Transcripts For BBCNEWS Verified 20240703

Welcome to bbc news. Rishi sunak has told his israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu that the uk will stand by the country in what both men described as its darkest hour. During talks injerusalem, the Prime Minister said israel had the right to defend itself after attacks by hamas killed nearly 11100 israelis. The meeting came admit continuing concerns about the plight of people in gaza. Rishi sunak said gazans were victims of hamas as well and welcomes plans to get you to enter the territory from egypt. Aid agencies are warning that gaza needs for more aid than the 20 lorries initially announced by President Biden yesterday. The humanitarian chief says about 100 lorries a day will be required to. More than 60 International Charities have called for an urgent ceasefire. An israeli air strike is continuing in gaza and the latest reports say that several people including children have been killed or wounded in an air strike on a house in the southern of khan yunis. These are pictures from the hospital nearby with what appears to be un workers are among the injured. Palestinian Health Officials say the death toll had risen to more than 3800 palestinians in total. Diplomatic meetings to try to secure aid for palestinians is continuing with the king Ofjordan Meeting the egyptian president in cairo. At both countries have played important Mediation Rules in previous conflicts. We will hear from a un agency on the ground and a british man who has lost Family Members in gaza and from families desperately trying to trace a loved one is seized by hamas. We start with this report. Hot on the heels of yesterdays visit byjoe and, the Uk Military Flight today brought rishi sunak to tel aviv. The Prime Minister hinting at israeli leaders and israeli victims of the brutal violence ten days ago. On the well travelled road tojerusalem, mistress in� s trip is to show solidarity after one of the worst events in modern israeli history. Rishi sunak� s visit here and of other World Leaders is to show israel that its allies have its back. There may well be israel that its allies have its back. There may well he calls for restraint but what happens next is perhaps inevitable and they will now not try to persuade israel otherwise. Israels Military Build Up on the border continues, when it goes on is perhaps yet to be decided but with the avowed intention of completely destroying hamas, those who have seen this before so this time will be different. Before so this time will be different before so this time will be different. ,. ,. , different. The two previous ground cam aiuns different. The two previous Ground Campaigns in different. The two previous Ground Campaigns in 2009 different. The two previous Ground Campaigns in 2009 and different. The two previous Ground Campaigns in 2009 and 2014 different. The two previous Ground Campaigns in 2009 and 2014 but i campaigns in 2009 and 2014 but lasted for about 18 days and then the Israeli Forces left. This time, its going to be a lot longer than 18 days and nobody is going to say whether it takes weeks, months or even years until israel has reached that objective of eradicating hamas leadership and military capabilities in gaza. So that is really the main difference now. For in gaza. So that is really the main difference now. Difference now. For now, israel continues difference now. For now, israel continues to difference now. For now, israel continues to hit difference now. For now, israel continues to hit targets difference now. For now, israel continues to hit targets inside i difference now. For now, israel continues to hit targets inside gaza from the air, confirming it had hit hundreds of hamas infrastructure sites. But palestinian Officials Say there is also been numerous civilian casualties, many of them are children. Gazas humanitarian situation is dire and like President Biden before him, rishi sunak impressed on israeli leaders the importance of allowing a limited aid into gaza through the border with egypt, something israel has agreed to and should begin by the end of the week. Compared to its reliance on the United States for support and military aid, israels relationship with the uk is much less important but at times of such crisis, at these moments are significant. I am roud to these moments are significant. I am proud to stand these moments are significant. I am proud to stand here these moments are significant. I n proud to stand here with you in as darkest moments, will stand with you in solidarity and we also want you to wind. ,. ,. ,. , to wind. This is not only our battle, it to wind. This is not only our battle, it is to wind. This is not only our battle, it is the to wind. This is not only our battle, it is the part to wind. This is not only our battle, it is the part of to wind. This is not only our battle, it is the part of the i to wind. This is not only our battle, it is the part of the entire supply battle, it is the part of the entire supply world. It is the battle of israei. Supply world. It is the battle of israel, the moderate arab countries, western israel, the moderate arab countries, western civilisation, the