hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan. and welcome to tonight's special programme where we take a deeper look at this week's push for a ceasefire in gaza. us presidentjoe biden says a truce in gaza is much closer than it's ever been, but that it's not there yet. negotiators said the talks were "serious and constructive". they'll meet again next week to try to finalise an agreement between israel and hamas for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. in this special programme we'll take a look at where things stand, speaking to palestinians, israelis, and former diplomats, to assess where things stand.

we begin with a report from the occupied west bank and the funeral of a 22—year—old palestinian man, who shot dead whenjewish settlers stormed his village last night. the attack took place injit in the north of the occupied west bank and was condemned by the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. our middle east correspondent lucy williamson reports no—one knows who made rashid asidi a village hero. who shot the young it worker as he threw stones to keep armed jewish settlers at bay. but they know who to blame. translation: even the ambulance that came for him was blocked - by the army. they waited until he died. the blame is more on the army, because they are not controlling the settlers. they protect them. his mother said she didn't know if it was a settler or a soldier who fired the fatal shot. rashid's brother mahdi took me

to where he was killed. the village boundary fence, broken in several places. a neighbour said dozens of settlers gathered here last night, and that he heard a hail of gunshots. he said he called the israeli army, who took two hours to arrive. the army said they deployed within minutes. residents say the settlers were masked, armed and organised into groups. some dressed all in black, some all in white. hassan was at home with his family when they came down this road. his surveillance camera caught the moment they confronted him, setting fire to his car and entering his family compound. translation: they were all. armed with automatic weapons, light weapons, pepper spray. their attack was organised. they had a clear goal to kill or burn. here we are, unarmed. they have the government

supporting them. we have nothing except ourselves. israel is under fierce international scrutiny over settler violence in the west bank. israel's army says it has launched a thorough investigation into last night's attack. those gathered for rashid's funeral prayers had little faith injustice. the body of rashid asidi is leading a procession of anger through the village ofjit. people here trace this violence right back to the behaviour of israeli security forces and the policies of israeli politicians. a palestinian village surrounded by israeli settlements, distrustful of israeli forces, burying their anger along with their grief.

let's return to the situation in gaza. this week the death toll in the war reached a grim milestone. now, according to gaza's health ministry, more than 40,000 palestinians have been killed in the war so far. more than 90,000 people have been wounded. about 85% of gaza's population has been displaced from their homes. and officials estimate that death toll is likely much higher as bodies remain buried under the rubble. the sanitation system has failed and famine looms as the humanitarian crisis in the enclave deepens. the un says pauses in fighting are desperately needed to allow for 600,000 children in gaza to be vaccinated against polio. the disease has re—emered in the strip for the first time in 25 years. as the suffering in the territory continues calls for a ceasefire continue on too. on thursday, israel and mediators began the latest round of talks to end the war.

hamas did not attend in the latest round of negotiations in doha, but were kept briefed on progress. president biden said the negotiations were �*serious and constructive'. and that the path is now set for an outcome that will save lives, bring relief to the people of gaza, and de—escalate regional tensions. talks are expected to resume next week. in the next half—an—hour we'll break down what's happening. looking at the israeli and palestinian perspective and look at what the way forward might be. joining me live is yousef munayyer, head of the palestine—israel program and senior fellow at arab centre here in washington. welcome to the programme.

president biden believes things are getting closer. i must mac do not take part in those talks. they said they wanted to stick to an earlier framework set out earlier. what do you think is the way forward from a palestinian point of view? we will see what _ palestinian point of view? - will see what president biden said comes to pass. you may recall earlier this year i believe it was in february he said towards the middle of the week he expects them to be a ceasefire agreement by the following monday. that was many months ago and tens of thousands of palestinians dead. i go. we will have to see the extent to which president biden is prepared to press the israelis notjust to commit is prepared to press the israelis not just to commit to an agreement but also commit to fulfilling that agreement and carrying it out. hamas said they already agreed to the

outline put forward by president biden which at the time it was announced by the president he said it was an israeli proposal. the palestinian position put forward by hamas is nothing left to negotiate here, we agreed to this now let's talk about implementation. unfortunately the israeli leadership led by benjamin netanyahu and a host of right wing religious extremists in israel have work to drag out, delay and prevent the implementation of a ceasefire agreement for their own reasons. from the other prospective, israel is saying hamas should just accept what is out there on the table. the? is out there on the table. they don't really — is out there on the table. they don't really characterise - is out there on the table. they don't really characterise it - is out there on the table. they don't really characterise it as l don't really characterise it as new conditions. i don't really characterise it as new conditions.— new conditions. i think the palestinian _ new conditions. i think the palestinian said _ new conditions. i think the palestinian said they - new conditions. i think the - palestinian said they accepted what has been put forward by president biden. what has been

