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agency over allegations some of the staff took part in the october 7 attack. ♪ >> hello and welcome to "world news america." i am caitríona perry. we begin with breaking news and donald trump's defamation case. the jury has found the former president liable for defamation and ordered him to pay her compass to tory damages and $65 million in punitive damages. that is a total of $83.3 million former u.s. president must pay. donnell president has just issued a statement -- donald trump has just issued a statement. he says i fully disagree with both vertex and will be

appealing the biden-directed witch hunt focused on me and the republican party. he continued our legal system is out of control and being used as a political weapon. they have taken away flushed -- first american rights. donald trump was found civilly liable last year of sexually abusing miss carol in a department store in the 1990's and defaming her after she wrote about it. for more on this, let's go to our correspondent in new york. what can you tell us about what has just happened in court? >> >> donald trump was not there when the verdict was read. e. jean carroll was holding the hand of her lawyers as it was read out. it was certainly a victory for her. in the first defamation trial in may, she was awarded $5 million. this, far more.

$83.3 million with the key piece being the $65 million in what is called punitive damages. that is the amount the jury found was necessary to try to convince donald trump or make him think twice about defaming e. jean carroll again by making the public statements you have heard throughout the trial and since the start of her allegations were made public, that he denies wrongdoing, that she is a liar, this is a hoax that she did this to sell her new memoir. we already had a statement from donald trump, again making similar statements that has already landed him significant damages for defamation. nevertheless for e. jean carroll this is certainly a win for her today after putting on this second defamation trial. >> we know the former president prides himself on being a very wealthy individual.

do we know if he has the capacity to pay this? when does he have to pay it by? >> we know donald trump is likely to appeal this decision. he appealed the last one. he has said as much. what happens in these types of cases is in order to appeal, he will have to put the money up front and a bond. he has done that in a past case as well. the legal bills and damages are piling up for donald trump. even e. jean carroll's lawyer said he is a billionaire, saying that to say the jury should give him a hefty fine. how liquid is he? will this force him to have to sell assets? how will this affect him? we will certainly find that out in coming days.

that is not even to mention another civil fraud trial where he is looking at more than $300 million in damages there. the bills are starting to add up for donald trump. he remains defiant and has put his legal concerns on the back burner as he campaigns to be the republican nominee for president. >> thanks for that. donald trump has said he will appeal the ruling and award from the jury. we are following several major developments in the israel-gaza war. the u.s. highest court issued a critical ruling and warning to the agency firing staff over claims they may have been involved in the october 7 hamas attack's. let's begin with the court in the hague that urged israel to take all actions to prevent genocidal acts in gaza. the interim ruling stopped short of calling for an immediate cease-fire. in response, the palestinian

authority said israel failed to convince the court it was not violating the genocide convention. israel's prime minister said the charge of genocide against israel was not only false but what he called outrageous and that the country would continue to defend its people. here is our diplomatic correspondent. >> gaza's despair just seems to deepen. in gaza city, a rare glimpse of aid brings chaos and precious little relief. after three and a half months of work, a palestinian population is on its knees. hungry, sick, or dead. whether this amounts to genocide is a decision for another day. what all of this the u.n.'s top court consists has to stop before it gets worse. >> the military operation conducted by israel after october 7 has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and injuries and the destruction of homes, schools, medical

facilities, and other vital infrastructure, as well as displacement on a massive scale. in these circumstances, the court considers the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the gaza strip is at serious risk of deteriorating further before the court renders its final judgment. >> by overwhelming majority, the court's 17 judges ruled israel must avoid killing or seriously harming palestinians mentally or physically, inflicting living conditions designed to destroy the palestinian population, or imposing measures which prevent palestinian births. the judges also said israel must take all measures to prevent and punish public incitement to genocide and do more immediately to improve humanitarian assistance. on october 7 last year, hamas

gunmen launched devastating attacks on israeli communities bordering the gaza strip. more than 1200 israelis were killed. israel's response was overwhelming. since then, more than 26,000 palestinians have been killed. mostly women and children. entire neighborhoods have been destroyed. almost 2 million palestinians have had to flee their homes. >> states have a clear legal obligation to stop israel's genocidal war on the palestinian people in gaza and make sure they are not complicit. the icj order is an important reminder no state is above the law. >> crucially, the court did not demand an immediate cease-fire, but it wants israel to behave very differently at a time when it's prime minister says the war could go on for many more months. >> like every country, israel has an inherent right to defend itself.

to deny israel this fundamental right is blatant discrimination against the jewish state and was justly rejected. the charge of genocide leveled against israel is not only false, it is outrageous. decent people everywhere should reject it. >> the court also called for israeli hostages to be released without condition. but it is powerless to make any of this happened. today's ruling was significant. it does not necessarily mean an end to the agony of palestinians or israelis is any closer. paul adams, bbc news. >> joining us now to discuss this further is the first prosecutor of the international criminal court. thank you for joining us. what does it mean to you that the icj stopped short of calling for the immediate cease-fire and yet has measures in place for israel? >> two different things.

