the israeli military says it has rescued a soldier from hamas captivity during its ground operation in gaza. it comes as the israeli army expands its offensive — hitting 600 hamas targets in the gaza strip in 2a hours. hamas releases a video appearing to show three israeli hostages. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu condemns the video as "cruel psychological propaganda". the un says "hundreds" of patients are stuck in hospitals in the north of gaza. doctors say it's impossible to evacuate them. about 60 people are arrested in a russian republic, after a large mob, shouting anti—semitic slogans, storms an airport, looking for people from tel aviv. 36

hello, i'm matthew amroliwala, welcome to verified live, 36 straight to breaks new us from israel, the defence forces there have said an israeli soldier has been released from gaza, they said private 0ri megidish was released during id f ground operations, she was kidnapped by hamas on october 7th. she has had apparently medical checks, and is said to be doing well, and has met herfamily. we are expecting to hear from well, and has met herfamily. we are expecting to hearfrom israel's prime minister, binyamin netanyahu shortly, we will go to him just as soon as he starts talking, the family of the three hostages who appeared in that video released earlier by hamas are expected to be speaking publicly to, that has been delayed. we expected to start in the next couple of minutes but that has been pushed back but as soon as that started we will carry that here on bbc news. now the bbc does not normally broadcast hostage videos

but through is a still from today's video that has been released from left to right. you you can see rimon kirsht, danielle aloni, and lena trupanov. we don't know anything about the conditions under which it was filmed, but the three women appear to be was filmed, but the three women appearto be in was filmed, but the three women appear to be in reasonable health, with no obvious signs of injury, the video is described as distressing, binyamin netanyahu has said it was cruel psychological propaganda and worth reminding people that the uk, us and many other western governments have prescribed hales as a terrorist organisation so a lot thatis a terrorist organisation so a lot that is developing. let us head straight tojerusalem. lyse doucet injerusalem. in terms of thises are lieu, the retrieval of a soldier, that is major news, that is just broken in the last few minutes.. it is major news, that isjust broken in the last few minutes. ._ the last few minutes.. it is not “ust the last few minutes.. it is not just huge _ the last few minutes.. it is not just huge news. _ the last few minutes.. it is not just huge news, here - the last few minutes.. it is not just huge news, here in - the last few minutes.. it is notj just huge news, here in israel, the last few minutes.. it is not -

just huge news, here in israel, and beyond,it just huge news, here in israel, and beyond, it is rare good news, in israel, and beyond. the israeli defence forces has said did not see a contradiction between intensifying ground operations and bringing the hostages home. this is the first soldier, the first hostage, to be rescued by the israeli defence forces and as you cited from that statement, which was released by a joint statement by the israeli military and its intelligence services, they did confirm that there you see, private 0ri megidish, we think that is her, with her family, after receiving medical attention, she was said to be in good health, and as you can see the smiles on the faces. 0ne family relieved and overwhelmed with joy that their soldier has come home. it is of particular significance matthew, because although there have

been discussions highly sensitive negotiations, some of them with the gulf state of qatar, where some of hamas's political leaders are based, the discussions were only about freeing the civilian hostage, women and children, of israeli and other nationalities, there was never a discussion about the soldier, which hamas always makes clear are in a separate category, so the fact that a soldier has been released, particularly good news for israel. and prime minister netanyahu, that may account for delay in his talk, he will address this, no just that video of three women, distressing news for that family, but at least proof of life, that their loved one, for three family, that their loved ones are alive but it will accentuate that agony, that demand to israeli political and military, to israeli political and military, to do even more to bring all of the

hostages home. we haven't had a reaction from hamas yet, about the soldier who has been rescued. we don't have any details about what was the operation, did involve a raid which killed her captors, were there are other hostages there, it raises a lot of questions, but this means that so far, out of more than 200 hostage, of israeli and some dozen of other nationalities, four, four women have been released by hamas, apparently with nothing in exchange, they said it was for humanitarian reason, israel said it wasjust humanitarian reason, israel said it was just cynical humanitarian reason, israel said it wasjust cynical in humanitarian reason, israel said it was just cynical in their terrorism propaganda, one soldier rescued and so many still being held by hamas, by islamichhad, that is what was initially said but possibly hamas is no co—ordinating all of them. somewhere in the gaza strip. and as you say, we don't know where

