this is bbc news. the pictures we are now looking at is a false one. biden, the us president has landed in israel while the tensions are so high across the region, particularly as his plane took up from the united states yesterday, when news and devastating pictures were appearing of the loss of life, hundreds of gaza civilians inside an overcrowded hospital, following an explosion. since then, we have had israelis and palestinians blaming one anotherfor that explosion. israel presenting evidence, it said, today that it was not behind the explosion, but rather a malfunctioning rocket by islamic jihad. we see here president biden

coming down the steps as he arrives here in israel. what must be going on in his mind? greeting benjamin netanyahu, israel's prime minister. they have known each other for decades and president biden has been coming to this region for 50 years now. the us says over and over again what a close ally israel is and that it will unwaveringly stand by the side of israel, but it has also expressed deep concern about the unfolding and increasing humanitarian crisis in ghana so at the moment. israel has tightened its siege on the gaza strip, no food, water, fuel medicine coming into the strip. and relentless aerial bombardment, following that massive loss of life, the murder of moo israelis inside israel ten days ago

by militants who were coming out of gaza. so, we see the two men there, joe biden, with israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu. they will be going on to hold behind—the—scenes talks, closed—door talks where you can expect a very frank conversation about the ongoing situation. huge security concerns. you can see a security detail there around the us president. this is her highly unusual visit. the us president coming to a region which is at war with tensions inflamed and fears of the situation escalating and widening in the region. so, us concerns for the security of its president and israel's security concerns while he is here are

immense. rockets are constantly being fired at israel and warnings going off. there will be a sincere hopein going off. there will be a sincere hope in the us that there will be no scenes of the president having to scramble for cover, as we have seen other leaders having to do in recent days, like the german chancellor. joining me as frank gardner, our security correspondent. frank, how will us security and israel go about ensuring the president's safety in this volatile situation? i ensuring the president's safety in this volatile situation?— this volatile situation? i was 'ust lookin: at this volatile situation? i was 'ust looking at those i this volatile situation? i was 'ust looking at those pictures i this volatile situation? i wasjust looking at those pictures there, | looking at those pictures there, which i'm sure you are watching as well. what a security nightmare for them. normally, it would take weeks of advanced preparation by the secret service to go and check out his route and fete everywhere that he is going. for example, when a us president comes to a big summit in

europe, they will often arrive months in advance, and you look at positions where snipers could possibly try and take a shot at the president. they haven't had that opportunity this time, and looking at that melee there, that sort of huddle or bundle of people, that is not what the secret service like at all. don't forget that it is within living memory, novemberi995, all. don't forget that it is within living memory, november 1995, that the israeli prime minister then was shot dead by our far right extremist which set back the peace process pretty much indefinitely. it was the killer blow to the peace process at the time. so the israelis and the americans are going to be very jumpy. he will be travelling in a bullet—proof vehicle. he will be meeting the minimum number of people and spending the minimum number of hours on the ground in israel, enough to be able to listen to

israel's war plans for any coming invasion of gaza, if that is what they are going to do, and for america to urge restraint on the israelis. ~ ~ ., ., , , israelis. we know that the president is headin: israelis. we know that the president is heading now _ israelis. we know that the president is heading now for _ israelis. we know that the president is heading now for closed-door - israelis. we know that the president j is heading now for closed-door talks is heading now for closed—door talks with israel's prime minister and will then beat speaking to israel's wall cabinet and speaking to israeli relatives of those killed by militants coming out of gaza here into israel ten days ago. he will then be making some public statements. what do you expect around that and how that will be held later today? i’m around that and how that will be held later today?— held later today? i'm quite sure that he will _ held later today? i'm quite sure that he will start _ held later today? i'm quite sure that he will start by _ held later today? i'm quite sure that he will start by saying - that he will start by saying america's poor israel to defend itself. he will condemn the attacks on southern israel. he will call for calm, i think. on southern israel. he will call for calm, ithink. he on southern israel. he will call for calm, i think. he will ask for people to find a way out of this.

whether he does that publicly or not. because there is an opportunity here, extraordinary as it may sound. there is an opportunity for operational pause for a new israeli government to say to hamas and palestinian islamichhad. we don't have to go into gaza. we don't have to do this. we can stop here right now, but you would have to lay down your weapons and stop attacking us. in return, israel would be expected to fulfil its side of the bargain which would be to eventually give up settling on arab land. these are the core things at the heart of the problem. i'm afraid this dreadful cliche of the cycle of violence is going to go on and on until those two things stop. gaza militants in gaza firing at it and settlements keep being built on palestinian land. i don't think he is going to go into great detail about that. i think your statement will be fairly

short and looking for calm. you allude there _ short and looking for calm. you allude there to _ short and looking for calm. you allude there to optimists. there are still a few of those, optimists who see this absolutely dire situation and saying this is so terrible, with so much trauma inside israel after that mass murder of 11100 people, and inside gaza now these aerial bombardment, the massive loss of civilian life, including children. 50% of gaza is under the age of 18. in these relentless bombardment sway as well, things are so terrible, optimists say that maybe it has got so bad cut, that from here we can maybe build some kind of trust building process, some kind of peace talks. there is talk of peace process which hasn't been for a very long time, hasn't there, frank? how

