lucy williamson, bbc news, manara.agreed to this ceasefire in lebanon, more than 43,000 people have died in the 13 month long war between israel and hamas, and about 100 hostages are still believed to be inside the territory, after they were kidnapped during the october seventh attacks. so what could the end of hostilities in lebanon mean for the war in gaza? 0ur security correspondent frank gardner is injerusalem: . your thoughts frank on what this could mean for the wider region? 50. could mean for the wider region? so, the gaza could mean for the wider region? srr, the gaza conflict could mean for the wider region? s57, the gaza conflict is could mean for the wider region? s513, the gaza conflict is different could mean for the wider region? sr3, the gaza conflict is different and more difficult to resolve than the one in lebanon. now the israeli government think they have got a better chance of getting some kind of a deal with hamas, that is the militants organisation that has ruled gaza since 2006, now that in the

lucy williamson, bbc news, manara. we can talk more about that situation. a village close to the lebanese in northerrn israel called kefar giladi. he founded a lobby group called 1701, which called for a demilitarised zone in the southern lebanon border area. i asked him if israeli's would be willing to return to their homes in northern israel. i'm not sure that right now the majority will come back because, as your reporter mentioned, the rehabilitation in south lebanon will cost something like $3 billion. same amount here. we need $3 billion for the rehabilitation of the entire strip of the northern border that has been hit with more than 20,000 rockets fired from by hezbollah, from southern lebanon to the north and israel. so we need to build back our confidence of coming back. of course, there is some families i can tell you, my family is one of them that decide not to wait to anyone and come back, because our mission will be to rebuild the galilee, to rebuild our homes. and we don't have time for it right now. we need to do it right now. and what is yo

lucy williamson, bbc news, northern israel.t to show you a quick live look here at the border region along the area therebetween northern israel and southern lebanon. again, this is calm now but of course we believe that ceasefire deal will take effect in about an hour or so. that was announced, that it will begin in the early hours but before the announcement israel launched extensive airstrikes on the southern suburbs of beirut�*s clinic the southern suburbs of beirut. loud boom as lebanon waited for a ceasefire, the war didn't stop. the most intense israeli bombardment of beirut in this conflict. the israeli military said these were hezbollah facilities. here, they gave a warning before attacking. here, in central beirut, it didn't. this building collapsed. seven people were killed. in the evening we tried to visit the site, but we were caught up in another wave of israeli airstrikes. so there has been an attack now. there has been.. loud roar we're now hearing several explosions after an evacuation warning was issued by the

lucy williamson, bbc news, manara.has taken a heavy toll but where does it leave the two warring sides? and what hope for a sustained peace? 0ur diplomatic correspondent caroline hawley is here. sophie, it has been the deadliest war between israel and hezbollah in decades, creating a humanitarian disaster in lebanon. so what has been the toll must more than 3,800 lebanese people killed — among them 230 children, more than 15,000 injured. close to one million people have been displaced. it's a small country, so that's about one in five of the population and billions of dollars�* worth of damage. 0n the other side of the border, since october last year when hezbollah began attacking, 47 israeli civilians have been killed and 82 soldiers. the stated objective when the army invaded southern lebanon in early october was to stop the rockets being fired and to allow tens of thousands of israelis to go back to their homes close to the northern border. there's no doubt israel has dealt hezbollah a very heavy blow — benjamin net

lucy williamson filed this report from jerusalem.s left israel's leaders facing criminal charges themselves. prime minister benjamin netanyahu and his former defence minister, yoav gallant, called to trial by the international criminal court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution and starvation as a method of war. a third arrest warrant was issued a third arrest warrant was mr netanyahu tonight called it a black day for nations. saying israel rejects with discussed the absurd and false actions and charges against it. accusing the court of being biased and discriminatory. several countries including the netherlands and ireland say they will carry out the arrest warrants. no such explicit commitment from the prime minister spokesperson who said the uk remain focused on an immediate cease—fire in gaza. it's a nightmare for israel. we're in uncharted territories because israel and benjamin netanyahu are not like any one else. we're dealing with a country as his closest ally. the most powerful country in