this operation was, we don't know how she was released, just that one image and a couple of the barest of details and i suppose, it will add to that whole debate that is currently swirling, where you are, about the tactics the government is using, to actually get the hostages home. , ~ , ., ,~ home. yes, prime minister netanyahu met some of — home. yes, prime minister netanyahu met some of the _ home. yes, prime minister netanyahu met some of the hostage _ home. yes, prime minister netanyahu met some of the hostage families, - met some of the hostage families, expressed his sorrow, over their anguish, theirfears, for their anguish, their fears, for their loved anguish, theirfears, for their loved one, many people don't even know whether their loved ones are being held hostage, or whether they arejust being held hostage, or whether they are just missing, whether they are dead or alive. and there has been a consistent demand from the hostages, for a ceasefire, for, to make it do everything possible to create space for more hostages to be released,

and that is also a demand made for foreign governments in private, because the hostages they felt needed to be freed before israel could intensify military operation but prime minister netanyahu said that israel believed his government, the military chiefs believed that the military chiefs believed that the only way to bring the hostages home, and the find out more about the missing, was to increase the pressure on hamas, so he will feel some degree of vindication this has been possible, but it is one soldier and there are many, many more soldiers who are still being held hostage, —— including off session, we don't have enough detail, it is worth mentioning in the first limited raids that the israeli forces conducted, into the gaza strip, in an out for several hours, it was said that one of their missions was to try to collect information on the whereabouts of

the hostages so we will have to wait for more details about whether what was the stens of events which led to this rescue, that hasjust was the stens of events which led to this rescue, that has just been announced in the past hour. this rescue, that hasjust been announced in the past hour. lyse, turnin: announced in the past hour. lyse, turning grey _ announced in the past hour. lyse, turning grey the — announced in the past hour. lyse, turning grey the rescue _ announced in the past hour. lyse, turning grey the rescue of - announced in the past hour. lyse, turning grey the rescue of that - turning grey the rescue of that soldier, to the video that we have been talking about for the last few hours, just tell any viewers who are justjoining us, more of the details, we because we don't know, obviously, if there was any coercion involved, but, one of those three women did speak, just tell us and remind us what she actually snide that video message.— remind us what she actually snide that video message. yes, one of the three women. _ that video message. yes, one of the three women, and _ that video message. yes, one of the three women, and i _ that video message. yes, one of the three women, and i think _ that video message. yes, one of the three women, and i think we - that video message. yes, one of the three women, and i think we can - that video message. yes, one of the l three women, and i think we can show you a still, of the three women, they, in the middle, she was the one who spoke, very powerfully, very emotionally, she launched an accusation theren axxxx an agreement

on a ceasefire to bring us home, even though that is not the case, why she said that whether hamas told her to say that, whether that is the information they have been be given, that there was an agreement on a ceasefire and they would be released, as part of it. she also talked about why the israeli army and the intelligence forces let them down, in leading to their captivity, and she begged the government to do more, to bring them home. it is a very distressing video to watch. it does provide a proof of life for three families but it also will deepen their pain their loved ones are being held in these kind of circumstances.— are being held in these kind of circumstances. ., ~ , ., . circumstances. thank you so much. just a circumstances. thank you so much. just a quick— circumstances. thank you so much. just a quick reminder _ circumstances. thank you so much. just a quick reminder of _ circumstances. thank you so much. just a quick reminder of what - circumstances. thank you so much. just a quick reminder of what we i just a quick reminder of what we expect here in the next few minutes because we are expecting to hear from binyamin netanyahu, reacting both to that hamas video, and that

news of a soldier being released. we are also due to hear from the families of the three hostages, seen in that video, so both of those news conferences here in the next little while. i will show you live pictures because i can see them out of the corner of my eye. week expect the us state department to have a news briefing so podium set there, so when that starts we will carry the significant comments, so a lot to catch up on here in the next few minutes to stay with us. in the last little while i have been speaking to a hostages month. he gave me his reaction to the release of that hostage video.— reaction to the release of that hostaue video. ., ~ ., , . hostage video. you kind of expect it for sometime. _ hostage video. you kind of expect it for some time, that _ hostage video. you kind of expect it for some time, that that _ for some time, that that psychological torture we found ourself in for the last three week, it will intensify, get more difficult, and you know, that would,

