by good afternoon. >> it is midday. this is the live desk here on gb news. coming up this friday afternoon , coming up this friday afternoon, the growing calls for a ceasefire in gaza, but israel launches another 250 airstrikes. >> hamas fires more rocket barrages into tel aviv and southern israel as america also hits syrian targets. what price peace now ? peace now? >> more woes for the prime minister as the mp chris blunt says he's been arrested on suspicion of rape and possession of controlled substances following the suspension of peter bone . we'll be asking can peter bone. we'll be asking can the tories cope with yet more by elections as the new report that's identified the huge challenge for the home office to

clear the backlog in the asylum system ? system? >> mps say that the current plans are incomplete and unrealistic . unrealistic. >> plus, we're tackling rugby ahead of england's third place play ahead of england's third place play off against argentina in the world cup and that clash of titans in the final . the all titans in the final. the all blacks and the springboks crouch bind and set . blacks and the springboks crouch bind and set. first, here's all your headlines with tatiana . pippa. >> thank you very much and good afternoon. just after midday , afternoon. just after midday, this is the latest from the newsroom . mps are warning newsroom. mps are warning vulnerable people are being put at risk over plans to clear the asylum backlog . the public asylum backlog. the public accounts committee says the home office proposals to reform the system are incomplete and unrealistic. at the end of june, there were almost 68,000 cases

awaiting a decision. shadow environment secretary steve reed says the government has lost control of the situation , taking control of the situation, taking immense amount of time to deal with individual cases. >> while those cases are being while people are waiting for their cases to be dealt with, they're being put up in hotels at a staggering cost of £8 million a day. it's shocking what labour would do is instead of using that money on hotel bills, we would use it to recruit 1000 additional civil servants to deal with these cases faster. that would reduce the hotel bill. the scheme would pay the hotel bill. the scheme would pay for itself and then you would get the cases processed much faster. >> education secretary gillian keegan says a serious effort is being made to address the problem . problem. >> we have got tough on immigration. we were the people who have introduced new legislation because obviously you have to have the law behind you. we've also obviously had the rwanda policy, which is still in the courts, but that is part of the policy. and we've

also got returns agreements now with a number of countries and a new agreement with france as well . we're also looking at well. we're also looking at alternatives to hotels to bring that bill down to the taxpayer. so we are the ones taking all of the actions. but there is no doubt that this is a huge problem doubt that this is a huge pro hamas says israel's bombing >> hamas says israel's bombing of gaza has killed 50 hostages. that's as israel's defence forces confirmed another 250 airstrikes were carried out over the past 24 hours, targeting hamas. the number of hostages being held by the terrorists stands at 229. hamas says it can't and won't release them until a ceasefire is agreed . until a ceasefire is agreed. here the government's working to help british citizens trapped in gaza. help british citizens trapped in gaza . the prime minister has gaza. the prime minister has been pushing for a humanitarian pause in fighting to allow aid in, but he's under growing pressure to call for a full ceasefire . hundreds of lawyers ceasefire. hundreds of lawyers have signed an open letter urging rishi sunak to change his

position on saying the uk needs to follow international law . the to follow international law. the rafah crossing on the border with egypt has reportedly been reopened this morning with a palestinian official saying a medical team in ten aid trucks were allowed to enter the strip in the united states, the search for a gunman has continued. it's in its second day after 18 people were killed in the state of maine . that manhunt has of maine. that manhunt has expanded as police continue to search for 40 year old robert cod, who is thought to be armed and dangerous . he has a history and dangerous. he has a history of mental illness that gunman opened fire at the bowling alley and at a bar in the city of lewiston. eight of those who were injured , three of them are were injured, three of them are thought to be in a critical condition. the natwest group's decision to shut down nigel farage's account showed serious failings. according to the findings of an independent

review , it said the bank failed review, it said the bank failed to communicate its decision properly and showed failures of how it treated the gb news presenter's confidential information . however, the report information. however, the report said the closure was lawful and mainly on commercial reasons. mr farage has previously said that coutts had moved to shut down his account because his political beliefs did not align with the bank. the education secretary says there are no cultural problems within her party after a senior mp was arrested on suspicion of rape and the possession of controlled substances . gillian keegan told substances. gillian keegan told gb news most of her colleagues act with integrity. crispin blunt was detained by surrey police yesterday and then released on conditional bail . released on conditional bail. he's been removed from the party and asked to stay away from parliament. the mp says he'll cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation and he says he's confident he won't be charged and nhs waiting list could top 8 million by next summer, even if

strike action doesn't continue. the health foundation says the number will peak by august before starting to come down. but if strikes were to continue, that list could be 180,000 higher or more than 7.5 million people were waiting for treatment last month. but the nhs says it's making progress, claiming they've more than halved waits of more than 65 weeks . and plans have been weeks. and plans have been approved by merton council to expand the all england tennis club . the decision followed a club. the decision followed a lengthy planning committee meeting which concluded late last night the grounds will almost triple in size and allow wimbledon to host the qualifying tournaments completion is projected for 2030 and will see an increase in the capacity of the championships from 42 to 50,000. 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 to mark and . pip

now it's back to mark and. pip tatiana , thanks very much indeed tatiana, thanks very much indeed and welcome back to the live desk now. >> israel's military has said it struck numerous terror targets, including anti—tank missile launch systems, in overnight raids into central gaza . these raids into central gaza. these are the latest pictures we're getting live from the border between israel and gaza itself. >> the conflict continues to escalate regionally, too, with two us fighter jets hitting weapons and ammunition dumps in syria. washington says it's in relation for attacks by iranian backed militia . we are also backed militia. we are also heanng backed militia. we are also hearing in the last few moments that the un says that another eight trucks carrying food, medicine and water are expected to cross into the gaza strip today . the un is saying that , today. the un is saying that, well, we've been reporting this all week that technical, political and security issues have been hindering deliveries , have been hindering deliveries, but detailed negotiations are taking place with israel in a

bid to secure more humanitarian and more humanitarian crossings. >> reuters is quoting a palestinian official there , palestinian official there, saying that in addition to the trucks , the lorries. there is trucks, the lorries. there is a medical team, he says of ten foreign doctors as he's described them. that's coming into help with the situation. but of course, we did have the un's assessment earlier. the un relief and works chief saying that aid trucks going through so far had provided only crumbs to those people in gaza . but we those people in gaza. but we i think, can now speak to our correspondent mark white, our security editor in tel aviv, who's had to take cover because mark, i gather, been yet more rockets barrages there as there have been two in southern israel in this morning. >> yeah we had a lull of about 15 hours since a big barrage of rockets into tel aviv last night . so and then just literally

about five minutes ago, the sirens went off here. so we've had to head to the shelter. it's very quick , though. i mean, it's very quick, though. i mean, it's an incredible system that they have here. you really only in the shelter for a few minutes until the iron door missiles take out those rockets fired at your location. if more come this way, there'll be another alert. but for the time being, we're back here slightly breathless because we just had to dash back up the corridor to our location . up the corridor to our location. but yes, some also rockets fired into the area. they called the gaza envelope as well. just these communities is around the gaza strip . but this the first gaza strip. but this the first one of the day we've had previous to this for large rocket barrages into tel aviv in the past 24 hours, a couple of those rockets got through and damaged buildings with four report injuries . no word as to report injuries. no word as to whether any rockets in the last

barrage got through or not. but yes, fast moving developments again today. there are constant lee every hour, new things to report , the latest being those report, the latest being those aid trucks. very welcome down in the gaza strip . 8 to 10 trucks the gaza strip. 8 to 10 trucks that have come through. so so far, the hope is, of course, they can build on that, get more aid trucks in. there are some doctors there very bravely, ten doctors there very bravely, ten doctors who have agreed to come into the gaza strip to try to help the injured there in that area . area. >> and mark, i think we're now on day 20 of this war. and the israeli military says it hit more than 250 targets in 24 hours in gaza. and it did kill a hamas commander and targeted tunnels and dozens of hamas fighters. it says it has killed as well . as well. >> yeah, easy to lose count , as well. >> yeah, easy to lose count, but

it's actually now day 21 of the war again against hamas. and there was a very significant ground incursion overnight against central gaza that was targeted. this time, dozens of tanks and bulldozers took down that border fence to allow that incursion to take place. there were strikes as well on a number of hamas positions that the israelis said were positions with anti—tank missiles and other traps awaiting that inevitable ground force invasion . when it happens. and in addition to that, of course, as you were saying there, pip, over the past 24 hours, 250 air strikes again aimed according to the idf at hamas positions . strikes again aimed according to the idf at hamas positions. but they are up against this age old issue, which is the hamas policy of putting their launchers and other terrorist infrastructure right in and amongst the civilian community. and as a consequence , there's a very

consequence, there's a very heavy toll on that civilian community. >> we've been concentrating, of course, for obvious reasons on gaza. but let's reflect now that we've had a us air strike on a syrian installation. we believe it's an arms and ammunition dump and of course, this is, i think, the tinder box is this phrase used by one former white house official as to what could happen as this spreads regionally . he as this spreads regionally. he yeah, mark, this is a very worrying development . worrying development. >> it was a decision that was given the go ahead by president biden to take out two positions, position us that are linked to the iranian revolutionary guard and their proxies in eastern syria, positions that the us said were responsible for launching drone and missiles strikes over the last ten days. significant numbers of strikes that have injured at least two dozen us service personnel. and

clearly the us wants to send a message to iran and its proxies that it will not tolerate this in addition to what the us has been doing and quite separately, the us are stressing that this was unilaterally taken , this was unilaterally taken, this decision. nothing to do with israel or indeed they see the conflict in gaza, although of course it has to be linked in the round. israel has also attacked positions in syria that they say have been firing rockets and missiles into to israel as well. and in addition to this, we've also had a drone that was intercepted going into an egyptian tourist resort on the red sea . now, the israeli the red sea. now, the israeli intent science services believe that that drone was intended for eilat in southern israel , but eilat in southern israel, but veered off hit that resort in egypt instead. but again, a worrying development. and all the while , the potential for

the while, the potential for this widening conflict mark, we also just want to update our viewers and listeners with the situation regarding the hostage is, of course, it is three weeks tomorrow since this terrorist atrocity took place in southern israel. >> the number of hostages, we now understand, kidnapped it has risen to 229 . yes risen to 229. yes >> and this happens every 2 or 3 days or so when the israeli intelligence and idf managed to ascertain whether someone is being held as a hostage or perhaps they are just missing or they have been killed, but their bodies have not been recovered. so it's gone up five from the total of 224, just a couple of days ago. now up to 229. we know as well, controversially, that a delegation of hamas officials were invited to moscow by the

russian leader, vladimir putin. israel is absolutely incandescent that this took place because remember, israel has good relations with russia. well they've taken a real dent over this. israel saying of course, that this these leaders is from hamas have blood , the is from hamas have blood, the blood of 1400 people who were slaughtered on the 7th of october on their hands. and it's hard to see what this delegation has actually achieved because they've come away from this meeting making public statements that there will be no more hostage releases until there's a ceasefire. let's see what happens. we know that occasionally hostages have been sort of dripped out 1 or 2 at a time, a mark. >> thanks very much for updating us there. and of course, back to you throughout the afternoon to get the very latest. thank you. >> well, mark was talking about the 229 hostages is believed to be held by hamas and an installation of an empty shabbat table is seeking to raise

awareness of their situation when it opened today in london as well. >> a london reporter, lisa hartle joins us there now live for what is a very poignant and powerful image behind you there, lisa. hello >> yes, indeed. and if i just move out of the way, you can see just how powerful that is. there's over 200 places. is that have been set, each one to represent one of the people that are being held hostage on the back of each chair. you can see a photograph of each hostage along with their name and their age. we've got the children's places . we've got high chairs places. we've got high chairs with a bottle , and then that's with a bottle, and then that's for nine month old kofi . it's for nine month old kofi. it's just a really when you stand in front of it, it's to imagine an over 200 people that are missing this just really does bring it home. and just to explain a bit more about this, i'm joined with by oliver, who's one of the organisers of the installation. oliver, thank you so much for

joining us. now, this is this isn't just set out for a normal dinner is it for anyone who's not in the jewish community? can you explain what this represents? >> yes. so every week, starting on friday night, a saturday night shabbat. it's the night is shabbat. it's the sabbath. rest time for sabbath. the rest time for jewish people and jews around the world. on friday night come together and have a friday night dinner. they they do blessings over wine and bread. and most importantly , they're with family importantly, they're with family and they eat. and it's supposed to be a joyful time. and this is really to remind us that there are more than 200 people who won't be at their friday night dinners week. they'll be dinners this week. they'll be empty chairs waiting for them because they are currently held hostage . hostage. >> and you were telling me earlier that the point this earlier that the point of this is to keep the hostages in the minds the public. yes. minds of the public. yes. >> yes, very much so. so it's been a very long two weeks. and obviously, people his thoughts and the news go elsewhere. and it's really important to remember that these more than

200 people are still being held hostage. and it's a very long time for us. and it's an even longer time for them. so we're making sure that the word spreads as far and wide and people continue remember that people continue to remember that they're and earlier they're being held and earlier we heard one of the people that was speaking was chief rabbi. >> you that was >> you said that there was a particular prayer that he's written for the hostages. >> so on tomorrow , on >> yes. so on tomorrow, on sabbath, people will be going to their synagogues. they'll be doing their kind of usual shabbat services, which haven't changed for a very, very long time. and the chief rabbi has written a specific prayer that he sent out to the congregations for them to say so that as a unified voice, we can pray for those people to be brought home as quickly as possible. and one of the messages that was put across earlier was that it's your we're stronger together. yes, very much so. so at times like this, especially when there are crises in the middle east, but people people on the fringes will try and drive a wedge

between british jews and british muslims, especially . and right muslims, especially. and right now, it's really important to remember that that shouldn't happen. that in britain, as a community, we're a welcoming and open place and that we need to stay together. and there are people who are going to try and drive apart. but actually to drive us apart. but actually to overcome this, we need to stay together. and it's events like this it's places like here together. and it's events like thiw3 it's places like here together. and it's events like thiw3 thats places like here together. and it's events like thiw3 that can aces like here together. and it's events like thiw3 that can dos like here together. and it's events like thiw3 that can do that> here together. and it's events like thiw3 that can do that ande together. and it's events like thiw3 that can do that and can at w3 that can do that and can be a kind of that hope that we can bring together. >> thank you so for talking >> thank you so much for talking to so this to us, oliver. so this installation will be available, open to the public until monday and they're asking for people to come pay their respects, come along, pay their respects, but also to take photographs and to the images of the to keep the images of the hostages in the minds of people. lisa hartle so, so poignant. >> thank you very much for that. >> thank you very much for that. >> well, coming up, we'll >> thank you very much for that. >> well, coming up , we'll have >> well, coming up, we'll have the latest in westminster after crispin blunt identified himself as the conservative mp arrested on suspicion of rape , he's now on suspicion of rape, he's now lost the party whip . can the lost the party whip. can the tories cope with maybe yet

another by—election? that's coming up in a

>> anywhere else? >> anywhere else? >> breakfast with eamonn and isabel monday to thursdays from . six >> welcome back to the live desk, crispin blunt publicly identified himself last night as the tory mp arrested on suspicion of rape, and he did that via social media. >> well, he's a former justice minister reportedly arrested for possession, too, of controlled substances , but he's since been

