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woman: architect. bee keeper. mentor. a raymond james financial advisor tailors advice to help you live your life. life well planned. george: actually, you don't need vision to do most things in life. it's exciting to be part of a team driving the technology forward. i think that's the most rewarding thing. people who know, know bdo. narrator: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. announcer: and now, "bbc news". caitriona: i'm caitriona perry in washington and this is "bbc world news america."

israel says it mistakenly killed three hostages after miss identifying them during its campaign in gaza. hungary's victor your ben blocks aid to ukraine as the u.s. pushes back its holiday break to discuss ukraine and border security. rudy giuliani order to pay a massive amount in damages 40 framing two -- in damages for defaming two georgia election workers. hello and welcome to "world news america." the israeli military says it mistakenly killed three hostages after miss identifying them as a threat. a 28-year-old, 25-year-old come 26-year-old were all kidnapped back on october 7. the israeli military is investigating the event. israeli prime minister benjamin

netanyahu renewed his vow to bring the hostages home, calling this an unbearable tragedy. more than 100 hostages remain in gaza. here is the idf spokesman come explaining the incident to the bbc earlier. >> they were dressed in civilian clothing and probably in a similar fashion to what we have seen hamas combatants. the second thing is before and after this tragic mistake occurred, there were clashes between israeli troops in the area and hamas combatants. that apparently was also part of the reasons for this very sad mistake, this misidentification by israeli soldiers. caitriona: it comes as the white house national security advisor jake sullivan met with palestinian authority mahmoud abbas who said that gaza must remain an integral part of the palestinian state. jerusalem was targeted by

rockets for the first time in over a month. the iron dome was able to intercept them. israel said it will allow more aid into gaza through the crossing. israel had previously insisted no is really border crossing into gaza would open until all hostages were released. joining me now is our middle east correspondent. hugo, the idea of them killing the hostages by mistake, what more has israel said about what happened? hugo: yeah, the israeli military says this tragic incident happened in the northern town in gaza, an area the israeli authorities say they are fighting hamas members. they have described it as a hamas stronghold. the flooding has been intense for days. tonight, relatives and friends

of the hostages who remained in captivity in gaza are holding a protest outside of the ministry of defense building in tel aviv. they are demanding a deal between israel and hamas for the remaining hostages to be released. days ago i was in tel aviv talking with some relatives and friends of the hostages. they obviously knew there was a risk some of the hostages could be killed during the israeli offensive against hamas in gaza, but i think what makes this case more tragic is it was not an israeli airstrike that destroyed a building and kill these hostages, they were shot dead by israeli soldiers on the ground in gaza. israeli authorities say they are investigating this case. the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu said this was an unbearable tragedy. caitriona: will this visit by the u.s. national security advisor jake sullivan be seen as a success?

hugo: yeah, so i think this visit really exposed the differences between what the americans are saying and what the israelis are planning to do in gaza. i think it became very clear that israel says it needs more time, more weeks to reduce the intensity of the operations in gaza. if you look at the situation on the ground, the israeli military is far from a position where they can claim they have achieved victory. the top leadership of hamas has not yet been captured. there is a massive operation right now where the israeli authorities believe the leader of hamas has been hiding. even today here in jerusalem the israeli military intercepted three rockets that were fired from gaza. again, it shows despite all the

instruction and despite the intensity of the fighting that is happening in gaza, those groups in gaza still pose a threat to israel. caitriona: hugo, thank you very much for that. i'm also joined by a retired lieutenant general mark schwartz, former u.s. security court nader between israel and the palestinian authority. thank you for joining us. you have searched for 33 years -- you served early three years in the u.s. army, including working for special forces. what do you think happened that led to the idf killing three is really hostages -- three israeli hostages? >> it is good to be with you. paste on the information the idf released, it sounds like there was an ongoing fire exchange between hamas and the idf. we will never know for sure. it sounds like the three hostages, the three gentlemen

