Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC 20240702

From the air every single day when we do not know where my cousin is, when we do not know where over 200 hostages are and we dont know if any of our bombs have killed them. Here in london, thousandsjoin pro palestinian demonstrations. Similar protests take place Around The World, calling for a ceasefire. Fresh aid enters gaza, and the un tells the bbc theyve managed to re establish some contact with their teams on the ground. Welcome to the programme. Ijust want to start of some Breaking News brought to us by our correspondent paul adams. We have seen some comments on social media for the first time, seemingly, from hamas leader in the gaza strip. He has offered to release all hostages in return for the release of all hamas prisoners in israeli jails. In a statement on hamas official website, it says this, we are ready for an Immediate Exchange deal that includes the release of all prisoners in the prisoners prisons the zionist enemy in exchange for the zionist enemy in exchange for the release of all prisoners from the release of all prisoners from the resistance. We will get some background on that shortly. I now want to focus on those comments from the israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He spoke to the media with a couple of members from his war cabinet as well in the last hour or so. You can see the pictures of that. He spoke about the war entering its second phase. Lets take a look at the pictures. Forgive me, these are the pictures of Southern Israel. These are a live feed. We are keeping across the speed. We have various different live beads showing Southern Israel, showing gaza at different times here, and we are keeping across and monitoring them. We have different feeds. Lets see Benjamin Netanyahu at that conference, because he gave us an update with some crucial developments and a phrase he used was that this is the second phase of the war. He said a massive air strikes to assist our Ground Troops have taken place, and talked about hitting hamas targets. He said the war will be long, they are now fighting in enemy territory, they are deployed in the north and they are deployed in the north and the self. He also said there is no contradiction between the twin aims of Dismantling Hamas and bringing home the hostages. Lets take a look at some pictures from overnight. He was referring there to the intensification of the bombardments and this is what he was referring to. The flashes of orange over gaza. 150 hamas targets it according to the israeli officials. That statement that he gave in the last hour or so, letsjust statement that he gave in the last hour or so, lets just take a quick listen to some more of that. Again, i Met With The Hostages families today. My heart broke. And i reiterated that at every stage up to now. And i promise that we are going to do our utmost to bring them back. If you think that you can accuse our soldiers of war crimes, that is hypocrisy. We are the most moral army of the world. We are preventing, as much as possible, any collateral damage. We dont want any Innocent Bystanders hurt. They are using these heinous crimes against humanity when they use their people as human shields. So many people Around The World understand that israel is fighting on behalf of the entire humankind. Our allies in the western world and in the arab world. That if we do not win, they will be next on the list of hamas. Live now to danny danon, a member of israels knesset. He sits on the Foreign Affairs and defence committee. Thank you for coming on the programme. Can i put to you this social media websites post we have heard in the last few minutes from hamas leader in the gaza strip, seeing we are ready for an Immediate Exchange deal that includes the release of all prisoners in the prisons of the zionist enemy, and exchange for the release of all prisoners with the resistance . Do you think thats full swap should take place . It you think thats full swap should take place . You think thats full swap should take lace . ,. , take place . It is not the first time that hamas take place . It is not the first time that hamas has take place . It is not the first time that hamas has conducted that hamas has conducted psychological warfare. They are trying to confuse everybody. There were full, serious negotiations in the last few days. We are trying to broker a deal with hamas and it didnt go anywhere. They are playing games of the negotiators, and we realise they are not serious about it. Ithink realise they are not serious about it. I think that now, when we started to apply more pressure against hamas, we are getting more terrorists, maybe that will create the atmosphere for serious negotiations. We are determined. We are determined to bring all hostages back to israel and to eliminate hamas. They are not going to escape from the atrocity they committed three weeks ago. Flan from the atrocity they committed three weeks ago. From the atrocity they committed three weeks ago. Can i ask you about that . We havent three weeks ago. Can i ask you about that . We havent forgotten three weeks ago. Can i ask you about that . We havent forgotten the that . We havent forgotten the massacre that . We havent forgotten the massacre. We that . We havent forgotten the massacre. We havent that . We havent forgotten the | massacre. We havent forgotten that . We havent forgotten the massacre. We havent forgotten the reaping. We havent forgotten the 30 babies that they kidnapped. We will get them and we will kill them. We havent forgotten the raping. The hostaaes we havent forgotten the raping. The hostages coming home, Benjamin Nutter new said he sees no contradiction between the twin aims of bringing the hostages home and Dismantling Hamas. Benjamin netanyahu. Do you think bringing hostages home is best achieved militarily with troops going in and taking them and bringing them home, or through them being released, potentially with an exchange deal, as the hamas leader suggested here . I think we will have to work on both. It will be complicated, as we put more pressure on hamas, but that will be the only way to get them to actually agree to any kind of negotiation. I think, actually agree to any kind of negotiation. Ithink, yes, we actually agree to any kind of negotiation. I think, yes, we have to put more pressure. I think that either way, to also move forward on the first goal of Defeating Hamas but also on releasing the hostages. Some of the families of those hostages dont want you to put more pressure on them. They said they expressed their concern about the Military Operation to the Prime Minister in that meeting earlier this evening. H0 minister in that meeting earlier this evening minister in that meeting earlier this evening. Minister in that meeting