live from london. this is bbc news. the international criminal court issues arrest warrants for israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu, former defence minister yoav gallant, and hamas�*s military leader mohammed deif over alleged war crimes in gaza. there are conflicting reports over whether a russian weapon which hit dnipro in ukraine was an intercontinental ballistic missile. it comes as russia says it brought down two british made storm shadow cruise missiles, following reports they're being used by ukraine. john prescott — former deputy prime minister of the uk and a towering labourfigure — has died at the age of 86. and these are pictures from iceland where lava is spewing from this volcano near the capital for the tenth time in three years.

hello, i'm annita mcveigh, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. the international criminal court has issued arrest warrants for the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, his former defence minister, yoav gallant, and hamas�*s military leader mohammed deif over alleged war crimes. the icc said there were reasonable grounds to believe that mr netanyahu and mr gallant each bear criminal responsibility for what it called the �*war crime of starvation and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts.�* the israeli prime minister reacted angrily to the news, accusing the court of anti—semitism, and saying israel would not be deterred from achieving its war aims in gaza. the icc has also issued a warrant for the arrest

of the hamas military commander, mohammed deif, a key architect of the october 7th attack, in which more than 1,200 people were killed and 250 abducted. israel said it killed deif in an attack earlier this year. our correpondent anna holligan is in the hague. she outlined the reasons given by the icc for issuing the arrest warrants. the use of, they say, starvation as a weapon of warfare and also directing attacks against the civilian population. we should say throughout this the icc is saying there are reasonable grounds to believe, because this is the pre—trial chamber and the icc, like most courts, has a presumption of innocence. so this is before anything has gone to trial. they are saying there are reasonable grounds to believe that these crimes have been committed by benjamin netanyahu and yoav galant on the basis of evidence presented to them by the icc prosecutor, karim khan.

so just to give a bit more detail on what they're saying, the icc pre—trial chamber found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the lack of food, water, electricity and fuel and specific medical supplies created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in gaza, which resulted in the deaths of civilians, including children, due to malnutrition and dehydration. and it goes on to say, the chamber assessed that there are reasonable grounds to believe that mr netanyahu and mr galant bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population in gaza, despite having measures available to them to prevent or repress the commission of these crimes. anna, sorry to interrupt you.

on the mohammed deif arrest warrant, what is the icc saying there? and what does all of this mean in practice? well, ijust asked our the bbc�*s bureau chief. why is it that the icc is issuing an arrest warrant? isn't there an assumption isn't there an assumption that the hamas military that the hamas military commander is dead? commander is dead? the icc has actually the icc has actually answered that question. answered that question. so the prosecution initially so the prosecution initially filed applications for two filed applications for two other senior leaders of hamas. other senior leaders of hamas. but following the confirmation but following the confirmation of their deaths, the chamber of their deaths, the chamber granted withdrawal of those granted withdrawal of those applications. applications. however, with respect however, with respect to mr deif the prosecution indicated to mr deif the prosecution indicated it would continue it would continue to gather information to gather information and yoav galant. with respect to his with respect to his reported death on the 15th reported death on the 15th of november, 202a. of november, 202a. the prosecution, referring the prosecution, referring to the information from both to the information from both the israeli and palestinian the israeli and palestinian authorities, said it was not authorities, said it was not in a position to determine in a position to determine whether he has been killed whether he has been killed or remains alive, and that's or remains alive, and that's why the pre—trial chamber has why the pre—trial chamber has gone ahead and issued a warrant gone ahead and issued a warrant

for his arrest, as well for his arrest, as well as benjamin netanyahu as benjamin netanyahu and yoav galant. and what does this mean? well, all of the countries which have signed up to the icc and the rome statute, which is the constitution that underpins the icc, that's12li countries. they are now expected to to arrest anyone who has an icc arrest warrant issued. so now we've just heard from a couple of human rights organisations, and they say now it's up to the international community to respond. because the icc is a court of last resort. it deals with the most heinous international crimes, but it doesn't have its own police force, so it depends on its members to execute those arrest warrants. and we've previously heard from both both benjamin netanyahu and yoav gallant, that they have denied any wrongdoing, have said they are acting in line with international humanitarian law and also have rejected the icc�*sjurisdiction.

thejudges have gone through israel's submissions and found that the court does have jurisdiction on the grounds that the palestinian territories have accepted the court's jurisdiction and these alleged crimes took place in part on in gaza, of course. so that's why the icc pre—trial chamber has issued these arrest warrants, and it's now up to the member states to respond if any of these individuals set foot on their territory. our middle east correspondent yolande knell told us about the latest reaction from prime minister neta nyahu's office.

