president biden says he's overjoyed at the release of an american mother and daughter who were abducted along with 200 people from southern israel by hamas. storm babet continues to sweep across the uk. a second red weather warning has come into force in eastern scotland. we begin with breaking news — the first trucks have begun to cross into gaza after the rafah crossing opened this morning. these live pictures show the first trucks loaded with food, water and medicines, depsperately needed by civilians inside gaza, crossing the border. it's unclear how long it will remain open. israel has agreed to let

the first 20 trucks through. israel has sealed its borders with gaza. the rafah crossing between egypt and gaza is the only way right now to allow vital supplies in. the birder was sealed after the massacre some days ago. one big question is whether foreign passport holders and dual nationals — at least 600 of whom are american according to the us state department — may be allowed out for more on this i spoke to our reporter at the rafah crossing, rushdi abualouf. the palestinian employees who are swposed _ the palestinian employees who are supposed to coordinate this, they run the _ supposed to coordinate this, they run the process of taking the goods from the _ run the process of taking the goods from the egyptian trucks into the palestinian trucks and then there were _ palestinian trucks and then there were un — palestinian trucks and then there were un course, escorted because and

also trucks _ were un course, escorted because and also trucks getting heavy machines to fix _ also trucks getting heavy machines to fix the _ also trucks getting heavy machines to fix the roads. we understand from a local— to fix the roads. we understand from a local source inside the crossing that the — a local source inside the crossing that the system and the computers are hot— that the system and the computers are not working and they need to be able to— are not working and they need to be able to put— are not working and they need to be able to put the generators first and then they— able to put the generators first and then they start to run the system so they can _ then they start to run the system so they can process the eight. this is a significant sign that things are moving — a significant sign that things are moving and the hope, when hamas decided _ moving and the hope, when hamas decided to— moving and the hope, when hamas decided to release the american hostages, and overnight there was a lot of— hostages, and overnight there was a lot of days _ hostages, and overnight there was a lot of days and days about the humanitarian corridor being opened. the humanitarian corridor, allowing food and _ the humanitarian corridor, allowing food and medicine through, into gaza

and we _ food and medicine through, into gaza and we understand 500 trucks of things— and we understand 500 trucks of things like food and fuel and thousands of trucks. we understand there _ thousands of trucks. we understand there are _ thousands of trucks. we understand there are thousands of trucks worth of food _ there are thousands of trucks worth of food going to a field hospital and the — of food going to a field hospital and the hospitals are struggling to cope with — and the hospitals are struggling to cope with a shortage of fuel, medicines and all the essential equipment that is needed to treat the thousands of people injured in this conflict. the thousands of people in'ured in this conflict.— the thousands of people in'ured in this conflict. that was our reporter who is reporting — this conflict. that was our reporter who is reporting from _ this conflict. that was our reporter who is reporting from gaza - this conflict. that was our reporter who is reporting from gaza and - this conflict. that was our reporter. who is reporting from gaza and also lives in gaza.

live now tojerusalem to speak to our middle east correspondent tom bateman. you know this area very well. tell us about the situation on the ground. it us about the situation on the round. , . .., us about the situation on the round. , . , ., , ground. it is critical this aid gets in because _ ground. it is critical this aid gets in because increasingly - ground. it is critical this aid gets in because increasingly over - ground. it is critical this aid gets in because increasingly over the | in because increasingly over the last week, basically, water is running out, there is a complete israeli siege around gaza and the only relief point was the crossing at rafah to get anything in so the israeli energy minister said not a single power switch would be turned in in castle or a water tap turned on until hostages were freed so now the rafah crossing is open, it means some supplies are getting in but the desperation people are in has been illustrated by the united nations this week. they've been talking about people being reduced to drinking seawater, people drinking dirty water from agricultural wells containing pesticides, they are really right now about a spread of

infectious diseases, potentially cholera as often happens when there is no proper water supply, some medical clinics reporting and in cases —— increase in cases of diarrhoea. the aid is critical. it will take some time, they want to transfer the goods from the egyptian lowest of the palestinian trucks. we have seen in the last 30 minutes or so the egyptian lorries coming in, some trucks coming back empty, they are making progress but as we have heard repeatedly, lots of aid agency saying this is helpful but it will not be enough.— not be enough. adding to the desnerate — not be enough. adding to the desperate scenes _ not be enough. adding to the desperate scenes amongst i not be enough. adding to the - desperate scenes amongst civilians that you describe, we had the us president in israel this week saying remember it as well, you have a right to defend yourself but not all palestinians belong to hamas and there is a duty to take into consideration the plight of palestinian civilians. when we talk about fuel, fuel is used, there are

no fresh water supplies inside the gaza strip, israel is worried about fuel, it doesn't want to let it in because it is right hamas which governs gaza war use those fuel supplies to help its attacks which are ongoing with rocket fire against israel. ~ , ,., , are ongoing with rocket fire against israel. ~ , , , ., israel. absolutely the israeli position- — israel. absolutely the israeli position. they _ israel. absolutely the israeli position. they will _ israel. absolutely the israeli position. they will not - israel. absolutely the israeli j position. they will not agree israel. absolutely the israeli - position. they will not agree with, this has been brokered by america, any fuel going in, they cut off fuel supplies to the only power station in gaza so that when ten days ago and there's been a blackout for nine or ten days. israel is concerned that fuel could be stolen and exploited by hamas to power its operations which they will not allow. the problem with that is if you are is desperately needed in the hospitals, they are running on generators, there that are left functioning and i heard yesterday examples of most parts of hospitals, doctors working in the darkness and

