it is the run up to pmqs in yes, it is the run up to pmqs in about ten minutes or so. rishi sunak will be in the house of commons. minister's commons. prime minister's question questions question time. lots of questions . expected israel . it's expected that israel palestine , israel, gaza war, palestine, israel, gaza war, hamas war will dominate the proceedings. >> in fact, we're watching rishi sunak here, leaving 10 downing street going to his range rover after a short break. obviously, we've had all the party conferences recently . so today conferences recently. so today is the first pmqs back . we are is the first pmqs back. we are still joined in the studio here with stephen pound and emma webb. stephen, it's going to dominate, of course, i would imagine, today the middle east conflict. >> i'm pretty sure it was. it's quite interesting because you can't you don't know what the questions are going to be in advance, but you know, who's going to ask the questions. and the first that's going the first question that's going to up on pmqs from to be come up on pmqs is from chris who is this enormous chris law, who is this enormous six snp mp for six foot six ponytail snp mp for dundee. he'll be and you can dundee. so he'll be and you can pretty much guarantee where he'll from. and also he'll be coming from. and also i think the people, which think one of the people, which is well the snp's position is what well the snp's position as you know the humza yousaf

as you know is the humza yousaf position about bringing them in. we'll all, it also we'll have them all, but it also is the government is attacking the government quite viciously. he's an interesting chris. he interesting man, chris. he rode a kilimanjaro and a motorbike up kilimanjaro and came again . a motorbike up kilimanjaro and came again. but a motorbike up kilimanjaro and came again . but there's came back again. but there's also find some relevance in that i >> but just you >> butjust you know, i mean, most most mps are sort of fairly anodyne cookie cutter figures. >> you know, we all tend to be sort of fairly basic and fairly dull. chris law ain't any of those things. however rebecca long—bailey if you remember who those things. however rebecca longcorbyn's if you remember who those things. however rebecca longcorbyn's chosen member who those things. however rebecca longcorbyn's chosen successor,/ho was corbyn's chosen successor, she's actually got a question , she's actually got a question, so that will be interesting. >> mp for salford and eccles in greater manchester. >> mp for salford and eccles in greyou'reanchester. >> mp for salford and eccles in greyou're partester. >> mp for salford and eccles in greyou're part ofer. >> mp for salford and eccles in greyou're part of the world, but >> you're part of the world, but interestingly it could be that she that she would expose the rift that exists because is no friend exists because she is no friend of starmer's right. of keir starmer's right. >> okay. want emma ? >> okay. do we want emma? because of course we don't know. we haven't confirmed yet whether rishi to go out rishi sunak is going to go out to the middle east. there are there are unconfirmed reports that tomorrow to that he might go tomorrow to israel. do you want him to go? >> i think it would be the right thing to i think it be thing to do. i think it would be the right thing to do as an ally

of israel to make a very clear statement of solidarity and support for israel's not only israel's support for israel's not only israwins face of other but in the face of other domestic politicians questioning israel's right to exist. i think it's the right thing for him to do to go out to israel and just remind us of you showed us a tweet earlier from a certain chris williamson. yes saying that the attack on the gaza hospital, which now seems to have not been an israeli airstrike at all, but a rocket that misfired, perhaps, or maybe even intentional sabotage, who knows, by by palestinian , either knows, by by palestinian, either hamas or palestinian islamic jihad? chris williamson , who's a jihad? chris williamson, who's a former mp, said said that this shows that israel has has given up its right to exist . up its right to exist. >> he tweeted, well, chris was chucked out of the labour party, don't forget, but i think it's very wrong. >> was the derby mp wasn't? >> was the derby mp wasn't? >> yeah, he was indeed. but for a very, very short period of time. think it's time. but look, i think it's wrong actually go know when

wrong to actually go know when james cleverly, the foreign secretary, there. gets secretary, was there. he gets caught of an air caught in the middle of an air raid. think it's wrong to go if >> i think it's wrong to go if you go there. >> firstly, it diverts huge amounts of israeli security forces, to protect forces, services to protect these people and the other thing, if rishi sunak goes, then keir to go. then keir starmer has got to go. then you mark dreyfus got to go you know, mark dreyfus got to go expense at taxpayers expense i >> yeah, exactly. >> yeah, exactly. >> and but the thing i mean >> and but the thing is, i mean the taxpayer, i mean obviously i lie night worrying lie awake at night worrying about the taxpayer because, you know, labour know, as a former labour mp, that's however the that's what we did. however the reality what i don't like is reality is what i don't like is the idea of the security forces in israel being diverted from their they face their principle. they face an attack different their principle. they face an attack you different their principle. they face an attack you know, ifferent their principle. they face an attack you know, from tt their principle. they face an attack you know, from syria, fronts. you know, from syria, from lebanon and from gaza. the last thing they is last thing they want is grandstanding photo opportunists last thing they want is grandstiaround,|hoto opportunists last thing they want is grandstiaround, strutting ortunists last thing they want is grandstiaround, strutting arounds coming around, strutting around the country. >> and also i genuinely >> and i also i genuinely worry about security of our prime about the security of our prime minister going out there at the moment. i mean, you know, far be it for me to feel protective of rishi sunak. i'm not always his greatest fan, but actually he is the of this country. why the leader of this country. why would be wading in, going would he be wading in, going over there? he can absolutely. but he can show his solidarity

to the israeli people. >> good leader needs to lead >> a good leader needs to lead from the front. we shouldn't from the front. but we shouldn't be leading. >> we shouldn't leading in >> we shouldn't be leading in terms our terms of our own. >> mean, every country >> i mean, every every country as part of a geopolitical balance has some kind of investment or involvement in their own security in this . and their own security in this. and we've seen the very clear implications of this for terrorism in the west, but also because this relates to the destabilise of the entire region, because iran obviously is trying to well, to say to cause trouble is putting it lightly. we have an interest in being a very clear ally of israel and that is a side from the moral weight of showing support for israel after, like i said earlier , the biggest said earlier, the biggest massacre of jewish people since the holocaust. >> stephen, i don't i think you're too cynical on this. i'm more with emma on this one. i think it's very important that we show solidarity. and if that think it's very important that we shotheilidarity. and if that think it's very important that we shothe primey. and if that think it's very important that we shothe prime minister, that means the prime minister, i don't think that means keir

starmer to go or mark starmer has to go or mark drakeford no, no, i don't drakeford well, no, no, i don't think that at all. and think it means that at all. and i don't think it's just a photo op. i think this is about showing we are behind you and you a country are surrounded you as a country are surrounded by nations that would by other nations that would rather put rather you did not exist, to put it done very it lightly. we've done very well. have we've done that in well. we have we've done that in this country. >> and i've just genuinely concerns diversion concerns me about the diversion of liz but what's of resources. liz but what's interesting at the moment in parliament at this minute, they're welsh they're discussing welsh questions about going questions and talk about going from to the from the banal to the terrifying. they're terrifying. so they're discussing, you know, road widening wales at the widening in south wales at the present, very important, or 6 present, very important, 5 or 6 minutes. want to minutes. well, if you want to get of south wales, possibly get out of south wales, possibly yeah. the next few yeah. but in the next few minutes we'll suddenly be going when comes up and asks when chris law comes up and asks his question. and it's this extraordinary juxtaposition his question. and it's this extrbanal,|ry juxtaposition his question. and it's this extrbanal, you ixtaposition his question. and it's this extrbanal, you ixtaposthe1 his question. and it's this extrbanal, youixtaposthe daily the banal, you know, the daily and after all, possibly and what is after all, possibly and what is after all, possibly an existential threat not just to this country, to global to this country, but to global security. it's that scary. >> terrifying. >> and that's terrifying. >> and that's terrifying. >> also about jewish >> it's also about the jewish community well. and community here, as well. and i think what is equally as think that what is equally as important that we do not have important is that we do not have a situation , as we saw in the a situation, as we saw in the last week of multiple jewish

schools in london, having to close because they there because of security threats. so i would in one sense, it's important . in one sense, it's important. >> rishi sunak, go and visit all these jewish schools here. he should do both . the jewish should do both. the jewish community here. i think it's more important than anything else on the agenda. >> think done it, to be >> i think he's done it, to be fair the i think he has fair to the man, i think he has actually visited the schools, the community trust. the community safety trust. >> move on right the community safety trust. >> pmqs. move on right the community safety trust. >> pmqs. it'snove on right the community safety trust. >> pmqs. it's going)n right the community safety trust. >> pmqs. it's going to right the community safety trust. >> pmqs. it's going to belt the community safety trust. >> pmqs. it's going to be the after pmqs. it's going to be the live desk with mark longhurst and tomson mark. what and pip tomson hi, mark. what have coming up today, as have you got coming up today, as you've been discussing, will be reacting minister's reacting to prime minister's questions those reports reacting to prime minister's quesrishi those reports reacting to prime minister's quesrishi timay reports reacting to prime minister's quesrishi timay indeed that rishi sunak may indeed be travelling the middle east, travelling to the middle east, perhaps early tomorrow. perhaps as early as tomorrow. >> meanwhile, foreign secretary perhaps as early as tomorrow. >> mecleverly foreign secretary perhaps as early as tomorrow. >> me cleverly warning secretary perhaps as early as tomorrow. >> me cleverly warning that etary perhaps as early as tomorrow. >> me cleverly warning that tool james cleverly warning that too many to conclusions james cleverly warning that too mathat to conclusions james cleverly warning that too mathat gaza to conclusions james cleverly warning that too mathat gaza hospital conclusions james cleverly warning that too mathat gaza hospital explosion ns on that gaza hospital explosion and cool heads must prevail and that cool heads must prevail . so we'll have our own team of cool heads with analysis throughout the afternoon in london, tel aviv and in washington. robert fox, defence editor evening standard, editor of the evening standard, will be with us. henry smith, mp , member of commons foreign

, member of the commons foreign affairs select committee, and also from israel, tal heinrich from benjamin netanyahu's own private office, to give us the very latest reaction after president biden's visit. what direction for the middle east. we'll have the latest live for you here on the live desk. >> thank you, mark. stay with gb news all day. we've got about three minutes away from pmqs. steven, let me ask you, what issues raised today in issues might be raised today in relation middle east, relation to the middle east, which be very which are going to be very difficult sunak to handle? difficult for sunak to handle? i'm thinking particularly protest country, perhaps protest in this country, perhaps welcoming from the welcoming refugees from the area. >> one of the things that will certainly come up is this horrific sight we saw over the weekend of people erecting a scaffold around the cenotaph and so will asked and he'll be so he will be asked and he'll be pressured by people to pressured by some people to actually ban lot of actually ban a lot of pro—palestinian demonstrations, actually ban a lot of pro—p i .estinian demonstrations, actually ban a lot of pro—p i .estini he demonstrations, actually ban a lot of pro—p i .estini he should trations, actually ban a lot of pro—p i .estini he should resistls, which i think he should resist because, except because, you know, except for the actually putting the idea of actually putting that the centre that structure around the centre , which is disgusting and vile and, know, and that just and, you know, and that is just so insulting you to so insulting to, you know, to the war dead. so i'm pretty sure that's what asked. that's what he'll be asked. >> what you think, emma? >> what do you think, emma?

>> what do you think, emma? >> i think agree with stephen. >> i think i agree with stephen. i particularly on the i think that particularly on the cenotaph, because we've seen the common of mps common sense group of mps pushing that to be banned, pushing for that to be banned, to able to hold protests to not be able to hold protests around cenotaph way. around the cenotaph in that way. and people see this and i think many people see this as extremely insulting. >> explain what it was. we >> just explain what it was. we don't have pictures of it at the moment, course, because we're moment, of course, because we're looking that's looking at the bill. that's pmqs. to explain to pmqs. but just to explain to people who don't know what happened at the weekend around the cenotaph. >> a protest that >> so there was a protest that took whitehall, took place in whitehall, and now, there is there now, of course, there is there is a place in whitehall where protests frequently take protests very frequently do take place. been there place. anyone who's been there will that there's a kind of will see that there's a kind of enclosure for that. but this was a stage mysteriously a stage that mysteriously was given erected given permission to be erected right in front on top of the cenotaph, essentially with palestinian jeremy cenotaph, essentially with palesti| addressed jeremy cenotaph, essentially with palesti|addressed a jeremy cenotaph, essentially with palesti|addressed a crowd tremy cenotaph, essentially with palesti|addressed a crowd totally corbyn addressed a crowd totally of palestinian flags. one israeli supporter later came through with a an israeli flag and was allegedly threatened by the protesters who ran after him and apparently threatened to behead him. one of them, it seems, had a knife. so the

objection here is that it's extremely insulting to put any kind of political protest. but i think particularly this given that many of the people who are commemorated at the cenotaph are those who died fighting fascism. absolutely. to be essentially occupied . and what i think was occupied. and what i think was extremely an extremely symbolic way by by a protest with many in the crowd who would have been celebrating the massacre of jews. >> and don't forget, there's only three words on the cenotaph the glorious dead and i think every time i walk past the senator, used to walk past it senator, i used to walk past it every my way to work. and every day on my way to work. and i lutyens magnificent i looked at lutyens magnificent structure. actually used to i looked at lutyens magnificent stru(my>. actually used to i looked at lutyens magnificent stru(my head tually used to i looked at lutyens magnificent stru(my head and.y used to i looked at lutyens magnificent stru(my head and justed to i looked at lutyens magnificent stru(my head and just think, bow my head and just think, thank god, thank the country that were prepared to that people were prepared to give freedom and give their lives for freedom and sacrifice against sacrifice the war against fascism. different it is today. >> yeah. and one of the people who was one of the organisers of that particular demonstration at the interviewed in the weekend was interviewed in the weekend was interviewed in the media and he said, we will do this every weekend the do this every weekend until the war and we could be war ends. and we could be looking at a year of every single weekend of the centre of london brought to a standstill

by palestinian . by people waving palestinian. >> we draw a line now. we draw the line here and now we've got a crisis. this is not on of identity the west. identity here in the west. >> sure of who we are? >> are we sure of who we are? i think culturally, i think very difficult. >> it's very clear that in london there is no cohesive sense identity anymore. sense of identity anymore. >> , rishi sunak, as we say, >> well, rishi sunak, as we say, will be taking to the floor imminently for prime minister's questions this morning. it everybody's coming back from the break from their conferences as well. there will be a lot of emotion in the room as anybody who's had this discussion, even with friends and family, about theissue with friends and family, about the issue in the middle east. no doubt tensions in this room will also running people also be running high. people are very positions . let's very entrenched positions. let's go live to the house of commons. here we go. >> this is chris north telling us about to ask the first question about the report have been shot by the scenes at al—ahli hospital. >> my honourable >> well, as my honourable friend, the foreign secretary has said, we are working independently and with our allies out what

allies to found out what has happened. sure that happened. i'm sure that honourable be honourable members will be raising with raising further questions with me session . and me during today's session. and mr speaker, this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues others in colleagues and others in addition to my duties in this house. have further such house. i shall have further such meetings today . this law. meetings later today. this law. >> thank mr speaker. may >> thank you, mr speaker. may i associate and all of my associate myself and all of my party here with the horrors and unfolding bombing unfolding tragedy of the bombing last night gaza, of the last night in gaza, of the hospital ? mr speaker, rafah hospital? mr speaker, the rafah border crossing from besieged hospital? mr speaker, the rafah bordeinto ssing from besieged hospital? mr speaker, the rafah bordeinto egyptfrom besieged hospital? mr speaker, the rafah bordeinto egypt has besieged hospital? mr speaker, the rafah bordeinto egypt has beenzged hospital? mr speaker, the rafah bordeinto egypt has been hitd hospital? mr speaker, the rafah bordeinto egypt has been hit by gaza into egypt has been hit by several israeli airstrikes, causing absolute terror for those who urgently need this crossing to escape. nadia crossing open to escape. nadia el—nakla, an elected councillor in my city of dundee and the wife of scotland's first minister, has had to take calls from her parents. elizabeth and majid, who, like all others trapped in gaza, have been describing the horrors of death and indiscriminate killings everywhere. members of her family were hit yesterday by a rocket from a drone, and nadia's mother was saying a final goodbye this morning, adding last night was the end for me . last night was the end for me. better if my heart stops and then i'll be at peace . i can't

then i'll be at peace. i can't take another night . then i'll be at peace. i can't take another night. mr then i'll be at peace. i can't take another night . mr speaker, take another night. mr speaker, with military action intensifying and the death toll rapidly rising, the prime minister's first responsibility must be to bring british citizens home. so can the prime minister please give his personal assurances that every single step is being taken to open the rafah crossing for both humanitarian aid and for uk nationals like nadia's family to flee? >> here, here, here. mr speaker, i've thought, of course, the thoughts of everyone in this house will be though, with those families affected by what is happening in israel and in gaza. and i can give the honourable gentleman that assurance that we are doing everything our are doing everything in our power to the safety of power to ensure the safety of british nationals are british nationals that are caught this, caught up in all of this, including calls with leaders including my calls with leaders across region , particularly across the region, particularly around opening the rafah border crossing, which is why i prioritised talking to president sisi week . and we continue sisi last week. and we continue to have dialogue both with the israelis the egyptians about israelis and the egyptians about the rafah crossing. >> so future .