it is something we expect, it is never easy, it, it is not something that life does not prepare you for a moment like this and it is not easy to see, that, of course, it is good, in our life now it is good news to see they are alive, but you know, it is distressing. find see they are alive, but you know, it is distressing.— is distressing. and of course, we have no idea _ is distressing. and of course, we have no idea about _ is distressing. and of course, we have no idea about levels - is distressing. and of course, we have no idea about levels of- have no idea about levels of coercion used to actually extract what was said, in this video, so certainly everything we have heard from the israeli government very very can careful, but you talked about the excruciating moments this is, i was listening to one family member last week who said they had simply lost contact of what day of the week it was, all they could know was that it was either day 18, i9, was that it was either day 18, 19, 20, since october 7th. is it similar for you? 20, since october 7th. is it similar for ou? , , , , ., for you? yes. it is very similar, i think we — for you? yes. it is very similar, i think we are. — for you? yes. it is very similar, i think we are, it _ for you? yes. it is very similar, i

think we are, it feels _ for you? yes. it is very similar, i think we are, it feels like - for you? yes. it is very similar, i think we are, it feels like one i for you? yes. it is very similar, i i think we are, it feels like one long day, it is are very hard to get sleep, and so much is happening. but nothing is happening. the one thing you want to happen is not happening, or at least we don't know, so if there is something going on we don't know about it, but the reality is that, you know, we are working round—the—clock, i am sitting here with, and going from one place to another and put my influence in so many different ways, but the reality is nothing is happening and that is quite tricky to the brain, to, to contain. tell viewers a little bit more about your mother, and how you think perhaps she will be doping with three weeks plus. you perhaps she will be doping with three weeks plus.— perhaps she will be doping with three weeks plus. perhaps she will be doping with three weeks lus. ., ~' ., , three weeks plus. you know, we 'ust ra that three weeks plus. you know, we 'ust pray that she — three weeks plus. you know, we 'ust pray that she is fl three weeks plus. you know, we 'ust pray that she is in i three weeks plus. you know, we 'ust pray that she is in no i three weeks plus. you know, we 'ust pray that she is in no harm, �* three weeks plus. you know, we 'ust pray that she is in no harm, ii three weeks plus. you know, we just pray that she is in no harm, i know l pray that she is in no harm, i know she was injured when she was taken

from her home. and ijust hope that is not significant injury, we don't know the details of that. in her nature she uldh would look after the kids and the elderly. she is 75 but she would find herself looking after the 80 plus, and the kids, she's very positive and strong in her nature, i am worried because if she is underground, i know that her respiratory system is not the best, and she will struggle. but you know, it is a lot of worries and i can worry in so many different directions, this is what it is all about. that is a fascinating phrase, you use, you prefer to fantasise rather than take time to worry for all of those areas, that potentially are so negative, you said something incredibly startling when i was listening to you doing a radio

interview last week, you said the scenes at the kibbutz on october 7th when they were looting gave you hope, explain a little more what you mean by that?. you hope, explain a little more what you mean by that?-_ hope, explain a little more what you mean by that?. you know, you look at the videos and — mean by that?. you know, you look at the videos and you _ mean by that?. you know, you look at the videos and you look— mean by that?. you know, you look at the videos and you look at _ mean by that?. you know, you look at the videos and you look at the - the videos and you look at the footage that came on that day, and it is all very very distressing and very difficult to watch, but when i some people, ordinary gazans who come into the kibbutz, into the community and they take coffee machines and kids bike with them, what they have in mind, is they are going to improve the lifestyle, where ever they are.— going to improve the lifestyle, where ever they are. talking to me earlier, where ever they are. talking to me earlier. sorry _ where ever they are. talking to me earlier, sorry to _ where ever they are. talking to me earlier, sorry to leave _ where ever they are. talking to me earlier, sorry to leave that - where ever they are. talking to me earlier, sorry to leave that so - earlier, sorry to leave that so abruptly but we are, because israel's defence minister is just starting briefing some of the journalists there, so we will cross straight there and hear a lit of what he is saying.

translation: two possibilities... we will reach and — translation: two possibilities... we will reach and we _ translation: two possibilities... we will reach and we will _ translation: two possibilities... we will reach and we will carry _ translation: two possibilities... we will reach and we will carry out - translation: two possibilities... we will reach and we will carry out all- will reach and we will carry out all our missions. and ensure that hamas's capabilities and hamas itself will be eradicated and we will bring our hostages home. we are talking about an enormous group of hostages of all ages, baby, children, elderly people as well. i would like to just drawer your attention to the fact, that this is attention to the fact, that this is a multi—arena war. especially in