who were unfortunately killed, tragically killed were caught in the crossfire. they were identified as a potential threat to the idf as well. what i don't know is what time of day this occurred, if it was evening or dusk, which would have made identification even more challenging. but it sounds like they were mistakenly engaged by idf ground forces during the conduct of combat operations against hamas. caitriona: the u.s. has asked israel to move from high intensity military operations into low intensity military operations, which would include more of these ground force operations. what does that movie look like to you? -- what does that move look like to you? >> i believe that is what is being asked of the idf and prime minister netanyahu. it would be a higher risk in terms of the risk to idf ground

forces, but a much lower risk to the protection of innocent palestinian civilians. that really is the fundamental nature of this dialogue between the united states senior leadership and israel. a lot more deliberate room clearing versus the engagement of buildings or other structures that the idf believe hostages are being holed up in to reduce the likelihood you will kill innocent palestinians that are caught in the crossfire were being used to provide some level of protection against hamas. caitriona: israel would say that it is doing everything i can currently to minimize civilian deaths in the operations, but those figures from the hamas-run health ministry show over 18,000 people killed. there is an effort, a deteriorating humanitarian situation in gaza which we see in the images from the region. is that operation what

minimizing civilian casualties looks like? is there an evacuation plan, something that is working? >> i don't think it is as effective as what the idf are claiming and i don't believe the idf are doing everything they could be doing. to your last point on the communitarian assistance, i really don't understand why israel hasn't opened up another major line of supply along the access they are using to move is really in and out of gaza as well as their logistics. they could easily do that and fully secure it as it was brought into the palestinian populace in gaza. in terms of combat operations, it is high risk. i understand that as a former soldier. but you do have a responsibility to reduce the likelihood and the threat to innocent civilians.

that is the first order. i do believe more could be done in terms of the way in the conduct of fighting is occurring and also the nature of the targeting that is being done, both from air to ground using aircraft, and ground to ground using artillery and missile capabilities. it is not to second-guess, but i do believe there is more that could be done to reduce the likelihood of civilian casualties. caitriona: biden administration has been very concerned since october 7 about the potential for regional spread. we have seen the attacks on the west bank recently. you spent a lot of time in the region. what is your assessment of where things are going? >> i think it is still a very strong concern. i was in contact with some individuals that live on the west bank as recently as yesterday. the tensions are extremely high. they are grateful we haven't

seen violence outbreaks, but there has been a reduction in settler violence against palestinians, which is positive. it is not significant reduction but it is a reduction and it appears there is more accountability. but it is absolutely a concern. the idf central command and the other security of forces from israel working in the west bank have to be very conscious of the fact a miscalculation could easily result in increased violence, not just protests but lethal violence that could occur. so it is something that needs to be watched very carefully and monitored. caitriona: retired lieutenant general mark schwartz from the u.s. security court nader, -- security coordinator, think you very much for joining us. >> thank you. caitriona: breaking news to

bring to you, a federal jury has ordered former president trump sex lawyer rudy giuliani to pay damages to two georgia election workers in a defamation case. giuliani accused a voter operation officer in georgia and her mother who was a temporary election worker a vote tampering during the 2020 presidential election. the jury found he harmed both women with his statements and in total over -- ordered over $148 million four defamation, emotional distress, and punitive damages. after the water was handed down, mr. giuliani said he would appeal. >> there is very little i can say right now. i have to analyze this obviously. possibly we will move for a new trial, certainly we will appeal. the absurdity of the number merely underscores the absurdity of the entire proceeding. i'm quite confident when this

case gets before a fair tribunal it will be reversed so quickly it will make your head spin, and the absurd number that just came in will help that actually. caitriona: speaking after the verdict, they said that the ordeal had change their lives, work, safety, and mental health. they were grateful to the jury for their work. the u.s. senate is delaying its christmas break to try to pass a deal to extend more military funding to ukraine. kyiv says it needs more weapons to continue its copper offensive against russia's invasion. the pentagon says it has nearly exhausted its current allocation for funding. congress has been deadlocked over further aid. president zelenskyy was in washington earlier this week speaking to the leaders of both parties. republicans insist they will not approve new funding unless democrats agreed to title restrictions on the u.s. southern border. even if the senate passes a