>> so future. >> so future. >> mr speaker, i'm proud to live in the most successful multiracial democracy in the world. >> but it does it saddens me, and i think it shames this whole house that british jews have been subject to such vile abuse and hatred in recent days . and hatred in recent days. anti—semitism and all hate crimes. they fly in the face of british values , and we should british values, and we should not allow for events abroad, no matter how horrific they are to be used to sow seeds of division in our own country. so whilst i welcome all the actions that my right honourable friend is taking to fight hate crime, to bnng taking to fight hate crime, to bring people together, may i ask him to consider urgently an immediate and specific policy of revoking the visas of any foreign national that commits an act of anti—semitism or any other hate crime? >> yes , mr speaker , i completely >> yes, mr speaker, i completely agree with my right honourable friend who himself has done so

much over the years to fight anti—semitism and the increase in incidents we've seen over the past week is utterly sickening. >> and this government will do whatever it takes to keep our jewish communities safe. that's why we've provided an additional £3 million of funding to support the communities security trust. £3 million of funding to support the nweimunities security trust. £3 million of funding to support the we are 1ities security trust. £3 million of funding to support the we are workingcurity trust. £3 million of funding to support the we are working with' trust. £3 million of funding to support the we are working with the st. and we are working with the police ensure that hate crime police to ensure that hate crime and glorification of terror and the glorification of terror is met with full force of is met with the full force of the law under existing the law under our existing immigration rules , we do have immigration rules, we do have the power to cancel a person's presence in the uk if it is not conducive to the public good. mr speaken conducive to the public good. mr speaker, not tolerate speaker, we will not tolerate this hatred , not in our country, this hatred, not in our country, not in this century. leader of the opposition keir starmer . the opposition keir starmer. >> thank you, mr speaker. >> thank you, mr speaker. >> can i start by warmly welcoming the new member for rutherglen and hamilton west ? welcoming the new member for rutherglen and hamilton west? mr speaken rutherglen and hamilton west? mr speaker, the news last night of hundreds killed at the baptist hospital in gaza is incredibly distressing , but it's much worse

distressing, but it's much worse for the people of gaza . their for the people of gaza. their fear that there's no place of safety is profound. international law must be upheld and that means hospitals and civilian lives must be protected . last night, the foreign secretary said the uk will work with our allies to find out what has happened. i know this only happened last night, but can the prime minister please tell us when he thinks he might be able to update the house on progress with that work ? prime minister, with that work? prime minister, i know the whole house will have been shocked by the scenes that al—ahli hospital, any loss of innocent life is a dreadful tragedy and everyone will be thinking both of those who have lost their lives and the families that they leave behind. >> we should not rush to judgement before we have all the facts on this awful situation session. will know session. every member will know that the words say here have that the words we say here have an impact this house. an impact beyond this house. this morning i met with the

national security adviser, but also chair of the joint also the chair of the joint intelligence i can intelligence committee. i can tell gentleman intelligence committee. i can tell intelligence gentleman intelligence committee. i can tell intelligence services leman intelligence committee. i can tell intelligence services have1 our intelligence services have been rapidly analysing the evidence to independently establish the facts . we are not establish the facts. we are not in a position at this point to say more than that, but i can tell him we are working at pace, but also co—operating and collaborating with our allies on this issue. as we look to get to the of the situation and the bottom of the situation and we will also continue all our efforts to humanity, korean we will also continue all our effcintoo humanity, korean we will also continue all our effcinto the humanity, korean we will also continue all our effcinto the regionmity, korean we will also continue all our effcinto the region .|ity, korean aid into the region. >> keir starmer i thank the prime minister for his answer. the terrible last night the terrible news last night came as we are still mourning the terrorist attack on israel last week . jews taken hostage , last week. jews taken hostage, mutilated, slaughtered and yesterday i met the families of some of the british hostages held by hamas . every minute of held by hamas. every minute of every hour of every day , they every hour of every day, they hope for good news, but fear the worst . they know the lives of worst. they know the lives of their loved ones are in the hands of murderers. it's

unimaginable agony. israel has a right, a duty to defend itself from hamas does keep its people safe and bring hostages home. but isn't it clear that if hamas had a single concern for human life, a single concern for the safety of the palestinian people, then they would never have taken these hostages and they should release them immediately . we well, mr immediately. we well, mr speaken immediately. we well, mr speaker, it is important consistently for us to remember that israel has suffered a shockingly brutal terrorist attack. >> and it is hamas and hamas alone that is responsible for this conflict. our thoughts are rightly with those who have been taken hostage and their families . the distress they are feeling will be unimaginable for all those affected. i will be meeting with some of the families and offering them all the support of the british government to get their relatives home. we are working around the clock with our partners and allies to secure

their freedom and importantly , their freedom and importantly, in amongst my other regional calls , i spoke specifically with calls, i spoke specifically with the emir of qatar yesterday on this very issue, which we discussed at length . the qatari discussed at length. the qatari government is taking a lead and working intensely to help release hostages, using their contacts in the region. and we are working very closely with them to ensure the safe return of the british hostages. >> starmer thank you, mr >> keir starmer thank you, mr speaker . speaken >> yesterday i also met charities with staff working in gaza and heard their accounts of the harrowing humanitarian crisis as children fleeing their homes, hospitals barely able to function . the lights are going function. the lights are going out and the innocent civilians of gaza are terrified that they will die in the darkness , out of will die in the darkness, out of sight, in national law must always be followed . hamas are always be followed. hamas are not the palestinian people and the palestinian people are not

hamas . does he agree that hamas. does he agree that medicines, food, fuel and water must get into gaza immediately? this is an urgent situation and innocent palestinians need to know that the world is not just simply watching , but acting to simply watching, but acting to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe . catastrophe. >> mr speaker, as i said on monday, an acute humanitarian crisis is unfolding to which we must respond. it is right that we support the palestinian people because they are victims of hamas, too. yeah yeah, yeah. and that is why we have provided a further £10 million in humanitarian aid for people in the region. and we are working through pre—emptively moving aid and relief teams to egypt, specifically to the el arish airfield. we are working with local partners like the egyptian red crescent and the united nations, primarily , and nations, primarily, and deploying navy assets to the region, as well as exploring how we can support logistical requirements points. and i've

also raised this issue of humanitarian access in all of my conversations as a priority with every leader in the region and we will continue working with them to get aid to where it is needed as quickly as possible . needed as quickly as possible. starmer thank you, mr speaker. >> as has already been alluded to since hamas's terrorist attack, our country has seen a disgusting rise in anti—semitism. jewish businesses attacked jewish schools marked with red paint and jewish families hiding who they are . families hiding who they are. and we've seen an appalling surge in islamophobia , racist surge in islamophobia, racist graffiti, more mosques forced to ramp up security. british muslims and palestinians spoken to as if they were terrorists . to as if they were terrorists. does he agree with me that every member of this house has a duty, a duty to work in their constituency and across the country to say no to this hate

and to ensure every british jew and to ensure every british jew and every british muslim knows that they can live their life free from fear and free from discrimination here in their own country . country. >> mr speaker, all of us in this house can play our part in stamping out those who seek to cause division and hate in our society . we will make sure that society. we will make sure that we continue funding. as i said, the community security trust, but also the equivalent protective security grant to protective security grant to protect mosques and other places of worship for the islamic community in the uk. that funding was increased earlier this year. we will also remain in dialogue with the police to make sure that they are aware of the full tools at their disposal to arrest those who perpetrate hate crimes, incite racial or other religious violence. there is no place for that in our society and i know this house will stand united in making sure that those who do this face the full force of the law. >> yes, sir. >> yes, sir. >> thank you, mr speaker. we do

not want this conflict to harm us here at home, and we do not want it to escalate in the middle east, where there has been too much bloodshed, too much darkness for too long, a two state solution, a palestinian state alongside a safe and secure israel, feels more distant than ever. but it remains the only way through . remains the only way through. does the prime minister agree that because hope is at its thinnest, we must work our hardest to ensure the voices of division and despair are sidelined , and that, however sidelined, and that, however difficult it seems, the hope of a politico path to peace is maintained . maintained. >> mr speaker , it is precisely >> mr speaker, it is precisely because it is that vision of a more hopeful, peaceful future that hamas tried to destroy that we must redouble our efforts to try and bring that future about and all our conversations that both myself and the foreign

secretary have had with regional leaders, we've emphasised our commitment to making sure that we make progress on all the avenues that will lead towards that peaceful future. and that has been a feature of both mine and the foreign secretary's dialogue. and confident that dialogue. and i'm confident that there willingness the there is willingness in the region not to escalate this crisis dealing with crisis beyond dealing with hamas, the terrorist organisation , but also to strive organisation, but also to strive very hard to a future where palestinians and israelis can coexist peacefully , side by side coexist peacefully, side by side and look fonnard to a future filled with dignity, security and prosperity for osama . and prosperity for osama. >> this is a crisis where lives hangin >> this is a crisis where lives hang in the balance and where the enemies of peace and democracy would like nothing more than for us to become divided and to abandon our values . does the prime minister values. does the prime minister agree that during this grave crisis , as this house must crisis, as this house must strive to speak with one voice in condemnation of terror , in in condemnation of terror, in support of israel's right to

self defence and for the dignity of all human life that cannot be protected without humanitarian access to those suffering in gaza. access to those suffering in gaza . and the constant gaza. and the constant maintenance of the rule of international law . international law. >> mr speaker, i agree . we will, >> mr speaker, i agree. we will, in this house speak with one voice in condemning hamas for perpetrating a shockingly brutal terrorist attack and causing untold suffering on many and as the honourable gentleman said , the honourable gentleman said, we stand united in supporting israel's right to defend itself, to protect its people, and to act against terrorism. unlike hamas, the israeli president has made it very clear that their armed forces will operate in accordance with international law, and we will continue to urge the israelis to take every precaution to avoid harming civilians whilst remembering , civilians whilst remembering, importantly, in this house that it is hamas that is cruelly embedding itself in civilian populations. >> and carter , i very much, mr

>> and carter, i very much, mr speaken >> and carter, i very much, mr speaker, and can i associate myself with the words of the prime minister and can i commend the prime minister and the foreign secretary the work foreign secretary for the work they find they are doing to find a peaceful settlement in the middle east. >> mr speaker, can i welcome the prime decision prime minister's decision to provide billion of provide £12 billion worth of funding high speed funding for east west high speed rail lines between manchester and liverpool , rail lines between manchester and liverpool, and his focus on great northern towns as well as cities in the north? will the prime minister ensure that towns like warrington benefit fully from this rail upgrade and that a hub station at warrington bank quay linking northern powerhouse rail to the west coast main line remains a key part of the network north well, can i thank my honourable friend for his continued campaign to improve rail services in warrington? >> and he's right. we will be investing £12 billion to better connect manchester and liverpool . this would allow for the delivery of northern powerhouse rail. exactly as previously

planned, including high speed lines which would provide better rail connections for the people living in northern towns like warrington . and i know that warrington. and i know that he'll be discussing this further when he meets with the rail minister. >> snp leader stephen flynn . >> snp leader stephen flynn. yeah, yeah. >> thank you, mr speaker. we all continue to unequivocally condemn , um, the abhorrent condemn, um, the abhorrent terrorist attack on the jewish people and the israeli state. >> we fully support the defeat of hamas and of course the safe return of all hostages who have been taken. >> so , too, i hope, do we all >> so, too, i hope, do we all share the same common humanity of protecting civilian homes and condemning any acts of collective punishment against the palestinian people ? the palestinian people? >> in that regard, many of the images emanating from gaza in recent days will shock us all to the core. so can i ask the prime minister, will he join with us on these benches and call for an

immediate ceasefire in the region . here region. here >> mr speaker, we believe that israel does have a right to defend itself, to protect its people and to act against terrorism and ensure that the awful attack that we've seen from hamas cannot happen again . from hamas cannot happen again. and unlike hamas, the israelis, including the president, have made it clear that their armed forces will operate in accordance with international law. and we will continue to urge the israelis to take every precaution to avoid harming civilian. >> as stephen flynn . >> as stephen flynn. >> as stephen flynn. >> mr speaker, my ask for a ceasefire is done with all sincerity, sincerity to protect civilians. but also to ensure that we have the safe creation of humanitarian corridors, humanitarian corridors, which will allow for food, for water, and for vital medicines to get into gaza , but also for innocent into gaza, but also for innocent civilians caught up in this

terrible conflict , not to flee terrible conflict, not to flee in respect of those who wish to flee. can i ask the prime minister what early consideration, if any , his consideration, if any, his government has given to the creation of a refugee resettlement scheme akin to that previously put in place for syrian nationals and afghani nationals and of course, ukrainian nationals as well? >> mr speaker, i'm proud that we are already one of the most significant contributors to the united nations efforts to support palestinian refugees and our funding supports around 5.8 million refugees annually at and on monday we announced a significant increase in our funding of aid to the region, including to the un, to support refugees with regard to humanitarian aid, as i said before, we are already working through pre—emptive moving aid and relief teams into the region, but critically , the most region, but critically, the most important thing is to open up access for that aid to get into

gaza, which is why our conversations with the egyptians and others are so critical. while we continue to work closely with allies to find every way to get that aid to the people who need it as quickly as possible. >> stephen crabb thank you, mr speaken >> so we've got prime minister's questions dominated by this issue of israel and gaza . issue of israel and gaza. >> stephen flynn there pressing the prime minister on the issue of a ceasefire. but rishi sunak with this repeated line that israel had the right to act in its own defence and these agreed that he said israel had made that he said israel had made that its forces would act within international law . earlier, in international law. earlier, in response to some other questions, the prime minister indicating that he'd spoken to the emir of qatar using contacts in the region as regards the families of those members or those britons still being held in gaza. but no direct comment on these reports that he may be

travelling to the region as early as tomorrow. we're joined in the studio by a member of the foreign affairs select committee, henry smith, tory mp . committee, henry smith, tory mp. henry, clearly they're not going to comment for security reasons on what he's going to be doing, but there is the question what benefit could that bring ? well, benefit could that bring? well, i do think it's important that senior members of the international community do show support for israel during this very difficult period. >> we've had the foreign secretary obviously visiting israel last week, anthony blinken, the us secretary of state, and president biden there today the uk has a significant role to play internationally , role to play internationally, historically and in the future and i do think it is important that that the uk prime minister is there to be able to show that support , but also to look

support, but also to look towards us solutions by working with our interlocutor who's in the middle east on something perhaps more specific in terms of those communications with qatar and that is the ten or so people, the britons that we believe are still being held in gaza. well, the qataris, i understand, are looking to perhaps broker an agreement whereby hostages might be released. and obviously anything that can be done to release those hostages is, i think , very those hostages is, i think, very important. but beyond that, i think engaging thing with others in the region . the king of in the region. the king of jordan was in london just a few days ago . so engaging with with days ago. so engaging with with the jordanians as well is very important as it is with the egyptians to find hopefully a solution in going fonnard where peace can be restored. and that that those innocent people who are affected on all sides of this conflict can get the relief and support that they need. >> what pressure do you think

rishi sunak will bring to bear on this growing humanitarian crisis , crisis in gaza, getting crisis, crisis in gaza, getting those supplies in? >> well, i think britain is very well respected and in the region , and i think that's why we have a particularly important role to play a particularly important role to play to ensure that not only are we promoting a peaceful solution to the tragedy that has occurred over the last ten days or so in israel and gaza, but also to make sure that those innocent civilians who have been so desperately affected do actually get the support that they need. and i think britain, again , is and i think britain, again, is showing that it walks tall on the international stage. >> i think i'm right in saying you were on the international development committee as well before in the previous parliaments, i was. so there is this that is that this question and that is that international aid has been provided in substantial quantities to gaza and to the hamas administration when that's been running it for these recent years. and it has failed to

achieve , if you like, that achieve, if you like, that phrase, soft diplomacy. so despite obviously the human need of water and medicines and so on, is there does it have to be a reassessment about whether international aid works in terms of politics? >> yes , i think there does need >> yes, i think there does need to be. i think there's a distinction to be made in terms of emergency assistance to people who perhaps have been the victims of an earthquake or a conflict situation like this. and then long term international assistance to the countries to and administrations of various parts of the world. and i think it's deeply, deeply disturbing . it's deeply, deeply disturbing. ring of reports that european union aid towards gaza water pipes, for example, were actually converted into missile launching tubes. so i do think there needs to be a very serious reassessment of how our international assistance is provided and the reasons that it

is provided for something. >> stephen flynn raised was called , was for a refugee, called, was for a refugee, resettled scheme, which some people would say is not unreasonable given what we've done for afghanis, for ukrainians , is something that ukrainians, is something that humza yousaf raised yesterday, didn't he? saying he would welcome refugees to scotland ? welcome refugees to scotland? >> well, the scottish government often say that they welcome refugees , but when it actually refugees, but when it actually comes to the distribution of refugees around the united kingdom, they are some of the worst in terms of stepping up and providing assistance. it's often south—east england that actually in london that takes the vast majority . the vast majority. >> could a refugee resettlement scheme be a possibility? >> i don't think that is a realistic possibility . realistic possibility. >> every time there is a conflict situation in the world, we can't sort of transplant large of that population large numbers of that population and just move them to the. but we welcome ukrainians and we well , i think we welcome ukrainians and we well, i think we do we welcome ukrainians and we well , i think we do need to well, i think we do need to assess the situation. the syrian civil war over the last decade, half the population of syria

have left that country and many are now in europe. that is an unsustainable situation given there will be crises. sadly around the world that go on. and we do have we have this debate about limited housing, limited pubuc about limited housing, limited public services, and we cannot just keep on transplanting population. >> we're just going to break away from pmqs because we're getting pictures in of armour on the move . i think that getting pictures in of armour on the move. i think that is a tank that we can see there. we believe this is south of israel , believe this is south of israel, all close to the border . of all close to the border. of course, very ace assessments of whether there will be a full scale ground offensive or whether there will be a more staged operation , if you like. staged operation, if you like. but clearly, the other aspect is what they spoke about in pmqs, and that is the situation with the hospital there and trying to find out in this fog of war exactly what's gone on and what the next step should be. >> well, i think he said it. it is the fog of war. and of

course, the trouble is, is an incident happens. you report it here on gb news other outlets as well. and immediately we you here on gb news other outlets as well. iall immediately we you here on gb news other outlets as well. iall of|mediately we you here on gb news other outlets as well. iall of usediately we you here on gb news other outlets as well. iall of us armchaire you here on gb news other outlets as well. iall of us armchair expert know, all of us armchair expert is sitting home take to is sitting at home take to twitter or as is now , and twitter or as it is now, and opine as to what's happened. and i think that actually isn't very helpful. we don't know whether it was an idf rocket that hit the hospital. we don't know if it was a hamas rocket missile firing or we don't know. and i think this is a possibility. whether it was deliberate action by hamas. we know that they used human beings as shields. they they care little for human life or a so—called false flag attack or a so—called false flag attack or a so—called false flag attack or a false flag attack. we simply don't know. >> we don't have that rishi sunak did say in pmqs the uk intelligence services are rapidly analysing the evidence to find out what happened. one assumes that we do have capable city looking at the certainly the television pictures that have been put out there and what the idf are looking at that we can work back to try and find

out forensically what happened. >> i think it's important to try and find out exactly what happens , particularly when there happens, particularly when there is a major incident where a hospital is hit by a rocket. we do need to try and get to the truth of that. but as you correctly said, in the fog of war, that is extremely difficult to do. and what we need to guard against is taking actions or making statements before we have the full facts. >> but the bottom line is, is that strike and we know there's different versions of this, but whoever is behind it or whatever caused it is going to ramp up tension. >> even more. and it's already awful. >> and that is exactly what the terrorists want. they want division and i think one of the things we haven't spoken about is iran in this situation . the is iran in this situation. the iranian regime has been increasingly alarmed at growing accords, the abraham accords , accords, the abraham accords, the agreements with saudi arabia, particularly between between the gulf states and the growing and the growing agreements with saudi arabia .

