100 aid trucks are backed up at the rafah crossing — waiting for permission to cross the border and help ease the humanitarian situation. israeli air strikes and hamas rocket fire continue. israel's defence minister promises his troops they will soon see gaza from the inside. greek orthodox clergy condemn an explosion at an ancient church in gaza. the israeli military says it was damaged when a hamas control centre was struck. us presidentjoe biden has delivered a rare night—time address from the oval office, following this week's visit to israel. he linked the russia—ukraine and israel—gaza conflicts, and urged congress to approve a giant aid and defence package.

he argued it was in america's interest to defeat those who, he said, sought to annihilate a neighbouring democracy. more than 100 trucks with humanitarian supplies are waiting on the egypt side of the rafah crossing. it's hoped the first 20 will start moving into gaza today, but it is still unclear when. the entry of aid trucks was part of an agreement president biden brokered. during the night, israel continued its aerial bombardment of gaza. the united nations has warned that the initial supply of aid trucks would be nowhere near enough to help the more than a million displaced palestinians. it says at least 100 will be needed each day, because supplies of food, fuel and water are running dangerously low. let's go straight to our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet.

we keep saying about this terrible humanitarian crisis inside gaza. so many injured people with the continued aerial bombardment, and those aid trucks are tantalisingly on the other side of the crossing, they remain in egypt unable to cross in. , . ., ., they remain in egypt unable to cross in. yes, all too close and they been waitin: in. yes, all too close and they been waiting not — in. yes, all too close and they been waiting notjust _ in. yes, all too close and they been waiting notjust ours _ in. yes, all too close and they been waiting notjust ours today, - in. yes, all too close and they been waiting notjust ours today, the - in. yes, all too close and they been waiting notjust ours today, the day when president biden said he expected them to start rolling into gaza, but they been waiting more than a week and a keep getting longer and longer. 120 trucks piling up longer and longer. 120 trucks piling up and many more at the airport where cargo planes are arriving with countries around the world and region wanting to do whatever they can to help with the united nations humanitarian catastrophe. a situation so urgent even the un

secretary—general is at the rafah crossing. we are expecting him to give a press conference to the world, describing gaza as being on the edge of an abyss and how crucial it is for the aid to go through. in this extraordinary moment, it seems an ordinary issue of road safety thatis an ordinary issue of road safety that is now holding up those trucks. joe biden had said there were potholes on the roads, they had to be fixed. it seems the road crews are still repairing the roads. betsy what happens when they say the roads are fixed. is everything in place? security on the roads and the skies with their israeli aircraft, and security system whereby the israelis are certain no truck going across into gaza has weapons hidden somewhere. we into gaza has weapons hidden somewhere-— into gaza has weapons hidden somewhere. ~ ., , into gaza has weapons hidden somewhere. ~ . , ., somewhere. we were hearing 'ust a few moments i somewhere. we were hearing 'ust a few moments ago i somewhere. we were hearing 'ust a few moments ago how i somewhere. we were hearing just a few moments ago how president.

somewhere. we were hearing just a i few moments ago how president biden is urging congress for a big aid packet and for israel and ukraine. when russia invaded ukraine, refugees left ukraine to save countries outside. some people ask why can't gazans leave the gaza strip and go into neighbouring egypt for safety. strip and go into neighbouring egypt for safe . ., , ., strip and go into neighbouring egypt forsafe . ., , ., ., , ., ., for safety. gazans do not yet again want to be pushed _ for safety. gazans do not yet again want to be pushed away _ for safety. gazans do not yet again want to be pushed away from - for safety. gazans do not yet again want to be pushed away from their homes. they have their families, they have lived for one generation after the next. every war, one after the other, being pushed from their homes. the images coming through now of tents being erected in the gaza strip are triggering for palestinians who live with this generational trauma of living a life permanently as refugees. they are not the only ones saying it, king abdullah said there would be a

single palestinian refugee in jordan, and there are many palestinian refugees injordan who are nowjordanians. the egyptian say they won't be party to this depopulation of gaza. the president said if you want to move them from gaza, move them to israel, move them to the desert. he knows, he fears and he's hinted he is coming under pressure to allow large numbers of palestinians to go into the sinai peninsula where egyptian security forces have been battling for years against extremist groups. they don't want the risk more could cross into their border. they don't want to be seen as an accomplice to another terrible refugee chapter in palestinian history, where there have been too many chapters of being displaced time and time again, never returning to their homes. figs displaced time and time again, never returning to their homes.—

