Transcripts For GBN Breakfast 20240703

As a deadly explosion hits the al ahli Arab Hospital in gaza city overnight, reported to have killed 500 people, including many sick women and children , in many sick women and children, in an attack which both palestinians and israelis are blaming each other for life on the front line. The front line. We have an exclusive interview with a british man who travelled to israel to fight in the war on hamas. I have to say that the people of bury fought very bravely. There are a lot of times that we saw also bodies of israeli innocent citizens in the houses , innocent citizens in the houses, but also bodies of terrorists that we didnt kill. The people of bury killed, managed to kill some of them. Some of them. And back in the uk, well have the very latest on tomorrows upcoming mid bedfordshire by election. Thats the seat which up until recently held nadine recently was held by Nadine Dorries and alex deakin has your weather storm babette is on the way bringing some torrential rain and some persistent rain as well. And the combination of those likely to cause some problems over the next few days, theres also going to be some strong and gusty winds. There are a number of met Office Warnings in place dunng of met Office Warnings in place during me later for a full forecast. And of course, you can join in any of our discussions by emailing gb views at gbnews. Com or tweet us at. Or tweet us at. Gb news. Well, good morning. Welcome to the program. Its horrendous news to greet you with today in gazas deadliest day yet of the conflict, hundreds are feared killed in an explosion at the al al arabe hospital in gaza city overnight. Hospital in gaza city overnight. A Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson has said that hundreds died at the building after what palestinian officials said was an israeli airstrike. Said was an israeli airstrike. Israel has blamed the blast on a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic jihad group, which denied responsibility. Well initial reports suggest a missile struck outside the building where hundreds of displaced gazans have been residing after israel gave the evacuation for order the northern part of the strip on twitter, the Israeli Defence force posted the following clip. Force posted the following clip. Now, in its you can see a rocket launched into the sky from a built up area. Its then built up area. Its then intercepted or indeed explodes intercepted or indeed explodes in what could be an error. Well, moments later you can see a massive explosion a few hundred metres away on the ground. Is this a faulty hamas ground. Is this a faulty hamas rocket or an israeli missile strike at the end . There you can see terrorists launch further rockets. After that explosion. Well the incident came not long after the un said a school sheltering thousands of people in central gaza was also hit, killing at least six people. Well gb news last night, the israeli ambassador to the uk, tzipi hotovely, spoke to nigel farage and had this to say in response to the hospital attack. I want to check what happened, but im sure and i can guarantee you we never target civilians mind while World Leaders have been quick to express outrage over the event , express outrage over the event, with protests sweeping nations across the islamic world like this scene here in lebanon , this scene here in lebanon, well, the hospital explosion comes as the humanitarian crisis in gaza has deepened. The United Nations has warned that israels Bombing Campaign and the blockade of gaza in response to the hamas attack on its communities is likely to be in breach of International Law. Israel has blocked supplies of food, water, fuel and electricity since the deadly hamas terrorist attacks of the 7th of october. But denies theres a humanitarian crisis as well. We can speak now to the freelance journalist yotam confino, now regular on our program , joins us this morning program, joins us this morning from tel aviv. Good morning from tel aviv. Good morning again to you, joe tam. Shocking again to you, joe tam. Shocking news up to the absolute news to wake up to the absolute worst to think of sick elderly women and children in hospital place where they were being treated by doctors and nurses. We dont yet know the death toll, but its thought hundred several are dead. And this puts bidens visit into chaos because now the palestinians and certainly the jordanians do not want to speak to him. Yes, joe biden is reportedly furious because hes travelling here in a war time. Furious because hes travelling here in a war time. And he was here in a war time. And he was was supposed to meet with egypts president al sisi. Jordans King Abdullah, palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in amman for a summit to discuss many things. First of all, the humanitarian aid coming into gaza. They were supposed to into gaza. They were supposed to talk about the hostages kept in gaza and in general, also to send a signal to other actors in the region to stay out of this conflict. But now this is all not happening. Hes meeting with the israelis, of course, but and he will be meeting with Prime Minister netanyahu in tel aviv. And, course, he will also be and, of course, he will also be asking this asking questions about this attack at the attack that happened at the hospital. Israel has said that it is sharing now in intelligence with the United States to prove that it is not behind it, that it is a failed rocket launched by Islamic Jihad and that israel has nothing to do with this. So israel is right now trying to persuade the world, first of all, the World Leaders. But also Public Opinion, which is, of course, much, much more difficult to persuade when it comes to the Israeli Palestinian conflict. Israeli palestinian conflict. Fascinating to see absolutely fascinating to see the blame game here and the developments at least last night when the first news of this hospital hit was released and then the videos that we started to see. It does seem that there has been a slight shift in narrative at first. Many people expecting that this was an israeli hit on this hospital and now many more people saying that this could have been a backfired. Hamas attack. Where does Public Opinion really sit on this and frankly, how long will it be until we know the truth . Truth . First of all, the truth always dies in war. Isnt that the saying . Its horrendous and especially in a time of social media, it took minutes before first of all, all media, but also just people who in general follow the conflict, people with millions of followers were immediately ready to accept the what came from hamas. The explanation that came from hamas, some of them then later also explained that israel has a has has something to say. They had evidence, but many dont, which means that, first of all, in the middle east, those who are already siding with the palestinians, which is most of the people in the middle east and those who side with hamas, they what israel they dont care what israel says. Doesnt matter how much says. It doesnt matter how much proof you provide. We saw this last when israel was trying last week when israel was trying to the world that that to show the world that that hamas had an excuse , the hamas had an excuse, the language, but slit the throats of babies, burn families alive. People are still not accepting this. They dont about the this. They dont care about the eyewitnesses. They care eyewitnesses. They dont care about material. So this is about photo material. So this is about photo material. So this is a massive pr war. What israel has , however, is most of the has, however, is most of the leaders in the western world who are standing by israel right now and who of course, are willing to see the documentation if they have proof, which they say they do. They have released some videos. Leaders videos. If the World Leaders cannot verify this, then at least they will have the least they will still have the support of the leaders. Im not so sure people on the street will the same. We see how will feel the same. We see how absolutely toxic the debate is right now people do not care right now and people do not care about they care about about the facts. They care about what they think and what they believe , and so be it. If other believe, and so be it. If other people can prove you wrong. Yeah joe, thanks for your analysis this morning in tel aviv. We thank you and well be back with you, im sure , at a later date. You, im sure, at a later date. Thanks very much for now. But with tensions running high, with tensions running so high, the United States president , joe biden is expected to arrive whilst on air in israel as whilst were on air in israel as part of a Diplomatic Mission. Part of a Diplomatic Mission. Amid these growing concerns over the escalating conflict , hes the escalating conflict, hes expected to spend the day in tel aviv for talks with the israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discuss impending netanyahu, to discuss impending the impending invasion of gaza to help in the safe release of hostages held by hamas , and also hostages held by hamas, and also to address the growing humanitarian crisis in the middle east. Now, President Biden was then expected to travel on to jordan for talks about accelerating humanitarian assistance to gaza. However this stop has now been cancelled after the strike on that hospital in gaza, which palestinian officials are, of course, blaming on israel. But israel is blaming on the Palestinian Islamic jihad group. Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. Well, as President Biden left washington , dc last night, his washington, dc last night, his white house spokesperson , john white house spokesperson, john kirby, told gathered reporters that he will pose tough questions in those meetings with israeli leaders. Now , biden has previously now, biden has previously said that the United States did not want conflict between israel and hamas to grow into a wider war, with the focus now on making sure that humanitarian aid begins to flow into gaza despite an israeli siege that has blocked food, fuel and Water Supplies. Well joining us now from nashville, tennessee, is the former adviser to the clinton and the bush administrations and regular on the program as steve gill. The program as well, steve gill. Good morning to you. This is a diplomatic nightmare that the president to be landing president is going to be landing into trip cancelled into to have his trip cancelled isnt just snub. Its into to have his trip cancelled isntjust snub. Its a very isnt just a snub. Its a very clear message. Are clear message. They are extremely , happy and extremely unhappy, happy and outraged with what has happened or they believe to have happened at this hospital in gaza. At this hospital in gaza. Yeah, it was a train wreck before he even left the us. He tried to do a 60 minutes interview to show strength and vigour, but he came off weak, indecisive and inconsistent. So after that failed debacle to gain political advantage over this crisis in the middle east, he then decides to go try to get a photo op in israel at a time of war when theyre preparing for an invasion, when it is a war zone, putting himself at risk simply for a photo op. I dont think joe biden saw that he could do anything to help israel in this trip or try to help with these other foreign leaders. I think this was all about a photo for him and it about a photo op for him and it is, you know, again, started off like train wreck. Now there like a train wreck. Now there are reports that are reports this morning that this trip by biden was considered personal on some concessions , perhaps from the concessions, perhaps from the israeli government, humanitarian aid corridors are being established safe areas for civilians in gaza being established and perhaps even a delay to this expected Ground Invasion , at least while biden invasion, at least while biden is there to that extent, does this visit matter in terms of setting some ground rules for this conflict. I lost the audio this conflict. I lost the audio in there, so im not sure exactly what the question was, but i think that when you have these meetings being cancelled , these meetings being cancelled, it takes away the whole purpose of going there. And again, hes put himself at risk at a time that, you know, kind of the world needs American Leadership and these meetings not taking place opportunity place takes away any opportunity to try and calm the situation as you all have reported, this horrific bombing or missile strike at this hospital is inflaming the other countries. It is certainly what the hamas propagandists want and some of the media have run with the story before they had the facts. Its not to going help the situation. And im not sure that joe biden can repair it. Do you think that there are going to be questions about whether perhaps its america or indeed the west have taken their eye off the ball when it comes to the middle east . Perhaps weve been understandably preoccupied been preoccupied with whats been happening russia and happening with russia and ukraine, in the ukraine, but perhaps also in the china with taiwan or, china pacific, with taiwan or, you know, have we absolutely missed seeing this coming, this inflammation of the escalation. Here again, ive lost the audio , again, ive lost the audio, but oh, dear, a few problems with the line there to tennessee. But you get the impression there that there are grave questions not only for the west, but about what on earth will happen during visit by happen during this visit by President Biden. He is due to arrive whilst we are on air in the next few hours in tel aviv and we will be broadcasting that live here on gb news. Now, there may not have been a full scale invasion gaza a full scale invasion of gaza yet , but of course a full scale invasion of gaza yet, but of course fighting does continue ground with continue on the ground with hamas south and hezbollah hamas in the south and hezbollah in the north on the border with lebanon. Lebanon. Hundreds of wounded. Israeli soldiers the soldiers are returning from the frontlines treatment , and frontlines for treatment, and among british israeli , among them, a british israeli, one of an estimated 200 who left the uk and headed to the region to sign up to fight. Well, our reporter on the ground, Charlie Peters, has spoken about his spoken to him about his experiences on the front line for securing reasons weve decided to keep his identity a secret. Secret. At 7 am, they woke us up, told us that the israelis in a total war and we need to get ready and that we are going down to the gaza strip. Have you heard any reports about the extent of the hamas violence in that kibbutz . We didnt have that kibbutz . We didnt have reports on our way. We opened phones to understand whats happening because the idf couldnt understand whats happening because there was too much information going to from everywhere. Live everywhere. We saw the live streams of hamas. And then we understand something really understand that something really strange is happening. Strange is happening. You got to the and when you got to the kibbutz berry, thats when you engaged with the fighters engaged with the hamas fighters there. There. Yeah. Before we saw a lot of a lot of stuff that hamas was dead, a lot of bodies of innocent citizens. And when we innocent citizens. And when we came to kibbutz beeri, it was a junction of berry by the gate of the kibbutz. So we heard over this all of the shooting. And we this all of the shooting. And we understand that the massacre is still happening. To say still happening. I have to say that the people of berry fought very bravely, though a lot of time that we saw also bodies of israeli innocent citizens in the houses, but also bodies of terrorists that we didnt kill the people of berry killed managed to kill some of them. Managed to kill some of them. What was the fighting like . Very close combat, very close quarters. Close combat. Most yeah, very close combat. Most of our combat. Oh, 5 to 7m from each other. Or that they are they were inside the houses and we try to break inside the houses. We try to break inside the houses. In every house there houses. In every house there were between 3 or 4 terrorists that stayed inside the houses. I saw three terrorists. I said to them, idf, idf, because we didnt understand if theyre terrorists or citizens. Um people that have weapons. People that have weapons. When did you suffer your injury . What happened . I suffered it on sunday evening. We did our last. The last fight. The last fight. If the last fight. If terrorists , bad luck and machine gun started to shoot on us from inside the house, a machine gun shot at you from inside where you were so you ran into a house and there was a terrorist inside there. Photo for we tried to shoot the terrorists. They shoot us that us back. My soldier that operates a machine gun fell down and dead in the place. I got injured in my stomach and in my hand. Soi injured in my stomach and in my hand. So i was award on my back because i was bleeding from the back. From the bullet in your stomach. Stom ach. Exactly. Stomach. Exactly. That i will not bleed. And i started shooting on the terrorist. I shot. 9100 the terrorist. I shot. 9100 bullets on them. One of my soldiers phocoenidae couldnt put it inside the hallway, so it came to the living room where i was eating close. I have no idea why. As a religious man, im saying its because god, but i got. I saying its because god, but i got. I didnt get injured from the grenade. So another officer of unit managed to work of my unit managed to work inside the house from the kitchen window. He took me outside and the tank came in a fence. A jump destroyed the house. The tank destroyed the house. All pulled down, after you all pulled down, the terrorist. And could the terrorist. And we could gladly say kibbutz gladly say that the kibbutz beeri has terrorist inside beeri has zero terrorist inside of them. I have say that i of them. I have to say that i was really impressed from the brave of citizens of berry. Brave of the citizens of berry. Right now, israel is preparing that likely preparing for that likely invasion gaza strip. Do invasion of the gaza strip. Do you the country and the you think the country and the army ready for the next phase army is ready for the next phase of this war . Of course youre ready to go again. I will again next week i will go again next week after i will heal. Well thank you to charlie for that exclusive interview there. And of course, well be speaking to Charlie Peters live from israel later in the program. Now, as the war in israel continues, how are muslim and jewish communities being impacted here in the uk . Well yesterday we saw the extraordinary images of british faith leaders meeting at lambeth palace in london, where they delivered a joint statement of solidarity, urging communities to stand together against hatred. Well, our north west of england. Reporter sophie reaper has visited one of manchesters most diverse areas to find out. Most diverse areas to find out. A rich tapestry of culture. Manchester is one of the uks most diverse cities , just most diverse cities, just a couple of miles outside the city centre lies cheetham hill, a neighbourhood home to large populations of both muslims and jews. Jews. The arade dam zahawi ahmed is the leader of one of the mosques in the area that is mainly due to kuranda penaranda. To kuranda penaranda. I asked him about the multicultural ism of manchester and if he feels the war in israel is having an impact on the relations between jews and muslims here in the city. Inaya yeah, so youre saying that obviously whats happening in the middle east at the moment, its not affected a lot of the community here, but people are a bit upset, but there isnt much of a tension or anything in this area. Know manchester is a good example of how what other communities live together and have lived together for a long time in in in good faith. Gb news also reached out to many of the synagogues in the area, but sadly, none of them felt comfortable speaking out given the current concerns about anti semitism. Now, as tensions anti semitism. Now, as tensions between israel and hamas intensify , manchesters muslim intensify, manchesters Muslim Jewish Forum is urging people in the city to keep the peace. The city to keep the peace. Manchester is a wonderful city, and theres no reason why people should fight the great danger comes when you try to impose it into this country. Tens actions that actually originate from overseas is completely wrong, completely counterproductive. We should not counterproductive. We should not allow our feelings about whats happening over there to poison Community Relations here in manchester. For now, communities of muslims and jewish people continue new to live here side by side , just as they always by side, just as they always have. By side, just as they always have. Sophie reaper gb news have. Sophie reaper gb news says, okay, time now to see what the weathers getting up to. Heres alex deakin from the met office with your update. Im alex deakin. This is your latest weather update from the met news. Good met office for gb news. Good morning, is morning, storm. Babette is moving in through the rest of today, bringing some very heavy rain, tomorrow rain, particularly tomorrow across parts of scotland across eastern parts of scotland. But even today we could see some issues. Heavy showers developing parts developing across parts of the midlands southern england midlands and southern england turning very here through turning very wet here through this afternoon and evening. This afternoon and the evening. The strength running as the wind strength running as well large parts of the uk. Well for large parts of the uk. It is another dry day and much of Eastern England a good of Eastern England and a good part of scotland turning dry once the early rain clears from the temperatures will be the west. Temperatures will be again teens, feeling a again into the teens, feeling a bit winds, bit cooler because of the winds, especially the south, as especially across the south, as the rain peps up but also the rain peps up here, but also going see some heavy rain going to see some heavy rain through the evening time across Northern Office northern ireland. The met Office Warning place that. And warning in place for that. And then band rain becomes then this band of rain becomes slow, parts of slow, moving over parts of Northern England before working into scotland through into southern scotland through the again, moving the night. So again, slow moving nature and persistent heavy rain could cause some problems. Temperatures holding up overnight, so it wont be a cold night at all, but the rain could continue through thursday across these eastern