it will free israeli civilian hostage arbel yehud — on friday — in exchange for the release of 30 palestinian prisoners. it could pave the way for israel to allow tens of thousands of palestinians to return to their homes in northern gaza. president trump says he'd like arab nations to take in a million and a half gazans — calling the strip "a demolition site" where "something needs to happen". i would like egypt and jordan to take people, you are talking about probably 1.5 million people and we just clean out that whole thing. lebanon accuses israeli soldiers of firing at residents trying to return to their homes. officials say at least 22 people have been killed. voting wraps up in an election

slammed as a sham. alexander lukashenko prepares to return to power in belarus with all real challengers either in prison or in exile. hello, i'm leila nathoo. a senior officialfrom the palestinian militant group islamichhad has told the bbc an agreement has been reached with mediators for the release of an israeli civilian hostage. on saturday, israel accused hamas of breaching the terms of the ceasefire deal by not releasing arbel yehud, along with the four female israeli soldiers. the islamichhad official said she will be freed on friday in exchange for the release of 30 palestinian prisoners. that paves the way for hundreds of thousands of displaced palestinians to return to their homes in northern gaza. many have gathered in central gaza — waiting for the israeli military to allow them to head to the devastated north. the group says the agreement could see their being allowed

through as soon as tonight or tomorrow morning. president trump says he'd like to see a—million—and—a—half of gaza's residents taken in by other arab nations — including jordan and egypt. he's told journalists the strip was "literally a demolition site" and suggested it be �*cleaned out'. israeli bombardments have reduced much of gaza to rubble. hamas says it would oppose any plan to relocate palestinians, while another militant group, islamichhad described the plans as �*deplorable�*. but the us president's comments are already being welcomed by far—right israeli politicians, some of whom want to restore jewish settlements there. let's take a listen to what president trump told reporters on air force one. i'm looking at the whole gaza strip right now- and it's a mess. it's a real mess.

you would like jordan to house people from gaza? yes, and i'd like - egypt to take people. i'm talking to general el—sisi . tomorrow sometime, i believe. and i'd like egypt to take| people and i'd like jordan to take people, because, i mean, you're talking. about probably a million - and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing. over the centuries, it's many, many conflicts on that site. i and i don't know, something has to happen, but it's literally- a demolition site right now, - almost everything is demolished and people are dying there. so i'd rather get involved with some of the arab i nations and build housing at a different location - where they can maybe live in peace for a change. - it could be temporarily. it could be long term. my colleague nick beake has the latest from jerusalem.

just a few days ago, president trump was talking about the gaza strip as if it were a piece of prime real estate. he said it was a phenomenal location by the sea with the best weather. now, though, he's describing it as a demolition site and says it's over and that it needs to be cleaned out. and that has sparked a lot of concern today. critics saying that this sounds like language which is tantamount to ethnic cleansing. if palestinians have to leave gaza. mr trump was suggesting that the likes of egypt and jordan could take in more palestinians, and that people would be able to live in peace there. jordan has already got more than two million registered palestinian refugees, and the foreign minister has been saying that they've got this unwavering commitment to palestinians remaining in gaza. while there is, of course, reconstruction of the place, which has been so badly damaged in the past 15 months. egypt has said previously that any sort of forced displacement of palestinians from gaza could jeopardise the peace deal that was signed back in 1979

between egypt and israel. in israel, there has been reaction from far—right politicians. they have welcomed the comments from president trump because ultimately they would like to see jewish settlers return to gaza to live there in the years to come. so i think many people will be looking now to see if president trump says more about this idea he seems to have come up with. he was asked specifically whether he saw this as a temporary suggestion or a more permanent thing. he said either plan could work at this point. so i think a lot of people waiting to see what more he has to say. let's speak to nizar farsakh in washington dc. he is a former adviser to the palestine liberation organisation and adjunct professor at george washington university. thank you forjoining us. we have been looking at pictures