earlier this evenina. ,. ,. , this evening. No one can blame the families. Imagine this evening. No one can blame the families. Imagine you this evening. No one can blame the families. Imagine you had this evening. No one can blame the families. Imagine you had your families. Imagine you had your children in the hands of hamas, youre nine months old baby, you have children, that is horrible, so no one can blame them. They have the full rights to want their loved ones to come back home as soon as possible but we realise there is no other choice. We are not dealing with a state, we are dealing with a terrorist organisation, very evil, as we saw. And also now, they will use the hostages, manipulate many in the region, and thats why we believe we will have to apply more force in order to move forward with the hostages. The force in order to move forward with the hostages the hostages. The Prime Minister warned that the hostages. The Prime Minister warned that this the hostages. The Prime Minister warned that this will the hostages. The Prime Minister warned that this will be the hostages. The Prime Minister warned that this will be long the hostages. The Prime Minister warned that this will be long and | warned that this will be long and difficult. Are you worried that the longer it goes on, the presumption would be that the greater the number of civilians would be killed is and israels international aloes will start to ask more questions . Lets start to ask more questions . Lets talk about the start to ask more questions . Lets talk about the length start to ask more questions . Lets talk about the length of start to ask more questions . Let� s talk about the length of the war. International allies. We have the strength, the commitment, we will win. We will defeat hamas. We will be guiding our troops and generals to do it slowly, because we dont want to increase the number of casualties to our forces and to the civilians in gaza. The hamas know they cannot win against the idf, but they cannot win against the idf, but they will try to increase the number of casualties of the idf and the civilians in gaza. So i think it is the smart way to move slowly, take the smart way to move slowly, take the time, in order to prevent casualties, both to us and to the civilians in gaza, and you take into consideration that they will try to see the scene you described to Bring International pressure. 0ur see the scene you described to Bring International pressure. Our goal is to minimise the victims and the casualties. That is why we encourage the population to move south. 80 already moved. This is the majority of the people. And i believe moore will hear our voice and will be able to go out. It is important to mention that even where we operate today in gaza, we allow a corridor foot civilians to move to the southern part of the gaza strip. The Roblem Southern Part of the gaza strip. The problem with moving south though is that there are still strikes in the south. There are still civilians at risk in the south, and secondly, they are not getting anywhere near they are not getting anywhere near the aid they need. Can you continue this second phase but actually let more aid in . This second phase but actually let more aid in . ,. , more aid in . You cannot compare the situation in more aid in . You cannot compare the situation in the more aid in . You cannot compare the situation in the northern more aid in . You cannot compare the situation in the northern part more aid in . You cannot compare the situation in the northern part will situation in the northern part will be operate to the southern part in terms of being in crossfire in a war zone, the unrwa and other International Organisations are working in the southern part, and we know there are initiatives to bring aids to the area. There is a challenge. Today, isaw aids to the area. There is a challenge. Today, i saw a tweet from unrwa that blames hamas for stealing fuel from facilities, and after that, the tweet was deleted because of hamas. So it is challenging to us to make sure that aid is going to the people in gaza and not to the terrorists. But the people in gaza and not to the terrorists. � ,. ,. ,. , terrorists. But is that a challenge that ou terrorists. But is that a challenge that you will terrorists. But is that a challenge that you will attempt . Terrorists. But is that a challenge that you will attempt . Because l terrorists. But is that a challenge j that you will attempt . Because it needs usually hundreds of trucks of aid and there is nowhere near that number and people have been displaced from their homes, there is no fuel coming in. I displaced from their homes, there is no fuel coming in. No fuel coming in. I think that ngos are important no fuel coming in. I think that ngos are important and no fuel coming in. I think that ngos are important and the no fuel coming in. I think that ngos are important and the internationall are important and the International Community should focus on building the mechanism to ensure that aid isnt stolen by hamas. You mention isnt stolen by hamas. You mention is the fuel for example, there wont be fuel for rockets to attack us, so they have to make sure that there is aid but it isnt going to the terrorists of high mass. Thank you ve much terrorists of high mass. Thank you very much for terrorists of high mass. Thank you very much for coming terrorists of high mass. Thank you very much for coming on terrorists of high mass. Thank you very much for coming on the very much for coming on the programme, danny dundon. The terrorists of hamas. 0ur Diplomatic Correspondent paul adams, whos injerusalem, gave us his assesment of the israeli leaders News Conference. It circled back endlessly, didnt it, to the subject of the hostages. That is what a lot of the questions were about. Benjamin netanyahu, in his opening remarks, actually made only a rather brief reference to meeting the hostages families. He said his heart broke talking to them, and that his ministry to them, and that his military was doing everything in its power to bring them home. He, as you mentioned just now, said there was no contradiction between these two objectives of fighting hamas, trying to destroy hamas, and bringing the hostages home. But he did say immediately after that that bringing the hostages home was, in his words, our second objective. The first, obviously being to destroy hamas. His Defence Minister was also asked about this and he said, and im quoting here, the more we hit out at them, we know that they will be willing to reach some kind of agreement. So, i think the message there was this relentless pressure on hamas is going to continue, that the Israeli Government believes that that is the way to bring hamas to some kind of negotiation about the fate of the hostages. Not, as some