Get aid to those desperate people who are hurtling down in the southern part of the gaza strip. Israel egypt, for its own reasons, partly because it fears are seeing a flood of refugees into egypt, has not yet shown a willingness to cooperate. That is an ongoing issue. The americans are very keen to resolve it because they know without some kind of humanitarian provisions, israels attacks on the gaza strip both from the air and probably in the coming days, orsoon, on the the air and probably in the coming days, or soon, on the ground, the air and probably in the coming days, orsoon, on the ground, are just going to cause even more horrendous hardship. find just going to cause even more horrendous hardship. Just going to cause even more horrendous hardship. And ust to kee horrendous hardship. And ust to kee this horrendous hardship. And ust to keep this conversation horrendous hardship. And just to keep this conversation going horrendous hardship. And just to l keep this conversation going about aid, the fourth question today, from felix in bognor regis, why is aid not being delivered by sea instead of waiting for the crossing to open . It is similarto of waiting for the crossing to open . It is similar to the answer paul gave it is similar to the answer paul gave about the air. It is slightly different gave about the air. It is slightly different. Obviously, it is a combat zone and different. Obviously, it is a combat zone and israel would not want any other zone and israel would not want any other planes and no other agency would other planes and no other agency would get other planes and no other agency would get engaged in that for the safety would get engaged in that for the safety of would get engaged in that for the safety of their own people, but in the same safety of their own people, but in the same way that israel controls the same way that israel controls the land the same way that israel controls the land access into gaza, it controls the air and dc space, gaza, it controls the air and dc space, so gaza, it controls the air and dc space, so israel has imposed a full blockade space, so israel has imposed a full blockade on at the moment and it has not shown blockade on at the moment and it has not shown any sign of wanting to release not shown any sign of wanting to release that, so it is the same issue release that, so it is the same issue the release that, so it is the same issue. The reason why all the emphasis issue. The reason why all the emphasis has gone on the crossing is because emphasis has gone on the crossing is because that is one exit and entrance because that is one exit and entrance which is not controlled by israel entrance which is not controlled by israel. Egypt is in control of it, even israel. Egypt is in control of it, even though it has to have some kind of sayso even though it has to have some kind of say so from israel, there has to be a of say so from israel, there has to be a deal of say so from israel, there has to be a deal between the two countries, to allow be a deal between the two countries, to allow this to happen. Nothing egypt to allow this to happen. Nothing egypt has been saying, essentially they regard the crossing, they say they regard the crossing, they say they are they regard the crossing, they say they are not stopping it from being opeh they are not stopping it from being open. Because of what israel has then open. Because of what israel has then in open. Because of what israel has then in terms of strikes near it, they then in terms of strikes near it, they have then in terms of strikes near it, they have also said concrete blocks have lteen they have also said concrete blocks have been around it, they are essentially saying israel is blocking back crossing. Whether that is true blocking back crossing. Whether that is true or blocking back crossing. Whether that is true or not is open to debate but that is is true or not is open to debate but that is their is true or not is open to debate but that is their position. That is true or not is open to debate but that is their position. That is their position. That is a nice segue that is their position. That is a nice segue onto that is their position. That is a nice segue onto a that is their position. That is a nice segue onto a fifth that is their position. That is a i nice segue onto a fifth question, that is their position. That is a nice segue onto a fifth question, it is about that crossing. Derek has asked this, there have been conflicting reports regarding the reading for the crossing remain enclosed. Who is in ultimate control . It enclosed. Who is in ultimate control . , i,. ,. , control . It is the egyptians who ultimately control control . It is the egyptians who ultimately control the control . It is the egyptians who ultimately control the crossing l control . It is the egyptians who i ultimately control the crossing and as sebastian has already indicated, their motives are sometimes somewhat questionable. I think it is legitimate for egypts two say, we cannot have a situation in which tens, Maybe Hundreds Of Thousands of palestinians fleeing the conflict somehow cross the border and seek refuge inside egypt. Frankly, those people are reluctant to do it anyway because for them the symbolism of abandoning their homeland, being driven out by israels military, is a truly horrendous psychological crisis that echoes the reasons why they ended up in the gaza strip in they ended up in the gaza strip in the first place in i9li8. That catastrophe, as palestinians call it. But egypt could open that crossing. It needs to be done in concert with the Israeli Military and also the americans, and perhaps other international brokers, to get those aid convoys through security. It is going to involve identifying where the aid goes. The israelis did identify a small part of the Southern Gaza strip where they said people should go and where aid would be provided. It seemed to me to be the first indication of a plan that might finally take hold but i think the elements of that plan are not yet really in place. The israelis are absolutely focused ioo yet really in place. The israelis are absolutely focused 100 on the military objectives and so i think there is going to be a lot more diplomacy required to get the aid in and to get it to where it is needed. Exactly. And just on the point of israel exactly. And just on the point of israel having made some move towards an area israel having made some move towards an area in israel having made some move towards an area