parts of scotland. Thats where we have a met office. Warning in place. Office. Amber warning in place. The likely to be an the winds also likely to be an issue , particularly across parts issue, particularly across parts of especially to the of scotland, especially to the far some strong far north west. Some very strong gusts as i say, we have gusts here. So as i say, we have a number of met Office Warnings in place. Check out the website for more details on that. Further south tomorrow, there will again be some heavy showers and brighter in and some brighter spells in between. Temperatures mid between. Temperatures again, mid to high teens, but feeling to even high teens, but feeling cooler where its wet very cooler where its wet and very windy. Windy. Well, still to come, well have the very latest in sport with paul coyte. Plus, well continue to bring you the very latest on the israel hamas conflict. Thats coming up n ext next morning to you. It is 623. This is breakfast on gb news with isabel and tom. Well , lets have a look at well, lets have a look at some of the other stories coming into the newsroom this morning. Waless first minister, mark drakeford, has announced cuts to some Public Services in the middle the financial year. Middle of the financial year. Some Welsh Government funded services, including Free School Meals childcare , will see meals and childcare, will see their budget cut. While the nhs and transport for wales will receive money to keep receive extra money to keep things going. The welsh conservatives have the conservatives have accused the Labour Administration of extremely management and extremely poor management and Greta Thunberg was arrested while linking arms and chanting with other activists outside a hotel in mayfair yesterday. Hotel in mayfair yesterday. The swedish environmentalist was taken to Wandsworth Police station during a demonstration against a meeting of oil executives. Met. Police say they executives. Met. Police say they have arrested the activists after they refused to move. After they refused to move. Humza yousaf has pledged to Freeze Council tax across scotland for the next year. The first minister also announced ambitious plans to issue bonds to help fund vital projects. The snp government will also spend an additional £300 million on tackling nhs waiting lists in the next three years. French president Emmanuel Macron said that the return of islamist terrorist , um poses islamist terrorist, um poses a threat to all european nations. His comments come a day after two swedish football fans were shot dead at a terrorist attack in brussels before belgiums euro 2024 qualifier against sweden. Belgian police say the sweden. Belgian police say the suspect, who identified himself onune suspect, who identified himself online as a member of Islamic State , has been killed. Right state, has been killed. Right time for some light relief. And to get away from all the news, heres paul coyte with the sport. Good morning. Good morning. Not only am i head of sport on this show and pastimes, by the way, and pastimes. I also way, sports and pastimes. I also am head of fashion as well. You are of that . I was. And are aware of that . I was. And i was concerned with tom here because theres been a complaint. Tom, is this correct . There has. Mike im told, has written to in the programme to say love tom hannood well, thank you, mike. I like the way you did that very quickly. Isnt it . Isnt it . Yeah, but not sure about the pink shirt and the green tie. Mike is not a fan of the get up. Well, as head of fashion, mikes wrong. Sorry, mike, but there i think its. There you go. And i think its. I think. I its great. I think. I think its great. Pink green should always pink and green should always be seen. Absolutely. Think so. And the last time i think so. And the last time i the Prime Minister i interviewed the Prime Minister a weeks i was a couple of weeks ago, i was wearing this tie in wearing exactly this tie in shirt combo. And as we were waiting to get waiting for the camera to get set up, he complimented tie. Set up, he complimented the tie. Wow. And i was like, on, wow. And i was like, hold on, house one of these house of commons, one of these people him people that handed him the script said, what lovely script that said, what a lovely tie, and smiled and then, tie, and then smiled and then, oh, now youre making me. Now youre me question my youre making me question my very this is think very validity. This is i think i think it looks terrific. Just thought id say so i just thought id say that. Well, thank you. England beat italy yesterday. Three one to the super. To qualify for the euros. Super. When do think the last time when do you think the last time england beat italy in england was . So they you know theyve played a few times so two last time that england actually managed to beat italy in england and tom was when how long ago i very much remember england being defeated by italy an defeated by italy in an outrageous display in the last euro. Thats correct. Yeah that went to the final and lost on penalties, of course. How long ago was it . Im not even going to continue until you offer me a yean im going to say the thing is , if i say a year, im going to get going to get it get im going to get it completely wrong terms of completely wrong in terms of whether not there was a euro whether or not there was a euro wrong that. Okay. Okay okay. Im going to im going to say 2016, 2016. Now, i asked isabel this and she was one year out the actual answer is 1977. Wow. Can you believe that . Trevor brooking and kevin keegan scored goals 1977. That was the last time that england actually managed to beat italy at home. Now now harry kane again , two now now harry kane again, two goals. Hes now breaking records as well. Hes scored more goals for england now at home than any other player. Jude bellingham, other player. Jude bellingham, who is the kid, is 20 years old and jude bellingham, i think we can see him there on the right wearing number 10. And he is just unbelievable. Hes playing for real madrid, playing for england as well. And at the age of 20, you know, the wunderkind label , there he is. And he 60 label, there he is. And he 60 touches, everything was perfect. Touches, everything was perfect. And hes probably the best young player. You know, you could say weve ever had. And i honestly do think that england will win the euros next year. Do think that england will win the euros next year. Im going to be that bold. Weve been saying this for the last couple of years. Well weve been saying it for the last 50 or so, but this time i really do think its going to be good. A couple of other results now. Northern ireland to slovenia, ireland lost to slovenia, scotland to france. Scotland lost 4 1 to france. Theyre bothered. Theyve theyre not bothered. Theyve already was already qualified. It was a friendly marino , now friendly. But san marino, now san marino, not not really terribly good. One of the smallest countries. In fact, smallest countries. In fact, this studio is larger than san marino is. They lost 2 1 to denmark, but the most important thing for san marino is that they scored their first goal in two years. So well done to san marino. Theyve lost 83 out of their ,84 qualifiers over the years. But they did score a goal question for you. Yes. Why is he the wonder kid if hes playing for real madrid in england . What is it in spanish . It is the honda. It is the honda. Yeah, i can do that. Because he used to play at dortmund. So. Okay. Wondered where is so. Okay. I wondered where is he . A german . Is it wonder kid or wunderkind . I think thats the king that in spanish it is drum roll, please. Yes. Nino marin villa. Exactly kind of italian. And of course, you didnt search that on the internet at all. I just knew that. I just knew that. Perfect knowledge. Perfect knowledge. No, no, its unbelievable. Not did you know last not only did you know the last time played honestly , i time italy played honestly, i should a sports anchor. Should just be a sports anchor. To mention the i do want to mention the cricket world cup as well now, because been another because theres been another surprise that. Because theres been another suerow, that. Lost to now, england lost to afghanistan other day, which afghanistan the other day, which was shock. But theres an was a huge shock. But theres an even shock yesterday, even bigger shock yesterday, which better. Which suits us better. And thats that south thats the fact that south africa lost to netherlands. Africa lost to the netherlands. Now the netherlands, you associate with football, you associate with football, you associate with football, you associate with ice skating, you associate with ice skating, you associate with ice skating, you associate with jumping. But when it comes to cricket, its not anything theyre any good at. And the fact that the netherlands have managed to beat south africa, not only great and exciting underdog winning, but also fact that england not also the fact that england not only playing south africa in the Rugby World Cup on saturday, playing africa. What are playing south africa. What are the chances that in the the chances of that in the cricket world . Springboks as well. So. So springboks as well. So. So what is this, the springbok off . Thats exactly and i hope what is this, the springbok off . Tdo. s exactly and i hope what is this, the springbok off . Tdo asexactly and i hope what is this, the springbok off . Tdo as well. Y and i hope what is this, the springbok off . Tdo as well. And i hope they do as well. Well, what does this mean for englands hopes in cricket englands hopes in the cricket world cup . Actually its better because the thing is its the its a round robin tournament. So youve got ten teams. Everybody has play other everybody has to play each other once, only the top four will once, but only the top four will then qualify for the semi finals. Now we are the current. So now we are the current holders and were expected to do really hasnt been really well. But it hasnt been good. Ben stokes is going to good. But ben stokes is going to come back. Hes given a stirring speech. Come back. Hes given a stirring speech. Theyre calling him the speech. Theyre calling him the what is it, the spiritual leader, matthew mott, the coach, has called him. So hes not the captain, but hes given the speeches and hopefully hes going to be back. So not only is it going to be good for the cricket, but also it will probably inspire the team as well because theyre not playing as well as they should but as well as they should be. But there still have hope. There we go. I still have hope. Okay. Okay. Two nil against england, south africa, england, south africa, the cricket. Africa, rugby and the cricket. And were going to the euros and were going to win the euros next were going it next year and were going for it all. You what . Am i drunk all. You know what . Am i drunk or overly positive . A bit or overly positive . Im a bit worried about myself, thats worried about myself, but thats what worried about myself, but thats whipaul, we love it. Thanks very paul, we love it. Thanks very much indeed. Might even call him the nino maravilla. Yes. No no, okay. Too much. Well, still to come , our well, still to come, our headune well, still to come, our headline makers, david mellor and emma burnell. Burnell will be in the studio to go through the very latest front pages. Thats coming up. N ext next welcome back. At 6. 33, time to take a look at your morning newspapers and a lot of the front pages featuring that attack at a hospital in gaza city overnight. Officials there city overnight. Officials there are saying least 500 were are saying at least 500 were killed. We havent been able to confirm those numbers. Israel is blaming hamas for the misfiring rocket , as they put it. Rocket, as they put it. Well, the i also leads with this story adding that many who were killed in the attack were children and civilians seeking shelter hospital elsewhere. Heres the Financial Times front page featuring a picture of president xi and Putin Meeting during the belt and road forum in beijing yesterday. Forum in beijing yesterday. Whereas the Daily Telegraph has warned that were facing Terror Threats from iran. Thats according to the head of m15, kim ken mccallum. He said that the country has already posted a particularly intensive threat and may now move into new directions. The daily star warns britains facing an invasion of furry clawed chinese crabs which are marching sideways across the country, eating everything in their path. Their path. You can always rely on the daily star for some light relief. Or maybe it isnt. Sure. Well, i think we need a bit of light relief today. Bit of light relief today. But lets go through some of these headlines now with the former chief secretary to the treasury, david mellor, and the political consultant emma burnell. David. Shall we start burnell. David. Shall we start with you . What else can we start with you . What else can we start with . But of course, this this front page news that is leading so many of the papers this morning, the dreadful attack on the hospital. Guardian says hundreds yes. Guardian says hundreds feared dead in gaza. Hospital strike. The times says outrage at hospital attacks. And the at hospital attacks. And the Daily Telegraph says biden visits israel as hundreds die in gaza hospital. Of course , some gaza hospital. Of course, some i had the privilege , if thats had the privilege, if thats what you can call it, of going as a Foreign Office minister to gaza. As a Foreign Office minister to gaza. Its terrible. And i had gaza. Its terrible. And i had a meeting with mr shamir, who was then the Prime Minister of israel , and i then the Prime Minister of israel, and i said, mr shamir, im a 30 odd year old. This was some time ago, 30 odd year old british father of two children. If i was an israeli, 30 odd year old father of two children, what hope do you offer me that i will ever be able to bring my family up in peace . That was 35 years ago, and the answer is no hope at all. And the other irony, you know, i was in the cabinet room when two ira mortar bombs went off in the garden and one of them, fortunately didnt didnt explode as well as it should. So we lived to tell the tale. But you know, since then , weve you know, since then, weve kissed and made up with the ira, not not without controversy. And ireland is at peace. When is someone going to have the statesmanship to try and do that in israel . And statesmanship to try and do that in israel . And i its statesmanship to try and do that in israel . And i its very in israel . And i its very impossible. In israel . And i its very impossible. I had my first speech live by Benjamin Netanyahu. To 30 odd years ago netanyahu. To 30 odd years ago when i had my one afternoon of glory chairing the Security Council of the United Nations. Council of the United Nations. He came in and delivered himself of a terrible speech and i said to our ambassador, what the hell is this fellow up to . I never heard of him before. He said, oh, hes just addressing the new York Television shows. Hes not really interested in any of you. Youre just incidental. And you know, the fact youre the Security Council doesnt matter to netanyahu going to him. When is netanyahu going to him. When is netanyahu going to make way . When are israel going to find a leader who is capable of actually injecting some fresh impetus into peace . How long can they go on like this . And yet emma burnell , it and yet emma burnell, it takes two sides to reach peace. Takes two sides to reach peace. And whilst in the past, particularly in the 1990s, the israelis were happy to sign up to a two state solution, there was the famous camp david retreat and the palestinians rejected that. Well, no, we actually got very, very close in the 90s and then the leader of israel, Yitzhak Rabin , was actually shot Yitzhak Rabin, was actually shot by an israeli , an israeli by an israeli, an israeli extremist. And thats when that started to fall apart. So extremist. And thats when that started to fall apart. So there started to fall apart. So there was a moment when Yasser Arafat and the israelis were actually negotiating properly and it fell apart on the israeli side because after the death of rabin, the politics then went much more extreme in israel. Much more extreme in israel. Look, both sides are very intransigent at the moment and getting more so what hamas did at the weekend before last was horrific. And you can absolutely horrific. And you can absolutely understand the sentiment in israel about sort of making sure that Something Like that can neven that Something Like that can never, ever happen again. The problem is, is that then youve also got similar sentiment in gaza when theyre seeing hospitals being blown up. Now, both sides are claiming that it was the other side that did that. But whether or not that particular incident was done by a hamas rocket or an a stray hamas rocket or an israeli attack, there have been over 2000 deaths in gaza in the last week. And we know that there are people suffering without water, without food, and those are not the people who are hamas fighters. Those are just the ordinary citizens who have been blockaded into gaza. They been blockaded into gaza. They cant out. And its just so cant get out. And its just so difficult because both sides are feeling righteously angry. But thats not a position from which anyone actually manages to find peace. And as david said and peace. And as david said and obviously david has far more experience and statesmanship and International Experience than i do. But as he said, its going to take somebody to take the brave stance for peace , peace, brave stance for peace, peace, rather than simply generating generating more, more conflict to actually solve this and make lives better, both for ordinary palestinians and ordinary israelis. And lots of talk about somebody , you know, obviously, somebody, you know, obviously, President Biden, as we speak, on his way into the region , things his way into the region, things change dramatically since as long as he knows where he is and where he is. Exactly. You know, is that person, President Biden, what happens now, given that the jordanians pulled the jordanians have pulled up the drawbridge we wont drawbridge and said, we wont meet with you now in in light of what happened and, you know, what has happened and, you know, where does this leave . I think peace isnt even on the table, is the moment, the best is it . At the moment, the best we can hope for is a ceasefire or at least some humanitarian aid. You know, i have no time, obviously, for hamas. And there they are skulking qatar. All obviously, for hamas. And there thejhamas ulking qatar. All obviously, for hamas. And there thejhamas leadership atar. All obviously, for hamas. And there thejhamas leadership safe all obviously, for hamas. And there thejhamas leadership safe from the hamas leadership safe from any possibility of being bombed. And decide trustingly. And they may decide trustingly. But, you know, when i went to gaza and on other trips ive done to the region, the people i feel sorry for are the 2 million palestinians who have no choice but to live where they live. Absolutely. And these poor little children, heart rending. Little children, heart rending. You know, i actually had difficult questions from my seven my eight year old. Now, last night saying to me, mommy, why are children being bombed . They havent got anything to do with it. I didnt have an answer, didnt know how to explain to child. And explain that to a child. And its simple when you see its very simple when you see things the of things through the eyes of a children, right and wrong. How on as make sure on earth we as adults make sure that right thing is done that the right thing is done incredibly , incredibly to incredibly, incredibly hard to see. Course, what the see. But of course, what the israelis there that israelis would say there is that the Hamas Terrorists are firing rockets schools , from rockets from schools, from hospitals, from civilian areas and using individuals as shields i i i dont care what they say. You cant bomb a hospital. Well, the israelis denied that they did. And of course they did. And of course they did. They would, wouldnt they . They would, wouldnt they . That would be they said that they would be able to prove this and provide the so eyes of the the proof. So all eyes of the international will International Community will very much be on that. Is very much be on that. And it is so important to establish the facts really feels facts because it really feels like this conflict is a knife like this conflict is on a knife edge president will be edge. President biden will be arriving region and we arriving in the region and we think in the next hour and a half so. And were expecting half or so. And were expecting probably big developments whilst were thats the live were on air. Thats the live picture sderot israel picture from sderot in israel this. We have been this morning. We have been seeing smoke rising, but not as we watch that shot at the minute. But as you can imagine , a. But as you can imagine, a constantly changing picture coming from there. Emma shall we take a look at some of the other stories this morning . The m15 warning of the uk. Terror threat from iran. I mean, it all links in, doesnt it . This is the front of the telegraph. Well, this is it. I mean, we mentioned that hamas quite mentioned that hamas are quite possibly lets possibly in qatar. Now, lets think about that. Lets think about what happened in qatar last summer when we absolutely sport washed that country and we allowed them to become these international cells , migratory international cells, migratory partners of football. And i partners of football. And i really think that we have all taken our eyes off the ball when it comes to these regimes, and that includes iran. Now, i, i was at a conference about this time last year. Listen to iranian women talking about the, you know, the murders that had happened there and the protests that had happened since for trying to live their lives. And trying to live their lives. And this is something that we, you know , iran has their fingers in know, iran has their fingers in a lot of these pies. And we have taken their eye off the ball when it comes to the behaviour of that state. Both internally and externally. And need to and externally. And we need to be more. And i just think be a lot more. And i just think since this the disaster that was the iraq war, we as the west have kind of gone well, its not our problem anymore. Were just our problem anymore. Were just withdrawing from everything. Were becoming more insular. And this story shows that actually when we become more insular, they dont listening to us saying were not interested, they