battleground states. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. welcome back to today's verified live fish. the hamas—run health ministry in gaza says — an israeli air strike in the northern town of beit lahiya has left at least 93 palestinians, killed or missing, including 20 children. it said about a0 people were still missing, trapped under the rubble of a four—storey residential building. witnesses say neighbours have been trying to drag bodies from the debris. the victims are reported to include families displaced by the renewed israeli offensive in northern gaza, which has claimed hundreds of lives. israel's military says its looking into the incident. it comes after a vote in the israeli parliament on monday — banning the un's palestinian refugee agency unrwa from working within the country.

the world food programme is warning that the humanitarian crisis in gaza could soon escalate into famine unless immediate action is taken. yolande knell reports. aid workers are already struggling with a humanitarian crisis in gaza. now it is set to get even harder after the biggest un agency on the ground, unrwa, was banned in israel. in parliament, despite international opposition, the vote was overwhelmingly in favour. israeli mps claim unrwa is complicit with hamas. they will not be able to facilitate their activities or their infrastructures or their headquarters in israel. if the united nations is not willing to clean this organisation from terrorism, from hamas activists, then we have to take measures to make sure they cannot harm our people ever again. israel has long criticised unrwa, including for what's taught in schools.

but that's intensified since the october 7 attacks. israel accuses a dozen of its thousands of employees of being directly involved. unrwa says that's been fully investigated. we have taken immediate and strong and direct action against any allegations that we have received. this is proven in terms of the actions that the unrwa commissioner general has taken. the un relief and works agency was set up in 1949 to take care of some 700,000 palestinians who'd fled the fighting before and after the creation of the state of israel. now it supports about 6 million people across the middle east — many living urban refugees camps like this one in the occupied west bank. as far as israel is concerned, unrwa perpetuates the refugee problem, a core issue in its conflict with the palestinians. the un says that needs a political solution, but for now unrwa is

providing essential services. that's most acutely felt in gaza, where unrwa runs wartime shelters and is at the heart of aid distribution. israel is giving three months before its officials will be barred from contact with the agency. but even its closest allies are warning that right now there is no way to replace unrwa. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. cindy mccain is the executive director of the un�*s cindy mccain is the executive director of the un�*s world food programme. she gave this reaction to israel's decision to stop unrwa working in the country. well, i'm hoping that better heads prevail. we need unrwa. unrwa on the ground is absolutely vital to what we do.

logistically, we handle logistics. they do the work on the ground there. we don't have the ground there. we don't have the contacts, we don't have the ability to get to know the contacts because things are so intensely difficult there. i know they said they could stay in the west bank, but the problem is that they can't cross any lines to get into the west bank to work. i'm hoping, like i said, that better heads, the west bank to work. i'm hoping, like i said, that better heads, various governments can intercede on behalf of of humanitarian aid workers in the region to be able to get us in, let us work. we have also been hearing from various ambassadors. the us ambassador to the united nations, linda thomas—greenfield, has been speaking at the un security council discussing the situation gaza. she says the us rejects "any israeli efforts to starve palestinians injabalia,

or anywhere else" in the gaza strip. the united states has made clear to prime minister netanyahu that were yet enter this conflict, as you must address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in gaza. that the united states rejects any israeli efforts to start palestinians in jabalia any israeli efforts to start palestinians injabalia or anywhere else, and the israel's words must be matched by action on the ground. right now, that's not happening. this must change immediately. the us has stated clearly that israel must allow food and medicine and other supplies and to all of gaza, especially the north, and especially as winter sets in, and protect the workers distributing it.— and protect the workers distributing it. the latest from the _ distributing it. the latest from the un _ distributing it. the latest from the un security - distributing it. the latest- from the un security council talking about the situation in