gunfire lucy williamson, bbc news, manara.amos hochstein helped secure the truce, telling the bbc hopes the deal could help unlock a in gaza. i think there is a moment in time where we have changed something, the dynamic has changed, the linkage between lebanon and gaza has been broken, and hamas has to wake up this morning at 4am when the ceasefire went to effect and understand they are alone, the rest of the region is abandoning them. it is time for them, asjoe biden said yesterday from the white house, they have not come to the negotiating table in good faith for several months. if they are willing to release the hostages which will help bring about an end of the conflict, that is within our grasp, we can do everything we can lead by president biden to bring the hostages home and bring this to a close. i think the ceasefire with lebanon can be a spark or a key to unlocking them. i enjoy now i will thomas, the deputy director in the middle east programme at the center for strategic and international studies. many thanks for

lucy williamson, bbc news, northern israel. deal was brokered by the united states and its allies. after confirming its details in a speech outside the white house, us presidentjoe biden said it shows peace is possible, in what he called the "deadliest conflict in decades." let me be clear. if hezbollah or anyone else breaks the deal and poses a direct threat to israel then israel return —— retains the right to self defence consistent with international law, just like any country when facing at terrorist group pledged to that country's destruction. at the same time the steel supports lebanon's sovereignty, so it heralds a new start for lebanon and so a applaud the decision to end the violence. it reminds us that peace is possible. i said that again, peace is possible. let's speak to our north america correspondent peter bowes. 0h imagine forthe 0h imagine for the president he was very happy to be saying those words "peace is possible" in the final days he is in office. �* . �* , in the final days he is in office. �* . v . offic

lucy williamson, bbc news, northern israel.easefire will begin in the early hours of tomorrow morning, but earlier today, before the annoucement, israel launched extensive air strikes on beirut�*s southern suburbs, as hugo bachega reports. loud bo0m as lebanon waited for a ceasefire, the war didn't stop. the most intense israeli bombardment of beirut in this conflict. the israeli military said these were hezbollah facilities. here, they gave a warning before attacking. here, in central beirut, it didn't. this building collapsed. seven people were killed. in the evening we tried to visit the site, but we were caught up in another wave of israeli airstrikes. so there has been an attack now. there has been... loud roar we're now hearing several explosions after an evacuation warning was issued by the israeli military. we've been trying to get to the site of one of the attacks, but we've been told that the site had been evacuated because of those warnings. israel is now unleashing a wave of attacks targeting beirutjust hours before

lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem.the veteran prosecutor pam bondi as his new attorney general after his previous nominee, matt gaetz, withdrew from consideration for the role. ms bondi was one of mr trump's defence lawyers during his first impeachment trial in 2020. a long—time ally of the president—elect, she previously served as attorney general of florida. let's speak to our north america correspondent peter bowes. hello. some would say she ticks all of the boxes. she hello. some would say she ticks all of the boxes.— all of the boxes. she is a loyalist _ all of the boxes. she is a loyalist. she _ all of the boxes. she is a loyalist. she is _ all of the boxes. she is a loyalist. she is certainly | loyalist. she is certainly inaudible. _ loyalist. she is certainly inaudible. friends - loyalist. she is certainly inaudible. friends for| loyalist. she is certainly | inaudible. friends for a loyalist. she is certainly - inaudible. friends for a long time inaudible. he has inaudible. ., ., , inaudible. unfortunately, pet

lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. a human rights lawyer and director of the strategic litigation project at the atlantic council. thank you for your time today. what happens next now that his ruling has been made? is it realistic to expect enforcement? , ., , enforcement? the question is whether or — enforcement? the question is whether or not _ enforcement? the question is whether or not this _ enforcement? the question is whether or not this will - enforcement? the question is whether or not this will be - whether or not this will be enforced. i think what is a more immediate outcome is that netanyahu and atacms will have their travel severely restricted. we are not sure what stacey you are icc member says and who were allies of israel were going to say about the warrants but we saw a whole range of reactions today and it is clear the netherlands, belgium, spain, france, norway, italy, the list goes on, they have all indicated they will enforce the arrest warrant in aligned with their obligations as icc member state

lucy williamson has been to northern israel, to speak to some of those who fled. sirens wail.ens warned of rockets, as residents warned of surrender. israel's pounding of lebanon continued, hours before the ceasefire was announced. rona and on left their home in kfar giladi on the 8th of october last year. the lebanese villages they lived alongside clearly visible through the border fence. i hope for a day where we could, you know, be at peace with each other. and i think that trust was broken when our army found the tunnels and the ammunition and all of these preparations to effectively come and, you know, massacre us. their house and community — empty for more than a year. i'm sorry about the mess. it'sjust, we put everything inside. a ceasefire deal is meant to get them permanently back home, but it could mean their lebanese neighbours returning too. apart from completely erasing these villages and having no people here, there is no real physical thing that can make me feel safe. it's just, you know... hope. israel's leader has achieved many of his war goals in lebanon. the