returning to their homes. as you sa , we returning to their homes. as you say. we are _ returning to their homes. as you say, we are looking _ returning to their homes. as you say, we are looking at _ returning to their homes. as you say, we are looking at pictures i returning to their homes. as you | say, we are looking at pictures of the rafah border crossing between egypt and the gaza strip. it is worth pointing out the large majority of the population inside gaza are already refugees, many were displaced or forced out gaza are already refugees, many were displaced orforced out in gaza are already refugees, many were displaced or forced out in the different wars, including the one of israel's independence. the whole international community is saying loudly that aid must reach across that border into the gaza strip. practically, how does the aid agency ensure supplies don't end up in the hands of hamas? israel say they will stop any convoys if there is any hint of that.— hint of that. united nations officials are _ hint of that. united nations officials are on _ hint of that. united nations officials are on the - hint of that. united nations officials are on the ground. | hint of that. united nations - officials are on the ground. the main un aid and see for palestinian

refugees, un relief, it is on the ground, although we have seen yesterday the terrible images in one israeli air strike, notjust children, but un aid workers were also hit by an air strike. they were running to a nearby hospital to get treatment. they know the mechanisms of how to distribute aid, they tella's before this crisis, they were taking in 100 trucks a day to help palestinians. always living on the edge, in a state of closure, but not this kind of complete siege of gaza at a time of war, where food, fuel, medicine is running short. a few days ago, our correspondent said people were at breaking point, and this was supposed to be the same area that israel had ordered more than1 million palestinians to retreat to. i should mention israel

is again saying that area along the southern coast is where the palestinians should go to get aid. but many families have already moved in the past two weeks, and every time they go somewhere new to us even more dangerous and difficult. some are saying if i am going to die i'd prefer to die at my own home. lyse doucet on the israel gaza border, thank you. that is our special international correspondent. this morning, president biden will make a huge budget request of congress in order to send more aid to israel and to ukraine. our north america correspondent, david willis, has more. fresh from a whirlwind trip to israel, president biden sought to draw a link between two separate conflicts on two separate continents, which he said could have profound implications

for the united states. hamas and putin represent different threats, but they share this in common. they both want to completely annihilate neighbouring democracy, completely annihilate it. hamas's stated purpose for existing is a destruction of the state of israel and the murder ofjewish people. more than a million people having already fled to the south of gaza in anticipation of an israeli ground offensive, we're just interrupting that report to bring you a live conference with the un secretary—general. to bring you a live conference with the un secretary-general. medicine, no fuel, the un secretary-general. medicine, no fuel. that — the un secretary-general. medicine, no fuel, that is _ the un secretary-general. medicine, no fuel, that is under _ the un secretary-general. medicine, no fuel, that is under fire. _ the un secretary-general. medicine, no fuel, that is under fire. that - no fuel, that is under fire. that needs everything to survive. on this side, we have seen so many trucks loaded with water, with fuel, with medicines, with food. exactly the

same thing i needed on this side of the wall. so these trucks are not just trucks, they are a lifeline, they are the difference between life and death for so many people. and to see them stuck here makes me be very clear what we need is to make their move, to make their move to the other side of this wall. to make their move as quickly as possible and as many as possible. cheering we wa nt we want to take you to tamworth whether conservative's suffered a heavy last night to labour in the by—election. the labour leader keir

starmer meeting some of the local party officials. he has also there with the new mp. that is sarah edwards with him. letters listening after what has been a victorious night for labour in two of those key by—elections. cheering it is quite something, we've worked hard and i'm proud of the team. everybody he was turned out for labour and said they want change. it is an amazing flight to be flying, people are fed up of the conservatives and they proved it by voting for a fresh start. i would like to thank everybody for the energy they put in for the campaign, the positivity, the way we've given people a choice. it sets the tone for the general election which we hope is coming soon. i would like to