gaza, ground, sea and air assault. at the same time we are defending the arena in lebanon, there are multiple forces there. we are talking about air force forces that are in readiness, in order to meet any requirement, and answer what ever and respond to anything that any threat from the hezbollah, but anyone who tried to drag us into this reality will pay very heavy prices, on the syrian arena and the jew dene and sum ran arena it is not quiet, people are trying to leave there and we are foiling any attempt from the airand there and we are foiling any attempt from the air and on the ground, and again, witha from the air and on the ground, and again, with a syrian attempt as well, we will do our utmost, we will do everything to preserve the sovereignty of our country and say

guard and protect is its in the south as in every other place. i would like to say yesterday that yesterday i met the members of the hostages families, dozens of them and i listen very attentivety, with chagrin and pain, and i heard the stories that were truly heart rending of the stories of parents, son, brothers and sisters. and theirfearfor the son, brothers and sisters. and their fear for the wellbeing of their hostage, and their desire to somehow reach each and every one of them, it is in my mind the entire time, it is in, it is our commitment and every single time i deliberate or discuss what is happening in the entire war theatre, we talk about that, and think about that. it is in my mind the whole time. this will not in a short—term war. this will not in a short—term war. this will not be an easy war. but we are

determined to win, we are determined to do so for the sake of those who paid with their lives in such a brutal massacre. for the sake of our hostages we are determined to win, and eradicate hamas, it is either them or us, we are fighting for our home and we will win. thank you very much. are there any questions? let us move over the question, could each person please... is can manoeuvre bringing us closer to bring the hostages home? i am convinced that hamas is only acting under pressure, and i promoted the idea with the idf and

the gss and the mossad vis—a—vis the campaign and the issue of the prisoners and the hostages. and i brought this issue to the cabinet, and that is the way we will act because if we do not do that, then we will have to stay and wait for them for a long time. and we are talking about murderers of children, and i don want to remind you how brutally and heinous their crimes were and how brutally they murdered them. you asked an additional question. it is simple. i have full trust in the chief of general staff in the head of the mossad and the gss and the idf and i am in touch with all of the commanders, and i have full trust in them, and i am certain we will. we will prevail. everything that is connected...

studio: — everything that is connected... studio: let me brief you explain that i can see a feed of pictures and there it is on the screen, that is where you will see israel's prime minister address journalists in the next little while, so two press conferences going on, we expect the hostage families to have a press conference in about ten minute, the state department we expect a briefing there, also in the next little while so a very busy next 45 minutes but let us return to defence minister. translation: ~ ., ., minister. translation: ., ., ., ., , translation: we want to not only win the war but bring _ translation: we want to not only win the war but bring the _ translation: we want to not only win the war but bring the hostages - translation: we want to not only win the war but bring the hostages home i the war but bring the hostages home and it is thanks to this ground manoeuvre that we did succeed and we will succeed. i manoeuvre that we did succeed and we will succeed-— will succeed. i would like ask you did ori megidish _ will succeed. i would like ask you did ori megidish talk— will succeed. i would like ask you did ori megidish talk about - will succeed. i would like ask you did ori megidish talk about the l did on megidish talk about the conditions she was kept in, as a

hostage. — conditions she was kept in, as a hostage, and what are your next steps? _ hostage, and what are your next ste s? ~ ., , hostage, and what are your next ste-s? . ., , ., hostage, and what are your next ste s? . ., , ., , hostage, and what are your next ste-s? . ., , ., , ., steps? what she told us will remain between her — steps? what she told us will remain between her and _ steps? what she told us will remain between her and who _ steps? what she told us will remain between her and who she _ steps? what she told us will remain between her and who she spoke - steps? what she told us will remain between her and who she spoke to, | between her and who she spoke to, and these details must be truly preserved in this manner. because to my chagrin, there are so many other hostages in their hands. yes, anything else? mr hostages in their hands. yes, anything else?— hostages in their hands. yes, an hintelse? ~ ~ , anything else? mr minister, there has been an _ anything else? mr minister, there has been an increase _ anything else? mr minister, there has been an increase of _ anything else? mr minister, there has been an increase of the - anything else? mr minister, there l has been an increase of the settlers and palestinians, to what degree do you believe that the things injew dene _ you believe that the things injew dene is _ you believe that the things injew dene is maria will escalate the moment— dene is maria will escalate the moment we are concentrating on gaza. the issue _ moment we are concentrating on gaza. the issue of— moment we are concentrating on gaza. the issue of sovereignty and the using force, is only in the hands of the idf and the government. anybody

who uses force, and who is violent, anything nag is used by anyone else is totally unacceptable and it should truly trouble its greatly so it is the gss and the mossad and the army who are responsible for using any violence using physical violence, and enforcing the law. the settlers usually carry out their lives peacefully, but if anyone by the way is carrying out illegal acts it is not people from judah, it is people who have come from outside to do so, so please could we remain, remember, these things and remain united. mr minister, you are talking about

