Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC 20240703

Blinken is expected to visit saudi arabia in the coming days. Meanwhile, hamas has posted a new video, which shows two of the hostages captured during its october attack. Keith siegel, and omri miran, both identify themselves. While the video is not dated, there is a reference to the recent passover holiday. Its the second such video that hamas, considered a terror group by the uk and us governments, has published in the past few days. Our correspondent, anna foster is in tel aviv where families have been gathering to again call for the release of all the hostages. Omri mirans father was actually already on the list of confirmed speakers for this event tonight. When he got up on the stage, he talked about the moment, he said he was sitting having coffee with someone and talking about his grandchildren when the man he was talking to held his phone and said, look, they have released a video of omri. What was also interesting was as the crowd were gathered here tonight, is they showed that video in full, it is not something that normally happens because of course when you see the people in it, the two men in this case looking very malnourished, obviously speaking under duress, sending messages to their families and urging the Israeli Government to come to some sort of arrangement, some sort of deal to try and achieve their release. Now, of course that deal and those talks have been going on for weeks and weeks. The last time we saw a significant hostage release was at the end of last year. At one point, we were told the talks had very much broken down, the two sides werent really in communication at all but the egyptian delegations visit this week and the further efforts of the us and us Secretary Of State antony blinken, we are led to believe that perhaps they are moving slightly closer in terms of trying to achieve a deal, but certainly those powerful messages we heard tonight on the stage from the hostage families, they were talking directly to israels leaders, directly to the politicians and were saying, you need you to do a deal. While we know they are alive, you need to do what they can to ensure their release now. Demonstrators have also been calling for the resignation of israeli Prime Minister benjamin netanyahu. Thousands gathered in tel aviv on saturday to protest against the handling of the war and to demand new elections. In gaza itself, the hamas run Health Agency says at least 50 people have been killed in israeli air attacks in the past day. On saturday, residents of two houses in rafah that were hit by israeli fire searched through the rubble. The United Nations continues to warn of a lack of food, with half of the population starving. The us military has said a new humanitarian pier being built off the coast of gaza could be up and running by early may. The us has said there will be no american troops on the ground but the bbc has learned that british troops could be deployed to help deliver the desperately needed aid. Our Diplomatic Correspondent James Landale reports from jerusalem. Some aid is getting into gaza by land. Trucks carrying food, water and medical supplies. Some aid is being dropped by air. But the United Nations says it is nowhere near enough to help the people of gaza, who it says are facing famine. So there are plans for aid to come by sea. The us army is building floating platforms like this off the coast, where aid will be taken off ships and put into trucks. That floating causeway is expected to be anchored on the beach somewhere near here, where Israeli Forces will secure a distribution area. The us says there will be no american boots on the ground. So the uk is considering whether British Forces should drive the trucks along the causeway, that may look Something Like this. But that would mean British Forces being put in harms way on the beaches of gaza, so called wet boots on the ground, potentially at risk from hamas fighters. Hamas, at the end of the day, could try and interrupt this. Id like to think they wont and i think probably they wont, but its possible that they could. Unfortunately in these sorts of operations, you end up in places you wouldnt want to have gone to. British forces could be deployed from this uk air base in cyprus, but as of now, itsjust an option. Theres been no decision and its yet to pass the Prime Ministers desk. The mod refused to comment. Sending british troops to the beaches of gaza would be a big decision. They would be at risk in a war zone. They would be operating in the holy land for the First Time Since the 1940s, but someone has to drive these trucks and theyve got to make a decision soon. The us says this new aid corridor is going to be up and running by early next month. James landale, bbc news, injerusalem. Here in the us, police in boston shut down a Student Protest demanding a ceasefire in gaza after University Authorities said the demonstrators were using virulent anti semitic slogans. Northeastern University Said about 100, a mix of students and outsiders, were detained. One of the Student Organisations involved in the protest rejected the universitys statement. At Columbia University in new york, the epicentre of the nationwide protests, one Student Leader was barred from the site and officials are looking into how the protests there are being handled. The situation has also been tense at the university of Southern California in los angeles. These are scenes from earlier this week as skirmishes broke out between protesters and police. Dozens of demonstrators were arrested on wednesday. The university has also cancelled its main Graduation Ceremony and the Valedictorian Speech by a Muslim Student due to security concerns. Ive been speaking about the fallout of those protests withjonathan park, hes a student at the university of Southern California and the digital Managing Editor with the daily trojan newspaper. What is the mood on campus right now . How big are concerns about Anti Semitism . The mood in general is frustration and anger. The thing on peoples minds right now is the cancellation of the may commencement ceremony, and no matter what peoples views on gaza, that