up long time, hasn't there, frank? how up realistic are those optimists when what we are talking about is devastation across the streets in the arab world and outrage about what is happening in gaza and so on? i think it is very hard to imagine, with the kind of hardline, pretty intractable figures that benjamin netanyahu has got in his cabinet who would encourage settlements being built on arab land and the very environment and like—minded people in islamicjihad and hamas. these people are at the opposite end of the spectrum. they are in no mood to make any kind of a deal. you have to remember that the hamas charter, the founding charter is the destruction of the state of israel. they did accepts at one point the proposition would choose state at one point. you

have to remember the horrors of the october the 7th and the horrific bombing of gaza that has taken place over the last ten days. gaza was a deeply unhappy place. you have 2.2 million people crammed into an area the size of the isle of wight and yet six times the density of the isle of wight. unable to get out with very little work or access to the outside world. it was a deeply unhappy place, seething with angry young men. that will have to change or we will simply go back to where we were. hamas will be replaced by another organisation. has we were. hamas will be replaced by another organisation.— another organisation. as you say, israel, in another organisation. as you say, israel. in the _ another organisation. as you say, israel, in the same _ another organisation. as you say, israel, in the same breath - another organisation. as you say, israel, in the same breath as - israel, in the same breath as saying, if there is to be a ceasefire, israel could say it won't take part in a ground offensive. on the other hand, the offensive and said it will go in and destroy hamas and wipe hamas out so that it can't

do any more harm to israelis. we will be coming to you again in a little bit. thank you forjoining us for now. we can nowjoin our international correspondent leys doucet who is very close to the border with gaza. we just saw those pictures of air force one landing in tel aviv and joe biden greeting israel's prime minister and heading up israel's prime minister and heading up the talks with him and the israeli war cabinet today. also watching this meeting very very closely our leaders across the arab world, notjust palestinian leaders, and also citizens, people across the arab world who have been dealt with demonstrating on the streets about the loss of life in gaza these last days. the loss of life in gaza these last da s. , ., ., , ., days. these are the images that israel wants _ days. these are the images that israel wants the _ days. these are the images that israel wants the words - days. these are the images that israel wants the words to - days. these are the images that israel wants the words to see i days. these are the images that j israel wants the words to see -- days. these are the images that - israel wants the words to see -- the israel wants the words to see —— the world to see. notjust greeting the

american president on the tarmac, but hugging. there was a warm hug between joe but hugging. there was a warm hug betweenjoe biden and benjamin netanyahu, even though relations over the past year before this crisis erupted had been very strained. joe biden took his time in inviting the israeli prime minister to washington, is so unhappy was he in so many in america by many of the policies that prime minister netanyahu was introducing, some controversial legal reforms that were being supported by his right—wing cabinet in israel, but of course it is a totally new time. it is the time of war. on that tarmac, he greeted notjust the israeli prime minister but the proud president was also on that tarmac. this isjoe biden notjust doing something for israel but being seen to do something for israel. for the last 50 years of his political life, he has demonstrated time and time

again how he is a friend of israel. but he also is the president of the united states of america, the commander—in—chief, and at this time you could say he wants to be the chief fireman. he wants to show also to the arab world, to the gazans during what the un general secretary has called general suffering. he could use his relationship with the israelis to talk tough with him. we have heard that he will ask tough questions. there has been military and financial and moral support since the start of this crisis, but he will want to make this clear that israel —— america does have israel's back. but america wants israel to move more fast and persuasively to get aid into gaza, to get at least those people in gaza with passport out and foreign nationals as well,

and to ensure it knows that it has to do everything possible. today's the day to emphasise this, despite the day to emphasise this, despite the claim and counterclaim to minimise the harm to civilians. it will be a very tough day forjoe biden, but this is a very tough there. his personal relationships can make a difference. the world is watching, and most of all, the people behind us, you can see there world is rising behind the gaza strip. this world is rising behind the gaza stri -. �* , , ., world is rising behind the gaza stri, �*, world is rising behind the gaza stri. ., world is rising behind the gaza stri. r ., , strip. as you say the world is watching _ strip. as you say the world is watching and _ strip. as you say the world is watching and the _ strip. as you say the world is watching and the arab - strip. as you say the world is watching and the arab world | strip. as you say the world is i watching and the arab world is watching, when you talk about the importancejoe biden places on face—to—face diplomacy, he will not be getting that opportunity to have face—to—face talks with arab leaders as he had planned. he had planned, as he had planned. he had planned, as we know, after his meeting with israel to go on to amman injordan and to hold a summit with the

president of the palestinian authority with egypt is like president and with the king of jordan as well. that has been cancelled because of that massive loss of guards and life following an explosion in a hospital in the gaza strip yesterday evening. —— life in gaza. we are seeing already a terrible humanitarian situation here in gaza and that situation being blamed by palestinians in israel and israel saying we have evidence that it actually wasn't as at all. the fact that he is not having these face—to—face talks with arab leaders, had damaging or limiting is that in his visit here to the region now? ,,., ., that in his visit here to the region now? , ., ., that in his visit here to the region now? ., ., ., , now? diplomacy and most of all this bus at the now? diplomacy and most of all this busy at the highest _ now? diplomacy and most of all this busy at the highest level— now? diplomacy and most of all this busy at the highest level is - now? diplomacy and most of all this busy at the highest level is about. busy at the highest level is about substance but also about symbols and timing. it is said that the decision