they had stopped is using elevators to preserve power for the they had stopped is using elevators to preserve powerfor the emergency wards so it's incredibly challenging and as you say, they need water to operate, they need if you to parrot the desalination plants and often people in their own buildings at home might have filtration systems that need to be powered so they need fuel for generators to get clean water. a, fuel for generators to get clean water. . ., fuel for generators to get clean water. �* ., ., fuel for generators to get clean water. . ., ., , fuel for generators to get clean water. ., ., , ., , water. a lot of people have been disniaced. _ water. a lot of people have been displaced, israel— water. a lot of people have been displaced, israel ask— water. a lot of people have been displaced, israel ask gaza - water. a lot of people have been i displaced, israel ask gaza civilians to leave northern and central gaza and go to the south so they could focus their attacks, israel said on hamas and hamas infrastructure so you have a lot of displaced people sleeping in the streets or around schools or hospitals and aerial bombardment continued. the latest fi . ure bombardment continued. the latest figure overnight _ bombardment continued. the latest figure overnight from _ bombardment continued. the latest figure overnight from the _ bombardment continued. the latest figure overnight from the un - figure overnight from the un humanitarian affairs agency was 1.4 million people are displaced, homeless, most of the population of the gaza strip, probably around 2.5 million people, so that a lot of

people in fort was an already crowded and packed and populated place. as you say, most of them were asked by s, everyone in the north to move to the south but if you are elderly or disabled, focusing on pregnant women who have not been able to move, their plight is really difficult in this situation is and now you have both public buildings like schools in the south, massively overcrowded says the event. people, the un describes it as tensions and frustrations building among these people but clearly, then there is such a lack of supply, basic needs like water and food, it will get very desperate so that is the situation. very desperate so that is the situation-— very desperate so that is the situation. �*, ., ., ., situation. let's look at a parallel drawn by the _ situation. let's look at a parallel drawn by the us _ situation. let's look at a parallel drawn by the us president - situation. let's look at a parallel drawn by the us president this l situation. let's look at a parallel- drawn by the us president this week between the plight of civilians in ukraine and the plight of civilians in a war situation and also the right of israel to defend itself but

what about the idea of some people wanting to live as refugees? that is a very complicated issue in this case because people who live in gaza, many of them are descendants of refugees, displaced from their homes in arab—israeli wars or the fight for the state of israel but there is talk from the us state department that some of those dual nationals may be able to leave through the rafah crossing of the bond. foreign passport holders amongst the palestinian population inside gaza though not all? the auestion inside gaza though not all? the question is _ inside gaza though not all? tie: question is often asked inside gaza though not all? the: question is often asked why inside gaza though not all? ti9 question is often asked why cannot palestinians in gaza go as refugees in this time of war? the egyptian president has said no, palestinians need to remain in gaza and there are practical and political reasons for that. the sinai peninsula, there's been a long conflict between the

egyptian armed forces and jihadi groups that not a lot but it continues. they have always been worried and have always wanted to prevent any insurgency coming from gaza into sinai and hamas, the egyptian state does not lie, as they have coordinated with that about locking up some of those people and preventing those people getting from gaza into each of so there is a practical element and the egyptian president does not want 2 million palestinian refugees in sinai in potentially very challenging and uncontrolled situations but there is a political element. 0rdinary egyptians sympathise very strongly with the palestinian cause and its history as you were talking about so what he has it is a political motivation, palestinians need to stay on their land, that is what he is telling his own people and his justification but this backdrop that means as ordinary civilians are under bombardment. israel says this

is a bit built up a mass because it started this part of the conflict but the reality is there is intense is intense israeli bombardment and ordinary people cannot get out, either through rafah, only a handful of palestinians that have foreign passports that may be able to pass through rafah. so faulkner progressed up the north on that front. , : progressed up the north on that front. , . ., ., . ., front. the unprecedented attacks two weeks a . o front. the unprecedented attacks two weeks ago today- _ front. the unprecedented attacks two weeks ago today. amongst _ front. the unprecedented attacks two weeks ago today. amongst those - weeks ago today. amongst those again, foreign passport holders, dual nationals, israeli citizens who might say why are they more important to be released before us? natalie and judith, american citizens that were released last resort overnight, it shows that there is a process, qatar has been involved in mediating this, there was a lot of american pressure, president biden said getting the

release of us citizens held hostage which is the biggest priority some movement on that but remember more than 200 held, many of elderly and children and they will bring a glimmer of hope for some of the relatives but so far... glimmer of hope for some of the relatives but so far. . ._ relatives but so far... thank you for talking _ relatives but so far... thank you for talking us — relatives but so far... thank you for talking us through _ relatives but so far... thank you for talking us through those - for talking us through those complexities. for more on this we cross live tojordan, to ahmed bayram from the norwegian refugee council. we have been hearing in recent days so much from the norwegian refugee council and the united nations humanitarian and aid organisations say this aid is desperately needed. but some trucks will not do the trick? , :, :, but some trucks will not do the trick? ,., ., ., , , ., but some trucks will not do the trick? ., , , , trick? good morning. this is a step in the right — trick? good morning. this is a step in the right direction, _ trick? good morning. this is a step in the right direction, a _ trick? good morning. this is a step in the right direction, a step - trick? good morning. this is a step in the right direction, a step in - in the right direction, a step in 1000 mile road that ends —— starts here and should it end here, it

