this is bbc news, the headlines... the red cross by hamas in gaza. prisoners will be released from israeli jails. us president trump has carried out a purge of senior general charles 0 brown. friedrich merz, whose conservative christian spread on social media. we begin in the middle east, with these live pictures from ofer prison,

in the occupied west bank, and detainees. five hostages have now been freed by hamas in highly stage—managed events in gaza. the tv pictures of omar wenkert, omar shem tov cheers by large crowds in tel aviv s hostage square. the men are now back in israel where they'll be a little earlier two other israeli hostages, tal shoham and avera mengistu were also released. crowd has gathered to watch the releases in a location that's become known as �*hostages square�*. the gaza ceasefire deal. this is life in tel aviv. we have had _

this is life in tel aviv. we have had two _ this is life in tel aviv. we have had two events, - this is life in tel aviv. - have had two events, highly hamas, in two parts gaza, "ml—“i it�*s! “flu- '-. �*a u—b ——— ———— ,, gaza, where "ml—“i iti; “a"? i"; �** “er“ "* ,,;; ,, gaza, where these "ml—“i iii; “ii-ii? iii �*a “iii" ,,; ,,;; ii gaza, where these three of gaza, where these three hostages all in their 20s taken moira mam music iestizxai. at the nova music festival, were they were were released. they were dressed in what seemed to be of -reen of - reen camoufla -e of green camouflage type kind of green camouflage type i am quite sure clothes. i am not quite sure message that was meant to what messegethat; was meant. be but what messagethat; was meant. ta but it what messagethat was meant te but it was quite an send but it was quite an elaborate i think elaborate ceremony. i think the most we have 27 far in z far|nallthese ;;;, 7 iqtieali’thééé’hoétsge’ ' because it handovers, perhaps because it is; last public one is the last public ene befere micro for the living were micro for the living hostages in first phase. is eisit , "’fi;i£be'ihg' 7 z is it being seen within howie it being; ~ ~ - ' -'- israel? fire is" “as“; is * ureat israel? iiss ssn �*mssns�*s s _ great discussed, seen with greatd'rscusssd. it seen seerrwith greatd'rscusssd. it seen as a charade, the way ;;;he,;;;.,; ;;;,.,; , nihe behave!" ' he handovers are stage, that he handeversarestaqe, that he handeversarestaqe, thatis that he handeversarestaqe, that is mixed. you obviously that is mixed. you have the joy the faces of have the joy on the faces of people on hostage have the joy on the faces of people on the age sts . 7;

have the joy on the faces of people on the released s z ; when they see the released hostages the hostages standing on the platform, even are platform, even if they are being paraded there ”theiunfiflmfii ” {h’e’ufifiés’ ' theunhas £537" w ” theunhas £58,361? " ” {feejrteqe eqia’ftbeeheee " ” as the un has said, the three younger hostages in their 20s, we re were smiling, they 7 were smiling, they looked they were smiling, they looked in good health, they in reasonably good health, they were waving, one was giving the thumbs up, in all of that, thumbs up, so in all of that, it goes down incredibly well here in amongst here in; israei amwast their ii i ii and amongst here in; israet amenast their ii i ii and amongst the vast families and amongst the vast majority, i would say, the :public, wo 77 :public, wo are 77 israeli public, who are at them overjoyed at seeing them different to what saw on thursday was = -= the first hitherfirstfour; ,,, 77 when the first four dead bodies were returned, that was a just of pure grief momentjust of pure grief across country, nojoy acress {the country; no joy in acrossflw muniry; no iii; in that obviously in that whatsoever. we are still waiting for the title are stilt waiting fer the: ' ' hostage, hisham al—sayed,

"lg ”t5511" w "a ”refills???" w "a vthat'rllibeidohe” te be released. that'lttre dame not as te be released. that'llibe ddne not as staged event. privately, not as staged event. that is the end of phase one of the hostages, before if: to an end, we are that comes to an end, we are expecting four more dead to be released. today are still waiting for 602 we are still waiting for 602 ealestjnjan prisoners to be from israeli jails. released from israeli jails. tell us more about than tell us more about that than the types of prisoners being thetypes of prisoners belng . . . ; in round. it the;;es of risoners being; . . . iei mm , ”er ' " ”ssh; " ”far the largest n far the largest amount, by far the largest amount, 601 90, by far the largest amount, 601 go, think that is because the gt), i think that is betadse the who would have been prisoners whe wauld ihavereen as part prisoners who would ihavereen as part of the exchanged as part of the handover on thursday of the four dead hostages, there were no prisoners no palestinian prisoners released that day, so think released that day, so i think that includes them. we that includes them. “we are to around that includes them. we are to around 400 ze= 7 7 who been taken, israel since i the