people, including representatives of the families themselves are arguing, not to suspend israels Military Operations at the moment and to devote all israels efforts to securing some kind of hostage release. We know that there are lots of intensive discussions going on, still involving the gulf state of qatar, who would very much like to try to orchestrate a hostage release. It is very hard, i have to say, it is very hard, particularly in light of the escalation that began about 2k hours ago to see those efforts bearing fruit. Thank you to paul for that. Just want to plug again, this Breaking News that actually, paul adams brought us. To flag again. On the official hamas website, we have heard for the first time, it seems, from hamas leader in the gaza strip, offering to release all hostages in return for the release of all hamas prisoners in israeli jails. The quote is, we are ready for an Immediate Exchange deal that includes the release of all prisoners in the prisons of the zionist enemy in exchange for the release of all prisoners with the resistance. We only have that from the website at the moment. We are working to verify and check on add a bit of context to that. We will bring that to you when we have it. Now though, lets take a quick pause, because israels intensive Bombing Campaign of gaza started last night and has gone on throughout today. It says it has launched an expanded Ground Operation too. 0ur International Editor jeremy bowen, sent this report from sderot in Southern Israel. Heavy artillery is pounding gaza constantly. The israelis say theyre making the earth shake. And, as residents of one of gaza citys Refugee Camps inspected what had happened in the night, that was how it felt. Its like an earthquake, said al ahmadi. No ones paying us attention. Its an execution. Many palestinians believe israel wants to force them out of gaza, and they interpret it as a threat, not a warning, when israel tells them again to move south from places like this. To the residents of Northern Gaza and gaza city, your window to act is closing. Move south for your own safety. Move south. This is not a mere precaution. It is an urgent plea for the safety of the civilians in gaza. In sderot, the israeli town closest to gaza, the streets where hamas killed civilians and soldiers three weeks ago today are deserted. The danger didnt stop zelah cohen and her son driving down here to bring a picnic to her daughters who are doing their military service. They sat down in a car park, not far from the border wire. The war, they said, was about survival. Hamas had shown it wanted to force them out. You can hear the war. Arent you scared . Im scared, but my daughter is here, so i go. I go where she is. And you bring lunch . Yes, to all the soldiers. You know, when you live side by side with people and you come to understand that you cannot trust them. So, what. . What do you do . What is the answer for that . What any other nation would have done . Much more than we are doing right now, and im assuring you, much more than we will ever do. The new phase of israels assault started last night with dozens of air strikes. Israel believes overwhelming Military Strength can pacify gaza. But Military Power alone has never brought lasting quiet, let alone peace, in this conflicts long history. Israel claimed one of its strikes killed a senior hamas commander. Israeli tanks and soldiers moved forward into the north of the gaza strip. Gazas visible from a hill in sderot. Israel will resist pressure for a ceasefire. And there is another factor. The more palestinians that israel kills, especially civilians, the greater the levels of anger and outrage elsewhere in the middle east among israels friends as well as its enemies. Now, that doesnt guarantee that the war would spread. But it does increase levels of anger and volatility in a part of the world that is already very fragile. Israels ground war has started. Containing it here is now the biggest political and diplomatic challenge in the world. Jeremy bowen, bbc news, in Southern Israel. And we will have more coverage in just a moment, but we are going to take a small pause. It is time for the days sport. The Rugby World Cup final is under way in paris, with the defending champions south africa taking on new zealand. And its south africa who lead 3 0 early on. But the all blacks are down to Ia Men With A Player Sin Binned so the springboks have the advantage. Both sides are, of course, giants of the game with three world cup wins each, so whoever wins, history will be made because nobody has won this trophy four times before. News of a big win for arsenal to come, but were starting with the first el classico of the season. Which went the way of real madrid who came from a goal down to beat rivals barcelona thanks to englandsjude bellingham, who scored twice, the second in injury time. Bellingham now has 13 goals in 13 games. The result means real are now top of la liga, four points ahead of barca. Elsewhere, harry kane scored a hat trick including an incredible goal from his own half to help Bayern Munich thrash darmstadt and go top of the german bundesliga. Juventus are also hoping to go top of the table tonight. Theyre playing verona in turin. Its currently 0 0. In the premier league, wolves twice came from behind to draw 2 2 at home to newcastle. In an entertaining game at molyneux, Callum Wilson scored both times for newcastle in the first half but each goal was cancelled out by a Determined Wolves Side whos unbeaten run is now five matches. If im honest, i thought we were the better side. If im honest, i thought we were the betterside. I if im honest, i thought we were the better side. I thought in the second half, we were on top of them, look threatening, i point to a good result against newcastle, but the way the game went, and their goals, and the energy and the positivity we had, it feels like it could maybe have been three. In the other games, arsenal are up to second after thrashing bottom side Sheffield United 5 0. Eddie nketitah scoring a hat trick at the emirates. Bournemouth had their first win of the seasson, beating fellow strugglers burnley. And chelsea lost at home to brentford. Its the Manchester Derby tomorrow with city and united both coming off the back of midweek wins in europe. United manager erik ten hag is now well used to the fixture and is in no doubt as to the magnitude of the occasion. It isa it is a match above all the other derbies, it is so huge. It is manchester, internal, buti derbies, it is so huge. It is manchester, internal, but i think it is also about to roar football and all the eyes will be on this game, globally. All the eyes will be on this game, aloball. ~. , all the eyes will be on this game, aloball. ~. ,. , globally. When i was in barcelona, b and globally. When i was in barcelona, by and and globally. When i was in barcelona, by and and i globally. When i was in barcelona, by and and i travelled globally. When i was in barcelona, by and and i travelled to globally. When i was in barcelona, by and and i travelled to england | globally. When i was in barcelona, | by and and i travelled to england to play at by and and i travelled to england to play at old trafford, it is special. It is play at old trafford, it is special. It is a play at old trafford, it is special. It is a special scenario, a special place, it is a special scenario, a special place. And it is a special scenario, a special place, and of course, here is special place, and of course, here is special for place, and of course, here is special for our fans, for all of us. But at special for our fans, for all of us. But at the special for our fans, for all of us. But at the end, it is a Football Game but at the end, it is a Football Game but at the end, it is a Football Game. By the munich. 