should not be a one off attempt at relieving pressure from people who are thirsty, who like we heard from your correspondence, or struggling to survive. but the trucks, i mean, the shipment itself, the consignment answer some questions but also raises questions about guarantees to the safety of the roads, the safety of aid workers and we have seen aid workers have been killed in these conflicts and addresses questions about the northern part of gaza which will not be included in this first delivery. so the question now is how can we sustain this? how can we keep it going on and how can we make sure that this is notjust an

attempt, this should be part of a wider negotiation to agree to a humanitarian cause which can lead eventually to a ceasefire and an end to all of these atrocities, civilians have paid the highest price. civilians have paid the highest rice. ,, . ., , , ., price. the un secretary general antonio guterres _ price. the un secretary general antonio guterres who _ price. the un secretary general antonio guterres who set - price. the un secretary general antonio guterres who set a - price. the un secretary general. antonio guterres who set a peace conference in cairo today, yesterday he was on the egyptian side of the rafa crossing surrounded by eight trucks calling for the humanitarian ceasefire but he said it should not be a precondition to aid arriving and looking at live pictures as we speak to you, of aid trucks, could you explain for us from the experience of the norwegian refugee council, the practicalities, a trucks crossing from one site, they will now have to be unloaded once they are inside gaza, is that correct and that could be quite a

lengthy process? it is correct and that could be quite a lengthy process?— lengthy process? it is a manual rocess. lengthy process? it is a manual process- the — lengthy process? it is a manual process. the crossing - lengthy process? it is a manual process. the crossing is - lengthy process? it is a manual process. the crossing is not. lengthy process? it is a manual| process. the crossing is not the point where it usually comes through. aid on a normal day would go through on the israeli crossing and would make its way into gaza. this is how non—governmental organisations have been operating so it is a new experience for everyone involved. aid has to make its way after unloading and after being received from the president and the un, it will have to move into designated locations, people come and receive and the un organisations and receive and the un organisations and charities going to collected shelters and wherever people are

staying. in all of this, the biggest risks, southern gaza has not been spared by the rockets and the bombs, the last week or so since we heard about the evacuation orders. and younis, which has a large population, and it has been shelled over and over, this is a large step and vital but it should come with a package of guarantees, the sanctity and safety of aid workers involved and safety of aid workers involved and of course civilians who will be desperate to get their hands on a clean glass of water and one minute for the children, that is all they are surviving on right now. irate

for the children, that is all they are surviving on right now. we thank ou for are surviving on right now. we thank you for your — are surviving on right now. we thank you for your time. _ peter millett is the former uk ambassador tojordan and libya and joins me now from london. good morning. from your lengthy diplomatic experience, we have mentioned this peace conference as it is called right now in cairo. you have leaders from around the arab world there are, the president of the palestinian authority, mac made a bass, he has no control over the gaza strip which is governed by hamas, israel is not representative, no high—level representation from the united states. —— mahmoud abbas. what could be achieved today? america has the country with the

most influence across the region but i think this is an opportunity to bring together a very senior people from the arab world and europe to send a number of key messages and i think those messages should include festival condemnation of the terrorist attacks, calls for the hostages to be released, 30 ecu for a ceasefire, there is a lot of countries and politicians who are calling for a ceasefire to prevent the humanitarian outrages and atrocities that we have seen in the past. so underlining also the welcoming and the opening of the rafah crossing, underlining the importance of continuing that and finally the importance of respect for humanitarian law and protecting the rights of civilians. those are all short—term messages but i think it also needs to look at the longer term because there is conflict

between israel and palestine has been festering away for so long. it needs to look to the future in terms of the future government of gaza, clearly hamas cannot govern gas in the future nor can the palestinian authority so some sort of interim arrangement in gaza but in the long term a homeland for the palestinian people. i am term a homeland for the palestinian people. iam not term a homeland for the palestinian people. i am not naive, term a homeland for the palestinian people. iam not naive, i term a homeland for the palestinian people. i am not naive, i do not think this peace conference will come up with all of those messages but that is the wish list i am going to the conference with. fin but that is the wish list i am going to the conference with.— but that is the wish list i am going to the conference with. on your wish list, if we to the conference with. on your wish list. if we keep _ to the conference with. on your wish list, if we keep calling _ to the conference with. on your wish list, if we keep calling it _ to the conference with. on your wish list, if we keep calling it that, - list, if we keep calling it that, you were talking about the importance for humanitarian law to be respected. the rules of law. the water for say a party like be respected. the rules of law. the waterfor say a party like it's real in this case has the right to defend itself, you mentioned the unprecedented attacks on israeli soil two weeks ago today, the massacre of 1400 people, over 200 people including the elderly and