this evening of palestinians in gaza waiting to go back to their communities in northern gaza. the idea of permanent or temporary relocation is usually provocative —— provocative there from president trump. indeed and it shows how ignorant he is of the conflict especially for palestinians whose whole stories refugee hood. so even at a practical level, i have friends here in the us, gazans in the us that and i want to move back to gaza. so clearly he does not have an understanding of what the land needs to palestinians. as the reporter said, he thinks of it as real estate, he does not think of how someone could be attached to a land because of its history. we be attached to a land because of its history.— of its history. we have gotten use to president _ of its history. we have gotten use to president trump - of its history. we have gotten use to president trump and l of its history. we have gotten. use to president trump and his previous term saying things off of the cuff, you say he may not be serious and has not bought theirs through, but these sorts

of comments can have repercussions —— not thought this through. we have heard it has potentially emboldened politicians on the right and israel. . , politicians on the right and israel. ., , ., israel. that is how he operates. _ israel. that is how he operates. trump - israel. that is how he - operates. trump believes in aggressive politics, and in pushing and pulling and he may very well retract that idea. so he's trying to do two things, one, of course, look his trumpet style, he someone willing to do other presidents have not dared to do, the other is the way he operates is in shaking things up, he's not somebody who likes working through systems, he likes wrestling, he likes the sparring. wrestling, he likes the sparring-— sparring. we know the cease-fire _ sparring. we know the cease-fire in - sparring. we know the cease-fire in gaza - sparring. we know the cease-fire in gaza is i cease—fire in gaza is incredibly fragile, this is top of president trump's in trade, this pressing policy challenge,

what are these types of comments tell you about what he is thinking and how he will approach the next weeks of the cease—fire? approach the next weeks of the cease-fire?— cease-fire? probably more of the same- — cease-fire? probably more of the same. the _ cease-fire? probably more of the same. the impression - cease-fire? probably more of the same. the impression is| the same. the impression is that shaking things up forces the other actors to rethink their traditional policies and basically bullying them into coming to an agreement or at least responding positively to his demands. so i think he will probably do more of those bombastic or fantastic announcements and they could be 180 degrees different in a few days, precisely because he wants it to not be predictable. finally, he has obviously described the situation in gaza in crude terms, describing it as a demolition site, but clearly there is an absolute enormous reconstruction job ahead and those sorts of conversations are not happening at this stage of the

cease—fire, on a practical level, what do you think about the best plan on reconstructing the best plan on reconstructing the devastation in gaza? definitely the first things should be representation, we need elections that are what the gazan people are saying, they want control over their destiny. i know my colleagues and friends here in the us and other places that are already getting into groups to think of projects and initiatives, actually like start things and new, to build gaza better. so that would require, not interference from others, allowing gazans to what they think is best for gaza, but with help and support and financial support, definitely. many thanks. from george washington university there. staying in the middle east — the lebanese health ministry has accused the israeli army of firing at residents trying to return to their homes

in southern lebanon, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more. israel's military missed today's deadline to leave the area, as a 60—day ceasefire deal expired. it has not said how long its forces will stay in lebanon. both israeli troops and hezbollah fighters were supposed to have completed their respective withdrawals. our correspondent in beirut is hugo bachega. he sent this update. what we saw today is that thousands of residents tried to return to their homes in the south of the country, despite warnings from both the lebanese and the israeli armies and the united nations that it wasn't safe to do so. this happened after the end of a deadline for the withdrawal of all israeli troops from the south, also for the removal of hezbollah fighters and weapons from there. now, israel says lebanon hasn't really fully implemented the deal, which also includes the deployment of thousands of lebanese soldiers to the south of the country. so the situation now is that israeli soldiers remain

in the country, today they opened fire. they say that they had fired warning shots. they didn't really explain those incidents that happened today. we still don't know how many israeli soldiers remain here in lebanon, how long they're planning to stay. but this is a country with memories of past foreign occupation. so the presence of israeli soldiers here is seen as unacceptable and a source for concern. to belarus now, and the first exit poll in the presidential election the eu has branded �*a sham' — shows alexander lukashenko on course to win a seventh term with 87.6% of the vote. he was up against four other candidates — one of whom ran under the slogan "together with lukashenko". as people voted, he sparred with the world's media at a news conference lasting more than four hours, and said some of his political opponents had "chosen" to go to prison.

