hello, i'm ben thompson. you're watching the context on bbc news. we want to continue to push on an urgent basis with our partners, with qatar, with egypt, to try to close this deal because we know it is in the interest of the israelis, palestinians, the region, indeed, the entire world. translation: we need to take clear position and demand - put an end to this war. 37,000 martyrs have died so far, and thousands have been wounded in addition to this collective punishment policy of starvation that has been used against our brothers in gaza. although mr blake and says both sides. antony blinken says both sides have previously agreed to this plan, and are now making changes. it does still seem that

the fundamental differences between the two sides, the fundamental demands they are making, don't seem reconcilable at the moment. an israel—gaza peace deal "hangs in the balance" after hamas proposes changes to the us—backed plan for a ceasefire. also tonight — three russian warships and a submarine arrive in cuba, just 90 miles off the us coast. officials call the military drills "non—threatening". questions — but do the leaders have the answers? the prime minister and his rival vying for the job face a grilling on key policy issues ahead of the uk general election. and could you go cold—turkey in a digital detox? we have a special report as ten teenagers swap their smartphones for basic devices. we'll show you how they got on. we begin tonight in the middle east.

us secretary of state antony blinken is back in qatar, as talks continue over the latest gaza ceasefire proposal. mr blinken says hamas has proposed a number of changes to the latest proposal — some are workable, he says, some are not. he noted that mediators would work in the coming days to see if the gaps between israel and hamas over the ceasefire deal could be bridged. the deal was on the table that was virtually identical to the proposal that hamas put forward on may six. a deal that the entire world was behind, a deal israel has accepted, and hamas could have answered with a single word, "yes," instead, hamas waited nearly two weeks, and then proposed more changes, a number of which go beyond positions it had previously taken and accepted. a senior hamas official responded by calling mr blinken

part of the problem, not the solution, and denied that hamas had requested changes to the ceasefire proposal. here's a reminder of the key parts of that plan, one that president biden said involved three phases. the first would see an initial six—week ceasefire, when hamas would release some of the hostages — including women, the elderly and the sick or wounded — in exchange for israel releasing palestinian prisoners. a second phase would see all remaining living hostages released and the withdrawal of all israeli forces from gaza as part of a "permanent cessation of hostilities", but the latter would still be subject to further negotiations. in the third phase, the remains of any dead hostages would be returned and a major reconstruction plan for gaza would commence. our correspondentjon donnison is in jerusalem. john, good to have you with us, and what is your sense right now about

how far apart these two sides are? we know hamas has asked for changes and we know some of them according to the secretary of state are workable and some are not. a deal is not imminent, is it? i workable and some are not. a deal is not imminent, is it?— not imminent, is it? i don't think the deal is _ not imminent, is it? i don't think the deal is dead _ not imminent, is it? i don't think the deal is dead but _ not imminent, is it? i don't think the deal is dead but it _ not imminent, is it? i don't think the deal is dead but it does - not imminent, is it? i don't think the deal is dead but it does not l the deal is dead but it does not looking very healthy, there is no doubt the americans and the guitar is and the egyptians are pushing extremely hard for this deal to go through, but the truth is the people who are calling the shots, and that is basically my minister benjamin netanyahu, and the leader of hamas in gaza do not really seem committed to whatjoe biden laid out a few weeks ago. and the key sticking point is what happens in phase two. a complete withdrawal of israeli troops is what is in the plan, and a permanent cease—fire, now it seems

like hamas is seeking greater guarantees that that is going to happen. it is being reported in the israeli media now that what they are saying they want is on day one, they want israeli troops to withdraw from population centres in gaza and on day three of the initial phase one, they want initial israeli forces to withdraw from the main road that cuts the gaza strip into, and it exchange for that they say they would release three hostages every three days. the israelis have signalled that they are just not going to accept that. benjamin netanyahu has called a meeting of the security officials tonight to assess what he called a rejection from hamas. assess what he called a re'ection from hamafi assess what he called a re'ection from hamas. �* ~ ., ,, ., ., from hamas. and we know the qatari prime minister _ from hamas. and we know the qatari prime minister has _ from hamas. and we know the qatari prime minister has said _ from hamas. and we know the qatari prime minister has said that - from hamas. and we know the qatari prime minister has said that hamas l prime minister has said that hamas need to be pressure to reach an agreement, those are his words, that both sides were counterproductive in