in the israel having made some move towards an area in the south of gaza where they might an area in the south of gaza where they might be a place where people can go. They might be a place where people can go, this was very similar to what can go, this was very similar to what the can go, this was very similar to what the egyptian Foreign Minister was telling us yesterday. He was saying was telling us yesterday. He was saying what is necessary is not for people saying what is necessary is not for people to saying what is necessary is not for people to come out of gaza but for there people to come out of gaza but for there to people to come out of gaza but for there to be people to come out of gaza but for there to be a safe haven and to bring there to be a safe haven and to bring in there to be a safe haven and to bring in the aid and shelter, the tents bring in the aid and shelter, the tents that bring in the aid and shelter, the tents that are necessary for the hundreds tents that are necessary for the hundreds of thousands of people who are now hundreds of thousands of people who are now in hundreds of thousands of people who are now in schools and hospitals. We have seen are now in schools and hospitals. We have seen what can happen in hospitals have seen what can happen in hospitals. That does look like a plan hospitals. That does look like a plan then hospitals. That does look like a plan. Then we had the president of egypt plan. Then we had the president of egypt making quite a bit statement today, egypt making quite a bit statement today, saying that he believes. | today, saying that he believes. I want today, saying that he believes. Want to just today, saying that he believes. I want tojust remind you is at today, saying that he believes. I want to just remind you is at this point that these are questions that have been put to us by viewers at home, they are not questions i am putting to sebastian or paul. We have had a bit of confusion about that sometimes. This question from Robert Anderson in wiltshire. To what degree is of this conflict about religion . What degree is of this conflict about religion . What degree is of this conflict about reliaion . W,. ,. , about religion . Gosh. That is a big cuestion. About religion . Gosh. That is a big question and about religion . Gosh. That is a big question. And it about religion . Gosh. That is a big question. And it is about religion . Gosh. That is a big question. And it is both. About religion . Gosh. That is a big question. And it is both. There i question. And it is both. There are nrany question. And it is both. There are many facets to that answer. I mean. Are many facets to that answer. I nrean. In are many facets to that answer. I mean, in some sense it is about land, mean, in some sense it is about land. It mean, in some sense it is about land. It is mean, in some sense it is about land, it is about statehood, it is about land, it is about statehood, it is about nationhood. The original force behind about nationhood. The original force behind the about nationhood. The original force behind the palestinian cause was secular. Behind the palestinian cause was secular. It behind the palestinian cause was secular, it was not a religious organisation, and the zionism went to nrany organisation, and the zionism went to many people who Set Up Israel after to many people who Set Up Israel after independence. They were also secular~ after independence. They were also secular. But what we have seen, with hamas secular. But what we have seen, with hamas and secular. But what we have seen, with hamas and in secular. But what we have seen, with hamas and in israel, that the religious hamas and in israel, that the religious side of it, the religious imperative that people feel is becoming more and more important. Hamas becoming more and more important. Hamas is becoming more and more important. Hamas is an becoming more and more important. Hamas is an Islamist Organisation and it hamas is an Islamist Organisation and it believes notjust in terms of nationhood and it believes notjust in terms of nationhood but in terms of a religious nationhood but in terms of a religious necessity to take back what religious necessity to take back what are religious necessity to take back what are holy sites, particularly the mosque which they believe israel is trying the mosque which they believe israel is trying to the mosque which they believe israel is trying to cut off from palestinians and muslims. And as i say, you palestinians and muslims. And as i say, you have over 600,000 settlers that have say, you have over 600,000 settlers that have grown in the past 20, 30 years that have grown in the past 20, 30 years in that have grown in the past 20, 30 years in the that have grown in the past 20, 30 years in the occupied west bank. You have nrany years in the occupied west bank. You have many people there whose motives are religious. They believe this is what are religious. They believe this is what they are religious. They believe this is what they were given by god, it is in the what they were given by god, it is in the bible, so they are motivated by that in the bible, so they are motivated by that. And those two extremes, in the lack by that. And those two extremes, in the lack of by that. And those two extremes, in the lack of a by that. And those two extremes, in the lack of a proper momentum and peace the lack of a proper momentum and peace process, moving towards a two state solution, have called the such, state solution, have called the such, and state solution, have called the such, and to some extent that is what such, and to some extent that is what we such, and to some extent that is what we are seeing the results of right what we are seeing the results of right now what we are seeing the results of riaht now. What we are seeing the results of right now i what we are seeing the results of right now. I dont what we are seeing the results of right now. I dont really. What we are seeing the results of right now. Paul . I dont really have an hinu right now. Paul . I dont really have anything more right now. Paul . I dont really have anything more to right now. Paul . I dont really have anything more to add. Right now. Paul . I dont really have anything more to add. I right now. Paul . I dont really have anything more to add. Ithink anything more to add. I think sebastian has summed it up very well. In the city, you have the holiest place in thejewish world, you have the third holiest place in the muslim