i'm sumi somaskanda. israel says it has killed the leader of hamas, yahya sinwar, the man widely believed to be behind the october 7th attacks. dna tests confirmed the 61 year old died along with two other hamas members during an israeli ground operation in the southern city of rafah on wednesday. one of israel's top targets, officials hold sinwar responsible for organising and directing the worst—ever attack on the country. about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage. the family members of two israeli hostages held in gaza have told the bbc sinwar�*s death is a "brief window of opportunity" for benjamin netanyahu's government to negotiate the return of the hostages. here is the israeli prime minister benjamin

netanyahu speaking after the confirmation of sinwar�*s death. translation: hamas will no loner translation: hamas will no longer rule — translation: hamas will no longer rule of _ translation: hamas will no longer rule of gaza. - translation: hamas will no longer rule of gaza. this - translation: hamas will no longer rule of gaza. this is i longer rule of gaza. this is the — longer rule of gaza. this is the beginning _ longer rule of gaza. this is the beginning of— longer rule of gaza. this is the beginning of the - longer rule of gaza. this is the beginning of the day. longer rule of gaza. this is. the beginning of the day after hamas — the beginning of the day after hamas this— the beginning of the day after hamas. this is— the beginning of the day after hamas. this is opportunity. the beginning of the day after| hamas. this is opportunity for you residents _ hamas. this is opportunity for you residents of _ hamas. this is opportunity for you residents of gaza - hamas. this is opportunity for you residents of gaza to - you residents of gaza to finally _ you residents of gaza to finally liberate - you residents of gaza to finally liberate yourselfl you residents of gaza to - finally liberate yourself from his tyranny _ finally liberate yourself from his tyranny. two _ finally liberate yourself from his tyranny. two hamas - his tyranny. two hamas terrorists _ his tyranny. two hamas terrorists let _ his tyranny. two hamas terrorists let me - his tyranny. two hamas terrorists let me say- his tyranny. two hamasl terrorists let me say this his tyranny. two hamas i terrorists let me say this — your— terrorists let me say this — your leaders— terrorists let me say this — your leaders are _ terrorists let me say this — your leaders are running . terrorists let me say this — . your leaders are running away and it— your leaders are running away and it will— your leaders are running away and it will be _ your leaders are running away and it will be taken— your leaders are running away and it will be taken down. - your leaders are running away and it will be taken down. if. and it will be taken down. if you — and it will be taken down. if you take _ and it will be taken down. if you take on _ and it will be taken down. if you take on your— and it will be taken down. if you take on your weapons i and it will be taken down. if you take on your weapons ai you take on your weapons a return — you take on your weapons a return on— you take on your weapons a return on hostages, - you take on your weapons a return on hostages, we - you take on your weapons a return on hostages, we will| return on hostages, we will allow — return on hostages, we will allow you _ return on hostages, we will allow you to _ return on hostages, we will allow you to come - return on hostages, we will allow you to come out - return on hostages, we will allow you to come out and i return on hostages, we will- allow you to come out and live. but at — allow you to come out and live. but at the — but at allow you to come out and live. but at the same _ allow you to come out and live. but at the same time, - allow you to come out and live. but at the same time, let - allow you to come out and live. but at the same time, let me l but at the same time, let me also — but at the same time, let me also say— but at the same time, let me also say if— but at the same time, let me also say if you _ but at the same time, let me also say if you hurt _ but at the same time, let me also say if you hurt our- also say if you hurt our hostages, _ also say if you hurt our hostages, you - also say if you hurt our hostages, you will- also say if you hurt our hostages, you will be i also say if you hurt our- hostages, you will be taken down — hostages, you will be taken down we _ hostages, you will be taken down. we will— hostages, you will be taken down. we will settle - hostages, you will be taken down. we will settle the i hostages, you will be taken i down. we will settle the score with _ down. we will settle the score with you _ us state department officials are calling this a "seismic event," saying the us is "determined to try to seize that opportunity" to end the war. presidentjoe biden has announced he'll be sending his top diplomat, antony blinken, back to the region next week. just after landing in germany, mr biden shared details from his conversation today with mr netanyahu.

