hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. this is the international criminal court. this is a court that deals with individual criminal responsibility when countries are unable or unwilling to pursue justice. absolutely furious on the israeli _ absolutely furious on the israeli side, welcomed by palestinians across all spectrums. we are in uncharted _ across all spectrums. we are in uncharted territories _ across all spectrums. we are in uncharted territories because i uncharted territories because israel and benjamin netanyahu are not like anyone else. translation: m0 are not like anyone else. translation: ., ., ., ., , translation: no outrageous anti-israel— translation: no outrageous anti-israel decision _ translation: no outrageous anti-israel decision will - anti—israel decision will prevent— anti—israel decision will prevent us and it will not prevent _ prevent us and it will not prevent me from continuing to defend — prevent me from continuing to defend our country in every way — defend our country in every way we _ defend our country in every way. we will not yield to pressure.

also tonight... vladimir putin says russia has a new ballistic weapon that travel is three kilometres a second. he says no one has the ability to stop it. ina in a statement tonight, the russian leader says he reserves the right to use it on the militaries of nato countries supporting ukraine. it's a further escalation. we will get reaction tonight from the french ambassador, soon to take up his post in moscow. also on the programme, the icc issues new arrest warrants for the israeli prime minister, his former defence minister and a hamas commander. we will get reaction from a former icc prosecutor. and in washington... and matt gaetz withdraws as trump's next attorney general, as new damaging allegations emerge. let's start with the international criminal court, which today issued arrest warrants for israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu and has for his

former defence minister yorath galante. —— yorath galante. the court has also issued a warrant for the hamas commander mohammed deif, although israel's military has said he was killed in an air strike in the summer. the judges on the pre—trial panel said they have reasonable grounds to suspect that these three men bear criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. they also allege that the two senior israeli politicians have used starvation as a tool of war. in its he court said it did not need israel to accept its jurisdiction. in israel there has been condemnation for the decision across the political spectrum and the last hour the prime minister gave his response. translation:— minister gave his response. translation: this is a black da in translation: this is a black day in the _ translation: this is a black day in the israeli _ translation: this is a black day in the israeli nations. - translation: this is a blackj day in the israeli nations. the court of the hague, which was established to protect humanity, has now become the enemy of humanity. this court

has decided to issue arrest warrants against me and the former defence minister, yoav gallant, on the allegation that we have allegedly committed crimes against humanity, the truth of which is completely the opposite. this is moral bankruptcy. it violates democracies, the right of democracies, the right of democracies to defend themselves against murderous terrorism. our correspondent anna holligan is live for us in the hague. clearly, no access to gaza for the prosecutor, so on what basis has he brought these charges? and what evidence has he put to the pre—trial panel? well, the actual evidentiary bar is lower in order to issue the arrest warrants than it would be during trial, so you mentioned a phrase fair, reasonable grounds, and we have that throughout the arrest warrant because at this stage the judges warrant because at this stage thejudges in warrant because at this stage the judges in the warrant because at this stage thejudges in the pre—trial chamber here at the iccjust

have to be convinced there are reasonable grounds, based on the evidence submitted by the prosecutor, to believe that these men are responsible for these men are responsible for the war crimes and crimes against humanity listed. ijust against humanity listed. i just want against humanity listed. ijust want to break those down for you because according to the arrest warrant, as you said, starvation as a weapon of warfare and of deliberately directing military attacks against civilians. so on the issue of starvation, because the icc covers war crimes against humanity and genocide in international contexts, they have formatted this in relation to each of those jurisdictions, so for example, the pre—trial judges found reasonable grounds to believe that benjamin netanyahu, yoav gallant neta nyahu, yoav gallant deliberately netanyahu, yoav gallant deliberately deprived the civilians in gaza of objects indispensable to their survival. there are reasonable grounds, they say, to believe they blocked humanitarian aid and therefore, without any

