live from washington, this is bbc news. severe�*s this is bbc news. new leader pledges armed groups severe�*s new leader pledges armed groups will be absorbed into the army is some express fears for the future. —— as some expressed fears. a nine—year—old child who died in the christmas german market attack has been named as andre gleissner. donald trump says he may demand the return of the panama canal to the united states in his first rally since being re—elected as president. hello. good to have you with us. so they are�*s to factor leader says that all weapons in the country to come under state control and that armed factions will soon begin to be

incorporated into the army. hts was the key group that overthrew bashar al—assad. once associated with al-anda, it is causing concern for some minorities. our correspondent has visited towns in the south of syria, and in the capital damascus, and sent this report. the dictator has fallen and fled. but what of the community he belonged to? bashar al—assad is from the islamic alawite sect. it's one of syria's biggest minorities, but it's controlled power over a majority sunni muslim country for 50 years. in a working class alawite neighbourhood of damascus, a few agree to speak to us. dozens of others refused. i asked if they feared revenge. hayat tahrir al—sham has been respectful to us, but there are groups pretending to be hts who are making threats.

we are scared of them. they are careful when they speak. many want to distance themselves from the regime. many from the alawite sect and indeed this neighbourhood worked in assad's forces. where are they, i asked? translation: everyone - who worked with the military and did bad things has fled. but people who do not have blood on their hands, they are not scared. the rebels now in control have said they are not looking for revenge. hayat tahrir al—sham has a jihadist past and an islamist present. does syria's plural society believe their promises? this is the christian quarter of damascus. now, we have seen christmas decorations up in some parts of the city, but people

who live here tell us the decorations here are more muted than they have been before. christians have told us that they do feel reassured by hts's promises, but that there is still uncertainty, and there are still worries about the form of government that this country will have in the future. we met yusuf sabag, a lawyer from the christian community. i'm so happy because the assad fall. - this is like a dream come true. but there is concern. i have to be realistic. here a lot of sodiums, muslims and all other_ here a lot of sodiums, muslims and all other minorities, _ here a lot of sodiums, muslims and all other minorities, do _ here a lot of sodiums, muslims and all other minorities, do not - here a lot of sodiums, muslims and all other minorities, do not wish - all other minorities, do not wish for cilia — all other minorities, do not wish for cilia to— all other minorities, do not wish for cilia to be _ all other minorities, do not wish for cilia to be the _ all other minorities, do not wish for cilia to be the new _ all other minorities, do not wish i for cilia to be the new afghanistan. we do _ for cilia to be the new afghanistan. we do not — for cilia to be the new afghanistan. we do not want _ for cilia to be the new afghanistan. we do not want to _ for cilia to be the new afghanistan. we do not want to live _ for cilia to be the new afghanistan. we do not want to live under- we do not want to live under something _ we do not want to live under something like _ we do not want to live under something like the _ we do not want to live under something like the taliban. i we do not want to live under. something like the taliban. 30 we do not want to live under something like the taliban. 70 miles from damascus, _ something like the taliban. 70 miles from damascus, we _ something like the taliban. 70 miles from damascus, we drove _ something like the taliban. 70 miles from damascus, we drove to - something like the taliban. 70 miles| from damascus, we drove to another city dominated by a religious minority. at the city's central square, they have gathered to watch

the children perform, celebrating the children perform, celebrating the fall of the regime. translation: we are celebrating now, but in the event that there is an extreme regime with extreme laws, we are prepared to stay in the square and demand our rights. it is prepared to stay in the square and demand our rights.— prepared to stay in the square and demand our rights. it is a moment of ho -e for demand our rights. it is a moment of hepe for cilia. _ demand our rights. it is a moment of hope for cilia, but _ demand our rights. it is a moment of hope for cilia, but also _ demand our rights. it is a moment of hope for cilia, but also one _ demand our rights. it is a moment of hope for cilia, but also one of- hope for cilia, but also one of uncertainty. yogita limaye, bbc news, damascus. the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, says israel will continue to act against the houthis in yemen, whom he accuses of threatening world shipping and the international order. his statement comes a day after a missile fired from yemen fell in the tel aviv area, causing a number of injuries.

and in gaza, the civil defence agency says at least 28 people have been killed in a wave of attacks by the israeli military. targets that were hit include a school sheltering displaced families and a hospital. israel said hamas had been using the school as a command centre. this latest attack comes as mediators continue efforts to secure a ceasefire between israel and hamas. the times of israel has cited israeli officials' confirmation that hamas has provided signs of life for several hostages still held in gaza. for some analysis, we can go live now to aaron david miller. he's a senior fellow at the carnegie endowment for international peace, and formerly served in the us state department focusing on middle east policy. always good to have you with us. we know that those ceasefire talks have been continuing in both egypt and qatar. they had been reports of some progress. how do you rate the chances that we could be nearing some kind of concrete breakthrough, a moment that we haven't yet arrived at previously?— at previously? thanks for having me. my exoerience _ at previously? thanks for having me. my experience particularly _ at previously? thanks for having me. my experience particularly in - my experience particularly in israeli palestinian negotiations is that they only have two speeds, slower and slower. but i think the closer you get to an actual agreement, and remember we are talking about a limited exchange, at