translation: someone chose a jail, someone i chose exile, as you say. we did not expel anyone from the country, and moreover, we opened the country. and i have probably already stated five times that we are not vindictive people, not malicious. everyone will be given a chance. our russia editor steve rosenberg is in minsk and was at the president's impromptu press conference. well, i've never experienced anything quite like this before on an election day. so alexandar lukashenko came to the polling station behind me, he cast his ballot, and then he proceeded to give a four hour long press conference from the polling station live on state television, while people were voting. that's the kind of airtime that the other four candidates who've been allowed to run against him simply don't enjoy. about the other candidates, by the way, i met two

of them earlier this week. one of them said he actually supports alexandar lukashenko. the other one was full of praise for the current leader of belarus. and when i put this to mr lukashenko at the press conference, he told me, "well, this is a new experience for you, steve." the leader of belarus faces no serious challenge in this election. all his most vocal critics, his staunchest opponents, are either in jail or they're in exile. which is why the european union's foreign policy chief described this as a sham election. once dubbed "europe's last dictator", mr lukashenko has been in powerfor more than three decades — and is a close ally of russia's president putin. after the last elections in 2020, which he claimed to have won with 80% of the vote, he crushed street protests prompted by allegations of vote—rigging. in recent months, he has released some political prisoners, but more than 1,200 remain behind bars.

let's speak to victoria leukavets, post—doctoral researcher at stockholm centre for eastern european studies where she is leader of the belarus project. thank you forjoining us tonight. you heard that number there, 87.6%, as suggested by there, 87.6%, as suggested by the exit poll, what you make of that? . ., , �* ., , that? the elections in belarus as exnected — that? the elections in belarus as expected turned _ that? the elections in belarus as expected turned out - that? the elections in belarus as expected turned out to - that? the elections in belarus as expected turned out to be l as expected turned out to be a one—man show. although it has been rightly said, the other candidates are not serious opponents to alexander lukashenko, they are spoiler candidates and they gave an impression, and illusion of political competition, but in reality, the politicalfield is very tightly controlled by the regime and the victory of lukashenko is guaranteed. i would also like to note that in preparation for any potential

dissent, lukashenko significantly grants up security measures across the country. police forces were put on high alert, in addition, rapid response teams were deployed in various polling stations. university students, high school students underwent ideological training before these elections. so lukashenko took every precaution this time took every precaution this time to avoid the repetition of the 20/20 scenario when massive protests swept the country and hundreds and thousands of people went into the streets to demand free and fair elections. so what has been the mood in belarus and surrounding this election, is it one of resignation, perhaps? people are passive- _ resignation, perhaps? people are passive. there _ resignation, perhaps? people are passive. there is - resignation, perhaps? people are passive. there is no - resignation, perhaps? people are passive. there is no signl are passive. there is no sign of any protest activities, the fear in society is a very, very high. but having said that, i

would like to note that the way the political situation in belarus develops very highly depends on how the situation in russia develops and if there is any chance of a weakening of the russian regime, which provides very strong support to the belarus shouldn't regime, there is the chance for it in this country, but so far there's very little chance of people coming into the streets this time. 50 people coming into the streets this time. ., , this time. so barring any chance this time. so barring any change in _ this time. so barring any change in the _ this time. so barring any| change in the relationship this time. so barring any - change in the relationship with russia and president putin, but to the next five years now have in store for the people of belarusagain, i would like to say that very much it depends on how the situation on the battlefield in ukraine develops, and if we see some

serious progress for ukraine and as a result, the weakening of the putin regime, there could be some window of opportunity opening in belarus as well. i would also like to note that when we speak about belarus, we need to keep in mind that there are two belarus, one is the belarus of lukashenko and another is the democratic belarus which is emerging thanks to the efforts of the belarus shouldn't democratic forces and the movement at large wishes in exile. and today the belarusian horses did a very successful big campaign in warsaw, there was a march where thousands of people against the fraudulent elections in belarus and also a conference about who deserves better. in addition to that, the leader of the belarusian democratic forces dared not to

cross with foreign ministers where she will take part in some activities i had of the foreign council which is set in place tomorrow in brussels. i’m place tomorrow in brussels. i'm sor to place tomorrow in brussels. i'm sorry to jump — place tomorrow in brussels. i'm sorry to jump in _ place tomorrow in brussels. i'm sorry to jump in there, but we are a little short of time, but many thanks forjoining us there. a 19—year—old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a vehicle was driven at a police officer in greater manchester, leaving her seriously injured. it happened at a retail park on wilmslow road in cheadle, on saturday evening. my colleague charlotte gallagher has the details on what we know so far. police were called because people said there were people acting suspiciously inside of a car. when a female police officer arrived, she walked towards the car, the car then set off, driven at high speed towards her and hit her. she received very, very serious