deal, he could still be blocked by the republican-controlled house of representatives. this comes as hungry as prime minister vetoed additional funding at the eu summit in brussels. reporter: after hours of negotiations in brussels, eu leaders have failed to reach an agreement on the next aid package for kyiv, which would have delivered 50 billion euros to ukraine. it is money that president zelenskyy was desperate to receive. what happen here is there was quite a diplomatic drama behind the scenes with one man, the hungarian promised her being the main -- prime and disturbing the main obstacle. he decided to use his veto powers to block the decision to send more money to ukraine. he said he did this because he wanted to protect the hungarian people. he did not want them to pay the price for the war that is going on in ukraine.

he also said the eu needs to reassess its strategy on ukraine because he said so far, in spite all the extra help from the eu and the u.s., president zelenskyy is not winning this war. at the end of the eu summit, several leaders said ukraine would not be left without support and they would find a way to send money to ukraine one way or another. they are meeting again in brussels in a few weeks for an emergency eu summit. there are a few options on the table. it could be more bilateral aid. it could also be that the 26 eu leaders find an agreement on the money and they leave hungry out of the equation. that lee remains -- that remains to be seen. but it is not unprecedented for one european country to delay a big decision on eu money.

brussels diplomats are used to deals and finding a compromise. when it comes to ukraine, which is a country embroiled in war on europe's doorstep, the eu is very keen to show they continue supporting kyiv, they will continue doing so for as long as it takes. caitriona: prince harry has called on the police to open a criminal investigation after a court in london ruled he was the victim of phone hacking by a major newspaper group. the newspaper group has apologized, it will come aimed the decision prince harry called it a great day for the truth. the judge awarded damages of $180,000. piers morgan who edited the daily mirror has refused to accept the judge's assertion he was aware certain stories were based on information hacked from prince harry's phone. here is our media editor. reporter: a significant victory.

in 15 articles about prince harry, and all three titles, the newspaper group has been found to have intercepted private voicemails and gathered other information unlawfully. phone hacking at the judge found was widespread and habitual. prince harry's lawyer read the words after the 386 page judgment was delivered. >> this case is not just about hacking. it is about a systemic practice of unlawful and appalling behavior followed by cover-ups and destruction of evidence. the shocking scale of which can only be revealed through these proceedings. reporter: the articles include this in 2003 about a fight between harry and his brother william about whether to meet their mother's former butler. the judge said both probably had their phones hacked. most of the 15 unlawfully gathered articles relate to his time with a formal girlfriend, including this in the mirror in 2005 about her plans to dump him

and this in the sunday mirror in 2006. phone hacking involved in both instances. prince harry said the relentless pres intrusion killed the relationship. he is aware that the largest individual damages for this article. 15,000 pounds and to mitch is and distress to the prince. and all he takes away just over 140,000 pounds. two senior executives, a former legal director, knew journalist and private detectives were breaking the law, so the judge. piers morgan had to take -- edited the daily mirror from 1995 to 2004. the royal author gave evidence mr. morgan knew that a story about kylie minogue came from voice interception. the judge said it was a reliable witness. this afternoon piers morgan fought back. >> i've never hacked a phone or

told anybody else to hack a phone. nobody produced any actual evidence to prove that i didn't. reporter: his former employers mirror group newspapers earlier welcome to the judgment as giving them clarity. where historical wrongdoing took place they said, we apologize unreservedly, have taken full response ability and paid appropriate compensation. this is a significant decision on a story from a different media age, where the tabloids were read by millions and all too often apparently broke the law to get exclusives. the judge ruled hacking of prince harry's phone was modest but it did go on. a senior royal hacked by journalists whose bosses new. mirror group has always said that did not happen. the barrister for prince harry explain how much the judgment means to him. >> today's ruling is vindicating and affirming. i've been told that slaying dragons will get you burned. but in light of today's victory and the importance of doing what