their approach to the negotiation process. at the same time, hamas according mr blinken part of the problem and not the solution, and it is hard to see with that sort of language how any progress will be made. mr language how any progress will be made. ~ �* ~ , m, ., made. mr blinken has been in qatar toda , and made. mr blinken has been in qatar today. and he _ made. mr blinken has been in qatar today, and he will— made. mr blinken has been in qatar today, and he will be _ made. mr blinken has been in qatar today, and he will be trying - made. mr blinken has been in qatar today, and he will be trying to - made. mr blinken has been in qatar today, and he will be trying to get i today, and he will be trying to get the qataris and the egyptian to put pressure on hamas but i am not really sure that they're listening. there is also the issue of the hamas leaders outside of gaza, many in delhi in qatar, and are they on the same page of the people on the ground in gaza? and there's also the pressure that has to be put on the israeli side because antony blinken assures everyone that israel has signed up to their plan, so they are calling it even and is really plan, so they have said israel has signed up so they have said israel has signed up to the idea of a complete withdrawal of forces from gaza and he permanent cease—fire with hamas,

but benjamin netanyahu has not said that explicitly. he has not given that explicitly. he has not given that back in, and he knows that if you are to do that, there are members on the extreme right of his coalition government who would pull out of the government and would bring his government known and bring fresh elections. as i say, it is really only the americans who seem to think this deal is really close, it does not feel that we hear on the ground. it does not feel that we hear on the round. ,., ., it does not feel that we hear on the i round, ,., ., ., it does not feel that we hear on the round. ,., ., ., ., , ., ground. good to get that update from ou live in ground. good to get that update from you live in jerusalem _ ground. good to get that update from you live in jerusalem for _ ground. good to get that update from you live in jerusalem for us, - ground. good to get that update from you live in jerusalem for us, thank - you live injerusalem for us, thank you. jon donnison with the latest. joining me now is robert satloff. he is the executive director of the washington institute. but to have you with us. i want to pick up on that thought from our correspondent injerusalem, saying only the americans at this stage think a deal is possible is that how you see it? i think a deal is possible is that how ou see it? ., think a deal is possible is that how you see it?— think a deal is possible is that how ou see it? ., ., , ., ._ you see it? i do not see that way. i think the americans _ you see it? i do not see that way. i think the americans would not - you see it? i do not see that way. i think the americans would not be i think the americans would not be putting this on the table if they did not think that if cinnabar said yes they had the israeli assent completed —— completely in their

pockets. at the moment it is up to the hamas, if their leader says yes, i am have no doubt the israelis would consent as well.- i am have no doubt the israelis would consent as well. hamas says it is read in would consent as well. hamas says it is ready in its — would consent as well. hamas says it is ready in its word _ would consent as well. hamas says it is ready in its word to _ would consent as well. hamas says it is ready in its word to deal— is ready in its word to deal positively with the process, but we know they have asked for changes to this proposal. the changes, some of them we hear from antony blinken, are workable, some are not, do we have any sense about the sticking points the nonwork of the parts or requests to that proposal? ultimately what hamas is trying to find out is whether they have reached the final israeli concession, and anybody who has ever negotiated in the middle east before knows this is the time to actually increase the pressure on hamas, not to address hamas demands for further concessions. this is the time to actually speed up american weapons deliveries to israel, the time to

sever more definitively the relationship between rafah and sinai, which is cinemark�*s escape routes, and time to threaten the arrest and exhibition of hamas external leadership, and the time to raise the pressure on hamas if you want to achieve a positive result. this is into hamas, this is as good as you are going to get, it is a deal on the table and if you don't like it that deal is off. timer;r like it that deal is off. they need to know it _ like it that deal is off. they need to know it gets _ like it that deal is off. they need to know it gets worse _ like it that deal is off. they need to know it gets worse -- - like it that deal is off. they need to know it gets worse -- worse i like it that deal is off. they need i to know it gets worse -- worse with to know it gets worse —— worse with the passage of time. to know it gets worse -- worse with the passage of time.— to know it gets worse -- worse with the passage of time. from the easier the passage of time. from the easier the site, the passage of time. from the easier the site. worth _ the passage of time. from the easier the site, worth seeing _ the passage of time. from the easier the site, worth seeing that _ the passage of time. from the easier the site, worth seeing that benjamin| the site, worth seeing that benjamin netanyahu has not yet publicly endorsed a plan and i wonder what it speaks to about the difficulties in the cabinet and getting this deal over the line. does it tell us they are still significant differences of opinion in the israeli government? this plan was endorsed by the war