the - there october the 7th, there was a great upsurge in numbers of palestinians were taken by palestinians who were taken by israel the 7th ? hey they will be returned, and and they will be returned, and will be number around there will be a number around 50, of palestinian prisoners who were sentenced to long whe were sentenced tfi'm�*g ,, life whe were sentenced te'erg ,, life sentences whs were sentenced te'erg ii iii ii life sentences for sentences, life sentences for either carrying out all being either—carri'in'i gut ..|| ii'iiii'i ; . .; cc. 5 a cutest eentg in eitherserrying set all being in the killing of involved in the killing of israelis, longest those 7 7 those prisoners who those prisone7rs who had7 of those prisoners who had spent i 45 years in spent i believe 45 years in jail, he was originally in jailjghze was originally in backin jailyghye was originally in back in 1978 for killing drison back in 1978 for killing israeli bus driver, he is to b777releaed. 77 to be released. again, they due to be released. again, they will leave that mixture of will lest-is that misture'sf' "r'm'wm’m'm in will lest-is that misturest i ii ii in the will leave that misturest i ii ii in the occupied emotions in the occuoied west” , i; i i i; ;;;;; i in emotions in the occuoied west;i ; i; ii i; i;;;; i in gaza, as all the bank, in gaza, as all the there see theirfamily people there see their family members come it is

members come back, it is perhaps a slightly a 7a7diff7e7r7ent7 ' geek lina jetfefeh lina bf := 7 the very 7 staged 7way that 7 staged 7way that we 7 staged 7way that we see highylyjstaged way that we see conducting its handovers, hamas conducting its handovers, essentially they are brought by hamas conducting its handovers, ess two lly they are brought by hamas conducting its handovers, ess two points 1 are brought by hamas conducting its handovers, ess two points (a ramallah: by hamas conducting its handovers, ess two points (a ramallah and bus two points in ramallah and gaza and they released gaza and they are released either to go to their either to go back to their families to go to hospitals and then a number of them will be not allowed into the palestinian territories, they be deported 7 be deported out 7 be deported out and 7 be deported out and they will be deported ioutiand they seen as too high a security for israel. and putin should “get together“ to end the war between russia and ukraine. it was “unimportant“ for ukraine“s leader

thank you very much for us —— talking us. to us —— talking to us. last night, president trump dismissed the idea that president zelensky was being and talks about sidelined and talks about his future and said you have future and he said you have been there for three you been there for three years, you have ended it, you should never it, could have have started it, you could have made a deal. 0bviously, have started it, you could have made a deal. obviously, it was russia started it. when you the president of the hear the president of the states claims united states making claims like that, what do you think? like that;iiwhatidoi you think? british is in the british establishment is in a state of shock and nervousness. what has happened reality is this more in reality is this is more ugderstanding the american understanding from the american side of what we are and side of what we are doing and why we are doing it. and what should be the outcome of it. it rii'ijd be the theme aft it i ii ii ii i i for the �* statement

is for the particular statement on president zelensky, there is first an for the first an obstacle for the because he has negotiations because he has issued an executive order to prohibit himself for the negotiations and in that deal, he was going to the he was going to remove the that seems to be negotiations, that seems to be legal.gwhenyo-.+e a: us legal.gwhenyo-.+e 4: us [so the us administration has more of an understanding of your position, you think 77 7believe77 7 7 77777 77 7beli7eve77that77777 genuinely believe that ukraine started the war? is a genuinely believe that ukraine started the war? _ started the war? that is a fact of life, started the war? that is a fact of life. every _ started the war? that is a fact of life, every - has - started the war? that is a fact of life, every - has not - of life, every war has not started three years ago, it started three years ago, it started after the bringing of a nationalist of it started after the bringing of a nationalist of _ nationalist of power. it is not a fact of life, _ nationalist of power. it is not a fact of life, it _ nationalist of power. it is not a fact of life, it was - nationalist of power. it is not a fact of life, it was the - a fact of life, it was the russian military aggression in