will come to our shores and do it here. So i think its really, really important that we focus much more on international diplomacy. We on international diplomacy. We on International Understanding and development, because if we dont, the bad actors will. It was fascinating to read the head of m15 who was speaking alongside the heads of the Intelligence Services in the us, canada. On australia and new canada. On australia and new zealand, the so called five eyes network of intelligence sharing that this could really pose grave risks here in the United Kingdom. David mellor what can the uk do to better protect itself . Well, i think it would be we obviously we have to ensure that the security Security Apparatus gets the resources that it needs to be able to trace and track down on these plots before they have a chance to do something terrible. But i think its inevitable that there will be something awful happening. And something awful happening. And theres no doubt about that. But you see, the problem we have at the moment is that the whole International Structure that supposed to deal with these things, the un Security Council and so on, its utterly paralysed. Whats russia doing still on the un Security Council . Theres a meeting between putin and xi. Neither of them have clean hands. When it comes to peace and preventing militarism and terrorism taking control. Well, i its hard not control. Well, i its hard not to feel quite depressed about the whole thing. I agree. I agree. And emma, you mentioned iraq there. And i just want to bring our viewers up to date on breaking news overnight. This was at 542, two american officials telling the reuters was at 542, two american officiiagencyng the reuters was at 542, two american officiiagencyng ththezuters was at 542, two american officiiagencyng ththe uslrs was at 542, two american officiiagencyng ththe us military news agency that the us military had managed to thwart attacks, targeted troops in iraq. So targeted us troops in iraq. So we are already seeing existing tensions flaring up in in places where weve been through so many traumas before. I want to move traumas before. I want to move on, to david, while continuing the discussion of the role of china and russia in the United Nations. China and russia in the united nafions. The china and russia in the United Nations. The feet have them at this conference thats ongoing at the moment. They met yesterday, handshakes and theyre featured on the front page for the feet. Tell us more. Yes. Yes. And also on inside pages in the other broadsheets, i mean, the other broadsheets, i mean, the situation is that russia is plainly in a bind and needs china. The unresolved issue in china. The unresolved issue in my mind, and i think in lots of other peoples minds is do china need russia . And what do they need russia . And what do they need russia . And what do they need russia for or do they become the leaders, if you like, of the opposition in the world when you have america trying to rule the roost and i think its the great difficulty i have is knowing what manner of man is president xi . Is he a man of peace . Yes. Or is he a man of peace . Yes. Or is he a man of war . So i think its hard to see him as anything other than somebody who believes that china has a path to domination and that path to domination doesnt lead us through the groves of peace. Sadly. Now, as weve been talking, weve been seeing live explosions in israel. And i just wonder , given the and i just wonder, given the context of war, war on the continent of europe, war in the middle east, with this meeting between g and putin, what can we expect about war in the South China Sea . What can we expect china sea . What can we expect about the future of taiwan . Euanne about the future of taiwan . Elianne are we entering now an era of greater for global conflict . Conflict . Absolutely. And i think the chinese have been militarising these various islands in the South China Sea through which very substantial chunk of the worlds trade passes. As i would worlds trade passes. As i would have thought. I dont understand why she thinks its necessary. For instance , to threaten for instance, to threaten taiwan. She has got it all on a plate. The only way he can throw plate. The only way he can throw away , say chinas inevitable away, say chinas inevitable continuing growth as a major, major the Major Trading country , major the Major Trading country, Global Trading country in the world is by provoking some kind of violence. S and it looks like of violence. S and it looks like he wants to do that. I think these are uncertain times. I forget who it was. Now, some historian who when there was the collapse of the russian the soviet empire said this is the end of history. Soviet empire said this is the end of history. Fukuyama yes. Soviet empire said this is the end of history. Fukuyama yes. I end of history. Fukuyama yes. I wonder what hes thinking now. I wonder what hes thinking now. I just want to test you guys. I just want to test you guys. I want i once heard him talk live and it seemed to me a rather glib analysis. But the reality is history is not ending. Its different. And the other thing different. And the other thing is, when i was a Foreign Office minister, it was the era of the russians. Soviets, a lot of old russians. Soviets, a lot of old men who were not particularly nice old men and were sometimes threatening old men, but they didnt really pose anything like the threat that weve got at the moment where, i mean, anything could happen anywhere at any time. And then you look at international leadership. I mean international leadership. I mean , we dont contribute a lot. We have i mean, you cant help being young and inexperienced, but i dont know that our Prime Minister is much of a help. Well, hes due to fly in to israel tomorrow, isnt he . And who knows what role hell have in any of that . Can we move on before we wrap this and talk about some sort of domestic stories . And emma, this is on the front of the times. The nhs is being urged to offer menopause checks for the over 40. Seems quite young. 40. Seems quite young. Oh, no, its not, is it not . No its not. Im 48 and ive been perry a menopausal for good for years at least. And its for years at least. And its a nightmare. And it is crazy. Nightmare. And it is crazy. Absolutely crazy that the nhs, when were talking about your mod your over 40 mod doesnt factor into the fact that 50 of the population are likely to be approaching this, if not going through it. Approaching this, if not going through it. You know, that is there is a wonderful book written by Caroline Criado perez which says shows how so much of the systems that we have are entirely based on the male body, rather than the female body. And this is just a classic example of that. You know, obviously you of that. You know, obviously you shouldnt be asking blokes if theyre going through the menopause, although i know theres a slightly menopause, although i know theres conversationlightly menopause, although i know theres conversation about the bizarre conversation about the menopause , thats whole menopause, but thats a whole different thing. But body different thing. But your body between 40 and 50 as a woman change changes dramatically. It sent me absolutely flipping loopy. Im not going to sent me absolutely flipping loopy. Im not going to kid and there are really important things that you need to be able to do to counter it. And the fact that were not looking at it is terrible. Excuse me. It is terrible. Excuse me. I suppose david mellor there is an opportunity here. Perhaps to even save taxpayer money if this is a prevent active measure that the nhs could take. Well, obviously because as you know, when i was health minister, what we were trying to do was it should be a National Health service, whereas for the most part its a National Sickness service and what you need to try to do is to help people deal with things that are not immediately life threatening , but which are deeply distressing. And i hope to avoid distressing. And i hope to avoid the menopause if such a thing exists. And i have no experience of the menopause. But i mean, theres no doubt about it. Its a sad part , part of womens a sad part, part of womens lives that years can be lost in the battle with this change of life. And you have to ask yourself, is the nhs doing as much as it should do . And i think the answer inevitably is no. No. And most women in the workplace now, which wasnt the case, at least 1 or 2 generations ago. So, you know, this helps women to stay in the workplace for longer. It has to workplace for longer. It has to be a good and we say be a good thing. And we say thank you very to david thank you very much to david mellor emma burnell. More mellor and emma burnell. More from both a little bit from both of them a little bit later with the time its later on. But with the time its 651, were going take 651, were going to take a little look at the headlines this hour. The President Joe Bidens the us President Joe Bidens visit jordan with arab visit to jordan with arab leaders has been cancelled as he makes to aviv today makes his way to tel aviv today for extraordinary wartime visit. Bidens visit comes however, bidens visit comes as a deadly explosion. An as a deadly explosion. An explosion hits the al ali Arab Hospital in gaza city overnight. Hospital in gaza city overnight. Its reported to have killed 500 people, including many sick women and children. Women and children. And at 7 am. In just a few minutes time, the office for National Statistics will release the latest inflation figures, which are expected to have decreased from the august figure of 6. 3 now , the met office has of 6. 3 now, the met office has issued an amber weather warning for parts of the uk as storm babette is set to bring downpour and strong winds from today. Well, the senior meteorology wokeist for the british weather services, jim dale joins us now. Services, jim dale joins us now. And jim, how concerned should we. Be with any warnings . There should also be an element of concern in these these warnings are not given out lightly. And one of those warnings is an amber warning, which is for the grampian area. Angus maybe into the lothian area of scotland. So the main the main warning is about rain, rather than wind. Im not suggesting that the winds are going to be particularly pretty for the next few days. Theyre not. Were going to see 30, 40 mile an hour gusts fairly universally, to be honest with you. So universally, to be honest with you. So wet and windy, miserable , i think is a good, good terminology for what were going to see in this in this next 72 hours. Going nowhere fast. But hours. Going nowhere fast. But that at the moment is well to the south coast. So its going to cross northern france. Um, to cross northern france. Um, but as i suggest you, its pushing, its pushing frontal systems and troughs northwards towards the uk and through the uk over these next 72 hours. So one after another. So there will be dry gaps, but then you go back into it and its that incessant sort of accumulate of rain thats going to cause the problem when i say incessant , by problem when i say incessant, by the time we get to thursday , the time we get to thursday, friday time, part of friday time, that part of scotland that i talked about, the southeast corner particularly, and maybe even into england, were into northeast england, were talking 100 millimetre plus. So four of rain, which is four inches of rain, which is equivalent to well over a months worth of rain. So localised flooding, regionalised flooding. Thats why the warnings are out there. Warnings are out there. You talk about it being over northern france at the moment. When do we expect it to reach our shores . Was hearing that our shores . I was hearing that its to arrive and pretty its going to arrive and pretty much here until until much be here until until saturday. Days of this. Yeah, its isabel. Its a slow fuse, this one, isnt it . The Actual Centre of the low bet itself wont actually come into the uk. Itll skim to the south. Its its frontal systems that its carrying and this and babette was actually born over the canary islands. Very, very warm waters. Record temperatures warm waters. Record temperatures a few weeks ago in in in the canary islands. So all of this has got intensity wrapped in it, energy, if you like. So this is why, as its moved its way across the bay of biscay and now moving towards ourselves, that its going produce this its going to produce this intense rainfall that and the winds that go with it. So as i say , miserable for many and say, miserable for many and hazardous for some. And thats what weve got to expect now for the next 72 hours. And do we have any indication of where in the United Kingdom it will be most hazardous, where people really do need to watch out . Out . Yeah, well , its starting, yeah, well, its starting, tom. Its starting now in the on the south coast and on the west coast of scotland and run into northern ireland. So, look, to be honest with you, i use the word a mess because its not exactly an exact science in terms of who gets what, where exactly an exact science in ternwhen, ho gets what, where exactly an exact science in ternwhen, butjets what, where exactly an exact science in ternwhen, but basically where exactly an exact science in ternwhen, but basically sayere and when, but basically say everybodys in it even the everybodys in it now. Even the areas that are the worst areas that are not in the worst of it, theyre going to see 30, 40mm quite comfortably. So driving is not going to be particularly with rain particularly easy with with rain accumulating on the roads , that accumulating on the roads, that type of thing. Weve got to say thank you very much for that and leave it there and well take a little look at our forecast now as well. Im alex deakin. This is your latest weather update the latest weather update from the met for news. Good met office for gb news. Good morning, storm babette is moving in through the rest of today, bringing very heavy rain, bringing some very heavy rain, particularly across particularly tomorrow across eastern scotland. But eastern parts of scotland. But even today could see some even today we could see some issues , heavy showers developing issues, heavy showers developing across the midlands and across parts of the midlands and southern england turning very wet here through this afternoon and evening. The wind and the evening. The wind strength as for large strength going as well for large parts of the uk. It is another dry day in much of Eastern England a good part of england and a good part of scotland turning once the scotland turning dry once the early rain clears from the west. Temperatures into temperatures will be again into the a bit cooler the teens, feeling a bit cooler because the winds, especially because of the winds, especially across the south. As the rain p9ps across the south. As the rain peps here, also going to peps up here, but also going to see heavy rain through the see some heavy rain through the evening across northern evening time across northern ireland. Office warning ireland. Met Office Warning in place for that. And then this band becomes slow moving band of rain becomes slow moving over of Northern England over parts of Northern England before southern before working into southern scotland through night. So scotland through the night. So again, moving nature, again, slow moving nature, persistent heavy rain could cause some problems as temperatures holding up overnight. It wont be a cold overnight. It wont be a cold night at all, but the rain could continue through thursday across these eastern parts of scotland. Thats where we have a met office. Amber warning in place. The winds also likely to be an issue, parts issue, particularly across parts of especially the of scotland, especially to the far north west. Very strong far north west. Some very strong gusts here. So as i say, we have a number of met Office Warnings in place. Check the website in place. Check out the website for more details on that. Further south tomorrow, there will heavy will again be some heavy showers, spells in showers, some brighter spells in between temperatures. Again mid to even high teens, but feeling cooler where its wet and the blame game begins after an explosion at a hospital in gaza, killing hundreds. As we gaza, killing hundreds. As we await the arrival of the us President Joe Biden into israel , President Joe Biden into israel, a white house spokesperson has said the president will put tough questions to israel during his visit. His visit. Well, good morning. Its 7 00 in the uk on wednesday , the 18th in the uk on wednesday, the 18th of october. This is breakfast with Isabel Webster and me tom hannood. Heres whats leading the news this morning. The news this morning. President bidens visit to jordan with arab leaders has been cancelled as he makes his way to the middle east today for an extraordinary wartime visit. An extraordinary wartime visit. Hes seeking to demonstrate americas support for israels mission to eliminate hamas, while also pressing for ways to ease the humanitarian suffering in gaza. In gaza. However, bidens visit comes as a deadly explosion hits the allahi Arab Hospital in gaza city overnight, reports to have killed some 500 people, including many sick women and children. Our reporter charlie children. Our reporter Charlie Peters will bring us the very latest from tel aviv. Latest from tel aviv. Confusion and horror has swept the region after the unexplained and appalling attack on a hospital last night this as biden arrives to meet with World Leaders. Leaders. Life on the front line. We life on the front line. We have an exclusive interview with the british man who travelled to israel to fight in the war on hamas. Hamas. I have to say that the people of bury fought very bravely. There are a lot of time that we saw also bodies of israeli innocent citizens in the houses , innocent citizens in the houses, but also bodies of terrorists that we didnt kill the people of bury killed, managed to kill some of them. And back in the some of them. And back in the uk, well bring you the very latest on tomorrows upcoming mid bedfordshire by election. The seats which up until recently was held by Nadine Dorries and our economics and Business Editor Liam Halligan is here to bring us live reaction to inflation figures this hour is the cost of living squeeze easing will know as soon as this september inflation number comes out. Ill be bringing you the latest on the money as ever. Latest on the money as ever. And alex deakin has your weather storm. Babette is on the way, bringing some torrential rain and some persistent rain as well. And the combination of those likely to cause some problems over the next few days. Theres also going to be some strong and gusty winds. There are a number of met Office Warnings in place. Join me later for a full forecast. For a full forecast. And as ever, you can join in any of our discussions by emailing gbviews gbnews. Com or you us at gb news and you can tweet us at gb news and you can tweet us at gb news and you can tweet us at gb news and you can join in to the debate about whether pink and green clashes. In london has clashes. Dave in london has added he says, sorry, added his voice. He says, sorry, tom. Mike, you, tom. Like mike, i do like you, but the pink and green but i think the pink and green tie are sartorially correct, tie are not sartorially correct, not sartorially correct, but verbosity from these from these gb news viewers this morning, i must say , i dont have a problem must say, i dont have a problem with pink and green. I think its lovely. So im sticking up for you there. Think liam has has i think liam has has a comment. Weve just had the yeah, weve just had the latest inflation number for september. It up . Is it down . September. Is it up . Is it down . Its unchanged. Changed its unchanged. Changed inflation , 6. 7. The inflation in september, 6. 7. The same as august 6. 7. The cost of living crisis is not easing. Inflation is still below the latest wage growth, which means real wages on average are rising. All eyes will be drilling down into these numbers , looking at food Price Inflation, energy Price Inflation, energy Price Inflation, all of that. But all eyes will now be on the bank of england the 2nd november. England the 2nd of november. That rate that next Interest Rate decision, strikes me with decision, it strikes me with this they could hold. Okay. Well have more analysis on that breaking news. Inflation has unchanged. And as inflation has unchanged. And as we launch into the news this morning, more grim news from the israel hamas conflict. Israel hamas conflict. Well the us president , joe biden, is expected to arrive in israel shortly as part of a Diplomatic Mission amid growing concerns over the conflict. Biden is expected to spend part of today in tel aviv for talks with the israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to help in the safe release of hostages being held by hamas and the growing humanitarian crisis in the middle east. Well, President Biden was then expected to travel to on neighbouring jordan for talks about accelerating humanitarian assistance into gaza. However, this stop was cancelled after the strike on the al hospital in gaza city, which palestinian officials are blaming on israel. Officials are blaming on israel. But israel remains denies that and is blaming it on the Palestinian Islamic jihad group. Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. Well, as President Biden left washington dc, white house spokesperson john kirby told reporters that biden will pose tough questions in meetings with israeli leaders. He said to be outraged by the explosion at a gaza hospital that killed, we think, around 500 people and stated he had directed his National Security team to gather information about what exactly happened. Well our political analyst, eric ham joins us live from washington. Joins us live from washington. And eric, i suppose its very difficult before joe biden set off last night, much of the discussion was that this was an israeli strike on this hospital. But now it seems like the discussion has moved the Israeli Defence forces have been publishing Information Online suggesting that actually this was a misfired hamas rocket. Might it be the case that bidens cancer and meeting with the jordanians , with the the jordanians, with the palestinians authorities could they be back on the table or is this a half scuppered visit . This a half scuppered visit . Well, look what certainly happened at that hospital is certainly, i think, catastrophic and damaging. And it certainly makes it raises the stakes for President Bidens visit. But the United States has been a material supporter not only of israel , but certainly of material supporter not only of israel, but certainly of jordan , israel, but certainly of jordan, saudi arabia and other countries in the region, including egypt. And so i think if the president is travelling to an active war zone, it those countries need to actually be there to meet with the president , particularly given that he is placing all of his Political Capital on this situation by travelling to the region. President biden is taking ownership of this and this is very high risk risk with very low reward and i think what were seeing now is President Biden has got to be able, since hes owning this situation and hes owning this situation and hes got to be able to walk away with some clear some clear a safeguards or clear. Safeguards safeguards or clear. Safeguards from many of these nations that he can somehow tamp down on the rising escalation thats taking place in the region. There was some speculation that hed only agreed to this visit with some sort of expectation of a result, whether that be in the ceasefire or the opening of the rafah crossing to allow aid into the area. And allow aid into the area. And some western citizens out of gaza. Some western citizens out of gaza. Are those hopes, do you gaza. Are those hopes, do you think, dashed somewhat by the breaking news overnight and the quite unequivocal response from the arab world with particularly the arab world with particularly the king of jordan saying, im not even going to meet with you now . Now . Well, yeah. And you know, look, the United States just last year signed a 10 billion aid agreement with jordan that they will provide this much aid over the next seven years. So the president is carrying a very big stick and i think at any time the president can also cut off that spigot of aid, not only to jordan but to other nations. And so President Biden, you know, we know that President Biden has always, you know, said one thing in public and did something very different in private. And the president certainly doesnt want to be seen as chiding or being critical of these leaders publicly. But i think now, given publicly. But i think now, given the fact that this is a war and theres growing concern that this could escalate, President Biden has got to really take this by the reins. And take ownership. And hes got to be very forceful even with countries , with leaders. The countries, with leaders. The king of jordan, as well, because, again , the united because, again, the United States is not coming here with hat in hand. Its the United States is a material supporter of many of these nations. And the president needs to actually make that clear, that there is some level of concern and there are things that the president wants from these nations and also from Benjamin Netanyahu , also from Benjamin Netanyahu, who and we know that that relationship has certainly been tense. But right now, the president has got to be able to call in those chips, particularly given the fact that the United States has expended billions of dollars over these last years in the region. Last few years in the region. Suppose back at home, i suppose back at home, bidens thinking his own bidens thinking about his own political situation, the accusations that hes a sleepy president , that hes someone thats not engaged, not involved , not hosting as many press conference, hes not travelling as much as his predecessors. Do as much as his predecessors. Do you think that perhaps that context made this trip inevitable . Would he have looked weak . Would he have looked lazy without it . Without it . Well, i do believe that the fact that he is to going his second war zone in this year, i think it speaks to the fact that the president now is looking to change the narrative to show that hes actively engaged. Hes actively involved. But the president needs more than a photo op. I mean, we saw that hospital, the carnage there , and hospital, the carnage there, and also to now the president s got to be able, if the United States is going to continue to showcase itself as the worlds superpower President Biden has got to act like it. Hes got to be able to get those extractions from these World Leaders while he is there. Hes got to be able to be able to say to Benjamin Netanyahu what he wants and Benjamin Netanyahu has got to give President Biden what he wants and othennise, this he could walk away. I think with that same narrative as a feeble man who cant get what he want on the world stage because hes too old and hes too feckless and unable to get these things done at a time when the world needs america to be engaged. America to be engaged. Okay. Eric ham, political analyst, joining us from washington, thank you very much indeed. Well , in indeed. Well, in gazas deadliest day of this conflict, hundreds are feared killed at this explosion at the al araby hospital in gaza city overnight. City overnight. The Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson has said hundreds died at the building after what palestinian officials said was an israeli airstrike. Israel has an israeli airstrike. Israel has denied it, blaming the blast instead on a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic jihad group, which itself has denied responsibility i well, initial reports suggest that a missile struck outside the building where hundreds of displaced gazans have been residing after israel gave the Evacuation Order for the northern part of the strip. On northern part of the strip. On twitter, the israel Defence Force posted the following clip. Force posted the following clip. Yes, in this clip, if youre listening on the radio, let us describe it for you. You can see a rocket launched into the sky from a built up area thats then intercepted or we think explodes intercepted or we think explodes in what could have been an error and then moments later you can see a massive explosion thats a few hundred metres away, this time on the ground. And so the question really that the whole world wants to know is whether or not this is a faulty hamas rocket or an israeli missile strike. Back at the end. There you can see terrorists launch further rockets after the explosion from what appears to be the gazan side of the border. Now, this incident came not long after the un said a school sheltering thousands of people in central gaza was also hit, killing at least six people. Well on gb news last night, the israeli ambassador to the uk spoke to nigel farage and had this to say in response to specifically the hospital attack. I want to check what happened, but im sure and i can guarantee you we never target civilians. Civilians. Well, World Leaders have been quick to express outrage over the events with protests sweeping nations across the islamic world, like this scene here in lebanon. Now, hopefully here in lebanon. Now, hopefully you see it. There you go. There you go. And indeed, the foreign secretary condemning the actions and reiterating the importance to protect civilian life. Well, the hospital explosion comes as the hospital explosion comes as the humanitarian crisis in gaza is deepening. The United Nations has warned that israels Bombing Campaign and the blockade of gaza in response to the hamas attack on its communities is likely to be in breach of International Law. Yes israel has blocked supplies of food , has blocked supplies of food, water, fuel and electricity since the deadly hamas attacks on the 7th of october, but denies that there is a humanitarian crisis. Well, humanitarian crisis. Well, joining us now live from tel aviv is gb News Reporter Charlie Peters. Good morning to you, charlie. This feels like this conflict is on a knife edge right now and it is incredibly important to establish the facts surrounding this tragedy with the explosion of a hospital in gaza. The explosion of a hospital in gaza. City gaza. City yes, there is a lot of confusion about that situation. We were reporting on the ground in tel aviv last night when that rocket barrage that youve just played was launched towards central israel. And specifically this city. And most of those rockets were intercepted. It appeared. But then when we returned to safety out of the shelter, news started to filter through from gaza that there had been a significant explosion at the Baptist Christian hospital in in gaza city. Now reports immediately from the gazan side claiming that this was an israeli airstrike and in the two hours that followed before the idf spoke, there was a Chain Reaction across the region in lebanon , hezbollah promised lebanon, hezbollah promised a day of rage in reaction to what they said was an israeli strike. The lebanese sorry, the Palestinian Authority president , Mahmoud Abbas, said that he had to call off his meeting with President Biden. And there was all sorts of calls for protests outside of israeli embassies throughout the region. But the fighting has enraged in southern israel, of course, as this incident continues. And yesterday i sat down with a british israeli soldier who is still fighting with hamas. Still fighting with hamas. At 7 am. They woke us up, told us that there were israelis in a total war and we need to get ready and that we are going down to the gaza strip. Have you heard any reports about the extent of the hamas violence in that kibbutz . Violence in that kibbutz . We had reports on our way. We opened phones to understand whats happening because the idf couldnt understand whats happening, because there was too much information going to from everywhere. We saw the live streams hamas. Then we streams of hamas. And then we understand that something really strange and when strange is happening and when you got to the kibbutz beeri , you got to the kibbutz beeri, thats when you engaged with the hamas fighters there. Yeah, hamas fighters there. Yeah, before we saw a lot of a lot of stuff that hamas with that a lot of bodies of innocent citizens. Of bodies of innocent citizens. And when we came to kibbutz beeri, to the junction of beeri, to the junction of beeri by the gate of the kibbutz. So we heard over this all of the shooting and we understand that the massacre is still happening. I have to say that the people of beeri fought very bravely. There were a lot of time that we saw also bodies of time that we saw also bodies of israeli innocent citizens in the houses, but also bodies of terrorists that we didnt kill. Terrorists that we didnt kill. The people of beeri killed managed to kill some of them. What was the fighting like . Very close combat. Very close quarters. Yeah, very close combat. Most of our combat oh, 5 to 7m from each other. Or that they are they were inside the houses and we try to break inside the houses. We try to break inside the houses. In every house there houses. In every house there were between 3 or 4 terrorists that stayed inside the houses. I saw three terrorists. I yelled to them, idf, idf, because we didnt understand if theyre terrorists or cities since, uh, um, people that have weapons. When did you suffer your injury . What happened . Injury . What happened . I suffered it on sunday evening. We did our last. Evening. We did our last. The last fight. The last fight. The last fight. The last fight. The last fight with terrorist. But like a machine gun started to shoot on us from inside the house. A machine gun shot at you from inside where you were so you ran into a house and there was a terrorist inside there. Photo for we tried to shoot a photo for we tried to shoot the they shoot us the terrorists. They shoot us back. My soldier that operates a machine gun fell down and dead in the place. I got injured in my stomach and in my hand. So i was about on my back because i was about on my back because i was bleeding from the back. From the bullet in your stomach . Yeah, exactly. That i will not going to bleed. And i started shooting on the terrorist. I shot a 9100 bullets on them. One of my soldiers spoke when he couldnt put it inside the hallway, so it came to the living room where i was. Its a close. I have no idea why. As a religious man, im saying its because god. But i got i didnt get injured from the another officer the grenade. So another officer of managed to work of my unit managed to work inside the house from the kitchen window. He took me outside and the tank came and finished the job, destroyed the house. The tank destroyed house. The tank destroyed the house. After you all pull down the terrorist we could gladly terrorist and we could gladly say kibbutz beeri has say that the kibbutz beeri has zero terrorist inside of them. Have to say i was i have to say that i was really impressed from the brave of the citizens of mary. Right now, israel is preparing for that likely invasion of the strip. Do invasion of the gaza strip. Do you the country and the you think the country and the army for the next phase army is ready for the next phase of this war . Of course youre ready to go again. Will go again week i will go again next week after i heal. Well he is after i will heal. Well he is ready to go again. But the conversation now in israel is what will happen next after that hospital explosion last night. The feeling in tel aviv is that the whole world and in particular the region has come out to them for an come out to blame them for an attack they didnt do. Attack that they didnt do. Thats view here. The thats their view here. The spokesman for the idf this morning that 450 is morning saying that 450 is rockets from the gaza strip have fallen short inside the strip since this conflict began. And also theyve said that the iron dome does not intercept missiles when they are ascending. They only intercept when they are inside israeli territory or over the sea. So they have poured water on that explanation that it could have been an interception that then fell back down onto the gaza strip. But down onto the gaza strip. But significant confusion still remains as all sides blame each other at this extremely delicate Tipping Point for this war. Okay, Charlie Peters, thanks very much indeed. Very much indeed. Well, in the last few minutes, the office for National Statistics has released the latest inflation figures, which remain stationed three flat at 6. 7. No change from august. Well, our business and economics editor joins us now well, our business and economics editorjoins us now in economics editor joins us now in the studio to explain it all. I mean, we say stationary and flat, but it still means compared to this time last year , compared to this time last year, goods have gone up by 6. 7. It would be bad news for the government probably morning i exactly right, isabel, we must be completely about must be completely clear about this. It doesnt mean that pnces this. It doesnt mean that prices are flat. It that prices are flat. It means that pnces prices are flat. It means that prices in september were 6. 7, as you say, up from september 2022. It was the same in august. It was 6. 8 in july. So really, inflation is flatlining as you like in the last few minutes. Chancellor jeremy like in the last few minutes. Chancellorjeremy hunt like in the last few minutes. Chancellor jeremy hunt has said, as weve seen across other g7 countries, because inflation is also flatlining in the us , also flatlining in the us, albeit a lower rate, 3. 7 as weve seen in other g7 countries, said our chancellor. Inflation rarely falls in a straight line, but if we stick to our plan, then we still expect it to keep falling. This yean expect it to keep falling. This year. Rishi sunak, of course, is on the hook in january. Said he wanted halve inflation. It wanted to halve inflation. It was just above 10 at that point, so he needs it to get down closer to 5. Just very, very briefly, why is inflation flatlining . Because food Price Inflation is coming down, down from 13. 6 in august to 12. 1 in september. So still very high food Price Inflation, but its going in the right direction in clothing. Inflation is coming down, but only slightly from 7 to 6. 9. But the real issue here, and ill be talking about it with you as we go through the morning, the real issue here is Energy Prices and particularly petrol prices up very sharply, not least because of the opec exporters cartel restricting suppues exporters cartel restricting supplies across the world. And now all the geopolitical fallout from these ghastly atrocities in israel. Liam, even before this incident, this escalation in the middle east, i asked the chancellor at tory conference, you know, are you confident that inflation will come down, given what im seeing at the petrol pump . And he made point, pump . And he made the point, look, is lumpy. It look, inflation is lumpy. It often isnt straight line. He often isnt a straight line. He was ready in preparing was almost ready in preparing himself but, himself for this moment. But, you theres a time you know, theres almost a time lag, isnt there, with these events. And i dont to be events. And i dont want to be pessimistic. Great that pessimistic. Its great that its flattening but actually, pessimistic. Its great that its fliitening but actually, pessimistic. Its great that its fliit be ng but actually, pessimistic. Its great that its fliit be worse it actually, pessimistic. Its great that its fliit be worse next. Ually, pessimistic. Its great that its fliit be worse next month in could it be worse next month in light of whats been happening . Well, it all depends on on the geopolitics ive been saying this news for some time this on gb news for some time now , even before this explosion now, even before this explosion of violence in the middle east, it was clear that opec , thats it was clear that opec, thats the arab countries , is the oil the arab countries, is the oil exporting cartel working with the russians now, they have been deliberately restricting suppues deliberately restricting supplies , cranking up the price supplies, cranking up the price of oil, which obviously drives petrol and diesel prices. All petrol and diesel prices. All Energy Prices between the mid june and a month ago. Oil prices already rose from 70 to around 85 a barrel. Thats a big percentage increase. Theyre now up above 90 a barrel. Thats up almost a third. Its a huge percentage increase. And drivers have been been detecting this. It hasnt really entered the political mainstream. But the reality is , is that geopolitics reality is, is that geopolitics could scupper the attempts of the entire western world to escape from this cost of living crisis. I dont want to be completely pessimistic. It has flatlined. I actually had flatlined. I actually had a suspicion it might go up slightly. But the symbolism of Inflation Holding as american Inflation Holding as american inflation is holding eurozone inflation is holding eurozone inflation has come down slightly. Its 4. 3. So this isnt all bad news, but it certainly puts a question mark over our ability to finally escape from this ghastly cost of living crisis. And it adds an extra dimension, doesnt it, to what President Biden and indeed the Prime Minister are going to try and when they fly into and achieve when they fly into the middle east . Because we saw the middle east . Because we saw the impacts on the economy here in the conflict in the uk of the conflict between Russia Ukraine between russia and ukraine and effectively we effectively the west could we see if the worst Case Scenario happens, if this widening of this middle east this conflict in the middle east deepening the cost of living crisis here . Im afraid we could. Theres been rightly isabel, theres been rightly an lot of comparisons made an awful lot of comparisons made with intennar period and the with the intennar period and the atrocities of the holocaust. Understandably so. But as an economist , understandably so. But as an economist, while understandably so. But as an economist , while absolutely economist, while absolutely respecting that, comparing an id also make the comparison with the yom kippur war, which was 50 years ago, pretty much to the day since this original all hamas strike on israel during the yom kippur war , oil prices the yom kippur war, oil prices rocketed and the arab world moved together within opec to really face down america and put on a huge oil embargo and a massive geopolitical event. Massive geopolitical event. Were not there yet. Opec is working, but on the fringes of commentary, youve got the iranian crucially saying we may start fighting this war on other fronts , said tehran a couple of fronts, said tehran a couple of days ago. What does that mean . Days ago. What does that mean . That means the possibility, just the possibility. But its in the the possibility. But its in the markets, in the prices now that iran could close what we call the straits of hormuz, that maritime pinch point going into the persian gulf through which about a third of the worlds oil supply every day flows. If the iranians decide to start messing with that vital sea channel, the kind of adams apple of the world economy, then that is going to incense america. Its going to incense america. Its going to incense the west. And going to incense the west. And thatis going to incense the west. And that is the route to proper escalation of violence across the middle east. Im not saying its going to happen. No, i know. But its high stakes. Im not saying its going to happen. But credible people in Financial Markets are now talking yeah. Talking that it might. Yeah. Liam, with that, thank okay, liam, with that, thank you very much indeed. And well, still to come, well negotiating well be asking if negotiating with terrorists correct with terrorists is the correct decision. Results . N ext next welcome back. Its 727 if youre in mid bedfordshire , you youre in mid bedfordshire, you will be taking to the polls, hopefully tomorrow to take part in the election. A new mp is being sought following the resignation of the former cabinet minister, Nadine Dorries, which triggered a by election well, the tories have held onto the seat since 1931, but could that be about to change . Well our reporter will hollis has been speaking with voters in the bedfordshire town of ampthill about the issues that matter to them in the barbers of mid bedfordshire, theres only one thing worth talking about the upcoming by election i voted already. You have. I did it. Postal vote. Did it. Postal vote. Darrens been cutting hair here for 30 years now. He wants here for 30 years now. He wants an mp that can do the same for taxes. Taxes. Vat for me is one thing that i find absolutely baffling. Thats my biggest gripe. Thats my biggest gripe. Obviously, no one, no one minds paying obviously, no one, no one minds paying taxes because thats what we have to pay. But on a Service Industry like mine, id have to pay industry like mine, id have to pay vat, but i have no value added tax to my business because were a non non vegetable. Thats my biggest gripe. Thats my biggest gripe. Only 50 miles from london. Bedfordshire is a commuters dream , but not for tight market dream, but not