enshrined in the united nations security council resolution. numerous reports including israeli reports, reports from israeli reports, reports from israeli security officials have placed the blame on benjamin netanyahu for coming up with all kinds of new obstacles and demands to ensure these kinds of talks continue to collapse. important to keep in mind benjamin netanyahu's very political career likely depends on the continuation of this war. 0ne on the continuation of this war. one of the reasons why as recently as a few weeks ago they carried out an assassination on the very hamas political leader engaged in these negotiations.- political leader engaged in these negotiations. what we have been — these negotiations. what we have been hearing _ these negotiations. what we have been hearing as - these negotiations. what we have been hearing as hamas these negotiations. what we - have been hearing as hamas are objecting to certain things in the framework currently being discussed, including keeping israeli troops on gaza �*s border with egypt and also terms related to the release of

palestinians held in israeli jails. do you think there is any wiggle room? mediators are working hard to try and get both sides, both parties in this talks to come to agreement. i this talks to come to agreement.- this talks to come to agreement. this talks to come to aareement. ~' ., , agreement. i think the outlines of this agreement _ agreement. i think the outlines of this agreement have - agreement. i think the outlines of this agreement have been i of this agreement have been over ten months now. the entire duration of this terrific war, it has been clear what it is going to take. it is about the politics, particularly on the israeli side, to ensure it when a deal was made that they could claim they have done enough damage in gaza to palestinians in gaza that accepting any sort of agreement would not be political suicide for the government.— political suicide for the covernment. �* , , ., government. briefly before we have to move _ government. briefly before we have to move on, _ government. briefly before we have to move on, some - government. briefly before we | have to move on, some people watching this might ask why didn't hamas sit around that table and actually debate and discuss with mediators? you

miaht discuss with mediators? you might recall _ discuss with mediators? you might recall as _ discuss with mediators? you might recall as i _ discuss with mediators? you might recall as i noted - discuss with mediators? 7m, might recall as i noted a few weeks ago that the person was directly involved in these negotiations from hamas's and was assassinated by israelis in iran. it is not a role many people are excited to fill given the israelis have been assassinating the people they have been negotiating with. they made clear to the palestinians and mediators what their position is, they agreed to outlines put forward by president biden and in the noted stations security council resolution. the question now is whether the united states can actually get the israelis to commit to what was supposed to be their own proposal.— be their own proposal. thank ou be their own proposal. thank you very _ be their own proposal. thank you very much _ be their own proposal. thank you very much for _ be their own proposal. thank you very much for sharing - be their own proposal. thank i you very much for sharing your thoughts with us on the programme. joining me live is aaron david miller. senior fellow at the carnegie endowment for international peace.

we were looking at the equations when it comes to hamas from a palestinian perspective. let's look at the israeli perspective if we may. we heard accusations from hamas thatis we heard accusations from hamas that is real simply is not agreeing to the original framework set out by president biden some months ago. what is the calculation you think in the calculation you think in the netanyahu government at the moment? , , �* ., ., moment? this isn't one hand clapping- _ moment? this isn't one hand clapping- it — moment? this isn't one hand clapping- it is _ moment? this isn't one hand clapping. it is negotiation. i clapping. it is negotiation. after 25 years of watching israelis and palestinians negotiate, this is a different sort of negotiation. they only have two speeds and it is slow and slower. the reality is the clocks are not synchronised. the abiding clock is ticking very fast for obvious reasons. since warwick, he is the only palestinian that counts, the private key decision—maker and

gone tomorrow flow tunnel underground probably surrounded ljy underground probably surrounded by hostages. his clock and benjamin netanyahu's are running much slower. every party would load up this christmas trip with as many ornaments as they possibly can and the only thing that matters, we will get a testament and the next week, whether or not what is required to close negotiation is evident. and what is required is urgency. is benjamin netanyahu and yahya sinwar, at the 11 months of this war, for whatever isn't ready to sign off on a deal? i might add will inoculate comprehensive agreement in three phases, they may say that but i suspect they will be some agreement but on

