mamas, 'hamas, but benjamin a major blow for hamas, but benjamin netanyahu has reminded israelis that the war goes on. # you're insecure, don't know what for... also tonight... the death of liam payne, who fell from a balcony in argentina — his former one direction bandmates say they are completely devastated. tributes to the seven—year—old boy, archie york, who died in yesterday's house explosion in newcastle, as a second body — thought to be a man in his 30s — is recovered. skygazers turn out to see the largest and brightest supermoon of this year — the hunter's moon. and stay with us here on bbc news for continuing coverage and analysis from our team of correspondents in the uk and around the world. good evening.

israel says it has killed the leader of hamas, yahyar sinwar, the man widely believed to be behind the october seventh attacks. israeli forces say the 61—year—old died along with two other hamas members yesterday during a ground operation in the southern city of rafah. they carried out dna testing to confirm his identity. tonight, sinwar�*s body is in tel aviv where people have been celebrating on the streets. the united states has called his death a �*game changer�*. our international editor jeremy bowen has been following this story injerusalem and joins us now. thank you, sophie. israel needed this. they needed a victory in gaza from their point of view because it was feeling like a quagmire in which their main waraims was feeling like a quagmire in which their main war aims of destroying hamas as an entity and releasing the hostages had not been achieved. so

in the course of the afternoon, the word started circulating that sinwar was dead and they were already prepared to party before the confirmation came. at the beach south of tel aviv, a lifeguard picked up his microphone. "attention, all bathers. it's not 100% but there's a strong chance that the rat from the tunnels known as yayha sinwar is dead." and then it was confirmed. they knew sinwar�*s death was a big victory for israel and a big defeat for hamas. the israeli army released drone footage showing he was still fighting in his last moments. they said sinwar, on a chair at the back of the room, had thrown two grenades and obviously wounded, tried to fend the drone off with a stick before he was killed.

it had been a chance encounter and at first they didn't realise who they had killed, then soldiers saw the dead man resembled sinwar. yahya sinwar, born in 1962, grew up in a refugee camp in gaza. he spent 22 years in israeli jails for killing four palestinians who had collaborated with israel, so the security services had dental records and dna to identify his body. injail, he learned hebrew, studied his enemy and believed he'd worked out how to fight them. on the 7th of october last year, in a meticulously planned series of attacks, sinwar and his men inflicted israel's worst ever defeat. and a collective trauma that is still deeply felt. the killing of civilians, the hostagetaking and the celebrations of their enemies recalled for many israelis the nazi holocaust in the second world war.

prime minister netanyahu said the war would go on. today he said, we made clear once again what happens to those who harm us. we showed the world the victory of good over evil. but the war is not over yet. it is difficult and it is costing us dearly. israel's response, a year of war, continued this morning. around 25 palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded in the latest big raid onjabalia camp in northern gaza. israel said it bombed a hamas commander centre. doctors said the casualties they saw were civilians. israel's response to the 7th of october attacks has killed at least 42,000 people in gaza. its war aims of destroying hamas and freeing its hostages have not been achieved, so killing yayha sinwar is its biggest victory yet.

the hamas organisation that sinwar and others built before the 7th of october attacks is largely broken. left of sinwar is ishmail haniyeh, hamas political leader who was assassinated injuly. israel doesn't let us into gaza to report but this was filmed for the bbc. , ., , ., , ., bbc. this war is not dependent on sinwar nor — bbc. this war is not dependent on sinwar nor on _ bbc. this war is not dependent on sinwar nor on any _ bbc. this war is not dependent on sinwar nor on any other— bbc. this war is not dependent on sinwar nor on any other leader - bbc. this war is not dependent on sinwar nor on any other leader or| sinwar nor on any other leader or official. it is a war of extermination against the palestinian people as we all know and understand. the issue is much bigger than sinwar or anyone else. many leaders have been assassinated before _ many leaders have been assassinated before him, like ishmail haniyeh but someone _ before him, like ishmail haniyeh but someone else will always step in and the struggle will continue. back someone else will always step in and the struggle will continue.— the struggle will continue. back in israel, a the struggle will continue. back in israel. a few— the struggle will continue. back in israel, a few people _ the struggle will continue. back in israel, a few people stop - the struggle will continue. back in israel, a few people stop to - israel, a few people stop to celebrate at the forensics lab where sinwar was taken. tonight israelis are relieved and happy with that the

