coming up on the programme — the un's highest court, the icj, rules that israel should immediately halt its military offensive in rafah. israel's finance minister says no power on earth would stop his country going after hamas. we'll be live injerusalem with the latest. and we're talking elections — we'll bring you a special report on the upcoming contest in south africa and in the uk: memes, viral videos, and more — what does a campaign look like in 202a? we'll analyse how the major parties are seeking out votes online. we start with the latest

on the israel—gaza war. the un's highest court has ruled that israel must immediately halt its military offensive in rafah. south africa had asked the international court ofjustice to issue the order as an emergency measure. it argued israel's actions in rafah amount to a "genocidal" operation and threatened the survival of the palestinian people. the icj made several rulings today. in addition to calls for israel to halt the military operation in rafah, the court ordered it open the rafah crossing with egypt for the entry of humanitarian aid at scale. it also wants israel to ensure access to gaza for investigators and fact—finding missions. thejudges called on hamas to immediately and unconditionally release hostages taken in its october 7th attack on israel. the icj can make legally binding rulings in disputes between countries, but has little way of enforcing its orders. however, it's given israel a month to update on progress.

let's hear from judge nawaf salam. the court considers that in conformity with obligations under the genocide convention, israel must immediately halt its military offensive and any other action in rafah which may inflict on the palestinian group in gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part. the court records that in its order of january 26, 2024, it ordered israel into the area to, i quote, take effective measures to prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation of evidence related to allegations of acts within the scope of article two and article three of the genocide convention. let's go straight to our diplomatic correspondent paul adams, in jerusalem.

what more reaction have we had from israel to today's case?— israel to today's case? well, predictably. _ israel to today's case? well, predictably, this _ israel to today's case? well, predictably, this wasn't - israel to today's case? well, predictably, this wasn't a - israel to today's case? well, - predictably, this wasn't a welcome move. it is one that the israeli government had feared and perhaps hoped that it might be able to avert but, you know, as it happens, the court was clearly not persuaded by the israeli arguments about the way that it's conducting its military campaign in rafah and so the news came that the court was ordering the halt. now, the israeli government have argued all along that it is conducting this campaign in accordance with international law, that it has given civilians ample opportunity to get out of harm's way. in excess of 800,000 people have obeyed those instructions. and according to israel it has gone to some lengths to try and make sure

that aid and other suppliers can get into the gaza strip, something that the un absolutely disputes, saying that the aid situation especially in the south is extremely critical. interestingly, tonight there's a slight development on the aid front because following a conversation between the egyptian president, abdel fattah al—sisi, and joe biden, there appears to be agreement that aid that had been held up inside egypt for the last two and a half weeks that would normally have gone through the rafah crossing, which remains closed, that's going to head to the nearby israeli crossing and we understand that vehicles are on the move. that could, depending on the move. that could, depending on the scale of it, improve the provision of aid in the southern part of the gaza strip. but it doesn't get around the problem of what exactly the israeli military intends to do with the city of rafah

where there are still huge numbers of civilians, where air strikes were continuing today and where everyone is dreading a full—scale invasion of the city itself, as opposed to the wider area. the city itself, as opposed to the wider area-— the city itself, as opposed to the wider area. �* . �* , , ., wider area. and that's the question, reall . as wider area. and that's the question, really- as we've _ wider area. and that's the question, really. as we've been _ wider area. and that's the question, really. as we've been reporting - wider area. and that's the question, really. as we've been reporting of l really. as we've been reporting of the court has little power to enforce these rulings today. ida. enforce these rulings today. no, none at all- _ enforce these rulings today. no, none at all. and, _ enforce these rulings today. no, none at all. and, you _ enforce these rulings today. my none at all. and, you know, i think, in a way you should look at the wider context of this, not whether the court has the ability to prevent israel from carrying out certain actions. italy doesn't. but coming on top —— it clearly doesn't. but coming on top of the issuing of arrest warrants following an appeal to the international criminal court, following the decision by three european countries to recognise the state of palestine, following what we understand to be the increasing

levels of frustration, bordering on despair, in washington that the inability to get the netanyahu government to discuss plans for gaza in the future, given all of these international developments, you get a real sense of israel and this government increasingly isolated on the international stage. and while that doesn't have any immediate, practical consequences in terms of what israel is doing on the ground in rafah, it creates an atmosphere which no israeli leader, however determined to finish the job of defeating hamas, can quite ignore. thank you. joining me now is luis moreno 0campo, in atlanta. he is the icc founding prosecutor and former icc chief prosecutor.