the get to the first stage. women and children hostages. and what is needed most of all, six—week ceasefire to relieve 2.3 million palestinians in gaza of untold and incredibly profound suffering and catastrophe. that is where matters stand and yes i think the united states has played a role and can play a role but if hamas and netanyahu don't want to do this for whatever reason there is nothing under the sun this administration or an external party frame will be able to do to convince them. we heard that _ able to do to convince them. we heard thatjordan have been blaming mr netanyahu for blocking the deal with the foreign minister there urgent pressure by everyone who wishes to see this through to completion. what is real characterise it as that? they wouldn't say they were blocking

anything. what is the other calculations domestically for mr netanyahu as well? i think the organising _ mr netanyahu as well? i think the organising principle, - the organising principle, benjamin netanyahu's wife is preservation of governments. if he is forced out of parliament in election or non— confidence vote, by the work neither of those things are likely, but if he loses power he faces to very bad alternatives. 0ne he loses power he faces to very bad alternatives. one is a conviction. 0n trialfor conviction. 0n trial for bribery, conviction. 0n trialfor bribery, fraud, and for an israeli prime minister to be convicted on one of the charges he is accused of. if he is not convicted and seeks a plea bargain to avoid jail time, his political career is through. that means he must hang on.

that means he must hang on. that means he must hang on. that means his clock when it comes to ending the war, i don't think he wants regional war but i think he does want this particular conflict to continue. perhaps very slow. briefly, let's not forget all the families of those people taken hostage on the seventh of october after the attacks who 0ctober after the attacks who are desperately wanted to get them home with them. how much pressure will sway is that having on mr netanyahu's administration to have agreed to, and has not been even public polls by majority want the hostages home even if it involves some kind of compromises.- involves some kind of compromises. involves some kind of comromises. ~ , , . ., compromises. with respect to, smack. compromises. with respect to, smack- "5 _ compromises. with respect to,

smack. 115 hostages. _ smack. 115 hostages. somewhat back for a treat and some died and captivity. that is the true tragedy having to palestinians in gaza. it may well be, take a flyer on this. assert that we make it a deal in august to go for phase one. we make it a deal in august to go for phase one.— make it a deal in august to go for phase one. we will find out in the next _ for phase one. we will find out in the next week _ for phase one. we will find out in the next week or _ for phase one. we will find out in the next week or so. - for phase one. we will find out in the next week or so. as - in the next week or so. as always, thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. all week there's been a huge diplomatic push to lead the talks to a successful conclusion. as we said earlier, joe biden warned all regional players in the middle east not to undermine progress in efforts to secure a ceasefire in gaza and the release of hostages. us secretary of state, antony blinken, is heading to the region this weekend,

in hopes of getting a deal over the line when talks resume next week. earlier our state department correspondent tom bateman told me the latest on where the negotiations stand. we are hearing incredibly positive tone around the way the last two days discussions and know—how have gone. president biden saying we are closer than ever to a ceasefire deal. i was hearing from one senior administrator official that said there was no spirit to drive this to a conclusion. 0n the other hand from a palestinian side tequila we had much more positive messages about how this has gone. they believe the israelis have moved. a statement from the office of benjamin netanyahu

saying this was about hamas refusal to take the proposal on the table. the parties themselves are not reflecting themselves are not reflecting the positive message we are hearing from americans. there is a couple of things going on. what the us is doing and has been doing for a few weeks is trying to apply as much pressure as possible to say this is the last chance saloon. if you don't take it now we will not keep going with this. one official trying to draw 0ne official trying to draw more blood from the stone. this is the best it will get. for both sides, time to take the deal and also that means doesn't further risk the lives of hostages held in captivity by hamas to keep drawing this out and crucially for the huge numbers of palestinians killed by israelis, israel's military offensive in gaza, it would bring it to a close finally. the stakes aren't that high and i think the americans by using this tone are trying to apply

pressure but they are not there yet. we're talking about another week of technical discussions around what they say is implementation of the deal but frankly that is still hammering out details of this deal. and more talks and they american say it would be final round of talks in cairo next week. a lot of positive messaging. i think there is progress whether we see a deal site next week still feels unlikely but never say never. the reuters news agency seen at least six people have been killed and three others wounded by an israeli strike on a residential building in southern lebanon. that news coming to us from the reuters news agency that are quoting the lebanese health ministry. a reminder that the attack continues on. so let's get the thoughts