agreements with saudi arabia. thatis agreements with saudi arabia. that is an existential threat to their wanting a destabilised middle east and a destabilised world. do they want to get drawn into this? >> iran? >> iran? >> iran? >> i think iran are the instigators of this. i think they are the ones who have been supporting hamas. they're the ones, i think, who are probably the inspiration and providing a lot of the equipment to launch such an attack and other groups to the north of israel, such as hezbollah as well. >> but washington has been very cautious about making any direct correlation direct link . correlation or direct link. >> well, and so is the british government as well. and yesterday questioning the yesterday i was questioning the minister of the middle east, minister of the middle east, minister in the foreign affairs committee, about why, for example, we're not proscribed saying the irgc, which is the sort of the extreme wing of the iranian government that is the political wing rather than the political wing rather than the political wing rather than the political wing that is causing tensions here on the streets of

london. as we saw last weekend . london. as we saw last weekend. we really need to get real with our response to iran, whether that's washington or london. they are as big a threat to western democracy as russia or china are. >> but why do you think hezbollah have not moved? because very early on, the indications were or there'll be a war on two fronts and that there's some kind of correlation between hamas and hezbollah. and iran's pulling the strings. they are still not moved in the north or across the border into north israel. >> well, i think their ability to act is probably a factor on this. and i think there's a lot of waiting and seeing what happens on all sides of this conflict in the middle east. but i think absolutely what tehran wants to see is instant clarity in the middle east. they don't want to see peace at and they are a very malign force in this situation . situation. >> can i also ask you about at what some people are saying is the growing threat here?

>> i mean, mi5 saying they're paying >> i mean, mi5 saying they're paying very close attention to islamists in the uk. >> there are people i've spoken to them who say i can't bear to watch what's going what's going on in the middle east. >> but people need to understand there could be ramifications for us here. we do need to be very aware of what's going on. >> well, as a parent, it is absolutely heart wrenching to see some of the scenes and some of the reports just awful reports coming from the region and we do i think, need to understand what the situation is. but we also need to guard against raising tensions in our own community as there's quite a division in this country as to whether people are supporting palestine an or supporting israel . it's not as israel. it's not as straightfonnard as that . straightfonnard as that. >> both sides, hamas is not palestine and hamas is not palestine and hamas is not palestine . palestine. >> and there does need to be a distinction made . and between

distinction made. and between that. distinction made. and between that . but i distinction made. and between that. but i think what we saw on the streets of london over the weekend was very disturbing. yesterday or the other day i raised in parliament that the fact that there was that protest stage inappropriately put up next to the cenotaph, that national monuments were being destroyed by by protesters. more protests. >> we believe, probably this afternoon in at some stage. so a very difficult question for the police as to what they allow and what they don't allow, because part of the equation is that we have free speech in this country and people have the right to have their voices heard on. >> well, people do have the right to free speech in this country and absolutely rightly so. but what they don't have the right do is intimidate right to do is intimidate people, to threaten people to people, to threaten people or to damage public property, to disrespect our war dead by erecting a stage right next to the cenotaph, who on earth gave permission that that , the cenotaph, who on earth gave permission that that, i permission from that for that, i suspect it was sadiq khan, the mayor who on mayor of london. but who on

earth permission for that? earth gave permission for that? there does need to be a there really does need to be a reckoning for that. yeah it was marked at the beginning here of pmqs that both rishi sunak and sir keir starmer wanted the house to speak with one voice to and get that cross—party accord . and get that cross—party accord. >> and we've not seen that for some time now. >> well, i think there is a humanity response from most members of parliament and the vast majority of people in this country that see huge suffering of innocent people caught up in this conflict . and of course , we this conflict. and of course, we want to deescalate that and we want to deescalate that and we want to deescalate that and we want to support those people who , through no fault of their own, have become caught up in this situation . an but i suspect the situation. an but i suspect the unity that we're seeing in the immediate aftermath of what has happenedin immediate aftermath of what has happened in gaza and israel , happened in gaza and israel, there are different voices

underneath. and i think particularly we see this in the labour party where i think there is quite a the leader, of course , keir starmer has come out very strongly. are you talking about jeremy corbyn? but i'm not just jeremy corbyn? but i'm not just jeremy corbyn, not just jeremy corbyn. i think there are large swathes of the labour party where the instinct is not to support jeremy corbyn as a member of the labour party. he made plain. no, made that plain. no, not anymore. but. but anymore. remarkably but. but but. i think that there are large sections of the labour party where perhaps the default position is to support the palestinian position. you know, israel are historically at fault here. we do need to recognise that , but here. we do need to recognise that, but also the here. we do need to recognise that , but also the terrorist that, but also the terrorist hijacking of, of particularly the gaza strip and part of that israeli difficulty is the west bank. >> i think we've got some pictures coming in now of the situation in on the west bank because we understand that there are more protests. well there we

are more protests. well there we are undennay there. and just to explain to people, of course, the palestinian authority party still holds sway there who did actually run gaza until they were ousted effectively, i guess you would say, by hamas and the palestinian president was due to meet with president biden and that has now been cancelled as well. >> president abbas is in a very difficult situation in you know, it's said that he's more loathed by the likes of hamas than they actually loathe the israelis . so actually loathe the israelis. so this is not a binary situation. yeah, nothing that the charge against me is that he's abandoned the cause. >> that's what they say. >> that's what they say. >> you know, what we need to see is a multi state solution to a two state solution in the middle east. the fact was that the west bank once was jordanian, the gaza strip was once egyptian in. i don't know that those countries would want those territories back, might territories back, but that might be solution. ultimately be a solution. but ultimately there need to be there does need to be a palestinian entity that is

international, fully recognised and a safe and secure israel as well . and the reason why i think well. and the reason why i think we're seeing the actions that we are now is because those who want discord and conflict in the middle east don't want to see that growing peace and agreement which we were seeing with the abraham accords, the palestinian flag flying here, substantial number. >> but we should add, this is at the moment a peaceful protest . the moment a peaceful protest. there are speeches and this is a gathering. i mean , could the gathering. i mean, could the situation be that israel has to fight a struggle or a war on three fronts? what's happening in gaza, if anything happens over the border from lebanon and then the west bank erupts as well ? well? >> well, it won't be for the first time if that is the case. i mean, israel is surrounded on three sides by a large numbers of population. that doesn't would it spread their military too thin? the state of israel

shouldn't exist . you know, i shouldn't exist. you know, i think the idf. shouldn't exist. you know, i think the idf . and mossad have think the idf. and mossad have always been sort of considered said to be sort of the absolute best. and i think what is deeply disturbing for the psyche of the israeli state is that they didn't see this coming. and that's why i think the analogies are made with 9/11, where there was a security failure by by the likes of the nsa and the cia, cia before 9/11. i think the fact that the mossad and the idf didn't see this coming is i was slow to react as well, deeply disturbed . yeah to the state of disturbed. yeah to the state of israel . and it must be a very israel. and it must be a very worrying time to be living in israel. >> well, we just lost our pictures there in the west bank, but we'll keep monitoring that for you. henry is with for us this afternoon, a member of the foreign affairs select committee, of course, analysed the is still no

the developments. he is still no news to whether rishi sunak news as to whether rishi sunak will travelling to the middle will be travelling to the middle east. we know that east. but we do know that president biden there. we'll president biden is there. we'll be latest reaction be getting the latest reaction from aviv what he may be from tel aviv on what he may be achieving diplomatically. the latest for here on achieving diplomatically. the latelive for here on

monday to thursdays from six till 930 . till 930. is of the west bank. >> these are the live pictures of gaza . you can see there the of gaza. you can see there the coastal strip down into the distance with the sea on the left hand side. now, you will remember that yesterday we saw rocket fire from to the left of this high rise building . here rocket fire from to the left of this high rise building. here in the foreground, many plumes as those rockets were fired about this time yesterday. no indication of that at the moment. but, of course, the question is , in terms of this question is, in terms of this hospital in gaza , was it rocket hospital in gaza, was it rocket fire from within gaza itself

that fell short and hit that hospital? a central question that's been addressed already at prime minister's questions today. >> and that blast happened as president biden was on his way to israel. >> he says that the blast last night appeared to have been caused by the other team . caused by the other team. >> quite an interesting use of language there. the other team, he said he has been meeting with prime minister benjamin netanyahu . there are very netanyahu. there are very different versions of what happened last night. >> henry smith is still with us here in the studio, a conservative mp and member of the foreign affairs select committee. does it actually matter now in terms of finding the forensic detail of what happened, that the perception has already spread, the reaction has already spread, the reaction has already spread, the reaction has already spread. the blue touch paper, if you like, has been lit. >> i think what we always need to have in the forefront of our minds is those innocent individuals. know, many individuals. you know, many children who have killed or children who have been killed or seriously wounded as a result of

these attacks. that is absolutely what should be paramount. but it does matter to try and find out who who caused that explosion over the hospital. >> we're going to go back to the commons. james cleverly, defence foreign affairs foreign secretary, rather, answering an urgent question at best be incomplete or at worst examples of active disinformation . of active disinformation. >> ian, we are carefully analysing the evidence that has been put in the public domain and other information session, and other information session, and as soon as we have reached a definitive conclusion for ourselves, we will make that public. however there are some things which are not in doubt. as my honourable right, honourable friend, the prime minister set out, hamas carried out a terrorist assault in israel, unprecedented . in that israel, unprecedented. in that country's 75 year history and the whole house united in support of israel's right to defend itself against terrorists . in defending itself, israel must act with professionalism

and with an unwavering commitment to international law. states must take every precaution to minimise civilian casualties and ensure humanitarian support reaches those in need. and i welcome president herzog's unequivocal commitment made both directly to me and in public, that israel is operating in accordance with the rule of international law by embedding themselves in civilian populations, by using innocent palestinians as human shields, by launching thousands of rockets since saturday from one of the most crowded places in the world and preventing civilians from heeding israeli warnings about future areas of operation in hamas reveals themselves and their callous indifference to human life in this tense situation , uk this tense situation, uk diplomacy is relentlessly focussed on our aims, and that

is to support out our nationals in their moment of need and to push and deliver humanitarian support and working to prevent the tensions spilling over into the tensions spilling over into the wider region or playing out on the streets of this country. ihave on the streets of this country. i have travelled to israel. i've engaged with g7 allies, regional partners and will be visiting the regional again the region again later on today because we recognise that this will require intensive effort . none of us intensive effort. none of us know how this complex protracted situation will develop. the government is committed to keeping the house updated bid and both here in the uk and in the region, this this is a time for cool heads and determination to make a positive difference . to make a positive difference. david lammy . well mr speaker, david lammy. well mr speaker, thank you so much for granting

this urgent question. >> i am grateful to the foreign secretary for his engagement with the opposition at this very difficult time . today we stand difficult time. today we stand united in mourning the death of hundreds of innocent palestinian civilians at the al ali mosque , civilians at the al ali mosque, a place of healing hospital hospitals. forgive me , a place hospitals. forgive me, a place of healing because became a scene of destruction. hospitals must always be protected. the death of every civilian palestinian or israeli is an equal tragedy that pushes back the cause of peace when facing an incident of this magnitude, we all have a duty to act responsibly and judiciously as the facts are determined . will the facts are determined. will the facts are determined. will the foreign secretary join me in urging everyone in this house and beyond to be wary of disinformation and to avoid dangerous speculation action before the facts are clear and

on the point that the foreign secretary raises will he also update the house on what he's doing to do to deal with outsized powers that might be seeking to drive division within our own shores? i know that the prime minister and the foreign secretary have rightly said that they are working to establish they are working to establish the facts, looking at intelligence with our allies and that must be right. we note also president biden's comments earlier today. can he confirm if the uk government shares that initial assessment and i ask him to share what information he can with us, either publicly or on privy council terms ? and does privy council terms? and does the foreign secretary agree with me that those responsible for the deaths at the al ahli hospital must be held to account since hamas appalling terrorist attack on israel 11 days ago, labour has been crystal clear. first, we support israel's right to defend itself. rescue hostages and protect its citizens. second, international

law must be followed at all times and third, civilians must not be targeted. aid provided and innocent lives protected . and innocent lives protected. gazais and innocent lives protected. gaza is in the middle of an active humanitarian emergency . active humanitarian emergency. innocent palestinian civilians are terrified for their lives . are terrified for their lives. can the foreign secretary today commit that the government will leave no stone unturned in its diplomatic efforts to secure humanitarian access to food, water, fuel , electricity and water, fuel, electricity and medicines, ensure sure the establishment of humanitarian corridors and the proper protection of humanitarian workers . palestinian civilians workers. palestinian civilians in gaza must know the world is not simply watching , but we are not simply watching, but we are acting on their behalf. you're here, mr speaker. >> the right honourable gentleman makes a number of incredibly important points, and i commend the house to listen to the points that you made, a number of which i will respond to and indeed amplify. he is absolutely right that this is an

incredibly sensitive of situation , not just for the situation, not just for the region itself and our desire to prevent this tragic dodi expanding into a regional conflict remains an absolute priority. and of course, we have a duty as a government and it's a duty as a government and it's a passion, i'm sure, shared by the whole house to ensure that jewish communities in the uk and muslim communities in the uk are safe and feel safe and do not experience ramifications of circumstances far beyond these shores and beyond their control. for that reason , an ever for that reason, an ever everybody, particularly those who have a voice, whether formal or informal, in the public sphere , should be particularly sphere, should be particularly careful of what information they disseminate. they should be, particularly vigil tonight against disinformation and

speculation is never useful. i appreciate date that the house andindeed appreciate date that the house and indeed the country will want to understand what is going on in real time and sometimes the pause that we impose upon ourselves to make sure the information, the government provides is accurate . it can be provides is accurate. it can be frustrating, but i would prefer of course, to be accurate rather than just work at pace . and he than just work at pace. and he is right that there are malign influences seeking to take advantage of this terrible situation. an we do guard ourselves against we take ourselves against that. we take note what president biden has note of what president biden has said, come to our said, but we will come to our own judgement. working on own judgement. we are working on that quickly and we will ensure that quickly and we will ensure that assessment put in that our assessment is put in the domain as soon as we the public domain as soon as we are confident of the details. >> part of house of peter >> part of the house of peter bottomley as the foreign secretary said, we should soon know cause of this know the direct cause of this explosion on. >> i'll send on to him and the prime minister a letter i have received from the worthing islamic society. >> i think jewish people and others in my constituency will

agree with every sentence , but agree with every sentence, but ends up by saying, will agree with every sentence, but ends up by saying , will the ends up by saying, will the government use their government please use their influence to influence and support to encourage peaceful and encourage a peaceful and sustainable resolution that prioritises the rights and well—being of innocent citizens caught up in the onslaught. >> mr speaker, the father of the house makes an incredibly important point, and as a former minister for the middle east, i'm acutely conscious of the implications for islamic communities both in the region and here in the uk, and the protection of those people are as close to our hearts as the protection of jewish people here in the in the uk we cleverly the foreign secretary there reacting to that question, that comment from peter bottomley from his own constituent see there in worthing. >> but the interesting aspect to what mr cleverly has just been talking about is that he came out with this line, i will be visiting the region again today. henry is still with us here in the studio. henry smith, mp and