children taken into the gaza strip as hostages so how is that right, balanced out with taking care of civilians? gaza is often described as one of the most overcrowded places in the world, israel insists it aims its aerial bombardment is at hamas personnel and hamas infrastructure but the civilian casualties have been so high? the palestinian health ministry saying it is over 4000 in the last two weeks. , :, :, it is over 4000 in the last two weeks. , . ., , ,. , weeks. yes and we have seen schools, hositals, weeks. yes and we have seen schools, hospitals, churches _ weeks. yes and we have seen schools, hospitals, churches and _ weeks. yes and we have seen schools, hospitals, churches and others - weeks. yes and we have seen schools, hospitals, churches and others being l hospitals, churches and others being hit. it is an incredibly difficult balance to strike which is why i think the escalating, the fact that two hostages have been released, the fact humanitarian access is starting shows that there is still room for diplomacy. there is still room for back channels which have been working away between the united states, egyptians, jordan, qatar,

room for that before this threatened ground invasion starts because the ground invasion starts because the ground invasion starts because the ground invasion will certainly lead to a humanitarian catastrophes is an guts, no doubt amongst israeli defence forces soldiers on one site but also palestinian civilians and that will lead to greater outrage. we saw huge demonstrations yesterday in oman, cairo, tunis, turkey, that outrages going to be difficult to control. and i think for risk of miscalculation and drilling in whether it is hezbollah or others, this is at a crossroads at the moment and diplomacy still has a role to play. fits moment and diplomacy still has a role to play-— moment and diplomacy still has a role to play. as you say, there are so much unrest _ role to play. as you say, there are so much unrest and _ role to play. as you say, there are so much unrest and heighten - role to play. as you say, there are - so much unrest and heighten tensions across the regions, we have received more travel warnings from the uk today advising nationals not to make any unnecessary travel into the gaza

strip which is always limited, but the west bank as well or close to the west bank as well or close to the border with lebanon but at this peace conference will be talk about the immediate situation between israel and hamas, the plight of civilians in gaza, wanting to spread a spot in the wider region but surely arab leaders in the wider region but surely arab leaders any longer diplomatic effort will be key if any peace is to be brought to this region? t if any peace is to be brought to this region?— this region? i think the arbutus eseciall this region? i think the arbutus especially those _ this region? i think the arbutus especially those who _ this region? i think the arbutus especially those who have - especially those who have established links with israel and particularlyjordan, i was the ambassador injordan, jordan has a major interest and a major opportunity to influence the americans, the europeans and the israelis. i think maintaining that diplomatic contact and the diplomatic contact and the diplomatic outreach is absolutely crucial to avoid miscalculation on this whole situation becoming much whiter, much more serious, not only

in gaza but in the wider region as well. :, : ~ in gaza but in the wider region as well. . .~ ~ ., ., well. patrick millard, former un ambassador _ well. patrick millard, former un ambassador to _ well. patrick millard, former un ambassador to jordan _ well. patrick millard, former un ambassador to jordan and - well. patrick millard, former un | ambassador to jordan and libya, thank ambassador tojordan and libya, thank you so much. we are keeping you updated about the crossing over of eight tracks into gaza, bringing much needed aid into the area, we were looking at live pictures of the border crossing and our reporter on the ground saying 20 tracks of aid have now been counted and including one loaded he says with coffins. tamara alrifai from unrwa gave us this update from her team on the ground in gaza. very tragic, 17 of my colleagues were killed in the last two weeks. i would like to remind that we have 13,000 staff in gaza,

most of them, almost all of them, minus a few are people from gaza. they for the most sheltering in designated schools and shelters and where they are, they are doing all they can so for instance we have mobile medical teams doing the rounds in about 90 shelters in the middle and south regions of gaza. also bread has continued to arrive to the shelter thanks to co—operation from the world food programme, but as gaza is running out of clean water, people have been drinking water that is not fit for human consumption and thus also causes a huge risk for our ability and the wfp feasibility

and the feasibility of the bakeries to continue making but if there is no clean water and our call is very clear. clean water must go into gaza, you must go into gaza to be able to nourish the water desalination plants so we and civilians have access to clean drinking water. basic medical supplies. we are talking about paracetamol, antibiotics, insulin have to go in. this is why when we speak about the convoy getting ready to go into gaza our call is that this should not be a one off, as welcome as it is. it should be a continuous, unimpeded and safe access of aid convoys and personnel into the entire strip, north, middle and south, not just the south.

there wasn't representative of unraw, supplies crossing over into egypt through the crossing at rafah. and we can see live pictures, at the same time the arab leaders gathering in cairo with the eu represented as well for a peace conference to try and mitigate the current complicated situation. this is bbc news. hello there. storm babet has brought widespread disruption up and down the country, but especially across the midlands, wales, northern england and across scotland. now, many of the warnings have been dropped for england and wales today, but we have a renewed red warning for parts of eastern scotland, for further heavy and persistent rain here which could exacerbate flooding issues. the area of most concern is this amber area that stretches from aberdeenshire down towards perthshire and within it, the red warning, parts of angus and south—east aberdeenshire.

we also have an amber warning for the north highlands. the rain relentless through the afternoon here. strong gale force winds battering north sea coasts. further south, much of south of scotland into northern and england and wales' conditions will be improving, sunshine will develop across western areas and slowly push eastwards. but we'll see a line of showers moving in to the south—east of england. strong, fairly gusty winds through the channel there and into the south—east. very strong winds across the north of the uk and it will be quite chilly as well. temperatures in single digits in the far north of scotland. up to around 15 or 16 in the south—east. as we move through tonight, though, the showers clear away from the south—east of england and finally the rain pulls away from the north and east of scotland. so conditions turning drier here, clearskies, lighter winds and clear spells. so it will turn quite chilly, temperatures in single digits for most. with lighter winds, we could see a bit of mist and fog too. part two of the weekend, we're in between weather systems.