affects all graduating seniors. These are seniors that have already had to have their graduations cancelled back in high school because of the covid i9 pandemic. And now they are not able to get that proper academic celebration a celebration of their academic achievements with this final commencement ceremony, because that has been cancelled. With the protests right now, there has been Anti Semitism both against pro palestine demonstrations that have been jewish and pro israel. We had recently had a seder, hosted after the protests held by pro israel students, a symbolic seder asking the Israeli Government to bring them home the hostages to be brought home. There was an anti semitic heckler shouting insults and expletives targeting jewish people. The next day, pro palestine groups, for example, the local chapter of jewish voice for peace, they celebrated a seder celebrating the Tens Of Thousands killed in gaza. There was an anti semitic heckler that they had to sort of suppress. So theres really been Anti Semitism on both sides, there. And how is your university, or would you say your university handling this idea of balancing the right to protest, free speech, with Real Security concerns that you mentioned there . I think usc has been doubling down ever since they cited Safety Concerns is the reason for cancelling the Valedictorian Speech. Usc was particularly notable in how quickly it was shut down. We have seen at columbia for example where they were able to have that encampment for a few days before police came by and tried to shut it down and arrested dozens of protesters there. For us, here, at usc, it was 4am. I saw them set up on wednesday. It was about starting at 5 30am through 9pm, where police had sort of finished clearing up that area and ended up arresting 93 protesters. About 50 of them are students, no confirmation from the university as yet on that number. Usc was notable in how quickly that protest was suppressed and the president carol folt put out a statement yesterday saying that they the university didnt want to have those protesters arrested but they said the protesters flagrantly violated a direct quote their Safety Policies and ignored directions. In terms of what protesters are calling for, most of them, run us through that. Have there have they taken their cue from what they have seen on the east coast. We received a Mission Statement from them as the protest was starting and there is a list of six demands, i cant recall all of them of the top of my head, but they include an academic boycott of israel for us to divest from all businesses that support the israeli military, a ceasefire for gaza as the baseline. In that Mission Statement, they directly cited the protests ongoing in columbia as the inspiration for what is going on at usc right now. And that protest is standing in solidarity with the rest of the country. Briefly, if you dont mind, jonathan, are there any indications that some of these protests going could have been infiltrated in the same way we have seen, for example, accusations of infiltration and other parts of the country . That claim was also echoed by our University Administration carlos guzman. In one of his announcements about their response, saying there may have been outsiders on the protest. On wednesday, the campus was open, but the majority were students as well as media there on wednesday. The protests, that is ongoing right now, with the camps the campuses close to everyone but students. And faculty. And people who have business at the university. Right now i would emphasise that it is completely student run, besides the legal advisors overseeing the protests. And there are only a few of them. Jonathan park, thank you for speaking to us. Digital Managing Editor with the daily trojan newspaper. To ukraine where president Volodymyr Zelensky is calling on Western Allies to urgently send at least seven more Patriot Missile systems. It comes after another night of russian bombardment seriously damaged Energy Infrastructure in ukraine with four power plants hit. President zelensky said the targets included facilities supplying gas to the european union. Fighting continues in the Eastern Donetsk region. Russian troops made gains there earlier this week. Ukrainian media reports that another village near avdiivka has been captured as russia tightens its hold on the region. Earlier, i spoke to Brigadier General mark kimmitt, former us assistant Secretary Of State for political military affairs. We have seen this call for more Patriot Missile systems. This is coming off the back of the granting of 60 billion in military aid. That didnt go far enough, do you think, potentially, that aid . Well, the first issue is we need get it on the ground. It is clear the russians realise that they are not making as much Ground Progress as they would like, so they are starting to attack infrastructure again, using Ballistic Missiles and cruise missiles. And without the Patriot Missile systems and other systems which are critically short of ammunition right now, ukraine is taking some pretty significant attacks on their infrastructure, particularly gas and oil and electrical creation facilities. Lets talk about what that means for civilians on the ground. We are over two years into the war. Attacking that kind of Energy Infrastructure can have a serious impact on them, at a time when morale would already be very low. Do you think that is moscows aim . I think it is. Look, it has been a tough number of years. They are counting on more and more troops coming to the front line. Most of them except for the draftees, our young, and ready to go, but at the end of the day, Volodymyr Zelensky cant keep the war up unless he has the Popular Support of his people. If putin can break the morale of the ukrainian people, they will call the negotiations, and the negotiations will be harsh and they will not be in ukraine independent ukraine they will not like what Vladimir Putin demands of them. To talk about the Patriot Missiles, given it has come hot on the heels of the us aid package, what does it indicate on the ground, militarily . Is this an aim to get the upper hand for ukraine, or, the situation