a member of the foreign affairs select committee. we were thinking that rishi sunak would be going perhaps tomorrow, but mr cleverly indicating he's on his way this afternoon, could that be with the prime minister ? that be with the prime minister? >> i don't know. i suspect the prime minister will be visiting the region soon, but i think it's important that at least the foreign secretary is going back, because i think britain has an important role to play in seeking a solution to this crisis . crisis. >> and only there last week, of course, let's just remember that that indeed so. >> and of course, many people visiting london as well. we mentioned the king of jordan being here a few days ago and conversations going on with the qataris. >> and is your thinking that it is the humanitarian aspect and those hostages really at the front at the moment? because clearly the big diplomatic strings being pulled by strings are being pulled by washington and president biden ? washington and president biden? >> think the >> inevitably, i think the influence of washington is the most acute. let's not forget, it

was under the trump administration that the abraham accords were first brought into effect with some of those gulf states. but i think the united kingdom has an important role to play. we are very well respected kid in the region and as i say, we've got a lot of history. of course , palestine was a british course, palestine was a british mandate before the creation of we were directly involved in 1948. yeah and we have an important role, i think, still to play both in terms of diplomatic efforts to end this conflict, longer diplomatic efforts to end this conflict , longer term resolution conflict, longer term resolution to the problem, although that is a much bigger ask. and in the immediate see i think making sure those hostages are freed and humanitarian help on this humanity help the government is saying that they believe that israel is acting within international law. >> now that is being questioned by un chiefs. it's also being

questioned by by lawyers, by legal scholars, the forcible transfer of civilians. it has been suggested, is not acting within international law . within international law. >> i think it's important that how israel and the idf respond to this is monitored to make sure that international law is being respected as both president biden and the prime minister here has said that did autocracies when they apply , try autocracies when they apply, try and abide by the rules , actually and abide by the rules, actually strengthen the case for democracy? we act in a responsible way and israel is a democracy. the only true democracy. the only true democracy in the middle east. and i expect them to act in accordance with international law . law. >> yeah, and is part of what james cleverly will have to piece together now is the reaction after this attack on

the hospital, the explosion and thatis the hospital, the explosion and that is the position of saudi arabia to the position of egypt , arabia to the position of egypt, qatar, united arab emirates , qatar, united arab emirates, jordan and of course, the reflection on what iran does next. i mean, there's a big jigsaw to put together here at the moment. >> iran and iran's proxies , >> iran and iran's proxies, hamas and hezbollah and others , hamas and hezbollah and others, are winning this conflict in the sense that they have created discord in the middle east. they have created conflict in the middle east. they we are seeing now a pause , i think, from the now a pause, i think, from the likes of saudi arabia in terms of being one of those abraham accords countries. we're even seeing . some some words from seeing. some some words from from long time countries that have been at peace with israel, such as jordan aiden king addressing king abdullah, expressing concern a lot of that they have to do for their domestic population and consumption . othennise, they consumption. othennise, they will find themselves putting in a very difficult situation . an

a very difficult situation. an but right now , the malign forces but right now, the malign forces are winning and we need to remind ourselves of that , that remind ourselves of that, that the likes of iran along with russia and also countries like china , are looking for china, are looking for disharmony . they're looking to disharmony. they're looking to disrupt western democracy , us disrupt western democracy, us and our being in all sorts of ways. and we need to shine a spotlight on that . spotlight on that. >> henry smith, thank you very much for being us. with us this hour from the foreign affairs select committee. of course, james cleverly on james cleverly still there on his breaking news his feet. but that breaking news that is planning to visit the that he is planning to visit the region again today. we'll have the latest for from the very latest for you from westminster. here westminster. stay with us here on desk. on the live desk. >> hi there. it's aidan mcgivern here the met office with here from the met office with the gb news forecast. >> babbitt is moving >> storm babbitt is moving through next days, through over the next few days, bringing windy to bringing wet and windy to weather the uk, weather much of the uk, particularly the north. particularly towards the north. but babbitt been but the reason babbitt has been named because the risk of named is because of the risk of truly exceptional amounts of rainfall eastern scotland rainfall across eastern scotland in particular during thursday

and friday. at first the and into friday. at first the rain is affecting wales, the south of england and during the rest of wednesday that rain moves into west wales, north wales, the midlands as well as eventually northern ireland. it's going to be heavy in the south with strong winds not feeling very pleasant here. further north, the bright day to come for scotland. northern and east england and the winds picking up through the day as well. but nothing particularly severe at this stage. the swirl in the south, though, that's a storm. babbitt and through the night, the heavy rain pushes into northern ireland. could cause impacts here. then cause some impacts here. then northern england, southern scotland, further showery rain emerges in the south and it's a mild night for most of us with a strong wind cloud and outbreaks of rain. but really it's through thursday. that rain just becomes persistent and heavy across eastern scotland in particular angus and aberdeenshire, especially over the higher ground in the east, we're going to see some very, very large

rainfall totals could cause some significant and widespread flooding warnings are in force

>> good afternoon. it is 1:00. this is the live desk on gb news coming up for you this wednesday lunchtime. >> rishi sunak tells the commons the uk is working hard to establish exactly what happened at the gaza baptist hospital. james cleverly, the foreign

secretary, reveals he's travelling back to the middle east. later today, we'll have the latest analysis coming up . the latest analysis coming up. >> earlier, president joe biden arrived in israel and held talks with the israeli prime minister. the us president reiterated his support for israel and blamed last night's hospital explosion on what he referred to as the other team . other team. >> i will have a gb news exclusive with our reporter charlie peters in tel aviv, speaking to a british israeli idf officer who was wounded while fighting the hamas terrorists at a kibbutz in southern israel . southern israel. plus so what impact could this conflict have on uk inflation when it has unexpectedly held steady amid rising fuel prices ? steady amid rising fuel prices? >> what does it all mean? we'll be exploring that with our business and economics editor

liam halligan. first, let's get your headlines with rhiannon . your headlines with rhiannon. >> good afternoon. it's 1:01. your top stories from the gb newsroom . the crisis in gaza and newsroom. the crisis in gaza and israel dominated prime minister's questions today after a month's for break the party conferences. both rishi sunak and sir keir starmer struck a similar tone, condemning the actions of hamas whilst reaffirming israel's right to defend itself . in this, they defend itself. in this, they stood united with the casualties in gaza, mounting . both leaders in gaza, mounting. both leaders expressed their sympathies with the palestinian people following the palestinian people following the overnight blasts at the al ahli arab hospital , the overnight blasts at the al ahli arab hospital, which the overnight blasts at the al ahli arab hospital , which killed ahli arab hospital, which killed 500 people. at prime minister's questions, the labour leader sent his condolences to the people of gaza . people of gaza. >> there fear that there is no place of safety. is a profound international law must be upheld and that means hospitals and

civilian lives must be protected . covid last night the foreign secretary said the uk will work with our allies to find out what has happened. i know this only happened last night, but can the prime minister please tell us when he thinks he might be able to update the house on progress with that work ? prime minister, i. >> i know the whole house will have been shocked by the scenes that al—ahli hospital any loss of innocent life is a dreadful tragedy and everyone will be thinking both of those who have lost their lives and the families that they leave behind. and we should not rush to judgement before we have all the facts situation. facts on this awful situation. every member will know that the words we say here have impact words we say here have an impact beyond this house. well us president joe biden has met with the israeli prime minister. >> he's meant to be on a diplomatic mission to prevent an escalation in the region . but escalation in the region. but after the strike on the al—ahli hospital in gaza, a planned meeting with leaders in the

middle east has been cancelled. in a joint press conference with benjamin netanyahu , president benjamin netanyahu, president biden supported the israeli defence forces claims that the rocket fired was not from israel and again pledged us support will, as they respond to these attacks . attacks. >> it seems to me that we have to continue to ensure that you have what you need to defend yourselves and we're going to make sure that occurs. as you know , i was deeply saddened and know, i was deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion at the hospital in gaza yesterday. and based on what i've seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team , not not you . the other team, not not you. >> well, a hamas official , >> well, a hamas official, meanwhile, has said the us and western countries supporting israel hold full responsibility for what he described as a war against civilians in gaza. his comments come as another funerals held to mourn the victims killed during an overnight bombardment in the south of the gaza strip. one

angry mourner in khan yunis also pointed the finger at the us president biden and his administration . administration. >> generations will not forget and history will be recorded that it was your administration and your billions of dollars, your support with weapons of mass destruction to the israeli defence forces is which has caused what is being happening right now in gaza in other news back here, the rate of inflation remained at 6.7% last month as easing food and drink price rises were offset by higher petrol and diesel prices. >> the office for national statistics says inflation stayed at the same rate despite expectation that it would fall again. the readings important in calculating how much benefit payments will increase next year as well as some taxes . ten as well as some taxes. ten current and former police officers and staff are being

investigated by a police watchdog for their handling of allegations against serial rapist david carrick . the 48 rapist david carrick. the 48 year old was jailed for life with a minimum term of 32 years after carrying out what the court heard was a catalogue of violent and brutal sex attacks . violent and brutal sex attacks. between 2003 and 2020. and a man who abducted a young girl as she walked home in the scottish borders and then sexually assaulted her has been jailed for 20 years. the high court in edinburgh heard andrew miller, also known as amy george, was dressed as a woman when he offered the girl a lift in february this year. the 53 year old instead drove her to his home where he sexually abused her for 27 hours . greta thunberg her for 27 hours. greta thunberg has been charged with a public order offence after her arrest dunng order offence after her arrest during a fossil free london protest. the 20 year old is accused of breaching a section 14 order put in place by police outside the intercontinental hotel in central london, where

oil executives were meeting on tuesday. 27 protesters were arrested in total and 26 charged greta thunberg has been released on bail with a trial set for the 15th of november . and a red 15th of november. and a red weather warning for rain has been issued by the met office for parts of scotland, it means very dangerous weather is expected with extensive flooding likely to pose a risk to life . likely to pose a risk to life. the weather warning runs from 6 pm. tomorrow until noon on p.m. tomorrow until noon on friday. and the british museum has announced plans to digitise its collection following the theft of some items . the museum theft of some items. the museum says the project will take five years with the entire collection accessible online to anyone who wants to explore it. around 2000 treasures are thought to have been stolen from the british museum with 350 or so recovered. so far this is gb news across the uk on tv, in your car, on

digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news now it's back over to mark and . pip you. >> let's take you straight back to the latest live pictures we're getting from gaza. that appears to be some activity on this rooftop that we assume will be some kind of water tank there on the roof. but we have seen smoke as well. more explosions on the gaza skyline and indications, of course , that the indications, of course, that the hostilities continue even as president biden is meeting benjamin netanyahu to try and move diplomacy fonnard. we did hearin move diplomacy fonnard. we did hear in the commons just minutes ago that rishi sunak said the uk was trying to independently verify with its allies what had

happened at the hospital in gaza . at this baptist hospital with the gaza health ministry now claiming that 471 palestinians were killed in what they termed an israeli massacre. but of course that's being questioned by others. president biden in that discussion with president or with the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, saying it appeared that the other team were responsible. but clearly questions as to what happened at that hospital as we see more smoke there in gaza as well. >> let's talk to charlie peters, our reporter who is on the ground in tel aviv . good ground in tel aviv. good afternoon to you, charlie . afternoon to you, charlie. president biden has been holding that press conference with benjamin netanyahu in tel aviv and he used that interesting language saying that the hospital blast, he believes was caused by the other team, i.e, not israel . all interesting , not israel. all interesting, interesting use of words. almost

sounds like two opposing football teams . football teams. >> yes, it was extremely colloquim . and there has been colloquim. and there has been quite a negative reaction to that term in tel aviv because of course, last week when secretary of state antony blinken met with the israeli leaders, he said there can be absolutely no equivocation whatsoever between the israelis right to defend themselves and the hamas terrorist violence. over the weekend of october the 7th. but to call them the other team does in some way put them on equal moral footing, or at least in some sense that they are equal sides in this conflict. they certainly don't see it that way in israel. but president biden's arrival in this country has already had some sort of diplomatic effect on the ground . diplomatic effect on the ground. with this morning, the israelis announcing a humanitarian safe zone inside the gaza strip on the coast in al—mawasi, somewhere near the khan younis city in the south of gaza . this city in the south of gaza. this has been a serious demand of american diplomacy since this war started. as the blockade

continues on the gaza strip, preventing water and food from getting into so many people forced to move internally displaced. amid the violence, americans have demanded the israelis put in those humanitarian safe zones . and humanitarian safe zones. and they finally, it seems , they finally, it seems, established that i mean, i asked the idf this morning how they would maintain that safe zone, how would they get food and aid to that location , how would they to that location, how would they get water, which has previously been those in the been promised to those in the south of the gaza strip? they said they are still checking to confirm how it would be established. they've also yet to confirm to they would confirm to me how they would allow within the gaza allow people within the gaza strip that new strip to get to that new so—called humanitarian safe zone effectively. , there effectively. last week, there were several occasions when the idf extended their deadline for movement from to the movement from the north to the south what they called south with what they called humanitarian corridors , humanitarian safe corridors, particularly down the main supply route inland. and they haven't announced the same for people near the rafah crossing to several kilometres into to move several kilometres into the west towards that border.

sorry, that coastal area where the humanitarian safe zone is. but across the region there has also been a reaction to the arrival of joe biden in the last two hours. a source to a news agency said that the americans have intercepted two drones above iraq that they said were targeting american capabilities. now, we know that the popular mobilisation forces , these are mobilisation forces, these are iran backed proxies in iraq, have been active for many years, targeting us supported authorities in side iraq. and this is the first time that the americans have into acepted drones over iraqi airspace targeting their own for a year. so this is a significant development and possibly comes at a time as iran is trying to flex its muscles and show that its proxies in the so—called shia crescent from tehran all the way to lebanon are active, are ready escalate the are ready and can escalate the situation in should what they think the worst would be, which is that israel ground invasion into the gaza strip. and i'll just say one more final thing

that in tel aviv there is an increasing feeling that the window of opportunity for that ground after last ground invasion after last night's situation in the baptist hospital in north gaza , that hospital in north gaza, that window has shrunk from months to possibly just days, if at all. what last night was being described as a as a failure by the palestinian islamic jihad in terms of the launch failing, they claim, over the north of gaza city could turn out to be a great success for the information war for hamas and other terrorists in the north of the gaza strip because it has generated this regional wide concern or attributing the blame to israel and creating a ginormous sense of arab solidarity who essentially seem to be saying all these nations jordan, egypt, the uae , saudi jordan, egypt, the uae, saudi arabia saying to the us and israel , enough arabia saying to the us and israel, enough is enough. do not take this further, even though as the idf are saying this morning with compelling but not conclusive it wasn't conclusive evidence, it wasn't us. you blew up your own people with that launch from the north of gaza. >> charlie, we've got pmqs of

course , having taken place here course, having taken place here at westminster. the prime minister saying british intelligence establish intelligence trying to establish exactly happened . we've exactly what happened. we've also got the prime minister's spokesman in the last few minutes saying or confirming seven nationals killed seven british nationals killed and at least nine missing since hamas launched the attack. we also had the prime minister saying he's spoken to the emir of qatar using contacts in the region and now james cleverly indicating he's heading back there later today . do we take it there later today. do we take it at the moment, the hostages are at the moment, the hostages are at the moment, the hostages are at the top of the list at that is a serious part of the agenda here. >> of course, the israelis consistently saying that it will be a relentless effort on their part to retrieve those hostages and we know there have been attempts at inter—regional diplomacy to establish some way that they can be released. but of course, there are they are at loggerheads. the hamas side and the israelis here on how they deal with that hostage situation. hamas say they will release hostages when the bombardment whereas the

bombardment stops, whereas the israelis are saying they'll stop their bombardment when you release hostages. so it's highly their bombardment when you release ithat ges. so it's highly their bombardment when you release ithat gerelease's highly their bombardment when you release ithat gerelease of1ighly unlikely that a release of hostages will be achieved by diplomatic means this diplomatic means as this conflict continues . but of conflict continues. but of course, it is the main focus of diplomacy. after securing that humanitarian aid to the thousands or hundreds of thousands or hundreds of thousands moving south and stuck in such grave violence, people in such grave violence, people in israel are also very concerned about how the state is operating inside the gaza strip with regards to forcing so many people to move around in such precarious conditions. all these safe corridors, this big order to move south, this new safe zone by the west . there are so zone by the west. there are so many conflicting and updating demands being made on the internally displaced people inside the gaza strip. can they make it to this safe zone now? and will remain safe? these and will it remain safe? these are questions that have yet to be answered. charlie in tel aviv, thank you for updating us. >> back to you, of course, throughout the afternoon to get the latest in israel. the very latest there in israel. >> get the thoughts now of >> let's get the thoughts now of the head of development at

global atika global relief trust, atika rahman, as we continue showing you those latest pictures from gaza. you those latest pictures from gaza . good afternoon to you, gaza. good afternoon to you, atika. thanks for talking to us. in light of this blast, we understand last night that has killed hundreds of people . well, killed hundreds of people. well, how much worse has it made this situation on the ground? and also, i just want to ask you about the stories we're hearing about the stories we're hearing about people who moved south to find refuge but are now actually heading back north because they feel that they're not safe anywhere like yourself. >> and many people who the news broke of this devastating attack at a hospital, you know, it was absolutely shocking. yes today my phone just didn't stop. and the first priority was to find out how how our team in gaza were doing . fortunately, they were doing. fortunately, they are okay. unfortunately hundreds have been killed on a on an

attack at a hospital. now this has happened . you know, we're has happened. you know, we're talking about people moving back to the north because they said, well, we might as well die in dignity rather than dying in hospitals and schools . we know hospitals and schools. we know that from from yusuf, who was working as a frontline paramedic in gaza, that people who were fleeing from the north, travelling to the south, a convoy of cars was attacked a few days ago when the evacuation order was made. and in fact , order was made. and in fact, yusuf was actually one of the first responders at that scene. and his ambulance was purpose and deliberately hit. luckily he was he was away from the ambulance . was he was away from the ambulance. but was he was away from the ambulance . but unfortunately, ambulance. but unfortunately, the patients that were in his ambulance died. so this is the situation. we know that un schools have been hit in the last 24 hours and we also know there's been a hospital that's been hit. so people who were staying in the ground of that hospital who were fleeing from

the heavy bombardment, who were told to get away from the north, were actually massacred last night. and people are thinking, well, if we're going to die in the hospitals and if we're going to die in the schools, then we might as well go back and die in our homes because there's nowhere to escape. know, nowhere to escape. you know, where people running off to? where are people running off to? you it's not there's you know, it's not like there's a safe there's not there's a safe zone. there's not there's a safe zone. there's not there's a no zone. nothing a no fly zone. there's nothing like people are dying like that. people are dying left, here. left, right centre here. >> understand it, the >> as we understand it, the border in south of border crossing in the south of rafah still closed . we rafah crossing still closed. we understand that might be one of the priorities for president biden as he speaks to benjamin netanyahu. and of course , trying netanyahu. and of course, trying to get some accord with president al—sisi in egypt about what would happen if the border opens. we keep being told that there's a huge amount of aid ready to come over the border from egypt . from egypt. >> i mean, the question is the question that needs to be asked is not when is he being opened ?