of two officials who've worked on diplomacy in the middle east, kirsten fontenros, former director of the gulf for the us national security council, and former iranian ambassador to germany, seyed houssein mousavain. welcome to the programme to both of you. we are hearing the goal now is narrow the gaps between israel and hamas. the work numbers area before. how does one narrow those gaps? the interesting _ does one narrow those gaps? iie: interesting thing does one narrow those gaps? "iie: interesting thing is does one narrow those gaps? i““i2 interesting thing is the does one narrow those gaps? ii2 interesting thing is the gaps are fairly narrow, it is simply the stated problem that everyone in the international community want a ceasefire and yet the two parties involved do not. the gaps on things like whether or not the israeli military should stay south of rafah and whether or not hamas will have a political world moving forward, those are clear redlines for both parties. they sit at this table but neither

are interested in making sincere ceasefire and neither are interested in conceding any positions. the international community continues to press them. it is difficult when two parties involved are the two least supportive of the idea of a ceasefire. let least supportive of the idea of a ceasefire.— least supportive of the idea of a ceasefire. let me turn to you and asked _ a ceasefire. let me turn to you and asked the same _ a ceasefire. let me turn to you and asked the same question. | and asked the same question. actually i am not really optimistic because i believe netanyahu wants to buy time until— netanyahu wants to buy time until after the us election. netanyahu wants to buy time untilafterthe us election. he hopes— untilafterthe us election. he hopes if— untilafterthe us election. he hopes if trumpet with that can push — hopes if trumpet with that can push forward his agenda. he is facing — push forward his agenda. he is facing icg _ push forward his agenda. he is facing icg ruling about genocide. facing possible international isolation and unprecedented pressure from the global— unprecedented pressure from the global public opinion. that is why— global public opinion. that is why i— global public opinion. that is why i believe he is trying to drag — why i believe he is trying to drag the _ why i believe he is trying to drag the us in a regional war with— drag the us in a regional war with iran~ _ drag the us in a regional war with iran. recently he wants to

prolong — with iran. recently he wants to prolong negotiation, preventing from _ prolong negotiation, preventing from a — prolong negotiation, preventing from a military attack been launched on the assassination of ismail— launched on the assassination of ismail haniyeh in tehran. the — of ismail haniyeh in tehran. the reality is what they are discussing is based on what president biden proposed in may — president biden proposed in may it_ president biden proposed in may. it is about withdrawal from — may. it is about withdrawal from israeli forces from all populated areas of gaza. major reconstruction. and a ceasefire. just a day after biden— ceasefire. just a day after biden proposed israel is not going — biden proposed israel is not going to _ biden proposed israel is not going to accept a ceasefire until— going to accept a ceasefire until the war going to accept a ceasefire untilthe waraims are until the war aims are achieved. untilthe waraims are achieved. practically has been she achieved until now. there

other— she achieved until now. there other tangible little has been, the us— other tangible little has been, the us continued shipping ability— the us continued shipping ability levels of weapons in the last— ability levels of weapons in the last few days. 20 billion dollars— the last few days. 20 billion dollars worth of weapons. 0ne dollars worth of weapons. one of the — dollars worth of weapons. one of the largest military packages is the beginning of the war— packages is the beginning of the war and more palestinians killed — the war and more palestinians killed and displaced, injured. those — killed and displaced, injured. those the only tangible result. let me — those the only tangible result. let me bring kirsten in on that point. making the point others have highlighted which is the fact that america is still selling arms to israel. america still selling _ selling arms to israel. america still selling arms _ selling arms to israel. america still selling arms to _ selling arms to israel. america still selling arms to israel - still selling arms to israel because is still fighting an unrelenting terrorist threat. until that is no longer the case, until hamas don't attack

israel on a whim. they will continue to arm is real. it is a bipartisanship support among the us electorate. in an election year so the timing is difficult to break away from any sort of support for the israelis right to defend itself against this unrelenting threat. terrorism does not deserve favours from the us government. deserve favours from the us government-— deserve favours from the us rovernment. , ., , ., government. some people would sa to government. some people would say to that _ government. some people would say to that point _ government. some people would say to that point that _ say to that point that according to the health ministry in gaza, 40,000 people have been killed in that conflict. more needs to be done to help them. ila conflict. more needs to be done to help them-— to help them. no question there. to help them. no question there- all— to help them. no question there. all the _ to help them. no question there. all the numbers - to help them. no question i there. all the numbers from to help them. no question - there. all the numbers from the gaza health ministry are not taken at their word because this is a portion of the, smack run government. no denying more needs to be done for palestinians inside gaza that are not a part of this war themselves. at some point you have to ask those palestinians who is responsible for getting