to cancel the second leg of the visit was mutually agreed, but for arab leaders, much as they value their relationship with the united states, and jordan and egypt are long—standing allies of the united states, the two states in the region who were the first to make peace deals with israel, they are notjust concerned about this blazing fire in the israel gaza war. they are really worried about the growing firm meant on their streets. the palestinian president who was also supposed to meetjoe biden, came from the capital to amala where he faced protests, notjust against capital to amala where he faced protests, not just against the israeli air strike, what they saw was the israeli air strike against that the hospital, but the leadership of the palestinian authority. their anger that the president was going to be meeting the american president. the region, it is not the arab leaders will have told joe biden that now is not the

time. we know that there will be telephone conversations, and perhaps thatis telephone conversations, and perhaps that is what is needed. joe biden will no doubt share what his assessment is by looking at the case that israel is presenting that this was not an israeli air strike. this was not an israeli air strike. this was then israeli misfire about islamicjihad. —— misfire by islamic jihad. he knows this is going to be a tough conversation, but he will share his own views on what conclusions he has drawn or at least his understanding at least so far, because perhaps the picture is not completely clear, although israel says it has studied the evidence for five hours and made its case. but the case is also being made on the other side, the case is also being made on the otherside, in the case is also being made on the other side, in arab streets where the protests have been ignited and no doubt will not die out quickly. and just briefly, joe biden is iugghng and just briefly, joe biden is juggling so much on this visit as

you have outlined there, standing as a strong ally beside israel but pressing israel about the terrible humanitarian situation in gaza and pressing israel to allow aid. surely behind closed doors, he is also going to talk about american concerns about being dragged into what could be an escalating situation. two us aircraft carriers being stationed here in the region. the us has said as a deterrent, but if the situation escalates, if as we were discussing earlier with a security correspondent, israel could face a war on several fronts, the us could feel under pressure to intervene, could it not? jae could feel under pressure to intervene, could it not? joe biden is a leader— intervene, could it not? joe biden is a leader who _ intervene, could it not? joe biden is a leader who does _ intervene, could it not? joe biden is a leader who does not - intervene, could it not? joe biden is a leader who does not want - intervene, could it not? joe biden is a leader who does not want to i intervene, could it not? joe biden i is a leader who does not want to put american troops on the ground anywhere in the world, not in ukraine, we saw how quickly he got his troops out of afghanistan. yes,

those aircraft carriers were sent to the region, as you say, as a deterrent. yes, those troops have actually been put on standby. our viewers will hear the loud explosions behind us. there has been a lot of military activity here. he will not want to get dragged into this conflict. his main concerns here are to make it clear to israel that america has their back. to emphasise to israel that they must conduct this war on the lines respecting the rules of war, and that israel has to do everything possible to try to ensure that this conflict does not spread.- possible to try to ensure that this conflict does not spread. thank you so much. talking _ conflict does not spread. thank you so much. talking thereabout - conflict does not spread. thank you so much. talking thereabout joe i so much. talking thereaboutjoe biden, us presidentjoe biden arriving in this region for an exceptional visit. the us president, hastily organised visit to a region which sees conflict which threatens

to escalate. of course his visit has been hugely complicated even further by the devastating deaths last night at a hospital in the gaza strip, with hundreds of civilians killed there. israeland with hundreds of civilians killed there. israel and the poly steadily and is having accused others of being responsible for those explosions, but in the meantime the situation for civilians on the ground is absolutely dire. our correspondent is in gaza and has been reporting for us. the idf has concluded an after action review and confirm volunteers, nurses, students of the medical universities. they are rushing to the hospital.

and the universities rushing to the hospital to help and support the doctors in the hospital are really struggling to save people's live. it's like more than three hours now since the explosion in the hospital. and people are still trying to remove the rubble and find any survivors. transporting, finding the bodies and taking bodies to the hospital. there is no place to put the bodies. they put the bodies in the courtyard of the hospital and they are making surgeries in the street. as i mentioned, hamas says an israeli air strike was to blame, but israel's military says the blast was caused by a misfired rocket

from the islamichhad group. a rocket that israel says was aimed at israel and then misfired, hitting the hospital. admiral daniel hagari addressed these claims at a press conference a short while ago. the idf has concluded an after action review and confirm that the islamichhad was responsible for the strike at the madani hospital in gaza. we did an immediate review with all relevant branches of the idf. this is what took place on tuesday, october 17th. at 6:15 pm, a barrage of rockets was fired by hamas to israel. then at 6:59 pm, a barrage of around ten rockets

was fired by islamichhad from a nearby cemetery. it was at the time that 6:59pm when there were reports of an explosion at the ali al madani hospital in gaza city. according to our intelligence, hamas checked the reports, understood it was an islamichhad rocket that had misfired and decided to launch a global media campaign to hide what really happened. they went as far as inflating the numbers of casualties. they understood with absolute certainty that it was a rocket misfired by islamichhad that damaged the hospital. analysis of our aerial footage confirms that there was no direct hit to the hospital itself. the only location damage is outside the hospital in the parking lot

where we can see signs of burning, which i will show later. no cratering and no structural damage to nearby buildings as opposed to the damage caused by any aerial munition which would have been of different nature. we would have seen craters and structural and structural damage to the buildings, both of which haven't been identified in this incident. the size of the damage we see here is due to the warhead of the islamichhad rocket. but most of the rocket�*s propellant is still evident due to the short flight of the rocket because the launch failed. we were just hearing their spokesman for the israeli defence forces, the