is not when is he being opened? it's why hasn't he yet been opened. you know, if gaza strip was in europe, this would have been opened within the 24 hours. you know, we're now talking ten, 11, 12 days of this conflict. and it's still short. you know , and it's still short. you know, we're hospitals are literally operating on children and amputating. i've got the footage on my phone, you know , there's on my phone, you know, there's no verification needed. there are children who are having their arms and legs amputated without medicine on on, on on hospital floors . this is a hospital floors. this is a reality. now, if this isn't enough to open these borders, to let aid in, we're not asking for anything else. we're asking for simple, basic necessities to preserve life. and yeah , we want preserve life. and yeah, we want these to be open and we hope it can be open straightaway so we can be open straightaway so we can get the aid to in literally help save lives. there's water, you know, this is the essential of life. you know, you can't do anything without water. you know, we're talking about the anything without water. you know, ofe're talking about the anything without water. you know, of gaza lking about the

anything without water. you know, of gaza that| about the anything without water. you know, of gaza that that ut the anything without water. you know, of gaza that that it the anything without water. you know, of gaza that that it was1e south of gaza that that it was announced that that water was switched back on. well, actually, without electricity. how can you pump any water into the systems anyway? so it was it was it was very be well said. but actually, in reality, it helped. did not help the people. we're aware that just several kilometres away from the hospital yesterday , a bakery was hospital yesterday, a bakery was hit where two people were killed. now, this a bakery that was just providing bread to to the daily people for their daily bread. and it's a bakery that we were actually working with to get bread to people and that's been destroyed. there was queues, they say, of three, four hours at a time of people waiting just to get a piece of bread. and that's now been destroyed. so we you know, if bombs aren't killing these people , let's starve them. if people, let's starve them. if starving isn't going to kill these people , well, you know these people, well, you know what? let's let's let them die in hunger. >> yeah. although we should make it plain, of course, that as we've heard from rishi sunak

moves under way to try and establish , obviously, where the establish, obviously, where the fire coming from, it's still fire is coming from, it's still unclear as to whether people are being hit by rockets . and within being hit by rockets. and within gaza or elsewhere . so that is gaza or elsewhere. so that is a difficult position. but i must say that there is a pattern of denial, of denial, denying something. >> we've seen this with the al jazeera correspondent shireen , jazeera correspondent shireen, that was shot dead and killed and there was total deniability for the for the several days until it was made clear that things, however, look , this things, however, look, this isn't about taking sides here. the fact is a bomb has gone off at a hospital and children and people have been killed . people have been killed. innocent civilians have been killed . and if we're sitting killed. and if we're sitting here to blame one side or the other, we'll be here for the next few weeks. we are this is 2023. we are sitting in front of tv screens , you know, tablets tv screens, you know, tablets and mobile phones and actually witnessing and watching genocide taking place as as as as we speak to you, we're just seeing some more smoke on the skyline

further south. >> this is from sderot on the israeli side, looking into gaza . israeli side, looking into gaza. we understand from james cleary , we understand from james cleary, the foreign secretary, that he's travelling back out there. later today. we assume that that the question of the hostages will be very much to the forefront. but clearly, from what you're saying, it's the international humanitarian and aid operation that really needs to be addressed well . addressed as well. >> look, there should not be a the humanitarian side should not be a pretext for any other agreement. you know, you cannot do mediaeval practises of siege. you know, what they used to do in siege in a castle and let people starve. this this is 20, 23. we cannot allow and we are allowing , unfortunately, the allowing, unfortunately, the millions of people to be starved . and on top of that, when we are when they are being bombed, you know, whichever side, the fact is people are being bombed and they cannot get medical treatment because the hospitals have no electricity , they have have no electricity, they have no medicine, and they don't have any fuel to even keep the

generators going. >> atika, is there any access at all to bottled water for people? >> well , there's going to be >> well, there's going to be shortages. you know, we're . shortages. you know, we're. talking 2.3 million people are in need of water. three of the huge desalination units that were provide water to gaza has been destroyed out of the five and there's no electricity . so and there's no electricity. so even with the desalination units , which is taking water out of the sea, is out of use because what we do know, which is a fact, is that the water system in gaza is being delivered only a poisoned with sewage. so people cannot drink tap water there either. so there's only going to be limited water. we're seeing people drinking saltwater, seawater from from the ground that we know, you know, give this to our six month old child. you can just imagine the damage. it's going to do to organs and the child's future .

organs and the child's future. so from what we understand there is convoy upon convoy of aid waiting at the rafah crossing. >> it's just got to get in, which is something that james cleverly, the foreign secretary, says he will be working . on the says he will be working. on the this is a priority. >> i mean, we're hearing there's miles and miles of aid waiting to go in. and i still have not seen any world leaders there talking about it. but they seen any world leaders there talking about it . but they need talking about it. but they need to force a force there. there needs to be a ceasefire to allow people to receive the aid there needs. this needs to be forced in some shape or form on either side to say, listen, stop fighting and help the people . fighting and help the people. othennise you are going to have a catastrophe . there are there a catastrophe. there are there are thousands of bodies that are buned are thousands of bodies that are buried under rubble . buried under the under rubble. there is shortage of water. there is a shortage of water. there is a shortage of water. there is a term issue when there is a long term issue when it comes to waterborne diseases and sanitation. so we need to get this aid in and we don't

need to get this in tomorrow. we it needs to get in right now. >> atiqur rahman, head of development at the global relief trust thanks thanks for trust. thanks for thanks for bringing us the latest. what you understand it to be. thank you so much. thank you. >> coming up, we'll reflect on the political situation. still questions as to whether rishi sunak will travel out to the middle confirmation middle east. but confirmation from james cleverly, the foreign secretary on his way secretary he is on his way later. what will he be attempting to achieve? we'll update you.

gb news radio. welcome back to the live desk. >> we can show you pictures from the west bank now from beit el palestinians taking to the streets. they have been protesting and are continuing to protesting and are continuing to protest in support of gaza after that blast last night. thousands thousands of palestinians have been chanting during the protests. general strike and a three day mourning period has been announced by the palestinian president. >> yeah, there have been other protests, marches, speeches at ramallah and nablus just to remind you, the west bank, of course, controlled by the palestinian authority . and there palestinian authority. and there is some some unease at the position of the leadership in terms of what's happened in gaza . indication, of course, earlier that the palestinian leader, mahmoud abbas, would not be meeting president biden after

the explosion at the hospital in gaza. but you can see here that it is , i think, largely used. we it is, i think, largely used. we can see in the foreground of the picture with a burning barricade there, but limited in numbers . there, but limited in numbers. we did see much larger numbers elsewhere in ramallah and nablus, but they were largely peaceful and certainly the palestinian flag flying. but this is one of the worries that, of course, the troubles now could rear up on the west bank as well as in gaza. and then on israel's northern border with lebanon. so we'll keep monitoring the situation and update you. well during pmqs earlier, the prime minister said that parliament speaks with one voice in condemning hamas for causing untold suffering . causing untold suffering. >> and the foreign secretary, james cleverly, has confirmed that he will be returning to the middle east later today. he was only there last week as efforts continue to prevent the conflict escalating . escalating. >> let's get more from westminster and our political correspondent there, katherine

forster, has been following developments . confirmation then, developments. confirmation then, catherine, that cleverly is on his way again, but still no confirmation about rishi sunak , confirmation about rishi sunak, the prime minister and where he'll be travelling as well . he'll be travelling as well. >> yes, that's right . we he'll be travelling as well. >> yes, that's right. we did hear yesterday that rishi sunak might have been travelling to israel as soon as tomorrow, but that of course, was before the horrific bombing overnight of the hospital. and the question as to who is responsible, we still do not have the answers. now, the foreign secretary, james cleverly, who's been addressing the house, saying that he is heading back to israel today. but we don't know when rishi sunak will be going. but certainly a very different and a very sombre tone in prime minister's questions . the first minister's questions. the first one in about a month since before for the party conferences feels like the world has shifted rather since then. united and labour and conservative and the

scottish national party in condemning civilian deaths, saying that civilians must be protected and said that israel, of course , has had this terrible of course, has had this terrible atrocity visited upon it and has the right to defend itself. and some differences, i think emerging on all of them, stressing that civilian casualties must be minimised . casualties must be minimised. and sir keir starmer saying a couple of times that international law must be upheld and stephen flynn, the westminster leader of the scottish national party , going scottish national party, going further, still echoing what scottish first minister humza yousaf said yesterday, saying calling for an immediate ceasefire, something that rishi sunak did not take the chance to agree with. and also stressing that there must be no no collective punishment , but that there must be no no

collective punishment, but an implication , perhaps, that in implication, perhaps, that in the blockade of gaza, of the blocking of food, of water, of fuel, of power and the forced relocation of 1.1 million people, all that , perhaps that people, all that, perhaps that does amount to collective punishment . does amount to collective punishment. so some subtle differences , but largely differences, but largely a unified response. and absolute horror of what is going on. and despite right all the calls for humanitarian aid to get into gaza for the rafah crossing , to gaza for the rafah crossing, to open up , no gaza for the rafah crossing, to open up, no opening of that crossing , none of the aid that crossing, none of the aid that is amassing around the country actually getting in. >> catherine, thank you for that. as we look at the latest pictures from sderot in southern israel, looking into gaza strip , israel, looking into gaza strip, as we see more smoke there on the horizon, indications of more explosions. we'll update you with the latest live from the scene. but let's get the latest

news headlines now with rhiannon i >> thank you, mark. it's 133. >> thank you, mark. it's133. your top stories from the newsroom. and we start out with the breaking news that at least seven british nationals have been killed and nine are missing since hamas's attack on israel. that's been confirmed by a spokesman for the prime minister well, earlier at pmqs, the crisis in gaza and israel dominate it. both rishi sunak and sir keir starmer struck a similar tone, condemning the actions of hamas whilst reaffirming israel's right to defend itself . in this, they defend itself. in this, they stood united with the casualties in gaza mounting, both leaders expressed their sympathies with the palestinian people following the palestinian people following the overnight blast at the al al—araby hospital, which killed 500 people. the us president joe biden has met with the israeli prime minister. he's meant to be

on a diplomatic mission to prevent an escalation in the region . but after the strike on region. but after the strike on the al ahly hospital in gaza, a planned meeting with leaders in the middle east has been cancelled in a joint press conference with benjamin netanyahu, president biden supported the israeli defence forces claims that the rocket fired was not from israel and again pledged that us support for israel . in other news, the for israel. in other news, the rate of inflation remained at 6.7% last month as easing food and drink price rises were offset by higher petrol and diesel prices . the office for diesel prices. the office for national statistics says inflation stayed at the same rate , despite expectations it rate, despite expectations it would fall again. the reading is important in calculating how much benefit payments will increase next year as well as some taxes and a red weather warning for rain has been issued by the met office for parts of scotland, it means very dangerous weather is expected with extensive flooding likely

to pose a risk to life. the weather warning runs from 6 pm. tomorrow until noon on friday. and you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website, gbnews.com . for website, gbnews.com. for a valuable legacy, your family can own . own. >> gold coins will always shine bright. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . report. >> here's a quick snapshot of today's markets. the pound will buy you $1.2200 and ,1.1548. the price of gold . is £1,597.27 per price of gold. is £1,597.27 per ounce. and the ftse 100 is at 7630 points. rose and gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report

the people's . channel the people's. channel >> welcome back to the live desk. if you were hoping that the cost of living crisis was over , well, think again. over, well, think again. inflation has flatlined, remaining at 6.7% last month. thatis remaining at 6.7% last month. that is according to new figures from the office for national statistics. >> well, of course, with the situation in the middle east, it's the question about the oil price that will be key from now on. so let's get the latest on the prices and the thoughts about where we're going with our

economics editor, liam halligan with on money . with on the money. >> inflation rarely falls in a straight line, but if we stick to our plan, we can expect inflation to keep falling. this yean inflation to keep falling. this year. so said prime minister rishi sunak and chancellor jeremy hunt. soon after these new inflation figures were released. this morning. but what do they actually say? let's have a look at the numbers in september 2023, a basket of goods and services was 6.7% more expensive lviv than the same month in 2022. that's the same figure as it was in august and only slightly down on july. 6.7, 6.7 and 6.8. that's why we say inflation is flatline , meaning inflation is flatline, meaning inflation is flatline, meaning in the uk, inflation is still high compared to other western countries we see here that we're at 6.7in the uk in the eurozone , at 6.7in the uk in the eurozone, it's 4.3. over there on continental europe and us inflation is 3.7. much, much

lower than here in britain. not least because the us has much, much cheaper energy than we do. what is driving inflation here in the uk ? well, a lot of it, in the uk? well, a lot of it, i'm afraid it's food prices, food price inflation was 12.1% in september. that means a basket of food was 12.1% more expensive than september 2022. that's down, though from 13.6. food price inflation in august. so still high, but at least going in the right direction . going in the right direction. then there was fuel, particularly petrol and diesel as any van driver will tell you. petrol is 5.1% up on august in september, it averaged 153 a litre and diesel rose 6.3% in a month, up to an average of 157 per litre. these expensive petrol and diesel costs are feeding right into inflation. but here's some good news, which i've been pointing out in recent months. producer prices. these

are in the fine print of the office for national statistics numbers back in october 2022. producer prices. that's the cost of the inputs that firms need to provide the goods and services that they then sell us. producer price inflation. this time last year was a whopping 24.1, compared to the year before, not least because energy prices were spiralling in the aftermath of russias invasion in ukraine. but look at producer price inflation now it's negative of —2.6. that means that the inputs that firms use are getting cheaper and eventually those costs will be passed on. there'll be lower and that will lead to not only lower inflation, but actual falls in the level of prices . so what the level of prices. so what does all this mean for the bank of england and interest rates ? of england and interest rates? mortgage holders want to know. they want lower interest rates. but if you're a saver , you but if you're a saver, you probably want interest rates to go . well, next time the go up. well, the next time the monetary committee monetary policy committee meets, it's just over a week. it's

it's only just over a week. it's thursday, the 2nd of november. back in december 21st, rates were all the way down at nought point 1. at those emergency post—pandemic levels. since then, we've had 14 interest rate rises all the way up to 5.25. well, the fact that inflation has stayed level this month means that the bank of england may hesitate. it may actually think that inflation may go up, it may raise interest rates 1—1 more time to 5.5. on the other hand, it could keep rates where they are financial markets are on a knife edge. no one knows which way this is going to go. it will probably be a split decision and we'll see in just a couple of weeks time. but there is some kind of issue on the honzon is some kind of issue on the horizon . storm clouds in the horizon. storm clouds in the form of the oil price. the oil price has gone up from $770 a barrel in june 2023, up to $90. and more. an enormous percentage increase in just a few months. and as if oil prices continue to