world, you have christian sites. Religion is everywhere, and its in the iconography, its in the language, and sometimes it feels overwhelmingly religious, but as sebastian said, this is a narrative and story of competing national objectives, a struggle for control of territory which goes back four decades upon decades, and perhaps the longer it goes on, the more religious overtones begins to acquire. Religious overtones begins to ac uire. ~. Religious overtones begins to acuuire. ~. ,. , ~ religious overtones begins to acuuire. ~. ,. ,. , acquire. What do you think about that, sebastian . Acquire. What do you think about that, sebastian . Absolutely. Acquire. What do you think about that, sebastian . Absolutely. We| acquire. What do you think about that, sebastian . Absolutely. We have seen in the israeli that, sebastian . Absolutely. We have seen in the Israeli Government that, sebastian . Absolutely. We have seen in the Israeli Government set seen in the Israeli Government set this take seen in the Israeli Government set this take on very, very important roles this take on very, very important roles. Economy minister, National Security roles. Economy minister, National Security. We have seen some extent them security. We have seen some extent them driving the way things have gone them driving the way things have gone politically in israel and leading gone politically in israel and leading to a big drift in israel. The biggest one for a long time. And the the biggest one fora long time. And the fact the biggest one for a long time. And the fact that hamas has established itself as the fact that hamas has established itself as the most active proponent of a palestinian cause. But predating this. But with events as they are. Predating this. But with events as they are. It predating this. But with events as they are, it is far overshadowing they are, it is far overshadowing the palestinian authority. Mahmoud abbas. The palestinian authority. Mahmoud abbas, many of his gestures recently have been abbas, many of his gestures recently have been negative gestures, basically have been negative gestures, basically feeling he has faced too much basically feeling he has faced too much humiliation from the outside world. Much humiliation from the outside world. And much humiliation from the outside world, and his decision not to meet president world, and his decision not to meet President Biden was another gesture of that President Biden was another gesture of that kind, but it does not put him back of that kind, but it does not put him back in of that kind, but it does not put him back in the game as far as palestinians are concerned. It has been really palestinians are concerned. It has been really informative palestinians are concerned. It has been really informative to palestinians are concerned. It has been really informative to talk palestinians are concerned. It has been really informative to talk to | been really informative to talk to both of you. Thank you for answering the questions we have been given today. And also thank you at home for writing to us, e mailing us, tweeting us. We willjust leave you very briefly with this live shot of the scene in tel aviv. We are expecting President Biden to give a press conference. Early on, he met the israeli president and they reiterated the importance of the deep friendship between israel and the united states. Stay with us for more on that from bbc news. Hello. The weather is going to be awfully wet and windy in the coming days and the advice is to keep track of the weather and listen to the latest weather update. Already the rain clouds are spreading across the uk. The met office has issued a rare red warning for Eastern Scotland. Torrential rain is likely to bring disrupt and serious flooding to some parts of Eastern Scotland but we will all get at least some rain and pretty heavy rain as well. You can see the focal point therefore really high Rainfall Accumulations well in excess of 100 millilitres in some spots. Lets see whats happening then through the course of the evening, this is the Weather Front associated with storm babet. It moves northwards across the uk, so a definitive area of heavy rain, it wont be raining all through the night, the rain comes and goes in the skies might clearfor a time. Towards the early hours of the morning with the Weather Fronts in the north of the country, in the south youve got showers may be some thunderstorms. I think this is when the worst of the rain is going to happen, late on thursday and into friday across eastern parts of scotland. And eventually, the North East Of England as well. Its a really messy picture on thursday. The bulk of the country, it is a mixture of sunny spells and showers but Gale Force Winds on the north sea coast and also around scotland. So lets go through the warnings, these are the Amber Warnings from the met office and some of these overlap because there are warnings for both rainfall and severe gales, it could be in excess of over 100 millilitres of rain. Gas and wind on the coast of aberdeenshire up to 70 mph but this is the really serious warning, that rare red awning extensive flooding possible and we could even see 250 millilitres of rain especially across some of the upland areas. We can see on friday, that Weather System is still much with us. This time, i think, we will see persistent torrential rain many parts of england, Gale Force Winds across the north seacoast and particularly in the south east. Wherever you are, take care. Live from london, this is bbc news. Israel blames a misfired rocket from the Palestinian Islamichhad group for the blast at a hospital in gaza that killed hundreds. Bbc verify looks at the claims and Counter Claims surrounding the explosion thats sent shock waves across the region. Joe biden meets Benjamin Netanyahu a public show of support for israel and said this about the hospital incident. Im deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion at the hospital in gaza yesterday. And based on what i have seen it appears as though it was done by the other team. Anger across the middle east with protests outside the us embassy in beirut and in other cities. Well bring you the latest with our teams across the region. President biden is expected to speak in the next few minutes. We will bring it to you live when it happens. Hello, im matthew amroliwala, welcome to verified live, welcome to verified live. President biden has said that from what hes been told, the explosion at the hospital in gaza was carried out by