idf. he was addressing claims about the palestinian leadership that israel was behind an explosion at an overcrowded hospital in gaza yesterday evening, in which hundreds of civilians died at the hospital. men, women and children. israel claiming that actually it was a malfunctioning rocket fired by the islamichhad. causing an explosion in the hospital. hamas which governs the gaza strip and is seen and labelled as a terrorist organisation by the us, the uk and many other western governments, insist that israel is to blame for that. of course, israel has been carrying out aerial bombardments across the gaza strip for the last ten days, since militants from gaza, mainly from hamas, entered israel and killed 1400 hamas, entered israel and killed 11100 people. we have us president

joe biden whojust 11100 people. we have us president joe biden who just recently touched down in israel. we can see him there coming out of air force one. he will be holding talks with israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu, saying of course that he remains and is of course a strong ally of israel and emphasising concerns about the developing and dire humanitarian situation inside the gaza strip, pressing israel to allow supplies, humanitarian supplies, medicine, food, water, to enter the gaza strip. do stay with us here on bbc news, where we will continue to bring you the very latest of the developing conflict.

hello again. we've got some heavy rain and strong winds on the cards, notjust today, but as we go through the rest of this week. it's only through the weekend it gradually starts to turn drier, less windy and chillier. but at times across the north and also the east, we could have gusts of wind to gale force, even severe gales. now, storm bebet�*s coming our way today, pushing northwards as we go through tonight and tomorrow. we've got this next area of low pressure which could affect southern areas during the course of friday. but it's going to be windy throughout this period. so to take a look, first of all, at how much rainfall we're expecting, the key is up here. we've got lots of blues in the charts. so you can see we're looking at between 30 and 50 millimetres of rainfall quite widely. but we also have some whites indicating 100 millimetres or more of rainfall. so the met office has an amber weather warning out for the north—east of scotland thursday and friday where we could have up to 200 millimetres of rainfall. now, that's largely on higher ground, but it's falling on saturated ground, could lead to some flooding and disruption. today, though, we've got some heavy and persistent rain

across the south and also the west. a lot of dry but cloudy weather around. these black circles represent the strength of the wind gusts, so the wind picking up everywhere as we go through the course of the day. but especially windy across the far north of scotland. temperatures 10 to 19 degrees. this evening and overnight, the heavy and persistent rain continues to advance northwards. it will remain dry, but strengthening winds across the north—east of scotland and some heavy, potentially thundery showers coming in across the south of england. so as a result of all of this, it's not going to be a cold night. tomorrow, then storm babet pulls out of northern england and stalls across north—east scotland. this is where we've got the amber weather warning. so after heavy rain, it will dry up across northern england through the day, but continue to rain across northern scotland where the totals will really be mounting. for northern ireland, the rest of england and wales, it's a day of sunshine and showers, but some of those showers could be heavy and thundery. and we're looking at gales, even severe gales across the far north and north—east. into friday, that low pressure i was showing you is sliding along the near continent and could bring some heavy rain in across the south—east. there'll be showers around, but the rain easing across scotland, but still very windy with gales

in the north and also the east.

this is bbc news. the headlines...

joe biden is in israel for talks with benjamin netanyahu's government — asjordan cancels a planned summit with arab leaders. israel and the palestinians are blaming each other for an explosion at a hospital in gaza — that's said to have killed hundreds of people. the israeli army has denied responsibility for the explosion and blamed the damage on a failed rocket launch by palestinian islamichhad. the blast sent shock waves through the region, with palestinians staging protests in the west bank and laying the blame on israel. the situation remains tense in northern israel, near the border with lebanon. parts of the lebanese side of the border are controlled by hezbollah —

a militant organisation which, like hamas, has close links to iran. earlier this week, israel said its forces had killed four militants who were trying to cross the border, and israel has established a wide buffer zone near the border for what it says are security reasons. live now to our correspondent anna foster, who's in northern israel, near to the border with lebanon. how tense does that situation remain? if you walk around israel and look at the papers and chat to people they are really concerned that they could be facing and violence on several different

fronts. in violence on several different fronts. . , ' violence on several different fronts. ., , , ., ., fronts. in that buffer zone, that tells an important _ fronts. in that buffer zone, that tells an important story. - fronts. in that buffer zone, that tells an important story. it i tells an important story. it represents two kilometres into israel from the border with lebanon but it also represents nearly 30 towns and villages which have been almost completely evacuated. we have beenin almost completely evacuated. we have been in various of them over the last three days and they are practically empty. the only people you see now our soldiers and sometimes the local security teams have stayed closer to actually help those soldiers do their work. it is tens of thousands of people who have been moved away and i don't think israel would be doing that at a time like this if they didn't have significant concerns about what is happening on this border. we have seen daily exchanges of fire, often anti—tank missiles that come from lebanon into israel and then the israeli airforce lebanon into israel and then the israeli air force responding lebanon into israel and then the israeli airforce responding in kind back across the border again to lebanon. that has been escalating day after day. we have seen it become almost constant on certain days. thatjust shows you how this