our international editor, jeremy bowen has more on the dramatic events of today from jerusalem. at the beach south of tel aviv, a lifeguard picked up his microphone. "attention, all bathers. "it's not ioo%, 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'd 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'd 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 hostage—taking 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 reaction in khan younis was filmed for the bbc. translation: this war is not dependent on 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 beenl assassinated before him, like ishmail haniyeh, i but someone else will always step in and the j struggle will continue. back in 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. general david petraeus is a former director of the cia. he also commanded us forces in iraq and afghanistan. i spoke to him earlier about the killing of yahya sinwar. seeing this is an opportunity perhaps to change the course of the war the us defence secretary austin releasing a statement saying it does provide an opportunity to end the to quote unquote terrible

war. i the to quote unquote terrible war. ~' the to quote unquote terrible war. ~ , ., , war. i think there should be vision provided _ war. i think there should be vision provided how - war. i think there should be vision provided how israel l vision provided how israel these are going to improve the life of thousand people. they should then go about informing that —— palestinian people. if they do not plead the destruction of hamas the forces will be destroyed. there still so many extremists that could construct hamas 2.0. unless it is secured very precisely, you will not have a situation that prevents hamas from continuing. what does that look like to secure it? that is indeed the question?— secure it? that is indeed the cuestion? ., , ., question? you put in east and west wall. _ question? you put in east and west wall. a _ question? you put in east and

west wall, a few _ question? you put in east and west wall, a few north-southl west wall, a few north—south walls, you get people back into the areas of their homes. but who administers _ the areas of their homes. but who administers this? and i the areas of their homes. but l who administers this? and then ou can who administers this? and then you can bring — who administers this? and then you can bring in _ who administers this? and then you can bring in palestinian - you can bring in palestinian security forces that we train in georgia. we can have organised provision of resistance. contractors can come in and you progressively clear and hold from what they're doing. that is what we did prior to the surge in iraq, which we had to reverse. we do this in fallujah. israel continues to carry out more air strikes in northern gaza. gaza's hamas—run civil defence agency says at least 22 people are dead and dozens more injured in an israeli strike on a un—run school building injabalia. officials say the school was sheltering displaced families. the israeli military says the site was an operational meeting point for hamas and islamichhad operatives. it also named twelve men

who it said were among �*dozens' of hamas operatives in the building at the time. hamas denies the claims. joining me live is hussein ibish — senior resident scholar at the arab gulf states institute in washington. where do you see the killing of yahya sinwar taking the next phase of this war is not the prime minister indicated this was not over. it’s prime minister indicated this was not over.— was not over. it's definitely not. i was not over. it's definitely not. i think _ was not over. it's definitely not. | think | _ was not over. it's definitely not. i think i might- was not over. it's definitely not. i think i might also - was not over. it's definitely not. i think i might also is i not. i think i might also is probably in the view although they may be divided, but let's say the general says probably most on the ground and what remains and senior command he probably shares. i think both sides believe they're on course for victory. so,

sides believe they're on course forvictory. so, ithink sides believe they're on course for victory. so, i think we would say will, netanyahu and yahya sinwar think they are winning. i don't see the death of sinwar changing anything fundamentally. there is a possibility you can see a slightly more moderate leadership emerging, but i'm sceptical. leadership emerging, but i'm scetical. �* ., sceptical. and we have the iranian mixed _ sceptical. and we have the iranian mixed into - sceptical. and we have the iranian mixed into the - sceptical. and we have the i iranian mixed into the united nations. let me ask you about the us. what we are hearing from the president and it do you think is a possibility? is a reflection point. it does change things. it gives israel

are a responsibility. this is what the administration has been working on for weeks. with the qataris and egyptians and european powers and others, the gulf country has offered troops for post—conflict stabilisation. my my sense is that israel is not interested in a comparable or a situation where they declare victory. on october the 7th of 2023 a year ago, netanyahu promised this foot. if what is

happening is not minding —— mighty, it's hard to see. -- mighty, it's hard to see. if —— mighty, it's hard to see. if this is the case, if they have valve continue their military operation, and what will be the point that they would say the mission was achieved? that the thing we counterinsurgency. - mission was achieved? that the thing we counterinsurgency. if i thing we counterinsurgency. if an additional problem because gazais an additional problem because gaza is not part of israel. it always has been occupied since 1967. you still have israeli boots on the ground. it's definitely occupied in every possible way. if you conduct this, you have the problem