substances, but he's since been released on bail in response to the allegations, crispin blunt said he would cooperate fully with the police investigation and that he was confident meant that the investigation would end without charge. >> well, let's discuss it now with our political editor , chris with our political editor, chris hope, joining us there in westminster . westminster. >> clearly, there's a legal process to be gone through here, chris, political chris, but this political process as already lost the process as well already lost the whip. maybe a lot in whip. and i guess maybe a lot in the central office there wondering is this another by—election in the offing ? by—election in the offing? >> that's right. i've been asked to stay away from parliament by the whips office and by mr speaken the whips office and by mr speaker, while this carries on, of course, the police will do their investigation when and where plays we don't where it plays out. we don't know yet and it may go nowhere. it may lead to further, further issues blunt, that issues for mr blunt, and that could towards could lead towards a by—election. he the seat . by—election. he held the seat. he won it 1997 with he first won it in 1997 with a majority held that last election of 18,310, the same kind of level we saw the tories lose in mid—bedfordshire and tamworth and selby and ainsty and the list goes on. these are numbers

which the tory party should not normally lose historically, but they have been losing this year and that's why it's another worry for central office. you said there . where will lead? said there. where will it lead? well, so far the tories had 365 mps in 2019. they're now down to 351. those are mp who have disappeared now. they've now they've been won by a different other seats, other parties. and that's the concern. i think for the tory party. they're being whittled away. we thought, didn't we, in the late 1990s. i think there's a feeling about that, a kind of a kind of winning winnowing away of the winning a winnowing away of the tory majority. it's still it's still big though by the way. you might you might forget that we're still seeing a sizeable and this now raises questions . and this now raises questions. >> dozens maybe more questions about alleged sleaze within the tory party about the culture within the tory party allegations that i think the education secretary, gillian keegan has been batting away today . today. >> that's right. i mean, i think

there's a feeling, isn't it? i mean, how sleaze became this big issue in the mid 90s and john major's government, but of course we've got peter bone. he's suspended for six weeks at wellingborough, another safe, a safe seat if local enough safe tory seat if local enough local people want to have a by—election that will take place probably in the new year in wellingborough. so there's going to series of these setbacks to be a series of these setbacks electorally for rishi sunak as we towards the hard deadline we go towards the hard deadline of a of a general election by january 2025. and that's a problem. the tories have got. the polling is dreadful for them. they're down to a 24% deficit to labour in a yougov poll today. yesterday a gb news poll today. yesterday a gb news poll had them 28 points behind thatis poll had them 28 points behind that is nowhere. that is not an improvement in one year. the anniversary of mrs. sunak becoming prime minister is this week . he's gone nowhere in the week. he's gone nowhere in the polls in a year. there was a slight hope, i think, for tories when they move back on some of the net zero targets in september. ever since then, the

october conference happened this this month. nothing happened. they decided to ban smoking and they're going to reform a—levels over ten years. and they've asked the hs2 route to manchester. nothing there manchester. it's nothing there to set the polls alight. i do know mps have been called know that mps have been called in with figures in all week to meet with figures around the pm sunak and around the pm rishi sunak and they're to find out they're trying to find out what's wrong. why can't what's gone wrong. why can't they lift out the polls? they're hemmed by, of course, the hemmed in by, of course, by the cost of the uk and cost of the of the uk and ukraine the of covid. ukraine war, the cost of covid. but is no real attempt, it but there is no real attempt, it seems, for tories to get these polls moving in the right direction. and it's calling greg causing great frustration. >> mentioned again >> yeah, you mentioned again that major government is that john major government is yet the parallels being yet again the parallels being drawn with those dog days of that government before of course we had the labour landslide and remember jonathan haslam, who was john major's spokesman, saying at time the events saying at the time the events just kept coming no matter what they did , it was just this tide they did, it was just this tide of bad news. >> it does feel that way, doesn't it? i mean, a tory mp told me this week that for rishi

sunak they give him five out of five intellect and one out of five intellect and one out of five for political savvy . and five for political savvy. and that's a problem. he's not seen as somebody by mps, someone as somebody by mps, as someone who and can bring who can persuade and can bring an audience with almost. an audience with him almost. he understands gets into an understands when he gets into an issue, understands it and issue, he understands it and tries to communicate that to people. but it's almost like saying, you get it? saying, why don't you get it? i get it. why can't you? you know, what's your problem? that's how he and he explains things. and that, i think, irritates people. it's not cutting and it not cutting through and it becomes of becomes a kind of self—fulfilling prophecy, as we saw those different sleazy saw with those different sleazy sleaze stories based sleaze stories around based around idea of back around this idea of back to basics. if you remember back in 1993 the party conference, it 1993 at the party conference, it became an of personal became an issue of personal probity. that is not and probity. and that is not and then seeing this repeated then you're seeing this repeated issues for the party. they issues for the tory party. they can't escape, summarise , can't escape, almost summarise, i mark and pippa by the i think, mark and pippa by the fact one year fact that on his one year anniversary, government anniversary, the government announced cap announced plans to lift the cap on bankers bonuses. now that might make sense because the cap has that bankers basic pay has meant that bankers basic pay has meant that bankers basic pay has gone up and you are doing more for failure. but the more reward for failure. but the bankers bonuses is such a toxic issue, very hard to explain to

voters. kwasi kwarteng try to do it a year ago . he then was it a year ago. he then was kicked out as chancellor and if that's all you've got, really, then what's the point? >> what a question . >> what a question. >> what a question. >> yeah, well, which we can't answer sitting here, but maybe . answer sitting here, but maybe. maybe there'll be something in the chancellor's autumn statement we await with interest chris hope, political editor. thank you. >> well, let's stay with the politics because mps have branded the government's own plans to cut the asylum backlog as incomplete and unrealistic. they've also warned that the continued efforts could exacerbate the current crisis. the public accounts committee has warned that adequate safeguards are not in place to protect against the risks to vulnerable people and that genuine claimants may not have their application viewed properly . well, let's get more properly. well, let's get more with our political correspondent olivia utley, who's been looking at the issue for us. and olivia, we stress, of course, we should stress, of course, this a cross—party committee, this is a cross—party committee, isn't it? >> well, absolutely. this is a real headache for the

government. a few days ago , the government. a few days ago, the immigration minister, robert jenrick, stood up in parliament and bombastic and made quite a bombastic statement saying over the statement saying that over the next 6 or 7 months, the government would end the of government would end the use of some of migrant hotels halls some of the migrant hotels halls which currently operating to which are currently operating to house asylum house migrants whose asylum claims are still being processed . now that was greeted very, very, the very, very warmly by the conservative backbenchers . conservative backbenchers. obviously the policy of housing migrants in hotels which cost £8 million a day to the taxpayer, 50,000 migrants in hotels 50,000 migrants in 400 hotels across country at this across the country at this enormous cost to the taxpayer is deeply, deeply unpopular. and the idea that it might end soon, obviously went down really, really well . the issue that really well. the issue is that this report out today by a cross—party party group of mps, the public accounts committee, has essentially poured cold water on what robert jenrick said. he said that because the process to file applicants, asylum applicants , claims has asylum applicants, claims has been sped up . there is a little been sped up. there is a little bit more capacity in the system and that means that there are fewer migrants in hotels. well,

the reports suggest that that's just not true. you us rishi sunak has managed to cut the legacy backlog, as he calls it. the old backlog of migrants who arrived before 2022. he's almost cut that in half. but in the meantime, clearly more migrants have been crossing the channel. so actually , that number, the so actually, that number, the overall number of asylum seeker is awaiting a decision on their claim has gone up in the last yean claim has gone up in the last year. moreover the report points out that essentially what robert jenrick has managed to do is he's managed to speed up the number of claims being processed a week, and he's done that a lot. i mean, it's gone up from about 400 claims being processed about 400 claims being processed a 4000 claims also a week to 4000 claims also processed a week. now, the problem that doing in problem is that in doing in doing so quickly and doing that so quickly and without employing very many more caseworkers is essentially it's been rushed through. and what's happening is lots of these asylum seekers feel that the rejection of their claim is unfair and are taking the issue

to the courts. so the backlog is moving from the home office to the courts, but it's not disappearing altogether . so just disappearing altogether. so just when the conservatives thought that they were making a real breakthrough on this issue, they've back a big step. it they've gone back a big step. it just does feel like two steps fonnard, one step back, one of the things that report highlights, olivia, is this issue of room sharing. >> so to process people more quickly, get them to share together. but the report says that there's not enough safeguards in place because of how vulnerable these people might be. they were . might be. they were. >> well, absolutely. robert jenrick was really proud of this policy when he brought it in and the public greeted it pretty warmly. the public were quite surprised that were surprised that migrants were getting own bedrooms, getting their own bedrooms, sometimes in in 4 or 5 star hotels in very nice areas, expensive areas of central london. so it was a very popular policy . but this report suggests policy. but this report suggests that perhaps it's not too safe. you've got people sharing rooms with strangers they hardly know without much proper studious

examination of those people's backgrounds. so that's just another thorn in the side for robert jenrick and his boss, suella braverman . suella braverman. >> olivia at westminster, thanks very much for updating us on that. coming up, we're going to be updating you on britain's loneliest sheep and sharing that story with you for that headunes story with you for that headlines with tatiana . headlines with tatiana. >> mark thank you and good afternoon. this is the latest from the newsroom . mps are from the newsroom. mps are warning vulnerable people are being put at risk over plans to clear the asylum backlog. the pubuc clear the asylum backlog. the public accounts committee says the home office proposals to reform the system are incomplete and unreal . istic at the end of and unreal. istic at the end of june, there were almost 68,000 cases awaiting a decision. the government says a serious effort is being made to address the problem . hamas says israel's problem. hamas says israel's bombing of gaza has killed 50

hostages. that's as israel's defence forces confirmed another 250 airstrikes were carried out over the past 24 hours, targeting hamas. the number of hostages being held by the terrorists stands at 229. hamas says it can't and won't release them until a ceasefire is agreed here. the government's working to help british citizens trapped in gaza. the prime minister has been pushing for a humanitarian pause in fighting to allow aid in, but he's under growing pressure to call for a full ceasefire. he hundreds of lawyers have signed an open letter urging rishi sunak to change his position on saying the uk needs to follow international law and the natwest group's decision to shut down nigel farage as coots account showed serious failings, according to the findings of an independent review, it said the bank failed to communicate its decision properly and showed failures of how it treated the gb news presenters. confidential

information . however, the report information. however, the report said the closure was lawful and mainly on commercial reasons. for more on all of those stories, you can visit our website, gbnews.com .

>> the camilla tominey show sunday mornings from 930 on. gb news. well, welcome back to the

live desk with a chance of being warned that local councils face billions funding over billions in funding gaps over the two years and don't the next two years and don't have money simply have enough money to simply stand still . stand still. >> even a letter to jeremy >> even in a letter to jeremy hunt ahead of his autumn statement next month, the local government says that government association says that services homelessness , services covering homelessness, children's social care and disabilities are all under increasing financial pressures. >> well, theo chikomba conjoin us now from woking where of course you're assessing how they've been getting on there and the fact that it is a certain constituency of a certain constituency of a certain mp as well. what are the problems that they'll be identifying down there in surrey ? >> yes. well very good afternoon to you. so just a bit of background . so woking borough background. so woking borough council declared administration earlier this year in june and this is a result of common ation of things which have happened over the last couple of years. it's currently a lib dem run borough council but was previously a conservative run borough council and during that

time it's been described that they made some risky investments. for example , hotels investments. for example, hotels and strip skyscrapers, some of which are still seen in this area . and as a result they've area. and as a result they've spent lots of money but haven't been able to bring in as much money during that period. and now the situation is that there may have to potentially cut some funds when it comes to some of those local services, for example, toilets or maybe tackling homelessness and maybe even the transport that's available for disabled children to get to school and other places where they may need to. and now the leader of this council says things are likely to get worse than they will get better in the short term. and that, as a result, might also mean that people may see their council tax rise as well . it's council tax rise as well. it's not just an issue facing this council. it's an issue facing a number of councils across the country. indeed, we saw what happenedin country. indeed, we saw what happened in birmingham earlier

this year. birmingham city council , where they went into council, where they went into administration and the secretary of state for levelling up, michael gove, had to get involved. and there are now people with that issue people dealing with that issue over there . but for here, over there. but for here, though, they are saying they're going to be having meetings in february 2024 and then in september , that's when they will september, that's when they will announce whether or not certain services will have their funding cut . cut. >> and of course, jeremy hunt, the chancellor is mp for a neighbouring constituency there in surrey. i mean it's interesting that even, you know, seemingly prosperous, leafy surrey has got problems with this . this. >> absolutely . if you just walk >> absolutely. if you just walk around this town, it's not like some towns where we have covered stories about their high streets , for example, struggling. if you walk through this town centre , it seems like it's well centre, it seems like it's well developed , but it is that developed, but it is that development which they spent lots of money on over the last couple of years, but they haven't been able to bring in as much money. so as a result, some of those services which people

crucially on a day to day crucially need on a day to day having to suffer the consequences of that . consequences of that. >> theo, thank you very much indeed for joining >> theo, thank you very much indeed forjoining us. updating us there in woking . us there in woking. >> now, how do you rescue what's been dubbed or who has been dubbed as britain's loneliest sheep? it's a bit of a tearjerker for this story because this sheep was first spotted at the foot of some cliffs on the shores of a scottish firth two years ago , scottish firth two years ago, and he's understood to still be there. >> quite a coat to jill turner from brora said she first came across the eu while kayaking along the moray firth east highland coast and believes yes , highland coast and believes yes, she's seen the same sheep again with this very overgrown fleece on a recent trip, saying it, it was bleating to her and fellow kayakers was actually saying go away. i don't know. let's speak now to sheep farmer gareth wyn jones. gareth thanks for joining us once more. i don't know if you saw those shots. i mean, clearly as a sheep farmer, you'll be aghast at the coat

there where normally do your there where you normally do your shearing . shearing. >> well, to be honest , we >> yeah, well, to be honest, we see few of them as well , but see a few of them as well, but maybe double wool as ones that didn't come in last last summer and the summer before , you know. and the summer before, you know. >> so it does happen that that looks like a lonely old sheep with no friends though billy billy nomates on that island birthing. >> how does that sheep survive, do you think? for all this time ? do you think? for all this time? because you know , we talk about because you know, we talk about flocks of sheep. it can't have been faring well, can it? i mean, this picture here, it looks so solitary. the poor thing . thing. >> no , it'll be fine, you know, >> no, it'll be fine, you know, as long as it's got food and water, they'll be fine. the only thing i would worry about a fleece like that that you'd get the blowfly laying its eggs in it, and then they would hatch into maggots and eat the sheep alive. so really, you know, especially in the summer heat, that coat needs to come off and that's to going make a few

really good woolly jumpers for people as well . i've got a guy people as well. i've got a guy that doesn't live that far from that doesn't live that far from that area . he he's a good that area. he he's a good shearer. i could send him over to the island on a boat and get that sheep sheared. i'm sure that'd be a great story for you guys. >> yeah, but just seriously for a moment, gareth, i mean, i guess there should be maybe a question of animal husbandry that someone should get on there and have a look at it. >> yeah, agree . i and have a look at it. >> yeah, agree. i think it >> yeah, i agree. i think it needs to be addressed . it needs to be addressed. it shouldn't be left like that. um, noidea shouldn't be left like that. um, no idea how got there. why? no idea how it's got there. why? it's itself. but, you it's there by itself. but, you know, they do carry, um , sheep know, they do carry, um, sheep from different areas with boats. it could have jumped off a boat. it could have jumped off a boat. it could have been a shipwreck. you know, it could. it could be a lot of things. robinson crusoe, we don't know. but yeah, and most probably it's not owned by anybody. so, yeah, let's get it let's get somebody it sorted. let's get somebody out it shorn and out there and get it shorn and find it another new flock. i'll take it here in wales. there's plenty of green grass and lovely fresh air and water for it up