free world, western civilisation, the free world, the battle for the future. Israci world, the battle for the future. Israei says world, the battle for the future. Israel says it cannot allow its friends of the wider world to forget what happened on October The 7th when 1300 people were murdered. On the day of rishi sunak� s visit, i british israeli was the latest victim of identified, merger to end the attack on kibbutz beeri, the lifelong man united fan leaves behind two young children. We talk to our correspondence and these are the pictures left from garside, another huge plume of smoke there on the skyline. We bring in a tom who has been across all of the developments today. Your assessment of that visit from rishi sunak, the day after the american president . It was meant to show a very strong signal of solidarity by mr sunak and the British Government for the israeli leader at this particular moment. What was interesting was that whereas we were hearing towards the end of last week really only that a message from the uk government, watch weve seen, triggered largely by a tour by the us Secretary Of State Antony Blinken of around eight arab capitals, this rapid Shuttle Diplomacy at the end of last week where he kept adding new venues and dates and coming back to israel, thats where we saw some of the messaging from the western powers start to shift and we have much more focus about the need to get humanitarian aid into gaza and more emphasis to muck about which we heard from rishi sunak, about the need for israel to operate within the boundaries of international law. Clearly, what they are worried about here is the way that this is the potential to escalate and spread to the wider region. Many millions of people across the rest of this region have been seeing these pictures coming from gaza with this huge civilian death toll and that is creating the temperature rise. What we heard from mr Biden Yesterday and mr select a bit today was the need to show that they are rushing to some sort of restraint to the israelis. We havent even had that granted patient begin yet. Won the only practical ways they can do that the moment is to try and alleviate some of the desperation in gaza by getting that Rafah Crossing Open with egypt. The deal done by mr biden and the israelis yesterday to get the Rafah Crossing Open to allow in trucks of food, water and medicine it but not fuel. What we are hearing this news from age groups and the un is that will help but its not going to be anywhere near enough. A, but its not going to be anywhere near enough but its not going to be anywhere near enou h. � ,. ,. , near enough. A supplementary thought our near enough. A supplementary thought your finished. Near enough. A supplementary thought your finished, what near enough. A supplementary thought your finished, what did near enough. A supplementary thought your finished, what did israel near enough. A supplementary thought your finished, what did israel say yourfinished, what did israel say about where that aid may go, as are any limitations and in terms of the Military Build Up, where are we . The military buildup, where are we . The israelis Military Build Up, where are we . Lie Israelis Have said Military Build Up, where are we . Ii2 Israelis Have said there should be a designated Aid Supply Point for the utah, which is on the coastal side of the gaza strip but we do not really know much about the logistics at the moment is. We heard from an egyptian official saying they are working at the moment to repair the roads after the damage from the israeli bombing close to the crossing, the part of the road that runs from the egyptian border to the Liaison Point at the rafah crossing with the palestinian side. So they are working on that. Be beyond that is, what exactly will happen to the aid, we dont know. One thing the Israelis Have been saying and one of the reasons they dont want fuel is that if there is any sense that supplies are being exploited or stolen by hamas, they will stop it. So these are going to be really sick sensitive discussions between all of the parties involved. As in terms of the parties involved. As in terms of the war, we dont really know much more than we did at the start of the week. The build up around the perimeter of the gardeners Backpack Space gaza strip by Israeli Military forces has been huge, up 260,000 people, it is a massive operation. While we have had this week that it almost felt like a slight pause while International Diplomacy is ramped up. We had President Biden yesterday and olaf scholz, of the german chancellor, there may be more european leaders coming at this week. It feels like it is unlikely that a Ground Invasion will be launched during that but we dont know, these are unprecedented and extremely volatile times. Clearly, they have been saying since the weekend that, militarily, the israelis are ready to go. Thank you very much israelis are ready to go. Thank you very much. Talking israelis are ready to go. Thank you very much. Talking about israelis are ready to go. Thank you very much. Talking about the israelis are ready to go. Thank you very much. Talking about the pace j israelis