. thanks forjoining us. you are exactly the kind of person we need to talk to today to unpick what we've heard from the icj. we were talking just now with paul adams, our correspondent injerusalem, about the impact this could have, evenif about the impact this could have, even if it's not essentially legally binding. what do you think the impact can be?— impact can be? well, it's not a court that— impact can be? well, it's not a court that has _ impact can be? well, it's not a court that has police. - impact can be? well, it's not a court that has police. it - impact can be? well, it's not a i court that has police. it depends impact can be? well, it's not a - court that has police. it depends on the reactions and actions. normally the reactions and actions. normally the big and only protector of israel is the us but on this topic, on rafah, the us was saying exactly the same as what the court is saying today, you should not attack rafah. i was reading the decision and for me, for the first time, it is a

novelty because israel submitted that they are warning the people in rafah to move but the court is saying that al—mawasi has no food, water or medicine. so that is a new situation that the international court ofjustice is saying. if you try and move these people then they will be exposed with nothing which is why the court says the attack on rafah should stop. find is why the court says the attack on rafah should stop.— rafah should stop. and israel is bein: rafah should stop. and israel is being asked _ rafah should stop. and israel is being asked to _ rafah should stop. and israel is being asked to report _ rafah should stop. and israel is being asked to report back, - rafah should stop. and israel is being asked to report back, is l rafah should stop. and israel is i being asked to report back, is that something that's quite typical? well, yes. the court was asking israel, who are part of the

proceedings. israel is at the proceedings, its lawyers are there, which is why it cannot ignore it. the court ordered them to stop the attack. i don't know what exactly israel will do but there are three different elements, the military, political and legal aspects. legally, this week was the icc talking about war crimes and warms crimes against humanity. legally it says that israel is close to the limit. israel is a country with legitimacy. can it ignore the court decisions? the other problem it has, the military problem. israel will not win the war. the war will not end, with hamas. so how much

president biden can address this situation, he is in agreement from the beginning that israel should respect the law.— the beginning that israel should respect the law. israel, we heard from an israeli _ respect the law. israel, we heard from an israeli government - from an israeli government spokesperson early in saying that they would continue their fight against hamas and paul adams saying it is unlikely that this is going to make a huge difference to their initial reactions around rafah about what it could do perhaps, he was suggesting, is change the equation in other ways, adding to the pressure. is that sometimes what these rulings can do? they can add to the pressure on the country? well, thejudges to the pressure on the country? well, the judges and to the pressure on the country? well, thejudges and prosecutors to the pressure on the country? well, the judges and prosecutors are doing the legal work. the

implementation is in the hand of states. the problem is, when you read the security council decisions, 90% of the states of the world are telling israel to stop. the only country that is supporting israel is the us. it is also saying, stop rafah and provide them with assistance. i believe either they will continue the attack... israel is going nowhere. that's why it is time to have a strategy. i believe the international criminal court is offering them an opportunity to make war against terrorism, to control terrorism. the report says that the money hamas used to buy weapons... if we aren't stopping the money, are doesn't matter how many soldiers you kill, hamas can be rebuilt. you need to stop the money flows, notjust

killing soldiers. it’s to stop the money flows, not 'ust killing soldiersfi to stop the money flows, not 'ust killing soldiers. it's a complicated issue indeed. _ killing soldiers. it's a complicated issue indeed. thank _ killing soldiers. it's a complicated issue indeed. thank you - killing soldiers. it's a complicated issue indeed. thank you very - killing soldiers. it's a complicated l issue indeed. thank you very much for sharing your experience in this field. we have heard from the office of benjamin netanyahu who said that south africa's accusation is false, outrageous and repulsive. israel says it will not carry out activity in rafah that would lead to the destruction of the palestinian people in whole or in part. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

today, the uk parliament shut up shop for the next few weeks as campaigning for the upcoming general election continues. we'll have more in a moment on that.