here in north wales. >> gareth with your all your knowledge, if you were mounting a rescue attempt out to get this, to get this sheep back home, if you like, how would you do it? >> well, i've got a dog that catches sheep. i'll catch a sheep anyway, so it wouldn't be a problem. i would just take my dog and give it a command catch the sheep, stick it in the boat, bnng the sheep, stick it in the boat, bring it onto the mainland, shear it, dose it, you know, get get some health checks on it and then put it in the field after a quick dip . then put it in the field after a quick dip. um, you then put it in the field after a quick dip . um, you know, then put it in the field after a quick dip. um, you know, making sure there's no lice or scab or any diseases on the sheep, you know, to go onto other sheep. so it'd be important to have a good look at it and then, yeah, happy days. off goes . days. off it goes. >> gareth in snowdonia, thanks very much indeed for updating us. and course we'll keep an us. and of course we'll keep an eye the lonely sheep as well. eye on the lonely sheep as well. thanks very much indeed for your time. >> it's rescued soon. really >> it's rescued soon. i really do. >> now, we had mark white in tel

aviv updating us those rocket aviv updating us on those rocket barrages hitting the city. we can you now that there has can tell you now that there has been aftermath. this is the been an aftermath. this is the scene of the missile scene of either the missile hitting or perhaps the debris, the shrapnel from one of the interceptor a&e missiles. we're being told by reuters that three people have been injured by this rocket strike in southern tel aviv . you can see there at the aviv. you can see there at the top right hand corner, that appears to be the worst hit area with this window blown out and they're still damping down, uh, what appears to be a block of flats. yes. and the barrage not justin flats. yes. and the barrage not just in tel aviv, but into southern israel. as far south as elat. we're being told earlier . elat. we're being told earlier. so clearly hamas still has some capability in gaza and every time we've been speaking to mark, almost, he does keep getting these alerts on his phone, doesn't he? >> he says it's very, very frequent . sometimes every half frequent. sometimes every half an hour, half an hour or so. but they do have a very good routine

that they stick to when they get these alerts. >> but clearly here we've we've got, well, quite substantial damage to this block either the missile itself or the debris from the missile being intercepted . just to update you intercepted. just to update you on the israeli side, they say they fired 250 airstrikes into gaza in the past 24 hours. but clearly with a barrage is coming back. clearly with a barrage is coming back . all this talk of back. all this talk of ceasefires is not being acknowledged, if you like , by acknowledged, if you like, by either side. clearly with a very volatile situation still. and to remind you that the americans hit what was dubbed a syrian arms and ammunition dump in syria with two us fighter jets earlier as well. so it's still a very active situation there . very active situation there. just some injuries going through . apologies if you find these shots upsetting, but as we say, three people injured in this will update you as we get more

details. >> remember and stay puppies are now on sale across britain and they've undergone the biggest change in design for a generation because they are now plastic free. >> yeah , some of the ones being >> yeah, some of the ones being sold are still plastic, so don't panic if you get one of those. but the royal british legion says that the puppies will be recyclable. but the age old message is still serving as a universal symbol of hope and peace. and that remains very much the same. >> our yorkshire reporter anna ryley went to the poppy appeal launch in leeds and spoke to veterans about why the cause is obviously so important for the standard . standard. >> standard bearers. mark the launch of the national poppy appeal in leeds. it helps veterans like simon brown, who was shot in the face during a tour in iraq. the bullet entered his left cheek and exited the other side. >> i was fortunate enough to be

conscious, survive the event . conscious, survive the event. did my own first serve for 25 minutes and then we got to medical facilities at basra palace. i was put into a drug induced coma and i woke up christmas eve 2006 and then found out what the what the damage actually was. >> over ten years. i 25 operations about 140 hours of surgery to reconstruct my face. my left eye was removed and i retained 25% vision in my right eye. >> it's not just the funds raised, but the symbol of the poppy raised, but the symbol of the poppy that supports those that have served in the armed forces. wearing the poppy just says, you know , i see your suffering and know, i see your suffering and i'm thinking of you tragically , i'm thinking of you tragically, many soldiers like chris turton have paid the ultimate sacrifice. he lost his life in two thousand and seven after his vehicle was destroyed by ieds in iraq. today would have been the 19th wedding anniversary. mary with his widow, sharon. i'd lost

my military family when i lost chris, so the royal british legion became my new family. >> i started off as a volunteer for now i'm a member of staff. so you cut me open and it's poppies that come out of me. it's but that's the way they've helped me. they've given me something else to live for. and i'm also able to keep chris in other people's thoughts as well as my own. >> the royal british legion community has given veteran jonathan calvert a new purpose as a civilian. >> i've just retired recently from the air force and i want to give back to the community. the royal british legion have helped me so much, helping with transitioning from being in service for over 20 years to now being a veteran. >> the newly designed , plastic >> the newly designed, plastic free poppy is hoped to boost fundraising this year. >> the poppy appeal is obviously very exciting. it's the first new poppy for 28 years that we've had, so we've redesigned it, which is very eco friendly .

it, which is very eco friendly. we would like as many people as possible support poppy possible to support the poppy appeal we'd like appeal because we'd like to really them that they really let them know that they do care and they're looking after our armed forces community. the poppy represents all those who lost their lives in service from the first world war to now . war to now. >> so we will remember them. anna riley gb news leeds is . now anna riley gb news leeds is. now let's turn to sport because we've got a big weekend of rugby and when i mean big, they are big england taking argentina , big england taking argentina, china tonight for the third place play off of the world cup. >> but the final of course, taking place tomorrow with the all blacks taking on the springboks. a battle of the titans who who will come out on top ? top? >> well, somebody who might have a little bit of a prediction is sports journalist ben jacobs. ben, good afternoon to you. good to see you again. who do you think is going to win then ?

think is going to win then? >> it's a great question, isn't it ? new >> it's a great question, isn't it? new zealand have >> it's a great question, isn't it ? new zealand have been it? new zealand have been fantastic at this rugby world cup, so they are the favourites . cup, so they are the favourites. south africa though the other team that a of people tip team that a lot of people tip throughout tournament, i throughout the tournament, i think going very think it's going to be very difficult them. difficult for them. it's actually repeat of the 1995 actually a repeat of the 1995 final as well, which south africa won thanks to a very famous joel stransky drop goal in extra time. but it's so difficult to see past new zealand. they've been fluid all tournament and there's consistency in their selection for the final as well. they only make the one change. george brodie retallick comes in, sam whitelock has to make do with a place on the bench, whereas south africa have chopped and changed just a little bit more within their line—up. but i think this is going to be a really strong spectacor cycle. but ultimately new zealand will just have a little bit too much for the springbok. >> it's a sort of bittersweet for england really watching that because by only one because they lost by only one point to south africa after that battle . well, they've got

battle. well, they've got argentina again who they will ovennhelmed. i guess we could say in the opening rounds . say in the opening rounds. >> yeah they did they beat them in the first pool game. they faced them again in the play off for the bronze medal . whether or for the bronze medal. whether or not that means a great deal is up for debate , it would if it up for debate, it would if it was the olympics, but not necessarily at a world cup necessarily at a rugby world cup . it's chance to kind of . but it's a chance to kind of put that agonising defeat behind england. was exactly england. and that was exactly what they were valiant. what it was. they were valiant. england coming england let's not forget coming into tournament ranked into this tournament ranked eighth world. so they eighth in the world. so if they finished third, i think that will constitute a very good rugby cup that opening rugby world cup in that opening victory argentina , england victory over argentina, england were playing with men and were playing with 14 men and they won by points to they still won by 27 points to ten. so i think this is a big game in the context of putting the heartache behind them. it's also going to be very emotional in many ways for ben youngs , who in many ways for ben youngs, who makes his first start of the tournament in what will be his final england appearance before he retires from the international game. there's international game. so there's something to play for. argentina can their ever can also equal their best ever finish world cup, which was

finish at a world cup, which was third place. so in that context, there will be some intrigue about england in about it. but england in particular would probably rather be home as opposed be on the plane home as opposed to playing in a ceremonial type game, having agonisingly missed out the final and on the out on the final and on the pitch tomorrow night, playing for south africa . for south africa. >> we do expect to see bongi mbonambi now all a bit controversial this, but he is well allegations made about him involving an on field racial slur allegedly made towards england's tom curry. england are saying that tom was was denied a proper hearing over this and no further action is being taken. is it . yeah that is the is it. yeah that is the situation england field that it should have been more thoroughly investigated. >> but the authorities have determined that there's insufficient evidence of a racial slur. so they've closed the investigation. curry claims he was abused during that world cup semi—final defeat and also

that a similar comment was made by the player last november as well. and steve borthwick has said very clearly that he's on tom curry's side and he's done nothing wrong. but world rugby have made the decision based upon the factual evidence and the visual evidence that they believe they have not to take this one any further. and from england's perspective, they feel that curry is a victim and he's been denied a voice in all of this. >> okay, so you're going all blacks and maybe england to get that third place against the argentinians. yeah yeah. >> i think england will win and comfortably. so they will want to finish on a high. it's not been the best world cup in some ways, but it could be a very strong finish. they've been hit and miss in the up. and miss in the build up. they've been and miss in the they've been hit and miss in the tournament, was tournament, but south africa was a great performance and yeah, new zealand to win by two tries. >> thank you for >> excellent. ben thank you for that. to it. and that. we'll hold you to it. and exciting weekend of rugby ahead. that. we'll hold you to it. and exc knowveekend of rugby ahead. that. we'll hold you to it. and exc know whatnd of rugby ahead. that. we'll hold you to it. and exc know what you'll�*ugby ahead. that. we'll hold you to it. and exc know what you'll be)y ahead. that. we'll hold you to it. and exc know what you'll be up|head. that. we'll hold you to it. and exc know what you'll be up to? d. >> know what you'll be up to? >> know what you'll be up to? >> let's just take you

>> yeah. let's just take you back to tel aviv because we're getting more pictures coming in of been of what appears to have been a rocket strike in the south of the city directly or perhaps the remnants of a shell casing or a rocket casing hitting this apartment block. >> yes, we are hearing that three people were injured after that rocket strike. we will bnng that rocket strike. we will bring you the latest on this and the whole situation regarding this israel—hamas war at the top of the hour. this is the live desk. stay with

us good afternoon. it is 1:00. this is the live desk here on gb news. coming up for you this friday lunchtime, israel's military says it struck numerous terror targets, including anti—tank missile launch systems in overnight raids in gaza. >> but in the past hour , the >> but in the past hour, the south of tel aviv has been hit by rocket fire from hamas. what pnce? by rocket fire from hamas. what price? peace now ! price? peace now! >> mp crispin blunt says he's been arrested on suspicion of rape and possession of controlled substances following the suspension of peter bone. we'll be asking can the tories cope with yet more by elections ? cope with yet more by elections? >> the new report identifying the huge challenge for the home office to clear the backlog in the asylum system. mps say current plans are incomplete and unrealistic .

unrealistic. plus if storm babet didn't cause enough problems last weekend, well , this weekend there's more well, this weekend there's more weather warnings in place for many parts of the country. >> we'll be bringing you the very latest. first, let's get your headlines with tatiana . pep. >> thank you and good afternoon. 1:01. this is the latest mps are warning vulnerable people are being put at risk over plans to clear the asylum backlog. the pubuc clear the asylum backlog. the public accounts committee says home office proposals to reform the system are incomplete and unrealistic . look, at the end of unrealistic. look, at the end of june, there were almost 68,000 cases awaiting a decision in shadow environment secretary steve reed says the government has lost control of the situation , taking immense amount situation, taking immense amount of time to deal with individual cases. >> and while those cases are

being while people are waiting for their cases to be dealt with, they're being put up in hotels at a staggering cost of £8 million a day. it's shocking . £8 million a day. it's shocking. what labour would do is instead of using that money on hotel bills, we would use it to recruit 1000 additional all civil servants to deal with these cases faster. that would reduce hotel bill. the reduce the hotel bill. the scheme would pay for itself and then would get the cases then you would get the cases processed much faster. >> however, education secretary gillian keegan says a serious effort is being made to address the problem . the problem. >> we have got tough on immigration. we we're the people who have introduced new legislation because obviously you have have the law behind you have to have the law behind you. also obviously had you. we've also obviously had the rwanda policy, which is still in the courts, but that is part of the policy. and we've also got returns agreements now with a number of countries and a new agreement with france as well . we're also looking at well. we're also looking at alternatives to hotels to bring that bill down to the taxpayer. so we are the ones taking all of the actions. but there is no doubt this is a huge

doubt that this is a huge problem . problem. >> hamas says israel's bombing of gaza has killed 50 hostages. that's as israel defence forces confirmed another 250 airstrikes were carried out over the past 24 hours, targeting hamas. the number of hostages being held by the terrorist stands at 229 has mass says it can't and won't release them until a ceasefire is agreed . well, in the past is agreed. well, in the past hour, is agreed. well, in the past hour , rockets have been fired at hour, rockets have been fired at southern israel. these are live pictures now showing tel aviv where a building was hit. three people have been injured. emergency services are at the scene . well, back here, the scene. well, back here, the government's working to help british citizens trapped in gaza . the prime minister has been pushing for a humanitarian pause in fighting for the delivery of aid. he's under growing pressure, though, to call for a full ceasefire. hundreds of lawyers have signed an open letter urging rishi sunak to

change his position , saying the change his position, saying the uk needs to follow international law. the rafah crossing on the border with egypt has reported been reopened this morning with a palestinian official saying a medical team and ten aid trucks have been allowed to enter the strip over in the us , hundreds strip over in the us, hundreds of police officers continue to search for a gunman after 18 people were killed in maine . us people were killed in maine. us army sergeant robert card has been described as armed and dangerous. he opened fire at two locations in the city of lewiston last night. officials executed , carried out several executed, carried out several search warrants in the neighbouring town where mr card lived. people are being asked to stay indoors for their safety . stay indoors for their safety. the natwest group's decision to shut down nigel farage coote's account showed serious failings, according to the findings of an independent review. it said the bank failed to communicate its decision properly and showed failures of how it treated the gb news presenters. confidential

information, how ever. the report said the closure was lawful and mainly on commercial reasons. mr farage has previously said that coutts had moved to shut down his account because his political beliefs did not align with the bank. the education secretary says there are no cultural problems within her party after a senior mp was arrested on suspicion of rape and the possession of controlled substances . as gillian keegan substances. as gillian keegan told gb news, most of her colleagues act with integrity. crispin blunt was detained by surrey police yesterday , then surrey police yesterday, then released on conditional bail . released on conditional bail. he's been removed from the party and asked to stay away from parliament. the mp says he'll cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation and he says he's confident he won't be charged . confident he won't be charged. nhs waiting list could top 8 million by next summer, even if strike action doesn't continue. the health foundation says the number will peak by august before starting to come down. but if strikes were to continue ,

but if strikes were to continue, that list could be 180,000 higher to more than 7.5 million people were waiting for treatment last month. the nhs , treatment last month. the nhs, though, says it's making progress, claiming they've made they've more than halved waits of more than 65 weeks. and finally plans have been approved by merton council to expand the all england tennis club. the decision followed a lengthy planning committee meeting which concluded late last night the grounds will almost triple in size and allow wimbledon to host the qualifying tournaments. completions are projected for 2030 and will see an increase in the capacity of the championships from . 42 to championships from. 42 to 50,000. you're with 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 to mark and . pip tatiana thank you. mark and. pip tatiana thank you. >> let's take you straight to

tel aviv and our security editor there, mark white, because mark, yet more rocket barrages hitting the city in these past minutes. you two have had to take cover andits you two have had to take cover and it's seemingly an apartment block that's been hit there as well in the south of the city. yes >> second major rocket barrage of the day just half an hour apart. and yes , one of those apart. and yes, one of those rockets got through or at least once, the iron dome interceptor struck that rocket, then perhaps a debris came down. that's also a debris came down. that's also a hazard. but you can see on this apartment block, which is on the southern end of tel aviv, that it actually caused severe damage . looking through the damage. looking through the window of the top floor apartment, you can actually see the sky. so it's taken the whole of that apartment block out and just left the front facade off the top floor apartment, standing there. now, we're told that at this stage that three people have been injured, taken

off to hospital . we're not aware off to hospital. we're not aware at this stage of any more rockets that have made it through or any more buildings that were struck . but people on that were struck. but people on edge, of course , because tel edge, of course, because tel aviv, after a bit of a lull of not being targeted and tel aviv is being targeted , mark, it's is being targeted, mark, it's been targeted 5 or 6 times now in the past 30 hours or so, which is an incredible sort of ratio of attacks heading to this. the rockets have obviously got to travel much further to come here. they come in significant numbers to try to ovennhelm the iron dome system. we can give you a look actually, we were just preparing for our live shot just before you came to us in the last hour when the sirens went off. this is how it looked to . us okay. got to go. looked to. us okay. got to go. there raid sirens are sounding .