0nto a cracking game at the Cricket World Cup where australia and new zealand went the distance in dharamsala. Australia were put into bat first, and excelled, with a century from travis head as they made 388 all out. A Big Total To Chase but new zealand had a good go, with a century from Rachin Ravindra and a quickfire 50 from Jimmy Neesham leaving them needing 12 off the final five balls. In the end, neesham was run out five runs short of the target and australia had their victory. Both sides are well placed to reach the semi finals. And in the other game of the day, the netherlands beat bangladesh in kolkata, their second victory of the tournament so far. After posting a target of 230, they bowled bangladesh out for 142 to win by 87 runs. And thats all the sport for now. South africa are now beating new Zealand South Africa are now beating new zealand six to zero in the rugby world zealand six to zero in the Rugby World Cup. But that is all for me. Elsewhere, in the last hour or so, former us Vice President , mike pence, has withdrawn from the 2024 president ial race. Live now to our correspondent david willis. Hello, david. What is going on . He made this announcement half way through a speech to donors in las vegas, and by all accounts, it took a lot of people, including the events planners themselves, by surprise. Members of the mike pence team were even caught unawares by this announcement. But mike pence making the declaration that as he put it, now is not his time, and since he entered the president ial race back injune, he has been struggling to attract the sort of supports, particularly the Financial Supports, particularly the Financial Support that he needs, and that one needs in a president ial race here in the united states. It isjust a couple of weeks away before the next republican president ial debate, and mike pence, by all accounts, had been struggling to get the Financial Support he needed to qualify for that, so in many ways, despite the incredible name recognition that he enjoyed going into this race, it is perhaps little surprise to hear that mike pence has now dropped out of that very crowded field. find mike pence has now dropped out of that very crowded field. That very crowded field. And david, where does that very crowded field. And david, where does this that very crowded field. And david, where does this leave that very crowded field. And david, where does this leave the that very crowded field. And david, where does this leave the race that very crowded field. And david, l where does this leave the race then . Your where does this leave the race then . You. , ~ ~ where does this leave the race then . You. , ~ ~. � , your well, it leaves mike pences former boss your well, it leaves mike pences former boss donald your well, it leaves mike pences former boss donald trump your well, it leaves mike pences former boss donald trump with l your well, it leaves mike pences i former boss donald trump with the considerable lead over rival such as ron desantis, the former florida governor, nikki haley the former Us Ambassador to the united nations, it is such a great lead, in fact, despite all Donald Trumps legal problems, that he has been refusing to take part in the republican president ial debates. The florida governor. He claims there is nothing to gain by doing so. To gain by doing so. Thank you for that. I to gain by doing so. Thank you for that ijust to gain by doing so. Thank you for that. I just want to gain by doing so. Thank you for that. I just want to to gain by doing so. Thank you for that. I just want to show to gain by doing so. Thank you for that. I just want to show you to gain by doing so. Thank you for| that. I just want to show you these live pictures looking out over gaza. We are keeping across the skyline, because 204i was a go, there was an intensification of the bombardments. 24 intensification of the bombardments. 2a hours ago. The flashes of orange, we have seen some, but far, so far this evening. The updates from Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of israel, is the troops are now fighting an enemy territory, in the north, in the south, he said israel has entered the second phase of this war, and he said the war will be long and it will be difficult, but israel will win. Plenty more coverage. This is bbc news. I am plenty more coverage. This is bbc news. Iam lewis plenty more coverage. This is bbc news. I am Lewis Vaughanjones. Hello. Its been another day of big storm clouds giving some really heavy downpours across many parts of the uk. This was the scene in dorset for one of our weather watchers, thanks to this stripe of cloud here, this band of really heavy rain pushing its way northwards. You can see some shower clouds elsewhere, all circulating around the centre of an area of low pressure anchored to the west of our shores. So as we head through the night, we will see showers or longer spells of Rain Drifting across many parts of the country, some clear spells in between, staying blustery in the south and the winds actually picking up even further in the north east of scotland. Temperature wise, generally, 7 10 degrees, so low pressure still with us for sunday. Around that low, we will see plenty of showers and this band of persistent rain, this weather front, which is going to become slow moving across some Eastern Parts of scotland. So really wet here to start the day. Heavy rain, too, for Northern Ireland and northern england, that tending to clear to sunshine and showers. Wales, the midlands, east anglia and the South Of England, sunshine and showers, some really heavy thundery ones again in the southeast corner. But its this persistent rain across Eastern Scotland that could bring further flooding. We may see 100 millimetres over Higher Ground falling on already sodden ground and these very