a much quieter, much more settled day to come. we'll see storm babet, the low pressure system, move northwards, away from the north of scotland. so a vastly, much better day across the north and east of scotland, with some sunshine. plenty of sunshine for northern ireland, england and wales. just the chance of a few showers developing out west through the afternoon. most places will stay dry. winds will be lighter but after that chilly start, it will be a slightly cooler day. temperatures of 10—15 degrees. it doesn't last, though. as we head into next week, we'll see further low pressure systems hurtling in off the atlantic to bring us further spells wet weather but the difference is, with these low—pressure systems, they should move through faster, so unlike storm babet that remain almost in situ, bringing relentless rain. so an unsettled outlook for much of next week, with low pressure nearby, but there will be some sunshine at times as well. see you later.

this is bbc news. the headlines: aid trucks have entered gaza, after a partial opening of the rafah crossing with egypt. the us embassy in israel says the opening will also enable foreign citizens stuck in gaza to leave. we are waiting to hear details of that. un secretary general antonio guterres joins a host of arab and european leaders at a summit

in cairo to discuss the gaza crisis. but israel and iran are not attending. relatives of the two american hostages released by hamas express theirjoy and relief. judith and natalie raanan are the first to be freed after this month's deadly attack on israel. at least 200 are still being held. storm babet continues to sweep across the uk, with eastern scotland enforcing its second red weather warning this week. at least three people have died since the storm took hold on thursday. 0ur breaking news this hour — the first trucks carrying vital aid have entered gaza after the rafah crossing opened this morning. this footage shows the first trucks loaded with food, water and medicine, desperately needed by civilians inside gaza, crossing from egypt. it's not clear how long it will remain open.

israel has agreed to let 20 trucks through. 0ur reporter on the grounds that he had seen trucks enter. israel has sealed its borders with gaza. so the rafah crossing between egypt and gaza is the only way right now to allow vital supplies in. another big question is whether foreign passport holders and dual nationals — at least 600 of whom are american according to the us state department — will be allowed out. the opening of the crossing of aid was promised in a deal brokered this week by us presidentjoe biden and duck with egypt and israel. 0ur reporter meghan 0wen has been looking at development and the significance of this crucial crossing. these latest images show a flurry of activity at the rafah crossing, with aid vehicles rolling into gaza at around 11am on saturday morning, local time.

let's just remind ourselves of why this crossing is just so vital. on this map here, we can see the erez crossing in the north of gaza and kerem shalom, which is a commercial goods crossing in the south. now these are both currently closed and they both border israel, which leaves the rafah crossing. now, this is the only one that doesn't border israel. in fact, it borders egypt, and the only current potential route to get humanitarian aid into the gaza strip. now, let's have a look at that in a little more detail on this satellite map here. 0n the right, we can see gaza, on the left, we have egypt. here is customs. here we can see the access road running through and here is the borderfence. now, the rafah crossing has been closed since the conflict began. this is cctv footage of an explosion at the border, which has been verified by the bbc. but its reopening will come

as welcome news to the thousands of civilians who have been waiting desperately at the border to get across to egypt. and on the egyptian side, we've seen hundreds of aid to lorries waiting to deliver those supplies to people in gaza. at the moment, it's a potentially dangerous place to cross. the us embassy in israel has warned that there could be chaos and disorder on both sides of the fence. at the moment, we don't know for how long it will be open and there is hope that foreign nationals could soon also be able to cross. the bbc�*s meghan 0wen, talking about the age trucks arriving in gaza. joining me now is taricjasarevic, from the world health organization. taricjasarevic, the world health organization, among many aid and 0rganization, among many aid and humanitarian groups, has said get this aid into the civilians in gaza and 20 trucks are just not enough?

exactly. this is going to barely start beginning addressing the health needs in gaza. but it is a good start. we had the four trucks with health supplies crossing the rafah crossing this morning and we have their surgical supplies to treat people who are injured, but also medicines for chronic diseases. again, the needs, the medical needs in gaza are huge, so what we needed a sustained aid access. we have more supplies coming to egypt and hopefully we will be able to ship them, because the more we wait, more lives will be lost and situation is getting desperate in hospitals in gaza. we heard their warnings that there could be chaotic scenes stop the rafah crossing itself is often very chaotic at the best of times in gaza. civilians waiting for supplies are not at the crossing itself but considering it is 20 trucks for now,

the first convoy allowed in, how will that be distributed? how will you decide this family gets water, this hospital gets these medical supplies? there is desperately done a very scale. the needs are huge. we have our colleagues from who working in gaza who are in contact with the health authorities and hospitals and who will be ready to bring those supplies to help facilities. but this is reallyjust a drop in the ocean. just to give you some examples, there are 50,000 pregnant women right now in gaza, with more than 5000 expected to deliver this month. there are 20,000 people with mental health illnesses. there are 80,000 people with disabilities. 50,000 people with diabetes. all these people need medical care and need access to their medicines. 0n

need access to their medicines. on top of that, we have all these injured people who are sustaining wounds and need immediate medical treatment if they are to survive. we heard from the palestinian health ministry, which says that more than 4000 gazans have now been killed in the last two weeks, since those unprecedented attacks inside israel since when israel has started a daily and nightly aerial bombings over the gaza strip. you talk about the injured, you talk about statistics. 50% of the population of gazais statistics. 50% of the population of gaza is under the age of 18, so we have been seeing amongst the casualties very high levels of women and children as well and it must be pretty chaotic now in the south of gaza. israel warned gazans to leave the north and the centre, to get away from aerial attack. so they are then further displaced into the gaza strip?