there raid sirens are sounding. here are starting to show us west lindsey . west lindsey. >> and clearly, you were quite right to take cover. mark, looking at the aftermath of what happened , as you say, not happened, as you say, not necessarily that the rockets struck. it might even be the debns struck. it might even be the debris from from the intercepted missile. butjust give us an missile. but just give us an idea about the distance that these things are travelling and these things are travelling and the capability indicates hamas still has . still has. >> yeah, well, i mean, they can travel, you know, as short a distance is just a mile or two across the board there into the communities around add what they call the gaza envelope , just call the gaza envelope, just around the gaza strip . or they around the gaza strip. or they can travel 20, 30, 40 miles, perhaps up towards this area. but it takes no time at all really just seconds for these rockets to get up to this area.

and there's not a lot of time to get to those shelters before you hear the telltale the telltale sonic boom of the missiles from the iron dome that are reaching super sonic speed and creating that sound boom. and then just seconds later, the impact , that seconds later, the impact, that explosion of the missiles connecting with the iron dome or on occasion those missiles actually coming down and striking the ground. i mean, there's some incredible image that we saw now of lots dozen of iron dome missiles heading up into the sky to deal with a large barrage last night as it came in. so clearly , hamas are came in. so clearly, hamas are determined that they want to go after the biggest centre of population in israel , tel aviv. population in israel, tel aviv. >> mark, just explain to our viewers and listeners how you get the alerts and the procedure you have to follow . and i you have to follow. and i imagine everybody in tel aviv

gets these same alerts on their phones. do they ? phones. do they? >> yes. no, absolutely they do. if you've got us back in vision, if you've got us back in vision, i can show you the little app that we've got on on the phone here that basically you click on. it sounds as you click on this and it tells you here we can click on here where these rockets are coming. now, you can see that is the tel aviv area and that is multiple alerts for and that is multiple alerts for a multiple rockets coming into tel aviv. there a very significant part farage that was the last one, just about half an hour ago. the all clear that has been sounded now, but it is an incredible system, very efficient. it sounds within seconds of the rockets launching the radar system is able to track the trajectory of these rockets and determine where they're going to land. and if

there are significant rockets that they believe might actually impact an area. and the iron dome is not going to pick them out. so then the alerts sound and people have just seconds really to get to a shelter as they then explosions are heard of the iron dome missiles taking out these rockets . but sadly, out these rockets. but sadly, given the numbers that come across occasionally rockets do get through or if not the rockets , then the debris of the rockets, then the debris of the intercept station is a hazard in itself . itself. >> if just for balance, of course , mark, we should also course, mark, we should also reflect that israel says it's launched 250 air strikes on gaza in the past 24 hours as saying that it's managed to actually strike. shadi bharadwaj , the strike. shadi bharadwaj, the deputy head of the hamas intelligence arm . we're seeing intelligence arm. we're seeing more smoke indeed, as we speak on the gaza skyline . but the top on the gaza skyline. but the top un official there saying that civilians are feeling shunned , civilians are feeling shunned, alienated and abandoned . and are alienated and abandoned. and are these growing international

calls for a ceasefire as a result of all this ? result of all this? >> well, there's no doubt at all, despite disputes over the numbers that hamas come out with, now saying over 7000 people that have died, this has been questioned by the united states, for one, although they've not given any reason why they're disputing those figures. they are acknowledging that there has been a heavy toll of death and injury in gaza. and we see from the pictures that all that it's taking on the civilian population in what israel says is its almost in an impossible position because of hamas's policy of putting their terrorist infrastructure here and the rocket launchers right in the heart of these civilian areas . and you were mentioning areas. and you were mentioning those 250 strikes overnight . in those 250 strikes overnight. in addition to that, mark, we had another significant incursion into central gaza with tanks , into central gaza with tanks, bulldozers and soldiers going in to take out multiple targets

there in in central gaza. and in addition to that, we're just getting reports now from the idf that a commando unit launched a raid from the sea into gaza as well, a short raid that took out hamas targets there are. and they said that was a successful launch, successful raid , and launch, successful raid, and that all their soldiers got back to their their vessels , their to their their vessels, their boats and were away from gaza. but they took out, according to the idf, a number of hamas positions there . positions there. >> mark white, for the moment, thank you. well, also joining us from tel aviv is former adviser to two israeli prime ministers and that is alan pincus. good afternoon to you, alan. good to see you again this afternoon. i think you're there. i can't quite see you yet, but i understand you are with us. what what do you make of the latest activity then? do you get the feeling that everything is

starting to ramp up now? these israeli airstrikes that we're seeing , 250 plus israeli airstrikes that we're seeing, 250 plus hamas israeli airstrikes that we're seeing , 250 plus hamas targets seeing, 250 plus hamas targets hit in 24 hours? >> well, the ramping up is going to become clearer in the next few days once we know the extent or the magnitude of an israeli ground operation in or will it be limited to incursions, the in and out the so called search and destroy doctrine. by the way , destroy doctrine. by the way, answering your question to your reporter earlier , the distance reporter earlier, the distance these rockets fly is exactly the distance between central london and brighton . so just to give , and brighton. so just to give, uh, the british, your british listeners and viewers, a proportion of our perspective of the this , and that's no distance the this, and that's no distance at all, but what, 55 miles or so, what is the psychological effect on you all there in tel aviv? >> we've seen obviously the

physical effect with this strike on a block of flats . on a block of flats. >> well, there are two sets. i'm no psychologist , obviously, but no psychologist, obviously, but there are two. there are two sets of different it effects here. one is the residual horror shock dejection and agony of what happened on october 7th. and these stories keep on coming up . and the children and the up. and the children and the massacre and the hostages and so on and then a different set, which i believe is what you refer to in your question, is the effect of the ongoing effect of the cumulative effect of the rockets. it's not pleasant trust me, from the you know, i live in central tel aviv . there was central tel aviv. there was debns central tel aviv. there was debris here as your reporter, um , reported accurately . there , reported accurately. there have been two sirens. there have been two other sirens. not exactly here. but you can you can hear them, you know, if the question is, are these sirens going to go on? meaning are

these rocket launches going to go on for lebanon from from gaza and it could all escalate into lebanon, which is an entirely different opera . different opera. >> but can we ask you are ordinary israelis there too? reflecting on the damage that they're seeing in gaza and these reports from the un about the amount of difficulty in the humanitarian aid operation and the number of children that have been injured, according to their statistics . statistics. >> um, okay. i wish i had a better answer to give you than than the following. no, they're not. um, and of course i'm generalising . yeah. you know, generalising. yeah. you know, the blood is boiling. the rage is still there. the aftershock of the of october 7th is, is such that people are somewhat indifferent or dismissive of the harm and damage that are being donein harm and damage that are being done in gaza, saying , you know,

done in gaza, saying, you know, the conventional wisdom is, you know, they started it. they deserve whatever they're getting. and this is this is not over by any measure, by any means that being established go ahead. sorry, allen. >> i just wanted to ask you, i imagine that the images are widespread in israel of what is happening in gaza. does it not have any impact on people when they for see example, the children's suffering , the babies children's suffering, the babies on incubators because there's no fuel ? so these incubators might fuel? so these incubators might have to be shut down. does that not register with people there? the fact that at the end of the day, we are all human beings. these are so many innocent civilians caught up on this on both sides . both sides. >> it registers with me. it registers with a lot of people that i know. registers with a lot of people that! know. it registers with a lot of people that i know. it registers with my peers. i cannot tell you in all honesty, that it registers broadly in the israeli public as i mentioned before, the, you know, the rage is such the sense

of revenge and retribution . of revenge and retribution. action is such that people are indifferent . but but but the indifferent. but but but the images are coming through and the devastation in in gaza is coming through. and whether or not the number of children who were killed in gaza is 2300 or 2000, 100 or 19 7500, it doesn't really matter in terms of the sensitivity that people need to go toward gaza. but to be honest with both of you, because you both asked a similar question, to be honest , right now, to be honest, right now, israelis are observing with the with what's been done to them rather than feel any empathy toward what's happening in gaza . toward what's happening in gaza. >> alan, we would obviously updating people that you've been advised that the two israeli prime ministers ehud barak and shimon peres. what is your reading of the political situation now? we do have these reports that washington is

increasingly concerned about what may be a lack of so—called end game here, that clearly there is this intent to go after hamas and certainly some of these air raids have seemingly targeted hamas senior officials cells. but how do you extra educate yourself? how do you get out of this? at the end of the day ? day? >> well, the americans are right to worry because there doesn't seem to be an end game. there doesn't seem to be an exit strategy. but even before we talk about an end game or an exit strategy , there is khalife exit strategy, there is khalife on clausa, which is axiom of, you know, the war. war is a continuation of politics by other means, meaning that there needs to be you would expect there to be a political objective , an attainable objective, an attainable political objective to which is augned political objective to which is aligned with the military means. now, if the objective and that's a legitimate objective, i'm just stating it for the record. if the objective is to obliterate hamas and render it,

incapacitate and to govern gaza , incapacitate and to govern gaza, then we need to occupy the gaza strip and that's a lengthy and a cost endeavour . and so the cost endeavour. and so the americans are right to worry right now. the question is, is it a wag the dog situation or is the political echelon, which seems i have to say, inept and incompetent at this point, do they know what they want? and i just don't have an answer for you. i mean, i do, but it's nasty. >> are there increasing calls for benjamin netanyahu to resign or or do people accept that for now, while things are while you're in the middle of a war? he has to he has to lead everybody . everybody. >> well, you know, a ceo who drives a company into complete and utter bankruptcy cannot be relied on or trusted to extricate it from that situation . so, yes, there have been calls for his resignation. and if he had the decency and the

integrity that, say, neville chamberlain had in 1940 to step down or menachem begin, the israeli prime minister who did the same in 1983, in the midst of a war with lebanon , we would of a war with lebanon, we would have had a different discussion . have had a different discussion. but he's not wired that way . and but he's not wired that way. and so no one expects him to resign or to even announce his intention to resign. one, it's the war is over . so the question the war is over. so the question now moves into are there parliament commentary courses of action that can be used? its premature. i mean, the public is somewhat confused . people do somewhat confused. people do understand viscerally that he needs to go on the other hand, they also understand enough about politics to realise is that if he doesn't do it on his own volition, there's very little that can be done while the war is going on alone in tel aviv. >> thank you very much indeed. as we see the aftermath of this rocket strike in this southern

area of the city with the apartment block being hit by either a rocket or the debris of the missile interceptor, three people hurt, we're being told. we'll keep you updated, of course, with the situation there i >> some breaking news back here related to this, because the met police say there has been another huge increase in anti—semitic attacks as a result of the israel hamas war over the last week in london, there have been 408 anti—semitic attacks . been 408 anti—semitic attacks. and 174 islamophobic attacks as a direct consequence of the conflict. >> yeah, they've also said there have been 75 arrests in london unked have been 75 arrests in london linked to the conflict. and in addition to that, the met saying that uk counter—terrorism officers are actually in israel supporting the foreign office there to investigate the death of those british nationals taken hostage or those killed in the october 7th massacre. so very active operation undennay with the met ten active counter—terrorism investigations to link to the internet related

breaches of the terrorism act. more coming through on that as we get it

sunday mornings from 930 on. >> gb news . >> gb news. >> gb news. >> welcome back to the live desk. crispin blunt publicly identified himself as the tory mp arrested on suspicion of rape, and he did that in a social media post last night.

>> well , of course, he was >> well, of course, he was a former justice minister, also reportedly arrested for possession of controlled substances , but he has since substances, but he has since been released on police bail in response to the allegations, crispin blunt said he would cooperate fully with the police investigation and said that he was confident it will end without charge. let's get more without charge. let's get more with our political editor, chris hoeppnen with our political editor, chris hoeppner, joining us from westminster. and confident perhaps in terms of the legal process, chris, but is he as confident in terms of the political process because he's already lost the whip and being told to stay away from parliament tonight ? parliament tonight? >> i mean, christian blunt, of course, mark, was leaving parliament at the next election , parliament at the next election, which will be by january 2025. in fact, someone's been selected to replace him already or rebecca paul. so we know is rebecca paul. so we know that is that's politics moving from that's politics moving away from crispin there crispin blunt. but there is a feeling isn't there, about feeling, isn't there, about these endless issues with tory mps. got peter bone. he's mps. we've got peter bone. he's been suspended over bullying. he's facing six weeks banned from parliament. that could lead that could to a by—election from parliament. that could lead th.a could to a by—election from parliament. that could lead th.a safed to a by—election

from parliament. that could lead th.a safe seat to a by—election from parliament. that could lead th.a safe seat called by—election in a safe seat called wellingborough . if enough wellingborough. if enough local people to happen. of people want it to happen. of course, we should that course, we should say that christian blunt, you know, he professed his innocence. he talks about extortion and that that will play fonnard. that issue will play fonnard. the peter bone issue looks more of an issue politically with a by—election expected probably in early in the new year . and it early in the new year. and it seems like relentlessly every other month there's a by—election in a safe seat, which rishi sunak is losing and he's he's doing nowhere in the polls we poll from gb polls. we had a poll from gb news just yesterday. he's 28 points behind labour yougov today saying 24 points behind laboun today saying 24 points behind labour. he's gone. he's barely moved since he took over from liz truss a year ago. if not going backwards, there's an issue in number 10. they did quite a good thing. i think with the net zero rowing back on some of those targets. but then the party conference this this year passed kind of passed off without any kind of troubling in the troubling the scorers in the polling smoking. polling stakes banning smoking. well on tory side has well no one on the tory side has been that at all. why been discussing that at all. why is that happening? ten years? is that happening? at ten years? they'll in ten years time, they'll a—levels and also