for tight market towns like ampthill. Thats a nightmare for roads. Philip moved here from luton in 1969. He wants an mp to fight for infrastructure and against pollution. Pollution. If you look at the buildings and the narrow streets, the damage thats coming from the pollution from trucks , buses, pollution from trucks, buses, cars, its really damaging. What ampthill is all about, which is a georgian market town. The position as mp opened up in august when Nadine Dorries resigned after being refused a peerage by the former culture secretary she had been mp since 2005. In fact the tories have clung on to this seat since 1931, but that could change for the rural constituency. Mid the rural constituency. Mid bedfordshire is dotted with small towns like ampthill. But small towns like ampthill. But its not just local things that matter here. National issues are driving voters to, i think mostly im voting on National Issues really because theyre affecting all of us. So the cost of living crisis is the crisis in the nhs , which is the crisis in the nhs, which i think should be privatised. I think should be privatised. I actually getting back into the Single Market for the European Union because i think we shot ourselves in the foot. Its not just about what a new mp would do. Votes are considering their qualities too. Considering their qualities too. Well, somebody that lives here. Itd be nice to be honest and one you make promises. Please keep them. Unlike the last one that we had, which quite frankly was a nightmare back in the barbers philips already planning his next haircut. Next haircut. By then, hell have a new mp. Voters might have gone for Something Different or the same as usual. Will hollis gb news in ampthill . Well lets get some ampthill . Well lets get some thoughts now from our Political Correspondent Katherine Forster. Good morning to you, catherine. We laughed when good morning to you, cath comment laughed when good morning to you, cath comment in laughed when good morning to you, cath comment in the ghed when good morning to you, cath comment in the report. Hen that comment in the report. There was somebody from the local be nice. Its local area would be nice. Its almost fashioned concept, almost an Old Fashioned concept, isnt day and age. Isnt it . In this day and age. But i want to ask you about the leaked memo sent to greg hands saying that tory vote is saying that the tory vote is expected the by expected to halve in the by elections tomorrow, just in elections tomorrow, not just in mid also where chris mid beds, but also where Chris Pinchers constituents are also going to the tamworth tamworth. Thank you. Thank you. Yes, thats right. Greg thank you. Yes, thats right. Greg hands the chair of the conservative party. A memo has leaked saying that they expect their vote share to halve from about 60 to 30, both in tamworth, which was Chris Pinchers seat and indeed in mid bedfordshire, which was nadine doriss seat. Now theyre also prepared saying if they lose those seats and its neck and neck in tamworth and its currently a three way race in mid bedfordshire so its possible they could cling on to one or both, but if they lose them they are preparing to blame. Chris pincher pincher by name ,. Chris pincher pincher by name, pincher by nature is what Boris Johnson allegedly said and Nadine Dorries personally now. Nadine dorries personally now. Nadine dorries personally now. Nadine dorries , who was the mp Nadine Dorries, who was the mp for mid bedfordshire since 2005, has already taken to twitter to basically say, if we lose this , basically say, if we lose this, its all rishi sunaks fault because rishi sunak pushed out bofis because rishi sunak pushed out Boris Johnson and that was is the first mistake, i have to say. I was in ampthill in the centre of this constituency a few weeks ago. There is real anger there with the behaviour of Nadine Dorries. She said she was going to resign immediately in early june when she thought bofis in early june when she thought Boris Johnson was going to put her into the house of lords. It then took her 11 weeks to actually de resign because she realised that she wasnt going to get that peerage and she was investigating. She said what had investigating. She said what had gone wrong. Now shes apparently moved out of the constituency. She hadnt spoken in the house of commons for over a year, but it seems like a lot of conservative voters are going to simply sit on their hands and not vote. The conservatives are estimating that only 5 of their previous voters will actually go direct to labour, but its a three horse race. Labour and lib dems are both very cross with each other and they both think theyre in with a chance. What could ultimately happen is the conservatives could hang on and come through the middle. Just really quickly to confirm , we heard that peter confirm, we heard that peter bowen lost the conservative party whip yesterday , which party whip yesterday, which means hes sitting in the commons as an independent. Does that affect the chances of a by election or does that remain as it was when we spoke to you yesterday that there could be this by election his this third by election in his constituency . Of wellingborough . I its highly likely i think its highly likely that that will happen. There can be a recall petition if 10 of people in the constituency say then there will be potentially yet another by election, something that rishi sunak needs, like a hole in the head. But i think worth remembering whatever happens in these two by elections, well get the results friday morning. Those voters are going to have to go back to the polls in about a years time because were not that far off. A general election could be just in the job for a year. Who knows . As brenda from bristol once said, theres too much politics going on at the moment, not another one. Catherine, thank you , catherine, thank you, catherine. Well, these are the candidates standing for the by election in mid bedfordshire. Sid cordle is the conservative candidate no, hang on. Thats festus akin , festus , im so sorry. Read it. Its very hard to read it from here. And then sid cordle is running for the Christian Peoples Alliance as prince and love emperor of india. He is running for a party of no description, were told. Dave holland for reform uk. Emma Louise Holland lindsey is running for the liberal democrats and kelly, the official monster raving loony party. Gareth mackey for the independents. Chris rooney , independents. Chris rooney, mainstream kate sibley for the green party. Alistair louis strathern. Alistair louis strathern. Hes the labour candidate. Alberto George Thomas for the Heritage Party. Alan victor the true and fair party and finally, antonio. Daniel vitello, the english democrats putting england first. Just to explain. We have to , in just to explain. We have to, in the name of fairness , give all the name of fairness, give all of the candidates a shout out ahead of the election. And arent there a wonderful array of many different parties, all of which itll be a fun game . Which ones get to keep their deposits and which ones . Well, therell be a few probably wont. Probably that wont. Shall we our right. Shall we turn our attention big news of the attention to the big news of the moment . And one thing that we havent the of havent discussed in the wake of this overnight, the this tragedy overnight, the bombing of the hospital, is the impact might have on impact that that might have on hostages. We understand that israels believe 199 israels military believe 199 people taken hostage people have been taken hostage by officials from the by hamas and officials from the united and other United States and other countries are determining if theyre those theyre citizens are among those captives. With President Biden captives. With President Biden arriving aviv , we think arriving in tel aviv, we think in the next hour for talks with Benjamin Netanyahu. Well on wednesday night, it was suggested rishi sunak could suggested that rishi sunak could follow bidens lead and go to israel as soon as thursday in a show of support it. But now, with International Pressure mounting by the minute for israel to negotiate with hamas and free hostages, were asking whether negotiating with terrorists is ever a good idea. Terrorists is ever a good idea. Biden and sunak fighting the wrong cause here. Well, Security Specialist will geddes says theres often no other way to free hostages and therefore , of free hostages and therefore, of course, we should negotiate with them. On the other hand, mike scherer says negotiating with terrorists only legitimises them and should be avoided where possible. Possible. But would you negotiate with terrorists to free innocent civilians . Lets discuss this this morning and start with you , this morning and start with you, will geddes. I suppose you know , will geddes. I suppose you know, for you, you dont want to leave any man behind. No. And i dont think, to be honest, israel can afford for these civilians who have been so well publicised by hamas to allow them to a dreaded fate by hamas, they are in a position where its somewhat untenable, where its somewhat untenable, where they have to be involved in some sort of dialogue. And this would not be the first time that its happened. And although i know most countries will give a blanket statement of we will not negotiate with terrorists, the reality is sometimes , as you the reality is sometimes, as you do, it doesnt have to necessarily be involved in a political concession. It doesnt political concession. It doesnt have to necessarily be resolved in terms of financial concessions or financial ransom being settled. It could be a Prisoner Exchange. There are many , many different ways you many, many different ways you can come at this. But i think its very important, certainly beanng its very important, certainly bearing in mind that hamas have got a history of negotiating, certainly with palestinians and also with israel, there also with israel, that there will matured system in will be a matured system in place with hamas. The hardest place with hamas. The hardest bit is when youre dealing with very volatile individuals. Yeah , major mike shearer, yeah, major mike shearer, though, you would be concerned this encourages hostage taking. Well, it does. I mean, if we well, it does. I mean, if we if we look back, the moral argument against negotiating with terrorists really goes back to 1973 when a palestinian militant terrorist group took hostages in the Saudi Embassy in khartoum, there were three. If my memory serves me right, three westerners excuse me , involved westerners excuse me, involved in that. And they went to the president of the United States, richard nixon, and they said, can we discuss . And he said, absolutely not. Were not doing it. And we can take that it. And we can take that further. You know , when we had further. You know, when we had al qaeda who were responsible for numerous kidnaps in algeria , for numerous kidnaps in algeria, and from those kidnappings, we had france , italy and germany, had france, italy and germany, who paid millions of euros. And what does that do . That boosts what does that do . That boosts the coffers of the terrorist group and what are the terrorists after thereafter either funding or concessions. Either funding or concessions. And thats never a good thing when youre trying as best you can in a civilised to world deal with politics and democracies and the rule of law. But if we apply this, you know, dilemma to the situation that were seeing in israel , that were seeing in israel, well, the fear is, you know , well, the fear is, you know, this attack that whatever happened, if its a misfired hamas missile, whether or not it was deliberate , whether it was was deliberate, whether it was the idf , those facts havent yet the idf, those facts havent yet been established. But it will have consequences on the hostage situation. What do you think situation. What do you think could be an outcome in terms of the hostages from that . Well, i mean, it really does depend. I mean, mike makes some very valid points. If there is a tactical rescue that is really always the last resort, because ultimately its where its life or death. And in instances where Islamic State or al qaeda have been taking been involved in hostage taking and there has been a tactical assault carried out by special forces that would be really in the last instances when you have no other options available. The no other options available. The one thing that would certainly be involved will be involved inevitably will be the negotiation teams, probably from as well as the from the uk and as well as the us assisting israel. In terms us in assisting israel. In terms of looking at the strategies to extracting these hostages and it really comes down to hamas. Hamas although mike is absolutely right. Yes most terrorist are looking for terrorist groups are looking for funding. Know hamas is funding. We know hamas is getting funding already. They have war chest. Have a pretty large war chest. So the financial motivation wont. My feeling my wont be there. My feeling is my gut feeling is it will probably be kind of prisoner be some kind of Prisoner Exchange. Exchange. Mike, sharon, what do you make of this idea of a Prisoner Exchange . We think people, exchange . We think 200 people, of course , held in gaza is not of course, held in gaza is not the priority for israel to get their citizens home. Well look, let lets just remind ourselves of who were dealing with in hamas. Hamas. Their charter initial charter written in 1988, basic , stated written in 1988, basic, stated that there is no solution to the to the palestine question except through the obliteration of israel. And its people. And its people. It then update this charter in 2008 2010, at which basically we just said, okay, we will accept going back to the pre 1967 borders. So a bit of concession then again, in more recently in 2017, they stated that the new document does not seek war on the jewish people. Well ill just look back one week ago saturday and you can see that thats a nonsense. This is the type of people that youre dealing with. Can you credibly negotiate with people who simply will lie with a lie that can be reinforced based in their ideology through their religious texts . So what do you what do you do then . You just say bad luck, you know, terrible. But you know, there are so many families, 199 we believe. We think there could be some british citizens amongst those german as well, other foreign nationals. You just say foreign nationals. You just say hard the israelis have hard luck or the israelis have already pledged we will leave no man behind. Man behind. Look, this is this is difficult. No negotiation. I difficult. No negotiation. I would say that doesnt mean no communication. And until the terror lists agree to something themselves , us, then thats the themselves, us, then thats the point where you get engaged and really ultimately what youre after is the terrorist grouping laying down their terrorist nofions laying down their terrorist notions and ideologies and looking to a political solution in the for both sides of this conflict. The race towards a conflict. The race towards a pyrrhic victory serves no one. And both both sides need to recognise that an ideology cannot be solved through to a bomb or a bullet. It needs attitudes, need to change. Yeah, this isnt going to be solved, is it . Through violence. Well get us a major. Mike shearer, thank you both. We have to leave it there. Were out of time, appreciate both you time, but appreciate both of you coming in this morning. Well, still come in the well, still to come in the lead to christmas, one lead up to christmas, one charity more charity is predicting that more than 1 million food parcels will be needed winter. Thats be needed this winter. Thats coming hospital. Analysis of our aerial footage confirms that there was no direct hit to the hospital itself. The only location damage itself. The only location damage is outside the hospital in the parking lot where we can see signs of burning , which i will signs of burning, which i will show later. No cratering and no show later. No cratering and no structural damage to nearby buildings as opposed to the damage caused by any aerial munition which would have been of different nature. We would of different nature. We would have seen craters and structural and structural damage to the buildings, both of which have not been havent been identified in this incident. The size of the damage we see here is due to the damage we see here is due to the warhead of the Islamic Jihad rocket. But most of the rockets rocket. But most of the rockets propellant is still evident due to the short flight of the rocket because the launch failed the following visual evidence shows infrared imagery of the parking lot. You can see the parking lot. You can see the central locations of fires, some debns central locations of fires, some debris of rooftops, no craters can be identified. I want to show you that just if youre tuning in to let you know, we are listening to a Live Press Conference from the Israeli Defence force explaining what they believe happened in relation to this hospital bomb over night, we are showing the parking lot and the hospital. Parking lot and the hospital. Okay, those are in red spots. Okay, those are in red spots. This is not an infrared , so you this is not an infrared, so you can understand it better. This can understand it better. This is the parking lot. This is the parking lot. You can see the parking lot. You can see the parking lot. You can see the parking lot also now in this picture show down here. Okay aftermath after the hit. There is no structural damage to the building. The walls stand intact. There are no craters here. All of the above , which i said no of the above, which i said no structural damage. The walls structural damage. The walls stay intact, no craters. These are the characterise that shows that not an aerial munition that have hit the parking lot. We have hit the parking lot. We also have examples of what air to ground munition crater looks like. As you can see, they do like. As you can see, they do not exist in this instance. Many not exist in this instance. Many Media Outlets immediately reported the unverified claims by hamas. Those were lies spread by hamas. Those were lies spread by hamas. Those were lies spread by hamas. I want to make by hamas. I want to make something clear. It by hamas. I want to make something clear. It is impossible to know what happened as quickly as hamas claimed. As quickly as hamas claimed. They knew that was that that should have been an initial warning sign for many , unlike warning sign for many, unlike hamas , as the idf launched an hamas, as the idf launched an immediate examination, which was overseen at the very highest levels of command , this levels of command, this professional review was based on intelligence, Operational Intelligence, Operational Intelligence , Operational Intelligence, operational systems and aerial footage. All of which which we cross check fact the evidence which we are sharing with you all can confirms that the explosion of the al Al Mashhadani hospital in gaza was caused by an Islamic Jihad rocket that was misfired. Here are the four main parts of the examination process. First, we confirmed that there was no idf fire by land, sea or air. That hit the hospital. Second, that hit the hospital. Second, our radar system tracked rockets fired by terrorists from within gaza at the time of the explosion. As i will show you. Explosion. As i will show you. The trajectory analysis from the barrage of rockets confirms that the rockets were fired, close proximity to the hospital as. In proximity to the hospital as. In addition , there are two addition, there are two independent videos which show the failure of the rocket launch and the continuation of rocket flight towards the ground within the gaza strip falling in the hospital compound. Third, we hospital compound. Third, we have intelligence ounce some that will some that will be shared here we of communication between terrorists talking about rockets , misfiring the rockets, misfiring the terrorists realise that the rocket has misfired and made specific reference to the al hadi al madani hospital. I al hadi al madani hospital. I would want to let everybody hear the conversation. I will do the the conversation. I will do the translation in. English im translation in. English im telling you, this is the first time that we see missile like this falling and so thats why we are saying it belongs to the Palestinian Islamic jihad. What they are saying it belongs to they are saying it belongs to the pgi. It is from us. It looks the pgi. It is from us. It looks like it. Who says this . They are like it. Who says this . They are saying the shrapnel from the missile is local shrapnel and not like israeli shrapnel. What not like israeli shrapnel. What are you saying . Abu ammar . But are you saying . Abu ammar . But god bless it, couldnt have been found. And other place, not the hospital to explode. Never mind. Hospital to explode. Never mind. Yes. Abu raji. They shot it from the cemetery behind the hospital. What they shot it coming from the cemetery behind Al Mashhadani hospital. And it misfired and fell on them. There misfired and fell on them. There is a cemetery behind it . Yes. Al mashhadani is exactly in the compound. Where is it . When the. Compound. Where is it . When the. When . When you enter the compound , you first enter the compound, you first enter the compound, you first enter the compound. And dont go towards compound. And dont go towards the city. It is on the right side of al madani hospital. Yes, i know it. We have cross checked i know it. We have cross checked into it with other intelligence sources to confirm this accuracy. It is common for rockets that are fired at israel to land short and fall inside gaza. This rocket fall short of israel and have caused palestinian casualties during this war. We have counted approximate 450 rockets that misfired and fell inside gaza. Palestinian inside gaza. Palestinian civilians paid the price. I want to show you the footage. These to show you the footage. These al fayed launches during this war until now , these are all war until now, these are all failed launches that fell inside the gaza strip. And some of the gaza strip. And some of them, of course, waited casualties among the palestinians themselves. And one of them was in the hospital , of them was in the hospital, al ali al maha, madani. We are al ali al maha, madani. We are also sharing this information with our partners. First and with our partners. First and foremost, the United States. We want the maximum transparency because we take any incident involving civilians very, very seriously. Unfortunately many in the media