injuries and was taken to hospital and as you say, a 19—year—old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. greater manchester police had said she has recovered from injuries and is still in hospital and being supported by her fellow police officers and they have said, it was a truly shocking incident. there is no explanation as to why it happened as the way it did in also it underlines the risks that front—line officers take when they go to these kinds of incidents and how quickly they can escalate. they have also said assault on our officers are completely unacceptable, will not be tolerated and in this case the officer suffered incredibly serious injuries. here in the uk — a third runway at london's heathrow could be given government support this week after the chancellor hinted she was in favour of expansion, as part of plans to grow the economy. rachel reeves said a third runway at heathrow — which is already the world's busiest two—runway airport — would mean that instead of circling london, flights could land more quickly. our political correspondent iain watson reports.

growth is our number one mission _ growth is our number one mission-— growth is our number one mission. , ., , mission. so you get the message b now mission. so you get the message by now that _ mission. so you get the message by now that drive _ mission. so you get the message by now that drive for _ mission. so you get the message by now that drive for the - by now that drive for the growth is rachel reeves number one priority but critics are questioning whether the action matches the rhetoric with taxes on business and gloomy messages from overman on public finances. so today she talked up finances. so today she talked up the economy and promised to help developers. my up the economy and promised to help developers.— help developers. my optimism for britain _ help developers. my optimism for britain has _ help developers. my optimism for britain has never _ help developers. my optimism for britain has never burned i for britain has never burned brighter— for britain has never burned brighter than it does now and that— brighter than it does now and that is— brighter than it does now and that is why we are going further_ that is why we are going further and faster in removing those — further and faster in removing those things that are blocking investment.— investment. that means ministers _ investment. that means ministers using - investment. that means ministers using powersl investment. that means l ministers using powers to approve big projects and simplifying the planning system with fewer legal challenges and less consultation. in a speech this week, the chancellor will back further airport expansion, while she has not confirmed support for a third runway at heathrow, it sounds like it has been cleared for take—off. aha, been cleared for take—off. a third runway would mean instead

of circling — third runway would mean instead of circling london, flights can land — of circling london, flights can land at — of circling london, flights can land at heathrow.— of circling london, flights can land at heathrow. some in her own party _ land at heathrow. some in her own party including _ land at heathrow. some in her own party including the - land at heathrow. some in her own party including the mayor| own party including the mayor of london are against expanding heathrow and some opposition politicians are circling.- politicians are circling. there is no economic— politicians are circling. there is no economic case - politicians are circling. there is no economic case for- is no economic case for expanding heathrow and we know how damaging it would be to the environment and the noise impact it for people living across south west london. economic growth matters because it can help fund public services, without the need for further tax increases, but the rate of growth has been glacial so some members of rachel reeves party are now worried that they and unpopular spending cuts could be on the horizon and some labour mps are concerned that the government's green agenda would be downgraded in the pursuit of allusive growth. the chancellor insists there should be no conflict between boosting the economy and protecting the environment. the conservative leader says labour does not have a can —— credible plan for the policy. have a can -- credible plan for the policy-—

the policy. you are hearing announcements _ the policy. you are hearing announcements not - the policy. you are hearing announcements not plansl the policy. you are hearing - announcements not plans when you hear— announcements not plans when you hear what_ announcements not plans when you hear what people _ announcements not plans when you hear what people you - announcements not plans when you hear what people you run. you hear what people you run into— the chancellor with hopes that if the economy grows so to support for labour, but she may face opposition to some of her plans before voters reap any benefits. the un head, antonio guterres, has called on rwanda to withdraw its forces from eastern democratic republic of congo and halt support for m23 rebels who are trying to capture the city of goma. at a special session of the un security council there has been widespread condemnation of the escalating violence. m23 fighters are closing in on goma, eastern congo's largest city of more than1 million people, as government forces battle to stop the rebels seizing the city. the fighting has left 13 soldiers serving with peacekeeping forces dead — and thousands of civilians displaced, with people fleeing camps on the outskirts of goma. let's cross over to