they'll change a—levels and also cancelling hs2 in manchester where hasn't worked. and where it just hasn't worked. and i think there's a problem i think there's a real problem in meeting in number 10 and they're meeting with mps this week or have been meeting this week out meeting this week to work out what next. what to do next. >> and course there's >> and of course there's difficulty perception. you difficulty about perception. you were about the were talking earlier about the john major days tory john major days when tory sleaze, was the label sleaze, of course, was the label attached to them. i mean, it's taken gillian actually taken gillian keegan to actually go on the morning round this morning to say no, there's no wider cultural problem within the conservative at the moment , the conservative at the moment, to said . to which she said. >> gillian keegan well look at the evidence. gillian i mean no other going through other party is going through losing in a similar rate losing mps or in a similar rate of go back, don't of attrition. you go back, don't you, to the early 90s that speech by john major in that party conference in 1992, i think it was saying we need to party conference in 1992, i thin back/as saying we need to party conference in 1992, i thin back to saying we need to party conference in 1992, i thin back to basics. we need to party conference in 1992, i thin back to basics. andleed to party conference in 1992, i thin back to basics. and that to party conference in 1992, i thin back to basics. and that was get back to basics. and that was interpreted as as covering personal probity of mps, although that was not the intention at the time of the prime minister, john major. and then since that point, loads of mp loads of tory mps had various scandals to name scandals attached to their name and the sleazy and it became the sleazy parliament in a sense, even

though that john major said that wasn't intention of what he though that john major said that was|trying intention of what he though that john major said that was|trying to tention of what he though that john major said that was|trying to do. ion of what he though that john major said that was|trying to do. andf what he though that john major said that was|trying to do. and in/hat he though that john major said that was|trying to do. and in aat he though that john major said that was|trying to do. and in a sense was trying to do. and in a sense we're not we're not there now with, current with, with the current tory government. does feel as government. but it does feel as though repeatedly mps, tory mps, particularly are particularly tory mps, are falling issues here and falling foul of issues here and getting and of course individual cases , they're pleading not cases, they're pleading not guilty. police guilty. there's a police inquiry. let's any inquiry. let's not go any further on that. but there's a there's there, of there's a sense isn't there, of a the wheels are a party where the wheels are falling off. >> it's not just a headache for rishi sunak. all this. it's a very migraine , isn't it, very heavy migraine, isn't it, chns? very heavy migraine, isn't it, chris? i mean, we expect chris? i mean, can we expect that something from the autumn statement, which might help move the dial a little bit. at >> i wouldn't hold your breath. pippa because we're told that it will be no tax cuts in which is what you do to win to win support back on the tory side by by chancellor jeremy hunt. those might happen in march next year. by might happen in march next year. by then we're we're quite near an election. it's too late for many reshuffle was many people. the reshuffle was meant to was i was told by meant to be. i was i was told by people who were in the know but

not in number 10, but others who thought they knew what were talking about. was it meant to be thursday. be yesterday? that's thursday. it july, it may have happened in july, lie in september. we're now told it may even next it it may not even be next week. it could king's could be after the king's speech. and this the idea of a reshuffle shouldn't bother viewers too much. but it does mean refreshing. front bench mean refreshing. the front bench giving a new kind vitality to giving a new kind of vitality to it. take it. younger people to take on the leader in keir the older leader in sir keir starmer. was the idea. but starmer. that was the idea. but i the chance that the tory i think the chance that the tory party winning election is party winning the election is getting vanishingly small and that's to alarm that's what's going to alarm tory mps since wednesday. they can letters of no confidence can put letters of no confidence in leadership to graham in his leadership to graham brady, the problem is who's brady, but the problem is who's going to replace him? i mean, it would be a pyrrhic attempt at trying a wake call for trying to do a wake up call for keir starmer for rishi sunak , keir starmer for rishi sunak, keith's political editors. >> though, chris, thanks >> busy, though, chris, thanks very much for joining >> busy, though, chris, thanks very much forjoining us >> busy, though, chris, thanks very much for joining us there. i of course as i westminster more of course as it comes through more coming through on the weather front. another weekend it seems through on the weather front. anothweather'eekend it seems through on the weather front. anothweather warnings seems through on the weather front. anothweather warnings forzms more weather warnings for scotland and the south. severe travel disruption, all the details coming up. first, the headunes details coming up. first, the

headlines with tatiana . mark, headlines with tatiana. mark, thank you and good afternoon. >> this is the latest from the newsroom. the government's working to help british citizens trapped in gaza . the prime trapped in gaza. the prime minister has been pushing for a humanitarian pause in fighting for the delivery of aid , but for the delivery of aid, but he's under growing pressure to call for a full ceasefire . call for a full ceasefire. hundreds of lawyers have signed an open letter urging rishi sunak to change his position , sunak to change his position, saying the uk needs to follow international law . the met international law. the met police says there have been more than 400 anti semitic attacks on more than 170 islam phobic attacks over the last week in london. the force arrested 75 people in connection with the israel—hamas conflict . there are israel—hamas conflict. there are also ten active investigations unked also ten active investigations linked to the internet related breaches of the terrorism act. members mps are warning

vulnerable people are being put at risk over plans to clear the asylum backlog. the public accounts committee says home office proposals to reform the system are incomplete and unreal . mystic. the government says a serious effort is being made to address that problem . and in the address that problem. and in the us, hundreds of police officers are still searching for a gunman after 18 people were killed in the state of maine on wednesday night. they've named army reservist robert card as a person of interest, describing him as armed and dangerous . him as armed and dangerous. residents are being told to stay indoors . for residents are being told to stay indoors. for more on all of those stories, you can visit 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 $1.2110 and ,1.1491. the price of gold £1,636 and £0.85 per ounce and the ftse 100 . at per ounce and the ftse 100. at 7330 points. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial

isabel a monday to thursdays from six till 930 .

from six till 930. >> welcome back to the live desk. israeli military say . 229 desk. israeli military say. 229 hostages are currently being held by hamas in gaza . and in held by hamas in gaza. and in north london, an installation of an empty shabbat table is seeking to raise awareness of missing loved ones. >> it's a very powerful and poignant image. >> it's a very powerful and poignant image . our london poignant image. our london reporter lisa hartle has been there for us to update us on something that they want to share , of course, with the rest share, of course, with the rest of the world, with all those photographs on the backs of all those chairs. yes i'll just step out of the way so you can see just how powerful an image this is. >> so over 200 places all set up for friday night dinner. each one represents one of the hostages that have been taken captive in gaza. we've got obviously many adults , but also obviously many adults, but also the children as well. as you can see, a abigail, three years old, each chair has a photograph and the age and the name of each hostage that's missing as some

of them are the one i saw. that's a baby nine months old with a baby bottle in front. it's just when you see it, it's such a powerful moving thing to see. and just to explain more about all of this, i'm joined by one of the organisers, oliver. oliver, thank you so much for joining us. now, for anybody who isn't in the jewish community, can you just explain how important friday night dinner is and therefore why this was created? >> yes. so in judaism on friday night, saturday night, we have the sabbath and a really important part of that is the friday night dinner where it bnngsin friday night dinner where it brings in shabbat out and around the world, jews come together with their family, with their friends. they say blessings over wine and bread. and most importantly, they sit together, they eat together. and it's a really joyous time . and that's really joyous time. and that's why it's really important that we've there we've done this, because there are over 200 people who aren't going to be at their shabbat tables this friday. they're going be places for going to be empty places for them wanted to make sure

them and we wanted to make sure that people saw that and people understood the scale of how many people are being held. understood the scale of how many people .you|eing held. understood the scale of how many people .you were held. that >> and you were saying that the photographs see on each photographs that we see on each of chairs here, all of this of the chairs here, all of this is designed to ensure that the thoughts of the hostages remain in the thoughts of the public. >> yes, very much so. it was about two weeks ago that this happened. and at that point, everyone knew what was happening . it was very much in the kind of public domain in two weeks is a very long time for us. and things change and new stories change and it falls out of people's thoughts. so it was for us, it was really important at this time to raise it because you know, like i say, it's two weeks is a long time for us. two weeks is a long time for us. two weeks is a lifetime for those people being held. and we need to sure we are to make sure that we are continually remembering them and continually remembering them and continually word continually remembering them and contasking word continually remembering them and contasking people word continually remembering them and contasking people in word continually remembering them and contasking people in powerer do and asking people in power to do everything they can to bring them home. >> and earlier we heard from >> and earlier on, we heard from the chief who spoke here. the chief rabbi who spoke here. he's created a prayer for the

hostages, which is you were telling me a very unusual thing to do. >> yes. so tomorrow morning, again, around the world, people will be going to their synagogues. the shabbat services haven't for changed hundreds and thousands of years . and this is thousands of years. and this is a new additional prayer that the chief rabbi has written to be added so that we're saying something there's something together. there's unity what we're saying and unity in what we're saying and we're all praying for the quick release of those hostages . release of those hostages. >> and you spoke about unity there. that was a game. one of there. that was a game. one of the messages that people were trying across earlier trying to get across earlier when from various when we heard from various people talking, you were telling me how upsetting it is me as well how upsetting it is to be seeing things like the posters of the hostages that we've seen around london. some of being ripped down by of them being ripped down by people. really hard people. yes it's a really hard time for the british jewish community. >> there are the posters that are on backs of the chairs are on the backs of the chairs have been put around london have been put up around london to again, to raise the awareness and raise the message. and we're seeing a number of those being pred seeing a number of those being ripped down, being defaced. and these posters of three year

these are posters of three year old children. they are you know, they're not political. it's not this a humanitarian issue . this is a humanitarian issue. and it's really upsetting to see that. it's also really important that. it's also really important that this time people don't want to drive wedge between british to drive a wedge between british jews and especially british muslims. we have to come together together together and show that together we stronger do we are stronger and we can do more. britain and london is a really open, wonderful place and we need to make sure that that message out there. message is out there. >> what are you hoping >> and so what are you hoping when people come here, what are you people so you calling on people to do? so the real thing is they'll obviously come . obviously come. >> they see the faces. they >> they will see the faces. they will time to read the will take some time to read the names be respect full. names and be respect full. a really important thing . what we really important thing. what we want people is take a want people to do is take a photo and share it on social media, send it to their local mp if they're going to write a letter, and there will be thousands of people coming to gw three see there will be three to see this. there will be tens of thousands of people who can then see the message as it spreads across social media and the press and things like this. so that so it's really important that people message. >> so much for joining

>> thank you so much for joining us today, oliver. and this installation is open to the pubuc installation is open to the public today and also on sunday, as oliver said, to for people to come along, take photos and just to keep the image and the thoughts of the hostages in in all of our thoughts, all the public's minds. >> lisa, thank you very much indeed for that. and just to remind people these latest remind people of these latest statistics from statistics we're getting from the who say there the met police who say there have been 408 recorded anti—semitic offences in london in october compared to 28 just 28 in the same period last year. the force making 75 arrests linked, they say, to the israel—hamas conflict and making more than four nearly 5000 visits to vulnerable premises in the capital, including 730 schools and 3400 religious places just in the past three weeks. >> three people have been injured after a rocket strike in the last hour in southern tel aviv. air raid sirens sounded across the city as another large

barrage targeted the area . barrage targeted the area. >> well, meanwhile, israel says it struck numerous terror targets in gaza, including anti—tank missile launch systems in overnight raids . in overnight raids. >> and the conflict continues to escalate regionally with two us fighter jets hitting weapons and ammunition dumps in syria. washington says it's in retaliation for attacks by iranian backed militia . iranian backed militia. >> let's get the views now of geopolitical analyst marco vincenzino can join us in the studio. marco, thank you for your time. again i'm looking at what lloyd austin , the us what lloyd austin, the us defence secretary, has said in the past hour, saying that these strikes are separate and distinct . he says from the distinct. he says from the israel gaza war. clearly the sensitive city, they don't want to, as some have said, light the blue touch paper on this, the tinderbox. >> i think what he was trying to say is that there's been a us presence in syria and iraq for many years now. >> about 900 troops, american troops and northeast syria and about american in

about 2500 american troops in iraq. the primary mission is to help an anti—isis missions . so help an anti—isis missions. so the reality and the last time the reality and the last time the us struck was in march of 2023. and it's and mostly targeted at iranian backed proxies who have often sent bombs or tried to have attacks on american bases. their presence in the region. so this is nothing new. this was going on well before october seventh. and i think he wanted to make that clear. >> yeah, but clearly, the question about the role that iran is playing in iran is playing and in particular the iranian revolutionary guard . revolutionary guard. >> yeah, the proxies, the non—state actors, the revolutionary guards and their acolytes, the people they support , the factions they support, the factions they support, the factions they support, they range from hezbollah in lebanon, other groups in syria, houthis in yemen and hamas and palestinian islamic jihad , which they've islamic jihad, which they've backed for many years. it's a smaller group in gaza, but a far more radical one than hamas. so yeah, i mean, this is part, i

think everyone at this time is posturing. the iranians are posturing. the iranians are posturing. i think really deep down inside, they don't want an all regional conflict . but i all out regional conflict. but i think what happens here is that no one has an intent to go to war, but everyone may go to war. what i mean by that is the fact that it's this game. it's a dangerous game of brinksmanship is played. yeah, all is being played. yeah, but all you need is the slightest miscalculation. and things can spin control. miscalculation. and things can spi|the control. miscalculation. and things can spi|the cont suggestion was >> the original suggestion was that iranians had tried that the iranians had tried to encourage things happen , if encourage things to happen, if we can put it that way, because of this growing accord between israel saudi arabia. take israel and saudi arabia. take advantage of the situation to increase your leverage . increase your leverage. >> right. but to do it in a very targeted way. but once again, when you play that game of brinksmanship, you run that very serious risk . and if things spin serious risk. and if things spin out of control, not just in the region, but potentially beyond israel has stressed, hasn't it, that it's war is with hamas and hamas only. >> they seem to be making some

progress in destroying hamas infrastructure . they're taking infrastructure. they're taking out some of the commanders . do out some of the commanders. do you think things are working up now towards that full scale invasion or it's going to be a lot more of a gradual process here? netanyahu who is under a lot of pressure right now from those who are telling him to take a more aggressive approach and there's others, particularly in western capitals in the us, are telling me to take urged restraint and take more of a slower approach. >> now , i think those who are >> now, i think those who are saying the more slower approach, what they mean by that is obviously have the obviously you have the humanitarian situation, have humanitarian situation, you have hostages, have the fact that hostages, you have the fact that if you in aggressively too if you go in aggressively too strong, your casualty rate is going to be very high due to urban warfare. and there's also the that the americans the fact that the americans want to strengthen their defence positions, there is positions, because if there is an assault, ground an all out assault, ground assault, immediately what happens is that once again, going back to syria, american presence american presence in syria, american presence in syria, american presence iraq , they'll come presence in iraq, they'll come

at attack much more than at direct attack much more than they now. so in order to do they are now. so in order to do that, you have to bring the americans transporting americans at transporting defence for themselves defence systems for themselves and aid for the and also more aid for the israelis preparation a israelis in preparation for a broader regional war. and about 900 more american troops will be to going the region to operate these defence systems. and then since october seventh, they've sent 2000 more marines to the region, plus two aircraft carrier battle groups. >> are getting these >> and we are getting these messages from washington that biden is trying stay biden is trying to stay netanyahu's hand, you netanyahu's hand, saying, you know, don't go in for an all out ground offensive because of what might happen as a result of that. is that to buy those us forces time to stuff in forces time to get stuff in position or really to explain to israel what consequence israel what the consequence could be if they go in hard, it's combination. could be if they go in hard, it's like mbination. could be if they go in hard, it's like i|bination. could be if they go in hard, it's like i said,.ion. could be if they go in hard, it's like i said, it's the >> like i said, it's the humanitarian situation on the ground . it's a catastrophe in ground. it's a catastrophe in the making. some would say it's a catastrophe already, but the situation is it's not getting any better on the ground. so thatis any better on the ground. so that is obviously international pressure as a result of that, once again, you're going to also