but let's take a look at one of the laws that was set to go through before parliament was suspended. hundreds of subpostmasters who were wrongly accused of stealing, when a faulty computer system was to blame, are set to have their convictions forfraud quashed by parliament. all of this as the former post office boss, paula vennells, appeared before the public inquiry to look into what went wrong. lawyers of some of those wrongly accused said she lived in "la—la land" and was in a cloud of denial. emma simpson reports from the inquiry. celebration three years ago as the first wrongful convictions are overturned in court. now, hundreds more former sub—postmasters are having their names cleared today. lee williamson, on the right here, from county tyrone, was given a suspended sentence forfraud in 2014, which is now being quashed, sooner than he expected. there's always been delay or frustration to delay the whole process. so to actually hear it is a relief, i suppose.

maybe other emotions will come to light once it settles in. so, who is to blame? paula vennells, did you put profits before people? it is day three for her at the public inquiry. time for the sub—postmasters�* lawyers to ask questions. you still continue to live in a cloud of denial. - and they didn't hold back. "i didn't know, nobody- told me, i can't remember, "i wasn't shown this. "i relied on the lawyers." i have tried to do this to the very best of my ability. looking under that rock you're going to find a problem. it will devastate the post office, ruin it. you couldn't let that happen, could you, ms vennells? i loved the post office. i gave it...

i worked... as hard as i possibly could to deliver... the best post office for the uk. she was asked about this episode of the one show, which highlighted the case ofjo hamilton. if i pleaded guilty. to false accounting. she then discusses it in this e—mail to senior colleagues. did the mask slip? i made a mistake in this e—mail. is the reality what what you said here reflected the behind closed doors attitude to these postmasters?

no. she has been rude to all of us. if she just sorted it out, | she could have ended it, what, eight year ago. royal mail was split from the post office and privatised early in her tenure. the inquiry heard she removed a reference to horizon in the prospectus for investors and emailed the post office chair, saying "i've earned my keep." you wanted to defuse this, because it was going to be immensely politically damaging, both to the post office itself, but also to the privatisation. i don't think it was ever my... style to try to please or to keep in with people. but she listed it in an appraisal as one of her key achievements that year. she admitted letting the sub—postmasters down, but says there was no deception.

it is now up to the inquiry chair tojudge how credible her evidence has been. as we were saying earlier, campaining for the general election is already in full swing. regardless of which party wins the most mps to form a government, one thing's clear — parliament will look very different afterjuly the 4th. that's because more than 100 sitting mps say they are standing down. tonight, the prominent conservative minister michael gove added his name to that list. he's one of more than 70 from rishi sunak�*s conservatives who won't be running again this time. let's speak to our political correspondent rob watson. a lot of people talking about the fact that one of the best—known members of parliament, michael gove, is hanging up his hat a few weeks

from now. ~ , ,., , is hanging up his hat a few weeks from now. ~ ,,., , ,, is hanging up his hat a few weeks from now. ~ ,,., , i. ., from now. absolutely. if you were to think of modern _ from now. absolutely. if you were to think of modern british _ from now. absolutely. if you were to think of modern british politics, - think of modern british politics, the politics of the last 20 years as one of those tv series, the ones that people binge watch, michael gove would be one of the principal and most colourful characters in the conservative party from 2005. he's been very close to all of the leaders, then fallen out with them. he was friends with david cameron, borisjohnson, fell he was friends with david cameron, boris johnson, fell out he was friends with david cameron, borisjohnson, fell out and he was friends with david cameron, boris johnson, fell out and fell back borisjohnson, fell out and fell back in. he was one of the architects of voting leave, he was a neo—con on foreign policy, loved bashing lefties and bureaucrats and experts in terms of domestic policy and of course he led the leap campaign, was one of the architects, with borisjohnson, so an extraordinarily colourful character and rather popular even with those who foully disagree with him politically but he's going and i think many will see that as a sign, along with the other mps you