image reported the statement as coming out from hamas controlled in gaza, which blamed israel instead of waiting for the examination of a credible information from the idf, some Media Outlets ran with hamas lies. Some of those headunes hamas lies. Some of those headlines are still up, have not been corrected. I understand the been corrected. I understand the desire to break news, but i hope you will all agree that the accuracy and credible information comes before speed. The idf acts in accordance with the International Law. In the International Law. In conclusion, this incident shows how allegations in this case false and baseless allegations made by terrorists against israel can spread and flame tension in the region. I will tension in the region. I will now answer questions. Now answer questions. Jeremy diamond, cnn. Im jeremy diamond, cnn. Im wondering if you could now an islamic cause. Islamic cause. The second of all, id also well, if you are just tuning in to breakfast here on gb news to give you an update on the breaking news in the last few moments, weve been listening to a press conference from the Israeli Defence force within Israeli Defence force within israel who have comprehensively denied any strike on a hospital in gaza city last night and have accused Media Outlets of buying the hamas propaganda, including what they called an inflated number of casualties. Number of casualties. Of course, we havent been able to cross check this ourselves. We havent heard from american intelligence , British American intelligence, British Intelligence, or indeed the United Nations. But on this account, the israelis say that they have done a professional review using aerial footage and they say that a rocket was misfired by Islamic Jihad and that there was no direct hit of any hospital itself. They showed any hospital itself. They showed videos of a car park that didnt crater. They said this wasnt the hospitals structural buildings. It was indeed the car park. And as i say, they deny responsibility for what unfolded in gaza city at 6 59 pm. Local time. Well keep a close eye on that press conference and indeed what this means for the visit of the president of the United States who is due to arrive in israel in the next few minutes. Israel in the next few minutes. The existence of propellant made a larger explosion than the warhead itself, and it caused the damage of explosion that we see of the burning cars here. Okay. Because the existence of a large amount of propellant inside this is the reason all those cars. To recap some of what has been said by the israel Defence Force, the fire they claim happened at the hospital was due to the short flight of the rocket , i. E. The rocket must rocket, i. E. The rocket must have taken off from close to the hospital for its fuel to ignite it. They claim that craters would have been seen in the car park were it an israeli rocket and aerial footage shows no craters. They also claimed it would have been impossible to know exactly what has happened in immediately after the event , in immediately after the event, as hamas sent out their lines on the issue. They say they instead considered reviews must take place and israel is only now giving its considered review. Many many hours after the event. Many many hours after the event. It and after examining footage and aerial photography. And aerial photography. Well have more for you in just a few moments. And what all of this means for President Bidens imminent visit to the region. First of all, though, region. First of all, though, lets take a look at the weather here in the uk. Im alex deakin. This is your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. Good morning, storm. Babette is moving in through the rest of today bringing some very heavy rain, particularly tomorrow across parts of across eastern parts of scotland. But even today we could see some issues. Heavy showers developing across parts of and southern of the midlands and southern england turning very wet here through this afternoon and the evening. Winds strengthening evening. The winds strengthening as well for large of the as well for large parts of the uk. Is another dry day and uk. It is another dry day and much of Eastern England and a good of scotland turning good part of scotland turning dry rain clears dry once the early rain clears from the west, temperatures will be into the teens, feeling be again into the teens, feeling a bit cooler because of the winds, especially across the south, as rain peps here, south, as the rain peps up here, but also to see some heavy but also going to see some heavy rain through evening rain through the evening time across ireland. Met across northern ireland. Met office in place for that Office Warning in place for that. And then this band of rain becomes moving over parts becomes slow moving over parts of england before of Northern England before working scotland working into southern scotland through night so again, working into southern scotland thr01slow night so again, working into southern scotland thr01slow moving so again, working into southern scotland thr01slow moving naturejain, working into southern scotland thr01slow moving nature ,|in, that slow moving nature, persistent heavy rain could cause some problems. Temperatures holding up overnight. It wont be a cold night at all, but the rain could continue through thursday across these eastern parts of scotland. These eastern parts of scotland. Thats where have a met thats where we have a met office. Place. Office. Amber warning in place. The winds also likely to be an issue, particularly across parts of scotland, especially to the far strong far north west. Some very strong gusts here. So as i say, we have a number of met Office Warnings in place. Check out the website for more details on that. Further there further south tomorrow, there will be some heavy will again be some heavy showers, some brighter spells in between , again, mid between temperatures, again, mid to even high teens. But feeling cooler wet and very cooler where its wet and very windy. Windy. Good morning. Its just coming up to 8 00. Youre with gb news now as we await the imminent arrival of the us president , is seeking to demonstrate americas support for israels mission to eliminate. Hamas, while also pressing for ways to ease humanitarian suffering in gaza. However, bidens visit comes as a deadly explosion hits the al al Arab Hospital in gaza city overnight. Some confusion over the numbers of casualties as the palestinian medical authority claiming 500 people were killed, including many sick women and children. Children. And life on the front line. We have an exclusive interview with a british man who travelled to israel to fight in the war on hamas. Hamas. I have to say that the people of bury fought very bravely. There are a lot of time that we saw also bodies of israeli innocent citizens in the houses , innocent citizens in the houses, but also bodies of terrorists that we didnt kill. The people of bury killed , managed to kill of bury killed, managed to kill some of them. And back here in the United Kingdom, well take a look at the latest. Are we looking fonnard to the mid bedfordshire by election the seat which up until recently was held by Nadine Dorries and of course alex deakin will have your weather storm. Babette is on the way bringing some torrential rain and some persistent rain as well. And the combination of those likely to cause some problems over the next few days, theres also going to be some strong and gusty winds. There are a number of met Office Warnings in place dunng a of met Office Warnings in place during a full during me later for a full forecast. Forecast. And reminder, you can join in any of discussions by any of our discussions by emailing gbviews gbnews. Com or you can tweet us at. You can tweet us at. Gb news. Well, our top story this morning, the president of the United States, joe biden, is expected to arrive in israel in the next few moments as part of a diplomat mission amid growing concerns over the conflict. President biden is expected to spend part of today in tel aviv for talks with the israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu , to minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to try help the safe release of try and help the safe release of hostages held by hamas and to ease the growing humanitarian crisis in the middle east. President biden was then expected to travel on to jordan for talks about accelerating humanitarian assistance to gaza. However , this part of his however, this part of his visit has been cancelled after the strike on that hospital in gaza city , which Palestinian Gaza city, which Palestinian Authority officials blamed on israel. But israel has this morning blamed on the Palestinian Islamic jihad group. Well, as President Biden left washington, dc last night, his white house spokesperson, john kirby , told gathered reporters kirby, told gathered reporters that mr biden will pose tough questions in his meetings with israeli leaders. Israeli leaders. Biden says he was outraged by the explosion at a gaza hospital that potentially killed hundreds of people and stated his he directed his National Security team to gather information about exactly what has happened. Exactly what has happened. Well, we can speak now to the United States political analyst, dr. Jan halper hayes, who joins us in the studio. Very good morning to you. And some pretty morning to you. And some pretty big developments in the last houn big developments in the last hour. Just hearing from the Israeli Defence force quite comprehend denying any involvement in the strike on a hospital and even question joining the numbers of casualties. Of course, one of casualties. Of course, one of the first casualties in any war is always the truth. Its really important to get independent verification in any of this. And all eyes, frankly , on the united all eyes, frankly, on the United States. Do you that states. Do you think that President Biden provide that President Biden can provide that in this hour of crisis , that he in this hour of crisis, that he can provide . My understanding is that they can check the dna of the bombs. Can check the dna of the bombs. And so based on that, can check the dna of the bombs. And so based on that , then well and so based on that, then well get the true answer of whether it came from hamas or israel and how important is that to the situation as we face it today . Does it change the american support of israel if it is found to have been in any way the work of the idf . Of the idf . It wont change the support of israel. But then hopefully the head of jordan and egypt and abbas will reconvene the meeting. And i can understand why they cancelled it. Netanyahu had cancelled it. Netanyahu had invited biden in 2021 to come oven invited biden in 2021 to come over. So the fact that hes coming over for this is really significant. Could he have done anything else . Of course, theres much criticism of biden back at home in the United States as being perhaps not as on top of issues as some of his predecessors , as some of his predecessors, perhaps someone who calls fewer press conferences, is less visible , is less active as visible, is less active as a president , perhaps due to his age, is this not just a moment to deal with serious crises in the middle east, but also to prove his mettle as a world leader . Well , i dont leader . Well, i dont think its his age. I think its his memory that has something to do with it. And i really i im really against when people say someones too old or the age, but but hes got some memory problems and he needs some cheat sheets. But but former secretary of state gates said that joe biden never made a right for policy decision in his life. And when that is hanging over him , when that is hanging over him, im very nervous about it. I really am, because he has to be at his best for this. The respect for the us by other countries is just not there. Countries is just not there. Blinken was to have a meeting with Mohammed Bin Salman and he showed up. He waited hours and showed up. He waited hours and Mohammed Bin Salman didnt show up till the next morning. That is a high insult to our secretary of state i dont know if there are going to be other reaction shows like that to biden. Well, i mean, the drawbridge has been pulled up metaphorically by the king of jordan, King Abdullah , saying he jordan, King Abdullah, saying he doesnt even want to meet him. I mean, there could be no clearer message, they see message, frankly, that they see israel as being in some way involved in this strike on the hospital and theyre not prepared to talk to the United States. Well, thats exactly true. States. \again,1ats exactly true. States. \again, we; exactly true. States. \again, we donttly true. States. \again, we dont know e. States. \again, we dont know now and again, we dont know now whos responsible. But i can whos responsible. But i can understand the position that they take. If he doesnt handle this well enough. What im really worried about is all the other arab nations that will come in and will support that hamas and that is not a good thing for the world at all. So a lot of a lot is riding on what could just be one meeting, what could be a series of meetings. After all, if perhaps more individuals, organisations come out and verify further what has happened in gaza overnight, if it does appear to be the case that this was actually a rocket fired from gaza rather than from israel that caused this mess , it could that caused this mess, it could be that some of these meetings are back on. President biden could turn this around. What could turn this around. What would a successful visit look like . Well , a successful visit well, a successful visit would. Number one, he would let all the humanitarian aid. In to all the humanitarian aid. In to see what would really be ideal. But youd never have this happen with hamas is to evacuate the people. So that there are far less casualties. But hamas is strategy is to use people as deterrence. Its not fair. I mean, at the moment, egypt has said they dont want civilian refugees and neither does jordan. So its not neither does jordan. So its not just hamas saying that they wont let civilians out. The civilians havent got anywhere to go at this point. Apart from those who are lucky enough to hold citizenship , some of hold dual citizenship, some of which have left via sea. But at the moment theres no land exit. Theres certainly no air exit from the strip. Well, i think whats fascinating is that the arab nafions fascinating is that the arab nations dont want the gazans and theyre very explicit about that. And theyre very explicit about that. So it really is and theyre very explicit about that. So it really is a and theyre very explicit about that. So it really is a very that. So it really is a very tough situation when you when you dont want to kill people. But then the palestinians i mean , the Palestinian Authority is considered an international its recognised internationally and so are the palestine unions that are not part of the gazans. How are not part of the gazans. How are not part of the gazans. How are they protected and are they even letting the gazans come over to the palestinian side there . Okay john harper has a fascinating to talk to you this morning as we await the arrival of President Biden in israel. Thank you very much. Yeah, absolutely terrifying , yeah, absolutely terrifying, i suppose, for those nations around egypt. After all, president sisi is in post because the Muslim Brotherhood was sort of forced out. Do they want to bring back in more radical religious elements to what is now more of a secular administration . And jordan has administration . And jordan has been hugely impacted by whats happenedin been hugely impacted by whats happened in syria and indeed whats happened over on the west bank over the years and having taken in huge number of refugees , they simply cannot sustain any more. And theyve made that perfectly clear as well and are a crucial partner for western nafionsin a crucial partner for western nations in the fight against terrorism as well. Terrorism as well. One of the few allies in the region. Well, lets reflect then on what has been, we think gazas deadliest day of the conflict. So far. We believe hundreds, although we cant say exactly how many were killed in an explosion at the al ali arabe hospital in gaza city at 659 local time. Local time. Well, a Gaza Health Ministry spokesman said that hundreds died at the building after what palestinian officials said was an israeli airstrike. Israel has blamed the blast on a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic jihad group, which has themselves denied responsibility. Israel has responsibility. Israel has recorded some 450 rockets falling short within the gaza strip as they accused hamas of inflating the casualty numbers as well. Initial reports suggest a missile struck outside the building where hundreds of displaced gazans have been residing after israel gave the Evacuation Order for the northern part of the strip on x, formerly known as twitter. The Israeli Defence force posted the following video clip. And in it you can see a rocket launched into the sky from a built up area. Its intercepted or perhaps explodes intercepted or perhaps explodes in what they claim was an error. And moments later you can see a massive explosion, a few hundred metres away on the ground and the question, i suppose, for the International Community to decide today is whether or not this was indeed a faulty hamas rocket or an israeli missile strike at the end , you can see strike at the end, you can see terrorists launch rockets after the explosion , presumably either the explosion, presumably either in retaliation or continuation of those strikes as well. The incident came not long after the un said a school sheltering thousands of people in central gaza was also hit, killing at least six people. Well on gb news last night, the israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom spoke to nigel farage and had this to say in response to the hospital attack. I want to check what happened, but im sure and i can guarantee you we never target civilians. Civilians. Well, World Leaders have been quick to express outrage over the event with protests sweeping nafions the event with protests sweeping nations across the islamic world, like this scene here in lebanon. Lebanon. Well, the hospital explosion comes as the humanitarian crisis in gaza is deepening. The united nafions in gaza is deepening. The United Nations has warned that israels Bombing Campaign as well as the blockade of gaza in response to the hamas terror attack on its communities, is likely to be a breach of International Law. Breach of International Law. Israel has blocked supplies of food, water, fuel and electricity since the deadly hamas terrorist attacks on the 7th of october. But it denies there is a humanitarian crisis. Well, lets go now to tel aviv and speak to our reporter Charlie Peters. Good morning to you , charlie. Its all happening you, charlie. Its all happening where you are. Not only are you expecting President Biden to arrive there, now been arrive there, having now been snubbed by King Abdullah , but snubbed by King Abdullah, but weve heard from tel aviv in the last half an hour, a fairly robust denial and certainly using aerial footage and what they describe as a professional review of that strike on that hospital in gaza city, claiming it was not their fault. How it was not their fault. How important is it for them to prove that to the International Community . Well, its vital because last night the uae, saudi arabia, lebanon, turkey , egypt, jordan lebanon, turkey, egypt, jordan and loads of other nations in the region all came out to blame israel for the strike after the hamas run Health Ministry and palestinian authorities in the gaza strip blamed the strike on israel in the moments immediately after the hospital explosion. It took two hours for explosion. It took two hours for the idf to release a statement after reports of the explosion where they said that it was not them. And that they had evidence of the attack being caused by a failed Missile Launch by Palestinian Islamic jihad. One of the many liberation they say liberation. But terrorist groups based in the gaza strip and theyve released more not by any means conclusive, but certainly more compelling evidence this morning showing both imagery and signals intelligence of what occurred yesterday. Theyve occurred yesterday. Theyve shown the blast radius where this attack is said to have occurred, which does not fit with the typical crater you might expect from an £1,000 bomb or the jdams used by the israeli air force. And theyve also air force. And theyve also released signals intelligence of what they say is a conversation between Hamas Terrorists inside the gaza strip. Now, that is a rare move by the idf to reveal a signals intelligence source because, of course, once they make that information public, that intelligence source will be immediately removed. That wont immediately removed. That wont exist any more. By contrast, in exist any more. By contrast, in the hamas side and in the palestinian side, there has not been much evidence released this morning, but there were emotive statements last night , morning, but there were emotive statements last night, a press Conference Held in the hospital in the hours after the attack showed doctors standing around while bodies covered in white sheets were there. Describing sheets were there. Describing the horror of the incident around them. And there is also a failure to confirm number of failure to confirm the number of the dead in this very horrifying and confusing situation. Footage released this morning did seem to show the car park outside the hospital with a large explosion in and cars ruined. But theres no crater which youd expect to be consistent with an israeli airstrike. And there are questions about how a failed Missile Launch could create such a large explosion when weve seen missiles intercepted over tel aviv and weve seen them day and night, they make a much smaller explosion than the one we saw on the ground. And even when they do land and there have been a few successful missile strikes here in central israel, they make anywhere they also dont make anywhere near size of explosion. Near to that size of explosion. So questions remaining as to so questions are remaining as to what explosion and what caused that explosion and what caused that explosion and what contributed to the size of the fireball seen on live feeds on the gaza strip at the time. On the gaza strip at the time. There are a couple of competing theories in tel this theories in tel aviv this morning. Is the potential morning. One is the potential that the hospital was to that the hospital was used to store munitions. Have seen store munitions. We