are ready to go. Thank you i very much. Talking about the pace of movement on the ground. The situation is still so fluid and dangerous. Ijust want situation is still so fluid and dangerous. I just want to play you a few seconds, is few moments ago the bbc� s lyse doucet was doing a live interview and had to break from that to dive for cover during a suspected Rocket Attack. This to dive for cover during a suspected Rocket Attack Rocket Attack. This is the situation now, that Rocket Attack. This is the situation now. That the Rocket Attack. This is the situation now, that the british. Rocket attack. This is the situation now, that the british. Rockets i Rocket Attack. This is the situation i now, that the british. Rockets are coming now, that the british. Rockets are cominu ,. , ~ now, that the british. Rockets are comin ,. , ~. , coming there Ust Breaking Away from that coming there jUst Breaking Away from that interview, coming there jUst Breaking Away from that interview, lyse coming there jUst Breaking Away from that interview, lyse was coming there jUst Breaking Away| from that interview, lyse was fine and she continued to interview a short while later but that gives you a sense of what it is like on the grounds with those rockets coming in all the time. Just the latest from at least and she willjoin us here a little later in the programme. Lets return to that meeting that rishi sunak has had with Benjamin Netanyahu. We have been at seeing pictures and also been looking at those exchanges and the News Conference. The bbc spoke to the uk Prime Minister and was asking him about our youth are getting in to gaza. Prime minister, explain what you thought it was important to come to israel and what you spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about . I Prime Minister Benamin Netanyahu about . ~. , Prime Minister Benamin Netanyahu about . ~. ,. , about . I think it was important to exress about . I think it was important to express solidarity about . I think it was important to express solidarity with about . I think it was important to express solidarity with the about . I think it was important to express solidarity with the people of israel out of the experience a horrific Terrorist Attack by hamas. I have had productive conversations with both Benjamin Netanyahu and israeli president herzog. We discussed the importance of this conflict not escalating regionally and the importance of getting humanitarian aid into gaza to help people who need it. While at the opportunity to meet families of british nationals have been taken hostage and waiting Absently Everything we can to get them home and from here, i will be travelling to saudi arabia to build on the engagement i have already had with leaders across the region. {lin leaders across the region. On humanitarian aid, you concerned the rising number of casualties in gaza and humanitarian crisis there . Much muscles working consistently clear that it muscles working consistently clear thatitis muscles working consistently clear that it is important aid goes into gaza. Earlierthis that it is important aid goes into gaza. Earlier this week, announced increase in the iota that the uk is providing iswhere working closely with countries like egypt to make sure that aid can get to people as quickly as possible. I was very pleased with the decision yesterday by Prime Minister netanyahu to provide access for things like food and water a bit of supplies into gaza. Ourjob is to play a role in making sure that happens as quickly as possible. Would you support an israeli Ground Invasion of gaza . Hamas has perpetrator is an appalling, a barbaric act of terror which has taken the lives of so many and caused untold misery and suffering. Israel has every right given that to defend itself in line with humanitarian law, to make sure it can recover hostages and ensure the security of its people, notjust today but for the long term. But also know and president herzog said that israel will take every precaution to avoid harming civilians but we have to remember it is hamas, the terrorist organisation, that embeds itself in the civilian population and they should be held accountable for that. A Ground Invasion is notjust risking suffering casualties in gaza, it risks sparking a wider conflict around the middle east. Is defeating hamas worth it at all cost, even if that means wider Regional Conflict . Regional conflict . Hamas has perpetrated Regional Conflict . Hamas has perpetrated a Regional Conflict . Hamas has perpetrated a barbaric Regional Conflict . Hamas has perpetrated a barbaric act. Regional conflict . Hamas has perpetrated a barbaric act of| perpetrated a barbaric act of terrorism and many people will have seen the video is, they are horrific, they chill you and they certainly did that to me and anyone can see they represent pure evil. It is right that israel exercises its right to self defence. It is not just have a right to protect its citizens, it has a duty to do so. It is important the conflict doesnt escalate regionally which is why i am talking to as i do so across the region, no one wants to see this conflict escalate and the uk has sent various Military