cabinet weeks ago. yes, netanyahu does not want to be public debates about it because he does not see the value of having a public debates about it if sinwar has not endorsed it, but it would not be on the table. the americans would not be saying it is an israeli plan if the israeli war cabinet had not endorsed it two weeks ago. find israeli war cabinet had not endorsed it two weeks ago-— it two weeks ago. and on that point from the qatar— it two weeks ago. and on that point from the qatar prime _ it two weeks ago. and on that point from the qatar prime minister- it two weeks ago. and on that point from the qatar prime minister is . from the qatar prime minister is saying that both sides, israel and hamas need to be pressured into it reaching an agreement, saying that both sides were counterproductive in their approach to the negotiating process. what do you understand that to mean? i’m process. what do you understand that to mean? �* ., , m, ., , to mean? i'm not sure... the qataris to mean? i'm not sure... the qataris to mean? i'm not sure... the qataris to me are — to mean? i'm not sure... the qataris to me are not— to mean? i'm not sure... the qataris to me are not the _ to mean? i'm not sure... the qataris to me are not the most _ to me are not the most reliable third—party in this, i take my cue from what the secretary of state says on this issue. um? from what the secretary of state says on this issue.— from what the secretary of state says on this issue. why do you feel the are says on this issue. why do you feel they are rrot _ says on this issue. why do you feel they are not reliable _ says on this issue. why do you feel they are not reliable partners - they are not reliable partners question mark? the they are not reliable partners question mark?— they are not reliable partners question mark? they are not reliable partners ruestion mark? ,, ., ., , ., , question mark? the qataris have been bendin: question mark? the qataris have been bending over — question mark? the qataris have been bending over backwards _

question mark? the qataris have been bending over backwards as _ question mark? the qataris have been bending over backwards as advocates l bending over backwards as advocates of hamas from the very beginning in all this, so... it to me, itake of hamas from the very beginning in all this, so... it to me, i take my cue from what the secretary of state has said. he says it's an israeli proposal from has said. he says it's an israeli proposalfrom which we has said. he says it's an israeli proposal from which we are waging a positive hamas response, that is good enough for me.— positive hamas response, that is good enough for me. really good to talk to, thank— good enough for me. really good to talk to, thank you, _ good enough for me. really good to talk to, thank you, so _ good enough for me. really good to talk to, thank you, so much - good enough for me. really good to talk to, thank you, so much more i good enough for me. really good to j talk to, thank you, so much more to discuss, and we will in the coming days, thank you for being on the programme, robert satloff. three russian warships and a submarine have arrived in cuba, some 90 miles off the us coast. the ships will be carrying out military exercises. cuba says it "does not represent a threat to the region". likewise, us officials called the drills non—threatening. still, it comes as tensions are high between the us and russia over the war in ukraine. hosting his cuban counterpart in moscow on wednesday, the russian foreign minister, sergey lavrov, said moscow was "grateful" to cuba

for its "principled position on the situation around ukraine". it's important to note the russian warships are not believed to be carrying nuclear weapons. but what exactly are they doing in cuba? let's cross to mexico city — we can speak to our correspondent will grant. let me put that to you, well, what are the military ships and submarines doing in that location? well, in essence, there to clear messages that they are sending. the first, which is perhaps less surprising and to be expected, is an underscoring of the relationship between moscow and havana that you mentioned. sergey lavrov and it comments he made about the addition on the war in ukraine, cuba has been a loyal ally to russia for decades and of course the sieve —— soviet union before then. so that solidifies that relationship but the one most people are focused on is

