office said look, we have to be scrupulously fair and swap sites each time when we take questions. there were plenty of people who would come out at the ballot to address a question as we didn't the jets and therefore there wasn't scope to take any other questions. you do see moments in parliament all the time when somebody is called because there's a pressing reason in terms of topicality to do just that. it was so obvious, i'm always careful as i reported to not over interpret body language and gesticulations from a member of parliament but it was so obvious today that diane abbott was

desperate to contribute. she was maintaining a fixed gaze on the speech occur pretty much the whole time. she was exasperated when she couldn't speak. she's written an article for the independent and last couple of hours in which that frustration is expressed. for some that does raise the question again about the current speakers suitability for the role. you featured — suitability for the role. you featured in _ suitability for the role. you featured in your _ suitability for the role. you featured in your report - suitability for the role. you featured in your report to the mp who is on bbc breakfast this morning, i want to play a segment of that interview and get your response. that interview and get your reaponse-_ that interview and get your resonse. �*, , ., , , that interview and get your resonse. �*, , ., , . ., response. let's be absolutely clear, esterda response. let's be absolutely clear, yesterday the _ response. let's be absolutely clear, yesterday the prime _ response. let's be absolutely clear, yesterday the prime minister - response. let's be absolutely clear, yesterday the prime minister said . yesterday the prime minister said that this man alleged comments were racist and wrong and you say is the same man wanted to give another £10 million today to the conservative party you would take the money? yes. party you would take the money? yes, that's right- — party you would take the money? yes, that's right- i — party you would take the money? yes, that's right. i understand the situation, _ that's right. i understand the situation, yes.— situation, yes. that's howl understand _ situation, yes. that's howl understand the _ situation, yes. that's howl understand the situation. l situation, yes. that's how i i understand the situation. the situation, yes. that's how i - understand the situation. the reason he perhaps says my understanding is because the line might change

tomorrow, which is never a good look if you don't know what number ten is going to do next. graham brady, the man of the grey suit has been in to see the prime minister. do you think the mood is shifted since the budget, since the resignation of lee anderson, senses handling of this affair, is it started to move against him? it affair, is it started to move against him?— affair, is it started to move against him? affair, is it started to move auainst him? .., , against him? it could be. the mood amonust against him? it could be. the mood amongst conservative _ against him? it could be. the mood amongst conservative mps - against him? it could be. the mood amongst conservative mps has - against him? it could be. the mood| amongst conservative mps has been gloomy for some time. you have some mps and conservative members of staff to wonder if it's best to rip off the plaster and call a general election, so goes the argument to stem the potential losses. i still say the majority view is one of keeping going until the autumn on the basis that something might turn out. also the economy might be in a slightly better position. plenty of conservatives are realistic about the general election, 20 are pretty

much convinced that defeat is highly likely. there is a grumpiness. 0ften likely. there is a grumpiness. often when you drill into it they'll ignore things are bleak and if they are why would you necessarily want to do anything spectacular, calling for an electing sooner or later or disabling the prime minister? there's a sense that from their perspective could make things worse. as far as that exchange, the governments current position is this, they say that the remarks were racist with that the alleged remarks were racist but that doesn't make mr hester himself are racist. if you take half a step back it is a position in which they say there should be a tolerance to an articulation of alleged intolerance as long as there is some contrition. that's the line that they are attempting to set rather than an argument that you should be canceled. pa.

argument that you should be canceled. �* . argument that you should be canceled-— argument that you should be canceled. �* ., ., ., ., ., canceled. a final long, tomorrow we aet canceled. a final long, tomorrow we net the canceled. a final long, tomorrow we get the governments _ canceled. a final long, tomorrow we get the governments new _ canceled. a final long, tomorrow we | get the governments new extremism definition for the probably the government targeting a new set of guidelines to isolate those who use race, religion, bigotry to divide us. how difficult is that argument going to be in light of what's happened around frank hester? a, going to be in light of what's happened around frank hester? a good ruestion happened around frank hester? a good question because _ happened around frank hester? a good question because who _ happened around frank hester? a good question because who would've - question because who would've guessed just a couple of days ago when we were told that the statement was coming from michael gove on thursday that three days would be about a row about alleged racism? a course tomorrow will be looked at through this prism. the government will make a broader argument about wider concerns that they have and why their views and point to have this new definition. it's their own definition and it's contested about exactly how you define it. then as a practicality of by the rig legally they can name particular groups that