is needed for a free and honest press, it is a worthwhile price to pay. the mission continues. >> as for him saying this is a good day for truth, the duke had been exposed in recent years as someone who would not know the truth if it slapped him in the face. he demands accountability for the press, but refuses to accept any for himself for smearing the royal family, his own family, as a bunch of callous racists without producing a shred of proof to support the disgraceful claims. reporter: prince harry, seen leaving court in the summer, has had his judgment. around 80 other people, many high profile come have similar claims against the mirror group and will be examining the judge's decision closely. caitriona: the mexican president unveiled a new multi billion dollar real network or he called it a priority of national development but it is run

civilly over budget and critics say it is an environment of catastrophe. will grant reports. reporter: to the ancient mayan, this was sacred. one of the most unspoiled freshwater ecosystems in the americas. directly above them is this, the mexican presidents pet infrastructure project, a 1005 hunter kilometer rail link -- a 1500 kilometer rail link to bring tourism to the jungle. the deforestation alone has destroyed fragile habitats. activists took us into the labyrinth below to show us the water pollution. >> no life will be able to be sustained in this area. reporter: is it no exaggeration to say what is going on on the surface is killing what is going on beneath the surface? >> definitely. reporter: the team takes me to

see where the water quality is getting worse. the stalactites with -- which naturally filter the water is been clogged by summit dust. the massive man-made construction will have a huge impact, but it's also all the other things that come with it. the arrival of millions of taurus, the movement of material, all of it will hurt this subterranean ecosystem. above ground, it has divided communities. this one has been bisected by maintenance stations. some were well compensated for their land. this person had his fields dynamited and turned into a quarry. you receive nothing for them as, like many farmers, he could not prove ownership. we worked this land for 40 years. i applied for the deeds but never received them, he explains. as he test drove the train, the

president calls it the greatest construction in the world. but the line from cancun south changed with construction after pressure from luxury hotels. activists fear that surveys were rushed and the elevated track could collapse. nonsense, says its director. >> it is a great infrastructure. every mexican, every tourist transported themselves on our train, they will be safe. reporter: these are archaeological gyms, burial sites of some of the first peoples of the americas. the train will bring more tourists to the yucatan come up with a rush to develop could also ruin the hidden treasures upon which the region was found. will grant, bbc news, the yucatan peninsula. caitriona: let's go to mexico

city and speak to will. how did the train unveiling go today? will: amid a lot of color, a real sense of vindication i think for the president, who has backed this project from its very inception. there were thousands of national guard outcome of the whole thing covered by drone footage and thousands of cheering supporters along the route the train took. you can imagine it was quite a moment for him to savor. that said of course, there has been opposition today, a sense of morning about some of the activists and environmentalists who feel like this is a moment of no return, that this is the start of a project they have been calling out from the very beginning. caitriona: briefly, will the president's vet payoff, bringing tourism and development that he is hoping for?

will: it is a big if. i think it probably will bring large tourism numbers. he is predicting 2 million tourists a year. that area needs economic investment. whether this pans out to be the big savior he hopes is a big gamble, but it is one he has staked his presidency on. caitriona: will grant in mexico city, think you very much for that. that is it for us for today. thank you very much for watching "world is america." i'm caitriona perry. for now, thank you for watching. do take care. bye-bye. narrator: funding for this presentation of this program is provided by... narrator: financial services firm, raymond james. man: bdo. accountants and advisors.

narrator: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

wow, you get to watch all your favorite stuff. it's to die for. now you won't miss a thing. this is the way. the xfinity 10g network. made for streaming. ♪ geoff: good evening. i'm geoff bennett. amna: and i'm amna nawaz. on "the newshour" tonight -- rudy giuliani is ordered to pay $148 million to two election workers for defamation. geoff: displaced gazan civilians bear the brunt of continuing ra