look at the fact is, is that you, the americans , are trying you, the americans, are trying to to strengthen their to get to strengthen their position is to for position is to prepare for a broader regional war. if it does take place, hostages over 200 hostages. some have been released, 29. now, we're told in recent days , some have been recent days, some have been released. the idea is that if you can buy a bit of time, take a slower approach with more targeted raids as opposed to an all out assault, you may bring out hostages . out more hostages. >> the chances? >> what are the chances? >> what are the chances? >> several factors at play here. it's not thing. what it's not just one thing. what are the chances of actually going in and getting those hostages out alive than hostages out alive rather than hoping that the qatar or turkey negotiate some sort of gradual release of them? >> the trickle that we've seen very, very difficult. >> obviously , many of these >> obviously, many of these hostages are likely to be held. and on the ground, there's a network of tunnels on the gaza extensive of very, very extensive of very, very extensive . extensive. >> and they're being held by different militant groups, we

understand, as a result, as i mentioned, it's not just hamas. >> you also have palestinian islamic jihad, which the islamic jihad, which are the more radical ones. and so as a as result of all of this as the result of all of this time , you may get i don't think time, you may get i don't think you're going to get all the hostages out, all 229. but even if you can get a few dozen out more, you're saving lives. these are all factors that netanyahu and the military and the leadership, the war cabinet has to take into consideration . they to take into consideration. they also have domestic opinion within israel itself. so you have hearing earlier from a former adviser to two israeli prime ministers. >> you have internal pressure from political pressure internally. >> you've got pressure from allies, specifically from the united states , other leaders united states, other leaders from the regions that are we call them arab friendly states that recognise israel , egypt, that recognise israel, egypt, jordan. they have their own domestic pressure. so there's several pieces of at the at the table that they have to take into consideration this wider chessboard. yeah. >> and a wrong move could be catastrophic . catastrophic. >> of course. one wrong move can

things can spin out of control and that that fear is a regional war and potentially beyond marco thanks for your thoughts and joining us here at gb news. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> well, we are remembering the first and second world wars because remembrance day poppies are now being sold across britain, having undergone the biggest change in design for a generation by going plastic free. >> the royal british legion poppies recyclable now, but of course, the age old message serving as a universal symbol of hope and peace, well, that remains unchanged. >> our yorkshire reporter anna riley went to the poppy appeal launch in leeds and spoke to veterans about why the cause is so important. >> the standard standard bearers mark the launch of the national poppy mark the launch of the national poppy appeal in leeds. >> it helps veterans like simon brown , who was shot in the face brown, who was shot in the face dunng brown, who was shot in the face during a tour in iraq. the bullet entered his left cheek and exited the other side . and exited the other side. >> i was fortunate enough to be conscious and survive the event,

did my own first for 25 minutes, and then we got to medical facilities at basra palace . i facilities at basra palace. i was put into a drug induced coma and i woke up christmas eve 2006 and i woke up christmas eve 2006 and then found out what the what the damage actually was . over the damage actually was. over ten years, i had 25 operations, about 140 hours of surgery to reconstruct my face. my left eye was removed and i retained 25% vision in my right eye. >> it's not just the funds raised, but the symbol of the poppy raised, but the symbol of the poppy that supports those that have served in the armed forces is wearing a poppy just says, you know , i see your suffering you know, i see your suffering and i'm thinking of you tragic soldiers like chris turtle have paid the ultimate sacrifice. he lost his life in two thousand and seven after his vehicle was destroyed by ieds in iraq. today would have been the 19th wedding anniversary nursery with his widow, sharon. i'd lost my

military family when i lost chris. >> so the royal british legion became my new family. >> i started off as a volunteer. >> i started off as a volunteer. >> now i'm a member of staff. so you cut me open and it's poppies that come out of me. >> it. but that's the way they've helped me. >> they've given me something else to live for. >> and i'm also able to keep chris in other people's thoughts as well as my own. >> the royal british legion community has given veteran jonathan calvert a new purpose as a civilian . as a civilian. >> i've just retired recently from the air force and i want to give back to the community. the royal british legion have helped me so much , helping with me so much, helping with transitioning from being in service for over 20 years to now. being a veteran. >> the newly designed plastic free poppy is hoped to boost fundraising this year. the poppy appeal is obviously very exciting. >> it's the first new poppy for 28 years that we've had. so it's redesigned, which is very eco friendly. we would like as many

people as possible to support the poppy appeal because we'd like let them know like to really let them know that they do care and they're looking after our armed forces community. >> the poppy represents all those who lost their lives in service . s from the first world service. s from the first world war to now . we will remember war to now. we will remember them . anna riley gb news leads . them. anna riley gb news leads. last post. >> they're remembering for this poppy day- of >> they're remembering for this poppy day. of course . poppy day. of course. >> do stay with us here in on the live desk. we'll be bringing you the latest from lewiston in maine, where a manhunt is still continuing. after that mass shooting there. residents are still being urged to shelter in place . we're going to be talking place. we're going to be talking to a swat team member about this massive hunt for the gunman. stay with us. >> who is it we're here for the show . for energy this time.

show. for energy this time. >> welcome to the dinosaur hour. >> welcome to the dinosaur hour. >> i was married to a therapist. and you survived. i thought we were getting hugh laurie, second best. my bellissima. you interviewed saddam hussein. what's that like? i was terrified. i'm playing strip poker with these three. >> oh, no, thank you. >> oh, no, thank you. >> my cds need to be put in alphabetical order. >> oh, are you going to be problematic again ? problematic again? >> the dinosaur for our sundays at 9:00 on gb news is

>> good afternoon . it is 2:00. >> good afternoon. it is 2:00. this is the live desk here on gb news. coming up this friday lunchtime . lunchtime. >> israel's military says it struck numerous terror targets, including anti—tank missile launch systems in overnight raids, raids in gaza. and in the past hour, the south of tel aviv has been hit by rocket fire coming back in from gaza. so what price peace now for mp crispin blunt says he's been arrested on suspicion of rape and possession of controlled substance . substance. >> says all this in the same week as peter bone was suspended . well, we'll be asking, can the tories cope with yet more by elections as natwest decision to shut down nigel farage coutts account showed serious failings, an independent probe has found. >> we'll be hearing from him as

to whether he now feels vindicated and on his campaign for de—banking . for de—banking. plus the hunt is continuing for mass shooter robert cod in lewiston in maine in the united states. >> we'll be talking to a former florida police sergeant and swat team member about that massive search. first, here's all your headunes search. first, here's all your headlines with tatiana de . pip. headlines with tatiana de. pip. >> thank you and good afternoon . >> thank you and good afternoon. this is the latest from the newsroom . the government's newsroom. the government's working to help british citizens trapped in gaza . the prime trapped in gaza. the prime minister has been pushing for a humanitarian pause in fighting for the delivery of aid. he's under growing pressure to call for a full ceasefire . hundreds for a full ceasefire. hundreds of lawyers have signed an open letter urging rishi sunak to change his position, saying the

uk needs to follow international law. the rafah crossing on the border with egypt has reportedly been reopened this morning with a palestinian official saying a medical team and ten aid trucks have been allowed to enter the strip shadow environment secretary steve reed says labour is not calling for a ceasefire pause allows the aid to go in without stopping israel taking action to disable the terrorists who attack them in the first place. >> a ceasefire would stop israel from doing that and would lead the terrorist capability intact. if they're left with the same capability, with the bombs, with the weapons holding on. remember, over 200 hostages, then they will go back into israel and they will do this again . that is not keeping again. that is not keeping people safe. and it's not actually keeping people in gaza safe either, because further attacks israel will provoke attacks on israel will provoke further retaliation . further retaliation. >> says israel's bombing >> hamas says israel's bombing of gaza has killed 50 hostages. that's as israel defence forces confirmed another 250 airstrikes

were carried out over the past 24 hours, targeting hamas. the number of hostages being held by the terrorist group stands at 229. hamas says it can't and won't release them until a ceasefire is agreed . the rockets ceasefire is agreed. the rockets have been fired at southern israel. these are pictures showing tel aviv where a building was hit. the missiles evading the country's iron dome defence system . three people defence system. three people have been injured and emergency services are at the scene . the services are at the scene. the met police says there have been more than 400 anti—semitic attacks and more than 170 islamophobic attacks over the last week in london. the force arrested 75 people in connection with the israel—hamas conflict there are also ten active investigations linked to internet related breaches of the terrorism . act mps are warning terrorism. act mps are warning vulnerable people are being put at risk over plans to clear the

asylum backlog . the public asylum backlog. the public accounts committee says home office proposals to reform the system are incomplete and unrealistic. at the end of june , unrealistic. at the end of june, there were almost 68,000 cases awaiting a decision . shadow awaiting a decision. shadow environment secretary steve reed says the government has lost control of the situation , taking control of the situation, taking immense amount of time to deal with individual cases. >> while those cases are being while people are waiting for their cases to be dealt with, they're being put up in hotels. a staggering cost of £8 million a day. it's shocking what labour would do is instead of using that money on hotel bills, we would use it to recruit 1000 additional civil servants to deal with these cases faster. that would reduce the hotel bill. the scheme would pay for itself and then you would get the cases processed much faster. >> education secretary gillian keegan says a serious effort is being made to address the problem . problem. >> we have got tough on immigration. we were the people who have introduced new legislation because obviously

you have to have the law behind you. we've also obviously had the rwanda policy, which is still in the courts, but that is part of the policy. and we've also got returns agreements now with a number of countries and a new agreement with france as well. we're also looking at alternatives to hotels to bring that bill down to the taxpayer. so we are the ones taking all of the actions. but there is no doubt is a huge doubt that this is a huge problem in the united states . problem in the united states. >> hundreds of police officers continue to search for a gunman after 18 people were killed in maine. us army sergeant robert cod has been described as armed and dangerous. he opened fire at two locations in the city of lewiston last night. officials carried out several search warrants in the neighbouring town where the suspect lives. residents have been told to stay indoors . the natwest group's indoors. the natwest group's decision to shut down nigel farage as coutts account showed serious failings, according to the findings of an independent review . it said the bank failed

review. it said the bank failed to communicate its decision properly and showed failures of how it treated the gb news presenters. confidential information. however, the report said the closure was lawful and mainly on commercial reasons. said the closure was lawful and mainly on commercial reasons . mr mainly on commercial reasons. mr farage has previously said that coutts had moved to shut down his account because his political beliefs did not align with the bank and the education secretary says there are no cultural problems within her party after a senior mp was arrested on suspicion of rape and the possession of controlled substances. gillian keegan told gb news most of her colleagues act with integrity . crispin act with integrity. crispin blunt was detained by surrey police yesterday and then released on conditional bail. he's been removed from the party and he's been asked to stay away from parliament. but the mp says he'll cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation and he says he's confident he won't be charged . this is gb news across charged. 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 to mark and . pip now it's back to mark and. pip tatiana thanks and welcome back to the live desk . to the live desk. >> let's update you now with the latest from tel aviv, where at least three people have been injured after the latest injured and after the latest rocket there the south rocket strike there on the south of city, a residential of the city, a residential apartment block being hit either by directly a rocket or perhaps the debris or shrapnel from a rocket being intercepted by one of the iron dome rockets. >> meanwhile, in gaza, the united nations relief and works chief says aid trucks going through an egyptian crossing point so far have provided only crumbs to palestinian people as logistical and political challenges persist . there's also challenges persist. there's also continuing calls for fuel to be admitted into gaza. >> we're expecting an update from the idf, the israeli defence force, in about half an houn defence force, in about half an hour. but let's get the latest now live in tel aviv with our security editor, mark white. and

mark, of course, you had to take cover yourself with what, two separate barrages of separate huge barrages of rockets being suffered by the city today . city today. >> yes. and this is the sixth attack on tel aviv in just 30 or so hours. so some real concern here that hamas are clearly targeting the biggest centre of population in israel. one of those rockets , or at least the those rockets, or at least the debns those rockets, or at least the debris from a rocket collided with an apartment block in the south of tel aviv, caused a lot of damage. there was quite a significant blaze for a while, but looking at that building, you can see that on the top floor apartment that's effectively been obliterated apart from the front facade there, you can look through the window and actually see daylight behind. also just getting reports that one of the rockets, i think there must have been intercepted debris from that rocket, landed in a school play

park as well. luckily no children in there at the time . children in there at the time. they had been moved out of the area because of the size ions as well. this is how it played out about a couple of hours ago we were on the balcony just before that rocket struck . okay we got that rocket struck. okay we got to go. the air raid siren is sounding . here you going to show sounding. here you going to show mark park just to explain the explosions we heard then at the

end of your clip, we believe were the rockets being into separated by the iron dome system ? yeah, there's two sounds system? yeah, there's two sounds that you hear. there's the sound of the missiles from the iron dome system as they reach supersonic speeds and then as a massive sound boom that echoes right across the local area . right across the local area. then another explosion , which is then another explosion, which is either in the distance or actually can be really quite loud, depending on where the intercept that rocket itself . intercept that rocket itself. but it's clearly very disturbing if you're not used to these explosions going off. and of course, you know that was twice today we had to head for the shelters twice yesterday , a shelters twice yesterday, a couple of times yesterday, we didn't have to do that because it's quite a precise system that the iron dome has. >> and tell us a little bit more about the procedure and how you get these warnings through you and the rest of the people in tel aviv are .