therein, looking at the other village near Avdiivka Being captured, is it that troops are in a trickier position than we might have thought . Well, it is clear the case that the Ground Troops are having a tough time in the defence. Theyre not losing a significant amount of ground. They are certainly not seeing any breakthrough by russian forces. But those carefully dug defensive positions in some areas, theyve had to evacuate, move back to less defendable positions. The russians are continuing to push. Theyre not making progress significant progress but theyre still grinding down the Ukrainian Forces in a way thats a historical norm for how russia fights these types of wars. Yes. And looking at what you say about how russia historically has done with regard to that on the battlefield, in your frank assessment, do you think a ukrainian victory is still possible here . I think the best we can ask for this year is that when the ammunition gets into ukraine, it can stiffen up the lines. I think there is a very little chance of success in this fighting season, in a year it may be different, but this year, i dont think any side has a chance of victory. A yearfrom now, if we think about the future in that way, do you think that the western resolve would still be there . Do you think there would be that funding for a further military injection, for example . I think the west recognises the danger that a russian victory in ukraine would mean. It means, perhaps, attacks in other areas, other non nato nations, perhaps a nato nation as well. If we have a second biden term, im pretty convinced that President Biden will not only keep america in the fight, providing support, but will rally the europeans. It will be a long war but it is a war that has to be fought and it is particularly notable that the ukrainian troops are doing this without nato soldiers by their sides as they are fighting. Brigadier general mark kimmitt, former us assistant Secretary Of State for political military affairs, thank you, as ever, for your thoughts. The United Nations warns a possible assault by Paramilitary Forces in sudans north darfur state would have devastating consequences in a region that is on the brink of famine. The agency says the Rapid Support forces are reportedly encircling the regional capital al fashir, suggesting a coordinated move to attack the city may be imminent. At least 43 people, including women and children, have already been killed there in the past two weeks. War between the Sudanese Army and the Rsf Erupted Last year. More than 8 Million People forced from their homes due to conflict since april 2023 in what is the Worlds Largest displacement crisis. For more on the situation, i spoke to quscondy abdulshafi, Senior Regional advisor at freedom house, a non profit dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world. I know that youve been closely monitoring the situation on the ground, speaking with people, where possible, in al fashir. What are they bracing for, basically . Thank you helena, and thank you for having me. I appreciate it. An attack on al fashir would have a far reaching and devastating consequence and it would really be a new story of the storyline of sudan conflict, harsher, potentially harsher than al junaynah. In the past few days there have been an increase in ethnic targeting and rhetoric. This time it is minority ethnic groups that are stationed at, that exist in al fashir. This attack on al fashir will have that aspect of ethnic cleansing. The saf army in al fashir are under the command of former Rebel Movement leaders that made the Peace Agreement in 2018. That was to be absorbed into saf. They are from arab ethnic groups. It means the conflict in al fashir is absolutely different than the conflict in other cities. It has a key ethnic aspect on it. And that is very much dangerous. If this attack happens, it will have very far reaching, devastating and far reaching consequences. I mean, anyone listening to that will understand how concerning that sounds the prospect, there, of ethnically motivated violence. But, as i understand it, the area is already encircled, so anyone wanting to flee could find it difficult. Its an area also on the brink of famine. There is no way for people to flee. It is the second largest city controlled by rsf, there is increased Check In Entering the city. People being ethnically targeted are being targeted seriously. Dozens of people fled in the past two days after attacks of cities around al fashir. They have no place to flee and there is nowhere to go. North darfur is a very desert area and people can die because of lack of water to drink. And it is very still very dry season at this moment. It is very difficult for the large number of idps living in the city. There are no options or way for people to run from the city. A desperate situation. South africa is celebrating a landmark moment in its history. Its 30 years since the first free and Fair Elections in the country which for decades was ruled by a white minority. Under the violent apartheid regime, the state segregated different ethnicities with Black Africans having virtually no rights, no vote, No Freedom Of Movement and only limited ownership rights. After decades of struggle, the African National congress secured the freedom of its leader, nelson mandela, and negotiated a peaceful transition away from white only rule. That process culminated on april 27th, 1994 when south africans of every ethnicity queued together for miles to cast their ballot, electing mr mandela south africas first black president. At the 30th Anniversary Celebrations In Pretoria Current president Cyril Ramaphosa paid tribute to those who helped fight for the countrys freedom. On that day, as we cast our votes for the first time, a great heaviness lifted from our shoulders. Our shackles have been cast off. The shackles that have tied us down for hundreds of years. The weight of centuries of oppression was no longer holding us down. Even though our backs bore scars of the cruel lashes of those who had whipped and subjected us for more than 300 years, on that day, as a united people, we stood tall as south africans. Mr ramaphosa is up for re