they say that among the things they have uncovered are more than a dozen kalashnikovs, grenades, personal protective equipment, some of it with the hamas military brigade insignia on it. in other news: president biden and china's xijinping meet for the first time in a year, agreeing to resume high—level military communications. the uk government says it's in the "final stages" of negotiating a new treaty with rwanda, as it tries to revive its plan to send some asylum seekers there. hello. welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. israel has promised to provide proof to back up its claim hamas

was using gaza's largest hospital as a command centre. in southern gaza, israeli forces have started dropping leaflets in the khan younis area, warning people to evacuate their homes and head to shelters for their own safety. similar leaflets were also dropped over northern gaza weeks before the ground offensive, suggesting imminent military operations may be planned for the south. so let's get the very latest from my colleague mark lowen, who is in southern israel. thank you very much indeed. we were going to be live with you in that headline sequence, but we had to dash because there was a rocket that was just fired above our heads and intercepted by israel's iron dome anti—missile system. there was a siren that went out, so we just had to take cover. in the distance, a very large plume of smoke there were

an air strike very large plume of smoke there were an airstrike has very large plume of smoke there were an air strike has recently hit. a sign ofjust how constant the threats are here is this conflict reaches almost six weeks. meanwhile, the israeli defense forces continue their operation inside shifa hospital, gaza's largest hospital. and israel has promised to provide proof of what they say is hamas plasma command centre there. hamas have repeatedly denied the allegations. president biden says the us has asked israel to be incredibly careful, as its military operation at al—shifa hospital, which began yesterday, continues. one thing that's been established is that hamas does have a headquarters, weapons, material, below this hospital, and i suspect others. our correspondent lucy williamson was taken inside shifa hospital by the israeli defense forces. a little

earlier shejoined us from jerusalem. israel is really coming under pressure to prove why it carried out the operation it is carrying out in gaza. and driving into gaza last night, it was clear just the scale of its military operation there. parts of the city looked as if it had been hit by an earthquake, buildings completely decimated, roads turned up, rows of tanks moving through the streets. so, i think the scale of the operation is clear, but also israel's desire to try and show the world why it is doing what it is doing. it is still very tense, they took us right into the heart of gaza city, into shifa hospital that has been the scene — at least the streets around it — have been the scene of some of the fiercest fighting over the past few days. we had to go in in darkness, through a hole in one of the perimeter walls, and we were taken to one specific department, the mri department in the hospital, we were not allowed to talk to other people, not to doctors, not to patients, we were shown the items that the idf said they had found there, hidden amongst

the medical equipment. but as you say, the real proof that israel is under such global scrutiny for is to provide evidence of this network of tunnels beneath the hospital. that is something they haven't found yet, but they did say that it is very early days. there is a lot of the hospital still to search. and both they and the us intelligence community believe those tunnels are there. we are in an israeli military vehicle inside the gaza strip now. they are taking us towards gaza city. this area we are passing through an area where the ground operation first began weeks ago now. since then, the israeli army has fought its way methodically towards gaza city, towards the gates of the shifa hospital. that is where they are taking us now. we are still being told to keep our lights off. are we going this way?

the israeli army has been really searching through this hospital. you can see they have had to force the door of the mri room here to get inside. they have been looking for evidence of this being a hamas base, a place where hamas planned attacks, and they say that among the things they have uncovered are more than a dozen kalashnikovs, grenades, personal protective equipment, some of it with the hamas military brigade insignia on it. you can see some of them here hidden under these bags of medical supplies. we are also told that there have been laptops found with some information about the hostages, recent files that suggest this may have been a hamas operating base as recently as a few days ago. well, there has been a lot of pressure on israel for the humanitarian cost of its operation in gaza, not least inside the shifa hospital where doctors say they are struggling to keep alive dozens of vulnerable newborn babies