introduced the leader of the labour party, keir starmer. cheering sarah edwards, what a fantastic candidate, a fantastic member of parliament. an incredible campaign. i parliament. an incredible campaign. i want _ parliament. an incredible campaign. i want to— parliament. an incredible campaign. i want to say thank you to all of our members who did an incredible 'ob. our members who did an incredible join people — our members who did an incredible job. people told me it was not possible — job. people told me it was not possible to win this seat in this by—election. you smashed it, what a result, _ by—election. you smashed it, what a result, what— by—election. you smashed it, what a result, what a piece of history you have _ result, what a piece of history you have been— result, what a piece of history you have been part of. what you have seen _ have been part of. what you have seen here — have been part of. what you have seen here replicate what is going on across_ seen here replicate what is going on across the _ seen here replicate what is going on across the country. people are fed up across the country. people are fed up to— across the country. people are fed up to the — across the country. people are fed up to the back teeth with 13 years of decline — up to the back teeth with 13 years of decline under this government. they want— of decline under this government. they want a fresh start, to go forward, _ they want a fresh start, to go forward, a _ they want a fresh start, to go forward, a positive case with a changed — forward, a positive case with a changed labour party. laser focused on building _ changed labour party. laser focused on building our economy, rebuilding

living _ on building our economy, rebuilding living standards across the country, opportunities for every young person — opportunities for every young person. turning on great british energy. — person. turning on great british energy, making sure our nhs is fit for the — energy, making sure our nhs is fit for the future. these are the positive _ for the future. these are the positive things we can do as an incoming — positive things we can do as an incoming labour government. but this constituency has spoken now, loud and clean — constituency has spoken now, loud and clear. no more of the tories, yes. _ and clear. no more of the tories, yes, please — and clear. no more of the tories, yes, please to labour. and there were _ yes, please to labour. and there were tory— yes, please to labour. and there were tory voters yesterday who went to the _ were tory voters yesterday who went to the ballot box to boat labour. —— vote laboun — to the ballot box to boat labour. —— vote labour. that is because they are fed _ vote labour. that is because they are fed up — vote labour. that is because they are fed up of the decline and despairing party they use to vote for. despairing party they use to vote for~ they — despairing party they use to vote for. they have pert their trust and confidence — for. they have pert their trust and confidence in us. we accept the victory— confidence in us. we accept the victory humbly and go on from here to make _ victory humbly and go on from here to make the — victory humbly and go on from here to make the case across the country, to make the case across the country, to usher— to make the case across the country, to usher out— to make the case across the country, to usher out 13 years of decline and bring _ to usher out 13 years of decline and bring in _ to usher out 13 years of decline and bring in a _ to usher out 13 years of decline and bring in a positive labour government and a decade i hope of

national— government and a decade i hope of national renewal. thank you all. cheering keir starmer versus other operating two victories overnight, winning those two by—elections in the mid—bedfordshire and in tamworth. meeting back with a new mp sarah edwards. labour emerging victorious in mid—bedfordshire, that is the dean doris's former seat. the tories have held it for 19 years with the majority of 2a,000. as we saw, the conservatives defeated in tamworth where sarah edwards overturned a majority of more than 19,000. the conservatives have blamed low turnout and say it was the biggest problem, voters stayed home. they have said that local by—elections are the reflection of how people may boatin are the reflection of how people may boat in a general election. let's

take you to tamworth. henry, we heard keir starmer, he's behind you, and here saying we aren't getting carried away but things look good for an election which sarah edwards says they hope comes very soon. complete jubilation says they hope comes very soon. completejubilation in says they hope comes very soon. complete jubilation in tamworth. keir starmer is trying to walk a difficult tightrope because on the one hand, he wants to keep the labour party members and activists and mps humble, grounded, not complacent. on the other hand, the labour party won here and in mid bedfordshire to historic by—election victories. the percentage change from the tory bowed to the labour vote in tamworth was the second biggest of any swing in any by—election since the second world war. he is trying to stop people