is growing and growing. it is one of those simmering tensions that could potentially prove so dangerous because if either side mis—calculates that there is a large incident, or equally something like the explosion at the hospital in gazais the explosion at the hospital in gaza is that we have been talking about, an israeli ground invasion into gaza, all those things could provide a triggerfor into gaza, all those things could provide a trigger for the word to spread south and open up a new plant here on the northern border. let’s here on the northern border. let's exlain here on the northern border. let's exniain because — here on the northern border. let's explain because from _ here on the northern border. let's explain because from outside the region perhaps when you hear that there had been this exchange of fire day after day by that northern boundary, you might think that is huge but actually in this region this can happen in the north between hezbollah in lebanon and israeli forces. but if you think of israel's military might and the military

might of hezbollah which has tens of thousands of missiles, you wouldn't have to contain it to this sort of exchange of fire. it could spiral massively to what we are seeing now. how likely is that felt to be in the region where you are now? you are riaht region where you are now? you are ri . ht that region where you are now? you are right that what _ region where you are now? you are right that what is _ region where you are now? you are right that what is happening - region where you are now? you are right that what is happening on i region where you are now? you are right that what is happening on the | right that what is happening on the border at the moment is relatively and that sounds strange to say when you are seeing firing that for several hours, and this is a border which is already tense at the best of times. a couple of days ago i was in an israeli war room where they sit and round—the—clock watch cameras that are trained constantly on the border. when you see some of those grainy black and white images of explosions on the border it is people who have been sitting watching the screens who have seen people try to infiltrate, scene vehicles come towards the border and they call in air strikes. but as we also rightly say, what we are seeing only represents a very small

fraction, a tiny fraction of the manpower, woman power that both sides have stopped the firepower that both sides have. the question is, what could trigger that? a lot of this will be in the hands of iran and the rhetoric that has been coming from iran over the last few days has been growing. they are talking about the time for a political solution starting to run out. because of course, as you said right at the start, iran has that control over hezbollah. they supply a lot of their weaponry. similarly hamas, you have a rainy and backed... —— iran backed... i hamas, you have a rainy and backed... -- iran backed... ithink we havejust— backed... -- iran backed... ithink we have just lost _ backed... -- iran backed... ithink we have just lost our _ backed... -- iran backed... ithink we have just lost our middle i backed... -- iran backed... ithink we have just lost our middle east i we havejust lost our middle east correspondent and a poster there. she was filling us in about the exchange of fire between israel's defence forces and the hezbollah

militia in southern lebanon. the risk their hezbollah has threatened, heavily and powerfully armed, it will launch its might against israel, if the situation in gaza for civilians which is already dire gets any worse. and it was talking to us they about what the trigger could be in the current situation and hopefully we will be joining her a bit later. i can speak now... i can speak now to nomi bar—yaacov, associate fellow in the international security programme at chatham house in london. thank you forjoining us. let's go back, please, what happened at the al—ahli arab hospital, it overcrowded, hit by an explosion yesterday in which hundreds of civilians died. that will have a big impact on the massive vip visit here

today. joe biden the us president currently in talks with israel because �*s covenant and who had been hoping then to go on to amman in jordan with arab leaders in the hope of putting some garment of the situation. what does it look like now for him? i situation. what does it look like now for him?— situation. what does it look like now for him? ~ , , now for him? i think it is extremely complicated — now for him? i think it is extremely complicated for— now for him? i think it is extremely complicated for him. _ now for him? i think it is extremely complicated for him. it _ now for him? i think it is extremely complicated for him. it is _ now for him? i think it is extremely complicated for him. it is a - now for him? i think it is extremely complicated for him. it is a pivotal| complicated for him. it is a pivotal moment at the moment in the conflict in the entire region. the bombing in the al—ahli hospital in gaza which the al—ahli hospital in gaza which the israeli idf had showed fairly clear evidence to be launched from a cemetery very nearby by islamic jihad rockets. if that is the case, hamas is saying that it was an israeli air strike, i thinkjoe

biden, the president of the united states, is going to see evidence that has not been shown to the press, given that they need to protect their sources. it will be very hard i think to persuade the arab street, the streets and the west bank and neighbouring countries, have been ignited, as you said, the king ofjordan, the president of egypt and president of the palestinian authority, they have all cancelled their summit and i think there is a hell of a lot of work that has to be done not only to work that has to be done not only to work out how to work with the leaders but also to work out how to persuade the protesters in the streets that have been ignited, the conspiracy theories are very deep in the middle east. i don't think it will be easy, but i think of this is the case it will have to be done and

i think we will hear from joe biden i think we will hear from joe biden i am sure after his meeting with benjamin netanyahu. i think that will probably be the first thing he is going to say. i think opening humanitarian corridors and getting some hostages released is going to be a top priority and i think if they can work to get a ceasefire starting with allowing aid in that will be a huge step forward. can we assume that _ will be a huge step forward. can we assume that president _ will be a huge step forward. can we assume that president biden i will be a huge step forward. can we assume that president biden when | will be a huge step forward. can we i assume that president biden when he makes his public remarks a little bit later today will be announcing the opening of a humanitarian corridor into gaza, which is where israel has closed off supplies of food, water, fuel and medicine, so it is much needed, says the whole international community. can we assume that it wouldn't be here