tel aviv are. >> yeah, there is a very sophisticated app system that's unked sophisticated app system that's linked right into the iron dome alert system . it's on just alert system. it's on just download it on your mobile phone. we've got it here. just openedit phone. we've got it here. just opened it at the page for that last attack around tel aviv. now you can see in there the number of rocket eight alerts that came through. if i just expand it out a bit, we can show you through this here is exactly where we are, just down by the beach front. you can see that alert went off there. but next to that area , the alert didn't go off. area, the alert didn't go off. that's how sophisticated it is. no sirens in that area because really , when the rockets are really, when the rockets are launched from from gaza city later this iron dome system is able to work out the trajectory where they are expected to land and then the alarm sound in those areas to get people out of

the way. and they really just have seconds before those missiles come. the 40 to 50 odd miles from gaza to land here in tel aviv . tel aviv. >> mark was saying we're expecting an update from the idf in about 20 minutes time. clearly, one of the concerns is the ability for them still to launch the missile or the rockets from gaza and the number that they're able to deliver , that they're able to deliver, not just to tel aviv, that they're able to deliver, notjust to tel aviv, but that they're able to deliver, not just to tel aviv, but to southern israel, even down as far as the latter earlier today? yeah i mean, we've seen in the last few days the biggest barrages of rockets since the initial terrorist attack on the 7th of october. >> and that tells you quite clearly that there are still significant stocks of these deadly weapons that hamas has to hand. and it still has all the fighters there, the terrorists in the gaza strip to fly these rockets , to launch them towards rockets, to launch them towards tel aviv. there is no let up in

their desire to do that. so i think it cements in the minds of the israeli military and the political leaders that they have to go in on the ground. there's only so much they can do, even though they had 250 separate airstrikes on gaza over the last 24 hours. and two significant ground incursions as well. we had a ground incursion involving dozens of tanks, bulldozers , dozens of tanks, bulldozers, bombers and strikes from the air as those troops went in to take out anti—tank missiles and other hamas positions. that was according to the idf. a successful mission. and then just an hour ago, we brought you the news of a second raid that took place , a commando raid that took place, a commando raid that took place, a commando raid that took place, a commando raid that took place from the sea head into gaza as well . troops that into gaza as well. troops that were landed on the beaches there took out hamas anti—tank missile positions and killed a number of

hamas terrorists , according to hamas terrorists, according to the idf. before those commandos got back on their boats and out of the area . of the area. >> and just one final question, mark. president macron is the latest leader , if you like, to latest leader, if you like, to call for a pause to help this humanitarian situation in gaza. and we just want to make clear so there's no confusion . a pause so there's no confusion. a pause is very different to a ceasefire, isn't it ? ceasefire, isn't it? >> yeah, absolutely right. i was just going to make that distinction. yes but basically, you have a number of countries that are calling for a ceasefire or a cessation of the violence and the strikes by israel on on gaza. israel is not going to do that. most western an allies of israel . in fact, i think all of israel. in fact, i think all of the main allies of israel are not calling for a ceasefire, but they are calling for what they

say are short humanitarian pauses , especially around that pauses, especially around that area in southern gaza, around the rafah crossing, to allow these aid trucks to come in. and today we got ten more trucks that came across the border as it was opened briefly to allow those aid supplies , those those aid supplies, those medical supplies. and ten very brave doctors that have decided to come into gaza to help out with the very significant toll of injured people there . of injured people there. >> mark white in tel aviv for us.thank >> mark white in tel aviv for us. thank you . us. thank you. >> let's just update you something we're getting from the reuters news agency, quoting hamas officials who've been visiting moscow and have been quoted by russian media today saying that hamas viewed all its hostages as israelis. whatever additional passport outs they held and could not release any of them until israel had agreed to a ceasefire the this is from a hamas politburo member, abu merzouk, who was speaking to the

state news agency , ria. so state news agency, ria. so clearly that's an interesting indication about their thinking , indication about their thinking, because israel is saying that it believes 229 hostages still being held by hamas in gaza. well in north london, an installation of an empty shabbat table is seeking to raise awareness , this of missing loved awareness, this of missing loved ones. ones. >> ones. >> it's extremely powerful. it's extremely poignant. and our london reporter lisa hartle is there for us to tell us more. lisa hello . lisa hello. >> yes, well, this installation, the organisers hope, will keep the organisers hope, will keep the memories and the thoughts of the memories and the thoughts of the public with with the hostages. if we just have a look at what this installation involves, it's over 200 different places. those that are set up for friday night dinner and important jewish tradition on each of the chairs, there's a photograph off of each of the hostages along with their name and their age. and we've got obviously the adults there . and

obviously the adults there. and then you come across and then this little this one here, abigail aiden, three years old, with her photograph there in a high chair set up for her. her place. and the idea is, of course , that all of these people course, that all of these people are unable to be with their loved ones tonight . so now just loved ones tonight. so now just to explain more with one of the organisers, oliver oliver. thank you so much forjoining us again. so you were telling me when it was all completed, tell me how you felt when you first came across and this so , so came across and saw this so, so obviously i knew that there were going to be over 200 place his set and i could see while we were setting up the scale that it was going to be, but it was only once i came in this morning and it was finished. >> and seeing every place set and how, how much we had to and how, how, how much we had to cram in the space because there's just so many people. it was really quite ovennhelming to understand the scale understand and really the scale of the number hostages who of the number of hostages who have taken. have been taken. >> we've been here >> and since we've been here from this morning, been >> and since we've been here fr lot this morning, been >> and since we've been here fr lot ofs morning, been >> and since we've been here fr lot of members , been >> and since we've been here fr lot of members, the been >> and since we've been here

frlot of members, the public a lot of members of the public coming obviously coming here. obviously very moving installation and moving installation to come and see what is it that you're hoping people who come here will take from this. so there's a couple of things. >> so one of the really important things is that it was it's been about two weeks, over two now the hostages two weeks now since the hostages were taken and new stories move on. people's thoughts move into different places. so one of the real aims of this is to keep up the keep people talking, keeping the keep people talking, keeping the presence of the public and the presence of the public and the press about the over 200 hostages, people who come here we've seen are reading the names. they're taking a moment to be respectful. i've seen some people saying prayers and thinking about that. and then one of the key pieces is to take a photo to share it far and wide. there'll be thousands of people coming to gw three to see the installation today, and on sunday there'll be tens of thousands of tens of thousands of who can see it online. of people who can see it online. people can also write letters to their sure that their mps, really make sure that everyone is still thinking about those hostages and doing all

that they can. and earlier on, we had a few different people speaking, one of being the speaking, one of them being the chief rabbi who said he has chief rabbi who said that he has written a new prayer. >> and that's something incredibly rare to have been done. all for that's hostages. >> yes. so tomorrow morning, many thousands of jewish people will be going to their synagogues, going for their shabbat services and their service that they're going to is hundreds, thousands of years old at parts and what the chief rabbi has done is added to that this weekend and written a new prayer so that we can be together and unified in making sure we're all praying for sure that we're all praying for the quick release of those hostages. thank you so much for joining us again. >> so this installation will be open to the public today and also on sunday. >> yes, i think we all echo those calls for the hostages. quick release. and on that note, lisa, we've been hearing from the met police today that say over the last week in london, there have been 408 anti semitic attacks. so it's just it's just

such a difficult, difficult situation for everybody. thank you very much , lisa hartle you very much, lisa hartle talking to us. >> and of course, we'll update you from that israeli defence force news briefing expected in about ten minutes time in israel . also coming up, more wet weather on the way. more flood warnings on the way, more transport disruption on the way, especially for scotland. we'll be hearing from a local horse sanctuary already hit by the severe flooding. how will they be coping? we'll be

eamonn and isabel monday to thursdays from six till 930 . thursdays from six till 930. >> welcome back to the live desk . an mps have branded the government's plans to cut the asylum backlog as incomplete and unrealistic, even warning that the efforts will only exacerbate the efforts will only exacerbate the current crisis. >> the public accounts committee has warned that adequate safeguards are not in place to protect against the risks to vulnerable people and that genuine claimants may not have their application viewed properly . properly. >> let's get more on this with our political correspondent olivia utley joining us in westminster and ed, olivia, this is, of course, a cross party group of mps and they've been looking in some sort of forensic detail at the numbers. >> well, absolutely. this is a real headache for the government. just two days ago, robert jenrick , the immigration robert jenrick, the immigration minister stood up in the house of commons and said that he would be able to over the next six stop the use of

six months, stop the use of hotels for housing migrants . hotels for housing migrants. now, that was greeted very, very warmly by the conservative backbenchers moment there backbenchers at the moment there are being housed are 50,000 migrants being housed in in 400 hotels across the country at a cost of £8 million a day to the taxpayer . now, a day to the taxpayer. now, robert jenrick said that practise will be able to come to an end soon because some of the policies that the government has implemented over the past couple of now coming to of months are now coming to fruition. for example, the fruition. so for example, the government has made it that asylum have to share asylum seekers have to share rooms rather than having their own which obviously own hotel room, which obviously frees of capacity. frees up a bit of capacity. they've also hired a few more caseworkers and a processing asylum claims faster at the beginning of this year, 400 claims were processed a week. that's up to 4500. but as that's now up to 4500. but as you say, mark, this public accounts committee report that's been published today, which is a cross party group of mps have put this together , essentially put this together, essentially pours water on what robert pours cold water on what robert jenrick said . they said that jenrick said. they said that because these claims are now being rushed through , being rushed through, essentially rushed through the

process, some genuine asylum claims are being missed and you've got a problem whereby claimants feel that that their claimants feel that that their claim wasn't given proper time and energy and when they are refused , they take it to the refused, they take it to the appeals court. so yes, the backlog is shrinking the legacy backlog, those cases from before 2022 is shrinking, but the backlog is just moving to a different place. it's moving to the courts. then there's the issue of the room sharing mps were very, very proud to bring in that policy and it went down well with the country. there are plenty of people who thought that asylum seekers shouldn't be able own room able to have their own room and sometimes 4 or 5 star hotel. sometimes a 4 or 5 star hotel. and they were very pleased that the government them the government was making them share this report share rooms. but this report suggests that actually that could practise, could be an unsafe practise, that adults and that putting adults and strangers in rooms together could end up with all sorts of consequences that they believe the conservative government hadn't really thought through. so it feels a little bit as though it's back to square one for jenrick and his plans

for robert jenrick and his plans to close migrant hotels. >> olivia at westminster, thank you taking us through you for taking us through that torturous process. indeed, they've been trying to cope with. thank you very much . with. thank you very much. >> well, if you thought storm babet caused endless problems last weekend, it's not over yet. really because the met office has extended scotland's yellow weather warning and warned of severe travel disruptions during this weekend. >> yeah, the problems going into sunday lunchtime and they say due to torrential downpours. also warning of significant point flooding impacts , as they point flooding impacts, as they say. and of course, these areas already hit by that flooding of storm babet claiming three lives. let's not forget, in scotland, scotrail saying no direct services between the central belt and aberdeen or inverness until sunday may. >> well, one of the organisations hit by all this flooding is a horse sanctuary. red wings mountains, horse sanctuary in scotland, and its boss, lynne cutress, i think can join us now. it sounds terrible,

lynne, what you've been going through over the last few days, just just talk us through what's happened. >> well, it feels like groundhog day today for the team. so last friday, we knew from thursday night that we had a major issue . night that we had a major issue. i've got an experienced managers been up with us for about seven years up there. and she's scottish and from the local area . so she's used to dealing with things. however, she warned me that this was going to be unlike previous storms they'd had , and previous storms they'd had, and she did what we've done in the past. we've got the northern river going right through the one part of the site. so we moved our horses over to the highest and safest area and we did that on the thursday and then made sure that we given them enough feed and forage. that was really practical for them and then friday hit . we them and then friday hit. we always say to staff , don't go in always say to staff, don't go in unless you think it's safe to do so. there were staff that made it, but not as many as we would

have liked , but they were have liked, but they were phenomenal staff and a couple of them, one in particular really supported us to make sure that we put prioritise actually which horses needed care first. it's our site with the highest proportion of horses on medications . we've got lots of medications. we've got lots of geriatric horses there . so they geriatric horses there. so they went into a model that they've had in the past, but on real uber mode , yeah, we're just uber mode, yeah, we're just seeing some of the aftermath of the water going into to the various buildings , the stables. various buildings, the stables. >> and of course, i guess where you keep the feed. so it's not just getting the horses to safety, it's making sure that the food is supplied and they're fed and watered. well, not watered, least watered, at least. >> making sure that we >> yes. it's making sure that we can get everything to them and actually, just when i was waiting you to dial to waiting for you to dial up to me, i've had an update from them. so we've got two further flood there . so what flood warnings in there. so what we've doing is well as we've been doing is as well as control we a great control ing, we have a great maintenance manager and he's been spending his time focusing on further water, on preventing further water, getting in. why the team are

actually looking after the horses. so he's diverted part of the stream elsewhere on an overflow . so our bridge that overflow. so our bridge that goes between the two, which we're planning not to use unless we're planning not to use unless we really had to, might use have to access some other areas now gone six inches higher. but but it's still flowing freely around andits it's still flowing freely around and it's all thanks to that combination of maintenance and course care and just having people that are just phenomenal . people that are just phenomenal. so yeah. >> lynne, how big is the sanctuary? how how big is the site? how many horses do you look after? so that site actually has about 80 horses and it has a couple of hundred acres, some of them aren't serviceable for grazing because obviously they're on big hills . obviously they're on big hills. >> and so for us, it's about 80 horses in that particular site. yes. and how do the donkeys don't forget, donkeys do not like rain. >> well, i was going to ask you that. how do the horses , the that. how do the horses, the donkeys, cope in this sort of extreme . weather extreme. weather >> they're resilient, more

resilient than we think. however, as i say, we have a high proportion of horses that are either geriatric or on special medication. and we do have a lot of donkeys there. so they cope . okay. the most they cope. okay. the most important thing is to make sure they're not trapped anywhere. so they're not trapped anywhere. so the horses that had to be stabled , we had to regularly stabled, we had to regularly check on and make sure that there wouldn't any water there wouldn't be any water getting those getting in there. and those horses are out in fields, horses that are out in fields, we want to make sure they can get places of safety and they get to places of safety and they can to do it and work can choose to do it and work naturally within their own instincts. >> right. the latest just >> right. well, the latest just to scottish to tell you from the scottish environment agency, environment protection agency, river not expected be environment protection agency, rithigh not expected be environment protection agency, rithigh as not expected be environment protection agency, rithigh as experienceded be environment protection agency, rithigh as experienced during! as high as experienced during the storm, but the rain will be, of falling already of course, falling on already wet ground. so yet more problems. we wish you all wet ground. so yet more proilucks. we wish you all wet ground. so yet more proiluck for we wish you all wet ground. so yet more proiluck for thise wish you all wet ground. so yet more proiluck for this coming'ou all the luck for this coming weekend. lynn there, red weekend. lynn cutress there, red wings, sanctuary. wings, mountain horse sanctuary. thanks . thank thanks very much indeed. thank you . you. >> well, coming up shortly, we'll be talking about a review into the closure of nigel farage's coots account, which showed serious failings from the

bank. we're hearing from the man himself shortly. first, your headunes himself shortly. first, your headlines with tatiana . pip. headlines with tatiana. pip. >> thank you to 31. this is the latest the government's working to help british citizens trapped in gaza. the prime minister has been pushing for a humanitarian pause in fighting for the delivery of aid, but he's under growing pressure to call for a full ceasefire to hundreds of lawyers have signed an open letter urging rishi sunak to change his position , saying the change his position, saying the uk needs to follow international law . the met police says there law. the met police says there have been more than 400 anti—semitic attacks and more than 170 islamophobic attacks over the last week in london. the force arrested 75 people in connection with the israel—hamas conflict . there are also ten conflict. there are also ten active investigations linked to internet related breaches of the terrorism . act mps are warning

terrorism. act mps are warning vulnerable people are being put at risk over plans to clear the asylum backlog. the public accounts committee says home office proposals to reform the system are incomplete and unrealistic. at the end of june, there were almost 68,000 cases awaiting a decision , and in the awaiting a decision, and in the united states. hundreds of police officers continue to search for a gunman after 18 people were killed in maine. they've named army reservist robert card as a person of interest, describing him as armed and dangerous. residents are being told to stay indoors for more on all of those stories, you can visit our website, gbnews.com .