reasonable grounds, they said, any military needs or justification. and they said there are reasonable grounds to believe that murder was committed as a crime against humanity because all of these actions, they said, were reasonable grounds to believe that they were designed to create the conditions of life had collated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in gaza, which meant that people, including children, died of malnutrition and dehydration. also on the targeting of the civilian population, they said that benjamin netanyahu and yoav gallant had the ability to stop or reduce the attacks on the civilian population. another thing, christian, we heard from the icc prosecutor, corey ghilli karim khan earlier, we had a written statement, he didn't come out and speak to the press. he

said, today our collective mind and focus should be on the victims of international crimes. i appeal to all states parties to live up to the commitment of their own statute, that is the committee that underpins the icc. what he means by that is that the icc�*s 124 member states are now expected to enforce these arrest warrants because this court doesn't have a police force. it depends on member states and what it actually means in practice is that now the ability of benjamin netanyahu and yoav gallant to travel freely, as they have donein travel freely, as they have done in the past, is potentially restricted because countries like the uk that have signed up to the icc are expected to enforce these arrest warrants. and we have just had some reaction from human rights groups as well. they say these warrants break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of law.— certain individuals are beyond the reach of law. anna holligan

natalie haigh, _ the reach of law. anna holligan natalie haigh, thank _ the reach of law. anna holligan natalie haigh, thank you - the reach of law. anna holligan natalie haigh, thank you very l natalie haigh, thank you very much for that. with us tonight from new york, luis moreno ocampo, who served as the first prosecutor of the icc and for almost ten years. you're very welcome to the programme, sir, thank you for being with us. what is your response to the issuing of these warrants? legally, they are very well—founded. you asked for the evidence, what the evidence can be, and the prosecutor selected be, and the prosecutor selected be very particular case, the very limited case ofjust very limited case of just starvation. very limited case ofjust starvation. and starvation is public. mr yoav gallant ordered the starvation from the beginning publicly and they commented on that. president biden was for one year begging prime minister netanyahu to allow food and water to go through even us created port, so on the factual evidence it is brutal and starvation. and the court in the prosecutor selected not to go to more

congregate crimes that could be genocidal crimes or even the bombing, butjust focus on this aspect of the conflict. and thatis aspect of the conflict. and that is why the decision. so now legally, also the prosecutor requests six lawyers, including some israeli former legal advisers, and a judge from the uk and inside the un court, so very prominent lawyers, all of them agree, so factually and legally it is clear. the problem now is politically, it is a states problem. so, how the states will use this to prevent the bombing. president biden is begging for a ceasefire for one year. 0k, it is time to do it. so it is an opportunity to change the course. fin so it is an opportunity to change the course. on that oint, change the course. on that point. and _ change the course. on that point, and in _ change the course. on that point, and in the _ change the course. on that point, and in the eyes - change the course. on that point, and in the eyes of i change the course. on that. point, and in the eyes of the court, the conduct you have described is at the centre of the arrest warrant persists and that surely implies that any country lending material or

diplomatic support to israel also risks supporting war crimes. so will those states that supply weapons to israel now need to take that into account?— now need to take that into account? ~ , ., , ., account? well, germany, for instance. _ account? well, germany, for instance, was... _ account? well, germany, for instance, was... presented l account? well, germany, for instance, was... presented a case against germany in the... old court and germany is... to provide weapons. the us is the biggest provider, that is why now the big debate is how the us will react because from the beginning president biden was urging, yes, you have the right to defend, israel, no one doubts that, but the problem is your right to defend should be within the law and that was how he was urging him to be restrained. and now the icc is saying it is illegal. so the challenge for biden is, are you going to stay firm in the law, even when yourfriend, even when your friend, netanyahu, is even when yourfriend, netanyahu, is indicted? even when your friend, netanyahu, is indicted? there is a challenge. is it lawful or