making this diplomatically and physically risky visit if he wasn't pretty sure he could make that announcement? i pretty sure he could make that announcement?— pretty sure he could make that announcement? i would hope so. i would assume _ announcement? i would hope so. i would assume so. _ announcement? i would hope so. i would assume so. i _ announcement? i would hope so. i would assume so. i don't - announcement? i would hope so. i would assume so. i don't think i announcement? i would hope so. i would assume so. i don't think he | would assume so. i don't think he would assume so. i don't think he would have flown all those miles from washington to tel avivjust to say that he is standing ironclad with israel. i think we have seen a change of tone. he has already stated that he is against an israeli occupation of the gaza strip. we have seen that the ground incursion has been on hold. i am have seen that the ground incursion has been on hold.— has been on hold. i am so sorry to interru -t has been on hold. i am so sorry to interrupt you- _ has been on hold. i am so sorry to interrupt you. we _ has been on hold. i am so sorry to interrupt you. we are _ has been on hold. i am so sorry to interrupt you. we are just - has been on hold. i am so sorry to interrupt you. we are just seeing i interrupt you. we are just seeing live pictures ofjoe biden sitting with israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu. we are expecting them now to make some public statements. they hugged each other when they met in israel before. let's listen in.—

when they met in israel before. let's listen in. the overwhelming will of the _ let's listen in. the overwhelming will of the american _ let's listen in. the overwhelming will of the american people. i i let's listen in. the overwhelming i will of the american people. i have seen your support every day and the depth and breadth of cooperation that we have had since nato lies between our two nations. we have seen that support and your steadfast commitment to provide israel with the tools we need to defend ourselves. we see that support in the clear message you have sent our enemies not to test our resolve and in the two american carrier battle groups you have sent to the region to back up those words with action. but above all, mr president, the world sees that support. and some moral clarity that you have demonstrated from the moment israel was attacked. you have rightly drawn a clear line between the forces of civilisation and the forces of barbarism. you describe what hamas did as a sheer evil. it is exactly

that. hamas murdered children in front of their parents and parents in front of their children. they burned people alive. they raped and murdered women. they beheaded soldiers. they searched for the secret hiding places where parents hid their children and just imagine, mr president, the fear and the panic of those little children in the last moments. as the monsters discovered, found out their hiding places. hamas kidnapped women, children, elderly, holocaust survivors. i know you share our outrage on this and our determination to bring these people back. on october the 7th, hamas murdered 11100 israelis, it may be more. this is a country of fewer

than 2 million people. this would be the equivalent of over 50,000 americans were murdered in a single day. that is 20 9/11s. that is why october the 7th is another day that will live in infamy. he rightly said that hamas is worse than isis. the german chancellor who visited here yesterday that hamas were the new nazis. you are both right. just as the civilised world united to defeat the civilised world united to defeat the nazis, and united to defeat isis, the civilised world must unite to defeat hamas. i can assure you mr president, israel is united to defeat hamas. and we will defeat thomas mike and remove this terrible threat from our lives. the forces of civilisation will avail for our sake and your site and peace and security in our region and in the world. for the people of israel, there is only

one thing better than having a true friend like you standing with us and thatis friend like you standing with us and that is having you standing in israel. your visit here is the first visit of an american president in israel at the time of war. it is deeply, deeply moving. it speaks of the depth of your personal commitment to israel, of the depth of your personal commitment to the future of the jewish people. of your personal commitment to the future of thejewish people. and the one and onlyjewish state. so i know i speakfor all the one and onlyjewish state. so i know i speak for all the people of israel when i say thank you, mr president, thank you for standing with israel today, tomorrow and always. mr glenister, thank you very much. i want _ glenister, thank you very much. i want to— glenister, thank you very much. i want to be — glenister, thank you very much. i want to be here today for a simple reason, _ want to be here today for a simple reason, i— want to be here today for a simple reason, i want the people of israel and the _ reason, i want the people of israel and the people of the world to know the united _ and the people of the world to know

the united states stands. i have met my secretary of state here, he has been _ my secretary of state here, he has been here — my secretary of state here, he has been here a — my secretary of state here, he has been here a lot, but i wanted to personally— been here a lot, but i wanted to personally come and make that clear. terrorist _ personally come and make that clear. terrorist group hamas has slaughtered over 1300 people. it is not hyperbole to suggest slaughtered. including 31 americans as part _ slaughtered. including 31 americans as part of— slaughtered. including 31 americans as part of that. they have taken scores _ as part of that. they have taken scores of — as part of that. they have taken scores of people hostage, including children _ scores of people hostage, including children. you set imagine what those children— children. you set imagine what those children hiding from hamas were thinking — children hiding from hamas were thinking. it is beyond my comprehension to imagine what they are thinking. beyond my comprehension. they have committed evils and _ comprehension. they have committed evils and atrocities that make isis look somewhat more rational. americans are grieving with you, they really— americans are grieving with you, they really are. and americans are worried _

they really are. and americans are worried. they are worried because they know— worried. they are worried because they know this is not an easy field to navigate, but you have to do. but the fact _ to navigate, but you have to do. but the fact is _ to navigate, but you have to do. but the fact is israel as they respond to those — the fact is israel as they respond to those attacks seems to me they have to _ to those attacks seems to me they have to continue to ensure that you have to continue to ensure that you have what _ have to continue to ensure that you have what you need to defend yourselves, and we will make sure that occurs. — yourselves, and we will make sure that occurs, as you know. and we have _ that occurs, as you know. and we have to _ that occurs, as you know. and we have to also — that occurs, as you know. and we have to also bear in mind that hamas does not _ have to also bear in mind that hamas does not represent all the palestinian people. and it has but i'm palestinian people. and it has but i'm only— palestinian people. and it has but i'm only suffering. —— it has brought— i'm only suffering. —— it has brought them only suffering. years a-o brought them only suffering. years ago i _ brought them only suffering. years ago i asked the secretary of state when _ ago i asked the secretary of state when we — ago i asked the secretary of state when we were working on this planet to write _ when we were working on this planet to write something for me and he wrote _ to write something for me and he wrote a _ to write something for me and he wrote a line but i think is appropriate. he said, we need, i won't _ appropriate. he said, we need, i won't go — appropriate. he said, we need, i won't go into it, i will wait until