they can name particular groups that they regard as effectively brandishing this yellow card upon the government where they won't ever interact upon them. the red card is prescription which are banning a group out right. the prism through which tomorrow's conversation will happen will be what is happened over the last couple of days that is awkward from the governments perspective. awkward from the governments perspective-— awkward from the governments perspective. chris, thank you for our time perspective. chris, thank you for your time this — perspective. chris, thank you for your time this evening. - around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. at 34—year—old man is injailfor at least 21 years for the murder of a man in newton abbey northern ireland. two years ago 54—year—old roy reynolds was beaten and stabbed to death. his remains were placed in a car boot and take it to a reservoir. thejudge a car boot and take it to a reservoir. the judge described emerges is merciless and brutal in the extreme. 0fficialfigures emerges is merciless and brutal in the extreme. official figures show hundreds of refugees were left homeless in london during a cold snap after being evicted from the home office accommodation for the london council said it more than 300

refugees had to sleep rough in january because claims of a close look up the home office said it was working with authorities to improve the system. i had teacher in southampton and has admitted he is disgusted by the state of the food served at his own school. in a despairing letter to parents jason ashley head of the redbridge community school in southampton said meals served in its canteen were completely unacceptable. and asked how difficult is it to bake a potato? you're live with bbc news. an israeli hostage who was released by hamas three months ago has told bbc news he didn't think he'd get out alive. itay regev was 18 when he was kidnapped — along with his sister maya and best friend 0mer from the nova music festival. itay and maya were released after 5a days of what he described as — �*horrific�* conditions. 0mer is still being held. in his first uk interview, itay described his experience

to our special correspondent lucy manning. itay regev is free, but all he thinks about are the hostages he left behind. the teenager was at the nova music festival with his sister maya and friend 0mer when hamas attacked. translation: we started hearing shooting. - the terrorists were surrounding the whole party area. lots and lots of people started running in all directions. i hear shooting going past my head. i heard people screaming. i saw people falling down. a lot of bodies. we were confronted by a van of terrorists spraying our car with bullets without any mercy. i got shot in my leg. my sister also got shot in her leg seconds after me.

this, the moment they were tied up and taken. translation: we entered gaza, | and the terrorists started shouting and screaming and celebrating. it was as if it was a big party. itay says they were taken to a house with a shaft, then through a tunnel and driven to a hospital. translation: they threatened my life. | they looked at me doing this, that they are going to kill me, that they are going to behead me. i still had a bullet in my leg. they put the forceps into my leg. they pulled out the bullet without anaesthetic. they told me to keep quiet because if i won't keep quiet, they'll kill me. it was a day that i thought i wouldn't come out of alive. i came to terms with the fact that i wasn't going to live. i see my sister, maya, injured and crying. maya also said her goodbyes

and told me if i come out of this alive, to tell our parents that she loves them. what were the conditions like where you were being kept? translation: you don't really know if you're - going to wake up in the morning, if a missile is going to fall on you, if they're going to come in with a kalashnikov and start spraying us with bullets. the conditions are very, very difficult there. sometimes no water, and the hunger was very, very difficult. hamas wants a total cease—fire and the withdrawal of the troops for the hostages to be released. do you think that israel should agree? translation: i think we should do anything we possibly can _ to get them out of there, whatever the cost. we need to do anything that will bring the hostages out of there. you can't put a price on it. it's people's lives.

in november, maya was released and reunited with herfamily and is learning to walk again. itay was freed a few days later. 0mer and around 130 others are still held. itay says the world has forgotten the hostages. lucy manning, bbc news. despite those calls for the hostages to be prioritised, the israeli pm benjamin netanyahu has pledged to continue military operations throughout the enclave, including plans for that incursion into rafah. at least five people were killed today — including one unrwa staff member — in an explosion at a un aid warehouse in rafah, with many more injured. these are pictures verified by the bbc filmed at a nearby hospital, where the casualties were taken. israel has not commented so far on this incident. these are pictures of the warehouse itself. they were taken in the immediate aftermath.

some of the images are too graphic for us to broadcast. dr fozia alvi had recently returned home from delivering medical support in gaza, she was part of a primary care team. she is speaking to us from calgery. thank you for coming on the program. thank you for coming on the program. thank you for having me. that report today of an attack on a warehouse really sums up all workers in gaza. you are part of a primary care team, did you feel at risk while you with there? {iii did you feel at risk while you with there? . ., , ~ did you feel at risk while you with there? .., , . .,, there? of course. we felt there was a rurowin there? of course. we felt there was a growing fear. _ there? of course. we felt there was a growing fear, intense _ there? of course. we felt there was a growing fear, intense panic- there? of course. we felt there was| a growing fear, intense panic among everybody including all the hospitals and nurses, patients, the people who were taking food into the hospital, there was intense fear of a very big attack for that while we were there everybody was fearful.