our middle east correspondent lucy williamson reports.gaza, triggered by the crimes of hamas, has left israel's leaders facing criminal charges themselves. prime minister benjamin netanyahu and his former defence minister, yoav gallant, called to trial by the international criminal court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution and starvation as a method of war. a third arrest warrant was issued for hamas military chief mohammed deif, who israel says it killed earlier this year. mr netanyahu's office called it an "anti—semitic decision", saying: several countries, including the netherlands and ireland, have said they will carry out the arrest warrants — no such commitment from the prime minister's spokesman, who said the uk remains focused on an immediate ceasefire in gaza. it is a nightmare for israel, but i said we are in uncharted territory because israel and benjamin netanyahu are not like anyone else. we are dealing with a very powerful country that has, as its closest ally, the most powerful country

lucy williamson, bbc news, the occupied golan heights.ah are fading as the two exchanged heavy fire on wednesday across their shared border. israel's new defence minister said there will be no let up in the war against hezbollah as israeli forces launched a barrage of strikes targetting southern beirut. shortly after, hezbollah confirmed it fired ballistic missiles at israel's army headquarters. large parts of spain are being lashed with more torrential rain, just two weeks after more than 220 people died in flash flooding in valencia. it's the same weather system that is hitting malaga and other parts of southern and eastern spain. 3000 people were told to leave their homes in malaga. this map shows the areas worst affected. valencia which is still recovering from a year's worth of rain injust eight hours last month — may now be hit with several months of rainfall. from spain, here's nick beake: more misery heaped on spain. this was malaga today. streets submerged again and struggles to reach safety. this has been a brutal time for the c

lucy williamson, bbc news, northern israel.e has only come into effect in the past few minutes, the last 2a hours saw beirut still being bombarded by extensive israeli air strikes. 0ur correspondent in beirut hugo bachega reports. loud boom. as lebanon waited for a ceasefire, the war didn't stop. the most intense israeli bombardment of beirut in this conflict. the israeli military said these were hezbollah facilities. here, they gave a warning before attacking. here, in central beirut, it didn't. this building collapsed. seven people were killed. in the evening we tried to visit the site, but we were caught up in another wave of israeli air strikes. so there has been an attack now. there has been... loud roar. we're now hearing several explosions after an evacuation warning was issued by the israeli military. we've been trying to get to the site of one of the attacks, but we've been told that the site had been evacuated because of those warnings. israel is now unleashing a wave of attacks targeting beirutjust hours before this

here's lucy williamson.iggered by the crimes of hamas, has left israel's leaders facing criminal charges themselves. prime minister benjamin netanyahu and his former defence minister, yoav gallant, called to trial by the international criminal court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution and starvation as a method of war. mr netanyahu tonight called it a black day for nations. translation: this is an anti-semitic measure that has one goal - - to deter us from exercising our natural right to defend ourselves against our enemies who rise up to destroy us. a third arrest warrant was issued for hamas military chief mohammed deif, a key figure behind the 7th of october attacks, who israel says it killed earlier this year. the ruling means israel's democratically elected prime minister risks arrest if he travels to any of the countries signed up to the court — including the uk and most of europe, though not the us. in legal terms, a prima facie. several countries have said they'l

lucy williamson, bbc news, northern israel.in the early hours of tomorrow morning, but earlier, before the annoucement, israel launched extensive air strikes on beirut�*s southern suburbs, as hugo bachega reports. loud boom. as lebanon waited for a ceasefire, the war didn't stop. the most intense israeli bombardment of beirut in this conflict. the israeli military said these were hezbollah facilities. here, they gave a warning before attacking. here, in central beirut, it didn't. this building collapsed. seven people were killed. in the evening we tried to visit the site, but we were caught up in another wave of israeli airstrikes. so there has been an attack now. there has been... loud roar. we're now hearing several explosions after an evacuation warning was issued by the israeli military. we've been trying to get to the site of one of the attacks, but we've been told that the site had been evacuated because of those warnings. israel is now unleashing a wave of attacks targeting beirutjust hours before this possible ceasefire

lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem.e for war crimes issues from 1997—2001. thank you forjoining us. we heard earlier about how evidence—based the international criminal court is. do you think the burden of proof has been met for the war crimes allegations levelled at benjamin netanyahu and a former minister galante?— minister galante? actually that would never — minister galante? actually that would never be _ minister galante? actually that would never be the _ minister galante? actually that would never be the case, - minister galante? actually that would never be the case, in - would never be the case, in order to achieve an arrest warrant you simply have to establish to the judges of the court that there are reasonable grounds to believe that these individuals have committed with criminal intent these particular crimes, on the charge sheet. you do not reach determinations as to the sufficiency of the evidence until you actually get to trial and put it on trial, and before and put it on trial, and before a panel ofju

lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem.irector of the strategic litigation project at the atlantic council, on the consequences for the israeli pm and his former defence minister. the question is whether or not this will be enforced. i think what is a more immediate outcome is that netanyahu and gallant will have their travel severely restricted. we were not sure what icc member states and who are allies of israel were going to say about the warrants but we saw a whole range of reactions today and it is clear the netherlands, belgium, spain, france, norway, italy, ireland, the list goes on — they have all indicated they will enforce the arrest warrant in line with their obligations as icc member states, so that really restricts the scope of where netanyahu or gallant can travel. is this ruling undercut somewhat by the fact the us is not signed up to the icc? in fact, us presidentjoe biden called it "outrageous". the us obviously has had a relationship with the international criminal court that ebbs and flows. they were supp

lucy williamson, bbc news, may nara. >> u.s.nvoy to lebanon hochstein helped secure the truce and he told me what it took to get the deal done. thank you for joining us. take is inside these negotiations. u.s. is working on a cease-fire deal for some time now. what was the breakthrough moment? why now? >> over the last many months, changes on the ground have occurred. as hezbollah was degraded and capabilities degraded and leadership removed through the battlefield, at some point there comes a time when you have to translate battlefield gains into political gains into an actual deal. that is what guarantees the security. several weeks ago, five or six weeks ago, president biden and i discussed this is the right moment to put the pressure to see if parties can reach an agreement. both parties understood this was the right moment. it was the last moment. it was either now or we would have to wait for several more months. >> why is that? >> at some point you get to a transition and you have a new administration coming in. it will t

lucy williamson reports from jerusalem on this unprecedented move.leaders facing charges. binyamin netanyahu and his former defence minister yoav gallant called to trial by the international criminal court for war crimes and crimes against humanity. including murder, persecution and starvation as a method of war. a third arrest warrant was ordered for mohammed deif. binyamin netanyahu's office called it an anti—semitic decision, saying israel rejects with disgust the absurd actions and charges and accused the court of being biased. several countries, including the netherlands and ireland, have said they will carry out the arrest warrants. no such commit frment from the prime minister's spokesman. it is a diplomatic nightmare nor israel. but we are in unchartered territories, because israel and binyamin netanyahu are not like anyoners. —— anyone else. we are dealing with a powerful country that has as its closest ally the united states. . ., ,., ., , ., states. the court said there was no clear military _ states. the court said there was no clear mili

lucy williamson, bbc news, northern israel. medics say israeli strikes killed at least ten palestinians at a gaza city school sheltering displaced families. another strike injured dozens of people at a school in the south—west suburbs. the us secretary of state — anthony blinken — is still optimistic about a ceasefire in gaza. speaking at the g7 summit, mr blinken said he thinks the truce in lebanon would help end the conflict in gaza. we'll have more from that summit a little later in the programme. meanwhile, palestinians in gaza are facing severe food shortages. aid workers say criminal gangs are disrupting supplies in southern gaza, often operating in plain sight of the israeli defense forces. sources tell the bbc that hamas has reactivated special security forces to combat the theft. joining me live is dana stroul, former us deputy assistant sceretary of defense for the middle east and the director of research at the washington institute for near east policy. great to have you on the bbc. i want to start now of course with

in a moment, we'll speak to lucy williamson in northern israel, but first hugo bachega is in southernavelling alongside those people returning home. what's the situation there hugo? yes, ijust yes, i just arrived yes, ijust arrived here in the largest city in the south of the country. it took five hours to get here from beirut, a trip that usually takes only an hour. it gives an idea of the sheer number of people who are trying to return to the south. we saw cars packed with suitcases, blankets, mattresses, things people grabbed when they had to flee their homes at the beginning of the war. 0ver i to flee their homes at the beginning of the war. 0veri million people were displaced because of this conflict. people were waving has black flags, saying they have not been defeated despite the devastation across the country. they say the fact they are going back to their homes is a sign of victory. rebuilding this country will take time. there is a question about what will happen to lebanon. hezbollah has been weakened, not destroyed. the lebanese prime minister called for unity stop his fa