have seen a pattern of hamas storing munitions and weapons in civilian areas over the years. In 2014, rockets and weapons were found in schools and hospitals very regularly by un observers. And theres also this observers. And theres also this question about fuel could the idf blockade of gaza have contributed to this explosion insofar as they cut off electricity supplies of course, when this war started to the gaza strip, as well as water suppuesin gaza strip, as well as Water Supplies in a move decried by the International Community in many parts as a war crime. And so fuel was used to Power Generators to keep hospitals running. So many of these hospitals having very flammable objects around at the time objects around them at the time of this conflict escalating , of this conflict escalating, could that have contributed to the large fireball we saw erupt over the Christian Baptist hospital yesterday evening . Well, the questions continue and theres by no means any conclusive proof, but it certainly the israeli side putting fonnard that compelling evidence based picture this morning while the palestinian side is still running on the support of regional partners, but no further evidence to confirm on their side that the israelis carried out this strike. Okay , Charlie Peters, for okay, Charlie Peters, for now, thank you very much indeed. Now, thank you very much indeed. Well, closer to home, voters in mid bedfordshire are electing a new member of parliament this week after the resignation of former cabinet minister Nadine Dorries , which of course dorries, which of course triggered a by election. Well, the conservatives have held on to the seat since 1931, but could that all be about to change our reporter will hollis has been speaking with voters in the bedfordshire town of ampthill about the issues that matter to them in the barbers of mid beds feldscher. Theres only one thing worth talking about the upcoming by election ive voted already, have i did it. Postal vote darrens been cutting hair here for 30 years now. Yea is now. Years now. He wants an mp that can do the same for taxes. The same for taxes. Vat for me is one thing that i find absolutely baffling. Thats my biggest gripe. Thats my biggest gripe. Obviously, no one, no one minds paying obviously, no one, no one minds paying taxes because thats what we have to pay. But on a Service Industry like mine , id have to industry like mine, id have to pay industry like mine, id have to pay vat , but i have no value pay vat, but i have no value added tax to my business because were a non non vat. Well, thats my biggest gripe. Only 50 miles from london. Bedfordshire is a commuters dream. Come but for tight market dream. Come but for tight market towns like ampthill. Thats a towns like ampthill. Thats a nightmare for roads. Philip moved here from luton in 1969. He wants an mp to fight for infrastructure , culture and infrastructure, culture and against pollution. Against pollution. If you look at the buildings and the narrow streets, the damage thats coming from the pollution from trucks , buses, pollution from trucks, buses, cars, its really damaging. What ampthill is all about, which is a george and market town. The position as mp opened up in august when Nadine Dorries resigned after being refused a peerage. The former culture peerage. The former culture secretary had been mp since 2005. In fact, the tories have clung on to this seat since 1931, but that could change for the rural constituency. Mid the rural constituency. Mid bedfordshire is dotted with small towns like ampthill. But small towns like ampthill. But its not just local things that matter here. National issues are driving voters to i think mostly im voting on National Issues really, because they affecting all of us. So the cost of living crisis, the crisis in the nhs, which i think should be privatised , um, think should be privatised, um, actually getting back into the Single Market for the European Union because i think we shot ourselves in the foot. Its not just about what a new mp would do. Voters are considering their qualities too. Well, somebody that lives here. Itd be nice to be honest first. And one you make promises. Please keep them. Unlike the last one that we had, which quite frankly was a nightmare back in the barbers , philips back in the barbers, philips already planning his next haircut. By then, hell have a new mp voters might have gone for Something Different or the same as usual. Will hollis gb news in ampthill . Am pthi ll . Ampthill . Well, lets get some thoughts now from our Political Correspondent Katherine Forster and catherine, this is a very interesting thing. Three way interesting thing. Three way race potentially. The bookies race potentially. The bookies odds have been all over the place. Could the tories hold on . They absolutely could hold on. Nadine dorries had a whopping nearly 25,000 and majority. Shes held the seat majority. Shes held the seat since 2005, but the current polling suggests that labour and the conservatives are neck and neck on 29 and the lib dems just a bit behind on 22. So it is perfectly possible that the conservatives will hang on here. Ihave conservatives will hang on here. I have to say theres a lot of crossness between labour and the lib dems. The lib dems basically think that labour should have butted out of this seat, that this is their classic sort of territory in the supposed blue wall that they would have a good chance of taking this seat. But labour really are riding high in the polls. They are increasingly the polls. They are increasingly confident that theyre heading for government and they think that nowhere is off limits. Now conservatives think that only about 5 of conservative voters will go directly across to labour, will go directly across to labour , but it is likely that a labour, but it is likely that a lot of them will simply sit on their hands and not vote out. Because i was in the constituency a few weeks ago. Its a lovely part of the world. Just 50 miles north of london. But very rural, lovely Little Market towns. But there is a lot of anger with nadine doris. She hadnt spoken in the house of commons for over a year, and then she said she was going to resign immediately at the beginning of june when she thought she was heading for the house of lords. When it then house of lords. When it then appeared that in fact she wasnt getting a seat in the house of lords, that Boris Johnson had wanted to give her. She then took nearly three months to actually resign. They feel that they effectively havent had an mp for about a year, havent had any representation action. So it will be fascinating to see what happens here a bit further north in tamworth. Its a race between in tamworth. Its a race between labour and the conservatives. Labour and the conservatives. They are neck and neck so it could be that the conservatives, despite the fact theyre going to certainly lose as most a lot of their vote share, could hang on in either or both of these seats on friday morning. Okay, seats on friday morning. Okay, Katherine Forster, for now, thank you very much. Thank you very much. Well, these are the candidates standing for the by election in mid Bedfordshire Festus akinbusoye is the conservative candidate at sid cordle is standing for the Christian Peoples Alliance. Christian peoples alliance. Prince ankit is standing for the love emperor of india and dave holland is the reform uk candidate. Candidate. Emma Louise Holland. Linda is the liberal democrats candidate and kellie standing for the official monster raving loony party. Gareth mackey is the independent candidate. Chris rooney for mainstream and kade sibley for the greens. Sibley for the greens. But it doesnt stop there. Alistair lou strathern is standing for labour. Alberto George Thomas is standing for the Heritage Party and alan victor for the true and fair party. And finally, Antonio Daniel vitello , is the english vitello, is the english democrats putting england first candidate for. What a fun big list of names as always, by elections in this country. Always a roster of fun. Country. Always a roster of fun. Im looking fonnard to actually seeing them all standing. I wonder whos going to wear silly costumes. Yeah. Monster raving loony party usually quite good for yes for that. Yes right. Time is 823. Right. The time is 823. Should we look at some of should we take a look at some of the other stories coming into the other stories coming into the morning . The newsroom this morning . Pretty day greta pretty busy news day Greta Thunberg yesterday arrested thunberg was yesterday arrested whilst and chanting thunberg was yesterday arrested whilsother and chanting thunberg was yesterday arrested whilsother activists and chanting with other activists outside a Hotel Mayfair the capital. Hotel in mayfair in the capital. The swedish environmentalist was taken to Wandsworth Police station demonstration station during a demonstration against meeting of oil against a meeting of oil executive. The metropolitan executive. The metropolitan police the arrested the police said the arrested the activists after they refused to move first minister of scotland, humza yousaf has pledged to Freeze Council tax across the country for the next year. Country for the next year. The first minister announced ambitious plans to issue bonds to help fund, quote, vital projects. The snp government will also spend an additional £300 million on tackling nhs waiting lists in the next three years. The french president , Emmanuel Macron, said the return of islamist terrorism poses a threat to all european nations. Threat to all european nations. His comments come a day after two swedish football fans were shot dead in a terrorist attack in brussels before belgiums euro 2024 qualifier against sweden. Belgian police say the suspect , who identified himself suspect, who identified himself onune suspect, who identified himself online as a member of Islamic State, has been killed. Coming state, has been killed. Coming up, we reflect on the inflation figures out this morning. They figures out this morning. They stuck fast at 6. 7. Full analysis with Liam Halligan after well, we welcome andrew griffith, cabinet minister economic secretary to the treasury. Good morning. Thank treasury. Good morning. Thank you for joining treasury. Good morning. Thank you forjoining us treasury. Good morning. Thank you for joining us this morning. I want to start by talking to you about the latest developments in this middle eastern conflict with President Biden due to fly in the jordanian is cancelling their meeting with him. And now questions over who was responsible for that strike on a hospital which has killed hundreds of civilians. Whats your reading of the situation this morning . Well , the devastation, the well, the devastation, the destruction of the Al Ahli Hospital is devastating and all of our thoughts go out to every everybody whos been affected , everybody whos been affected, all of the innocent civilians on both sides of this conflict. And the uks the governments priority has always been the protection of civilian life. Well work with allies to try and get to the bottom of what happened more generally , were happened more generally, were supporting diplomatic efforts across the region to try and prevent escalation , to bring prevent escalation, to bring peace and to minimise life , and peace and to minimise life, and that includes the humanitarian support that the Prime Minister announced earlier this week for the people of gaza. Much speculation as to whether or not the Prime Minister will follow in the president of the United States footsteps and visit israel this week. Can you give any clear week. Can you give any clear line on whether or not thats going to happen, on whether or not a decision has been made . Not a decision has been made . I cant add anything to the speculation , but but i can speculation, but but i can confirm the Prime Minister has been at the heart of diplomatic efforts. He spoken to the leaders of both the gaza itself , leaders of both the gaza itself, of egypt , of the king of jordan, of egypt, of the king of jordan, and of course is staying very closely in touch with our international allies. So theres a lot that the Prime Minister and the uk is doing already in this space. Yeah, it certainly feels as though this conflict is on a knife edge in the wake of this strike on a hospital. Weve heard whilst youve been on air with other broadcasters this morning the Israeli Defence morning from the Israeli Defence force, robustly denying their involvement, pointing to what they described a professional review and aerial imagery. Meanwhile hamas and the Palestinian Health authority adamant that it was not them. Adamant that it was not them. And what role will British Intelligence play in trying to establish the facts in all of this . Because, of course, from this . Because, of course, from those involved directly in the war, quite often its impossible to rely on any intelligence that they offer to the media. Yeah its important that in time , and its important that in time, and im sure it will take time, that the facts come out. We must remember that the israeli army is a professional uniformed army. Its under uniformed army. Its under civilian and democratic control. Civilian and democratic control. Its you know, hamas is a is a terrorist. And Islamic Jihad are terrorist. And Islamic Jihad are both proscribed terrorist organisations. So weve got to organisations. So weve got to be very careful in both our language and how we frame these things. If the uk has intelligence assets that it can put to work , we will do so. And put to work, we will do so. And its right that everyone tries to get to the bottom of this, which is of course just one part of human suffering that took place ever since the invasion and the abductions that we saw in israel last week. In israel last week. Just to read between the lines there on your description of on the one side, terrorist organisations saying what happened and on the other , a happened and on the other, a democratic country saying what happened . Should we take from that the view of the British Government is we should be more likely to trust the israelis than those in gaza . Than those in gaza . No, we should just be we should be careful in our language and careful in how we see how some people draw a equivalence. Its right to follow the facts. Lets get to the bottom of that. And its also right. And the uks position is always that International Law and humanitarian considerations is are incredibly important. Thats are incredibly important. Thats thats one of the core roles of the uk in this rules based order in upholding International Law. In upholding International Law. So we should just all be just be careful about about our language. Its a time for people to be responsible and to support all of the diplomatic efforts that are going on strenuously going on to minimise loss of any human life on either side of this conflict. Right. Conflict. Right. Okay. I want to ask you some questions now in your capacity as economic secretary to the treasury, the figures released by the office for National Statistics morning saw that statistics this morning saw that inflation remained at 6. 7. A bit of a blow for the government. Of a blow for the government. Well we always said it would be challenging. Its an ambitious target , but its an ambitious target, but its absolutely the right price rmt to have inflation robs people of their purchasing power, the value of their savings. And so in a world where savings. And so in a world where governments have to make difficult choices , prioritising difficult choices, prioritising the fight to halve inflation this year was the right one. We this year was the right one. We this is broadly in line with expectations. So you know, theres still a quarter left to go. We will see some of the benefits of continued reduction in Energy Prices. And one of the in Energy Prices. And one of the figures that we saw in the subtext of what came out today where inflation was flat for the month of september is that food inflation fell by a percentage point. And thats thats valuable because thats what speaks to peoples shopping baskets at the end of the week or month. What do you say to those who say that inflation in the United States is considerably lower than it is in the United Kingdom, even in the eurozone now, inflation lower than in the united. The labour party United Kingdom. The labour party saying that next saying this morning that next year uk is expected to have year the uk is expected to have one the highest levels of one of the highest levels of inflation of any major advanced economy. We well, im taking no economy. We well, im taking no lessons from the labour party. Lessons from the labour party. Their plans to borrow an additional £28 billion a year is precise. What would keep Interest Rates and Inflation Higher for longer and undo all of the good work that weve done, which still offers the prospect of achieving our target to halve inflation this year. In terms of general economies, were broadly in the middle of the pack on most metrics with most other big western g7 economies. Of course, in the uk economies. Of course, in the uk we provide affected households to a larger extent than in the us. We help people more with their energy bills. We help more their energy bills. We help more people during covid and were paying people during covid and were paying some of the price of that. But it was the right decision that we took to protect people. Then and its why we continue to make difficult but responsible decisions to bear down on inflation that plan is working as shown by todays figure, but there is still more to do. Andrew griffith, is that you saying that the Prime Minister, then the chancellor , minister, then the chancellor, his decision to go so large with the furlough package , with the the furlough package, with the emergency covid loans , with all emergency covid loans, with all of that much, much more spending by the British State than comparatively happened in the United States, are you saying thats partly to blame for our higher inflation today . Higher inflation today . I the level of our borrowing is one of the reasons why were having to make difficult but responsible decisions. Responsible decisions. Evans and why were having to work very hard to bear down on inflation. But those were the right decisions at the time , and right decisions at the time, and we protected people. We gave we protected people. We gave them very significant help, things like the very successful furlough scheme that helped employment and protect businesses , ces and reduce some businesses, ces and reduce some of the scarring that we would othennise have seen. Okay andrew griffith, economic secretary to the treasury, thank you very much indeed for your time this morning. We go straight to our business and economics editor for his take on all that. What did you make all of that. What did you make of just heard . Of what you just heard . I think Andrew Griffiths is hes a pretty competent city minister. Hes very financially literate guy. I think hes making the best of a bad pitch, really. It is disappointing for really. It is disappointing for the government that inflation has flatlined. It is , as you has flatlined. It is, as you said rightly, tom, as we were discussing in the other hour, earlier, our store liking that uk inflation is 6. 7. And in the us its 3. 7. And in the eurozone its 4. 3. And yes , we have spent its 4. 3. And yes, we have spent more money supporting households in particular with their electricity bills, but that is because electricity in the uk is getting for on three times more per unit retail unit than it is in the us because the way of our electricity market is structured because us energy is much cheaper because theyve been fracking and so on. But look, theres some really interesting numbers while been numbers here. While youve been going other stories. Going through other stories. Ive sitting here nerding ive been sitting here nerding away. Let me just give you a few of food inflation still of them food inflation still 12. 1 in september , up on 12. 1 in september, up on september 20, 22. So food prices are not coming down even though the annual food inflation number is slightly down. Heres an interesting one. And a lot of people are getting really confused about this. Im seeing press releases from august economic that are economic bodies that are actually confused and tell actually confused. And ill tell you because petrol fell in you why. Because petrol fell in september was 5. 1 more expensive than in august. Okay. It was 153 a litre. And the same with diesel, 6. 3 more expensive in september than in august. But the annual inflation figure , if the annual inflation figure, if you think about petrol and diesel , petrol you think about petrol and diesel, petrol and diesel are still now cheaper than they were in august. In september 2022, by a considerable margin. So fuel pnces a considerable margin. So fuel prices , even though theyre up prices, even though theyre up on the month year on year, theyre actually dragging the headune theyre actually dragging the headline inflation number down. Now that doesnt mean that petrol and diesel wont get more expensive this autumn, particularly if oil prices balloon on all this geopolitical risk, not least in the middle east, but also elsewhere. What do i think is going to happen on november the second, thursday, november the second, thursday, november the second, thursday, november the 2nd, when the bank of england next meets to convene and decide Interest Rates will Interest Rates are currently 5. 25. I think the fact that inflation is flat and hasnt gone up means theres still a chance that the bank of england could hold Interest Rates. But could hold Interest Rates. But if inflation had actually come down, then thered be more chance that the bank of england would hold Interest Rates in all. I think weve probably got one more Interest Rate rise to go that will be 15 all the way up to 5. 