mentioned, as a sign that they think maybe it's a sinking ship. it’s mentioned, as a sign that they think maybe it's a sinking ship.— maybe it's a sinking ship. it's not 'ust maybe it's a sinking ship. it's not just about _ maybe it's a sinking ship. it's not just about 70 _ maybe it's a sinking ship. it's not just about 70 conservative - maybe it's a sinking ship. it's not just about 70 conservative mps l maybe it's a sinking ship. it's not l just about 70 conservative mps but about 20 or so from the labour side including harriet harman, another long—standing member of the labour party. long-standing member of the labour pa . , ., �*, long-standing member of the labour pa. , , long-standing member of the labour pa. , i, party. yes, that's partly sheer len . th party. yes, that's partly sheer length of _ party. yes, that's partly sheer length of time _ party. yes, that's partly sheer length of time served, - party. yes, that's partly sheer length of time served, the - party. yes, that's partly sheer- length of time served, the stresses and strains of being an mp, and it is getting more stressful as time goes on. most politicians will tell you that, the abuse that they have. 0ne you that, the abuse that they have. one interesting thing from harriet harman and theresa may, the outgoing prime minister also leaving, both of them talked about the importance of public service and despite the stresses of being a politician, the amount of good you can do. it's fascinating because they are pleased that their defence of politics and being a politician comes against the backdrop of this particular election of absolutely crash in public trust

and affection for politics and the political system and political parties. theresa may suggested that politicians should think about themselves as providing a service rather than being in it for themselves and their parties. that's not how voters see things at the moment. . ., not how voters see things at the moment. ., ,, , ., 0ne election battleground all parties are keeping a close eye on is online. social media and the internet spread information, drive conversation, and can influence our opinions — so naturally, campaign teams have been carefully crafting their approaches. and it's a significant departure from traditional ads. take a look first at this posted by the conservatives this afternoon. jazzy music.

i don't know why i'm laughing! quite unusual, these ads. and this from the labour party also today. off-key version of "my heart will go on" plays. both of them made me laugh in equal measure and i suppose that's the whole point of these ads in social media, designed to attract attention and be shared in a different way. joining me now is professor helen margetts, from the oxford internet institute, university of oxford. we've seen different attack ads over the years but these are very short and pithy and they get to the point in a very direct way, don't they? they are geared at doing that. i

guess we don't know yet whether they actually will. time will tell. i don't know how well those kind of memes will work with the tiktok generation but we are going to see more of them, more of the digital things we've seen in previous elections, we will see a lot more of them in this one. you elections, we will see a lot more of them in this one.— elections, we will see a lot more of them in this one. you say you don't know how they _ them in this one. you say you don't know how they will _ them in this one. you say you don't know how they will hold _ them in this one. you say you don't know how they will hold up - them in this one. you say you don't know how they will hold up but - know how they will hold up but clearly the political parties are making them because they think they will work. . �* , ~ �* making them because they think they will work. ., �* , . �* , ., will work. that's right. we'll see a hu . e will work. that's right. we'll see a huge amount _ will work. that's right. we'll see a huge amount more _ will work. that's right. we'll see a huge amount more of— will work. that's right. we'll see a huge amount more of these - will work. that's right. we'll see a | huge amount more of these things being sent out. we will see more political advertising. the spending limits have been raised on political advertising so the parties can legally spend more. and we will see huge amounts of advertising on