go up, then that will feed directly into inflation. could this conflagration in the middle east lead to higher oil prices? it certainly could because so much oil is in the middle east. these are the straits of hormuz . these are the straits of hormuz. this is the persian gulf. this is iran, uae , two major oil is iran, uae, two major oil producers, saudis just over here. these tankers carry almost a 20% of the world's oil supply. every single day. through this pinch point onto the indian ocean and global markets. this is the windpipe of the global economy . see if this is blocked. economy. see if this is blocked. a great deal of oil can't get out to international markets and the global economy will splutter as inflation goes up , as the oil as inflation goes up, as the oil price spikes, the danger is with iran telling the americans that they want to fight this war on other fronts, telling them that israel's time is up. that's literally a quote. the fear is that iran may mine this area blocking the straits of hormuz and holding the world economy to

hostage. that is a big fear in the oil markets today. i'm not saying it's going to happen, but there's certainly concerns that it could . so where are we? we it could. so where are we? we are still an inflation nation here in the uk, we have relatively high inflation, but it's certainly going in the right direction. back in january, rishi sunak pledged when inflation was about 10.5% that he would halve it by the end of the year. so that means 5% by december. if he reaches that target, he'll have more credibility . he that target, he'll have more credibility. he and that target, he'll have more credibility . he and he'll have credibility. he and he'll have more appeal to voters as if he doesn't reach that target , then doesn't reach that target, then these labour gains over the tories are set to continue . tories are set to continue. >> liam , thanks very much >> liam, thanks very much indeed. and of course we'll keep an eye on that oil price and the economic fallout , what's economic fallout, what's happening in the middle east with the president. president biden still meeting benjamin netanyahu in tel aviv, we believe after a shooting at their joint news conference earlier that that hospital explosion in gaza was, quote, done by the other team in

washington's view , the washington's view, the authorities in gaza, meanwhile, are saying 477 people were killed in that explosion. >> prime minister rishi sunak earlier told the commons that the uk would try to independently verify who was behind the attack, with james cleverly the foreign secretary, calling for clues for cool heads and announcing that he will be heading back to israel for talks. >> let's speak now to professor yossi mekelberg, who's associate fellow for middle east and north africa program at chatham house. thank you very much indeed for your yossi. of course , your time, yossi. of course, this is derailed. those for way talks that biden was hoping for to try and find a way fonnard. so has the damage already been done despite what they tried to achieve in terms of the details of this hospital explosion ? of this hospital explosion? >> hello . yes, i think that's >> hello. yes, i think that's completely derailed. the initial objectives of this visit, because i think it was supposed

on different levels, reasserting also us influence in in the region and on the one hand, it expressing its support to reassure israel that it's behind it, whether it's in the case of fighting hamas, but also in case of iran, hezbollah are joining in at the same time also to reassure other countries, especially those that are normally have peace agreements with israel , that not letting with israel, that not letting israel or warning israel not to reoccupy gaza, avoiding a humanitarian crisis or even a disaster there. and here happens what happens in war events are actually taking over . any actually taking over. any strategies assume that there was one, a one to begin with. and when you have, as you just mentioned, nearly 500 people killed, whatever . a day date killed, whatever. a day date this is, brings all the kind of calculus in a different place.

>> so what do you think you'll see that president biden could achieve here? would it be be getting the humanitarian aid in, although we are just now hearing from egypt or the egyptian president saying that the egyptians in their millions would reject the forced displacement of palestinians into sinai . that appears to be into sinai. that appears to be why that rafah crossing is still closed. but is that do you think, president biden's focus now helping with that humanitarian aid ? because, of humanitarian aid? because, of course, he does have quite a long and complicated relationship with the israeli prime minister >> yeah, and i think it's very important that kind of the spontaneous decision to visit israel and to make 11 hours flight to israel for a few hours or visiting was a clear message of support in israel. but at the same time from the beginning, the united states expressed reservations if israel israel

response will be disproportionate and if it's going actually to exacerbate the situation on the ground by by killing many civilians and also every war needs to have also a political objective . and it political objective. and it again, that's where the israelis, palestinians , the israelis, palestinians, the region and the international community has all failed. this this conflict failed the people by not looking for a solution for it is abandoning a the conflict now , if you fast conflict now, if you fast fonnard , we are in a different fonnard, we are in a different situation right now . and to situation right now. and to ensure that it's not it's not deteriorating even further in a way that is going to affect the stability in other countries in the region and specifically what you're asking about refugees , you're asking about refugees, bearin you're asking about refugees, bear in mind the majority of around 1.3 million out of the 2.2 million people who live in gaza already refugees from previous wars. so make them refugees again . this probably refugees again. this probably why egypt knows that refugees

are not a temporary and not a temporary situation anymore. in another 75 years, they will still be in egypt. >> yossi navigate the diplomatic landscape for us, if you will. the abraham accords, of course, signed with the united arab emirates and bahrain, hoping to extend to saudi arabia , to saudi extend to saudi arabia, to saudi arabia, has now pulled back, it seems, from the situation in jordan, indicating now having pulled out these talks, that king abdullah is worried about the situation in his own country. we've just discussed egypt , qatar country. we've just discussed egypt, qatar . we had rishi sunak egypt, qatar. we had rishi sunak at prime minister's questions indicating he spoke to the emir of qatar using his contacts in the region . is that the only the region. is that the only channel left at the moment to try and move this fonnard? and |, try and move this fonnard? and i, i think there are other channels for instance, between egypt and hamas and definitely between jordan and the palestinians in the west bank, the pa. >> so there are other channels

to work on. but yes, what happenedin to work on. but yes, what happened in the 7th of october, a change changed much of the parameters of discussion. now, when we look at the normalisation that you mentioned , there is a logic to the abraham accords. there is a logic to saudi arabia and israel, a normalising their relations because it serves their interests. but but the sentiment in the street in many places in the arab world is with the palestine because they live under occupation , they live under occupation, they live under occupation, they live under blockade, they are oppressed . and as a result of oppressed. and as a result of it, with something like this happen, you see the focus on the narratives . again, we don't know narratives. again, we don't know exactly what happened in the hospital gaza, what we know hospital in gaza, what we know that it's a major disaster that many innocent people paid with their lives , but the signs their lives, but the signs already subscribe to their preconceived ideas and that's exactly the kind of division cycle that needs to be broken. >> yeah. and the perceptions , of >> yeah. and the perceptions, of course, that continue. professor yossi mekelberg, thank you very much indeed for your thoughts with us gb news this

with us on gb news this afternoon. you. jeremy afternoon. thank you. jeremy >> isaac turov is an israeli diplomat and former ambassador to germany who can join us now. good afternoon to you, jeremy . good afternoon to you, jeremy. this hospital blast last night has made things even so incredibly more difficult than they already are. what do you think could be achieved by president biden today, by by britain's foreign secretary heading in later today? we where do you think we're at now in terms of, as mark suggested earlier, moving things fonnard ? earlier, moving things fonnard? >> let's let's go bit by bit on your question . there's a lot of your question. there's a lot of aspects to it. first of all, regarding the hospital blast in early in gaza, there is clear evidence that has been presented now by the idf spokesman and also by independent media. israeli media that was following the actual events on the ground as rockets were being launched towards israel. that shows that

this explosion emanated from a launch of the palestinian islamic jihad, one of their rockets hit a car park near the hospital and it's their responsibility . israel was not responsibility. israel was not active in that area. and this has been made abundantly clear. and president biden said in his photo op with the prime minister there that this was done by the other side, meaning that it was done by a as a result of a failed launch on their side . so failed launch on their side. so i think that that is one thing. and i think it would have been very appropriate for a lot of media channels, including some british ones, not yours necessarily, to have been a lot more careful in jumping to conclusions that this was an attack by an israeli by the israeli air force. as i said , israeli air force. as i said, there's clear evidence to the contrary . but the meeting with contrary. but the meeting with the president, biden has been incredibly important in terms of maintaining israel and america's strategic alliance and

partnership and also consulting regarding what is happening on the ground . don't forget, we the ground. don't forget, we have almost 200 hostages, including some american citizens and quite possibly british citizens. yes that we are very focussed on in terms of getting their immediate and unconditional release. yeah but can i pick up on on what we heard from professor mekelberg and that is that the attack , and that is that the attack, whoever we eventually find out was behind it has changed the whole picture diplomatically because clearly biden was hoping for these four way talks. >> they have now had to be shelved. we've seen the unrest growing now in the west bank and elsewhere . the perception of elsewhere. the perception of what happened has set everything back. there has to be a reset . back. there has to be a reset. >> okay. but that is first of all, i'm not so sure that this sets back the entire diplomacy around this whole crisis . this.

around this whole crisis. this. okay. we'll continue to talk to the united states, the united states will continue to talk to the players in the region . and the players in the region. and also yesterday , we hosted the also yesterday, we hosted the chancellor of germany and as you said, the british prime minister will be visiting soon. so i think, look, one of the major answers is that we have as a result of this crisis is to bnng result of this crisis is to bring and ensure that the middle east ends up a lot more stable than it has been up till now. up till now , we have tolerated till now, we have tolerated hamas in gaza, thinking that it can be deterred. and we saw the results on the 7th of october and the results were a massacre of our people. 1400 people killed, merciless asli, men, women, children, babies . as this women, children, babies. as this cannot happen again . and i think cannot happen again. and i think that one of the broader aspects is that hamas has been supported by iran and iran's fear of

broadening of normalisation in the middle east is clear. they are not interested in it. and maybe they use this attack in to order prevent that normal . order prevent that normal. >> thank you for that. we're out of time, but thank you for your assessment. we'll speak to you again, of course. and we'll assess what happens with that visit by president biden. all the for you coming the latest for you coming

>> good afternoon. it is 2:00. this is the live desk here on gb news coming up for you this wednesday lunchtime. >> the prime minister tells the commons the uk is working hard to establish exactly what happened at the gaza baptist hospital. james cleverly the hospital. as james cleverly the foreign secretary, reveals, he's travelling back to middle travelling back to the middle east later we'll have the east later today. we'll have the latest you . latest for you. >> earlier, the us president arrived in israel and held talks with the israeli prime minister. joe biden reiterated his support for israel and blamed last night's hospital explosion on what he referred to as the other team . team. >> we'll have a gb news exclusive for you as our reporter charlie peters in tel aviv speaks to a british israeli idf officer who was wounded while fighting hamas terrorists at a kibbutz in southern israel .

at a kibbutz in southern israel. >> let's take you straight to the us president, joe biden, who is currently speaking without looking at me. >> she turned like she said, you look worried, senator . look worried, senator. >> i said, i am. she said, don't worry, we jews have a secret weapon in our fight. worry, we jews have a secret weapon in our fight . we have no weapon in our fight. we have no place else to go . place else to go. >> well, the truth of the matter is, if there weren't an israel, we'd have to invent one. the truth of the matter is that i believe that as i went home and said, got in trouble at the time. >> but it's true . >> but it's true. >> but it's true. >> you don't have to be a jew to be a zionist, but you don't have to be a jew to be a zionist. and i think the security and safety of jews worldwide as anchored in the continued vibrancy of the state of israel , that's what i state of israel, that's what i think it's about at its core . think it's about at its core. >> and so i admired you , you all >> and so i admired you, you all this country for so long and i'm

convinced that the more people know now that your responses to what's happening as opposed to just what war and peace is about, the more they're going to be inclined to embrace , embrace be inclined to embrace, embrace israel and lead. but a lot more to say. >> but i'd like to talk to you, private, if i can. >> thank you. thank you . so >> thank you. thank you. so barely sick words . barely sick words. >> what thanks, guys . >> what thanks, guys. >> what thanks, guys. >> well, a lot of reaction there to the president meeting first responders and their families there in tel aviv. of course, having spoken earlier to benjamin netanyahu . but clearly benjamin netanyahu. but clearly this is the very personal response from the prime minister. there as the camera just breaks away. i think he'll be meeting privately with

members of those first responders. of course , and responders. of course, and finding out how they have been reacting to the various instances is across israel and into gaza as well. the latest we're getting is that we have seen more explosions on the skyline in gaza. we've also had protests in the west bank. it is still very much a fluid situation . situation. >> ian, let's get a full round up of your latest headlines now with rhiannon . with rhiannon. >> pip. thank you. good afternoon . it's 2:03. your top afternoon. it's 2:03. your top stories from the newsroom . at stories from the newsroom. at least seven british nationals have been killed and nine are missing since hamas attack on israel. a spokesperson for the prime minister has now confirmed earlier the gaza and israel crisis ipsis dominated pmqs both rishi sunak and keir starmer struck a similar tone , struck a similar tone, condemning the actions of hamas

whilst reaffirming israel's right to defend itself. in this , right to defend itself. in this, they stood united with the casualty in gaza, mounting both leaders expressed their sympathies with the palestinian people , in particular following people, in particular following the overnight blasts at the al al—arabi hospital, which killed 500 people. all their fear that there is no place of safety is a profound international law must be upheld . be upheld. >> and that means hospitals and civilian lives must be protected . and last night the foreign secretary said the uk will work with our allies to find out what has happened. i know this only happened last night, but can the prime minister please tell us when he thinks he might be able to update the house on progress with that work ? with that work? >> i, i know the whole house will have been shocked by the scenes that al—ahli hospital. any loss of innocent life is a dreadful tragedy and everyone

will be thinking both of those who have lost their lives and the families that they leave behind. and we should not rush to judgement have all to judgement before we have all the on this awful the facts on this awful situation. every member will know that the we say here know that the words we say here have beyond this house. >> well, us president joe biden is , as we speak, meeting and is, as we speak, meeting and greeting some first responders in israel and some of the families of those whose loved ones are believed lost or held hostage. and earlier , president hostage. and earlier, president joe biden met with the israeli prime minister he's meant to be on a diplomatic mission to prevent an escalation in the region. but after the strike on the al—ahli hospital, a planned meeting with leaders in the middle east has been cancelled in a joint press conference with benjamin netanyahu, president biden supported the israeli defence forces claims that the rocket fired was not from israel and again pledged us support israel as they respond to these attacks . attacks. >> it seems to me that they have

to continue to ensure that you have what you need to defend yourselves and we're going to make sure that occurs. as you know , i was deeply saddened and know, i was deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion at the hospital in gaza yesterday. and based on what i've seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team, not not you , a the other team, not not you, a hamas official, meanwhile, has said the us and western countries supporting israel hold full responsibility for what he's described as a war against civilians in gaza . civilians in gaza. >> his comments come as another funerals held to mourn the victims killed during an overnight bombardment in the south of the gaza strip . one south of the gaza strip. one angry mourner in khan younis also pointed the finger at the us president biden and his administration . administration. >> generations will not forget it and history will be recorded and that it was your administration , your billions of administration, your billions of

dollars and your support with weapons of mass destruction to the israeli defence forces , the israeli defence forces, which has caused what is being happening right now in gaza . happening right now in gaza. >> in other news back here, the rate of inflation remained at 6.7% last month as easing food and drink price rises were offset by higher petrol and diesel prices. the office for national statistics says inflation stayed at the same rate, despite expectations it would fall again . the reading is would fall again. the reading is important in calculating how much benefit payments will increase next year, as well as some taxes . ten current and some taxes. ten current and former police officers and staff are being investigated by a police watchdog for their handung police watchdog for their handling of allegations against serial rapist david carrick . the serial rapist david carrick. the 48 year old was jailed for life with a minimum term of 32 years after carrying out what the court heard was a catalogue of violent and brutal sex attacks .