later, _ won't go into it, i will wait until later, i— won't go into it, i will wait until later, i have taken too much time, but the _ later, i have taken too much time, but the point is this, i am deeply saddened — but the point is this, i am deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion at the hospital in gaza yesterday. based on what i have seen it appears _ yesterday. based on what i have seen it appears as though it was done by the other— it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you. but there are a _ the other team, not you. but there are a lot _ the other team, not you. but there are a lot of— the other team, not you. but there are a lot of people out there who are a lot of people out there who are not— are a lot of people out there who are not sure, so we have to overcome are not sure, so we have to overcome a lot of— are not sure, so we have to overcome a lot of things. _ are not sure, so we have to overcome a lot of things. it also means encouraging life—saving capacity to help the _ encouraging life—saving capacity to help the palestinians who are innocent, _ help the palestinians who are innocent, caught in the middle of this _ innocent, caught in the middle of this that— innocent, caught in the middle of this that is— innocent, caught in the middle of this. that is who we are. notjust to me _ this. that is who we are. notjust to me but — this. that is who we are. notjust to me but that is who the united states— to me but that is who the united states is — to me but that is who the united states is. it isjust not the example, the power example, it is almost _ example, the power example, it is almost as— example, the power example, it is almost as important. the world is looking _ almost as important. the world is looking. israel has a value set like the united — looking. israel has a value set like the united states does. and other democracies. they are looking to see

what we _ democracies. they are looking to see what we are — democracies. they are looking to see what we are going to do. so mr prime minister. _ what we are going to do. so mr prime minister. i_ what we are going to do. so mr prime minister, lam what we are going to do. so mr prime minister, i am very happy to be back in israel— minister, i am very happy to be back in israel with— minister, i am very happy to be back in israel with you. thank you for having _ in israel with you. thank you for having me — in israel with you. thank you for having me and i am looking forward to having _ having me and i am looking forward to having a — having me and i am looking forward to having a thorough discussion about— to having a thorough discussion about where everybody goes from here _ about where everybody goes from here but — about where everybody goes from here. but thank you and i want to say to— here. but thank you and i want to say to the — here. but thank you and i want to say to the people of israel, their courage. — say to the people of israel, their courage, commitment and bravery is stunning _ courage, commitment and bravery is stunning it— courage, commitment and bravery is stunning. it has been really stunning. it has been really stunning. it has been really stunning. lam proud stunning. it has been really stunning. i am proud to be here. thank— stunning. i am proud to be here. thank you — stunning. i am proud to be here. thank you-— thank you. commotion. studio: _ thank you. commotion. studio: some _ thank you. commotion. | studio: some questions. thank you. commotion. - studio: some questions. we have thank you. commotion. _ studio: some questions. we havejust been listening tojoe biden, the president of the united states. he has arrived in israel for talks with

israel cosmic government, giving some press statements there alongside israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu. they haven't taken any questions it seems at the end of those press statements. joe biden underlined himself how exceptional, unusual his visit is here today. this is a region at war with a threat of escalation in the region. highly unusualfor a with a threat of escalation in the region. highly unusualfora us president to arrive under those circumstances. in fact the israel prime ministerjust said the first us president to come to israel in a time of war. butjoe biden said it was important to him to deliver us message in person, he said, normally it would be to his secretary of state antony blinken who has been in the region a lot, but he wanted to

come himself he said, and he delivered that message that we have heard so often from him, the steadfast friendship that the us has for israel. the fact that it once to help guarantee its security, some think that the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu thanked him very much for. of course the us gives a lot of military equipment to the israeli defence forces and in the israeli defence forces and in the current situation, tense situation, the us has sent 200 aircraft carriers to the region as well. —— two. there are so much to look at even in those very brief press statements between them, so joining me to analyse those is nomi bar—yaacov. what did you make ofjoe

biden's statement? we knew he was going to mention concerns about the dire humanitarian situation on the ground in gaza, but he spent a lot of time emphasising the solidarity with israel there, didn't he? yes. with israelthere, didn't he? yes, he sent with israelthere, didn't he? yes, he spent an _ with israelthere, didn't he? yes, he spent an awful _ with israelthere, didn't he? yes, he spent an awful lot _ with israelthere, didn't he? yes, he spent an awful lot of- with israelthere, didn't he? yes, he spent an awful lot of time i with israel there, didn't he? yes he spent an awful lot of time on solidarity and may be not enough time on the dire humanitarian situation and the urgent need to have a humanitarian ceasefire and let adn. he didn't make any public statements about the efforts going on behind the scenes to try to release hostages. he made no mention of the efforts of qatar and turkey yesterday, the foreign minister of turkey spoke to is male how mere the leader of hamas. it would have been i think somewhat, it is important to