gaza. let's turn to lebanon. hezbollah has announced a new leader to take over from its long—time chief — hassan nasrallah — who was killed in an israeli air strike in beirut last month. he 5 naim qassem — the iranian—backed group's deputy secretary general. the announcement made in the last few hours. lebanon's health ministry says at least 60 people have been killed in israeli attacks on the bekaa valley. the strikes hit five areas in the baalbek region, northeast of the capital, beirut. the local governor called the attacks the most violent in the area since israel escalated the conflict against hezbollah last month. that is the latest from the middle east. that session at the un is still going on, there are new lines coming and all of the time. we were talking about what martin griffiths was saying a short while ago to the bbc, saying that a decision

about undermining made by the israeli parliament are, and his words, a newbie to kill children and a new way to kill hope. —— a new way to kill children and a new way to kill hope. the teenager who's accused of murdering three young girls in southport injuly has been charged with two further offences, one of which is a terrorism charge. axel rudakubana, who's 18, is accused of possessing the poison ricin, and also possessing a copy of the al-qaeda training manual. he's already been charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of a knife. bebe king, six, elsie dot stancombe, seven, and alice da silva aguiar, nine, were and ten others were hurt after the attacker entered a taylor swift—themed dance class on onjuly 29. the chief constable

of merseyside police, serena kennedy, gave a press briefing — here's some of it. today the crown prosecution service has authorised axel rudakubana to be charged with two further offences. axel rudaku ba na two further offences. axel rudakubana already faces three charges of murder, ten charges of attempted murder, and one charge of possession of a knife, all relating to the prime minister than onjuly 20 nine, 202a. the two further offences relate to evidence obtained by merseyside police during searches of axel rudakubana's home address as part of a lengthy and complex investigation which has been ongoing sincejuly 29. the additional charges are the production of a biological toxin, namely ricin, contrary to section one of the biological weapons act 197a. and possession of information, namely a pdf file entitled military studies in thejihad

against the tyrants — the al-qaeda training manual — likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism. contrary to section 58 of the tterrorism act 2000. axel rudakubana will appear at westminster magistrates' court by video link tomorrow. earl? by video link tomorrow. early in august _ by video link tomorrow. early in august we _ by video link tomorrow. early in august we were _ by video link tomorrow. early in august we were informed l by video link tomorrow. early in august we were informed by the police that ricin, a very toxic— the police that ricin, a very toxic poison, had been found in the suspect's home. following this, _ the suspect's home. following this, our— the suspect's home. following this, ouragency's the suspect's home. following this, our agency's experts and health— this, our agency's experts and health protection and in chemicals, poisons and toxicology immediately undertook a thorough public health— undertook a thorough public health risk assessment. this was — health risk assessment. this was based on the available evidence and the information we receive _ evidence and the information we receive from the police, from the stl, _ receive from the police, from the stl, and from the nhs. this information confirmed that there — information confirmed that there was no evidence that any

victims. — there was no evidence that any victims, responders, orare members _ victims, responders, orare members of the public were exposed to ricin, either as part— exposed to ricin, either as part of— exposed to ricin, either as part of the incident or afterwards. 0ur detailed initial_ afterwards. 0ur detailed initial risk assessment judge that— initial risk assessment judge that the _ initial risk assessment judge that the risk to the community into wider— that the risk to the community into wider public was low. as always. — into wider public was low. as always, when responding to a possible — always, when responding to a possible health threats we keep our public health risk assessments under close review. as the _ assessments under close review. as the police investigation develops, our ongoing assessment was that the risk to the public— assessment was that the risk to the public had reduced even further _ the public had reduced even further i_ the public had reduced even further. i appreciate that this information may be concerning. however. — information may be concerning. however. i_ information may be concerning. however, i would like to emphasise that there has been no evidence of ricin poisoning and anyone involved in or connected to this incident. ricin — connected to this incident. ricin is _ connected to this incident. ricin is not infectious between people — ricin is not infectious between people and the risk to the wider— people and the risk to the wider public based on the information available has always _ information available has always been low. most people