strong northeasterly winds bringing big waves crashing into the coastline. Coastal flooding continues to be a risk. Also quite windy, quite blustery down towards the South Of England and the channel islands. And temperatures north to south, generally between eight and 15 degrees. Now, as we head into monday, the winds will tend to ease a little bit. Still some showers around, though, particularly around western parts. And more persistent rain could push back into the south east of england. And we keep some rain going in the north east of scotland. Those temperatures again in that range between eight and 15 degrees. Now, the weather turns a little bit quieter into tuesday. We could see some mist and fog patches developing this brief gap between the weather systems. But later in the week, particularly as we move from wednesday into thursday, we could see a really deep area of low pressure developing the potential for some stormy weather. Well keep a close eye on that and we will keep you up to date. In the shorter term, dont forget tonight, the clocks go back an hour. Thats all from me. Bye for now. This is bbc news, the headlines. Israel says its now in the second phase of the war. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns the battle will be long and difficult. Translation it is our Second War Of Independence. We will fight and we will not surrender, we will not withdraw. The un Secretary General criticises what he calls the � unprecedented escalation of bombardment in gaza. 0ur Correspondent says a hospital was hit in the most intense attack yet. A week ago, the hospital was out of service because of no fuel, and it was evacuated. But today, the Main Building of the hospital was destroyed. Here in london thousandsjoin pro palestinian demonstrations. Similar protests take place Around The World calling for a ceasefire. Iam i am Lewis Vaughan jones, welcome to the programme. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the war in gaza has entered a second phase, warning it will be long and difficult. He was speaking at a joint News Conference with his Defence Minister, yoav gallant, and emergency war cabinet member benny gantz, mr netanyahu described the conflict as israels Second War Of Independence. He declared israel would win the war and make every effort to bring the hostages home. Translation again, | Met With The Hostages families today. My heart broke. And i reiterated that at every stage up to now. And i promise that we are going to do our utmost to bring them back. If you think that you can accuse our soldiers of war crimes, that is hypocrisy. We are the most moral army of the world. We are preventing, as much as possible, any collateral damage. We dont want any Innocent Bystanders hurt. They are using these heinous crimes against humanity when they use their people as human shields. So many people Around The World understand that israel is fighting on behalf of the entire humankind. 0ur allies in the western world and in the arab world. That if we do not win, they will be next on the list of hamas. Just want to show you the live pictures. A few seconds ago there was a big orange flash, so we will keep an eye on that. There were also rockets fired in the other direction. Benjamin netanyahu said the air strike was to clear the way for the Ground Forces to enter the north and the south. But he was talking about the israeli hostages and the Israeli Government said it thinks there are 229 hostages being held by hamas inside gaza. These really saying they are doing everything they can to bring them home. And as mr netanyahu said, these are the pictures of him meeting some of the families just before he spoke to the media. So this was earlier this evening and some of the family spoke to the press after this meeting. We are here, 21 years. 21 days, it feels like 21 years. We have been for a meeting with the Prime Minister and other people. We were very loud and clear, speaking about the situation now, we were speaking about our concern about what we feel and how worried about the Military Operation that has been done, or done now. We are very worried about our dearest, that they are there. We dont know if the whole Military Operation will take the hostages under consideration, that nobody will be injured. And, of course, we say that we want all the hostages back home. All the hostages. It will not be part by part, it will be all the hostages with any negotiation that will be. The hostages with any negotiation that will be. That will be. Bring them home brin that will be. Bring them home bring them that will be. Bring them home bring them home that will be. Bring them home bring them home so that will be. Bring them home bring them home so we that will be. Bring them home bring them home so we were i that will be. Bring them home i bring them home so we were very clear about bring them home so we were very clear about that bring them home so we were very clear about that all bring them home so we were very clear about that all the bring them home so we were very clear about that all the hostages i clear about that all the hostages will come back home with any kind of negotiation that is done all will be done, that we want them all back and we dont care what we do for that. That is what we were very clear. The Prime Minister was listening. He was listening to everything and he said that he will do everything for that. The bbc� s Lucy Williamson met with some of the families before they met the Prime Minister she has this report from tel aviv. There are those in israel watching the bombing of a people and seeing only one single face their child, parent, spouse. Sibling. In tel aviv, theyve laid a place for each of them at a shabbat table. More than 200 hostages, held by hamas in gaza. Their families today demanded to speak to israels Prime Minister about his escalation of the war. Jonathan was one of the hostages taken from the nova festival site. What would you say to Prime Minister netanyahu, if he comes here today . Youve asked him to come here. What happens . We want him to come here, to look into my eyes and tell me, you should trust me. To tell me, listen, the kidnap is in first priority. After that, he will get all the support of all the country to kill all the hamas. But now, first of all, our kidnapped. 