try to work out how to end this. it is very clear he empathises with israel. it is very clear to use his term that there was a slaughter, every brutal slaughter on the 7th of october, but i think we need to move on and think about how we resolve the situation and get all of the key arab states in the region involved. as well as the us, and some european states, try to work out how to get out of this quagmire. i states, try to work out how to get out of this quagmire.— states, try to work out how to get out of this quagmire. i think, when out of this quagmire. i think, when ou sa out of this quagmire. i think, when you say that _ out of this quagmire. i think, when you say that the — out of this quagmire. i think, when you say that the international i you say that the international community needs to move on from that attack by militants out of gaza inside israel 10 days ago, israelis would say they can't move on, 11t00 people were killed inside israel, 200 hostages, including the elderly

and very young children were taken by militants into the gaza strip. they remain hostage there at the moment. here in israel if you look at the papers and listen to the radio and tv, there is a daily, minute by minute diet of the families, bereaved families for around 300 patients who remain in israeli hospitals, wounded, some extremely severely from that attack, the trauma inside israel is very real and was emphasised by the us president and the israel prime minister. at the same time massive trauma and loss of civilian life in the gaza strip. ongoing dire humanitarian situation since israel has tightened its seeds there. no medicine, no fuel, no water entering the gaza strip. and the aerial bombardment from israel as well. we

were speculating earlierjust before the press statement that you thought it likely thatjoe biden would be able to announce today that israel would open a humanitarian corridor into gaza but there wasn't even a sniff of that right now. i into gaza but there wasn't even a sniff of that right now.— sniff of that right now. i think that is where _ sniff of that right now. i think that is where my _ sniff of that right now. i think that is where my concern i sniff of that right now. i think| that is where my concern lies. sniff of that right now. i think i that is where my concern lies. i am not suggesting that one moves on in the way you interpreted it. i am fully aware of the horror of the 7th of october, the scale and magnitude. i need to ask one more question. sorry, i didn't mean to interrupt. do carry on. sorry, i didn't mean to interrupt. do carry on— sorry, i didn't mean to interrupt. do carry on. you were 'ust saying ou had do carry on. you were 'ust saying you had to — do carry on. you were 'ust saying you had to question. i do carry on. you were just saying you had to question. what i i do carry on. you were just saying you had to question. what i wasl you had to question. what i was trying to explain is by moving on, there is a very deep trauma, very

clearly and a number of children who were burnt on life support in israeli hospitals, iam were burnt on life support in israeli hospitals, i am aware of it. there are a lot of children suffering in gaza. if there won't be aid, if israel or egypt, if israel or egypt, if israel or egypt the rafah crossing for aid, the situation deteriorates rapidly and the situation in the region... i am afraid we have _ the situation in the region... i am afraid we have to _ the situation in the region... i am afraid we have to leave _ the situation in the region... i am afraid we have to leave it - the situation in the region... i am afraid we have to leave it there. talking about the dire situation in gaza when the us president is talking about morality in the region. hello again. we've got some heavy rain and strong winds on the cards, notjust today, but as we go through the rest of this week. it's only through the weekend it gradually starts to turn drier, less windy and chillier. but at times across the north

and also the east, we could have gusts of wind to gale force, even severe gales. now, storm bebet�*s coming our way today, pushing northwards as we go through tonight and tomorrow. we've got this next area of low pressure which could affect southern areas during the course of friday. but it's going to be windy throughout this period. so to take a look, first of all, at how much rainfall we're expecting, the key is up here. we've got lots of blues in the charts. so you can see we're looking at between 30 and 50 millimetres of rainfall quite widely. but we also have some whites indicating 100 millimetres or more of rainfall. so the met office has an amber weather warning out for the north—east of scotland thursday and friday where we could have up to 200 millimetres of rainfall. now, that's largely on higher ground, but it's falling on saturated ground, could lead to some flooding and disruption. today, though, we've got some heavy and persistent rain across the south and also the west. a lot of dry but cloudy weather around. these black circles represent the strength of the wind gusts, so the wind picking up everywhere as we go through the course of the day.

but especially windy across the far north of scotland. temperatures 10 to 19 degrees. this evening and overnight, the heavy and persistent rain continues to advance northwards. it will remain dry, but strengthening winds across the north—east of scotland and some heavy, potentially thundery showers coming in across the south of england. so as a result of all of this, it's not going to be a cold night. tomorrow, then, storm babet pulls out of northern england and stalls across north—east scotland. this is where we've got the amber weather warning. so after heavy rain, it will dry up across northern england through the day, but continue to rain across northern scotland where the totals will really be mounting. for northern ireland, the rest of england and wales, it's a day of sunshine and showers, but some of those showers could be heavy and thundery. and we're looking at gales, even severe gales across the far north and north—east. into friday, that low pressure i was showing you is sliding along the near continent and could bring some heavy rain in across the south—east. there'll be showers around, but the rain easing across scotland, but still very windy with gales

in the north and also the east.

live from jerusalem, this is bbc news. joe biden arrives in israel for talks with benjamin netanyahu's government — asjordan cancels a planned summit with arab leaders.

israel and the palestinians are blaming each other for an explosion at a hospital in gaza — that's said to have killed hundreds of people. based on what i have seen it appears it was done by the other team and not you. the israeli army denies responsibility for the explosion, blaming a failed rocket launch by palestinian islamichhad. the blast sent shock waves through the region, with palestinians staging protests in the west bank. hello, and welcome to our viewers around the world and those in the uk. i'm katya adler — and we're broadcasting

live from jerusalem, from this region gripped by violence