Assets into the mediterranean to prevent original escalation that, so some of our Surveillance Aircraft are ensuring the Arms Shipments can find their way to people like hess black do not find their way to hezbollah. Do not find their way to hezbollah. Do not find their way to hezbollah. ,. ,. , hezbollah. Israel said they were not behind the bombing of hezbollah. Israel said they were not behind the bombing of a hezbollah. Israel said they were not behind the bombing of a hospital. Hezbollah. Israel said they were not behind the bombing of a hospital in| behind the bombing of a hospital in gaza. Of the americans said they agreed with that assessment through their own intelligence. What is the british position . First their own intelligence. What is the british position . British position . First thing to say is that all of british position . First thing to say is that all of us british position . First thing to say is that all of us who british position . First thing to say is that all of us who have british position . First thing to say is that all of us who have seen is that all of us who have seen those scenes will be deeply saddened and shocked by them. We mourn the loss of her crew person from any faith, nationality, have lost their lives. But it also reminds of the importance of notjumping to conclusions and incredibly sensitive situation. It is important we take time to establish the facts of what happened. As i said in parliament, i met with the chair of the joint Intelligence Committee in our own Intelligence Committee in our own Intelligence Services who are conducting their own independent analysis of everything and it is right when it can get on with that. That is analysis is ongoing and you still dont have a finaljudgment either way . It still dont have a final udgment either yewfi still dont have a final udgment either wept still dont have a final Udgment Eitherwa . ,. ,. ,. ,~ either way . It is important to take the time to either way . It is important to take the time to establish either way . It is important to take the time to establish the either way . It is important to take the time to establish the facts. The time to establish the facts. Imax with the chairman of the joint Intelligence Committee and there in the process of looking at all the evidence and reviewing the thank ou. On evidence and reviewing the thank you on the evidence and reviewing the thank you. On the Programme Evidence and reviewing the thank you. On the programme the evidence and reviewing the thank you. On the programme the next few minutes we talk to a medical embargo who has a large amount of family in gaza so we will talk to him. The World Health Organization welcoming the announcement by a server to will not block the entry of food via egypt and water will we will also get the latest in a moment or two. Around the world and across the uk, yuri watching bbc news. Another couple of stories making headlines here in the uk. Residents in affected areas by storm but that. Asylu m Asylum Seekers have returned to an Accommodation Barge that was evacuated in august after Legionella Bacteria was found in the water supply. A coach carrying the migrants arrived at the Bibby Stockholm In Dorset this afternoon and was met by protests at the port gates. The home office says the vessel is now safe and secure. People are voting in two by elections today. They will decide who replaces Nadine Dorries in Mid Bedfordshire and Chris Pincher in tamworth after the resignation of the conservative mps. Polling stations opened at 7am and will close at 10pm this evening, with results expected early on friday morning. Plenty on that on the bbc website. Youre live with bbc news. Staying with the situation because there were hundreds of palestinians are crammed into schools, hospitals and other public buildings in the south with supplies running out. Live now to Omar Hassouna a retired doctor who has friends and family in gaza. Welcome to bbc news. Its only a little more about what to cook down to your wider family. Little more about what to cook down to your wider family. Thank you. The second day to your wider family. Thank you. The second day of to your wider family. Thank you. The second day of the to your wider family. Thank you. The second day of the conflict to your wider family. Thank you. The second day of the conflict was to your wider family. Thank you. The second day of the conflict was the i second day of the conflict was the 8th of october, my niece, her kids and her husband they were bombed just after 6am, they killed the husband is, the wife and one sun, aged seven. And one girl has been found in the street. How, nose to nose, but they found her alive. After that, two days ago, another niece in rafah, again, just after 6am, they bomb their house and their husband and her sun, they are a publicist and engineer, and their baby child, baby of three months has been killed. Today, the horrific news, how terrible it was, at 2am, a group of lads in a four storey building can make with his family and his gradual, in total 19 people, they escaped from a risky area near they escaped from a risky area near the border. I they escaped from a risky area