without enough electricity, food or water. but now that israel does have control of the hospital and is carrying out the searches, it is also under pressure to prove, to give some evidence about why it is actually there. lucy williamson with the rare glimpse inside shifa hospital in gaza. israeli police say they have killed three suspects involved in an attack on a checkpoint injerusalem. at least four people were shot, including one who was critically injured. two others suffered light injuries. the police said all the injured were members of security services. colonel moshe tetro is the head of co—ordination and liaison at cogat, the israeli defense ministry body handling civil affairs in gaza. i asked him whether what's been observed at al—shifa hospital so far, amounts

to an operational command centre. i am sure that you already know and understand the core strategy of hamas is to operate from within civilian facilities, from within the population. as we have shown in another hospital, as we know from other places where they are operating from, un facilities, from inside schools, from around civilian shelters etc. we are currently conducting the search operation in shifa hospital. we have shown what we have found until now. and when we will finish this operation, of course we will share all we have found.

no sign of a tunnel network disclosed so far, though. i also want to remind us all that before starting this operation and from the very beginning of the war, we were in direct coordination with the manager of the hospital, and we facilitated the opportunity to evacuate all people that were sheltered in the hospital and also for the wounded and injured. we also provided humanitarian aid to the hospital — fuel, medical supplies, incubators etc. and we have seen those photographs of the aid that the israeli defense forces have brought into the hospital. since we are talking about the humanitarian aid situation, let me give you a few figures. the un says 70% of gazans now lack access to clean water, 1.6 million are displaced, a child is killed every ten minutes,

and every citizen in gaza is now in need of food assistance. a few days ago, you said there was no humanitarian crisis in gaza. who is telling the truth? the situation in gaza is very challenging, but we are in wartime. a war which we did not decide to open. i want us all to remember that this war started when hamas butchered our babies, killed our women, and knifed our elderly. they burned alive families inside their houses. while they are doing so, the idf will do everything in our power to reduce any harm to civilian population. every baby, every child being killed is something that we are very sorry for.

i think that every human being, every human being which is not hamas feel sorry when they see loss of life. this is why from the very beginning of the war we are calling to the population of gaza to go south from the battlefield. while hamas does everything in their power to prevent it. because their strategy is to use their population as human shields. can ijust pick up, you remind us of the origins of this conflict on the 7th of october, the 1200 or so israelis who were murdered by hamas and almost 240 hostages still of course the trauma and the sight of the conflict depends. —— still of course the trauma on this side of the conflict depends. but can ijust push you on this, is there a humanitarian crisis in gaza?

you denied it a few days ago. like i have said, the situation in gaza is challenging, but every day there are tens of trucks loaded with food, water and other humanitarian aid to the south of gaza. lets hit the wider regional perspective now on the conflict. —— lets get the wider regional perspective. joining me now from abu dhabi is mina al—oraibi, editor—in—chief of the national. reports continuing that qatar is continuing to mediate negotiations on a hostage release deal between hamas and the israelis, with the idea that some 50 people could potentially be released on both sides. are you getting any sense in the local media there are about how close we are to that deal? the sources we — close we are to that deal? the sources we are _ close we are to that deal? tue: sources we are speaking close we are to that deal? tte: sources we are speaking to have made it clear that some sort of deal will be struck. what that looks like, the contours of that deal are yet to be

firmed up. hamas in its public statement says it is ready for a deal. benjamin netanyahu previously said that no deal would be struck, that the israeli forces would be able to bring the hostages back. however, behind closed doors, there are discussions about what is the possibility of getting at least some possibilities released and in return some palestinian women and children that are being held in israeli prisons. it is very delicate because, of course, everybody needs to save face of some sort during this terrible war, but also, how does that lead to the next step, which is hopefully ending this war? even this hostage deal, something very small, we have seen since the 7th of october when the hamas attack happened, it has been very hard to do anything beyond very small incremental steps. importantly, getting palestinian wounded out of is very important. reports of some landing in turkey. here in the uae