with the forced 2014. with the forced annexation of crimea. the bbc better learn — annexation of crimea. the bbc better learn history. _ annexation of crimea. the bbc better learn history. the - annexation of crimea. the bbc better learn history. the part l better learn history. the part population of ukrainian population it. of ukrainian population has 1: ii;i of ukrainian population has sent i;ii ii;i of ukrainian population has sent troops to government has sent troops to the eastern part, that was at the earte" cat that great of the conflict. the start of the conflict. can i ask you — the start of the conflict. can i ask you about _ the start of the conflict. can i ask you about something that 7 rubio 77 rubio said 77 7 rubio said after 77 rubio said after that marco rubio said after that meeting yesterday? the us secretary of state said that in order bring an end to any order to bring an end to any conflict, there has to be concessions made by all sides. russia compromise? it is to say, what has difficult to say, what has yesterday, it has had happened yesterday, it has had three first and it was the the re—establishment of the diplomacy united states diplomacy with united states which is a big precondition everything else. second before everything else. second is that have launched is that they have launched a a process process, a process only ukrainian settlement, which is

is a very 0n is a very national phase. 0n third, that both sides have we need a 7 7we need a relationship the united states and between the united states and russia. all three outcomes russia. alli three outcomes are important �*all of incredibly imoortainther—alt of i i— iii—i i— ii— i— as incredibly imoortainther—alt ot—— i— ii i— —ii —i as the incredibly imoortainther—alt ot—— i— i— i; ;ii —i as the process incredibly imoortainther—alt ot—— i— ii i— —ii —i as the process as incredibly imoortainther—alt ot—— i— i— i; ;ii —i as the process as it that. as for the process as it is, it in a very igsygiytygfs in a veryd'nitial right now. i phase right now. i understand that going _ phase right now. i understand that going on _ phase right now. i understand that going on what _ phase right now. i understand that going on what marco - phase right now. i understand i that going on what marco rubio there has to be said, there has to be made by all am not asking you what i am not asking you what concessions, i am i am not asking you what concessions, iam you concessions, i am asking you for an insight. it concessions, i am asking you for an insight.— for an insight. it is not 'ust for an insight. it is not 'ust for me to i for an insight. it is not 'ust for me to speaki for me to speak about concessions in the negotiations. what about giving back ukrainian _ negotiations. what about giving back ukrainian territory? - negotiations. what about giving back ukrainian territory? why i back ukrainian territory? why should we? — back ukrainian territory? why should we? russian - back ukrainian territory? teeny should we? russian are -7 in these territories for

we to centuries. we suggest to ukrainian several compromises. when say why should we give when you say why should we give back some of ukrainian territory, the answer from ukrainians might be because it is ukrainian and that is ukrainian territory and that is ukrainian territory and that is why russians should give it back. i don't think so. they not back. i don't think so. they - notiust _ back. i don't think so. they - notjust care - back. i don't think so. they - notjust care aboutl should notjust care about normal human rights leg in eastern europe that russians eastern europe thatirussians be full—scale should be full—scale russians and russians speaking population be a population should be a full—scale and part ukrainian society. lhauinqi i. ukrainians in ukrainian society. lhauin to - ukrainians in the ukrainian society. lhauing to l - ukrainians in the eastern some ukrainians in the eastern country in the three years ";ii�* “i the 'a" thee see ii ii ir ,;., — — w —— they grew up speaking and they grew up speaking russian, they russians russian, they regarded russians as their brothers and they have as theiribrothers andithethave to flee because of had to flee because of russian attacks on them.— had to flee because of russian attacks on them. gr ;ii-2252 it is clear attacks on them. ghee ;ii-2:52; $2.7 - it is cleattttat- attacks on them. ghee ;ii-2:52; $2.7 - it is clear that the - clashes, it is clear that the population is to flee. we population is going to flee. we even helped many eastern