them into this war. at this point all blame laid at the feet of israel and not enough questions have been asked of hamas about their intent to instate. the early patient who benefited more from ismail haniyeh's assassination is perhaps benjamin danho and yahya sinwar. —— benjamin netanyahu. yahya sinwar. -- ben'amin netanyahmfi yahya sinwar. -- ben'amin netanyahu. there is concern that could — netanyahu. there is concern that could escalate - netanyahu. there is concern that could escalate more - that could escalate more widely. what do you think of calculations when it comes to iran at the moment and whether they will strike? i iran at the moment and whether they will strike?— they will strike? i think iranians _ they will strike? i think iranians want - they will strike? i think iranians want to - they will strike? i think iranians want to have l they will strike? i think iranians want to have a significant response, enough to be seen — significant response, enough to be seen as a deterrent in order to prevent _ be seen as a deterrent in order to prevent israel from future invasions _ to prevent israel from future invasions of iranian territory. 0ver— invasions of iranian territory. over court— invasions of iranian territory. 0ver court iran does not want to engage —

0ver court iran does not want to engage in a war with the us and does — to engage in a war with the us and does not want to have a response... and does not want to have a response- - -_ and does not want to have a response... i'm really sorry i have to _ response... i'm really sorry i have to stop _ response... i'm really sorry i have to stop you _ response... i'm really sorry i have to stop you there - response... i'm really sorry i have to stop you there we i response... i'm really sorry i i have to stop you there we have run out of time. thank you very much forjoining us. hello there. we're into fine settled spell of weather now, just in time for the weekend, and we should see a lot of sunshine on both saturday and sunday, especially across england and wales. winds light in the south, always a bit fresher further north. that's because scotland is closer to this area of low pressure over iceland, but the azores high, bringing plenty of sunshine and lighter winds to england and wales. but it will be quite a cool start to saturday morning. cool and fresh, with temperatures in single digits out of towns and cities. but there'll be plenty of sunshine to begin the day, cloud tending to bubble up into the afternoon, and that will bring a few showers to northern and western scotland and northern ireland through the day, where it'll stay quite breezy but light winds further south. temperatures here 24—25 degrees. mid to high teens across the north, maybe 20 degrees across northeast scotland.

now the showers tend to fade away across most of the north, the odd one continuing across the highlands through saturday night. lengthy clear skies again, light winds to the south. so it's going to be another fresh night to come with seven to 12 degrees for sunday. the azores, high across the south, just nudges up a little bit further northwards. so large parts of england and wales, maybe northern ireland, southern scotland will see lighter winds, but still quite breezy across the north and west of scotland, where again we'll have a few showers and a few showers, perhaps for northern ireland, maybe just one or two across western england and wales, but similar sorts of temperatures, mid 20s in the south and mid to high teens further north. now as we head out to sunday to monday, our area of high pressure begins to get squeezed out in towards the near continent as low pressure takes over across western areas, it goes downhill through the day across the north and the west. wetter and windier but central and eastern parts of the country will stay dry. plenty of sunshine and light winds, too. further north and west it will be turning blustery with that rain, so temperatures

here high teens at best, quite warm and turning increasingly humid across the southeast 25, maybe 26 degrees. tuesday looks more unsettled generally across the country. could even see a few showers in the southeast. it'll be a breezier day to come, but the heaviest of the rain will tend to be across the north and west of scotland. temperatures here again mid to high teens up to around 20 to 24 in the south. further areas of low pressure will cross the country, bringing wet and windy spells to the north and west, but it should tend to stay largely dry, quite warm, humid and breezy across the southeast.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. this week, we're looking back at some of our favourite forms of transportation. there was the time we rode around wheels of steel with a swedish scooter that's as flat—packed as its furniture! with the curve—folding, we dance with the metal. alasdair uses a bit more pedal power. i can feel the device - giving me a boost as i cycle.

only a bit, though! but how do the same engineers create this?