the message being sent to washington, very much a message, or it seems, of what meddling in 1's back yard can bring. the caribbean is considered by washington, successive administrations for decades and decades through the cold war, to be its back yard, and this is a a show of strength. you've made it clear and your right to do so, that there isn't it military threat that there isn't it military threat that there isn't it military threat that the united states perceives by this exercise, and cuba ip pains to make that clear as well, what is an interesting moment and happening at an interested moment of global hostilities. and while both sides say there is no threat it does not represent a threat to the region you are right, it does have a threat politically and diplomatically saying that they are there and that would be deemed in some circles to be a threat. hat would be deemed in some circles to be a threat-— be a threat. not only are we here but ou be a threat. not only are we here but you have _ be a threat. not only are we here but you have been _ be a threat. not only are we here but you have been taking - be a threat. not only are we here but you have been taking your . be a threat. not only are we here | but you have been taking your eye off the ball when it comes to central america and the caribbean.

that we are solidifying and strengthening relationships in your back yard if you are going to be doing the same in hours is it seen in terms of ukraine. so, yes, importance of text, it has the echoes of the cold war. of course the ufo -- us echoes of the cold war. of course the ufo —— us officials were across what was going on and monitoring all the activities by the warships on the activities by the warships on the way to the caribbean, but i think the fact that it is underlined the relationship during havana and caracas in venezuela later on in the summer is an important step from a russian perspective.— russian perspective. good to have ou there russian perspective. good to have you there with _ russian perspective. good to have you there with the _ russian perspective. good to have you there with the latest, - russian perspective. good to have you there with the latest, well, i you there with the latest, well, will grantjoining us from mexico city. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

it's week three of campaigning in the uk ahead of the general well, across the channel in france, president macron has

begun campaigning too, after calling a snap election on sunday. the shock move was sparked by the dramatic victory of marine le pen's anti—immigration party, the national rally, in sunday's european parliamentary elections. the rn won more than double the votes cast for macron's alliance. in a speech earlier today, mr macron called on centrist parties to join forces, to counter those on the extreme left and right. he also defended decision to call the surprise vote. take a listen. translation: this is why, - in my view, the answer could not lie in changes of government or coalitions which were not possible in parliament, as the last few days have very clearly shown, but in a dissolution, which is the only way to clarify matters. because we are at a time when our country must rise to a number of challenges and cannot be blocked by the extremes and because it is an act of confidence in our people, in democracy, in the republican spirit and in the national common sense. in my view, in this context, returning to the sovereign people is the only republican decision.

joining me now is agnes poirier. she is the uk editor for the french weekly l'express. good to have you with us, and i want to pick up on that thought that president or in saying this is about bringing those extreme sites together, he says it will force a clear choice in french politics. willits? is this enough? if clear choice in french politics. willits? is this enough?- willits? is this enough? if he hadn't done _ willits? is this enough? if he hadn't done anything - willits? is this enough? if he hadn't done anything the - willits? is this enough? if ye: hadn't done anything the night, willits? is this enough? it is: hadn't done anything the night, on sunday nights after, if you add both extremes, the far right and the far left where nearly 50% of the french electorate, and it is been bending up electorate, and it is been bending up in the last a0 years, electorate, and it is been bending up in the last ao years, really, gradually, little by little. it is often seen and being used as a protest vote by the french electorate especially in non—estate

elections like the eu elections, but president macron was elected two years ago, he wasn't given a road in the national assembly, he has at any minor government, and it is been difficult for him to pass laws on which she was actually elected, so he would have been obliged at some point probably before the end of the year to dissolve the parliament, but instead of being obliged to do so, he seized the moment, seized the initiative to create an electric shock. just about 50%, 52% of the french electorate turned out to vote in the eu elections. there'll probably be than 70, perhaps 80% of the french electorate that would turn out to vote on the 30th ofjune and the 7th ofjuly, and perhaps

they would ask themselves the question, do they want the far right oran question, do they want the far right or an alliance of elements of the rights and the far right to run the country western mark it is very different from leading with your angen different from leading with your anger, if you like. this is the very practical and real and stark choice. that difference facing, and exhibit rich to say that president macron is mad when actually he just put in the french voters in front of their responsibility, and is also putting the ball back in democracy, exercising democracy. and i gamble. i was going to say it is a gamble for him because it may not go the way she wants it to, but what it has done even in the days on sunday when he called that snap in action is through the spotlight onto some of those parties on this extreme right and extreme left, and particularly