there has also been an offer to trade over 1000 palestinian children. all of this is being negotiated. while the hostages are important, of course there is also the importance of trying to get some of the palestinian wounded out and also allow more aid. so for what we have heard from un agencies is what little fuel is going on is less than 10% of the need of the palestinian people. food supplies are down to an absolute minimum.— absolute minimum. indeed, the un sa in: that absolute minimum. indeed, the un saying that it _ absolute minimum. indeed, the un saying that it is _ absolute minimum. indeed, the un saying that it isjust _ absolute minimum. indeed, the un saying that it isjust half _ absolute minimum. indeed, the un saying that it isjust half a - absolute minimum. indeed, the un saying that it isjust half a gallon i saying that it is just half a gallon or have a tanker of fuel that came in across the crossing from egypt. grossly insufficient. stay with us, just need to pause for a few seconds to bid farewell to our reviewers watching us on bbc two. thank you for bearing with us. can i

ask you, before this conflict erupted on the 7th of october, israel had normalised relations with the uae, with bahrain, with morocco, it was on the verge of normalising with saudi arabia, do you believe the conflict has blown up those chances? t the conflict has blown up those chances? ., ., ~' the conflict has blown up those chances? ., ., ~ ., , , ., chances? i do not think it has blown u . chances? i do not think it has blown u- the chances? i do not think it has blown up the chances. _ chances? i do not think it has blown up the chances, but _ chances? i do not think it has blown up the chances, but it _ chances? i do not think it has blown up the chances, but it has _ up the chances, but it has definitely set the region is back years if not decades. i think the level of destruction that we have witnessed, the amount of suffering of the palestinians, but also the fact that israel had the biggest security breach it has ever had, has changed the region for years to come. the level of destruction also is reflected on the united states that frankly has had time and again it refuses to give any public red lines to israel in carrying out this war. so i think the impact will also be on relationship with the united states and the role the united states and the role the united states can play in this war and also the wider region. fin

states can play in this war and also the wider region.— the wider region. on that, israel has publicly _ the wider region. on that, israel has publicly disagreed _ the wider region. on that, israel has publicly disagreed with - the wider region. on that, israel has publicly disagreed with the l the wider region. on that, israel. has publicly disagreed with the us on certain aspects of this conflict, whereas the arab countries seem to be taking the lead regionally. do you get the sense that us influence here has waned and is being replaced by the arab world? yell at the us influence continues to be important, largely because it is the biggest backer of israel but also has very important strategic ties to most of the countries of this region. the influence is _ the countries of this region. the influence is still _ the countries of this region. tte: influence is still there, it the countries of this region. tt2 influence is still there, it is how the us is choosing to use this influence. yesterday we had the time the un security council able to pass a binding resolution calling for what is being called out humanitarian policy is to try to limit some of the destruction and killing that is happening on a day—to—day basis. that was not voted for by the us. they abstained, as did the uk and russia. the us with its veto power and influence throughout the region, the role it can play. it allowed this resolution

to pass, but it is only the first type of many steps that will be needed. one to end the war and two to finally get a resolution to this particular conflict and occupation of palestine.— particular conflict and occupation of palestine. editor in chief of the national and _ of palestine. editor in chief of the national and abu _ of palestine. editor in chief of the national and abu dhabi, - of palestine. editor in chief of the national and abu dhabi, thank- of palestine. editor in chief of the | national and abu dhabi, thank you for your thoughts on the wider regional implications of this conflict. with that, it is back to you in london. mark, thank you very much for that. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. in a world first, british regulators have approved a gene therapy that aims to cure two blood disorders — sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. it's the first treatment to be licensed that uses a tool known as crispr. it can be used to correct faults in the dna of cells, allowing them to produce haemoglobin. the energy regulator ofgem is launching a public consultation on standing charges.