least in phase one, the closer you get to an agreement, the tougher the negotiating postures of both sides become. i think there's a reasonable chance that, by the end of the year, the first week in january, you could have a limited agreement which would exchange 30, and an additional ten israeli mails that are now being demanded, and 200 plus palestinian prisoners, many of whom have been tried or accused of killing israelis, a 45 to 60 days ceasefire. after that, israelis, a 45 to 60 days ceasefire. afterthat, i israelis, a 45 to 60 days ceasefire. after that, i think it will be extremely difficult. if you don't have an agreement by the first week injanuary, then i am beginning to think that benjamin netanyahu might well want to delete this until the arrival of the new administration, either using donald trump as a pretext or a justification to make concessions, or paving the way to give him a diplomatic success. has

watched with hostages and palestinians be released for a two month ceasefire, however grim the situation will be, it will be a very important accompaniment. indeed, and i wanted to ask — important accompaniment. indeed, and i wanted to ask you _ important accompaniment. indeed, and i wanted to ask you more _ important accompaniment. indeed, and i wanted to ask you more about - important accompaniment. indeed, and i wanted to ask you more about that. i i wanted to ask you more about that. the times of israel has been reporting today that israeli officials have been reporting that hamas has provided some signs of life for hostages are still being held in gaza. i wonder how difficult it challenge you think that could still be when that comes to finding all of those hostages to be frank about it. . , ., , all of those hostages to be frank about it. . , . , . all of those hostages to be frank about it. . , ., ~ , about it. that is really a key oint. about it. that is really a key point- if _ about it. that is really a key point- if you _ about it. that is really a key point. if you asked - about it. that is really a key point. if you asked me - about it. that is really a key point. if you asked me to i point. if you asked me to identify the single greatest element, it is the single greatest element, it is the numbers of hostages exchanged for prisoners. hamas wanted a week to put together a list of where the hostages are. some are controlled by

palestinian islamichhad, there are reports of criminal elements, families harbouring others, so i think that is the key issue, proof of life is important, and i think that still must be on that side command on the other side, the prisoner release, the benjamin netanyahu government will have a very tough decision. and they are interested in making sure that some of the palestinian prisoners that they release are not returned to the west bank, so i think this is still the key element. i west bank, so i think this is still the key element.— west bank, so i think this is still the key element. i also want to ask ou if the key element. i also want to ask you if there's _ the key element. i also want to ask you if there's any _ the key element. i also want to ask you if there's any of _ the key element. i also want to ask you if there's any of progress - the key element. i also want to ask you if there's any of progress here, j you if there's any of progress here, and i know you are cautious with your lengthy career in this, and what we have seen over this, but do you attribute that to what the biden

administration has done, or do you see, for example, the prospect of donald trump soon coming in incentivising some kind of progress there from the side benjamin netanyahu? my there from the side ben'amin netanyahuvfi there from the side ben'amin netanyahu? there from the side ben'amin netan ahu? g , . , ., netanyahu? my experience is that arties netanyahu? my experience is that parties make _ netanyahu? my experience is that parties make a — netanyahu? my experience is that parties make a deal— netanyahu? my experience is that parties make a deal when - netanyahu? my experience is that parties make a deal when they - netanyahu? my experience is that j parties make a deal when they are netanyahu? my experience is that i parties make a deal when they are in a hurry. when the urgency of reaching an agreement outweighs the benefits of maintaining the status quo. in this case, i think hamas is under great pressure. iran is on their back heels, and the israeli military campaign, as your reporter suggests, is still intensifying in northern gaza. and then you have the issue of how hamas is going to explain the last 14 months. they have got almost nothing to show. so i think hamas wants a deal, needs a deal, i think benjamin netanyahu is more inclined to agree to a deal. that is what i think is driving this, and if donald trump is a

catalyst here, so much the better. the factors the only way to de—escalate this war, and frankly it is no longer in war. the israelis have essentially demolished hamas as an organised military force. now it is a question of depriving hamas, i think, of any kind of political victory, but it is critically important for the hostages and the families, because if you get a two month ceasefire, you can really get a surge in humanitarian assistance, something we have not seen, frankly, almost at any point of the course of the last year. we almost at any point of the course of the last year-— the last year. we must appreciate our the last year. we must appreciate your analysis. _ the last year. we must appreciate your analysis, thank _ the last year. we must appreciate your analysis, thank you - the last year. we must appreciate your analysis, thank you for - the last year. we must appreciate your analysis, thank you for being with us. . «a your analysis, thank you for being with us. . ., ., a nine—year—old boy who died in friday's attack on a christmas market in germany has been named.