21t hours ago, hope was beginning to sprout here. Four hostages have been released, negotiations were ongoing and there was talk of a deal to release many more. Now, 21t hours later, the mood here is different. One of the founders of the kibbutz. One of the freed hostages told leo perry that she had seen his father, heim, Alive And Well in gaza. The first news of him, since he was taken captive from kibbutz nahal 0z. Now it puts me in a very delicate spot, because now i have something to lose. And thats the worst thing, because i know that hamas didnt kill my father yet, 0k . And now i know that the ball is in israels court now. Sirens as Benjamin Netanyahu met families this evening, sirens cleared the memorial site. More rockets, sent from gaza, intercepted in the skies above tel aviv. Israel says destroying hamas is about protecting its people. Protecting which people . Families here ask. Bring their relatives home, they say. Everything else can wait. Lucy williamson, bbc news, tel aviv. We have three live feeds at the moment, showing different Vantage Points in and around the region. I just want to show you what we are monitoring and keeping an eye on, especially comparing with this time yesterday. This first shot here is gaza, this is from Southern Israel looking towards gaza. You can see clearly it is very dark, for the obvious reason, it is very late, it is a couple of hours ahead of uk time. Also, they dont have the power, electricity and the few so the buildings that would have been lit up ordinarily, are not now. Lets go to the second feed we are keeping a cross. This is Southern Israel, so this is, i believe, gaza is in the distance but you can see the lights clearly showing. Southern israel, we are keeping across that. We have our third feed which is showing gaza, Southern Israel towards gaza, but it is very difficult to see anything but those three feeds is what we are keeping across, those live pictures. We will occasionally keep those up on the screen as we continue our coverage and analysis. Lets go into gaza. Communication with people inside gaza is difficult, with phone and Internet Connections down. But our correspondent, rushdi abu alouf, who is in khan younis, has managed to send us this update. Hundreds of israeli air strikes since last night and throughout the day across the gaza strip here in khan yunis, about 20 air strike today, but the shelling was intensified in the north and east and west of gaza strip, especially with the israelis announcing the new stage of the operation, expanding the Ground Operation. We understand that the tanks were deep as two kilometres in northwest gaza, close to the sea. People could see tanks in the area. You know, communication is very, very difficult in gaza since 21t hours, as israel cut all of the communication, mobile carrier, the two main mobile carriers are not functioning. The Internet Lines are not functioning in everywhere. And getting information is really hard and difficult. Very few people who are still having International Sim cards and they can do roaming using israeli mobile services, people who are close to to the border, they still can communicate. And between time to time they post on social media. They also, some of the local Radio Stations are still functioning. And they were able to talk to their correspondent in the north who describe what happened last night as the biggest ever air strike that targeted this area. He said it was like an earthquake. We understand that the indonesian hospital was struck with an air strike yesterday. The hospital was out of service for quite a long time, like a week ago, the hospital was out of service because no fuel and was evacuated. But today it was the Main Building of the hospital was destroyed. Also around Shifa Hospital in gaza city, there was a lot of air strikes, 10, 15 airstrikes, according to people around Shifa Hospital. They are cutting most of the roads towards that hospital. Communication, as i said, is extremely difficult. We are unable to verify a lot of reports about the number of people dead or injured. But as far as the Health Ministry was was doing a Press Conference this afternoon, they said about 400 people were killed overnight, but they said Hundreds Other are missing under the collapsed building in the north. Also, the biggest refugee camp in gaza, also was bombed heavily. I saw very strong footage of destruction inside the camp, with about 100,000 people, they live in this camp. About half a Million People are still living in gaza city in the north, the area where israel asked the people to leave to south. More than a Million People, they live now in Southern Gaza and some of them, they live in this hospital in khan yunis. This is the second largest hospital in that serving half of the population and is really struggling to cope with the number of casualties that arrive to the hospital with the severe shortage of fuel and all of the medical essential needs to save peoples lives, they shot most of the department and they only focus only on Life Saving Missions in the hospital. Tonight, more air strikes, more Israeli Aeroplanes flying over gaza city and people are expecting more. A heavy bombing night. That was him speaking to us earlier, but the pictures on the right hand side are live, so there are in flashes of what you see of the intensification of the air strikes from israel into gaza. That is why we are keeping those pictures on the screen. It has been a relatively quiet picture over the last couple of hours but in the last 20 minutes orso of hours but in the last 20 minutes or so we have seen a few more of those flashes and then another one just there. We will keep them on the right hand side of the screen now. Here in the uk, about 100,000 pro Palestinian Protesters rallied in london, urging an end to israels attacks in gaza. Similar demonstrations took place in many uk cities including manchester, cardiff and belfast. Tom symonds reports stop bombing gaza a protest, the organisers said, of more than 300,000 people. At one point, it stretched a mile and a half through the streets of london. There have been many personal responses to this months horrifying events in israel and gaza. Here today, there was one central demand. What do we want . Ceasefire when do we want it . Now you know, when you kill an innocent person with a bomb, ora gun, ora knife, it doesnt matter who is doing it. Its the same terrorism. In the last week, the metropolitan police has been put under pressure by the home secretary, suella braverman, to take a tough line on any protesters who might say or in the case of banners, write anything which breaches terrorism laws. As far as we can tell, protesters have generally not done that today, and the policing has been light. 0rdinary people, from towns and cities across the uk, have had to prove that they are not here supporting terrorism, that they are here supporting human rights. But they are coming, despite that pressure, despite the outrageous statements from our government, they are coming in the hundreds of thousands and they are raising the flag of Palestine High and proudly. There were shouts of, from the river to the sea, palestine will be free, regarded byjewish groups and israel as a threat to its existence, and by the home secretary, suella braverman, as anti semitic. Supporters of palestine say it is a Call Forfreedom from repression, and not a threat. No action was taken today by police. They were holding back in side streets. There has been just one arrest, in connection with racist remarks and a threat to kill. If there were smaller protests here in cardiff, and in glasgow, belfast and other cities. 