0bviously strip? obviously there are several critical points that we have been asking for. one, we asked israel to reconsider 0ne, we asked israel to reconsider its order to evacuate hospitals in the north. many patients cannot be just moved away. more than 2000 patients are in hospital in the north. they are on a life support, on ventilators and newborns in incubators. so it is simply almost impossible to move these people. also, health facilities should never be a target. we have recorded more than 60 attacks on health care in gaza, with health workers losing their lives. and one very important point is that we also need fuel for hospitals to run. it is having just medical supplies is not enough. hospitals, they need lights to run operation theatres, doctors need light to be able to see the wounds they are treating. so we hope that they are treating. so we hope that the few will also be part of the supplies that will be getting in.

but eventually, what we really need is the end of hostilities because even with the supplies, if people are being under bombardment, there will always be more injured people and more deaths. people on both sides have suffered a lot in the last two weeks and i think what we really need now is a cessation of facilities. so israel says it cannot let fuel supplies in because it is worried, it says, that hamas, which governs gaza, will try and divert those supplies and use it as part of its attack infrastructure to focus attacks on israel. 0ur reporter on the ground inside gaza says he has counted 20 trucks in, that first convoy that had been brokered in this agreement. what next, are you hearing about the next trucks that might be allowed in, how many, when? what we hope is there will be sustained access. i don't have

precise information when the next trucks will move in. from our side, we are ready. we brought another plane of medical supplies yesterday to near that rafah crossing and we will be ready to deliver every time we get a green light to do so. but again, the needs are huge, so not only for injured people but for pregnant women, for children, for people with chronic diseases and thatis people with chronic diseases and that is why we need really this continuous and safe access. it is also important that whilst these trucks are on the palestinian side, that they can safely reach hospitals. hopefully there will be security guarantees around that. so supplies get where they need in a safe way. supplies get where they need in a safe wa . :, : supplies get where they need in a safewa. . . ., ~ supplies get where they need in a safewa. . . ., ,, safe way. taric jasarevic, thank you ve much safe way. taric jasarevic, thank you very much indeed _ safe way. taric jasarevic, thank you very much indeed for— safe way. taric jasarevic, thank you very much indeed for bringing - safe way. taric jasarevic, thank you very much indeed for bringing us i safe way. taric jasarevic, thank you | very much indeed for bringing us up to date in this developing situation of the aid convoys. taricjasarevic from the world health organization. whilst we have been seeing live

pictures of aid trucks crossing over at the rafah crossing between egypt and gaza, elsewhere in egypt in the capital, there is a hastily convened peace summit that is getting under way. i think we will be crossing over to live pictures, as you see there. speaking at the moment is the president of the palestinian authority. palestinian authority palestinian cities and towns in areas in the west bank but not in the gaza strip. it is hamas that governs in the gaza strip. you have arab leaders there, some european leaders but israel, iran are not there, no high—level us representation either. the president of egypt has told the gathering he wants leaders to agree a road map to end the humanitarian disaster in gaza and longer term to revive the path to peace. for more on this, let's go live to professor paul moorcraft,

a security expert who worked for the uk ministry of defence. paul moorcraft, that is a very weighty list of expectations to look at the humanitarian crisis, stop the conflict from spreading now into the wider middle east and sold the piece... get long lasting peace, solve the conflict that has been going on for decades and decades between israel and the palestinians. maybe it takes the whole possibility of armageddon in the middle east to knock heads together. there may be some hope in this conference. it is the most dangerous time in the middle east since the war 50 years ago. i'm not sure whether the international system can sustain two major wars, international system can sustain two majorwars, one international system can sustain two major wars, one in europe and one in the middle east. so there must be some attempt. locally, hamas might have realised it's overreached itself because if it stood back,

israel was pulling itself apart. by attacking israel in such a nefarious manner, it has forged unity in israel so its greatest enemy is stronger. but it is not clear where the invasion will come in the next day or two. hamas, that is why it is trying to look a bit better in the international community by releasing two hostages. so there is some possibility of some hope of peace because it's at least a start. but it all depends not on what the israelis do, though i suspect that their invasion will set off major problems in the arab state, rioting in the west bank and hezbollah intervening, that is what is likely to happen. but the real decision makers in tehran, as you mentioned there is no presence of iran, they will decide whether it will be war or peace. if it is a major war, if it really does take off throughout

the region, if you are thinking just on the economic levels, what that will do to the international system, but worse is the tragedy that is happening now in the gaza strip. there must be some attempt to alleviate that. maybe this is the beginning. maybe if we look back on a year or two, this will be the first real step, all the states getting together and saying there must be peace, there must be what everybody agrees, a two state solution and a change of israeli prime minister who will curb the settlements. you have touched on a lot of points there, of course. when we have a look, you mentioned iran their earlier and how key iran is, although it is not at the peace conference. iran supports and partly arms, it supports hamas in gaza. it