not? that is a much bigger challenge to... not? that is a much bigger challenge to. . ._ challenge to... the us. mr trump is — challenge to... the us. mr trump is closer— challenge to... the us. mr trump is closer to - challenge to... the us. mr i trump is closer to netanyahu than biden.— trump is closer to netanyahu than biden. well,... the court is to issue _ than biden. well,... the court is to issue a — than biden. well,... the court is to issue a warrant _ than biden. well,... the court is to issue a warrant for... - than biden. well,... the court is to issue a warrant for... , i is to issue a warrant for... , but could also issue a warrant for the leader in venezuela. the us could do something to help netanyahu to escape, because to help netanyahu to escape is legally very iffy because you don't need... support, you need political problems... if israel conducts national proceedings, starting today, that will stop the icc case because the icc has jurisdiction when the national country is not doing, the nationaljurisdiction is not doing theirjob. as soon as

israel conducts investigations for the same crimes, they actually, the icc will stop the case. that is why it is ridiculous... case. that is why it is ridiculous. . .- case. that is why it is ridiculous... just on that oint, ridiculous... just on that point, because - ridiculous. .. just on that point, because i- ridiculous... just on that point, because i have i ridiculous... just on that. point, because i have heard ridiculous... just on that - point, because i have heard the israeli ministers give their response today and won the points they make is that the icc doesn't have jurisdiction here. the icc disagrees. can you explain that to us? well, in my time. _ you explain that to us? well, in my time. i— you explain that to us? well, in my time, i reject - you explain that to us? well, in my time, i reject palestine because it was not a state, it was not considered a state by the un. but after i left and i rejected the case, the un general assembly, rejected the case, the un generalassembly, by general assembly, by overwhelming majority, generalassembly, by overwhelming majority, provided palestine with the recognition, you are estate. and last year they both gave their membership of the un and the un veto, so to date is different. palestine is a state and as such it was affected by the state parties of the icc and it is a state

and as a state it can... any crime committed in palestine could be a crime in the icc. if israel cannot... to invade palestine or lebanon on and no one can tell them, you do this, you have to understand, if you cross borders, well, the international committee court can intervene.— can intervene. thank you very much for _ can intervene. thank you very much for coming _ can intervene. thank you very much for coming on _ can intervene. thank you very much for coming on the - much for coming on the programme, luis moreno ocampo, good to speak to you. we will take a break. around the world and watching in the uk, you're watching bbc news.

the man that donald trump chose to come his the man donald trump chose to become his next us attorney general, matt gaetz, has withdrawn his name from consideration tonight, one day after meeting senior senators on capitol hill. gaetz was facing new allegations about a second,

sexual encounter, with a girl he had met at a party, who had been 17 at the time. in his statement on x gaetz said he had "excellent meetings with senators but it is clear, he said, that my confirmation "was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical "work of the trump/vance transition. "there is no time to waste" he added, "on a needlessly "protracted washington scuffle." gaetz has resigned from the house on nov. resigned from the house on november 13th, hours after trump nominated him. it meant he avoided any censure by the house ethics committee. republicans voted yesterday not to release the results of their investigation into gaetz, even though it was largely finished. north america correspondent gary o'donoghue joins me now. he said he had no regrets, so what changed?— he said he had no regrets, so what changed? two things, of the various — what changed? two things, of the various meetings - what changed? two things, of the various meetings he - what changed? two things, of the various meetings he had l what changed? two things, of. the various meetings he had on capitol hill yesterday with republican senators, particularly those on the judiciary committee, the committee in the senate which would have done the initial

questioning of matt gaetz before the floor though to and there was a lot of concern amongst those republican senators about his record, about the allegations that were swirling around him and about his qualifications. the other thing i think to bear in mind is that matt gaetz didn't have a lot of friends on capitol hill, doesn't have a lot of friends there, inside his own party he was one of the bomb throwers that brought down kevin mccarthy, b house speaker. so i think when it came to it he didn't have that sort of reservoir of goodwill to draw on and the masses were against him. there is also the question of the second allegation you mentioned. we don't have any details on that, other than it appears to be the same 17—year—old girl who we know about in that initial allegation, all of which he denies, of course, none of which he has been charged with. so i think all that coming together over the past week, and it has only been a week