massacre committed against the jewish people since the holocaust. that reaction hasjust come in. we had been expecting something from the prime minister, but he was meeting the visiting us special envoy, amos hochstein. and really, if you look through exactly what is facing the prime minister, the top international court based in the hague, saying that there is reasonable grounds to believe that mr netanyahu and his former defence chief, yoav galant, committed war crimes in gaza during the war. it talks about using starvation as a method of warfare, murder, persecution and other inhumane acts, intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population. and the court said that israel's acceptance of its jurisdiction in gaza was not something that was required. we've had very wide condemnation of this

from israeli politicians and the president has come out calling it a dark day forjustice, a dark day for humanity. now, back in may, of course, it had been sought by the chief prosecutor as well — arrest warrants for three senior hamas figures, seen really as the masterminds of the 7th of october attacks. of october attacks. all three of those men are now all three of those men are now believed to be killed. believed to be killed. but the evidence when it but the evidence when it comes to mohammed deif, comes to mohammed deif, the man who is the military the man who is the military head of hamas, is less head of hamas, is less clear, perhaps, than in clear, perhaps, than in the other two cases. the other two cases. and that's why the icc and that's why the icc is also still seeking his is also still seeking his arrest warrant in his case. arrest warrant in his case. and, you know, i think in terms and, you know, i think in terms of what this means for israel, of what this means for israel, certainly i think it certainly i think it still comes as quite a shock still comes as quite a shock to people. to people. internationally, internationally, it may well be seen as a big it may well be seen as a big criticism of israel's criticism of israel's conduct of the war in gaza, conduct of the war in gaza, but i think the israeli prime but i think the israeli prime minister, you can see the way minister, you can see the way

that he's portraying it. that he's portraying it. very much an attack on israel. very much an attack on israel. and he also sees it as a personal attack, too. i think it's something that will get him a lot of actual public sympathy. among israelis. it will also have big practical implications, though, for him, because there are so many countries that are signatories of the rome statute that led to the setup of the icc,

it comes after ukraine's first use this week of us and british—supplied long—range missiles against targets inside russia. moscow had promised to respond. here's president zelensky speaking earlier. translation: today there translation: today there was a new russian missile. j was a new russian missile. j all the characteristics, all the characteristics, including speed, including speed, altitude, correspond to an intercontinental altitude, correspond to an intercontinental ballistic missile. ballistic missile. expert examinations expert examinations are under way. it is obvious that are under way. it is obvious that putin is using ukraine putin is using ukraine as a testing ground. as a testing ground. let's speak to ukrainian mp — let's speak to ukrainian mp — oleksiy goncharenko oleksiy goncharenko who joins us from kyiv. who joins us from kyiv. what it means, it was i confusing and conflicting confusing and conflicting reports about exactly what sort reports about exactly what sort of missile this was amongst a of missile this was amongst a number of missiles fired number of missiles fired towards dnipro but the towards dnipro but the fundamental question in the fundamental question in the absence of any definitive absence of any definitive confirmation is what does it confirmation is what does it mean for what is happening on mean for what is happening on the front line? it the front line? it mean for what is happening on mean for what is happening on the front line?— the front line? it is clear what it _ the front line?— the front line? it is clear what it _

the front line? it is clear what it means, - the front line? it is clear what it means, it - the front line? it is clear what it means, - the front line? it is clear what it means, it - the front line? it is clear the front line? it is clear what it means, it was i the front line? it is clear- what it means, it was imitation of a nuclear strike it vladimir putin tries to use this as nuclear blackmail, and he said many times if ukraine receives tanks, then it is a military target inside russia, and finally they decided to show something big and they have made an imitation of a nuclear strike. we don't know for the moment for sure but it was from vladimir putin, and what does it change on the battlefield? nothing. there was an attack again on dnipro, an area mostly civilian, so no military impact on the strike and it is more

about psychology. the on the strike and it is more about psychology.- about psychology. the uk defence secretary - about psychology. the uk defence secretary john i about psychology. the uk i defence secretary john healey defence secretary john healey today defence secretaryjohn healey today said the front line is now less stable than at any point since the beginning of the invasion of ukraine by