it was very tough on the characterization. it says it has to protect the right of the palestinians to be victims of genocide. that is what it said, hugely important. but also, i was expecting a cease-fire but did not. i believe the judges may have compromised. the u.s. judge read the decision and agreed. it is very smart in some ways. it has put the ball in israeli hands. now you have to come to us and tell us how you will stop killing people, how you will stop serious harm, how you will transform conditions in gaza. instead of instructions, invite

israel to tell us how you will do it. >> these measures are legally binding but they are not enforceable. what do you expect to happen? >> that is why the court was very smart. the court did not say cease-fire. the court asked israel, what will you do to avoid genocide? that is the brilliancy of the decision. what happened probably, we will see. netanyahu's survival is related to the war. i think how now netanyahu and president biden will dance is the next step. i think it is interesting the cia director went there to discuss hostage release. that could be the new way.

cease-fire, hostage release. we will see what happens. i think this is the first step in a legal solution. that is the most important. south africa made a big effort to transform the war into a legal debate. >> on that point, article three of the genocide convention invoked at one point which refers to conspiracy to commit genocide, will that have an impact on other nations? i'm thinking of the united states primarily which is supporting israel. >> the judges quote complicity for the u.s. that does not mean intention to destroy the group. complicity is just knowing israel wanted to and supporting it. that is what the u.s. is doing right now.

the u.s. is offering political support to israel. and the u.s. is providing the crucial support to stop iran and lebanon. the u.s. cannot do that if israel is committing genocide. the u.s. cannot be complicit in genocide. that is why this ruling is so important. my prediction is in the next two weeks you will see a big fine between that yahoo! and the u.s. -- netanyahu and the u.s.. >> israel must report back in the next 30 days. what will happen next? >> the court issued a decision. now the ball is in israeli hands. whatever they say, israel cannot be involved in committing genocide. all the judges said that, including the u.s. judge. israel must do something different.

that is why the decision is crucial. i think it is the right step in the right direction. we will see how far we go. now it depends how israel and the u.s. proceed. >> the first prosecutor of the international court. >> thank you. >> earlier, the ambassador and head of the palestinian mission to the u.k. gave the bbc kiss take. >> i think the court was clear issuing a ruling for all states, including israel, to abide by the following things. that israel has to stop immediately killing palestinians. it is as simple as that. it has to allow for humanitarian aid to enter unhindered. it must not tamper with any evidence. it has to report back in one month. this puts serious pressure not only on israel as the state committing genera -- genocide but parties worldwide because

now we will be watching and following and working with any third party complicit in the genocide. >> it is important to clarify on the palestinian ambassador's remarks the court ruling does not determine whether israel's actions today constitute genocide. let's speak to the former israeli ambassador to the u.s. who joins us. thank you for joining us on bbc news. in relation to the ruling from the icj, what is israel going to do now to put binding measures in place? >> good to be with you. been listening to the report for several minutes and have not heard one word from israel's perspective, the word hamas. hamas is using the palestinian people as a human shield and using the cities as urban shields. beneath the cities are hundreds of miles going hundreds of feet deep. israel has done its best to urge palestinians to move away from these areas. but it is virtually impossible

because hamas has an interest in having a high level of civilian casualties so this court case could proceed. from israel's perspective, this is a surreal situation. this is a court case based on a u.n. charter formulated in the aftermath of the holocaust to prevent a second holocaust. here we have israel being accused of genocide after being attacked by an organization which is openly and probably genocidal and attempted genocide. for us, it is totally surreal. in the actual battlefield, nothing will change. this is a war of national survival for israel and the jewish people. it will continue irrespective of what the court says. let's be frank, it is not really a court. the judges are appointed by governments. folks at the u.n. are always stacked against israel. >> just one moment, just to clarify what you said, you think the israeli approach will continue as is, that the legally binding orders will be ignored,

which is what you just said. israel have been ordered to report back within 30 days as to what changes it has made to its approach. is it going to ignore that order as well? >> let's be very clear from my side. i'm a citizen of the state of israel. i can tell you no one is going to pay any attention to this. we are fighting a war of national survival and will continue to fight to ensure our survival and the defeat of hamas. the government will have to decide whether to report or not or to continue to recognize the court and this truly surreal proceedings. many israelis think we should not even have appeared there at all. we did. i was surprised we were exonerated of the charge of genocide because the you and is so stacked against -- the u.n. is so stacked against israel. >> it did not exonerate israel. it just did not make a ruling. it is saying israel has to take