the camilla tominey show sunday mornings from 930 on gb news is . mornings from 930 on gb news is. well, welcome back to the live desk. >> let's update you now on this huge manhunt still undennay in maine in the united states after yesterday's mass shooting there. police still searching for 40 year old robert cod after he'd targeted a bowling alley in a bar. many children being caught in the gunfire. lewiston in maine cod had been admitted to a mental health institution during the summer, and it's understood that hundreds of police are combing the state, searching for him after at least 18 people were killed . we can speak now to

were killed. we can speak now to marco galbraith , who's a former marco galbraith, who's a former florida police sergeant and swat team member , because, marco, we team member, because, marco, we understand that there are swat teams as well as the fbi, as well as the firearm and drugs agency, all sorts of law enforcement expertise trying to find him. but he's still on the run in. >> yeah, he's still on the run. he's got mental issues. so right now, law enforcement is trying to navigate where he has been in the last few weeks because he's working under predatory violence , which is where they plan their attacks . attacks. >> where is he now ? has he >> where is he now? has he committed suicide? he may have committed suicide? he may have committed suicide? he may have committed suicide in order to keep that fear in another state, or he could be planning another attack . i don't think he knows attack. i don't think he knows with his mental illness, i don't think he understands the difference between reality and fantasy. and that's very dangerous for a person to be out right now with that. >> yeah. and is the additional dangen >> yeah. and is the additional danger, the fact that he is this army reservist, a trained firearms instructor, he's got

all that expertise, military expertise at his behest as well . expertise at his behest as well. >> right. and we have to remember law enforcement needs to remember that he's at the same level of training they are, or if not even better. so their tactics that they're going to use to track him down need to be at a much higher level than what they normally are, because of his training. very, very, very concerning with this guy and the impact. >> marco , that this this has had >> marco, that this this has had on communities being ordered to stay in home. i mean, this order now covers nearly 700mi2. it's massive . i now covers nearly 700mi2. it's massive. i mean, now covers nearly 700mi2. it's massive . i mean, how long could massive. i mean, how long could that order stay in place for realistically , that's tough to realistically, that's tough to say. >> you know, hopefully they're able to track him through electronic means. if he's got a cell phone, if he's got using his credit card with his training, i doubt he's going to be slipping up like that. but you know, communities locked you know, communities are locked down is where we need down and this is where we need to think about the preparation. do these people that locked do these people that are locked in homes, they have

in their homes, do they have ample water? do they in their homes, do they have amplmedical water? do they in their homes, do they have amplmedical resources do they in their homes, do they have amplmedical resources that1ey in their homes, do they have ampl medical resources that they have medical resources that they need a continuing basis? so need on a continuing basis? so it be long term ? i think it can be long term? i think they'll probably start lifting some of the restrictions as time goes by. but we don't know where this guy is. so it's very concerning , especially for areas concerning, especially for areas we've got holidays coming up, especially for areas with we had a weekend coming up. there's going to be events , there's going to be events, there's going to be events, there's going to be church services and that's going be concerning as that's going to be concerning as well. going to keep well. so that's going to keep that lockdown and at that element of lockdown and at a level of security with a higher level of security with this weekend coming up, we don't know is what know where this guy is and what his are. his plans are. >> we understand will be a >> we understand there will be a news conference shortly to update but said update everyone. but as i said at outset, a huge number of at the outset, a huge number of different agencies involved in this. how does that work? this. now, how does that work? does each agency take a specialist role or is it shared out geographically? how do you actually approach it? >> they'll have one command post and that command post probably run by the fbi or atf, us marshal service in the united

states is really good at tracking down people, so they'll have one central command post and then they'll utilise those smaller and larger agencies to send them out to various locations. so they're all working under one umbrella at one command post. that way we've got things coordinated and we're not double checking what we've already checked and then we're not leaving any stone unturned . not leaving any stone unturned. >> what are the biggest challenges, do you think , facing challenges, do you think, facing the search teams at the moment? at the biggest challenge is he's not an ordinary citizen. >> he's not an untrained individual. he's trained by the national guard. he was a firearms instructor. so he knows firearms. he knows tactics . so firearms. he knows tactics. so law enforcement, the biggest concern is law enforcement and the community really need to up their game with this guy because of his level of training and because of the equipment that he may have. we don't know what type of equipment as far as firearms and tools he has access to. that's going to be a huge

to. so that's going to be a huge challenge, they're not just challenge, is they're not just deaung challenge, is they're not just dealing with the typical active shooter that doesn't have all this training . this training. >> yeah, and certainly a an assessment that he was firing what i think they call an ar 15, this lightweight assault rifle firing high velocity ammunition, which can go through car bodywork . like there's this huge bodywork. like there's this huge debate , of course, now in the debate, of course, now in the states, isn't there, as to whether that type of armament should be curtailed or controlled a lot better than it is at the moment. >> well, you know, we just saw in in israel, you know , what in in israel, you know, what a horrible attack. and my personal feeling is i've owned an ar for my entire life . i'm 57 feeling is i've owned an ar for my entire life. i'm 57 and i've owned one for many years. it's never shot anybody. it's they try to turn it around. they call it an assault rifle. it's not an assault rifle. it's armament rifle. that's where it came from. so it's been twisted around. but it's not the firearm . it's not the tool. it's the person holding it. we have a mental health problem here in

the united states, and we fail to address that. we want to go after the tool and not the person. but when we talk about israel, if those citizens had had that style rifle , well, i had that style rifle, well, i don't think hamas would have been so successful in in that attack. yeah but clearly this has been deployed in a completely different arena . completely different arena. >> and the argument is that these can fly huge numbers of bullets in a very confined space, giving people very little chance of getting to cover or escaping . escaping. >> they can. but any firearm can do that. if i was to get a nine millimetre pistol and i had numerous rounds of magazines on me, i'm trained to fire that in the same capability . it wouldn't the same capability. it wouldn't have the same damage or stopping power. but i'm going to have this train to reload that quickly , reload that quickly. so quickly, reload that quickly. so again , it's not the tool, it's again, it's not the tool, it's the person handling the tool. and this guy had a lot of mental illness that was being addressed. but maybe we missed some red flags with this guy .

some red flags with this guy. and that's what we need to look at, is we need to look at the people and let's fix him. let's not let's not push him aside. he's coming fonnard and claiming he's got severe mental illness that needs to addressed. that needs to be addressed. that's problem. mark that's the problem. mark galbraith, florida police galbraith, former florida police sergeant team member, sergeant and swat team member, thank for bringing us your thank you for bringing us your expert assessment. >> you for your time. >> thank you for your time. thank you . thank you. >> at least three people have been injured after a rocket strike in southern tel aviv . it strike in southern tel aviv. it comes as israel's military says it struck numerous terror targets in overnight raids into central gaza. >> meanwhile, the concerns on the humanitarian crisis in gaza are mounting . the united nations are mounting. the united nations chief there saying only crumbs of aid are making into gaza, though there has been another convoy of some ten lorries. this morning with medical staff on board. but ministers here at least continuing to resist the calls for a ceasefire in the middle east. but still, there's concern that the conflagration could spread across the rest of the region as well.

>> joining us now is paul rodgers, professor of peace studies at bradford university. good afternoon to you, paul. we've been talking today about that rocket strike in tel aviv . that rocket strike in tel aviv. hamas, they are still able to very easily rearm, aren't they, at the moment? >> yes. they clearly have a number of rocket launch sites which they're able to use and use on a regular basis. that has been somewhat diminished as far as we can tell. but the probability is that they have many thousands of the rockets left and probably may be making more even at present . so that more even at present. so that isn't over by a very long shot. and i think the israelis now have the major problem of trying to work out how to deal with how paul, to work out how to deal with how paul , can you to work out how to deal with how paul, can you still hear us? >> i think we might just had >> i think we mightjust had a glitch on the connection with you know , i think we might have you know, i think we might have lost paul rodgers there. we'll just try and get the connection back. as we're looking at the

pictures here of the aftermath of this attack in southern tel aviv . is this of this attack in southern tel aviv. is this is this apartment block in the south of the city where we believe either the rocket itself or perhaps one of the interceptor or the interceptor iron dome missiles may have dropped . but in terms may have dropped. but in terms of the shell casing or the remains of that, you can see here on this wider picture, the number of emergency personnel, three people hurt, is the latest we're getting there in tel aviv. >> and our homeland security editor, mark white is in tel aviv. he was preparing to go live with us when the alert sounded and he was forced to find cover. and just to bring you other updates, this israel—gaza war is now into its 21st day. thousands of people on both sides of this conflict have died and more aid lorries have been allowed through an egyptian crossing point into gaza . but

crossing point into gaza. but the unwra, the relief agency , is the unwra, the relief agency, is saying that that is providing only crumbs and there is still israel saying no , no fuel will israel saying no, no fuel will be allowed into gaza, even though aid agencies are calling for it and they are saying that only a incubators for premature babies are able to continue at the moment because of a lack of fuel . fuel. >> well, i'm afraid we seem to have lost that connection with paul rogers, professor at bradford university. so apologies for that. let's apologies for that. but let's just what was just update you on what was happening in tel aviv earlier. of course, we the aftermath happening in tel aviv earlier. of courattack the aftermath happening in tel aviv earlier. of courattack because aftermath happening in tel aviv earlier. of courattack because our rmath of that attack because our correspondent , of that attack because our correspondent, our of that attack because our correspondent , our security correspondent, our security editor, white, was there editor, mark white, was there when the latest barrage was fired . okay fired. okay >> i've got to go. the air raid sirens are sounding . here are sirens are sounding. here are you going to show us his latest .

that was earlier. >> you heard then the sound of the interceptor rockets being fired, the sonic booms and, of course, them hitting those rockets as they came in. mark and his team were safe , but and his team were safe, but three injured when that apartment building was hit. and just to update you, we are expecting an update on the situation from the israeli defence force shortly. we'll have that for you live when it happens . happens. >> remembrance day poppies are now being sold across britain, having undergone the biggest change in design for a generation by going plastic free. yep they are now 100% papen >> well, the iconic british legion poppy is recyclable as a

result. but of course the age old message serving as this universal symbol of hope and peace. well, that remains unchanged. >> our yorkshire reporter anna riley went to the poppy appeal launch in leeds and spoke to veterans about why the cause is, well, obviously so important . well, obviously so important. >> although standard , standard >> although standard, standard bearers mark the launch of the national poppy appeal in leeds, it helps veterans like simon brown , who was shot in the face brown, who was shot in the face dunng brown, who was shot in the face during a tour in iraq. >> the bullet entered his left cheek and exited the other side. >> i was fortunate enough to be conscious , survived the event , conscious, survived the event, did my own first save for 25 minutes, and then we got to medical facilities at basra palace . i was put into a drug palace. i was put into a drug induced coma and i woke up christmas eve 2006 and then found out , christmas eve 2006 and then found out, you know, what the what the damage actually was over ten years, i 25 operations about 140 hours of surgery to reconstruct my face. my left eye was removed and i retained 25%

vision in my right eye. >> it's not just the funds raised, but the symbol of the poppy raised, but the symbol of the poppy that supports those that have served in the armed forces. >> wearing a poppy just says, you know , i see your suffering you know, i see your suffering and i'm thinking of you tragically , many soldiers like tragically, many soldiers like chris turton have paid the ultimate sacrifice. >> he lost his life in two thousand and seven after his vehicle was destroyed by ieds in iraq. today would have been the 19th wedding anniversary, three with his widow, sharon . with his widow, sharon. >> and i'd lost my military family when i lost chris. so the royal british legion became my new family . i started off as new family. i started off as a volunteer. now i'm a member of staff. so >> so you cut me open and it's poppies that come out of me. >> it. but that's the way they've helped me. they've given me something else to live for. and i'm also able to keep chris in other people's thoughts as

well as my own. >> the royal british legion community has given veteran jonathan calvert a new purple dress as a civilian. i've just retired recently from the air force and i want to give back to the community. >> the royal british legion have helped me so much, helping with transitioning from being in service for over 20 years to now being a veteran. >> the newly designed, plastic free poppy hoped free poppy is hoped to boost fundraising year. fundraising this year. >> the poppy appeal is obviously very it's the first very exciting. it's the first new poppy for 28 years that we've had. so it redesigned , we've had. so it was redesigned, which is eco friendly. we which is very eco friendly. we would as many people as would like as many people as possible to support the poppy appeal we'd like to appeal because we'd like to really know that they really let them know that they do and looking do care. and they're looking after our armed forces community. the poppy represents all those who lost their lives in service from the first world war to now . war to now. >> now we will remember them. anna riley , gb news, leeds well ,

anna riley, gb news, leeds well, the last post sounding there to remember a previous conflict, a new and undennay in the middle east. >> let's get the latest now with the israeli military spokesperson, rear admiral daniel hager, speaking at a news conference shield for its conference as a shield for its underground terror complex . underground terror complex. >> i want to explain there is an underground metro tunnels in gaza city, not just in gaza city i >> usually it's based next to next to unique sites or sensitive sites, not just the hospital, but other sites as mosques, etcetera, etcetera . the mosques, etcetera, etcetera. the unwra places hospital , all unwra places hospital, all schools, etcetera, etcetera . schools, etcetera, etcetera. >> this is a philosophy of hamas and shifa is one of them . and shifa is one of them. >> explain him . at the red >> explain him. at the red buildings as i mentioned, are buildings as i mentioned, are building that hamas is using meaning he does his command and

control all in different departments of the hospital , departments of the hospital, like the green room and others. he uses this places in order to do command and control for terror activities , launching terror activities, launching rockets, satellites cetera . it rockets, satellites cetera. it is here in shifa hospital while hamas operates some of its command and control cells . this command and control cells. this is where the direct rocket attacks command hamas forces. hamas terrorists operate inside and under shifa hospital and other hospitals in gaza with network of terror tunnels. hamas also has an entrance to those terror tunnels from inside the hospital wards , meaning from hospital wards, meaning from different places of the hospital. you can go into an underground tunnel that will provide you shelter. we'll we'll show it now in a map. provide you shelter. we'll we'll

show it now in a map . this is an show it now in a map. this is an illustration of shifa hospital . illustration of shifa hospital. and the underground facilities . and the underground facilities. i want to repeat . this and the underground facilities. i want to repeat. this is only an illustration we will not share here the true material we will not share here the true material that we have in our hands. this is only an illustration right now . illustration right now. terrorist move freely in shifa hospital and other hospitals in gaza , we have concrete evidence gaza, we have concrete evidence that hundreds of terrorists flooded into the hospital to hide there after the massacre of october 7th . hamas uses shifa october 7th. hamas uses shifa hospital as a shield for hamas terror infrastructure. hamas wages war from hospitals by operating from this hospitals, hamas not only endangers the lives of israelis civilians, but also exploit innocent gazan

civilians as human shield . shifa civilians as human shield. shifa is not the only hospital well, it is one of many hamas use of hospitals is a systematic hamas terrorists operate inside hospital walls precisely because they know the idf distinguishes between terrorists and civilians. israel real targets terrorists. hamas target israeli civilians and gazan civilians as we as we have as we have shown in the hamadeh incident in. >> so this is rear admiral daniel hagari of the israeli defence force with this news briefing. the claims from the israeli side that hamas is using these hospitals , in particular these hospitals, in particular these hospitals, in particular the al—shifa hospital , as the al—shifa hospital, as command and control centre with these tunnel systems underneath. >> he is claiming that hundreds of terrorists flooded into the hospital to hide after that

terrorist massacre of october the 7th. and they are using the hospital as a shield for hamas interests culture and exploiting innocent gazan civilians as human shields. >> and that use system tactic, he said. that's continuing . he said. that's continuing. thanks for being with us here on the live desk on gb news, and we'll see you again sometime. thank you. thank you for

it's 3 pm. it's patrick christys . it's gb news. and we christys. it's gb news. and we have some massive breaking news to bring you very, very shortly . to bring you very, very shortly. yes, gb news is signed a huge star. you have to stay tuned to find out who that is. but it is going to send shockwaves through the british media landscape. you're welcome. >> we're also going to be talking about this. >> yes, a broken asylum plan. okay it's turned out that the plan that the government have got at the moment just won't work, isn't working , can't work, isn't working, can't possibly work. who'd have thunk it colour me shocked. we're also going to be talking about this story. yes, that's right. the bbc has admitted bias against us, by the way, it's admitted bias against gb news. again, not a massive shock , is it? but it a massive shock, is it? but it is embarrassing for the beeb. we'll be talking about what this means and the ramifications i'll also discussing now this also be discussing now this incident very incident that very, very interesting. the rugby interesting. this the rugby racism that's taking place. racism row that's taking place. obviously can't some of obviously i can't repeat some of the there , nor