since the nomination, has meant that this one has full and at the first fence. he that this one has full and at the first fence.— that this one has full and at the first fence. he has been suckin: the first fence. he has been sucking up _ the first fence. he has been sucking up all— the first fence. he has been sucking up all the _ the first fence. he has been sucking up all the oxygen i the first fence. he has been sucking up all the oxygen in washington this past week, but he is not the only one facing iraqi confirmation process? find iraqi confirmation process? and that is going — iraqi confirmation process? and that is going to _ iraqi confirmation process? fific that is going to be the iraqi confirmation process? fific that is going to be the really interesting thing over the coming days. does this sort of open the way for some of his other very controversial nominees to get nominated? because senators think they now owe donald trump one. people like tulsi gabbard, who has been nominated as the director of national intelligence, you know, criticised for her connections with russia, for meeting president assad, all these types of things. does it make it easier for people like her or does it mean that senators say, ok, we can flex a little bit here and they give in pretty quickly? that is the thing we're going to watch for very closely because matt gaetz was the most controversial pic of a number of controversial pics, not least tulsi gabbard,

who mentioned, and also peach, the pick for defence secretary, also having to deal with some allegations around sexual impropriety, again denied by him and not being charged with anything. him and not being charged with an hina. , him and not being charged with an him, , �* ., him and not being charged with an hini_ , �* ., anything. gary o'donoghue in washington. _ anything. gary o'donoghue in washington, thank _ anything. gary o'donoghue in washington, thank you. - the russian president vladimir putin said an attack in central ukraine this morning was carried out with a "new conventional intermediate range" missile. it is codenamed oreshnik. there were significant explosions overnight at an industrial plant in dnipro. eyewitnesses said there was a distinctly abnormal sound, compared to the usual bombardment. and it appeared to involve multiple projectiles. military experts had suggested it could be a new experimental type of weapon. confirmed tonight by vladimir putin. the missile, he said, travels at a speed of mach 10 — that s nearly 3 km per second. the russian president said his forces reserve the right to hit states whose long—range weapons ukraine is using inside russia.

that might explain why western embassies were closed yesterday in kyiv. there was intelligence that russia was about to test these new fast missiles, capable of bypassing ukrainian air defenses. clearly, the kremlin wanted to send a message. and, they wanted putin to deliver it. in fact, bizarrely, the spokeswoman for the russian foreign ministry took a call this morning, in the middle of her briefing, in which she was instructed not to answer any questions about "ballistic missiles". speaking russian. hello. speaking russian. earlier in the day, sir keir starmer told the house of commons that in spite of this intimidation, the uk

would continue to support ukraine's right to self defense. uk's support for ukraine is always full self defence. it is proportionate, coordinated and agile and a response to russia plus my own actions. and it is in accordance with international law. under article 51 of the un charter, ukraine has a clear right of self—defence against russia's illegal attacks. joining us live from new york tonight is nicolas de riviere. france s ambassador to the un, but very soon will be leaving that post to become france's ambassador to moscow. you are very welcome to the programme. you are very welcome to the programme-— you are very welcome to the roramme. . ~ i. ., ., programme. thank you for having me. can i programme. thank you for having me- can i get _ programme. thank you for having me. can i get your _ programme. thank you for having me. can i get your initial- me. can i get your initial reaction _ me. can i get your initial reaction to _ me. can i get your initial reaction to the _ me. can i get your initial| reaction to the statement me. can i get your initial- reaction to the statement we have had from vladimir putin tonight? he said this is a regional conflict that has now acquired elements of a global

nature. how far do you think he is prepared to go? i nature. how far do you think he is prepared to go?— is prepared to go? i don't know. is prepared to go? i don't know- i — is prepared to go? i don't know. i think— is prepared to go? i don't know. i think it _ is prepared to go? i don't know. i think it is - is prepared to go? i don't i know. i think it is important to get back to the basics. in february 2022 russia took actions against ukraine. there is in this issue and aggressor and a victim. ukraine is defending itself from the very beginning. as far as i know, ukrainian army never took actions against russia. they didn't start and engineer this war. so ukraine is defending itself, according to article 51 of the charter. and when countries like mine, the uk and the us help ukraine, it is legal because it is based on article 51 of the charter. what is illegal are the russian aggressions against ukraine. it is illegal. as soon as march 2022, the international court