these actions because the people of palestine are at risk of genocide given what the israeli forces have done so far. just to clarify that point. >> they did not call for a cease-fire. >> you are correct. we have the idf approach on one hand which have made the rulings you think will be ignored. the other point it made is it has ordered the state of israel to take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by palestinians in the gaza strip. do you think israel will take action on that point? >> i think israel has been taking action on that point. >> i'm sorry for jumping in. we don't have much time. for the court to make this ruling, for everything we have heard, people are at risk of famine. every child under the age of

five is at risk for malnutrition. people do not have enough food to eat. 2 million people have been displaced. i do not think you can argue the humanitarian situation is not dire and needs to be improved. >> i was not arguing that at all. israel is taking the measures. the u.n. has proved fabulously inefficient disturbing the eight and hamas robs it when it gets in. the word hamas does not appear anywhere in the report. it would be good if the international court of justice and the bbc would say if hamas were to give up the war and hostages, the war ends immediately and palestinian suffering ends immediately. all effort is onus on israel. the people of israel will do what we have to defend ourselves. i don't care what the icj says or the bbc. >> with respect, we are talking about israel. this ruling relates to israel. it does not relate to hamas. that is why we are asking about israel's actions. on the issue of aid, the israeli

officials said this week on one day 260 aid trucks had been permitted in. the largest number of any day since october 7. prior to october 7, 500 aid trucks a day entered. there is a discrepancy between what is needed and what is being delivered. >> i think you are absolutely right. our military forces say, and i believe them, that they have provided every possible provision and ability to get the aid in but it is being blocked by inefficiency on the part of the unm thievery -- the u.n. and thievery of hamas. there miles of -- there are miles of tunnels under gaza. have they let them into protect them? absolutely not. it is good the icj and bbc wants to talk as if hamas does not

exist but we cannot do that. >> the ruling today was related to israel and israel's actions. we have to leave it there. thank you very much for joining us. the u.n. relief agency for palestinians has sacked 12 members of its staff while it investigates claims they were involved in the attack on october 7. the commissioner general said parties provided them with permission about alleged involvement of several employees in the horrific attack on israel on october 7. i have taken the decision to medially terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation to establish the truth without delay. the statement continued that anyone who trades the fundamental values of the united -- betrays the fundamental values of the united nations also betrays those we serve around the world. the u.s. has suspended funding for the organization while the investigation is carried out. tom bateman has more.

>> they say the information was passed to them by the israelis and this was an allegation that several of their staff had been involved in the october 7 attacks. crucially, we do not know the details of the allegations. they have not been revealed. he has said they are being investigated and there will be accountability against anyone found to have been involved in terrorism, concluding, he has said -- including criminal prosecution. in a sign of how seriously this is being taken, the u.s. state department has said it will withhold further funding to unrwa until it is satisfied all of this is being looked into. that matters because unrwa needs more than $1 billion a year to keep running. it is a huge service provider for palestinian refugees in gaza, the occupied west bank,

and the wider region. these are people that rely on unrwa for schools, hospitals, health services, food, and welfare, and other services unrwa provides. frankly, without unrwa, gaza would collapse in terms of service provisions. it is a crucial organization. it has also long been under criticism and attacks by the israelis for they say failing to deal with the exploitation by hamas of some of their facilities in the past or among some staff with hamas. unrwa has always rejected that saying wherever it finds these kinds of problems that it deals with them. >> developing news from the red sea to bring you now because an oil tanker is on fire in the gulf of aden, the operator says, after houthis hit it with a missile. the operator told the bbc strike caused a fire in one of the

ship's cargo tanks and firefighting equipment was being used to contain it. u.s. officials say there are no it is the latest attack on commercial shipping by the houthis in the red sea. britain's king charles is reported to be doing well after surgery to address an enlarged prostate. camilla visited him in the hospital where the princess of wales is also recovering from treatment. the palace as the king is having a corrective procedure after being diagnosed earlier this month. before we go, a reminder on our breaking story. a new york jury has found donald trump liable for defamation of writer e. jean carroll and ordered the former president to pay more than $83 million in damages. mr. trump says he will appeal the verdict and has condemned the jury's decision. donald trump was found civilly

liable last year of sickly abusing miss carroll in a new york department store in the 1990's and defaming her after she wrote about it. remember, you can keep up-to-date with all of the day's news at our website. you can keep track of our work on your favorite social media platforms. that is it for now. an caitríona perry. -- i am caitríona perry. thank you for watching "bbc world news america." ♪ 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. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ geoff: good evening. amna: on the newshour tonight, a jury decides former president donald trump must pay writer e. jean carroll more than 83 million dollars for defamation. geoff: united nations top court orders israel to do all they can to prevent acts of genocide in gaza but stop short of calling for a cease-fire. amna: alabama carries out the nation's first execution with nitrous gas. >> he was g