�*to be included to be included and ready to be included and implemented. i believe we will get a cease—fire. —— hamas's court. —— hamas's court. treasury minister tulip siddiq resigns, after growing pressure over an anti—corruption investigation in bangladesh. an official us report states donald trump would've been convicted of trying to overthrow the 2020 election had he not been elected president. the princess of wales announces she is "in remission" from cancer — as she visits staff and patients at the hospital that treated her. also coming up on the world today: and — a blow for british ex—pats? spain say it's planning �*a100% tax' on properties bought by non—eu residents — in a bid to solve its housing crisis. welcome to the world today — an hour of international news from the bbc. what's been described as the final round of negotiations on a deal for a ceasefire —

and the release of hostages in gaza — has been continuing for a number of hours in qatar, but with no outcome yet. both israeli and hamas officials have expressed hope that a deal can be achieved. we have some detail on what that deal on reaching a ceasefire is thought to include with the initial release of 3a israeli hostages, including women, children, the wounded and the sick. in return it's expected that israel will release 1,000 palestinian prisoners, including approximately 190 who have been serving sentences of 15 years or more. and an agreement would need to be reached on the future of gaza, including whether israeli troops can remain there. all eyes have been on the qataris — as the official mediators — amid rising hopes of a breakthrought at last in the possibility of reaching a deal. here's their foreign spokesperson. we have reached a point where the major issues that were preventing a deal from happening were addressed. and we have language pertaining to this issue that has been distributed

between both parties. we especially appreciate the roles of both the biden administration and the incoming trump administration in the in the talks in the past couple of weeks. let's remind you of how we've reached this point. on october seventh 2023 — israel's was targeted with an unprecented attack from land, air and sea led by hamas. 12—hundred people were killed, many of them attending a music festival. hostages were taken. 250 of them. around 100 are still in gaza. their familes are desperate to have them back. israel responded with fury. it vowed to crush hamas. in the war that followed, swathes of gaza left in rubble. more than a6—thousand palestinians have been killed. many of them civilians. most of the population of gaza has been displaced. aid workers say the suffering is on a scale that is

hard to comprehend. the international community, including the united states, says it must end. we're pressing hard to close this. the deal we have a structure would free the hostages, halt the fighting, provide security to israel, and allow us to significantly surge humanitarian assistance to the palestinians. if those hostages are back, i don't — if those hostages are back, i don't want to hurt your negotiation. the renewed urgency comes from soon to be elected president trump, who sent his middle east envoy to israel at the weekend to twist arms. he now says a deal is close. but it has to be done. 0r — in his words — "there's going to be a lot of trouble out there." the outgoing us secretary of state, antony blinken, has just been speaking. he said the ongoing war in gaza has inflicted "immeasurable" suffering on the region, and spoke of the need to "forge a new reality" in the middle east. mr blinken said he believes there will be a ceasefire, and that the "ball is now in hamas�*s court" 0ver over the past several weeks our intensive — over the past several weeks our intensive efforts have brought

us to — intensive efforts have brought us to the _ intensive efforts have brought us to the brink of full and final— us to the brink of full and final agreement. us to the brink of full and finalagreement. 0n us to the brink of full and final agreement. on sunday the united — final agreement. on sunday the united states, qatar in egypt put forward a final proposal. the — put forward a final proposal. the batt— put forward a final proposal. the ball is now in hamas's court _ the ball is now in hamas's court if_ the ball is now in hamas's court. if hamas accepts the dent— court. if hamas accepts the deal is _ court. if hamas accepts the deal is ready to be concluded and implemented. reuters is updating its reporting save egypt's president and joe biden have been discussing mediation efforts for the gaza cease—fire and the hostage prisoner exchange deal. of course efforts continuing very much to try to get a deal with the us and egypt still talking. i've been speaking to our correspondentjonah fisher who's injerusalem and our state department correspondent, tom bateman who's injerusalem and asked them how close we're to a deal.

well, we're being briefed both from those people who are participating in the talks in terms of israel and hamas and the mediators, that we're close to an agreement that all the major issues have been agreed upon, but that the details are still being negotiated and ironed out in those talks in doha. and i think it's important to say that even though a lot may be agreed upon, if those small details aren't resolved, well, there is no deal. so yes, we're very close, the closest that we've been throughout this conflict, which has lasted 15 months. but as yet, we've been talking about this for a couple of days now. we are close, but there is no deal as yet. and tom bateman in the us, it really is an unprecedented situation, isn't it, with with the incoming president elect and his team playing such a big role in these negotiations? well, it is. and i mean, you know, it's taken eight months basically for the framework that president biden set out in may last year to come this close to fruition, as mr