ofjustice clearly stated that the russians should leave ukraine and should respect the territory and integrity of ukraine. this has been the legal pronouncement as soon as march 2022 and it remains the case today. march 2022 and it remains the case today-— case today. russia, the president _ case today. russia, the president tonight - case today. russia, the president tonight said i case today. russia, the i president tonight said that case today. russia, the - president tonight said that it has the right to use its weapons against the military installations of those countries that use their weapons against russian facilities. that sounds to me like he is putting nato forces on notice. are ourforces moving to a war footing? on notice. are our forces moving to a war footing? well, i would moving to a war footing? well, i would not _ moving to a war footing? well, i would not comment _ moving to a war footing? well, i would not comment on - moving to a war footing? well, i would not comment on that. l moving to a war footing? well, i would not comment on that. i think we are in the situation where he western countries, nato countries are not directly engaged against russia. absolutely not. we are just helping ukraine to defend itself. this is what we have been doing from the very beginning. this is still what

we are doing, according to article 51 of the charter. ihmd article 51 of the charter. and has france _ article 51 of the charter. and has france green—lighted the use of the scalp missile? we are not there _ use of the scalp missile? - are not there yet and i would not comment on that. i think it is an option, but i would not comment on that at this stage. uk and france have said this past week that ukraine will get the support they need for as long as they need it. does that mean that france does not support a negotiation that would be forced on ukraine? yes, i think we are here to help ukraine defend its sovereignty, its territorial integrity and its independence. this is what the un charter is about, by the way. so this is what the un charter is about, by the way.— this is what the un charter is about, by the way. so would you su ort about, by the way. so would you support them — about, by the way. so would you support them indefinitely, - about, by the way. so would you support them indefinitely, if - support them indefinitely, if they decided not to sit down with russia? it they decided not to sit down with russia?— they decided not to sit down with russia? it is for ukraine to decide _ with russia? it is for ukraine to decide to _ with russia? it is for ukraine to decide to negotiate, - with russia? it is for ukraine to decide to negotiate, when they want to negotiate. we will not let them down, it is very clear. so it is up to them to decide. we will not force them

to negotiate and to give up their territories.— to negotiate and to give up their territories. and in which case, i presume _ their territories. and in which case, i presume it _ their territories. and in which case, i presume it is - their territories. and in which case, i presume it is clear- case, i presume it is clear that vladimir putin will want to negotiate. you may not. and that really poses a seismic question for france, for the uk and for the eu at large. are we prepared to finance this war without us support? and if we are, how are we going to do that? i are, how are we going to do that? 4' , ., that? i think the question will be asked next _ that? i think the question will be asked next year. - that? i think the question will be asked next year. of - that? i think the question will. be asked next year. of course, there will be changes in the us. it is obvious. but as far as we are concerned, it is a strategic issue for europe as well, ukraine is on european territory. as you know, there are talks between ukraine and the european union to move on the european union to move on the ukrainian membership in some years. ukraine wants to join nato. it is an open question. ukraine is a european country, it is not on the

american continent. and we have our own strategic interests on this issue and... our own strategic interests on this issue and. . ._ this issue and... forgive me for interrupting, _ this issue and... forgive me for interrupting, time - this issue and... forgive me for interrupting, time is - for interrupting, time is tight, ambassador, but the criticism is that we talk about supporting ukraine, but we are not on a war footing, europe is not on a war footing, europe is not on a war footing and very quickly one in our key alliances in respect of ukraine might disappear. we alliances in respect of ukraine might disappear.— might disappear. we will see. we are not — might disappear. we will see. we are not there _ might disappear. we will see. we are not there yet. - might disappear. we will see. we are not there yet. the - might disappear. we will see. | we are not there yet. the next administration will start in two months from now, so we will see what they decide to do. there were commitments, statements during the campaign in the us. we will see what they decide to do. i would be surprised that the us would let ukraine down. i don't think this is something popular in the us congress. what we need to do... yes, what we need to... , ., ., to do... yes, what we need to- - -_ what - to do... yes, what we need to..._ what we | to do... yes, what we need - to. . ._ what we need to... yes, go on? what we need to... yes, go on? what we need to do, to... yes, go on? what we need to do. as — to... yes, go on? what we need to do, as europeans, _ to... yes, go on? what we need to do, as europeans, is- to... yes, go on? what we need to do, as europeans, is to - to do, as europeans, is to continue to do as much as we can to support ukraine