he was andre gleissner, killed along with four adults in the city of magdeburg. the man suspected of carrying out the attack, taleb al—abdulmohsen, has been remanded in custody on charges including murder and attempted murder. he moved to germany from saudi arabia 18 years ago. police say he had posted islamophobic comments online. the german government says it will investigate whether more could have been done to prevent the tragedy. anna foster sent this report from magdeburg. this is andre. nine years old, looking forward to christmas, enjoying a night out at the festive market when he was killed. a fundraising account for his devastated family has raised thousands of euros. on social media, his mum said, "let my little teddy bear fly around the world once again." taleb al—abdulmohsen has been charged with andre's murder and that of four other people at the christmas market. german investigators are building up a picture of the saudi doctor, including in his own words. my name is taleb. i'm from saudi arabia. i'm an activist.

in 2019, he was interviewed by the bbc. he talked about how he used his free time to help people. i created a website to help people seeking asylum, especially from saudi arabia and the gulf region. now he's been charged with killing five people at magdeburg's christmas market, speeding a powerful car through the packed alleys between the stalls, causing terror and panic. the attack unfolded in the city's central square at around seven o'clock on friday evening. the car turned off a nearby road and onto a pedestrian crossing, entering the market through a gap in the concrete security perimeter that had been left open for emergency vehicles. it drove into the celebrating crowds, injuring more than 200 people, a0 of them seriously. minutes later, the car left the market on the east side and joined the main road. but the suspect couldn't get through the traffic, and this video shows armed officers arresting him, telling him not to move from the ground.

taleb al—abdulmohsen lives in this quiet town, bernburg, around 25 miles away from the site of the attack, and more detail is coming to light about his background and his views. he came to germany from saudi arabia nearly 20 years ago, and works at this clinic as a psychiatrist. ulrika's relative is being treated here. she was shocked when she heard the link. yes, i was very shaken. it's horrifying, terrible. it's made me sad, it's made my whole family very sad, and everything i know is sad. from his home on this peaceful street, taleb al—abdulmohsen built an online presence which will be key to the police's investigation. in 2019 he spoke to a german newspaper about what he called his activism, telling them, "i'm history's most aggressive critic of islam. just ask any arab if

you don't believe me." attention is now turning to safety and security, whether this market was protected enough and whether authorities had any warnings that taleb al—abdulmohsen may have posed a threat. germany is waiting for the answers. anna foster, bbc news. the president of panama has rejected threats from us president—elect donald trump about the sovereignty of the panama canal. mr trump says he will demand the return of the waterway to us hands if panama doesn't cut transit fees. mr trump made the threat in a speech at the talking point usa conference in arizona, his first political rally since he won the presidential election in november. you have got to treat us fairly, they haven't treated us fairly, if they haven't treated us fairly, if the principles of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the panama

canal be returned to the united states of america in full, quickly and without question. i am not going to stand for it. so to the officials of panama, please be guided accordingly. the panama canal has been the main link between the atlantic and pacific oceans for more than a century. it was built with american funds and was a special us territory until 1979, when the us handed it over to the panamanian government. over the past year, plumetting water levels brought on by drought have forced authorities to cut the number of ships transiting the canal. transit fees have skyrocketed as shipping companies vie for the few remaining slots. the president of panama, jose raul mulino, has since responded to president—elect trumps comments. take a listen. translation: the canal is not under the direct or — translation: the canal is not under the direct or indirect _ translation: the canal is not under the direct or indirect control - translation: the canal is not under the direct or indirect control of - the direct or indirect control of china, — the direct or indirect control of china, the _ the direct or indirect control of china, the european community, the united _ china, the european community, the united states, or any other power.

as a panamanian, i strongly represent any statement that misrepresents this reality. it will continue — misrepresents this reality. it will continue to belong to panama. the sovereignty and independence of our country— sovereignty and independence of our country are _ sovereignty and independence of our country are non—negotiable. i've been speaking with our reporter mike wendling, who was in phoenix for the event. very good to see you. before we delve deeper into what was said, i also want to touch on the president elect�*s suggestion that the us take back control of the panama canal. can you tell us more about what was said in that regard?— said in that regard? trump says the fees charged _ said in that regard? trump says the fees charged to _ said in that regard? trump says the fees charged to ships _ said in that regard? trump says the fees charged to ships that - said in that regard? trump says the fees charged to ships that use - said in that regard? trump says the fees charged to ships that use that| fees charged to ships that use that canal are too high, that is a must for the main route between the atlantic ocean and the pacific ocean. he called them a rip off, those shipping rates, he vowed to take action. the history here is that the canal more than 100 years ago. a series of treaties seated at back to panama in 1999, and saw panama charges fees for boats to go

through the canal. last year, fewer boats were able to do that because of a drought, so the fees went up, and trump is not happy about this. we are hearing that the president of panama is going to we are hearing that the presiden