is hugely influential and supportive as a supplier of hezbollah in southern lebanon. we have seen increasing exchanges of fire between hezbollah and the israeli army on the northern border of israel at the moment. what do you think are the calculations being made in tehran at this moment, while this region holds its breath? tran this moment, while this region holds its breath? :, this moment, while this region holds its breath? . ., , ., its breath? iran will measure what is happening _ its breath? iran will measure what is happening in — its breath? iran will measure what is happening in the _ its breath? iran will measure what is happening in the arab _ its breath? iran will measure what is happening in the arab states. i is happening in the arab states. more important, i know it's a cliche, but they are trying to move their policy on a different direction, from being a rogue state thatis direction, from being a rogue state that is aligned with russia and indirectly with china and it is doing all sorts of things to improve its status. so if it is seen to be moderating and controlling hezbollah, that will be useful. but it won't do that if there is a major incursion, a major invasion.

remember, israel has already controlled gaza on three or four occasions. it controlled it completely until 2005. it is not clear what the israeli defence force can do. maybe destroy quite a lot of infrastructure but how do you define victory? it depends what is happening on the ground. tehran, although it has some plans, you can see that in various countries, they are operating in yemen and all over... particularly in syria. syria, if they engages as well, to answer your question, syria, if they engages as well, to answeryour question, it syria, if they engages as well, to answer your question, it all depends on what the israelis do in gaza and then, maybe then, tehran will press then, maybe then, tehran will press the red button and set the dogs of war loose. hezbollah is the only organisation, arab army or insurgency group or terrorist group, whatever you call it, who has actually fought the israelis to a standstill. they are possibly, they are a match for israel, which is unusual in the middle east because israel is a very effective fighting

force. although poor in intelligence, as we have seen. it all depends what is happening in gaza and it may be that all these conferences, this conference and other meetings and attempts to try and the release of hostages, expect and the release of hostages, expect a few more hostages released, in an attempt to buy time, to deter the israeli invasion or incursion into gaza because that is the key point for tehran's response or not. tehran is dominating. you have all these european powers in cairo but the decision maker, there are religious ideologues sitting in tehran. as you say, so many influences, immediate and further afield here. professor paul moorcraft, security expert and adviser to the uk defence ministry, thank you forjoining us.

we were discussing there that peace summit, which has been hastily convened in cairo, which is under way today. let's go to bbc arabic reporter abdelbassir hassan in cairo, who's at the peace conference. we were just hearing from the palestinian authority president. what did he have to say? yes. palestinian authority president. what did he have to say? yes, it started like _ what did he have to say? yes, it started like 40 _ what did he have to say? yes, it started like 40 minutes - what did he have to say? yes, it started like 40 minutes ago - what did he have to say? yes, it started like 40 minutes ago with what did he have to say? yes, it i started like 40 minutes ago with a speech by the egyptian president, then thejordan king. the most message so far is an immediate, a call for an immediate ceasefire as a priority. numbertwo, call for an immediate ceasefire as a priority. number two, access of supplies, food, water, fuel and other necessities to gaza. they said that there supplies which have

reached the border an hour ago is just a drop of water in a sea and therefore there is a call that there would be a continued, sustainable operation of providing the gaza strip with the supplies it needs is a priority. at the moment, a ceasefire as well. from his own point of view, the egyptian president asserted egypt has never closed the rafah border and he has already agreed with president biden of the united states and other regional, concerned key players that egypt is going to open the crossing, always will open it, pending that it shouldn't be targeted and egypt will exert every effort in this regard. but there was a certain and assertive message as well that egypt will never accept the displacement of palestinians at the expense of egypt. this is a clear message,

repeated twice by the president of egyptin repeated twice by the president of egypt in his speech, that egypt will stand against any move to displace the palestinians into egypt. this is a firm stance from egypt. what other solutions for the crisis? according to those who spoke far is immediate ceasefire, supplies to gaza and a negotiated solution for the whole, the root of the cause of the palestinians, based on the two state solution. :, ~ palestinians, based on the two state solution. ., ,, , ., , . solution. thank you very much, abdelbassir _ hassan for speaking to us from the cairo summit. so many aspects of which we could continue to talk about. we do have newsjust in which we could continue to talk about. we do have news just in from israel's defence forces, which has updated the number of hostages it says are being held in the gaza strip by hamas to 210. that despite two of those hostages having been released overnight. it also says it has confirmed humanitarian aid at

those 20 trucks have been allowed in at the guards are crossing with egypt. so from egypt into gaza, but israel has insisted again that aid will only be allowed in that crossing, so into southern gaza, and it's continuing to urge palestinian civilians to leave other parts of the gaza strip for their own safety. for now, that is all from us in jerusalem. we will be back later. 0ver we will be back later. over to you in the studio in london. katya and our teams across the region, thank you for now. let's take a look at one of the story is dominating here in the uk this morning. three severe flood warnings are now in place around the river derwent in derbyshire, meaning there's a significant risk of death, serious injury and disruption. they're in addition to the second red "danger to life" weather warning this week, which is in force in eastern parts of scotland. simonjones has this report. the wind and the rain have already been relentless, and there's still much more to come.