the democratic republic of the congo and speak to news reporter emery makumeno who is in the capital. bring us up—to—date on the latest in the east of the country. latest in the east of the country-— latest in the east of the count . ., ., country. m23 have closed in and i talked country. m23 have closed in and i talked to _ country. m23 have closed in and i talked to residents _ country. m23 have closed in and i talked to residents who - country. m23 have closed in and i talked to residents who have l i talked to residents who have told me that in the north of the city they can hear gunshots and heavy artillery being fired from the morning up till now. it is eight and many residents are now hiding in their residences. the governor of the north just two days ago has come out and said that all of the forces in goma in all of the forces in goma in all of the patriots in goma should take arms and be ready to defend goma not to fall under the control of m23. so the situation is tense and of the

fear inside goma as we speak. we have heard from the un that they are pulling all of their nonessential staff out of goma. there already is a dire humanitarian situation in that part of the country even before this latest outbreak of violence, what you think the consequences are of the un reducing its presence there? they did say that there is still helping the congolese army to halt the advance of m23 so the boots are still on the ground, yes, all nonessential civilian staff have been leaving the city as of yesterday and today as well, though it has been made difficult at the airport not operating fully. but it is about everyone who can afford accommodation and food outside of goma, trying to leave the

capital city of north kivu. and most of the people who are staying there are people who does not have any means to survive far away from their homes. we have also learned that some idp is that were in a camp are also fleeing idp camps in order to flock into goma which is now a place where they are trying to protect themselves, but this is a very confusing situation there and the fact that the civilians belonging to the un has sent a lot of negative echo and everyone is trying to leave as well. a , everyone is trying to leave as well. , ., stay with us here on bbc news. hello.

a deep area of low pressure has again taken charge of our weather during today. another storm system, this one named by the spanish weather service for impacts it is having in spain. but storm herminia also bringing impacts here. met office yellow warnings for wind and rain remain in force through the rest of today into tomorrow. the satellite picture shows this storm, the centre of the storm, well out to the west of us, but through today we've been watching this development here, a hook of cloud appearing along the line of this weather front. actually, we've spun up another very small scale area of low pressure, and that will be shifting northwards through this evening and tonight, bringing a spell of very heavy rain. yes, across england and wales, increasing the risk of flooding. but also as this little feature works its way northwards just on the southern edge, see the little hook in the rainfall pattern there? we could have some very squally conditions for a time. a few places could see gusts of 60—70, maybe 80mph, but that will be quite

a localised feature, in other places it willjust be a blustery night. and these small scale features are always hard to predict in terms of the exact track they will take, but it may well be that we see some heavy rain first thing across eastern scotland. if it gets a little bit further west, well, it could turn to snow over high ground. another band of rain driving out of northern ireland, northern england into southern scotland. again some snow over high ground, some blustery heavy downpours into wales, the southwest of england. very windy around these southern and western coasts. gusts of 60—70mph, a sustained period of strong winds, pretty brisk winds inland across the south as well. so another rather disturbed day weather wise on monday. as we look ahead to tuesday, well, our area of low pressure will still be with us, but it will be weakening, it will be filling. and so while we will continue to see some showers or longer spells of rain, the weather

generally looking a little bit calmer with more in the way of dry interludes around, some spells of sunshine and temperatures of around seven to ten degrees. now, as we look a little bit further ahead on wednesday, southern parts could see another dose of heavy rain, another area of low pressure moving through. a little bit drier further north and it does look a little bit calmerfor the end of the week.

the militant group palestinian islamichhad have told the bbc they have agreed to free the israeli civilian hostage on friday in exchange for 30 palestinian hostages. it could pave the way for israel to allow tens of thousands of palestinians to return to their homes in northern gaza. president trump said he would like to see a million and the hive of gaza's residents taken in by other nations including jordan and egypt. lebanon accuses the israeli army firing at present is trying to return to their homes in the country's south. officials say at least 22 people have been killed and over 100 wounded. polls have closed in belarus and election branded by the eu as a sham. now i'm bbc news, it is sportsday.