today, there has been chaos on the far right, just explain what is going on today. far right, just explain what is going on today-— far right, just explain what is auoin on toda . ., . going on today. today, the french riaht, the going on today. today, the french right, the former _ going on today. today, the french right, the former gaullist, - going on today. today, the french right, the former gaullist, the - right, the former gaullist, the mainstream right party, that had nicholas circles the extra, basically exploded because the leader of the french right party called the republic, yesterday announced that he wanted to enter an alliance with marine le pen party, the national rally, and the only problem is a good portion of the party opposes it, and unanimously the political board of the party voted for its exclusion from the party, and even barricaded himself for a few hours in the headquarters in paris, so that do need to go and

find a spare key, so it is almost running into farce, but half of the party want to enter an alliance with the national front, party want to enter an alliance with the nationalfront, so in a party want to enter an alliance with the national front, so in a way it's a recomposition of the french political landscape, and perhaps it is something that was inevitable at some point, and as president macron said, unmasking some decisions today. said, unmasking some decisions toda . �* said, unmasking some decisions toda .�* ., ., ,, ., said, unmasking some decisions toda .�* ., ., ,, today. always good to talk to you, a: nes today. always good to talk to you, agnes poirer _ today. always good to talk to you, agnes poirer you _ today. always good to talk to you, agnes poirer you get _ today. always good to talk to you, agnes poirer you get editor- today. always good to talk to you, agnes poirer you get editor for - today. always good to talk to you, | agnes poirer you get editor for the agnes poirer you get editorfor the french weekly. ritualfor agnes poirer you get editorfor the french weekly. ritual for your time. it's week three of campaigning in the uk ahead of the general election on the ath ofjuly. in grimsby tonight, prime minister rishi sunak and rival sir keir starmer are being quizzed by the political editor of sky news as well as members of the public. the leaders are expected to face questions on key issues such as the cost of living, the nhs and immigration. let's head there live — our political correspondent, hannah miller is there.

she isjust outside she is just outside where the q and a is now back underweight once again, hannah, and we are also seen that on the screen behind you, but give us a sense of some of the key issues, because this is not a debate, it is about them facing direct questions not only from the host but also the audience. it is rishi sunak's _ host but also the audience. it is rishi sunak's turn _ host but also the audience. it 3 rishi sunak's turn right now, 20 questions —— 20 minutes of questions from sky news and 25 minutes from the audience, and keir starmer was before some punchy expenses we have heard, particularly from a keir starmer around his previous campaigning forjeremy corbyn —— jeremy corbyn, taxes and child poverty, so to run through those. he was asked why he previously said thatjeremy corbyn would make a great buy minister, he said that at the time he said that, he was certain that the labour party would not win the general election, that

was back into this 19, and he said he was saying it in the context of a campaign where he wanted his colleagues to win. in terms of policy, he was asked about tax and as we heard before, the labour party would not increase income tax vat on national insurance, but he pointed out, the sky political editor pointed out that other issues they have no plans to raise tax, and that is not quite the same as seen indefinitely won't do it. on child poverty, the other issue that came up poverty, the other issue that came up through his interview, keir starmer, he was asked about the tool child benefit, which many people on the left of the labour party have wanted keir starmer to remove, so that won't be in their manifesto tomorrow, and he says that is because he wants to be responsible with money. interestingly, he got it out of a plus from the audience when he said the labour party would only commit to things it believes it can

afford to do, and he wasn't promising to make changes to the benefits in relation to that, he still got a plus regarding economic response about around that. find still got a plus regarding economic response about around that. and the prime minister _ response about around that. and the prime minister has _ response about around that. and the prime minister has been _ response about around that. and the prime minister has been in _ response about around that. and the prime minister has been in a - response about around that. and the prime minister has been in a funny i prime minister has been in a funny position today, having to reiterate he is not going to wear, that the conservatives have not given up, that was after grant shapps talking about the labour party getting a super majority, the idea of handing them a big majority in that general election. the prime minister in a very unusual position of saying, we are campaigning for every single boat, still. �* ., ., are campaigning for every single boat, still-— boat, still. and that to some extent is the where — boat, still. and that to some extent is the where you — boat, still. and that to some extent is the where you could _ boat, still. and that to some extent is the where you could argue - boat, still. and that to some extent is the where you could argue a - is the where you could argue a deliberate decision by the conservative party and grant shapps to use that language, because in their view that then perhaps makes it less likely that people will vote for the labour party, they want to be up to claim there's a strong opposition is the way forward, but