facebook, google, x now allowing political advertising, which it didn't before. what's difficult to protect is the —— difficult to predict is the level of engagement people will have with content like this. it is hard to predict how well those things will stand up versus advertisements for close, food and so on. ~ �* ., advertisements for close, food and soon. ~ �* ., ., advertisements for close, food and so on. ~ �* ., ., ,~,:: advertisements for close, food and soon. �* ., ,~,:: , , so on. we've got about 30 seconds but i so on. we've got about 30 seconds but i wanted _ so on. we've got about 30 seconds but i wanted to _ so on. we've got about 30 seconds but i wanted to ask _ so on. we've got about 30 seconds but i wanted to ask about - but i wanted to ask about misinformation and fake news and the role it plays in social media in an election. ~ , , , election. well, this is the first election. well, this is the first election that _ election. well, this is the first election that we'll _ election. well, this is the first election that we'll have - election. well, this is the first election that we'll have with i election. well, this is the first. election that we'll have with large language models like chatgpt, which has a lot of potential to turbo—charge online harms like misinformation, hate and abuse that one of your previous presenters mentioned and all kinds of things like that that we are used to. we'll see a lot more of it. it is going to be difficult to get good information out. . .,

be difficult to get good information out. ., ,, , ., we'll have more after a short break. hello. the bank holiday weekend is unlikely to be as wet overall as some of the weather we've seen over recent days. in fact, it does promise to bring some sunshine. today brought a bit of sunshine for some of us, but that isn't the whole story. there will also be some slow—moving, heavy, thundery downpours. now, as we head through the evening and tonight, the cloud that's been with us for the last few days will continue to break up. we may keep a bit more in the way of cloud, though, across parts of northern ireland, southern and south—western scotland, the odd spot of rain and drizzle here. and where we do see some clear spells, say across parts

of england and wales, there'll be a few mist and fog patches. it will also turn really quite chilly, maybe down to three degrees in some rural parts of mid wales. and then as we head into tomorrow, well, this little weather system here will try to bring some rain into eastern counties. this front will eventually bring rain in towards the west in between early mist and murk, clearing to give some spells of sunshine and just one or two passing showers. but it does look like we'll see rain across east anglia, maybe fringing into other eastern counties of england. more cloud here as well. that will really take the edge off the temperatures, maybe just 15—16 degrees for some eastern coasts. conversely, the best of the sunshine, south—east england, northern scotland, 20—21 degrees. but we will see rain pushing into the south—west of england, parts of wales, eventually getting into parts of northern ireland as we go through the evening, through the night and into sunday. and through sunday, really these two separate weather systems will just break apart into a mixture of sunny spells and showers, but some of those showers will be heavy and thundery. the greatest chance of thunderstorms probably across england and wales, but you could catch a heavy downpour just about anywhere.

those downpours quite slow—moving, so they could give a lot of rain in a short space of time. but conversely, some places will avoid the showers and stay dry. into bank holiday monday, the focus for the heaviest showers may shift just a little bit further northwards, parts of eastern and northern england up into scotland. not as many showers further west or particularly further south—west. a weak ridge of high pressure just briefly trying to build in across western areas. although it won't last long, we see further frontal systems pushing in from the west. so it does look quite unsettled through next week, but it won't be raining all the time. there will still be some spells of sunshine.

hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan. you're watching the context on bbc news. we'll take you to mthatha in south africa's eastern cape, where nelson mandela grew up, to find out if the "mandela factor" is enough to keep the anc in power in the upcoming elections. also more on the news the michael gove is to step down after this election campaign from parliament. sport, and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's paul scott.

thanks very much and we start with football. manchester united boss erik ten hag is preparing his side for saturday's fa cup final against rivals manchester city not knowing if he's to be sacked immediately afterwards. the guardian newspaper is reporting that the dutchman will lose his job in the aftermath whatever the outcome at wembley. bbc sport understands there has been no contact with ten hag or his representatives by united. saturday's match is a repeat of last year's final, which saw pep guardiola's side run out 2—1 winners. with the big clubs, united, city, we know we are always in trouble. so it is no secret. i will tell you this. when we are done, we are done. this is not a vacation. i have done very, very good things and have a huge respect, positivejob in the past now with united. and i can fully agree when i listen to him to say that they will not fool a squad. all

the