getting carried away, but you would understand why they would. we don't still when the general election is, but it has to be by the very latest end of january 2025. but it has to be by the very latest end ofjanuary 2025. it but it has to be by the very latest end of january 2025. it will probably be late next year. that is pretty soon in political terms and doesn't leave a lot of time for the conservative party to turn it around. ., , ., , around. the conservatives will say it's a local — around. the conservatives will say it's a local by-election, _ around. the conservatives will say it's a local by-election, it - around. the conservatives will say it's a local by-election, it doesn'tl it's a local by—election, it doesn't tell us anything about what people are thinking in a general election, people bulldozed on different issues. these two victories overnight coming after difficult results for the conservatives in previous by—elections. it is results for the conservatives in previous by-elections. it is more than a bit _ previous by-elections. it is more than a bit of _ previous by-elections. it is more than a bit of a _ previous by-elections. it is more than a bit of a trend, _ previous by-elections. it is more than a bit of a trend, it - previous by-elections. it is more than a bit of a trend, it is - than a bit of a trend, it is absolutely a trend. in different parts of the country. tamworth in the west midlands is not similar to mid bedfordshire the south. rutherglen, where labour won an

election on a similarly fast swing, scottish seats. selby in yorkshire, where labour won, a thumping swing, warrant 20 percentage points. it is worth noting it is a trend that tallies with the national polling. these results aren't out of sync with what we are told is going on in the country generally. tamworth in particular is a seat which voted strongly to leave the european union, and a lot of voters from the 2019 election gave up on labour. keir starmer was a big part of labour's brexit position. tamworth suggests some of those brexit voters might be coming back to the labour

party. if that is true across the country, that opens a lot more seats for the labour party at the general election, whenever it comes. that is what is interesting. _ election, whenever it comes. that is what is interesting. i— election, whenever it comes. that is what is interesting. i am _ election, whenever it comes. that is what is interesting. i am looking - election, whenever it comes. that is what is interesting. i am looking at i what is interesting. i am looking at some comments from conservative mps, saying the public has never been more willing to change their minds. the problem for them is the their minds but going the wrong way. yes. minds but going the wrong way. yes, althou . h minds but going the wrong way. yes, although that — minds but going the wrong way. yes, although that is _ minds but going the wrong way. yes, although that is also _ minds but going the wrong way. 1a: although that is also the reason conservative mps are saying it and the crumb of comfort they are taking. it might sound confusing, but their argument is look, just a few short years ago, the public didn't like the labour party. that has change quickly, but equally perhaps that means their views on rishi sunak could change quickly. they do have a year before the general election. whether that is plausible or not, that tells you the

concept of party is now relying on a massive change in public opinion between now and the general election, for them to hold onto government. given how big they weren't in 2019, that is really saying something.— weren't in 2019, that is really saying something. weren't in 2019, that is really sa in: somethine. . ., , ., saying something. what will be going on riaht now saying something. what will be going on right now in _ saying something. what will be going on right now in concerted _ on right now in concerted headquarters when they look at these by—election results? this is not a little loss, it is a huge loss, a historic loss. what is their strategy from here on now? we saw the start of — strategy from here on now? we saw the start of the _ strategy from here on now? we saw the start of the strategy _ strategy from here on now? we saw the start of the strategy at - strategy from here on now? we saw the start of the strategy at the - the start of the strategy at the conservative party conference a few weeks ago, where rishi sunak finished his speech, his first speech at a party conference as leader, saying it is time for a change and we are it. he was arguing the public is rights to want change, for government to be done differently, but he embodies the

changes better than keir starmer. that is a very audacious strategy because he will be seeking an unprecedented fifth term for the conservatives in government. clearly, they have seen the dater and saw things like this common, evenif and saw things like this common, even if they didn't think they would lose the by—elections, and sought they needed to convince the public they needed to convince the public they were different. i expect we will see more when rishi sunak returns from the foreign policy crisis. we will see much more of him defining himself as a new kind of conservative, a new governor. whether he can pull it off is another question altogether. henry, we will let you _ another question altogether. henry, we will let you go. _ another question altogether. henry, we will let you go. i _ another question altogether. henry, we will let you go. i know _ another question altogether. henry, we will let you go. i know there - another question altogether. henry, we will let you go. i know there are | we will let you go. i know there are lots of photos with keir starmer behind you. our chief political correspondent in tamworth. keir starmer wasn't made bedfordshire ——