violent and brutal sex attacks. between 2003 and 2020. a man who abducted a young girl as she walked home in the scottish borders and then sexually assaulted her has been jailed for 20 years. the high court in edinburgh heard andrew miller, also known as amy george, was dressed as a woman when he offered the girl a lift in february this year. the 53 year old instead drove her to his home where he sexually abused her for 27 hours . greta thunberg her for 27 hours. greta thunberg is charged with a public order offence after her arrest during a fossil free london protest. the 20 year old is accused of breaching a section 14 order put in place by police outside the intercontinental hotel in central london, where oil executive lives were meeting yesterday 27 protesters were arrested in total on 26 charge greta thunberg has been released on bail with a trial set for the 15th of next month . a red 15th of next month. a red weather warning for rain has been issued by the met office

for parts of scotland. it means very dangerous weather is expected , with extensive expected, with extensive flooding likely to pose a risk to life. the weather warning runs from 6 pm. tomorrow until noon on friday. and the british museum has announced plans to digitise its collection following the theft of some items. the museum says the project will take five years with the entire collection accessible online to anyone who wants to explore it . around 2000 wants to explore it. around 2000 treasures are thought to have been stolen from the british museum with 350 or so recovered so far . this museum with 350 or so recovered so far. this is gb news across the uk on tv in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news now it's back over to malcolm pitt . and thanks very much indeed. >> let's update you here on the live desk on the latest

situation in israel where joe biden, the us president, has been meeting first responders and their families as, of course, he held the official meeting with benjamin netanyahu a little earlier where he made that assertion in terms of the explosion at the hospital. it was done by the other team now saying that that comment he made was based on information suppued was based on information supplied to him by the pentagon, not by the israelis. >> and here in the uk, prime minister rishi sunak has told the commons that the uk will try to independently verify who was behind the blast with the foreign secretary, james cleverly calling for pragmatism and cool heads. >> well, defence editor of the evening standard, robert fox, fighting his cold has been gb news cold. well, yes , you're news cold. well, yes, you're with us with the studio . so many with us with the studio. so many thanks for that . we're just thanks for that. we're just learning that james cleverly, who announced in the commons that he was visiting the region, perhaps won't be going to israel, but will be going to qatar and also indications that

he will go to egypt and turkey, both qatar and turkey, having indicated they may try and open channels to deal with the hostages. and we had then rishi sunak saying that he had been speaking to the emir of qatar . speaking to the emir of qatar. is this going to be top of the list at the moment for the british diplomatic aides? >> britain is quite close to qatar. share qatar. you know, they share a squadron. a qatar raf squadron. there's a qatar raf squadron, and they're very close in training. and there's a lot of criticism, particularly by the egyptians of qatar, because as there's a lot of muslim brotherhood there and muslim brotherhood there and muslim brotherhood there and muslim brotherhood the origins and brotherhood as the origins and sponsor excuse me, of hamas and hamas leadership there as well. the hamas leadership is there. and it's also in beirut. i think they're looking for two things. i do agree. absolutely hostages, number one priority. but i think what britain seems to be getting going is a possible peace and stabilisation force , temporary stabilisation force, temporary to really get in and look after those refugees. south of gaza

city, because it really is a dire where we're seeing more smoke, smoke as you speak. >> this is from sderot, looking into the gaza strip across the border there. >> one would like to know what joe biden actually said to benjamin netanyahu . netanyahu, benjamin netanyahu. netanyahu, i imagine that he'll be saying now, tell me about this ground operation, which you've been projecting for some time. can you really do it? and what is your aim to say, oh, we're going to eradicate hamas? it's like saying, well, we'll take all the cheese moon. you cheese out of the moon. you know, it's a it's a notion because a we know that hamas has changed its tactics, very desperate, almost suicide tactics. even if you can get tactics. and even if you can get a lot of hamas out of northern gaza, ghastly expression. i know. forgive me for that. i don't think i'd put it better a lot of hamas remains elsewhere. the political leadership, a lot of a lot of the intellectual firepower is and that is the operative way in sponsorship comes from the gulf, places like qatar and beirut and iran at one

as a proxy . as a proxy. >> this hospital blast last night, where, of course, it cannot be yet independently verified in terms of exactly what did happen. different versions coming out . will that versions coming out. will that make israel think again about this ground offensive ? what this ground offensive? what impact could it have on their strategy ? strategy? >> i doubt very much, because it depends and we don't know. in the councils of binyamin netanyahu, who who has the upper hand. if you have people like benny gantz and a predecessor of benny gantz and a predecessor of benny gantz and a predecessor of benny gantz on that side of things in two respects, ehud barak, prime minister, barak, a former prime minister, and like gantz , a former chief and like gantz, a former chief of staff, about which they know netanyahu has a bit of a military background, but it's quite a small military background. he was with this hostage rescue squad, wasn't it? and very strange reports are coming out. he is being persuaded by his hard anti—arab . persuaded by his hard anti—arab. right. the religious right. and

it depends whether he goes fonnard . and i think that what fonnard. and i think that what the idf must be saying, can we really do it? it's a very, very sophisticated and difficult job. but i'd like to talk about the bda battle damage analysis . it bda battle damage analysis. it is very, very difficult . we've is very, very difficult. we've been here before. so sarajevo, you know, was it a false flag by the bosniaks , muslim forces or the bosniaks, muslim forces or was it by the serbs? it's very difficult to pin down unless you have substantial remains of the projectile. you've got to have something written on it or an explosive signature about it. that point one. and you would have to have very close examine ing examination of the crater. and it may be too late already for both. >> well, let's let's put those issues to the spokesperson for the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu. tal henrik , benjamin netanyahu. tal henrik, who now join us. thank you who can now join us. thank you very for your time. very much indeed for your time. i know if you able to i don't know if you were able to hear robert was talking hear what robert was talking about there. clearly number one, it is important for you and

others to establish exactly what's happened at this hospital. but it does seem the diplomatic fallout has already happenedin diplomatic fallout has already happened in that president biden cannot hold these four way talks. now >> well, that is true. we are very grateful for president biden for arriving here in the middle of a war. >> his arrival to israel right now speaks volumes of the american and international support that we have been receiving of the standing by israel. >> and as prime minister rishi sunak said , israel's right to sunak said, israel's right to defend itself ,. and it's very defend itself,. and it's very important . important. >> it was also very significant that president biden, in his own voice, told the world that he believes that israel was not behind the terrible tragedy that it took place yesterday in gaza when the missile hit the al hospital . hospital. >> we have abundance of evidence s including video footage , s including video footage, including a phone call between

hamas terrorists and militants that was intercepted that proves that was intercepted that proves that this is on the palestinian islamic jihad. they sent out they were firing a barrage of rockets towards israeli territory. one of them fell short within the territory of the gaza strip and hit the parking lot of that hospital , parking lot of that hospital, causing a tragedy. now, the numbers unverified. nobody knows and nobody can take hamas numbers or anything that they say without a huge grain of salt i >> but yeah, the gaza health authority have asserted 477 people have been killed. but clearly, looking at the pictures, there has been substantial damage . however, substantial damage. however, that occurred . what is your that occurred. what is your assessment within in the government now about the ramifications for this? does it make it even more difficult to move fonnard diplomatically ? move fonnard diplomatically? >> we have zero responsibility for whatever happens in the gaza strip, the gaza strip is under

hamas's control. the palestinian islamic jihad, which is 100% funded by iran, by the way, hamas is 93. it is also over there . and they are acting there. and they are acting against israel, but not only against israel, but not only against israel, but not only against israel, also against their own civilians. you see israel , we try to their own civilians. you see israel, we try to minimise we seek to minimise civilian casualty . but seek to minimise civilian casualty. but hamas and palestinian islamic jihad, they want to do exactly the opposite. they their goal is to maximise civilian casualties. and when i'm saying it, i mean civilian casualties on the israeli side and on the palestinian side, the higher the number they put out , higher the number they put out, well, the greater their success. >> you do. you say you have zero response ability there, but do you not have any responsibility when it comes to this deepening human mkhitaryan crisis and staying within into national law ? >> well, first, the international law does not apply to the terrorists that were

deaung to the terrorists that were dealing with the terrorists that brought on us the terrible massacre of october 7th, in which they butchered 1004 hundred of our people maimed and injured, 4000 and abducted into the gaza strip nearly 200 israeli civilians, some of them are national, are dual nationality. citizen ship holders. so to your question, we want humanitarian aid to reach the right people in the gaza strip . we don't want palestinian strip. we don't want palestinian civilians to get in the crossfire. we don't want them to suffer because of what hamas is doing. we want the humanitarian aid to reach the right people. but what we cannot do is that let humanitarian aid in and then to have it repurposed , to be to have it repurposed, to be part of the hamas war machine and just to give you one example, just a few days ago, the un agency unwra admitted that in gaza city, hamas militants removed and stole some

of their stockpiles of fuels and suppues of their stockpiles of fuels and supplies and medical supplies . supplies and medical supplies. and this could have been used by the population. it could have been used to, you know, medical purposes and hospitals. but they are taking this equipment. so thatis are taking this equipment. so that is one thing. and also regarding to the humanitarian aid in the bigger picture , this aid in the bigger picture, this also has to be somewhat contingent upon the fate of our people who are still being held captive and their tal. >> can i ask you about that ? >> can i ask you about that? because we've heard from the prime minister here and our foreign secretary that certainly rishi sunak has been in touch with the emir of qatar . james with the emir of qatar. james cleverly is going to be travelling to qatar and also to egypt. and also to turkey . are egypt. and also to turkey. are you getting indications and i know you can't speak about operational details , but the operational details, but the hostages at the moment are, you know, at the top of the list of these efforts to try and move

things on. >> that is 100% one of our top priorities in in this military operation taking place in gaza right now. first, we want to make sure that israeli civilians and israeli territory is secured at all time on all of our borders. all of our fronts are under israeli control . we don't under israeli control. we don't take it as a given after what transpired on october 7th, but also we want to make sure that we will dismantle hamas military capabilities and also make sure that by the end of this they will lack the motivation to ever hurt us as they did. they will not have the capability to do so. and of course, release the hostages. we want to see our sons and daughters back home. we know that there are different , know that there are different, you know, diplomatic efforts which cannot expand on international ones under way. but here's what i can tell you, that just a few days ago, there was an attempt to release a foreign nationals that are being held in gaza through the rafah border crossing, which is the border crossing, which is the border between gaza and egypt. but then hamas blocked their

way. they blocked the way. they didn't let them out of foreign nationals. so hamas is the one is the one committing a war crime here. >> are you able to amplify on that in any way? how was that organised and who did that involve ? involve? >> you know, unfortunately , i >> you know, unfortunately, i cannot expand. i cannot expand . cannot expand. i cannot expand. >> okay. well, that is all. >> okay. well, that is all. >> let me ask you this. bearing in mind the diplomatic track and to pick up on what robert fox was saying, we've not seen any ground offensive. is it the case that there are voices now within israel urging the idf to think again about what could be the cost of going into this maze of streets and tunnels and rubble? >> well , there are all kinds of >> well, there are all kinds of voices. if you listen to israeli media, the israeli public. but i cannot expand on what i know. and generally i cannot speak of military operation ahead of time. i'm not going to divulge any kind of military strategy

that we have. but, you know, there are plans that are being discussed. and all i can say is that israel will do what it takes in order to dismantle hamas by the end of this , hamas hamas by the end of this, hamas will be no longer. we cannot allow to live continue to live side by side , by this monster, side by side, by this monster, by this monstrous terrorist organisation. we will never forget why they did what they did to us. and we are going to hit them very hard . hit them very hard. >> tal heinrich, spokesman for benjamin netanyahu, thank you very much indeed for joining benjamin netanyahu, thank you very much indeed forjoining us there live in israel. thank you. thank you . thank you. >> do stay with us here on the live desk. we will be bringing you the latest and we'll be joined by our reporter in israel as the israeli military prepares for the next phase of its campaign against hamas. stay with

the people's . channel the people's. channel >> welcome back to the live desk. let's take you to the live shot there from gaza. gaza city at the moment at no smoke being seen, but we have seen rocket fire earlier today and plumes of black smoke indications , black smoke indications, explosions. so there there is still much aerial warfare, if we can put it that way , amidst the can put it that way, amidst the diplomatic efforts as president biden speaks to benjamin netanyahu , who and tries to move netanyahu, who and tries to move the whole situation fonnard , the whole situation fonnard, let's cross now to gb news reporter charlie peters, who is in tel aviv. >> charlie, we keep talking

about the us president trying to move things fonnard, but he's got big problems now, hasn't he, with that summit being hosted by jordan, that egyptian and palestinian leaders were due to attend? that's been cancelled. so what can president biden actually do now in terms of diplomacy ? he the most diplomacy? he the most significant effect , i think, significant effect, i think, that the us side can have here now is achieving more humanity. >> korean support in the gaza strip. we know that that was a key mission for us. secretary of state antony blinken last week to try and urgently get support for the internally displaced people in the gaza strip . of people in the gaza strip. of course, last week they were ordered by the idf to flee from the north to the south, some 1.1 million people there and the reports from the south of the strip have been well, there have been extraordinary. just suffering has been relentless . suffering has been relentless. the lack of water, the lack of electricity , the lack of food, electricity, the lack of food, and dozens of trucks waiting on the side of the rafah border crossing with egypt preparing to

go in, but so far blocked . they go in, but so far blocked. they have announced the idf in the last seven hours or so that there will be a humanitarian safe zone on the coast in al—mawasi, some kilometres west of the younis khan, the city in the south, where many people have moved to. after that forced evacuation of gaza city. but the idf seven hours on, still have not confirmed to us how they intend to secure that humanitarian safe zone. they won't tell us how they will supply it with aid. they won't even say how people will be able to get there. we know last week that there so—called that there were so—called humanitarian corridors for humanitarian safe corridors for people to move from the north to the south, but so far, no information on how people will be able to reach that zone on the coast. it could be an opportunity israel supply opportunity for israel to supply more the sea. that more aid from the sea. that might why that location has might be why that location has been selected after president biden arrives. we know that israel maintains a sea air and land blockade, so it has total control of access to the

southern parts of the gaza strip . but what does biden do next? i mean, the call from the arab states this morning is very much one of enough is enough . there one of enough is enough. there must be a ceasefire. we must cease the preparation for a ground invasion from the israeli side. and biden will be sat between those two sides trying to understand what the israeli mission is next. after last night's incident in north gaza . night's incident in north gaza. >> and in terms of the diplomatic dance, charlie, we had rishi sunak, of course, in prime minister's questions in westminster saying that he'd spoken to the emir of qatar and using contacts in the region . we using contacts in the region. we now know that james cleverly, the foreign secretary, is on his way, but not to israel again, to qatar and to egypt and turkey, which in itself is interesting. i are these back channels i mean, are these back channels they're trying to establish to get the hostages sorted out ? get the hostages sorted out? >> well, the us and the uk have significant connections. obviously in jordan, and they use that route to make connections into israel and also

to regional partners here, particularly in the arab world. but this significant interception via qatar will seem to many as an opportunity to try and establish more information about those hostages. but also, i think crucially , some sort of i think crucially, some sort of reassurance about the situation with iran. i think a lot of those arab nations, and particularly saudi arabia and those in jordan, are concerned about the rise of iranian proxies in the last 24 hours, in particular after the incident in north gaza last night, we have seen reports of iranian sorry, iranian drones. yes. intercepted by american forces over iraq , by american forces over iraq, the first time in over a year that there has been some targeting efforts by drones in that country on american forces. and in the last hour , there were and in the last hour, there were reports of a resumption of hostilities in southern lebanon, gunfire heard over the border there. and the idf responding with this comes in with artillery. this comes in the background of, of course, the background of, of course, the iranian minister the iranian foreign minister repeatedly that they are repeatedly warning that they are ready to take pre—emptive action should that convoy on the south

in israel look to move into invading the gaza strip . so that invading the gaza strip. so that meeting in qatar , diplomatic meeting in qatar, diplomatic effort not only for the hostages , but i think to reassure regional partners who are very nervous any further israeli nervous that any further israeli action inspire the shia action could inspire the shia crescent from from tehran to lebanon to rise with extended munitions and more escalating forces in israel fighting on several fronts . yes. several fronts. yes. >> and also, charlie , we are >> and also, charlie, we are starting to see these these pro tests now popping up more and more all over the arab world. the real fear that this outrage could could just explode . could could just explode. >> that's right. and this fear is stemming from what many people here are now saying was a misreported situation action last night. obviously, the idf has released their claim on what they thought happened last night. they claim that the palestinian islamic jihad missed fired a rocket, which then came back down onto the hospital , the back down onto the hospital, the christian baptist hospital there

, hamas and the reject those reports . but the israelis have reports. but the israelis have released more evidence . it's released more evidence. it's compelling. it's not conclusive . compelling. it's not conclusive. and it does appear that the pentagon does support the analysis released by the idf. there's also some questions over the death toll release. the hamas run health ministry yesterday said that some 500 dead had been announced , but dead had been announced, but there's no confirmation about there's no confirmation about the death toll after that explosion in in the north and has as daylight has come across this area, more information is coming out about the situation on the ground and what people have been protesting against all over the arab world at israel , over the arab world at israel, early american and british embassies does not appear to be as severe as was originally reported . it is a tragedy, but reported. it is a tragedy, but it is not the grave devastation by an airstrike, as many are claiming. that seems to be disputed very heavily by the israeli and american sides today. but it is a serious risk and the arab nations that condemned israel last night with this new information have not

said further on that attack. i think in many eyes they are happy for the mood to be in the arab world that israel did this because it creates a pressure for israel to not continue its military action because they know that things could flare up very aggressively in their embassies for their nationals and for us interests abroad, particularly in the arab regions. >> charlie, in tel aviv, thank you for that. with rishi sunak, of course, saying british intelligence working rapidly to independently who's independently establish who's behind blast. more from tel behind the blast. more from tel aviv, more from robert fox, defence editor with the evening standard here the studio standard here in the studio shortly. first, latest shortly. but first, latest headunes shortly. but first, latest headlines rhiannon . mark headlines with rhiannon. mark thank you. >> it's 233. your top stories from the newsroom . at least from the newsroom. at least seven british nationals have been killed and nine are missing since hamas attack on israel. a spokesperson for the prime minister has now confirmed earlier the gaza and israel crisis has dominated pmqs. both

rishi sunak and sir keir starmer struck a similar tone, condemning the actions of hamas whilst reaffirming israel's right to defend itself. in this, they stood united with the casualties in gaza mounting. both leaders expressed their sympathies with the palestinian people following the overnight blast at the al al—arabi hospital, which killed nearly 500 people. us president joe biden has met with the israeli prime minister. he's meant to be on a diplomatic mission to prevent an escalation in the region. but after last night's strike on the hospital , a strike on the hospital, a planned meeting with leaders in the middle east has been cancelled . in a joint press cancelled. in a joint press conference with benjamin netanyahu, president biden supported the israeli defence forces claims that the rocket fired was not from israel and again pledged us support for israel . now, in other news, the israel. now, in other news, the rate of inflation remained at 6.7% last month here in the uk,

as easing food and drink price rises were offset by higher petrol and diesel prices . the petrol and diesel prices. the office for national statistics says inflation stayed at the same rate, despite expectations it would fall again. the readings important in calculating how much benefit payments will increase next year as well as some taxes and a red weather warning for rain has been issued by the met office for parts of scotland, it means dangerous weather conditions are expected with extensive flooding posing a risk to life . the posing a risk to life. the weather warning runs from 6:00 tomorrow evening until noon on friday. and you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website, gbnews.com .