enemy has been killed but hamas still has its hostages, is still fighting and will get a new leader. jeremy bowen, bbc news, jerusalem. the killing of yahya sinwar is the latest in a series of assassinations of senior hamas and hezbollah leaders by israel since the 7th october attacks. our security correspondent frank gardner looks at who israel has targeted, and why. frank. israel has many enemies around the middle east, most of them funded and armed by iran. this year, one by one, it's been eliminating the leadership of those enemies. in beirut last month, there was the targeted assassination of hassan nasrallah, the long—standing leader of hezbollah, which had been firing rockets into israel for 11 months. hezbollah has also trained anti—israel militants around the middle east. before that, also in beirut, israel assassinated fuad shukr. he was the senior hezbollah commander who built up the bulk of its arsenal of heavy weapons, turning it into the world's most

heavily—armed non—state army. then the very next day came an explosion in a tehran guest house that killed ismail haniyeh, the leader of the political wing of hamas. israel's mossad spy agency is widely assumed to have been responsible. yahya sinwar was the man appointed after that to become the overall leader of hamas — and now, he too, is dead. a crucial difference here though, is that this wasn't a targeted assassination. the israeli army found him by chance. but it's clear that in the wake of last year's october 7th attacks, israel has decided to go after many of its most dangerous enemies at once, wherever they are hiding, whatever the consequences. sophie. i'm joined now by our north america editor, sarah smith, who's in arizona, and byjeremy bowen injerusalem.

sarah smith, tell us more about the reaction tonight from the united states. , , , states. this event is being celebrated _ states. this event is being celebrated here _ states. this event is being celebrated here where - states. this event is being - celebrated here where officials are talking about how pleased they are to hear about the elimination of a man they described as a terrorist, who had the blood of israelis, palestinians and americans on his hands. joe biden picked up the phone to prime minister netanyahu to congratulate him on this but also, he said to talk about how this seismic event could transform the conflict in the middle east. there is now probably a much better chance of securing a ceasefire deal that would allow for the return of the hostages held by hamas because your hasina was a major blockage to that deal butjoe biden wants to go further. it was to talk about how this could allow for the end of the war in gaza, an end to the conflict and that is what he told prime minister netanyahu he wanted to talk about. he has announced he will send

his senior diplomat antony blinken to israel to talk about how to move on from the conflict, how to secure gaza without hamas being in charge of it. and as he came off air force one he was asked if he had any sense when the war might not end and he said, hopefully soon.— when the war might not end and he said, hopefully soon. jeremy bowen, injerusalem. — said, hopefully soon. jeremy bowen, in jerusalem, the _ said, hopefully soon. jeremy bowen, in jerusalem, the extraordinary - injerusalem, the extraordinary footage we have seen this evening of the moment that the israeli forces found him, seemingly by surprise in a house in rafah. how much of a turning point is his death being viewed as there?— viewed as there? well, i think --eole viewed as there? well, i think peeple are — viewed as there? well, i think people are probably _ viewed as there? well, i think people are probably being - viewed as there? well, i think- people are probably being cautious. if you _ people are probably being cautious. if you look— people are probably being cautious. if you look at the whole picture, sophie. — if you look at the whole picture, sophie, israel is fighting in gaza, they have — sophie, israel is fighting in gaza, they have scored their biggest victory— they have scored their biggest victory in _ they have scored their biggest victory in the war there so far. they— victory in the war there so far. they are — victory in the war there so far. they are fighting in lebanon, there was a _ they are fighting in lebanon, there was a reminder today of how hard that fight— was a reminder today of how hard that fight is with israel announcing