explain to our viewers with a primary care team is, what you do specifically in the hospital. irate specifically in the hospital. we work in specifically in the hospital. - work in hospitals and outside hospitals, and the schools also so we saw that what happened to those patients who have been moved from a place to the other with fixate are sticking out of their bones. we also saw the people who

able to treat it and i should say those lives but we have no choice. i worked in a school where there were thousands of displaced people taking

refuge there was no means to transfer those people to the hospital. we saw very sick small children with infection and we have no antibiotics. we're all doctors, given paracetamol because the blockade of medication. they were dying of strokes, cancer patients but we had no means to give medication. trauma to me, i witnessed second hand just looking at them was very overwhelming and very traumatising.— very traumatising. obviously the story we're _ very traumatising. obviously the story we're telling _ very traumatising. obviously the story we're telling at _ very traumatising. obviously the story we're telling at the - very traumatising. obviously the l story we're telling at the moment very traumatising. obviously the . story we're telling at the moment is the acute shortage of food in gaza. did you see signs of starvation? almost every person i met either is at the hospital staff, doctors, nurses, patients, everybody was hungry. everybody was starving. i have seen small children. what hungry. everybody was starving. i have seen small children.- have seen small children. what is

that? they _ have seen small children. what is that? they have _ have seen small children. what is that? they have wasting - have seen small children. what is that? they have wasting of - that? they have wasting of the muscle because _ that? they have wasting of the muscle because there - that? they have wasting of the muscle because there is - that? they have wasting of the l muscle because there is literally skin and bone, no muscle, no fat. we saw of vitamin d deficiency and lots of patients with rickets. also we saw the poor nutrition because the pregnant women were starving they were haemorrhaging after birth. a after pregnancy they were bleeding to death. there is no means to survive because they have no nutrition. survive because they have no nutrition-— survive because they have no nutrition. ~ �* , ., nutrition. we're in the midst of ramadan- _ nutrition. we're in the midst of ramadan. people _ nutrition. we're in the midst of ramadan. people are - nutrition. we're in the midst of ramadan. people are fasting i nutrition. we're in the midst of - ramadan. people are fasting through the day but they are already food deprives for will people die because they uphold their religion? will people die because they are rather ready in a bad state? —— already in a bad state. i ready in a bad state? -- already in a bad state-—

a bad state. i think people are auoin to a bad state. i think people are going to die — a bad state. i think people are going to die whether - a bad state. i think people are going to die whether it's - a bad state. i think people are - going to die whether it's ramadan or not because there's no food available. i have seen small children coming in and out of the hospital, they were walking around looking for food. they were thirsty almost every person that i saw, they were looking for food, even the doctors i was working with was up they did not know if some of their families in northern gaza and lack of communication they do not know if the families have food to eat. with ramadan i cannot imagine what ramadan i cannot imagine what ramadan is like in gaza right now. it's truly appalling what you describe. i want to get your thoughts on this because obviously hamas can see this. if you can see it they can see it when they are in gaza. let me play it with the national security adviser in the white house said yesterday, jake sullivan. pa. white house said yesterday, jake sullivan. �* . , ., sullivan. a cease-fire is on the table today- — sullivan. a cease-fire is on the table today. for— sullivan. a cease-fire is on the

table today. for six _ sullivan. a cease-fire is on the table today. for six weeks - sullivan. a cease-fire is on the table today. for six weeks to l sullivan. a cease-fire is on the | table today. for six weeks to be built _ table today. for six weeks to be built on— table today. for six weeks to be built on into something more enduring _ built on into something more enduring if hamas would simply release — enduring if hamas would simply release women, wounded and elderly. the fact— release women, wounded and elderly. the fact that they will not do so says _ the fact that they will not do so says a _ the fact that they will not do so says a lot — the fact that they will not do so says a lot to me about masses regard for innocent _ says a lot to me about masses regard for innocent palestinian civilians the fact— for innocent palestinian civilians the fact that they are holding onto those _ the fact that they are holding onto those folks and refusing to release them _ those folks and refusing to release them and — those folks and refusing to release them and refusing to step up and say that we _ them and refusing to step up and say that we could get the cease—fire in place. _ that we could get the cease—fire in place, which would not only bring comp _ place, which would not only bring comp to— place, which would not only bring comp to fighting but also great an enormous — comp to fighting but also great an enormous opportunity to flow humanitarian assistance in a much greater— humanitarian assistance in a much greater quantities for the a significant problem on the humanitarian front has notjust been getting _ humanitarian front has notjust been getting trucks into gaza but trucks around _ getting trucks into gaza but trucks around gaza because it is difficult to move — around gaza because it is difficult to move them in light of all the fighting — to move them in light of all the fiuuhtin. are well—known and well rehearsed over the weeks. we cannot hide from the fact that hamas are holding may be around 100 hostages, may be more.