wasn't mid bedfordshire area. the tories held out for more than 90 years. they had a majority of more than 24,000. years. they had a majority of more than 2a,000. the new mp there, a former maths teacher, he says he's been looking at the numbers. nowhere is off limits, he says. what do these two victories mean. earlier i chatted to our political reporter and he gave me his analysis of the results. ~ �* ., , ., results. mid bedfordshire, labour had never won _ results. mid bedfordshire, labour had never won it, _ results. mid bedfordshire, labour had never won it, it _ results. mid bedfordshire, labour had never won it, it was _ results. mid bedfordshire, labour had never won it, it was one - results. mid bedfordshire, labour had never won it, it was one of i results. mid bedfordshire, labour| had never won it, it was one of the safest seats in the country, they win by 25,000 votes in the general election. what we saw last night was extraordinary, labourwinning election. what we saw last night was extraordinary, labour winning the seat of the first time ever, overturning the biggest majority overturned ever at a by—election. it

feels like a real moment. the question that people are asking this morning, is at the moment a labour victory at the general election became pretty much inevitable, like it was almost not going to be stopped? i was chatting to keir starmer 20 minutes ago on bbc breakfast and he was saying they don't want to get ahead of themselves. it is hard not to see themselves. it is hard not to see the increasing levels of confidence in the labour party when you speak to people. keir starmer says it is a game changer, it shows labour can challenge in parts of the country where they have never challenged before. by—elections in general can before. by—elections in general can be very different things, chatting to senior labour people this morning, they say they don't want to get ahead of themselves. the worst possible thing would be complacency. having been to a few of these by—elections over the past few

months, you can see every time labour have one of these big swings in their favour, their confidence grows and the prospects of them forming the next government seems to be all the more likely. has forming the next government seems to be all the more likely.— be all the more likely. as we were showin: be all the more likely. as we were showing you _ be all the more likely. as we were showing you earlier, _ be all the more likely. as we were showing you earlier, keir- be all the more likely. as we were showing you earlier, keir starmer| be all the more likely. as we were i showing you earlier, keir starmer on that election campaign rally, celebrating those successes overnight. he said it was an extraordinary victory. he caught them history in the making. what about the conservatives following those two heavy blows overnight? here is reaction from the party chairfor here is reaction from the party chair for the conservatives. the results are _ chair for the conservatives. tue: results are disappointing, chair for the conservatives. t'ts: results are disappointing, we chair for the conservatives. tts: results are disappointing, we are disappointed to have lost both the by—elections. we had great candidates, we had good campaigns. the biggest problem was previous

conservatives voters staying at home, the turnout was low. we didn't see any increase in labour�*s votes, the lib dems didn't do well. it was a problem we need to find better ways to energise our voters to come out and support the government. you sa the out and support the government. you say they are — out and support the government. you say they are staying at home, it means they are voting. we spoke to basically buy from the lib dems who said on the doorstep, and i would be interested to hear what you think has been happening, she spoke to 180—year—old who always voted conservative. she was furious with the party —— spoke to an 80—year—old. have you witnessed that or hear that from your hand dates. there is a lot of fury on the background to the by—elections, what caused them. you mentioned the lib dems, they lost their deposit in tamworth and didn't make any

progress in mid bedfordshire. it is right a number of our voters are unhappy with the government. we clearly have a job to do to win them back into our column. having been ten times to mid bedfordshire, i didn't meet a single person who said the solution was keir starmer and labour or the lib dems. it is a lot of work for us to do, but these are low turnout by—elections. governments don't traditionally win by—elections. the governments don't traditionally win by-elections-_ by-elections. the view there from the conservatives. _ by-elections. the view there from the conservatives. earlier- by-elections. the view there from the conservatives. earlier i - by-elections. the view there from the conservatives. earlier i spoke| the conservatives. earlier i spoke to a political scientist at the university of strathclyde, about how significant these results could prove to be. significant these results could prove to be— significant these results could prove to be. significant these results could rove to be. ., ., , prove to be. you might ask why we bother with — prove to be. you might ask why we bother with the _ prove to be. you might ask why we bother with the historic _ prove to be. you might ask why we bother with the historic record. - prove to be. you might ask why we | bother with the historic record. the reason is we know by—elections aren't like general elections. we know they aren't even like opinion