who have ricin poisoning will develop _ who have ricin poisoning will develop symptoms within 24 overs — develop symptoms within 24 overs come some symptoms starting — overs come some symptoms starting even earlier. it is very— starting even earlier. it is very unlikely that symptoms will start after more than three _ will start after more than three days.— will start after more than three days. will start after more than three da s. ~ ., ., three days. within four to as the chemical— three days. within four to as the chemical and _ three days. within four to as the chemical and biological. the chemical and biological response _ the chemical and biological response capability. - the chemical and biological response capability. this . the chemical and biological- response capability. this works directly — response capability. this works directly with _ response capability. this works directly with emergency- directly with emergency response _ directly with emergency response services, - directly with emergency- response services, including poiice — response services, including poiice during _ response services, including poiice during an _ response services, including police during an incident - response services, including police during an incident to. police during an incident to ensure _ police during an incident to ensure responders- police during an incident to ensure responders can - police during an incident to- ensure responders can identify and understand _ ensure responders can identify and understand the _ ensure responders can identify and understand the dangers i and understand the dangers associated _ and understand the dangers associated with _ and understand the dangers associated with highly - associated with highly hazardous _ associated with highly hazardous chemicals i associated with highly i hazardous chemicals and biological— hazardous chemicals and biological substances. i hazardous chemicals and i biological substances. from hazardous chemicals and - biological substances. from the outset, — biological substances. from the outset, the _ biological substances. from the outset, the full— biological substances. from the outset, the full spectrum - biological substances. from the outset, the full spectrum of- outset, the full spectrum of plot — outset, the full spectrum of plot to's _ outset, the full spectrum of plot to's capabilities - outset, the full spectrum of plot to's capabilities has - outset, the full spectrum of. plot to's capabilities has been provided _ plot to's capabilities has been provided to _ plot to's capabilities has been provided to merseyside - plot to's capabilities has beenl provided to merseyside police. this includes— provided to merseyside police. this includes scientific - this includes scientific advisers. _ this includes scientific advisers, myself- this includes scientific - advisers, myself included, and supporting _ advisers, myself included, and supporting staff— advisers, myself included, and supporting staff providing - supporting staff providing advice _ supporting staff providing advice on _ supporting staff providing advice on the _ supporting staff providing advice on the ground - supporting staff providing advice on the ground and| supporting staff providing . advice on the ground and at supporting staff providing - advice on the ground and at the joint _

advice on the ground and at the joint command _ advice on the ground and at the joint command group— advice on the ground and at the joint command group in- joint command group in liverpooi _ joint command group in liverpool. it _ joint command group in liverpool. it also - joint command group in. liverpool. it also included unrestricted _ liverpool. it also included unrestricted access - liverpool. it also included unrestricted access to - liverpool. it also included unrestricted access to ourj unrestricted access to our analysis— unrestricted access to our analysis laboratories- unrestricted access to our analysis laboratories at i analysis laboratories at portadown, _ analysis laboratories at portadown, where - analysis laboratories at l portadown, where teams analysis laboratories at - portadown, where teams of scientists _ portadown, where teams of scientists at _ portadown, where teams of scientists at undertook- scientists at undertook detaiied _ scientists at undertook detailed examination. scientists at undertookl detailed examination of scientists at undertook- detailed examination of the items— detailed examination of the items from _ detailed examination of the items from this _ detailed examination of the items from this incident - detailed examination of the items from this incident toi items from this incident to identify— items from this incident to identify the _ items from this incident to identify the presence - items from this incident to identify the presence of. items from this incident tol identify the presence of the toxin. — identify the presence of the toxin, ricin. _ identify the presence of the toxin, ricin. at— identify the presence of the toxin, ricin. at all- identify the presence of the toxin, ricin. at all stages i identify the presence of the toxin, ricin. at all stages of the — toxin, ricin. at all stages of the incident, _ toxin, ricin. at all stages of the incident, dstl- toxin, ricin. at all stages of the incident, dstl have - toxin, ricin. at all stages of- the incident, dstl have worked closely — the incident, dstl have worked closely with _ the incident, dstl have worked closely with merseyside - the incident, dstl have worked closely with merseyside police, j closely with merseyside police, with the — closely with merseyside police, with the priority _ closely with merseyside police, with the priority that _ closely with merseyside police, with the priority that people . with the priority that people were — with the priority that people were kept— with the priority that people were kept safe, _ with the priority that people were kept safe, and - with the priority that people were kept safe, and to - with the priority that people | were kept safe, and to allow the police _ were kept safe, and to allow the police to— were kept safe, and to allow the police to respond - were kept safe, and to allow the police to respond and i the police to respond and investigate _ the police to respond and investigate as— the police to respond and investigate as quickly- the police to respond and investigate as quickly as i investigate as quickly as possible _ investigate as quickly as possible-— investigate as quickly as ossible. . ., , possible. that the elite has from the — possible. that the elite has from the extensive - possible. that the elite has| from the extensive briefing. let's go to our north of england correspondent, nick garner. ., ., , , garner. the headline of this is that axel rudakubana - garner. the headline of this is that axel rudakubana faces i garner. the headline of this is i that axel rudakubana faces two further charges, one of the production of the biological agent, ricin. the second charge