near the border the border. I am terribly sorry for our the border. I am terribly sorry for your loss. The border. I am terribly sorry for your loss, it the border. I am terribly sorry for your loss, it is the border. I am terribly sorry for your loss, it is awful the border. I am terribly sorry for your loss, it is awful in the border. I am terribly sorry| for your loss, it is awful in terms of you are going through individual by individual, it is an enormous loss for yourfamily. The Israeli Government says that they are targeting hamas, hamas is using civilians to safeguard themselves as human shields. In terms of other members of yourfamily, human shields. In terms of other members of your family, just give me an idea, have they moved at all within the gaza strip or have they decided to stay where they are . Ida. Decided to stay where they are . No, data decided to stay where they are . Iifr, data decided where they are, basically. Data decided where they are, basicall. �. , data decided where they are, basicall. ,. ,. ,. , basically. And what are you hearing from the other basically. And what are you hearing from the other members basically. And what are you hearing from the other members of basically. And what are you hearing from the other members of your i from the other members of your family about what conditions are like . We listen to aid agencies and they have been speaking in recent days about only 24 hours of water supplies, of fuel. What are you hearing about what your Family Members actually have . I am in contact with members actually have . I am in contact with them members actually have . I am in contact with them on members actually have . I am in contact with them on a members actually have . I am in contact with them on a Daily Members actually have . I am in i contact with them on a daily basis. Initially, regarding the fuel which has run out, the electricity is cut off and the water, they do not have enough water to have a wash. There are drinking totally unhygienic contaminated water. Secondly, they are unable to know whether they will be a life in the next hour or not. This uncertainty is awful for them, they cannot sleep or do anything. You must feel utterly helpless. Absolutely. You must feel utterly helpless. Absolutely you must feel utterly helpless. Absolutel. � ,. , absolutely. And in terms of your wider family. Absolutely. And in terms of your wider family, you absolutely. And in terms of your wider family, you said absolutely. And in terms of your wider family, you said to absolutely. And in terms of your wider family, you said to me absolutely. And in terms of your i wider family, you said to me earlier widerfamily, you said to me earlier that they decided not to move. Why are knee any day deciding to go south, where they are being told that it south, where they are being told thatitis south, where they are being told that it is safer . Why are knee knee they deciding to go south . I5 that it is safer . Why are knee knee they deciding to go south . Is a osol or knee they deciding to go south . I3 2 cytosol or totally unsafe. Where would you go . No spot is safe. Hhthd would you go . No spot is safe. And of course. Would you go . No spot is safe. And of course. We would you go . No spot is safe. And of course, we know from watching the pictures, know from listening to the Israeli Government is, all those preparations being made for a Ground Invasion, what are your thoughts about that imminent move and what it might mean for your family . About that imminent move and what it might mean for yourfamily . Ihere might mean for your family . There will be more might mean for your family . There will be more bloodshed might mean for your family . There will be more bloodshed and will be more bloodshed and suffering, a mass killing. This is what i expect. It will escalate further. ,. , what i expect. It will escalate further. ,. , what i expect. It will escalate further. ,. , what i expect. It will escalate further. ,. ,. , what i expect. It will escalate further. ,. ,. , further. Thank you for oining us on the programme further. Thank you for oining us on the programme and i further. Thank you forjoining us on the programme and describing i further. Thank you forjoining us on | the programme and describing what your widerfamily are the programme and describing what your wider family are going through. Thank you forjoining us from birmingham. Iwant thank you forjoining us from birmingham. I want to return to what i was telling you from the World Health Organization it because those negotiations are continuing in terms of trying to get the first of the aid into gaza. Of the World Health Organization at just giving aid into gaza. Of the World Health Organization atjust giving a News Conference as we speak. They say they welcome israels announcement that it will not block the entry of foods, water and medicines into gaza from egypt. That is a vital crossing point. We can put some pictures up from that rafah crossing the point because at the moment is, so many trucks are just waiting once those negotiations have been finalised to actually start getting our youth are into gaza. It was thought