every tree, behind every tree, someone wants to shoot you. if you want to withdraw, you have to move backwards. that looks like surrendering territories and stashing victories and giving a report to terrorists. i think it's very hard for anyone involved to get out, which is why it's a quagmire. that was the trap hamas set. they fell into sinwar�*s trap. he may be gone, but the quagmire he lured the enemy into is very much alive. hetero; into is very much alive. very much appreciated. - a reminder — there's much more analysis on the killing of the leader of hamas — on our website — including this piece from our international

editorjeremy bowen. just search bbc. com/news. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. a seven—year—old boy who died in a house explosion in newcastle — early on wednesday morning — has been named as archie york. the blast, which happened just before one am destroyed three houses in the area of benwell. police also confirmed a second person was found dead. an investigation into the cause of the explosion is under way. the wife of a conservative councillor has been jailed for thirty—one months — after pleading guilty to inciting racial hatred on the day three girls were murdered in the southport attacks in july. lucy connolly from northampton called for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set on fire in a post on the social media platform x. and the bbc has found that over 140 million litres of sewage has been illegally discharged into lake windemere in the lake district, during the last three years by the water company united utilities. data obtained by the bbc shows the environment agency was unaware of the extent of the pollution

in england's largest lake. you're live with bbc news. to the us election, and early in—person voting is underway in north carolina, a critical swing state. it's one of a handful of states expected to decide the winner in november's election. voting kicks off there as recovery efforts are still underway in the aftermath of hurricane helene. the storm wreaked havoc in many parts of the state just three weeks ago, killing nearly 100 people. tim walz, kamala harris' running mate, is in north carolina alongside former president bill clinton to drum up support for the harris—walz ticket. meanwile, kamala harris is on the ground in the swing state of wisconsin and donald trump is attending a charity dinner in new york city. one of the key swing states where early voting is already underway is arizona — which could be key to november's election. here's how the latest polling across the battleground states is looking. arizona is one of three states currently leaning towards donald trump.

my colleague caitriona perry has travelled to the state — and sent this report. one of the seven battleground states where a book can sometimes democrat. the poles haveit sometimes democrat. the poles have it basically in a dead heat here. sometimes, slightly leading for donald trump and sometimes for, harris, but all falling within margin of error. donald trump won in 2016, but in 2020, joe biden flipped the state. the issues of concern to voters here, they're the same you see across america — economy, christ with this, -- crisis. —— crisis. immigration and border control are issues of concern here. routers here in addition will vote, but the

bull also vote for 13 other rights. —— but they will also vote. about 22 or 2a weeks. that's another matter the forefront of voters' my. —— minds. forefront of voters' my. -- minds. . , . forefront of voters' my. -- minds— forefront of voters' my. -- minds. . , ., ., minds. receipt close to home here on this _ minds. receipt close to home here on this campus. - minds. receipt close to home here on this campus. it - minds. receipt close to home| here on this campus. it comes close to home. are there other issues in your mind? immigration. have you decided who ou immigration. have you decided who you vote — immigration. have you decided

who you vote for? _ immigration. have you decided who you vote for? yes, - immigration. have you decided who you vote for? yes, i - immigration. have you decided who you vote for? yes, i plan | who you vote for? yes, i plan to vote democrat. _ who you vote for? yes, i plan to vote democrat. there - who you vote for? yes, i plan to vote democrat. there are l to vote democrat. there are more registered _ to vote democrat. there are | more registered republicans that it cracks, but throughout ten voters i think it's great he's such a fighter— i think it's great he's such a fighter and he pushed for us when — fighter and he pushed for us when he _ fighter and he pushed for us when he is vice president. i feel— when he is vice president. i feel like _ when he is vice president. i feel like he's really on the bail— feel like he's really on the ball is— feel like he's really on the ball is going on and he, i feel. _ ball is going on and he, i feel. is— ball is going on and he, i feel, is the best one to be elected _ feel, is the best one to be elected president for our country. elected president for our country-— elected president for our count . ,, ~ elected president for our count . i. ~ , country. do you think there is something — country. do you think there is something since _ country. do you think there is something since specific- country. do you think there is something since specific he . something since specific he will do or bring to arizona oak? , ., , ., oak? he definitely wants to help veterans, _ oak? he definitely wants to help veterans, and - oak? he definitely wants to help veterans, and i - oak? he definitely wants to help veterans, and i think i oak? he definitely wants to l help veterans, and i think you will do — help veterans, and i think you will do a — help veterans, and i think you will do a good job. he doesn't 'ust will do a good job. he doesn't just talk— will do a good job. he doesn't just talk the talk, he truly walks _ just talk the talk, he truly walks the walk.— just talk the talk, he truly walks the walk. early in person