0rganisers of the main demonstration say there are more to come. Tom symonds, bbc news, central london. Earlier i spoke to mark regev whos a Senior Adviser to the israeli Prime Minister and former israeli ambassador to the uk. We asked him about the families of hostages who met with Prime Minister netanyahu earlier saturday. Of course, they will listen to. It of course, they will listen to. Hit was a very emotional meeting and along meeting and the Prime Minister heard each and every one of them, head them out and said what needed to be said. With that going into what was said in the meeting, i can tell you what the position of the government is. The precisely because hamas are not humanitarians, we will only get our people released if they are under very strong pressure and only if they feel that pressure is constantly escalating against them. We believe the best way to get the hostages out is to keep that pressure up, keep the pressure on hamas, keep increasing the pressure on hamas, that is the way to get the hostages out. Iaide on hamas, that is the way to get the hostages out hostages out. We saw protests, eo le hostages out. We saw protests, people out hostages out. We saw protests, People Out In Hostages out. We saw protests, people out in the hostages out. We saw protests, people out in the streets hostages out. We saw protests, people out in the streets in hostages out. We saw protests, i people out in the streets in various cities Around The World, supporting palestinians. The protests like that factor into any Decision Making process . Factor into any Decision Making rocess . ,. ,. , process . The truth is, no. We are fitthtin process . The truth is, no. We are fighting for process . The truth is, no. We are fighting for our process . The truth is, no. We are fighting for our lives, process . The truth is, no. We are fighting for our lives, we process . The truth is, no. We are fighting for our lives, we are fighting for our lives, we are fighting for our lives, we are fighting for our country and we are fighting for our country and we are fighting for our people to be able to live here in peace and security. And those people, they are either hostile to us, they dont like israel, they dont likejews, they dont think my country has the right to live in any bodice. If those protested at to live with what they inflicted on us, what would they be saying . T inflicted on us, what would they be sa int . ,. , inflicted on us, what would they be sa int . , inflicted on us, what would they be sa in . ,. , , saying . I have to ump in because there are people saying . I have tojump in because there are people out saying . I have tojump in because there are people out protesting i saying . I have to jump in because i there are people out protesting who do not support hamas, they respect all israeli life, they are not their concerns at all, they are campaigning for improvement in the lives of palestinians . I campaigning for improvement in the lives of palestinians . Lives of palestinians . I would argue that if we defeat lives of palestinians . I would argue that if we defeat hamas, lives of palestinians . I would argue that if we defeat hamas, the lives of palestinians . I would argue | that if we defeat hamas, the people of gaza it will get a government, a leadership that might be a little bit more concerned about their well being. It is clear that hamas has no concern whatsoever about the people of gaza. And everybody wants to see peace and justice in the middle east, hamas has opposed historically, since its founding in 1987, if i am not mistaken, it said any country that collaborates with israel is againstjihad. In defeating them, i hope there will be room for more moderate and more pragmatic voices to enter the scene. But there will be more moderate and pragmatic voices in gaza right now, without the aid they need, without power, without communications. Can you tell us if you have any plans to restore, for example, the telecommunications in gaza anytime soon . T telecommunications in gaza anytime soon . ,. ,. , soon . I would say the following, when we defeat soon . I would say the following, when we defeat hamas, soon . I would say the following, when we defeat hamas, and soon . I would say the following, when we defeat hamas, and we| soon . I would say the following, when we defeat hamas, and we will, and the destruction that will unfortunately cause across gaza, i think there will be a lesson for everyone, that the path of extremism, the path of hamas, the path of only bring suffering. So much more can be gained from cooperation, from collaboration, from working together. Hamas represents death and destruction, the horrific violence we saw on october the 7th. Surely there is a better alternatives, surely israeli and israelis and palestinians can meet together in an arrangement where we cease to kill each other. Hamas insists we must kill each other, we say no. The International Community other, we say no. The International Community and other, we say no. The International Community and israels other, we say no. The International Community and israels allies, other, we say no. The International Community and israels allies, we | community and israels allies, we have seen plenty of senior World Leaders stand shoulder to shoulder with israel, defending its right to defend itself. But almost everyone has also added the caveat, that it must be done within humanitarian law, even war has laws. Are you worried that if more civilians are killed in this latest intensification of the military strikes, the support, the International Allies that israel had will start to ask more questions of israel . Will start to ask more questions of israel . ,. ,. , will start to ask more questions of israel . ,. ,. ,. Israel . First of all, i must say that israel israel . First of all, i must say that israel is israel . First of all, i must say that israel is acting israel . First of all, i must say that israel is acting in israel . First of all, i must say. That israel is acting in accordance with international law. We are trying to minimise collateral damage, we are trying to minimise civilian casualties. 