to noise to more into russia. “e right now, they going and right now, they are going back, if i am not back, ifi am not mistaken, of those how does ross -- moscow view the - of _ those how does ross -- moscow view the - of tens - view the prospect of tens of thousands of european and non—european troops along the front line? it non-european troops along the front line?— the deal. if are gig]; deal. if europeans are to £th deal. if europeans are to install certain going to install certain gogtingents ukrainians, it means that they are going to constructed bases and infrastructure which does not "fart;'t;e iiiiiihich deer not i i ii i ii ii iiiii i from nato on the deviate from nato being on the was fine winnie with 7777 77was fine with troops �* countries being other countries being positioned in ukraine. i other countries being positioned in ukraine. that they discuss betieii'e that theyrdidi _4,_fi4__,uu....u..;,;.;;; in 55595 that, $h$¥’éié'55§§£§§" , ' ' ' " in the course 55595 that $h$¥’éié'55§§£§§" , ' ' ' "

in the course of london's concept of moscow changes every day. h london's concept of moscow changes every day.- london's concept of moscow changes every day. chggeséevery day. you the code from giving you the code from president trump, the he president trump, the word he used what he is fine with mm e "t, e, assure you that we'will|t assure you that we'will not can assure you that we will not accept for instance contingents can assure you that we will not acce| othernstance contingents can assure you that we will not acce| other countries )ntingents can assure you that we will not acce| other countries of europe are members of nato on the ghg'are'membefs of'nato' - , soul of ukraine. without that of course. — soul of ukraine. without that of course, russia _ soul of ukraine. without that of course, russia could - soul of ukraine. without that| of course, russia could come soul of ukraine. without that| of course, russi. what i come soul of ukraine. without that| of course, russi. what we me bask, que-”fling. for, it is not bask, eq'lflé-�*éiflé for, it is not a ceasefire, it is not temporary ceasefire, it is not a truce, it is overall overall settlement settlement, overall settlement in that should include ukraine countriesin '3 "3? §rizf~f39�*j%%':'5§3% ' 77 countries in europe, united agggguntries in europe. united and the rest under the states and the rest under the wise of because we are not to accept british troops going to accept british troops on the soil. if going to accept british troops on the soil.— going to accept british troops on the soil. if ukrainians want british troops _ on the soil. if ukrainians want british troops on _ on the soil. if ukrainians want british troops on the - on the soil. if ukrainians want british troops on the soil, - on the soil. if ukrainians want british troops on the soil, it . british troops on the soil, it is up to them.—

british troops on the soil, it is up to them. every element of this, is up to them. every element of this. every _ is up to them. every element of this, every presence _ is up to them. every element of this, every presence which - this, every presence which stems from this be stems from this should be agreed by both sides. agreed pyrpetheideerr ~ . be president demand be that president zelensky sounds down as a of peace and condition of peace and are held in ukraine? elfit'fi'fl are wd'fl ukra'flfi’z ' of our eleet'ehe ere wen uereihe’z ' of our leaders has said none of our leaders has said .. so far but we believe that that so far but we believe that he is —— his legitimacy since he is —— his legitimacy has come to an end in the last year, he should have elections. we do not see how we can negotiate with because if puts his underany he puts his signature under any of tomorrow he z -= not be elected as may not be elected as president. this of president. this piece of paper has not much value. but we can go into negotiations with him there is no other way. he ihhefe— is no other way. president, he ifthere— is no other way. president, he was the president, he was democratically elected, we know is martial law in ukraine there is martial law in ukraine russia launched its

because russia launched its full—scale invasion and that is why elections on hold. i why elections are on hold. i think it a big demand from think it is a big demand from americans ukrainian the americans that ukrainian population should express its will, who should the leader will, who should be the leader of ukraine and i'm not sure it be president will be president lelensky. russia accept that however beee ehee�*e eeeeee eeeeee-ee-ee war eeee ehee�*e eeeeee eeeeee-ee-ee war whatever is this war ends, whatever is agreed about territory, ukraine will remain a sovereign state? i will remain a sovereign state? ~ independent state? i think the answer is positive _ independent state? i think the answer is positive to _ independent state? i think the answer is positive to your- answer is positive to your question. we understand that ukraine should exist and we not ehétfa'eh’y” w w " ehétfii'eh’yitf " w " ehétfiieh’yitf n; " ’ho’t’a'eh’y it. wehave " ehétfiieh’y it. wehave very contradictions ri-ht contradictions right now z= -: w ngwiu 5 we will gee what be the but we respect vebae and reeeeet. iail'efeifliefl |n vebae and reeeeet. iail'efeifliefl m the people in population, the problem is the government. if you value and respect them, why have you killed so many of them? because of the regime that is l power— them? because of the regime that is l power right - them? because of the regime that is l power right now. - them? because of the regime that is l power right now. it. an ideology which is