that fight is with israel announcing that five _ that fight is with israel announcing that five of its soldiers had been killed _ that five of its soldiers had been killed in— that five of its soldiers had been killed in combat operations and the israelis _ killed in combat operations and the israelis are — killed in combat operations and the israelis are also preparing to retaliate _ israelis are also preparing to retaliate for the iranian ballistic missile — retaliate for the iranian ballistic missile attack that happened a couple — missile attack that happened a couple of weeks ago. that hasn't happened — couple of weeks ago. that hasn't happened but they are expecting it will happen soon. as for the palestinians, i think that drone footage — palestinians, i think that drone footage of sinwar fighting until the very end _ footage of sinwar fighting until the very end is going to make him in their— very end is going to make him in their rise— very end is going to make him in their rise even more of a heroic figure _ their rise even more of a heroic figure than— their rise even more of a heroic figure than he was after he inflicted _ figure than he was after he inflicted upon israel the greatest defeat _ inflicted upon israel the greatest defeat in the history of the state. and one — defeat in the history of the state. and one more thing, and that is the hostages _ and one more thing, and that is the hostages. the hostage families and their supporters have been gathering in tel— their supporters have been gathering in tet aviv— their supporters have been gathering in tel aviv and of course relieved and hopeful that this could lead to and hopeful that this could lead to a breakthrough, but some of them though— a breakthrough, but some of them though are — a breakthrough, but some of them though are cautious because a lot of them _ though are cautious because a lot of them believe that prime minister netanyahu has been an obstacle to a hostage _ netanyahu has been an obstacle to a hostage deal because of his desire,

as many— hostage deal because of his desire, as many israelis believe, to prolong the war— as many israelis believe, to prolong the war irr— as many israelis believe, to prolong the war in gaza for his own political— the war in gaza for his own political reasons. so while there is i political reasons. so while there is iwoutd _ political reasons. so while there is iwoutd say— political reasons. so while there is i would say some relief and happiness in israel about what is happening, there is also uncertainty and happening, there is also uncertainty ahd for— happening, there is also uncertainty and for the — happening, there is also uncertainty and for the palestinians, happening, there is also uncertainty and forthe palestinians, i happening, there is also uncertainty and for the palestinians, i think they— and for the palestinians, i think they are — and for the palestinians, i think they are clear this war, as the israetis — they are clear this war, as the israelis have been told by their prime — israelis have been told by their prime minister, goes on. thank you both. and faisal islam will have more analysis on newsnight on bbc two shortly. world leaders meet tomorrow on the wider middle east conflict. will this killing would be a turning point? and the us election, in the home straight, why are the candidates popping up in some unexpected places? newsnight on bbc two, bbc news and iplayer in 20 minutes. liam payne's former one direction bandmates have said tonight that they are completely devastated, after he died following a fall from a hotel balcony

in argentina yesterday. police were called by hotel staff after reports of an "aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol". but the 31—year—old star had already fallen by the time they arrived. devastated fans have been gathering outside the hotel to mourn his death, by lighting candles and singing songs. our culture editor katie razzall reports on the death of a global star, who lived his entire adult life in the spotlight. # the story of my life, i take her home...# outside the hotel where liam payne died, there's comfort to be found in gathering and remembering. it was late yesterday afternoon when the former one direction star fell from the third floor of the casa sur hotel in buenos aires. staff had called emergency services, worried about the safety of a guest. the call was obtained by local newspaper la nacion. translation: what is happening at the location, sir? _ translation: well, we've got a guest who has had too many _ drugs and alcohol and, well, when he's conscious

he's trashing the entire room and we need you to send someone urgently because, well, i don't know whether his life may be in danger, the guest's life. he's in a room with a balcony and well, we're a little afraid he... but help came too late. liam payne died of multiple traumatic injuries, according to local officials. a lovely day here, in argentina. he'd been in the city on holiday, spending time with his girlfriend, kate cassidy. attending a concert of his former band—mate, niall horan. # fly me to the moon, let me play among the stars #. liam payne's career path was set from 2008, at his first x factor audition. the 14—year—old belting out frank sinatra. thejudges spotted something magical. come back in a couple of years, simon cowell told him. # now you say you love me #.