0ur enemy is not. We are not targeting the civilian population of gaza, we are targeting hamas. It is hamas who is interested in civilians. We asked them to leave the north where there will be come back because we dont want to see them caught up in the crossfire. Hamas says, stay, you cannot leave and they physically put up cannot leave and they physically put up roadblocks to prevent people from leaving, because they want martyrs for their crazy course and they are willing to fight to the loss of a limb. We have had leaders in europe and america talking about hamas policy of using human shields, they are being exposed for what they are. The information we shared yesterday with the international media, there being a Command Centre right under the hospital in gaza city, that shows exactly who we are dealing with. At least 200 british citizens are trapped in gaza. Lull luh ali fatens 29 year old daughter zaynab is married to a palestinian and went to gaza to attend a wedding just days before the hamas attack in israel. Zaynab travelled there with 11 other members of herfamily from the uk, including a 13 year old. Our Community Affairs correspondent Ashitha Nagesh has been speaking to lullah about her daughters ordeal. Hello, my name is zaynab, i am a british national. Me and my family came here two days before the war started and been unable to get out ever since. Zaynab, a schoolteacher in greater manchester, had gone to gaza for a wedding and is now trapped near the rafah crossing. Is this here . Yes, thats manchester. Her mother lalah, is hoping that shell be home soon. How does it feel for you being here and sort of watching whats happening from afar . I feel powerless. I feel, as much as i can do, its not enough, and its a very painful experience to have to go through to see people go through so much suffering and not be able to do anything. Thousands of bombs have landed. Zaynab posted this video on instagram two days ago. We have contacted the British Embassy to two at the very least get out its own citizens but with no luck. The fcdo says it has been keeping in close contact with british nationals in gaza and will update them on the status at the southern border. The death toll is rising every day. Everyday we wait to hear from zainab in the morning or in the afternoon, whenever she gets a signaljust to see if, you know, whether she made it through the night. This was the last Message Lalah had from zainab letting her mother know she was alive. But she hasnt heard anything since last night when communications from gaza were cut off. The last few weeks have been really quite harrowing. Just to watch the images on tv and to see such high numbers of deaths of innocent women and children, and civilians, its been very painful. And it kinda feels like a nightmare, to be honest, ahe moment. And it kinda feels like a nightmare, to be honest, at the moment. Just want to go back to those live pictures because we are seeing those orange flashes as israel continue to hit gaza. Latte orange flashes as israel continue to hit gaza. ~. ,. ,. , hit gaza. We are told the Ground Troo S hit gaza. We are told the Ground Troops are hit gaza. We are told the Ground Troops are still hit gaza. We are told the Ground Troops are still there, hit gaza. We are told the Ground Troops are still there, they hit gaza. We are told the Ground Troops are still there, they are i hit gaza. We are told the ground | troops are still there, they are in the North And South the territory as the North And South the territory as the second phase of this war, in the words of the israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, continues. Stay with us, im Lewis Vaughan jones, this is bbc news. Hello. Its been another day of big storm clouds giving some really heavy downpours across many parts of the uk. This was the scene in dorset for one of our weather watchers, thanks to this stripe of cloud here, this band of really heavy rain pushing its way northwards. You can see some shower clouds elsewhere, all circulating around the centre of an area of low pressure anchored to the west of our shores. So as we head through the night, we will see showers or longer spells of Rain Drifting across many parts of the country, some clear spells in between, staying blustery in the south and the winds actually picking up even further in the north east of scotland. Temperature wise, generally, 7 10 degrees, so low pressure still with us for sunday. Around that low, we will see plenty of showers and this band of persistent rain, this weather front, which is going to become slow moving across some Eastern Parts of scotland. So really wet here to start the day. Heavy rain, too, for Northern Ireland and northern england, that tending to clear to sunshine and showers. Wales, the midlands, east anglia and the South Of England, sunshine and showers, some really heavy thundery ones again in the southeast corner. But its this persistent rain across Eastern Scotland that could bring further flooding. We may see 100 millimetres over Higher Ground falling on already sodden ground and these very strong northeasterly winds bringing big waves crashing into the coastline. Coastal flooding continues to be a risk. Also quite windy, quite blustery down towards the South Of England and the channel islands. And temperatures north to south, generally between eight and 15 degrees. Now, as we head into monday, the winds will tend to ease a little bit. Still some showers around, though, particularly around western parts. And more persistent rain could push back into the south east of england. And we keep some rain going in the north east of scotland. Those temperatures again in that range between eight and 15 degrees. Now, the weather turns a little bit quieter into tuesday. We could see some mist and fog patches developing this brief gap between the weather systems. But later in the week, particularly as we move from wednesday into thursday, we could see a really deep area of low pressure developing the potential for some stormy weather. Well keep a close eye on that and we will keep you up to date. In the shorter term, dont forget tonight, the clocks go back an hour. Thats all from me. Bye for now. Live from london, this is bbc news. Israels Prime Minister says the war in gaza will be hard and take time, will be hard and take time, but his priority is to win against hamas. Translation it is our Second War Of Independence translation it is our Second War Of Independence. We translation it is our Second War Of Independence. We will translation it is our Second War Of Independence. We will fight translation it is our Second War Of Independence. We will fight and translation it is our Second War Of Independence. We will fight and we i independence. We will fight and we will not surrender. We will not withdraw. Meanwhile, hamass leader in gaza strip offers to release all hostages being held there in return for the release of of all hamas prisoners in israeli jails. Here in london, thousandsjoin pro palestinian demonstrations. Similar protests take place Around The World, calling for a ceasefire. Hello, im Lewis Vaughanjones. Welcome to the programme