has an ideology which is anti—russian and it has an ideology which is very anti—russian and it has an ideology which is very nationalistic sian and it has an ideology which is very nationalistic and and it has an ideology which is very nationalistic and it1d it has an ideology which is very nationalistic and it is it is very nationalistic and it is fascism, the line is very thin. it does not any if lt dees not make any senseeif .. .. .. .. . a with ee�*: heee e efeeieeeeeite ”if"? m" zelensky, why would innocent ukrainians? you kill innocent ukrainians? president has come to as a president of peace, power as a president of peace, he said he will make peace fee eeie he eill fteiee eeeee fiiifi very fee eeie he gill fieee eeeee fiiffi. very quickly. and then russia very quickly. and then it appeared that he started a war and he has now been leading — -77 start a war. ——e start a war. i am st not start a war. i am 'ust explaining i not start a war. i am 'ust explaining how it i not start a war. i am 'ust explaining how it why explaining how it started. why is that funny? _ explaining how it started. why is that funny? because - explaining how it started. why is that funny? because it - explaining how it started. why is that funny? because it is . explaining how it started. why is that f listen because it is . explaining how it started. why is that f listen but ause it is . explaining how it started. why is that f listen but you it is . explaining how it started. why is that f listen but you it not l i ”argon; is; " 7 this is what has happened hear. this is what has happened before the americans. and before with the americans. and this is the first time they have noticed that they not

have noticed that they are not simply seeing that this is russian propaganda, they have 2—7 ;z :_: and tiqey hear what listeped and theyhear whats e .- — .-. a- .. e. saying. and listeped and theyhear whate e re r rer ree .. re. saying. and from you, bgeped and theyhear whate e re r rer ree .. re. saying. and from you, it we're saying. and from you, it is the same. ll we're saying. and from you, it is the same-— we're saying. and from you, it is the same. if somebody agrees with ou, is the same. if somebody agrees with you. that — is the same. if somebody agrees with you, that means _ is the same. if somebody agrees with you, that means they - is the same. if somebody agrees with you, that means they have l with you, that means they have listened and heard.— listened and heard. yes, they have heard — listened and heard. yes, they have heard and _ listened and heard. yes, they have heard and they - listened and heard. yes, they i have heard and they understand have heardendtheyendexstand we saying. l have heardandtheyeipd - we saying. what we are saying. i remember ou what we are saying. i remember you telling _ what we are saying. i remember you telling a _ what we are saying. i remember you telling a - on - you telling a colleague on in january that russian troops in belarus the russian troops in belarus not be going into would not be going into ukraine, they would be going back to russia and of course, weeks later russia its weeks later russia launched its full—scale invasion, do you people .--...r. e r, people should believe r§7777777fff very ”h very many very many times. i question very many times. i have said at that what ee�*ee ee'e et teet eiee erfief i �* at eeee eeie ee eeee e'fie eeeee' �* at that time. .eeee eele ee eeee'elee eeeee l - at that time.— .eeee eeee ee eeee'eeeee eeee. . at that time. ., , ., knew at that time. 22; russia -a for knew at that timeg - russia pay for? will russia pay for the reconstruction of ukraine? l will russia pay for the reconstruction of ukraine? i am sure that we — reconstruction of ukraine? i am sure that we i playing - reconstruction of ukraine? i am sure that we i playing right . sure that we are playing right �*for sure that we are playing right �* for construction sure that we are playing right �*for construction of now for the construction of parts of it that we believe.

46,000 parts of it that we believe. a6,000 ukrainian soldiers and the un said 12 and a half thousand civilians have been the un said 12 and a half thousand civil i ns have been the un said 12 and a half thousand civil i want ve been the un said 12 and a half thousand civil i want to been the un said 12 and a half thousand civil i want to us an the un said 12 and a half thousand civil i want to us —— killed. again. i want to us —— russia bombing a pizza ask you, russia bombing a pizza rational, shopping mall, a children's hospital, civilian targets. these are not civilian tariets. targets. these are not civilian targets. - peter _ targets. these are not civilian targets. - peter that - targets. these are not civilian targets. - peter that you i targets. the peter that you mentioned was part of the hotel was lqz'fjiili'qéia'iégf which was full of soldiers. especially from