when the boy from wolverhampton returned in 2010, singing again in front of the woman who would later become the mother of his child, the answer was... one massive fat almighty yes. this was very much his dream. he loved, he just loved to sing. he's had worldwide fame for basically half his life. | # you don't know you're beautiful #. one direction were global chart toppers, reinventing the boy band for the 2ist—century. the first group in us history to see their first four albums debut at number one. # you don't know you're beautiful #. madison square garden, the well�*s most famous arena. that sums it up. # it feels that we've been living in fast forward #. children when they first found fame, in the documentary made about their rise, their parents reflected on losing their teenage sons to the touring life

when they were just 16. "he goes away for so long," liam's mum said. today, friends have been remembering him. i don't know if people really know is that behind the camera he was so kind, like, to everyone, and always just wanted to put a smile on people's faces. the band were all so lovely, always, but liam was kind of the... ..the grown—up one in the group, the wise one, and i can't bear that this is where liam's story has ended. # you know i love it when the music's loud # but come on strip that down for me #. after the band split, liam payne's solo career had mixed success. he'd also spoken about his struggles with fame and addiction. the problem we had in the band — and i don't blame anybody for this, i don't want to seem like i'm whining and moaning, oh, my god, my life, whatever — but it feels to me like when we were in the band the best way to secure us, because of how big it got, was just lock us in our rooms, and of course, what's in the room?

minibar. so at a certain point i thought, i'm going to have a party for one and thatjust seemed to carry on throughout many years in my life. the bbc has also seen a cease and desist letter from his formerfiancee, the model maya henry, who'd accused him of repeated unwanted contact. as fans unite in grief, his family said liam would forever live in their hearts and they would remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul. liam payne, who's died at the age of 31. well, our south america correspondent, ione wells, is outside the hotel in buenos aires. tell us more about the reaction there today. well, fans have been gathering outside the hotel since the shocking news yesterday evening. many behind me have been crying, emotional, as they've lit candles, laid flowers, written letters and sang songs. guests have been left shaken, some of them have told me they heard

screams but did not realise a fellow guest had died. fans have been left in shock, some of them told me they'd onlyjust seen videos of him on social media appearing to enjoy his time in argentina. some tell me they feel like a part of their childhood has died with him. many remember him for the upbeat songs, the smiles of one direction, which feels like such a far cry from the incredibly dark image that is starting to emerge of his final moments. one of the tributes here even reads, thank you for saving my life, i'm sorry that i couldn't do the same for you. this whole case for many fans here has revealed one of the big paradoxes of fame. in their glory moments pop stars are people who seem to have it all but in these darker times they are often made all the more dark by the fact that they are having to live them so publicly. that they are having to live them so ublicl . ., . , that they are having to live them so ublicl. ., . , �* publicly. lone wells in buenos aires, thank _ publicly. lone wells in buenos aires, thank you. _ publicly. lone wells in buenos aires, thank you. tributes - publicly. lone wells in buenos - aires, thank you. tributes coming and still here too. our culture

editor katie razzall lives with me and the latest from his former one direction band member zayn malik who says, when it came to music, liam payne was the most qualified in every sense. the whole band has been paying tribute, haven't they? iunfithin paying tribute, haven't they? within the last year— paying tribute, haven't they? within the last year zayn — paying tribute, haven't they? within the last year zayn malik, _ paying tribute, haven't they? within the last year zayn malik, louis - the last year zayn malik, louis tomlinson, harry styles that they are completely devastated by the news of liam's passing, in time and when everyone is able to there will be more to say but for now we will take time to grieve and process the love of —— the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. for now our thoughts, they went on, all with his family, friends and the fans who loved him alongside us. we will miss him terribly, we love you, liam. remember, these were five teenagers who shared this crazyjourney of fame together from such a young age. there are not many people in the world who understand what it's like to be right there in the public glare, to make your mistakes so publicly and one of them has died