gb news radio. >> welcome back to the live desk on gb news. we're continuing to talk to defence editor of the evening standard, robert fox. still with us in the studio to talk about all this. well i mean, it's just there's so much to this. it's hard to know where to this. it's hard to know where to start. but what i do want to ask you, robert, is what we've just heard in the last few moments that the united nations security council now voting security council is now voting on a resolution that causing on a resolution that is causing for pause in the for a humanitarian pause in the conflict between israel and hamas . how conflict between israel and hamas. how much conflict between israel and hamas . how much power could that

hamas. how much power could that vote have? how much influence ? vote have? how much influence? >> not much, but it is a big signal. i would imagine that russia and china, as permanent members, will sit on their hands or cause trouble . and the or cause trouble. and the problem with security council resolutions, as we had through so many crises like this, that they could volunteer things like safe zones in bosnia, for example, and the members who have the capacity to do it very often will not do something. and i think this is the really the most interesting thing about the biden visit. sorry related to the security council, the dog that refuses to bark. it isn't the dog that that didn't bark , the dog that that didn't bark, that he wanted to engage with the arab nations. really, mr abbas , king abdullah, president abbas, king abdullah, president sisi, you were saying, i'm going to sit on my hands because i don't like the way the americans are behaving towards us. and towards israel. let a million and a half die in destitution in gaza. it's an appalling thing. they have shown no statesmanship whatsoever in this regard

because the main issue , as you because the main issue, as you rightly said, is humanitarian excuse me, on two counts hostage and bringing succour. that means help of all kinds to those desperate people in mid and southern. but 1—1 reflects maybe that for king abdullah, of course, he is looking at his own domestic position and what happens to the jordanian people if he's seen to be welcomed . if he's seen to be welcomed. >> ang biden, after that hospital attack, i mean, he's made a political calculation, hasn't he? >> yes, he has. and of course, he is well aware that, you know, there is a predominantly palestinian population in jordan. think wife jordan. i think his wife is palestinian . yes. has to palestinian. yes. and he has to play palestinian. yes. and he has to play to that. they are in perhaps the most difficult position , but one would believe position, but one would believe that they also picked clearly because of their historic interest in places like jerusalem , which runs right up jerusalem, which runs right up to today, guardian of the holy sites and so on, that they could perhaps exert subtly more leverage than any of the others. they need to exert leadership with the other palestinian

leaders, namely abbas, fatah and the palestinian authority. >> and we've seen the increasingly difficult position on the west bank, of course, which is underlining the importance of that accord. >> yes, but the trouble is that it looks as if that regime is in in trouble. 87 year old in real trouble. 87 year old president, trouble is with president, the trouble is with whatever you say about the arab representation in the west bank and gaza is they haven't been too hot on democracy of late . too hot on democracy of late. and that that is a big, big problem. >> is there a new generation thatis >> is there a new generation that is waiting in the wings or is this still the old men of janine in places like that, people who turn to violence, but where they should be worried and you've still got it in gaza. >> you've still got it through out the west bank is the educator middle class or people who want to get on with education, who really need help. the israelis have to say, frankly , haven't been helpful at frankly, haven't been helpful at all about that , particularly all about that, particularly of the but institute the west bank, but institute organs like the british council, funnily enough, have done lot funnily enough, have done a lot of that's where the hope of work. that's where the hope lies. the problem is that it is

a conversation between old men . a conversation between old men. as you rightly said, netanyahu has been around for a long time and carrying the baggage of the previous conflict . previous conflict. >> yes, absolutely. >> yes, absolutely. >> and i think that that's the thing that they have really got to unlock. i you're asking me pip was asking me before as we came on air, how do i it came on air, how do i see it end? and i never you know, journalists are very poor prophets. i would say that me included so. but included very much so. but i don't this being by don't see this being ended by force arms . force of arms. >> okay. well, it will it end at all? is this just one of those things that will carry on? things that will just carry on? i think the generation i i think the generation game, i think things change in think it's when things change in places like iraq then and they will do because the generation game is playing big there . game is playing big there. >> yeah. >> yeah. and >> yeah. and hezbollah >> yeah. and hezbollah indeed. well, of course, the war with hamas as it is at the moment, has meant hundreds of thousands have been turning up to sign up on the frontline. of course, they are in the firing directly . they are in the firing directly. our reporter charlie peters has spoken to a british israeli idf

officer who was injured while fighting the hamas terrorists at a kibbutz in southern israel . a kibbutz in southern israel. his identity being kept secret for security reasons . for security reasons. >> at 7 am, they woke us up, told us that the israelis in a total war and we need to get ready and that we are going down to the gaza strip. >> have you heard any reports about the extent of the hamas violence in that kibbutz? >> we didn't have reports on our way. we opened phones to understand what's happening because the idf couldn't understand what's happening because there was much because there was too much information going to from everywhere. we saw the live streams of hamas. and we streams of hamas. and then we understand that something really strange happening. strange is happening. >> when you to the >> and when you got to the kibbutz that's when you kibbutz be'eri, that's when you engaged with hamas fighters engaged with the hamas fighters there . there. >> yeah, before we saw a lot of a lot of stuff that hamas did that a lot of bodies of innocent citizens. and when we came to kibbutz it to the junction of berri by the gate of the kibbutz. so we heard over this

all of the shooting. and we understand that the massacre is still happening. i have to say that the people of fought very bravely , though a lot of time bravely, though a lot of time that we saw also bodies of israeli innocent citizens in the houses, but also bodies of terrorists that we didn't kill . terrorists that we didn't kill. the people of bury killed, managed to kill some of them. >> what was the fighting like? very combat. very close quarters. >> yeah, very combat. most >> yeah, very close combat. most of combat. oh, 5 to 7m from of our combat. oh, 5 to 7m from each other. or that they are, they were inside the houses and we try to break inside the houses in every house there were between 3 or 4 terrorists that stayed inside the houses. i saw three terrorists. i yelled to them, idf, idf, because we did not understand if the terrorist or citizen are um, people that have weapons. >> when did you suffer your injury? what happened? >> i suffered it on sunday evening . we did our last. evening. we did our last. >> the last fight, the last fight with terrorist, but lack a

machine gun. >> started to shoot on us from inside the house. >> a machine gun shot at you from inside where you were. so you ran into a house and there was a terrorist inside there. photo for we tried to shoot at the terrorists. >> they shoot us back. my soldier that operates a machine gun dead in the gun fell down and dead in the place . i gun fell down and dead in the place. i got gun fell down and dead in the place . i got injured gun fell down and dead in the place. i got injured in my stomach and in my hand . so i was stomach and in my hand. so i was out on my back because i was bleeding from the back, from the bullets in your stomach. exactly. that i will not to bleed. and i started shooting on the terrorist that i shot a 9100 bullets on them. one of my soldiers spoke when he couldn't put it inside the hallway, so it came to the living room where i was. it's close. i have no idea why. as a religious man, i'm saying it's because god. but i got i didn't get injured from the grenade. so another officer of my unit managed to work inside the house from the kitchen window. he took me outside and the tank and outside and the tank came and finished the job, destroyed the house, the tank destroyed the house. >> you all pulled down the

>> after you all pulled down the terrorist and we could gladly say kibbutz be'eri has say that the kibbutz be'eri has zero terrorist of them. zero terrorist inside of them. >> have to say that i was >> i have to say that i was really impressed from the brave of the citizens of mary. >> right israel is >> right now, israel is preparing likely preparing for that likely invasion of the gaza strip. do you think the country and the army is ready the next phase army is ready for the next phase of war? of course you're of this war? of course you're ready to go again. >> i will go again next week after i will heal. charlie >> peter's reporting there from israel . well, we can cross to israel. well, we can cross to freddie grey , who's deputy freddie grey, who's deputy editor of the spectator and host of the americano podcast. good afternoon to you, freddie. this is a real tinderbox situation now that president biden has flown into what exactly do you think he can achieve, if anything? now diplomatically, when you look at where we're at? >> well, there are a lot of cynics on capitol hill in washington who'd say if you have a tinderbox situation, the last thing you want to do in is throw in joe biden and mean well .

in joe biden and mean well. well, you know, he's already expressed warm words of support towards israel and he hugged netanyahu , which is quite a big netanyahu, which is quite a big statement . i think there is some statement. i think there is some concern that his middle eastern policy is quite incoherent and thatis policy is quite incoherent and that is not helping an already very dangerous situation. we've seen already that his secretary of state, antony blinken , was of state, antony blinken, was snubbed by the crown prince of saudi arabia, mohammed bin salman , and given quite a stern salman, and given quite a stern talking to by the egyptian leadership . one of the reasons leadership. one of the reasons why that is, is because biden, when he was a candidate for , when he was a candidate for, started calling saudi arabia a panah started calling saudi arabia a pariah state because of the murder of jamal khashoggi, who was a washington post contributor , among other things, contributor, among other things, and having done that, when he then when he then reached the white house, he quickly realised that he couldn't really afford to alienate saudi arabia and the white house performed a

spectacular reverse ferret and started sucking up to mohammed bin salman again. the problem is he seems to have remembered that and he doesn't seem to trust the biden administration and to resolve this conflict . israel resolve this conflict. israel and america are going to have to try and work with saudi arabia and the other gulf states, whether they can do that at the moment, given the mood of the islamic world towards israel is a very, very grave and important question. i don't quite know the answer. a nswer. >> answer. >> okay. let's let's put another analysis fonnard. and that is that biden actually is a foreign affairs veteran. when met affairs veteran. when he met many of people, when many of these people, when he was president , he he many of these people, when he was president, he he knows was vice president, he he knows the ropes and that perhaps that signal of the greeting for netanyahu was a direct signal to iran . iran. >> yes . >> yes. >> yes. >> i mean, i think, you know, biden certainly rates himself. he prides himself on being a great operator and being able to talk tough to people, yet also showing compassion and so on. there are people around him who support that. think you'd support that. but i think you'd also to look at his record.

also have to look at his record. i mean, withdrawal from i mean, the withdrawal from afghanistan may have been the right it was right decision, but it was disastrously he disastrously handled. yeah he got iraq wrong . he's got other got iraq wrong. he's got other wars wrong. he's got libya wrong . he's not had a particularly good track record , but he has good track record, but he has done a lot of it, i'll give you that. he has got a lot of experience. >> but the ovennhelming demand now is to get this humanitarian aid in, to get this rafah crossing open is egypt going to going to shift on this, do you think? can biden exert any influence there ? influence there? >> i mean, america is still the pre—eminent world power and it has enormous military and financial strength. so, of course , it can exert pressure on course, it can exert pressure on egypt. the timing with the hospital bombing last night was terrible in terms of his visit because it meant that this meeting between biden and egypt's leader , as well as the

egypt's leader, as well as the palestinian president and the jordanian king was cancelled , jordanian king was cancelled, that that was really unfortunate timing. whoever's to blame for it . but i timing. whoever's to blame for it. but i don't timing. whoever's to blame for it . but i don't know whether it. but i don't know whether that that means that america can't pressure israel or arab states on the aid or even press pressure. israel to help facilitate it . america obviously facilitate it. america obviously has lots of leverage and biden will be able to use that. >> yeah, well, we'll see, of course, with him still actually in israel, which is significant itself , maybe with another news itself, maybe with another news conference shortly . conference shortly. >> but thanks for your thoughts. let's just turn back to robert , let's just turn back to robert, who is still with us in the studio, defence editor here at the london evening standard. why has hezbollah not moved? why is it still quiet on that border with lebanon ? are they waiting, with lebanon? are they waiting, keeping its powder dry? >> i don't know that they've got an experience in where they had an experience in where they had an all out war, 2006, where they showed great skill and that they had upped their game in terms of the drones and land

the use of drones and land missiles and sea missiles. they hit an israeli naval ship , but hit an israeli naval ship, but they don't want to go in for that again unless they can win a lot of israel . most of israel is lot of israel. most of israel is in within range. technically of hezbollah rockets. but it's the same problem for hamas. you say you want to rub out israel. what are you going to do with all the people in that land ? and the people in that land? and the fact is that hezbollah also i would like to nuance a bit of what freddie grey was saying . what freddie grey was saying. that was too much and i am too much from a western perspective. what think differently about you see, hezbollah is shia . it's see, hezbollah is shia. it's lebanese . it's sponsored by iran lebanese. it's sponsored by iran , but they don't like iran very much because one is arab and the other is persian farsi and these sort of things really count. and hezbollah would want to make a throw . so that guarantees them throw. so that guarantees them success and doesn't undermine

their position in lebanon, where they're in government and therefore, this is the way it works is the hezbollah mindset very difficult to that of hamas, even though they've both been supported by proxy, by ireland? they have, you know, my enemy's enemy kind of, you know, and that's that's why they're helping munitions and helping with munitions and training on. they are training and so on. but they are not ideologues. totally not ideologues. hinckley totally augned. not ideologues. hinckley totally aligned . and also the aligned. and that is also the problem to gloss a bit of what freddie was saying , you know, freddie was saying, you know, you can't expect saudi arabia to get in. they do in these get in. they never do in these conflicts. in the past . they conflicts. in the past. they stand watch what's stand back, watch what's happened then take advantage of happened, then take advantage of it . but the happened, then take advantage of it. but the common happened, then take advantage of it . but the common factor to it. but the common factor to both egypt and saudi reluctant is the muslim brotherhood . they is the muslim brotherhood. they are very , very wary. that's why are very, very wary. that's why khashoggi that's why sisi came to power after morsi, muslim brotherhood tried to impose an islamic regime. brotherhood tried to impose an islamic regime . and they said, islamic regime. and they said, we're having enough. and that's why they're suspicious of qatar and you see all these cut—outs, it's spaghetti . yeah, it means

it's spaghetti. yeah, it means everybody is finding an excuse not to take primary. >> and this is what biden's trying to untangle at the moment. >> and it's the thing that biden is trying to untangle, as you say. but the other thing which freddie suggested quite rightly , freddie suggested quite rightly, is they do give an awful lot of money to egypt and israel can mentioning biden, we are expecting a press conference that he's due to give very shortly . shortly. >> i just want to ask you when we earlier spoke to prime minister benjamin netanyahu's spokesperson person, she said that there was a rescue attempt to get four of the hostages out. it was launched near the rafah crossing . but hamas blocked crossing. but hamas blocked their way. that's something that we hadn't heard before, is it? which suggests there is intelligence to know where these hostage is are in gaza? >> oh, there's quite a bit of intelligence on that. they're doing it with sigint. they're doing it with sigint. they're doing i think that quite rightly. mr cleverly and mr mr sunak lot more than they sunak know a lot more than they

could possibly say at the moment. that's why they very quickly ordered those quickly they ordered in those two navy ships. they're two royal navy ships. they're not gunboats , they're actually not gunboats, they're actually one a big hospital ship and one is a big hospital ship and squads of royal marines who are very good at rescue and the helicopters are configured for that. helicopters are configured for that . what helicopters are configured for that. what one would like to know and i say, but historically, britain has got such an interest and a lot of the educational structure is british still, whatever they like to say . but british still, whatever they like to say. but one would like to know where the european allies really are. schultz has said a bit of this and a bit of that. macron is important, but he's got so much on his plate from the mediterranean anyway, from the mediterranean anyway, from north africa and further south. but the really has to be solidarity . we the united solidarity. we the united nafions. solidarity. we the united nations . to go back to your nations. to go back to your point, your earlier point. yes. that they will but the that they will talk. but the real question with the united nafions real question with the united nations things, nations, there are two things, is whether can deliver is whether they can deliver organisations like unrra and unicef have been brilliant, but the politics are awful. yeah >> and it continues that that dance. >> and it continues that that dance . robert, thank you for

dance. robert, thank you for your analysis. as we say, we're expecting president biden news conference. we'll have all the latest you here on gb news.

us everybody. >> patrick goristiza 3 pm. is gb news. and we've got a lot coming your way. okay, so we're going to be talking about the islamist threat to britain on the streets. this is as a result of what's been going on in israel and palestine. what's happening over here. i'm going

be having a look at that. i'm also going to be talking about this as well. yes, sir. rishi sunak back ceasefire. sunak does not back a ceasefire. that's he was in the that's right. he was in the house commons on. house of commons earlier on. a lot political pressure now to lot of political pressure now to back a rowing back of the violence, the tensions. he's violence, of the tensions. he's not that. so what does that not done that. so what does that mean here? also, do we mean for us here? also, do we have a duty to take in people who are fleeing from gaza ? humza who are fleeing from gaza? humza yousaf certainly think so . but a yousaf certainly think so. but a lot people are saying why lot of people are saying why shouldn't neighbouring lot of people are saying why shouldn'tdo neighbouring lot of people are saying why shouldn'tdo neitheouring countries do it if the neighbouring countries aren't doing should it be doing it, then why should it be our responsibility? so be our responsibility? so we'll be having that. in having a debate on that. in other we'll be talking other news, we'll be talking about well. smugglers about this as well. smugglers fun? yes. a pathetic 11 year jail sentence for a bloke who was responsible around was responsible for around a fifth of the people who crossed the english channel last year. remarkable. where's the deterrent there? i mean, he won't even serve 11 years, will he? and finally, no more inflation nation. yes, it is stagnant, which i think, let's be honest, is better than the things we've had going on things that we've had going on before, this puts before, isn't it? but this puts pressure now on the bank of england to ramp down those