ukraine and take ukrainian people because he needs our children to take the next countries, poland, romania, and in the baltic countries he will also meet british soldiers and that will also mean nato. if the world wants to prevent such a scenario, maximum support should be sent now. the time has arrived.— should be sent now. the time has arrived. between now and the arrival _ has arrived. between now and the arrival of _ has arrived. between now and the arrival of donald - has arrived. between now and the arrival of donald trump i has arrived. between now and the arrival of donald trump in | the arrival of donald trump in the arrival of donald trump in the white house, do you think the white house, do you think the plan will be for ukraine to use as many of these longer range missiles as possible to make inroads in terms of the front line? in the latest news we are seeing that ukraine is going to allow deserters to return to service as it tries to bolster the numbers in its military. to bolster the numbers in its milita . ~ ., to bolster the numbers in its milita . ~ . ., military. we are at the point where it soon _

military. we are at the point where it soon some - military. we are at the point i where it soon some negotiations will start, and i am ready to speak with vladimir putin, and he said he is ready to speak with donald trump, so now is the moment when we are preparing for the position in the negotiation, and it is very important to show to vladimir putin now that he cannot get what he wants, and by destroying military positions inside russia, that is the best way to do that, but we need not just permission but a lot of missiles, and another weight that we can be helped significantly, is a decision to send western troops to ukraine, not to fight with russians directly but to secure the ukrainian belarusian border and to train ukrainian forces and to train ukrainian forces and to help with air defence, and things like this, that is the main thing now, to show vladimir putin that he will never take ukraine and he will

never take ukraine and he will never achieve his goal so go to negotiations and be reasonable. we are out of time, unfortunately, but thanks for joining us. do stay with us. around the world and across the uk.

here in the uk — the prime minister is leading tributes to the former deputy prime minister and labour party veteran john prescott, who has died at the age of 86. sir keir starmer says he's deeply saddened to learn of his death — adding he was a true giant of the labour movement. lord prescott played a major role in securing the landmark 1997 kyoto agreement on climate change, as well as playing a crucial role in the labour governments led by tony blair. here's our political

co—respondent, harry farley. a boxer in his youth, john prescott�*s infamous punch in the 2001 election campaign cemented his image as a political bruiser. he laterjoked he was connecting with the electorate. then prime minister tony blair responded saying "john is john." prime minister. this morning, sir keir starmer paid tribute. as one of the key architects of a labour government, john achieved that rare thing. he changed people's lives and he set the path for us all to follow, and i will always be grateful to him for that. and mr speaker, he did it all in his own way, with humour, with pride, passion and total conviction. he truly was a one off. # things can only get better...# a towering pillar of new labour, john prescott spent ten years as deputy prime minister under blair. he oversaw a sprawling department covering

the environment, transport and the regions. it was a long way from his birthplace in prestatyn, north wales. he failed the 11 plus which haunted him through his life. at 15 he left school to become a ship's steward. he wasn't new labour's slickest politician. those five prejudices are essential. you can see i can't find them. with his union background and working class roots, he was a glue holding blair's movement together. i can't use the boards. i'm old labour and i've got to still look my old ways. he was highly, highly intelligent. that was sometimes masked by, you know, people used to make, make fun of his speeches and his use of the english language, but he was incredibly direct communicator. and even if the syntax never quite made sense, the sentiment was very powerful and made complete sense.

and i found him, you know, we had our disagreements from time to time, but he was loyal, committed an enormous help to me, and he had a fantastic gut instinct about politics. as well as a bridge between new and old labour, he was also a councillor, holding together the increasingly loveless partnership between blair and gordon brown. something like a0 per hectare. he remained one of labour's best communicators, despite the occasional gaffe. or people who were living in a single house. can you do that again? i made that crap. well, sorry, we're live at the moment. he often didn't see eye to eye with others in labour's hierarchy, such as peter mandelson. you know what his name is called? peter. this year, after many years of not having been in contact, he comes onto my phone one sunday morning on facetime and says, is that you? is that you, peter? and i said, yes, john, it is _ where are you? how are you? he said, i want to tell

you, i forgive you. and i said, well, what are you forgiving me for, john? he said, well, he said you were treated not well. you were the meat in the sandwich. you always got a good kicking. and ijust want to want you to know we forgive. i forgive you. i said you mean forgive me i said you mean forgive me or sympathise with me? or sympathise with me? he said yes, that he said yes, that as well, he said. as well, he said. and we talked for another and we talked for another ten minutes or so ten minutes or so and then he was off. and then he was off. and that was just this year. and that was just this year. it was lovely. it was lovely. by the end of his decade by the end of his decade as blair's deputy, prescott�*s as blair's deputy, prescott�*s influence was diminished influence was diminished after revelations about after revelations about an affair with his secretary. an affair with his secretary. this party has given me everything, and i've tried to give it everything i've got. to give it everything i've got. i know in the last year i let i know in the last year i let myself down, i let you down. myself down, i let you down. so conference, ijust so conference, ijust want to say sorry. behind john prescott�*s fun loving image was a political heavyweight, a labour man to the end with a unique ability to connect. want to say sorry.