votin: walks the walk. early in person voting has _ walks the walk. early in person voting has already _ walks the walk. early in person voting has already spoke - voting has already spoke started. the voters in the state have been able to go to the polls and their roots. it's still 20 days till the election. let's turn to some other important news around the world. ukraine's president zelensky has been in brussels — where he's urged leaders to accept his plan to strengthen kyiv�*s military position, to force russia into peace talks. speaking at a summit in brussels, he called for fast tracked nato membership and permission to use western long—range weapons. he said the additional support would pressure russia into accepting what he called �*a just peace'. senators in kenya have voted to remove the deputy president, rigathi gachagua, from office despite his failure to testify at his impeachment trial — after his lawyer said he had been taken to hospital. mr gachagua was accused of corruption, inciting ethnic divisions and undermining the government after falling out with president william ruto. he had denied all the charges and described the impeachment proceedings as a political lynching.

and us regulators have adopted a �*click to—cancel�* rule — which aims to make it easier for people to end subscriptions. the move by the federal trade commission will come into effect in around six months' time. tributes continue to pour in after the death of liam payne, the former member of the boy band one direction. payne fell from a hotel balcony late on wednesday. the singer rose to global stardom as part of one direction, selling 70 millions records worldwide. his former bandmates have paid tribute to him, �*saying the memories we shared will be treasured forever. # 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 21st—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 werejust 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 that just 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 has died at the age of 31. the largest and brightest supermoon of the year has risen in the night's sky around the world. the hunter's moon — as it's called is the third of four supermoons to occur this year. these pictures show the scene in germany earlier — where crowds gathered to watch

the moon rise. thank you so much for watching. all of our latest news on our website, bbc .co slash uk. i'm sumi somaskanda, stay with us. hello there. plenty of clear skies across england and wales have given our weather watchers the chance to see the hunter's moon, the third supermoon of the year so far. this was darlington a little earlier on, but the clear skies are quite widespread across england and wales, and the supermoon can be seen as far south as hampshire as well. we have got more cloud the further north and west, with strengthening winds ahead of this weather front that's going to arrive during the morning rush hour, but with those clear skies, because it's been so wetjust recently, fog is forming and some of it will be quite dense in places for the early morning rush hour or the journey to school.

so that fog will lift away during the morning, and central and eastern england, along with eastern scotland, will keep some sunny spells throughout the afternoon. out to the west, some showery rain and strengthening winds with gusts close to a0 miles an hour. but with the sunshine, we still have some pleasant warmth with highs of 17 degrees. now, the rain could turn quite heavy through northern ireland, particularly on the back edge of that, and the same, too, for western scotland. some torrential bursts of rain not out of the question, accompanied by gusts of winds close to 70 miles an hour. perhaps eastern scotland will stay dry for most of the afternoon — top temperatures here of around 13 degrees. but that weather front will continue to push its way steadily eastwards during the early hours of saturday morning, and still quite windy with it as well, although the strongest of the winds slowly easing down. so we start off saturday morning with rain down through the spine of the country — fairly light and patchy as it continues to push its way slowly east, and it may take most of the day to clear away.

but behind it, sunny spells and a few scattered showers for most of us on saturday afternoon, and temperatures from 12—17 degrees, so still above the average really for this stage in october. as we move out of saturday, though, into sunday we could see more of a significant area of low pressure. plenty of isobars squeezing to the southern flank of that low. it could bring some gales or severe gates, and it may well become the first named storm of the season, so keep abreast of the forecast on sunday — some wet and significantly windy weather due to sweep its way north and east. and once it does so, well, for england and wales, we'll see some quieter weather into next week. it stays unsettled further north.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. israel is applying asymmetric force across multiple fronts in the middle east. as the body count rises, binyamin netanyahu claims he can deliver conclusive blows

to israel's enemies. international calls for ceasefires and de—escalation are going unheeded. the israeli pm identifies iran as the ultimate enemy, the puppet master, and a new strike against iran is expected very soon. what will iran do then? my guest is former iranian diplomat and nuclear negotiator seyed hossein mousavian. israel sees iran as weak and vulnerable. is that true? seyed hossein mousavian in princeton in the united states, welcome to hardtalk. thank you very much, steve.