biden himself said last night. and really, when you sort of look at the fundamentals involved in the negotiations and what appears to have been agreed, they're not really very different to what president biden had asked for and was setting out eight months ago. so, you know, that obviously begs the question of what's changed and what has changed. one of the factors is an incoming trump administration. and i think what that did was to impose the realities of a deadline on both the sides, after which theyjust simply didn't have the same degree of certainty that they would get both the terms on offer now. but also and this is especially important when it comes to israel, the guarantee of an american administration pushing it through and putting pressure on arab countries in the region to put pressure on hamas to see it through to a second phase. so i think this has

exerted a significant amount of pressure and, you know, that's why we're now seeing the two sides really sort — of racing to the finish line. and jonah, does it seem as though, if a deal is possible, that netanyahu can hold his government together, given the pressures on the right? well, that's a good question. he is under considerable pressure. he has two far right ultranationalist cabinet ministers who have, in the last couple of days, come out very firmly against this draft deal as it has been leaked to the media, one of them calling it a catastrophe for israeli national security. another this morning saying that this was effectively a surrender to hamas. so yes, there are some very strong voices within the cabinet who are talking, you know, pretty harsh language about this deal. i think the question will be whether they if this deal does come to pass, whether they walk out of the government and whether they try

nd bring down mr netanyahu's administration or whether they will feel that they have distanced themselves enough from it to allow to tolerate it going through, if you like, without their backing, but not use it as a moment to unleash the political chaos, if you like, of mr netanyahu's government being brought down. while israel has price pressure benjamin netanyahu has also had rejections that we've been hearing from some of his far right ministers. the police minister ben—gvir who holds a huge a lot of our and the government and is starting to quit over the deal describing it as a surrender to hamas. and for any cease—fire deal to succeed both israel and hamas have to be satisfied that a sticking points are resolved for that in a statement released today hamas said they were satisfied with the course of negotiations, there was hope for clear and comprehensive agreement soon. let's find out

agreement soon. let's find out a bit more but hamas says it as well as gazans. to get more in to what hamas —— as well as everyday gazans might want from an agreement, i'm joined by tahani mustafa — senior palestine analyst with the international crisis group. we heard from antony blinken that if hamas agreed the deal is there will stop i think some of the sticking points are very much the usual that they have been over the last year, which is the geographical markers in terms of where israel is going to be withdrawing.— to be withdrawing. whether israel is actually _ to be withdrawing. whether israel is actually going - to be withdrawing. whether israel is actually going to i israel is actually going to militarily draw down, whether this campaign is going to come to a total and permanent end. also the release of hostages on both sides of our prisoners on both sides of our prisoners on both sides of our prisoners on both sides and the guarantee of a lease from the palestinian side that the people release won't be rearrested afterwards. there's also a concern about what comes after once hostages

and prisoners are released. and once we see a pause in the fighting, whether they will be sufficient amounts of aid allowed in and whether were talking about serious reconstruction afterwards and who will later end up governing gaza, whether that's the pa or an entirely separate entity. that's also where the us— israel and the palestinians come to differ.— israel and the palestinians come to differ. given it has been hugely _ come to differ. given it has been hugely weekend, - come to differ. given it has - been hugely weekend, hamas, will they carried the population of gaza with them? it's very unlikely that hamas are going to be remaining as any governing entity here. if we're talking about a serious cessation of hostilities for the hamas popularity has deeply plummeted in gaza and the west bank politically it is becoming more and more isolated, domestically hence the pressure now to try and go for a deal.

hamas is agreeing to terms that it a year ago was unlikely to do so. it seems very unlikely that hamas is going to want to take any front leading role after this. take any front leading role after thie— take any front leading role after this. ~ ., , , after this. who is being looked at in terms _ after this. who is being looked at in terms of _ after this. who is being looked at in terms of forming - after this. who is being looked at in terms of forming some i at in terms of forming some sort of governing coalition? we did hear antony blinken today in his speech say that the us assessments that hamas was recruited almost as many people as they've lost.— as they've lost. that's right. how masses _ as they've lost. that's right. how masses recruitment - as they've lost. that's right. | how masses recruitment has definitely gone out. something about 85% were some of the figures being floated around backin figures being floated around back in may. again, that has nothing to do with any adherence to hamas dogma and circumstance for the hamas strong point is the fact that there are currently no serious alternatives in the way of ending this current onslaught. hence why it's able to draw in such large numbers in terms of recruitment. in terms of political popularity, are you seeing successive opinion polls

of the last months from september onwards indicating that hamas is deeply politically unpopular. in terms of who will actually govern gaza, that is something that no proposal, neitherthis gaza, that is something that no proposal, neither this warrant nor previous proposals have dealt seriously with there are many plans floating around. there are huge differences between the way that us sees god as his future, the way that israel sees gaza's future and palestinians. now the us and palestinians. now the us and palestinians are in agreement they want to see a restatement of the pa without hamas. israel's western avenue lies in israel's western avenue lies in israel itself is made clear that hamas has no future in theirs. that dealing with hamas on any level after this is an absolute nonstarter. the difference here is the fact that israel is absolutely adamant of not allowing for any serious administrative entity in the immediate term that can potentially threaten security. for israel the best we could possibly hope for, this is something that even aid