they could release those hostages and they could bring this to a cease—fire to alleviate the suffering in gaza and they are not doing that. how do people in gaza feel about that? you doing that. how do people in gaza feel about that?— feel about that? you know what? because i'm _ feel about that? you know what? because i'm a — feel about that? you know what? because i'm a medical— feel about that? you know what? because i'm a medical doctor - feel about that? you know what? j because i'm a medical doctor and feel about that? you know what? l because i'm a medical doctor and a humanitarian i do not know the politics. we do not speak about hamas or any israeli authorities to the patients. we do not talk about the patients. we do not talk about the hostages. to me as a medical doctor every life whether it's israeli life or palestinian life or canadian life is very important even if they are far from my home for that they are very important and i care for them.— care for them. final question, as ou left care for them. final question, as you left gaza. — care for them. final question, as you left gaza, you're _ care for them. final question, as you left gaza, you're driving - care for them. final question, as you left gaza, you're driving to i you left gaza, you're driving to egypt past these trucks, how do you reconcile that with what you just left behind you? it reconcile that with what you 'ust left behind wmi left behind you? it was painful. still i left behind you? it was painful. still i think—

left behind you? it was painful. still i think about _ left behind you? it was painful. still i think about those - left behind you? it was painful. i still i think about those thousands of trucks that i have seen loaded with food and standing there, some of them for over a month. while i have seen on the other side of the border a few metres away small children dying of hunger. as a mother, as a human being, as a doctor it was very painful. it's still painful. it pains me when i think about those poor children that i took care of. some of them fear they may not be alive today. doctor fozia alvi, thank _ they may not be alive today. doctor fozia alvi, thank you _ they may not be alive today. doctor fozia alvi, thank you very much - they may not be alive today. doctor fozia alvi, thank you very much for| fozia alvi, thank you very much for coming. we will take a short break it when we come back we will talk about ukraine. and also in al bill signed in europe today. the first of its kind anywhere in the world what does it mean, what will it do is back stay with us. hello, thanks forjoining me.

it's been quite a cloudy day across most of the uk today, some rain too, but it's been mild. and if anything, the temperatures are expected to rise a little further as we head into thursday — quite breezy too, particularly in scotland. we've had some gales here. anyway, here's the satellite picture, and you can see the rain—bearing cloud streaming across the uk. that cloud produced the heavier rain around snowdonia, the north—west of england. and through the course of the evening, the weather front will be moving northwards. so where we had the clearer skies in the north, well, it's going to turn cloudy through the night. the outbreaks of rain will reach northern ireland, parts of southern scotland, too. but to the north, it will stay clear and chilly. so northern scotland, only around five degrees underneath the clear skies. further south, it's closer to about 8—10 celsius, and of course, we've got that rain, too. so let's have a look at the forecast for thursday — mild south—westerlies, that rain continues to make its journey northward, so quite a soggy picture here in scotland. 0ut towards the west, we've got showers, and given some lengthy spells of sunshine,

which are just about possible across eastern england, east anglia and the south—east, well, temperatures here could reach 16 or even 17 degrees celsius. and then through tomorrow evening, it's a case of hit—and—miss showers across england and wales, but more wet and more, i think, substantial rain there for northern ireland and also scotland. that takes us into friday. as this low pressure pulls away towards the east, on its western flank here, we have winds coming in from the norwegian sea. so it's slightly colder air. if you look at the arrows, blowing in from the north, so that cooler air sliding across the uk, the temperatures will take a bit of a dip. single figures, i think, typically for for scotland, for the north of england, but still relatively mild in east anglia — 1a. and i think there'll be some showers around too, but also some decent spells of sunshine. and then friday night into saturday, it's going to be pretty cold. a frost will develop, and i suspect in some spots out of town, temperatures could be as low as “4 celsius early on saturday morning. that's not going to last very long. that sun is strong now

this time of the year. here's the outlook, then from thursday onwards — it's a bit of a mixed bag. rain at times, a bit of sunshine, but actually staying relatively mild for most of us. bye— bye.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. ajapanese rocket carrying a government test satellite explodes shortly after lift—off.