the fees are added to most gas and electricity bills at a daily rate and can't be reduced no matter how much you cut back on your usage. people should submit their views before the 19th of january. bbc analysis shows that two—thirds of nhs maternity units in england don't consistently meet safety standards, as assessed by the health regulator. the care quality commission says maternity has the worst safety ratings of all hospital services it inspects. the government said maternity care was of the "utmost importance". let's ta ke let's take your life to the scene in madrid and spain. we have had some breaking news from there. spain's acting prime minister pedro sanchez has been approved as prime minister. you can see there mr sanchez and the

uploading crowds of spanish mps around him —— applauding. we will bring you more on that story as and when we get it here on bbc news. let's move a little bit more into what we have been talking about. we will talk a little bit now about uk politics rather than spanish politics. the british prime minister, rishi sunak, says he will introduce emergency legislation to enable him to press ahead with plans to send some asylum seekers to rwanda. the policy was ruled unlawful by the supreme court. mr sunak said the uk was also working on a new treaty with rwanda. graham satchell reports. how do you stop the boats? the government's plan was to send asylum seekers to a third country, rwanda, where their applications would be processed. that plan has been left in tatters after the supreme court ruled it was unlawful. hands off refugees now! the courtjudgment said rwanda was not a safe country for refugees, particularly because there was a risk they could be forced back

to their country of origin, where their life could be in danger. the ruling is a significant blow for the prime minister, rishi sunak, who's made tackling illegal migration a key pledge. we are a reasonable government and this is a reasonable country. but the british people's patience can only be stretched so thin, and they expect the boats to be stopped. the government has now announced a series of measures to resurrect its immigration plans, a new treaty with rwanda, which would prevent the removal of asylum seekers back to their home country, and emergency legislation to mark rwanda as a safe country. we pre—empted this. we have been working on this for well over a year now. we are in the final stages of turning it into a treaty. that can be done quickly. the legislation that needs to go through the house will be tight, simple and passed quickly. critics, including the labour party, say the government is now

in disarray, and that sending asylum seekers to rwanda will never work and is not a deterrent. the only thing that is a deterrent is people knowing they're coming into a well organised, a functional asylum seeking process, and if they don't qualify, they are returned swiftly. the plan to send asylum seekers to rwanda was announced in 2022. it has already cost at least £140 million and no one has yet been sent to the country. but the government says it intends to see flights starting in the spring. graham satchel, bbc news. the former british prime minister, david cameron, has held talks with ukrainian president zelensky in kyiv, on his first official trip as foreign secretary. lord cameron said he wanted ukraine to be his first destination in his new role. live now to our correspondent james waterhouse who's in kyiv, very telling that this was lord cameron's first port of call as foreign secretary?

certainly is. i think if you are david cameron, this is an easy win, a diplomatic visit like this. why? well, the reception was warm because this is a country, this is president zelensky continuing to battle political fatigue amongst some western allies, but also the uk has been one of ukraine's staunchest supporters since the full—scale invasion of last year. almost £5 billion worth of aid, including long—range missiles, challenger tanks, ammunition has been provided. it was interesting because in the interaction between the two men, david cameron referenced another former prime minister, boris johnson, saying, "we disagreed on many things, but i think the way he and his government supported ukraine as one of the finest things he has ever done." borisjohnson is seen as

a hugely popular character here in ukraine because of the way people so he spearheaded support early in the invasion. she has been critical of the speed of which uk has provided the speed of which uk has provided the ukraine aid in the time since. i think this was a warm welcome, a pledging of continued support from the uk in terms of, as david cameron put it, moral support, the uk in terms of, as david cameron put it, moralsupport, economic, and of course military. i think that will be welcomed by president zelensky. david cameron has since moved south to the port city of odesa, where he is looking at port infrastructure there. this has certainly been a welcome diplomatic event, shall we say, here in kyiv. talk to me about edessa, that is significant for him to be there, isn't it? —— about odesa. de isn't it? -- about odesa. de government _ isn't it? —— about odesa. d2 government are keen to focus on the southern city of odesa because since

landmark green deal, which included ukraine and russia, collapsed in the summer, russian vessels, worships in the black sea, where they have enjoyed a lot of dominance throughout this war have pummelled coastal areas like odesa, notably port infrastructure, to try to frustrate ukraine's attempts to export grain and continually try to suppress the population. what is interesting is that any time since, ukraine and outs this unofficial corridor, this route, that cargo vessels would use which hug the coastline, if you like, down towards the bosporus strait in turkey, around 90 ships have made it out in the months since. i think what the uk has tried to show is that russian warships have been targeted with missiles they have supplied ukraine any time since, they are less dominant, they argue, and i think this is something that the uk and ukraine, frankly, will be keen to highlight.