far too young. zayn malik was saying, he was a talented songwriter. he did write a lot of those one direction songs. for now we do not know why that happened, what happened but there is plenty of speculation, was it an accident, was it deliberate, was it in the end driven by the pressures of fame? we may never fully know the answer. katie razzall, thank you. a second person has been found dead, after a blast that destroyed three houses in newcastle yesterday. police say the victim, found in the rubble, is believed to be a man in his 30s. the seven—year—old boy who died has been named as archie york. from newcastle, here's fiona trott. funny, mischievous, loving. that's how archie york's family describe him. "our hearts are broken," they say, "and can never be repaired". this is what's left of his family home where he lay sleeping on the night of the explosion, his parents and two—month—old brother close by. they've been treated in hospital and are now being looked after by relatives.

today, the police confirmed another body was found. the victim is believed to be a man in his 30s. another man is still being treated in hospital. after archie york's name was put on social media, tributes here have been growing by the second. one of them is from his aunt. she told me he was such a loving little boy and always had a cheeky smile on his face. the cousin of the man who died was here earlier. she described him as one in a million. they came here, they said, because they needed comfort, and when you're still trying to make sense of what happened, all this means a lot. the police say cordons will remain in place for some time. they, the fire service and gas engineers are all involved in the investigation into how this happened. in the meantime, there are people here in benwell whose lives have changed forever, still struggling to understand how anything so sudden, so violent, could have happened to an innocent child like archie. fiona trott, bbc news, newcastle.

the bbc has learnt that the government is planning to increase the amount of money it raises in inheritance tax at the budget. it is understood the prime minister and the chancellor are considering multiple changes to the tax, which currently includes several exemptions and reliefs. our political editor chris mason is here. what more can you tell us? the government confronts what it describes as a black hole and it thinks part of the solution to that is to put up some taxes. the thing is, a lot of the big leavers of government like income tax or vat, employee national insurance, the government is choosing not to because they said they promised they wouldn't do that. employer national insurance looks like that could change. what about inheritance tax? it's paid by around li% of people after debt who end up being charged inheritance tax, raises about £7 billion a year, charged at 40% on

property, possessions and money above a threshold of £325,000. there are all sorts of exemptions and reliefs, the giving of gifts before you die, there is business relief, agricultural relief relating to land. our understanding from different independent sources who are aware of what's going on is the government wants to raise more money and is looking at multiple things around inheritance tax. i want to be straightforward about what we don't know. i don't know which ones of these levers within the inheritance tax they may pull so therefore i don't know how many people might be affected, how much some people might have to pay in addition. conservatives tonight condemning the idea that anyone might have to pay more inheritance tax. the treasury not denying what we are reporting but saying that as its standard they don't comment on speculation before a budget. don't comment on speculation before a buduet. , don't comment on speculation before abuduet. , ., a budget. chris mason, our political editor, a budget. chris mason, our political editor. thank _ a budget. chris mason, our political editor, thank you. _ the wife of a conservative councillor has been jailed for 31 months, after pleading guilty

to inciting racial hatred on the day three girls were murdered in the southport attacks. lucy connolly, from northampton, called for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set on fire, and for mass deportations, in a post on the social media platform x. king charles and queen camilla are on their way to australia for their biggest overseas trip since the king began cancer treatment in february. the visit has attracted some controversy though, re—opening questions about the future of the monarchy in australia and the debate about whether the country should become a republic. from sydney, katy watson reports. # god save the king #. for australia's young monarchists there is a lot to celebrate. the fact king charles is travelling 10,000 miles and across ten different time zones, all the while having cancer treatment, is, say these students, testament to his fondness for this country. i'm really excited. i think he's such a big part of our history and our tradition, it's really wonderful we get to celebrate it. people aren't going to line