organizations have reluctantly come to terms with is some sort of aid economy, if you like whereby gaza will be entirely dependent on aid. we will effectively see a tent city in ruins for them and law in order, if we could call it that will be administered from a private security company. thank ou so private security company. thank you so much _ private security company. thank you so much for— private security company. thank you so much for being _ private security company. thank you so much for being with - private security company. thank you so much for being with us. i you so much for being with us. let me show you some images now, live shots from the region. this is tel aviv put up of course in israel where the families havejoined of course in israel where the families have joined a weekly gathering in the square in tel aviv. obviously in anticipation for a deal. we spoke to the hostage families and they are of course desperate to see their loved ones return. those images from gaza and con units.

this evening has descended there. —— con units. we take you to rome. we hope that the foreign minister, the israeli foreign minister, the israeli foreign minister, the israeli foreign minister is holding a joint news conference for that we're waiting for that to get under way. we will keep you up to date. but the lines we're getting at the moment say that joe biden and president cc of egypt are urging flexibility to try to achieve a gaza truth. —— gaza truce reported by the afp news agency. obviously the efforts are continuing. go greenjoe biden and the president discussed at a phone call the ongoing efforts carried on by cairo and washington.

still to come on the world today — donald trump's pick for us secretary of defence pete hegseth was heckled several times at the senate armed forces services committee. we'll find out more about a british government minister who has resigned after growing pressure over an anti—corruption investigation in bangladesh. around the world and across the uk. this is the world today on bbc news.

the british treasury tulip siddiq has resigned from the government coming after she was named it an investigation in bangladesh and claims that her family embezzled up the 5.9 billion from infrastructure spending. in a letter she denied any wrongdoing and said theissue denied any wrongdoing and said the issue had become a distraction for the government. our political and investigations reporter reports. the family she credited with inspiring her political rise may have also played a part and it's art

involved.— played a part and it's art involved. g ., ., , played a part and it's art involved. y ., . , . involved. my mother and my aunt with the two _ involved. my mother and my aunt with the two surviving _ daughters of the founding fathers of bangladesh. i am pleased to say they are here in the chamber today listening to my maiden speech. back then keir starmer was smiling at tulip siddiq's side but in recent weeks he has been forced to defend her. tulip siddiq has acted entirely properly, by referring herself to the independent adviser as she has now done. many of the allegations the fact tulip siddiq's aunt fled bangladesh last august after a long and controversial time at its leader. today tulip siddiq conceded to what some in government thought was inevitable. in her resignation letter she wrote while the ministerial adviser has confirmed i have not breached the code, the standards watchdog had concluded in his report it is regrettable

that she was not more alert to the potential risks to her and the government, arising from her close family's associate with bangladesh, i would not advice this should be taken as a breach of the code, but you will want top consider her ongoing responsibilities, in the light of this... there are still unanswered questions, the national crime agency has the ability to look into unexplained wealth, there are things called unexplained wealth orders and i think this merits further investigation by an organisation like the national crime agency, to get to the truth. tulip siddiq entered government last year, as the minister responsible for tackling financial corruption. in recent weeks she has been forced to deny being involved in it. including claimles in bangladesh she helped broker a nuclear power plant deal with russia, where money was allegedly off into private hand, she denies it and the allegations were raised by one of her aunt's rivals,

and the revelation she was gifted a flat in this block by a man with links to her aunt. allies say the political associations of others have nothing to do with tulip siddiq. keir starmer may now be able to move on from questions about the affairs of his political ally but leaving government doesn't mean tulip siddiq leaves this row behind, she remains subject to two anti—corruption investigations in bangladesh. let's speak to our political correspondent, ben wright, at westminster. what more do we know about this resignation, was it the ministers decision? it resignation, was it the ministers decision? it was. the prime minister _ ministers decision? it was. the prime minister received - ministers decision? it was. the prime minister received a - prime minister received a letter from prime minister received a letterfrom sir laurie magnus, his advisor on ministerial behavior and standards earlier today for that the prime minister spoke to tulip siddiq and it was tulip siddiq who offered her resignation because she had felt she become us

distraction it was untenable for her to continue as a job it treasury minister and person responsible for tackling corruption. this has been festering for a number of weeks sense tulip siddiq was first named into anti—corruption probes being held in bangladesh into the activities of our wider family. into the activities of our widerfamily. she is a member of one of the most prominent families in bangladesh politics. now the focus of anti—corruption investigations anti—corru ption investigations into whether or anti—corruption investigations into whether or not they embezzled up to £4 billion in infrastructure spending. she had always denied she done anything wrong. she offered herself to scrutiny by the government standards advisor and he has concluded that there was no financial impropriety. she didn't break the rules of governing dues how ministers are governing dues