ukraine, frankly, will be keen to hiuuhliht. , . , ukraine, frankly, will be keen to hicchliht. , ., ~ ukraine, frankly, will be keen to hichc,liht. , ., ~ ukraine, frankly, will be keen to hichc,liht. , ., , highlight. james, thank you very much indeed _ highlight. james, thank you very much indeed for _ highlight. james, thank you very much indeed for that. _ highlight. james, thank you very much indeed for that. james - much indeed for that. james waterhouse there. as goat very briefly again to madrid, the spanish parliament, because they have voted to make pedro sanchez prime minister for another term. to make pedro sanchez prime minister foranotherterm. it to make pedro sanchez prime minister for another term. it was not a very wide margin. hundred and 79 in favour, 171 against. after much deadlock, after an inconclusive general election injuly, mr pedro sanchez and his spanish socialist workers party managed to reach a number of different deals with regional parties — that is the key to spanish politics— to earn their backing. this included very difficult and a contentious bill on amnesty for catalan separatists. that has sparked some protests and disquiet in spain. however, it was enough to get support for mr sanchez from various regional parties. so,

179 in favour, 171 against. this means that mr sanchez is now spain's prime minister. we will leave madrid now and just bring you one more story. rescue teams in northern india hope new drilling equipment sent from delhi will allow them to reach workers who've been trapped in a collapsed tunnel since sunday. officials continue to insist the a0 men are safe, despite their ordeal. previous attempts to free them from the partially built road tunnel have failed because of a lack of machinery strong enough to break through the rubble. stay with us here on bbc news.

the temperatures will be up and down over the next few days. at the moment, we are in a cold spell, but drier with some centring around. into the weekend it turns

a lot more unsettled, but much milder once again. mostly fine, although it will be cloudy. southern britain will see a spell of wind and rain at times. this area of low pressure, its main impact will be felt across france and through the channel islands. southern britain will see a spell of wet weather for a time. then this weather front were working from the west to bring outbreaks of rain here as we move through the day. wet and windy weather eventually pulls away from southern britain as we head through the afternoon. elsewhere, a lot of cloud, some showers on the east coast. the best of the sunshine and after that very cold start will be across northern scotland. rain pushes into northern ireland, then spreads across the irish sea into western wales and western scotland. temperatures of 6—10 in the south. this evening and overnight, that with the front spreads across the country, bringing some outbreaks of rain, followed by clear spells and scattered blustery showers. most of the show which will affect irish sea coastal areas. again, quite a chilly night, especially across central and northern scotland where skies will

be clear. a sharp frost, may be some mist and fog. friday, in between weather systems. so if your weather fronts around that will bring subjectivity close to the coast. much brighter on friday than what we have had today. there will be lots of sunshine around, though it will be a chilly start. some showers peppering western neighbours. later in the day, a new weather system arriving to bring some closure and wet weather to the far south—west with temperatures lifting here. otherwise, a mostly chilly day across the uk. here is the picture for saturday. low pressure firmly in control, lots of isobars on the chart, a weather front spreading northwards. it will turn blustery, a lot of cloud, bands of rain spreading northwards through saturday morning, followed by sunshine and blustery showers across southern and western areas into the afternoon. you will notice the temperatures much milder on saturday. highs of 9—15. similar story on sunday. that we should see more sunshine around on sunday, particularly top and tail of the

country. showery bursary will affect central areas. country. showery bursary will affect centralareas. it country. showery bursary will affect central areas. it will remain blustery, especially across the south. temperatures of 10—14. blustery, especially across the south. temperatures of 1044. take care.

this is bbc news, the headlines: israel is under pressure to prove its claim hamas was using gaza's main hospital as a command centre. soldiers continue to search the facility. the uk opposition leader suffers a major rebellion. more than a quarter of his mps vote for an immediate ceasefire in the israel—gaza war. spanish elections power pedro sanchez.