militarily, humanitarian, from the humanitarian vantage point and continue to be at their site. i think you are right. it is difficult. it is never enough. we cannot do everything. there has been the choice to have nato and europe not directly confronting russia. that is still the case. but we need ukraine to be able to exercise its legitimate defence right. i think that is necessary. and it will continue to be the case. it will be for ukraine and for the ukrainian leadership to decide at one stage, sooner or later, if they want to sit at a table and negotiate. want to sit at a table and negotiate-— want to sit at a table and negotiate. want to sit at a table and neotiate. �* , ., ., negotiate. ambassador, i am very grateful _ negotiate. ambassador, i am very grateful for _ negotiate. ambassador, i am very grateful for your - negotiate. ambassador, i am very grateful for your time i very grateful for your time this evening. best of luck in your new posting in moscow. but is ambassador nicolas de riviere there in new york. the other side of the short break,

it is... will be right back. hello there. some huge changes over the weekend, the snow is going to turn icy overnight and for many parts of the country it could be quite icy as we had into the morning, especially where we see wintry showers forming and more snow showers in northern and western parts of scotland, wintry showers were northern ireland, heading into north—west england and may be a dusting of snow heading towards the midlands and east anglia. icy conditions, widespread frost and it may not be as cold as last night, except in scotland, where temperatures could be as low as —10 again. could be quite windy round north sea coasts, some showers moving away, many eastern areas dry, but towards the west car scattered showers keep going.

the snow mainly over the hills, snow levels are rising because we get a westerly breeze and that will bring in less cold air, so temperatures could get up air, so temperatures could get up to 6 or 7 degrees. more significant changes come over the weekend. that is mainly due to the deepening area of low pressure. storm burch, the second named storm of the season, which is bringing wet weather into the cold air, so weather into the cold air, so we could see snowy conditions across this part of scotland in particular. icy as well and thatis particular. icy as well and that is why we have this amber warning from the met office. quite treacherous for a while. as of yesterday morning, quite slow, but probably turning... icy conditions, hence this met office amber warning. could well find some snow for a while in northern england, particularly over the hills and through the vale of york. but as that wet weather pushes northwards and eastwards, the snow will lift onto the mountains as it turns

milder and we get some heavy rain, particularly wet weather in wales and the south west. on top of that, it's going to be very windy, with the strongest winds 60 miles an hour or more through the irish sea and into the northwest of the uk. but temperatures are going to be rising gradually through the day as we draw in milder air on those strengthening south to south—westerly winds. there's our storm, storm bert, still around through the second half of the weekend, sitting close to the north west of the uk. that weatherfront is going to bring some rain, which will become confined more to the south east of the uk, but across the north west, close to the storm, here we've got those winds gusting 60 or 70 miles an hour and lots of heavy, perhaps even thundery showers as well. mildest weather in the south east. otherwise, temperatures are going to be a little bit lower.

welcome to ai decoded. we are going to take you on the road this week. a few weeks ago, stephanie hare said to me after one of our programmes that we focus a lot of our attention on development here in the uk and in the us, but what about artificial intelligence in germany, the powerhouse of european manufacturing? what are they doing on al? so, she has been to find out. what did you discover? so many things that i cannot wait to show our audience. without people in government, talked to doctors, scientists, researchers, artists. we have a beautiful show ahead it's really going to take you behind the scenes of what is going on in germany with al.— in germany with al. let's take a look.