we are several weeks out from the end of the election campaign and for the current government to be suggesting that they may not win is really quite extraordinary. rishi sunak, of course, having to say that he is still fighting, to be hearing that from senior people within the party is very unusual.— that from senior people within the party is very unusual. hannah, thank ou so party is very unusual. hannah, thank you so much. — party is very unusual. hannah, thank you so much, hannah _ party is very unusual. hannah, thank you so much, hannah miller- party is very unusual. hannah, thank you so much, hannah miller and - party is very unusual. hannah, thank you so much, hannah miller and the| you so much, hannah miller and the rather noisy spreader room, all the journalists and lobbyists in that room, there was transit convince hannah and others, the other journalist in that room, that their candidate was the one with all the answers and clarifying anything that comes up in that q and a that is currently under way. we will talk some more to hannah and the team there is a lit later in the programme once we hear from there is a lit later in the programme once we hearfrom both sides, and some highlights of those q and a sessions under tough questions expected from the audience. will be back very shortly, stay with us here on the context on

bbc news. hello. it's been another day of below average temperatures across most parts of the uk. with that, we've seen a fair amount of cloud, but also a fair amount of dry weather. this cool air mass, though, is set to be replaced by something that — on the face of it — looks a little bit warmer, a change in wind direction. but with that, we see this frontal system pushing in from the west. that will bring some heavy rain and some quite brisk winds. and i think by virtue of the cloud, the rain, the strong winds, it will still feel rather cool for many of us. but, actually, through tonight, it is going to be decidedly chilly where we keep these clear skies overhead. we'll see a few mist and fog patches here and there, cloud and rain then spreading into parts of northern ireland, perhaps the far west of wales, the west of cornwall, by the end of the night here, turning a little bit milder. but where we keep those clear skies, decidedly chilly to start thursday morning. some parts of scotland out in the countryside

starting their day around 2—3 celsius, but with some sunshine. however, this band of cloud and rain will be spreading in across western areas, becoming quite slow moving, actually. so the rain heavy and persistent across the southwest of england and wales, 20—30 millimetres of rain possible. and around some western coasts, gusts of wind of 50 miles per hour or more. quite unusual for this time of year. that rain spreading across the isle of man into north west england, affecting northern ireland, southwestern and central parts of scotland. eastern england holding onto some mostly dry conditions. northern scotland holding on to a little bit of sunshine. temperatures here actually a little bit higher than they have been. we could see highs of 17 degrees now through thursday night into friday, that band of rain will continue to drive its way and northwards lingering, i think across northern parts of scotland for the first part of friday morning and then to the south of that, well, it is a mix of sunny spells and showers. the showers quite plentiful, actually. there'll be lots of them. some will be heavy, some will be thundery. temperatures a little bit higher than they have been, 13—19 degrees,

but that's still a touch below the seasonal average. what about the weekend? well, low pressure will remain in charge of the scene. so that is going to bring showers or longer spells of rain. the showers on saturday will be quite widespread. some of them will be on the heavy side. by sunday, the showers perhaps focusing across the north of the uk, something a little bit drierfurther south, not quite as cool as it has been.

hungary says it won't block nato efforts to provide security and training for ukraine, but says it won't play any active role either. more on that and what it means in just a moment. sport, and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's marc edwards. hi, ben. india have continued their unbeaten run at the t20 world cup to reach the super 8s. they were given a fright, though, in their seven—wicket win over co—hosts usa. chasing a modest 111, india made a spluttering start to their reply. usa bowler saurabh netravalkar dismissing superstar virat kohli for a golden duck. the indian—born player will be dining out on that for a while,

and he took another quick wicket to leave india reeling at 10—2.