polls taken in the middle of a parliament. it is not uncommon for the swing against the government to be higher in by—elections than what we might expect in a general election. therefore, it is important that in fact we are trying to find the last time we were looking at 20 point swings to the labour party, particularly swings from the conservative party. you have to go back to 1982—97 parliament was we know what happened at the end, there was a pretty substantial labour victory. history isn't bound to repeat itself, but it does mean it is reasonable to judge, repeat itself, but it does mean it is reasonable tojudge, given repeat itself, but it does mean it is reasonable to judge, given the evidence of the by—elections, together with the elections in opinion polls, that the government now is in much the same difficulty asjohn major was 12 months before the 1997 general election. his task

is to try and turn that around, and to do so in a wayjohn major wasn't able to do so. to do so in a way john ma'or wasn't able to do _ able to do so. talk to me about salvale able to do so. talk to me about salvage staffordshire. - able to do so. talk to me about salvage staffordshire. the - salvage staffordshire. the by—election has changed its title, 12 months before a general election. explain the significance. it is not just there were by—elections in the 1997 parliament. there was a by—election in tamworth, it was just called south—east staffordshire. there was a 20 point swing which allowed labour to pick up the seat. now there has been a 2k point swing, allowing labour to pick up the seat. the politics of tamworth has changed, it has now become less of labour seat, changed, it has now become less of labourseat, or changed, it has now become less of labour seat, or more difficult for labour seat, or more difficult for labour to pick up than in 1996.

victory this time around is even more remarkable than back in 1996. same place, same message, same time in the parliament. you can see why conservative mps might feel uncomfortable. brute conservative mps might feel uncomfortable.— conservative mps might feel uncomfortable. . ., ., uncomfortable. we will hear from the conservatives — uncomfortable. we will hear from the conservatives in _ uncomfortable. we will hear from the conservatives in a _ uncomfortable. we will hear from the conservatives in a second. _ uncomfortable. we will hear from the conservatives in a second. but - uncomfortable. we will hear from the conservatives in a second. but i'm . conservatives in a second. but i'm looking at some of the response from the conservatives, they say low turnout, voters staying at home. they are pointing to the local nature of by—elections. does that have any merit? the nature of by-elections. does that have any merit?— have any merit? the fact voters turned out _ have any merit? the fact voters turned out is _ have any merit? the fact voters turned out is a _ have any merit? the fact voters turned out is a symptom - have any merit? the fact voters turned out is a symptom of - have any merit? the fact voters| turned out is a symptom of your malaise. it doesn't provide immediate remedy. i remember in the 2010-15 immediate remedy. i remember in the 2010—15 parliament when the lib dems were down in the polls and lots of people who voted lib dems. they didn't vote lib dems in 2015. if you go back to those by—elections in the

1982-97 go back to those by—elections in the 1982—97 parliament which produced large swings to labour, there was a big drop in turnout. they proved in the end to be quite an important signal. i would suggest these by—elections also merit being regarded as potentially at least as just as important signals. tesla regarded as potentially at least as just as important signals. two lines cominl in just as important signals. two lines coming in from _ just as important signals. two lines coming in from labour _ just as important signals. two lines coming in from labour this - just as important signals. two linesj coming in from labour this morning after the speech by keir starmer, saint labour is taken the victory humbly. there is a long time until the general election, a lot could change was on he says he hopes this incredible result will persuade other people to vote labour. it starts to change the narrative and give people a sense of politics could change.— give people a sense of politics could change. give people a sense of politics could chanle. ., ,, ., ., could change. perhaps, although i think one has _ could change. perhaps, although i think one has to _ could change. perhaps, although i think one has to say _ could change. perhaps, although i think one has to say in _ could change. perhaps, although i think one has to say in mid - think one has to say in mid bedfordshire it is much more a case of voters rejecting the concept is than necessarily backing labour. the

truth is, the spoils of the concept of decline was shared between labour and liberal democrats, and labour got a third of the vote. not exactly a dominating result. the interesting thing is that even though labour for the first time was actually fighting it out with the liberal democrats in order to see who could beat the conservatives, labour won the battle. one has to say the truth is whilst labour have changed sufficiently under keir starmer to profit from a concept of misfortune, the timeline has been one weather to clear events were the first revelations about partygate under borisjohnson, and the liz truss fiscal event. those other two things which saw voters swing from conservative to labour. and this has been a parliament that has been

dominated by conservative mistakes, from