the various— mr minister, you are talking about the various arenas and the other potential— the various arenas and the other potential arenas of war, but should this expand, are you in very close cooperation— this expand, are you in very close cooperation with united states, about— cooperation with united states, about these issues? i am delighted that we _ about these issues? i am delighted that we have this important cooperation, and backing of the us. and everything we have shared, i mean for many years we have shared headquarters and discussions and america is standing with us, and this opportunity, i would like to thank the president of the united states and the various generals. and general austin, who is the defence secretary, he is doing an excellent

job, and helping israel in every possible way. there is no need to go in to the details, or the nitty gritty and the specifications of it, it is totally clear that america is here and is standing beside us. we have seen a tremendous increase of the hezbollah attacks in the north, do you think after the eradication of hamas, is that what the id f is going to actually then turn to and deal with that? we are fighting in the south. we believe that the hezbollah is being theed by all the forces on the northern border but also because of the prices that hamas is paying, and i suggest that we will continue to keep that peaceful situation in the north later on.

during the previous government you said that _ during the previous government you said that during the reign of this government, things would be done in a different— government, things would be done in a different manner. i think... studio: this is australia's defence minister who said this will not be a short war, an easy war, he said it will be them or us. in terms of the release of that soldier on megidish he was asked what conditions she was held he said that would remain between the person she spoke to because of the safety of other hostages being held. you are watching bbc news.

israel's prime minister about to start that news conference. as he just turns away from the microphones but he hasjust as he just turns away from the microphones but he has just posted a message welcoming home rescued israeli soldier, so he will talk to international media here, injust a moment or two, in a message posted on x, mr netanyahu said welcome home to private 0ri megidish, who the idf said was freed during israel's ground operations in gaza overnight. now he approaches the microphone so let us put the sound up and here israel's prime minister.- israel's prime minister. many believe that _ israel's prime minister. many believe that the _ israel's prime minister. many believe that the promise - israel's prime minister. many believe that the promise of l israel's prime minister. ya’iag'iy believe that the promise of progress in the 21st century, will enable us to move beyond the barbaric horses roars of the past to a better future. many believe we could go about our comfortable lives, and

that evil will simply pass us by. it will not. the horrors that hamas perpetrated on october 7th remind us that we will not realise the promise of a better future, that we will not realise the promise of a betterfuture, unless we, the receive lose hissed world, are willing to fight the barbarians. because the barbarians are willing to fight us. and their goal is clear, shatter that promising future, destroy all that we cherish, and usher in a world of fear and darkness. ladies and gentlemen, this is a turning point, a turning point for leaders and nations. it is time for leaders and nations. it is time for all of us to decide if we are willing to fight for a future of open promise, or surrender to tyranny in turn. rest assured, israel will fight. since october

7th, israel has been at war. israel did not start this war. but israel will win this war. hamas launched its war by perpetrating the worst savagery our people have seen since the holocaust. hamas murdered children in front of their parent, parents in front of their children. they burned people alive. they raped women, they beheaded men, they tortured holocaust survives, they kidnapped babies. they committed the most horrific crimes imaginable. and they part of the axis of evil iran has formed. an anne axis of terror, —— an axis. beyond the middle east. in fighting hamas and the iranian axis of terror, israel is fighting the

enemies of civilisation itself. victory over these enemies begins with moral clarity. it begins with knowing the difference between good and evil, between right and wrong. it means making a moral distinction between the deliberate murder of the innocent, and the unintentional casualties that accompany every legitimate war, even the mostjust war. it means holding hamas responsible for the double war crime it commits every day, by deliberately targeting israeli civilians white deliberately using palestinian civilians as human shieldses it mean making clear that the use of human shields is not only an immoral tactic of terse erterror but an infect thetive one, as long as hamilton's use of palestinian human shields result in the international community blaming israel, hamas will continue to use it, as a tool of terror. hamas will

continue the use the basements in gaza's hospital as the command posts of its vast tunnel network. lit continue to use mosques as military positionser it will continue to steal fuel and humanitarian assistance. israel urges palestinian civilians to leave areas of armed conflict while hamas prevents those billions are moving those areas at gunpoint. hamas is also preventing foreign nationals from leaving gaza altogether. and most despicably, hamas is holding over 200 israeli hostages including 33 children, holding them, terrorising them, keeping them as hostages. every civilised nation should stand with