further flooding is expected today. some areas of scotland could see another100mm of rain, meaning lives could be in danger. please do listen to the advice that is being given by all of the local partners, by our emergency services and by the government. if you are in those worst impacted areas under the red warning, there is a potential risk to life, so do not travel. stay at home, or if you are told to evacuate, then please evacuate. brechin is under its second red alert in as many days, the local council has said it is ready to ask for military support if the situation worsens dramatically. many people remain in temporary accommodation. i don't know if we're going to get back into our house today or tomorrow or the next day. i don't know — nobody has said. john cavanagh is now staying with relatives, but fears what further damage may be caused today. it's totally unforgiving.

and you see it on the television, but it's not until you're standing at the wall at the river, and you remember what it looks like normally, and you see there's a huge volume of water. it really is quite scary, the kind of destructive potential of it. this weather warning map tells the story. the red alert for north—east scotland came in at midnight. 0ther met office warnings for wind and rain covering huge swathes of scotland, england and wales have been in place overnight, babet has already claimed at least three lives. chesterfield was one of the areas worst hit in england, leading to a major incident being declared in derbyshire, along with south yorkshire and suffolk. we know the effects of heavy rainfall can be fully devastating. tragically, people have lost their lives. that is why we would encourage people to stay away from the water, don't drive through it,

don't enter it and keep yourself safe. getting around won't be easy. lead bradford airport will remain closed until at least mid morning, after a plane skidded off the runway, and it's set to be a challenging weekend on the railways. several parts of the network are blocked because of flooding. the clean—up operation will not be quick. to actually pump water out of properties, we need somewhere for it to go and that is what we are struggling with today, is we really need it to stop raining so then we can start bringing the water level down. but for the moment, the warning is storm babet is not done with asset. —— with us yet. simon jones, bbc news. you can keep up—to—date with the latest on that storm. there are weather warnings on the bbc website was not in the last hour or so, the uk met office has re—issued its warning for central tayside and fife and grampian regions, prolonged and

heavy rain is expected across angus and aberdeenshire area on saturday, adding to the deluge which has already been seen. as we mentioned, three risk to life warnings issued in derbyshire as well. meanwhile, the energy networks association says 100,000 customers have been affected by power cuts. 96% have been reconnected, leaving around 4000 people still without power. stick with us on bbc news, much more on this still to come. hello there. storm babet has brought widespread disruption up and down the country, but especially across the midlands, wales, northern england and across scotland. now, many of the warnings have been dropped for england and wales today, but we have a renewed red warning for parts of eastern scotland, for further heavy and persistent rain here which could exacerbate flooding issues. the area of most concern is this amber area that stretches from aberdeenshire down

towards perthshire and within it, the red warning, parts of angus and south—east aberdeenshire. we also have an amber warning for the north highlands. the rain relentless through the afternoon here. strong gale force winds battering north sea coasts. further south, much of south of scotland into northern and england and wales' conditions will be improving, sunshine will develop across western areas and slowly push eastwards. but we'll see a line of showers moving in to the south—east of england. strong, fairly gusty winds through the channel there and into the south—east. very strong winds across the north of the uk and it will be quite chilly as well. temperatures in single digits in the far north of scotland. up to around 15 or 16 in the south—east. as we move through tonight, though, the showers clear away from the south—east of england and finally the rain pulls away from the north and east of scotland. so conditions turning drier here, clearskies, lighter winds and clear spells. so it will turn quite chilly, temperatures in single digits for most. with lighter winds, we could see a bit of mist and fog too. part two of the weekend,

we're in between weather systems. a much quieter, much more settled day to come. we'll see storm babet, the low pressure system, move northwards, away from the north of scotland. so a vastly, much better day across the north and east of scotland, with some sunshine. plenty of sunshine for northern ireland, england and wales. just the chance of a few showers developing out west through the afternoon. most places will stay dry. winds will be lighter but after that chilly start, it will be a slightly cooler day. temperatures of 10—15 degrees. it doesn't last, though. as we head into next week, we'll see further low pressure systems hurtling in off the atlantic to bring us further spells wet weather but the difference is, with these low—pressure systems, they should move through faster, so unlike storm babet that remain almost in situ, bringing relentless rain. so an unsettled outlook for much of next week, with low pressure nearby, but there will be some sunshine at times as well. see you later.

live from london, this is bbc news. these are live pictures of trucks carrying vital aid into gaza, hours after the rafah border crossing between the gaza strip and egypt was opened. foreign citizens stuck in gaza may also be allowed to leave. un secretary general antonio guterres joins a host of arab and european leaders at a summit in cairo to discuss the gaza crisis. but israel and iran are not attending.

president biden says he's overjoyed at the release of an american mother and daughter who were among the 200 people abducted from southern israel by hamas. storm babet continues to sweep across the uk — with three "risk to life" flood warnings in derbyshire and a second red weather warning in eastern scotland. we begin with our breaking news — the first aid trucks have been crossing into gaza after the rafah crossing opened this morning. these live pictures show the first trucks loaded with food, water and medicines, desperately needed by civilians inside gaza, crossing the border. it's not clear how long it will remain open. israel has agreed to let 20 trucks through.

israel has sealed its borders with gaza — imposing a total siege