is that he was in possession of a pdf of a document that was a study of the al-qaeda training manual. it wasn't, we understand, the al-qaeda training manual itself, but it was a study of it. that is very crucial, because a lot of people will be hearing the wording of the charge and here it was under the tterrorism act and will be wondering what was going on. i need to read out what serena kennedy said. at the current time, counterterrorism police does not class this as a terrorism incident. i does not require a motive to be established, and for the matter to be declared terrorism, motivation would need to be established, and i doesn't have one. police say after the us onjuly 29, axel rudakubana's house was rudaku ba na's house was searched. rudakubana's house was searched. two days after that,

something was found, that was taken away to portadown laboratories and was found to be ricin. he is going to appear in court via video link before westminster magistrates, when these two charges, on top of these two charges, on top of the three murder charges, the ten attentive mother charges and the position of a nice chargeable all be read to him and will be formally entered. before i bring and i sandford, let mejust give before i bring and i sandford, let me just give you the only test lies coming from downing street. the prime minister truss spokesman saying that his thoughts remain with the families of the southport attack victims, saying the government has main focus is that the famines and all those affected receivejustice that the famines and all those affected receive justice and first and foremost the prime minister's thoughts are with the farms and the local communities. but then goes on to deny that the government had been involved in decision—making about the timing of the charges after the southport attack. ask if there

is any government involvement in decisions about the timing, the no 10 saying no... she said it was not correct to say the government had been involved in withholding facts from the public. those are the important lines coming into us from no 10 downing st. let's continue with our uk affairs correspondent matt daniel sandford. in terms of what we have heard, your analysis of what we are seeing? 0bviously, analysis of what we are seeing? obviously, the discovery of ricin is extremely concerning. it is an exceptionally toxic substance, something which is really very rarely found. the most significant put the case in the uk was in the early 2000 is, that gives you an idea of how rare a case this is. clearly it was something which has caused enormous concern. when it was initially found,

what has now been found to have been ricin, it was unclear what the substance was. portadown, one of the world's world leading research areas for chemical and biological weapons, got heavily involved and has done a huge amount of work working with police and analysis, enough to establish that this is enough for ricin as a charge to be brought. that is a matter for the court. you have seen quite a lot of reassurances now sprung into place, trying to reassure the public that all the appropriate measures were taken. it is worth saying that this was a long time ago. it was at the end ofjuly, early august when the ricin was found. that has been no suggestion that anyone has come to harm. so it doesn't look like that this is something that has not led to any serious harm.— 153