election in may. His party, the African National congress, or anc, has been in power continuously since 1994. While it remains far ahead in opinion polls, it potentially faces the prospect of losing its parliamentary majority for the first time. And mr ramaphosa faces a novel threat his predecessor, jacob zuma, left the anc in december to form his own party that is challenging the anc. Lets turn to some Important News around the world. Iraqs parliament passed a Law Criminalising same sex relationships with a maximum 15 Year Prison Sentence on saturday. The move is said to uphold religious values but its been condemned by human rights advocates. The us responded to the decision, saying it was a threat to human rights and freedoms and would weaken iraqs ability to diversify its economy and attract foreign investment. Officials in kenya are warning people to brace for even heavier rainfall as severe downpours continue across parts of east africa. Officials say at least 76 people have been killed in floods so far. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced. The red cross says more than half the country is impacted. A lawyer for Harvey Weinstein says the former Film Producer has been hospitalized after being moved to a new york prison. It comes days after the states highest court overturned a rape conviction against him, saying he had been treated unfairly during the case. Mr weinstein remains in prison on a 16 year sentence for a different rape conviction in 2022. Russian journalist Konstantin Gabov has been arrested on charges of extremism. Hes accused of preparing material for a Youtube Channel once run by the late Opposition Leader alexei navalny. Aides and allies continue to run that channel after mr navalny died in a russian prison back in february. Mr navalny� s movement is designated as extremist by Vladimir Putins government. And, here in washington, President Biden delivered an Election Year comedy roast in front ofjournalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner. Outside the event, hundreds of demonstrators drew attention to the war in gaza, in particular, palestinian journalists killed during the conflict. At one point, protesters inside the building, Unfurled A Palestinian Flag from the top floor. President biden noted the importance of a free press and the reliable dissemination of news ahead of the president ial election. The president also poked fun not only at himself but at political challengers, notably republican rival donald trump. Of course, the 2024 election is in full swing. And, yes age is an issue. I am a grown man Running Againsta an issue. I am a grown man running against a six year old and goodbye from us. Hello there. Were seeing some changes to the weather this weekend. Part two of the weekend promises to be quite wet across some eastern areas. Another chilly but bright day further west that you are. But it marks a change to our weather because, as we move into the new week, well start to draw up some warmer air from the near continent. Many areas will actually turn a lot warmer than what weve had over the past week. This area of low pressure will continue to bring some rain to central, southern and eastern parts of england through the night. So, early sunday, this is the position the rain will be in. Less cold for england and wales 5 8 degrees but another cold night to come for scotland and Northern Ireland with a touch of frost, but its here youll have the best of the sunshine from the word go for sunday morning. Further east, itll be a cloudy, wet picture with that rain slowly pulling away from eastern england, becoming confined to north east scotland, the Northern Isles. Elsewhere, plenty of sunshine around and a few scattered showers developing into the afternoon and a windy day to come, particularly close to the north sea, close near to that area of rain. Temperature wise, the low teens for many but distinctly chilly again across this northeast corner. That rain continues to clear northwards into the Northern Isles during sunday night. It turns a lot drier for many with clear spells. Well start to see thicker cloud and some showery bursts of rain pushing into Western Areas, though, by the end of the night though many areas will stay dry. Temperature wise well, actually milder for many, particularly scotland and Northern Ireland, than what weve had of late. Still a few chilly spots there for northeast scotland. This is the picture for monday, you see there the pressure picture. Weve got low pressure out toward the west. This will be bringing South Or Southwesterly Winds across the country and, actually, for large parts of england and wales, particularly towards the south and east, its going to stay dry all day with some good spells of sunshine but rain will be splashing into Western Areas and moving across the irish sea as we move through the course of the day. Some of this will be quite heavy. Weve got the low teens celsius in the north and the west. Could be up to 16 or 17 celsius in the southeast with that sunshine and the warm wind coming off the near continent. For the rest of the week, we hold on to lower pressure towards the west of the uk. That will continue to bring our air source from the southeast or the east at times and there will be Weather Fronts close by, so its an unsettled theme, i think, but its going to feel warmer throughout this week than what weve had over the past week. It could be up to 20 degrees in the warmest spots across the southeast. But with low pressure nearby, it will tend to remain on the unsettled side. Take care. Voiceover this is bbc news. Well have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. Normally, my day begins by changing my t shirt. Its soaking wet from the sweat from the nightmares. I wake up most mornings saying, not another day. As a person suffering from mental illness, i, and other people, are invisible. No one recognises us. They are embarrassed by mental illness, and thats the stigma is vast. If medical assistance in dying had been available, back during those times where things were really, really low like, there was no hope, i wouldnt be here today. I wouldve died thinking i had a depression that