the streets waving unionjacks, they are going to be waving the australian flag because the king isjust as much the king of australia as he is the king of england. archive: at london airport the heir to the throne prepared _ to say goodbye to britain for a few months. - the king first came here aged 17, spending two terms at a rural boarding school and calling it by far the best experience of his education. voice over: monarchy - the farewell tour. - but republicans here say the country needs to move on. they've released this tongue—in—cheek video encouraging australians to think about a future without the royals. we've been independent for a long time now. but that last little step of independence for us is splitting away from the monarchy, having an australian — somebody who lives here, somebody who represents us — someone who is able to go and attend events not every ten years, but every week. this weekend the king and queen will land here in sydney and be shown around by one of the country's most prominent republicans. prime minister anthony albanese has

long made it clear that australia needs to rid itself of the monarchy, but plans to hold a vote on the issue have been shelved. there isn't the appetite for what many see as a distraction from bigger issues, like the cost of living crisis. and the government was defeated in a separate referendum last october, on giving greater political rights to indigenous people. it was a bruising campaign that divided australia. for many first nations communities, a vote on the monarchy just isn't a priority. we're not white australia any more, we're a brown australia. it would be very interesting to see, you know, a brown head of state or a black head of state, but before we do that we need to include our first nations and acknowledge and recognise that. australia's flag, with the unionjack in the corner, is the most ubiquitous reminder of the country's ties with great britain. in most places though the aboriginal flag now flies alongside it.

australia is a very different country to the one king charles first visited nearly 60 years ago. katy watson, bbc news, in sydney. our senior royal correspondent daniela relph is in sydney. this trip also significant, it's his first big trip since his cancer treatment. how important is the visit to australia for the king? well, sophie, it's really important, because it seemed unthinkable that this could happen a few months ago when buckingham palace announced that the king had cancer and would be stepping back from public facing duties for a while. back then it didn't seem possible that he would be able to cope with the rigours of that long journey from the uk, the punishing time difference, and day after day of engagements, but later today, friday morning here in sydney, later today, the king and queen will land in australia for the start of that royal tour and it's happening because adjustments have

been made to his schedule on the advice of the king's doctors, so new zealand, which was in the original plan, has been completely removed. that means this trip is a shorter, the king can then return to the uk more quickly to resume his cancer treatment which is currently on hold. there is a rest day built into the itinerary which is pretty unusual. and here in australia there are no evening engagements planned, thatis are no evening engagements planned, that is a nod to the fact that the king hasn't been very well. buckingham palace say this is all about preserving the king was my energy in the hope of making this trip as successful as possible. danny orr elf in sydney, thank you. —— daniela relph in sydney, thank you. the "largest and brightest" supermoon of the year has risen tonight. the hunter's moon, as it's called, is the third of four supermoons this year. sam harrison has been watching it light up the skies. behind the clouds, something spectacular. the full hunter moon,

its proximity to earth making it seem 1li% its proximity to earth making it seem 14% right around 30% bigger than normal moons. this photo showing the event in all its glory over the dorset macro coast. and this shot taken over london, where there were thousands of stargazers. i'm going to take some pictures now, the moon is so much brighter than i've seen it before. i thought it looked really nice, it looks a lot bigger than usual and looks really bright and clear.— bright and clear. usually you see art of bright and clear. usually you see part of the _ bright and clear. usually you see part of the moon _ bright and clear. usually you see part of the moon and _ bright and clear. usually you see part of the moon and it's - bright and clear. usually you see part of the moon and it's not - bright and clear. usually you see part of the moon and it's not as| part of the moon and it's not as tfright, — part of the moon and it's not as tfright, but _ part of the moon and it's not as bright, but today, i took a picture and when — bright, but today, i took a picture and when you zoom in and it looks like the _ and when you zoom in and it looks like the sun — and when you zoom in and it looks like the sun-— like the sun. around the world the lunar event _ like the sun. around the world the lunar event has _ like the sun. around the world the lunar event has been _ like the sun. around the world the lunar event has been captured. . lunar event has been captured. dazzling these stargazers in indonesia. meanwhile, in germany, tonight because my commute home was lit up by the moon's blow. footage from around the world capturing a dazzling moment is the biggest full moon of the year came out on display. sam harrison, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here's louise lear.

the weather is behaving itself, across england certainly, it's the third supermoon of this year and we are seeing it as far north as darlington and the north—east