initially between ten and 20 trucks will be allowed to. That is the convoy there and so much frustration from aid workers, they have been there for a number of days. But the final mechanics and logistics are still being worked out and you heard what rishi sunak was saying about getting aid into gaza, so we will get you the latest on diet and the latest on the latest on diet and the latest on the diplomacy, are all here on bbc news in a moment or two. Dont go away. Ofa of a storm the bets will be bringing some extreme rainfall to the uk because the next couple of days. A rare, top level, Red Met Office rain warning has been issued for parts of northeast scotland, it is here will receive the largest Rainfall Totals but in the largest Rainfall Totals but in the next few days will also see the rain heavy and persistent enough to cause problems elsewhere across northern and Eastern Scotland and eastern england. The accumulation of rain will be the important factor. And its notjust rain, are also some very strong winds for Eastern Scotland with gusts up to 70mph, Strong Enough to blow down trees, so that in itself could cause disruption. The rain heavierfor the rest of the country as well. In scotland come out about we have these armbar Weather Warnings for heavy rain and it is long that these areas were likely to see flooding but this more concentrated red Weather Warning is to meet an area where we are expecting some of the largest acute relations of rain, particularly in the hills, leading to bigger impacts, some communities could get completely cut off due to flooding that is expected to. Overnight and into the first part of friday, the rain really coming down heavily throughout the night into the first part of friday morning and it is the accumulation of rain that causes the problem is, so flooding likely to be getting worse at this stage. The ring getting heavier through the night and into friday, something of an improvement on the weather slowly across northern scotland, however, even as it stops falling, all that water will still be pouring off the River Catchment sense of the flooding will get worse before it gets better, even long after the rain has stopped falling. Then there is a focus of The Rain Shifting Southwards towards the borders, that she gets and the pennines were through fright night and into saturday we will also see large rainfall accumulations, over 100mm in places, causing Flooding Issues as well. Sir, Storm Bad 100mm in places, causing Flooding Issues as well. Sir, storm had eight over the next few days is likely to bring some widespread areas of flooding and disruption is expected. Welcome to bbc news, lets turn to our main headlines. Rishi sunak gives israel his full backing in a meeting with the israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. You minister Benamin Netanyahu. You describe it minister Benjamin Netanyahu. You describe it as minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Ym. Describe it as israels darkest hour, well then it is for me to say i am proud to stand here with you in israels darkest hour as your friend, we will stand with you in solidarity, we will stand with your people. Solidarity, we will stand with your teo. Le. , solidarity, we will stand with your theole. ,. ,. , people. This is not merely our battle, it people. This is not merely our battle, it is people. This is not merely our battle, it is the people. This is not merely our battle, it is the battle people. This is not merely our battle, it is the battle of people. This is not merely our battle, it is the Battle Of The L battle, it is the battle of the entire battle, it is the battle of the entire civilised world. Aid agencies warn gaza is entire civilised world. Aid agencies warn gaza is in entire civilised world. Aid agencies warn gaza is in need entire civilised world. Aid agencies warn gaza is in need of entire civilised world. Aid agencies warn gaza is in need of far entire civilised world. Aid agencies warn gaza is in need of far more i entire civilised world. Aid agenciesl warn gaza is in need of far more aid than promised so far, the un says about 100 lorries will be required every day. Frustration, though, as trucks loaded with supplies remain stuck at the Border Crossing point with egypt. And the families of some of the hostages make another appeal. Israels military says 203 people are now thought to have been taken by hamas. Are now thought to have been taken b hamas. , by hamas. Innocent civilians, innocent by hamas. Innocent civilians, innocent children, by hamas. Innocent civilians, innocent children, in by hamas. Innocent civilians, innocent children, in hard i innocent children, in hard conditions, they are not a pawn in a game or a war, they need to be released, and released now. We will have more on released, and released now. We will have more on all released, and released now. We will have more on all of released, and released now. We will have more on all of those released, and released now. We will have more on all of Those Strands i released, and released now. We will have more on all of Those Strands of| have more on all of Those Strands of our main story in a moment or two,