john prescott who has died at the age of 86. let speak to a man who had a front row seat during that era, alastair campbell, the former downing

said, you prescott, as tony said, you always knew where you were with him and where he stood. there are not many likejohn prescott. when people die, it often is said, they will be nobody like him, he was unique, but he really was a one off, and he was very important to the labour party and the labour government, and one other the things tony did in the early years, he could not have done them withoutjohn prescott, them without john prescott, like them withoutjohn prescott, like changing the labour party constitution, some of the changes he wanted to make regarding economic policies that may be the trade unions were not happy about butjohn could help win them round. i thought it was very nice report but where i would disagree, is the idea that his influence diminished towards the end, but in some ways it increased towards the end because he became this very important, not negotiator, but somebody who was trying to keep the tony

blair and gordon brown thing on the road. i look back on those times is very successful for the labour party, and for the country, and john prescott was a massive part of that.- a massive part of that. angela raine is now _ a massive part of that. angela raine is now deputy _ a massive part of that. angela raine is now deputy prime i raine is now deputy prime minister and she cites him as a huge influence in her political career —— angela rayner. fascination about the relationship between tony blair and gordon brown over the years, of course, and i wonder to what extent is you looked on at that relationship, to what extent was his mediating role, was john prescott extent was his mediating role, wasjohn prescott responsible for keeping the new labour project on track? he for keeping the new labour project on track?— for keeping the new labour project on track? he was always somebody. _ project on track? he was always somebody. you _ project on track? he was always somebody, you knew— project on track? he was always somebody, you knew what i project on track? he was always somebody, you knew what he i somebody, you knew what he thought, there were times when he was a bit angry with tony about and times when he was angry with gordon but he had massive respect for both of them. he was the deputy prime minister and the number two in

the organisation but he always understood that gordon was a very special political talent and a massive part of the success of the government, so he instinctively understood that the more those two could be kept working together, the better that would be for the government. and his frankness and his brutal home truths were the way that he would do that but at the same time, he could be very funny, he had amazing political instincts, and sometimes because of the accent and the constant emphasis of his working—class background and all the rest of it, and because of the punch, people sometimes underestimate just how acutely intelligent he was and especially when it came to political instinct. he and especially when it came to political instinct.— political instinct. he was talkinu political instinct. he was talking about _ political instinct. he was talking about evolution i political instinct. he was i talking about evolution and climate change before a lot of people had those on their radar. you brought up the

punch, and it is one of the things people remember most about him, and after that happened, he rang you? he did. ialwa s happened, he rang you? he did. i always had _ happened, he rang you? he did. i always had a — happened, he rang you? he did. i always had a very _ happened, he rang you? he did. i always had a very good - i always had a very good relationship withjohn, and relationship with john, and quite relationship withjohn, and quite a lot of the time when tony and john were not getting on well, i was the one mediating, and i always felt we had a very frank relationship, so before i knew about the punch my phone went and he never said hello or anything, he just never said hello or anything, hejust came on, and he said, these words, i'vejust hejust came on, and he said, these words, i've just thumped a bloke, and that was the first knowledge i had of this. i had to check out through him and the people he was with and then through people who were able to see this on television in the office in london, because we were in watford at the time, what it was like.— what it was like. not many --eole what it was like. not many peeple would _ what it was like. not many people would have - what it was like. not many people would have got i what it was like. not many | people would have got away what it was like. not many i people would have got away with

that but he did. alastair campbell, thanks forjoining campbell, thanks for joining us. campbell, thanks forjoining us. thanks for your recollections ofjohn prescott recollections of john prescott who recollections ofjohn prescott who has died at the age of 86. you are watching bbc news. hello there. the next named storm of the season is going to bring a significant change in the weather for this weekend. but before we get there, we've still got this cold air in place. these are the temperatures this afternoon for most of england and wales. it's a little bit colder than it was yesterday. and through this evening, overnight and into friday, there's going to be some more snow showers around, some icy conditions as well, most of the snow falling inland 1542 00:26:45,391 --> 00:26