5 in december 2021, nought point 1 was the bank of englands Interest Rate. That was still the emergency covid measure. Look, lots of numbers. Its not great news on inflation, but its not terrible news. I do think on balance, the bank of england will probably hold in november. As i said earlier. But there are hold in november. As i said earlier. But there are big geopolitical risks. Geopolitical risks. Liam, i just really very, very briefly want to get your reaction to andrew griffith. Almost, almost saying that this was the United Kingdom government s fault for spending and borrowing so much during covid and support people with energy bills that that is one of the reasons why our inflation is higher in the uk than the american level of inflation is he did he just put his boss in it . Did he just blame rishi sunaks covid spending . Well, the inflation, you know, its obviously the headlines are wall to wall middle east at the moment. Understandably. You know the occasionals economic occasionals of economic interjection from the likes of me just about making it into the bulletins and im not complaining thats thats thats news. Right . This is what we do. But underneath headlines but underneath all the headlines and barely making it the and even barely making it the covid is going on. The covid inquiry is going on. The covid inquiry is going on. The covid inquiry is going on and lots of pretty august people are saying some pretty strike ing things about the mistakes of lockdown. So i do think ministers are now starting to distance themselves from that policy of lockdown. We did lock policy of lockdown. We did lock down pretty much harder than any other country in the western world. We did close schools unlike sweden. We have we got this massive long inquiry thats going to go on for years. Singapore and sweden, theyve already done their inquiries and implemented the recommendations actions. So i do think were going to see county ministers distancing themselves from those lockdown first policies in the weeks to come whenever they get the you very the chance. Liam thank you very much indeed. Much indeed. Were going to have a quick look sport. Weve got look at the sport. Weve got paul here to bring some paul coyte here to bring us some light a lot of sort of light relief to a lot of sort of heavy news this morning. O level, just about my maths, o level, just about will give me some numbers as well. Liam so england three, italy one. First time in 46 years that england have managed to beat italy at home. Harry kane 24 goals now , which is kane 24 goals now, which is a record which is the most goals scored by an englishman playing at home, which is beaten. Bobby charltons record, which goes back a time. So a lot of back a long time. So a lot of numbers, a lot of records broken and never have. England won the european championships. And i think there will be think next year there will be a number one. Its coming home strongly. Yeah how many times have we said that person . Have we have one good game . Have we have one good game . Are we to going win it . Were going to win it. Its the engush going to win it. Its the english disease. Take the pressure mr and stick pressure off mr and ill stick to sport. To the sport. Were going be absolutely were going to be absolutely fine. Me. Were going to fine. Trust me. Were going to be no, i do be absolutely fine. No, i do feel i think were looking feel very i think were looking very good. And jude bellingham, hes old and the kid is hes 20 years old and the kid is incredible. And him playing incredible. And with him playing as the midfield, as well, running the midfield, i think were going be think were going to be absolutely do i absolutely fine. So i do too. I will say it now and i think this time its going to look music to our to fonnard even our ears to look fonnard even though theres a disbelieving economics the back, well economics man at the back, well take it. Football and i love football and i remember that that england victory over italy. Victory over over italy. I remember really. I remember really. I remember really. Kevin Keegan Keegan the old keegan brooking combo. Yes. Keegan brooking combo. Yes. Yes. Older than you look. Yes. Older than you look. Yes. Older than you look. Brooking such a cultured player, such cultured player. Player, such a cultured player. Absolutely. And also, i absolutely. And also, i should mention england, south africa. Weve got two big world cup, england, south africa games. Course, rugby games. So of course, the Rugby World Cup, which is on saturday semi final, also england semi final, but also england are playing south africa in the cricket world cup on saturday. South africa lost to the netherlands yesterday , which was netherlands yesterday, which was music to our ears again because although england lost to afghanistan , which was a real afghanistan, which was a real surprise, this is an even bigger surprise, this is an even bigger surprise in south africa and england in the cricket. And its a game that england absolutely have on saturday. So have to win on saturday. So hopefully against hopefully a double against the south africa. Absolutely. Absolutely. Eyes that. Yeah. All eyes on that. Yeah. All eyes on that. Yeah. With that thank you very paul with that thank you very much with us. Still much indeed. Stay with us. Still to come, well be talking about the Scottish First minister, humza pledge humza yousaf, and his pledge to Freeze Council freeze scotlands council tax next thats next. As well next year. Thats next. As well as rest of the days as the rest of the days newspapers in lets take a look at your newspaper front pages now. Lots of them featuring an attack at a hospital in gaza last night. Officials in palestine nine say there are at least 500 People Killed there. Palestinian health authority. Meanwhile, israel has blamed hamas for the misfire , blamed hamas for the misfire, saying rocket the i also leads with this story, adding that many who were killed in the attack were children and civilians seeking shelter in the hospital. Elsewhere heres the Financial Times front page featuring a picture of president xi alongside putin that was dunng xi alongside putin that was during the belt and road forum being held in beijing yesterday. Being held in beijing yesterday. And the Daily Telegraph has warned that were facing a Terror Threat from iran. Here in britain. Thats according to the britain. Thats according to the head of m15 , ken mccallum. He head of m15, ken mccallum. He said the country already posted a particularly intensive threat and may now move into new directions. Directions. And the daily star can always be relied upon to give a completely different take on the day or indeed the worlds news. Its an invasion , but of its an invasion, but of a different sort. What type are they talking about, tom . Well, furry clawed chinese crab , which furry clawed chinese crab, which are apparently marching sideways across the country, eating everything in their path. So nothing to cheer us up then, but something perhaps to make us smile. Well, listen, were going through the papers. Weve got the former chief secretary to the former chief secretary to the mellor, and the treasury, david mellor, and the treasury, david mellor, and the consultant emma the political consultant emma burnell, both veterans on this the political consultant emma burnell, with veterans on this the political consultant emma burnell, with us. Erans on this the political consultant emma burnell, with us. And; on this the political consultant emma burnell, with us. And david, s the political consultant emma burnell, with us. And david, i program with us. And david, i want to start with you. I guess want to start with you. I guess since the papers were were published, fact, overnight, published, in fact, overnight, this this story has really moved on quite a lot. Weve heard from the idf, the Israeli Defence force, robustly denying what theyve been accused of in relation to the strike on a hospital. Well, whats been your take on what youve heard so far this morning . Because youve been sceptical of their denial previously . Well, you know, i go back 35 years when as a minister, i went to gaza. Its the most awful place on earth. And got myself into a bit of a row with an israeli colonel because i just couldnt stand. And the way in which the idf were treating perfectly harmless civilians. I perfectly harmless civilians. I mean, there are people who are not harmless, awful people, islamists who behave very badly and who skulk in qatar and put themselves at no risk. But most people are in are in gaza because they cant be anywhere else. And i just think that the anger that everybody feels makes it impossible. I believe, to reach out for a settlement. I mean, its ironic, you know , mean, its ironic, you know, that the years after i went to gaza , i found myself in a gaza, i found myself in a situation where i was 20ft away from two ira mortar bombs. We from two ira mortar bombs. We dont have fighting with the ira now because people sat down and realised that there had to be a path to peace. I mean, i had a meeting with the then Prime Minister of israel, Itzhak Shamir , and i said to him, im shamir, and i said to him, im a 35 year old father of two Young Children in london. If i was a 35 year old father of two Young Children in israel , what hope do children in israel, what hope do you offer me . That i will. My you offer me . That i will. My family will ever grow up in peace. He had no answer. Well, the same could be said. Well, the same could be said. Dont have hamas, though. Dont have hamas, though. Couldnt it . You know what hope . Have any gazans havent asked us. Didnt ask to see me. Look, i despise hamas. They skulk in qatar and they exploit it as cynically as anyone possibly can do a captive population of palestinians. So please dont think im arguing in favour there. But at the end of the day , they the israelis, i believe, can and should have done more to sort out or at least make some effort towards a peace process. They havent done so. Now, david miller, as youve been speaking, we can now see live pictures of air force one heading to touch down in israel. This is, of course , president this is, of course, President Bidens much awaited visit to the region and emma burnell , the region and emma burnell, what are we expecting biden to achieve here . Because there have been several meetings, particularly with the jordanians , the egyptians and the palestinian authorities that have been cancelled over the last 12 hours of confusion. Last 12 hours of confusion. Yeah, i mean, i think when he took off hopes were probably higher than when hes landing for any potential. I mean not for any potential. I mean not diplomatic solutions. Thats far too optimistic. But some sort of movement on things like humanitarian aid to gaza. Humanitarian aid to gaza. Just to confirm he has now the president of the United States touched down in israel. States touched down in israel. If youre listening on the radio, this is the breaking news that the president has flown in for one half of the meetings that were planned by the white house. As emma was just explained there, half of those being cancelled. Listen, we have to talk about this hospital strike. Its a completely changed the president s visit. Its completely changed it. Well, the whole situation , its well, the whole situation, its very much on a knife edge. The idf, the Israeli Defence force, this time an hour ago, coming out in absolutely denying it. And, you know, some commentators are saying why on earth would the israelis strike a hospital when the president of the United States flying know states was flying in . They know what diplomatic implications what the diplomatic implications of would be. But we of doing that would be. But we need a third party, dont to we, source verification of this denial , whether that be from the denial, whether that be from the United Nations, american intelligence, indeed, as we intelligence, or indeed, as we asked this asked andrew griffith, this morning, British Intelligence as well . Yeah, i think is a thing yeah, i think this is a thing on sides. Eyes on this on both sides. Eyes on this conflict are going to be playing a pr war as much as they are having an actual war. And we need neutral third parties to sort of say this is the truth, because the First Casualty of war is truth. We know that. I think there are really its such a complicated and protracted situation. Its been going on my entire lifetime. Um, but i mean, entire lifetime. Um, but i mean, i think biden is probably the best person to get involved from the states because he has just a huge, huge history of Foreign Policy. The reason he was brought in as obamas Vice President , because obama was seen as light on Foreign Policy and joe biden had always been involved in so i think, involved in that. So i think, you , he is the best person you know, he is the best person to and and mediate. To go in and try and mediate. But the problem is theres an awful lot of sense from from sort of social media and things like that that, peace is like that that, oh, peace is easy. Its just about singing. Imagine you know, by imagine and you know, come by our is really, really hard our peace is really, really hard. Revenge is easy, conflict is easy, anger is easy. Those are the things that we naturally reach towards. Actually to going your enemy and saying, lets sit down and make a deal. Thats the hard work. But emma, is anyone even talking peace this talking about peace at this stage . Talking about peace at this staglz . Even think president i dont even think President Biden hoping peace and biden was hoping for peace and but this peace has to start somewhere. And it starts with operating by the rules of war. It starts by the rules of war. It starts by ensuring that the innocence on both sides do not become casualties in this as much as possible. The chances of peace are slim and none and slim left town. Well, indeed. Well, indeed. And but what is what is terrible is instead of trying to use an event like this to actually try and calm things down and start a process , you down and start a process, you know, as i say, ive been in gaza. I never forget that. Its just awful, abominable and then drive half the population of gaza from one end of the country to the other. Its a 25 mile long strip with 2,000,005 already living in it. And eight miles. And so its absolutely impossible. And i just dont impossible. And i just dont there was a time when people unhesitatingly thought that, you know, israel , poor little israel know, israel, poor little israel , was a plucky little israel and the rest of it, although so that the rest of it, although so that the attack by hamas was terrible, horrendous. I still terrible, horrendous. I still think that the israelis need to show some determination on to achieve peace. Yes. But as long achieve peace. Yes. But as long as mr netanyahu is around, thats not going to happen. And i almost want to say that the ambitions are much more humble than that. But the word humble than that. But the word humble is not right. But, you know, me seems a long know, peace to me seems a long way need in the way off. What we need in the short term is, is the siege to be addressed. We need basic human rights to be met. The right to water, which they can actually pump themselves in gaza, assuming they have electricity. And were looking at a live shot of air force one on the tarmac on the runway in tel aviv. The president of the tel aviv. The president of the United States, leader of the free world, has arrived there in this significantly reduced diplomatic visit to the region. We havent yet seen him appear there. We expect he will be making his way through some serious meetings today, as well as meeting with victims involved in the hamas atrocities as well as those First Responders before making an address. Well be keeping a close eye live here on gb news on that for were looking at live pictures of air force one, which has just touched down in tel aviv. The United States aviv. The United States President Joe Biden has landed in israel, promising to put tough questions to israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dunng minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to the blame game has begun over an explosion at a hospital in gaza which allegedly killed hundreds. Well , good allegedly killed hundreds. Well, good morning. We are staying on our pictures of air force one, but it is 9 00 here in the uk on wednesday, the 18th of october. And this is breakfast with Isabel Webster and tom hannood. Well were expecting joe biden to disembark from air force one in the next few minutes. And indeed bring with him a heavy responsibility in terms of what can be achieved here in israel over the next 24 hours. Of course, meeting says that joe biden was going to have with King Abdullah of jordan, president sisi of egypt, and Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president , have all been cancelled as things stand after the confusion with regards to that fire and explosion in at a hospital in gaza city overnight , right . Overnight, right . Yeah, this happened at 6. 59 local time. Local time. And the palestinian Health Ministry blamed israel squarely for it, claiming 500 people had been killed, including medical staff and seeing medical suppues staff and seeing medical supplies being destroyed in that as well. The elderly, civilians , as well. The elderly, civilians, women and children all parted that. But the idf having denied it as well. Here we go. We can see the president of the United States emerging for the first time from air force one and descending those steps himself onto the tarmac at the airport in tel aviv. In tel aviv. He is greeting the Prime Minister of israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, embracing king Benjamin Netanyahu there on the tarmac of tel aviv airport, making some introductory remarks surrounding hounded by a throng of reporters as dignitaries and indeed the secret service as well, making polite conversation and no doubt words of consolation in there on the tarmac of tel aviv airport , tarmac of tel aviv airport, greeting with affection. The president , the Prime Minister of president , the Prime Minister of israel , president , the Prime Minister of israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. Yeah. Yeah. And President Biden having a vast career experience of international relations. Hell international relations. Hell be all too aware of the importance of recognising the hurt and pain of those hamas atrocities, whilst also asking those difficult questions surrounding the chaos and confusion in relation to that hospital strike, which could prove a turning point in this israel gaza conflict. Indeed, it has been reported that this trip, this visit by President Biden, was conditional on certain concessions from israel towards the people of gaza, things like humanitarian aid corridors, safe areas for civilians , and indeed civilians, and indeed potentially a delay to this sweeping Ground Invasion of gaza that had been expected. Could joe biden be the person to cool down the temperature here in the middle east over the next 24 hours . Or might it all be too late . A lot is riding on this late . A lot is riding on this particular extraordinary president ial visit. Yeah, extraordinary is the word and security in credibly tight. Were looking at pictures of lots of his special secret service there surrounding his vehicle. He will then travel in a motorcade before Holding Meetings with Benjamin Netanyahu, who we saw greeting him there. And they are both today expected to make joint statements. We know that there are historic tensions between the two leaders. There have been differences of opinion over the years, and they will be seeking to establish common ties. The United States, of course , huge United States, of course, huge allies to israel and have pledged their unequivocal support , but to the israeli support, but to the israeli state. But it is not without conditions. The president of the United States will be wanting something in return for this visit. He will be putting pressure on israel to open some sort of humanitarian corridor, or at least to ease the siege on the strip , allowing water, the strip, allowing water, electricity and medicine to flow back into to the region. But this trip significantly reduced with, as weve been reporting this morning, the second half of those meetings having been cancelled dramatically just before the president left the white house last night on this already announced first visit to the middle east. Well, lets bring in now our man on the ground, Charlie Peters , has been following peters, has been following developments in israel. He is in tel aviv , the same city where, tel aviv, the same city where, of course, the United States president has just touched down. And charlie , what can we expect and charlie, what can we expect from the president . And charlie, what can we expect from the president . A visit today . Well he is going to try today . Well he is going to try and continue that urgent humanitarian Shopping List that anthony blinken, the secretary of state arrived with last week. But failed to check out in particular for the establishment of those humanitarian safe zones in the south of the gaza strip. After the idf ordered some 1. 1 Million People to head from north gaza to the south ahead of that likely planned Ground Invasion and also the increased bombardment from air, sea and land, artillery and airstrikes continuing to hit hamas military capabilities. The idf say in the area. They will also want to secure the flow of humanity , an secure the flow of humanity, an aid from the egyptian side into gaza through that rafah border crossing, which has remained closed. There have now been three occasions in the last four days where the americans have said that they believe the rafah crossing will open imminently and those hopes have been dashed as the situation in the south of gaza increasingly becomes untethered , able for the people untethered, able for the people there. Theyve also, like the britons, urged people to move into the rafah crossing area so that if it does open, foreign nationals are able to exit that war zone. And there have been airstrikes in the south as well. The hamas run Health Ministry in the gaza strip claiming that 49 people were killed in an airstrike in younis khan two days ago. But this visit comes also at an urgent time for israel as it attempts to convince the world of its side of what happened last night in the north with that explosion at a hospital , the baptist a hospital, the Baptist Christian hospital in gaza city this morning. The idf has this morning. The idf has released what it says is compelling signals and Imagery Intelligence of the situation last night. They also say that some 450 rockets have failed to clear the gaza strip after theyve been launched by the hamas terror group. And other associated groups inside the gaza strip. So theyre trying to gaza strip. So theyre trying to paint a picture of pattern analysis leading to this crisis last night. And theyve also shown us in the Imagery Intelligence that theyve released this morning the differences between the craters that youd usually anticipate with an idf strike, such as the £1,000 bombs or the jdam missiles used by the idf and allies in the region. And what remains of that car park next to the hospital this morning where there was a significant blast. There was a significant blast. There are also some other claims in tel aviv this morning from analysts and observers who say that munitions could have been stored at the hospital as is within the tactics and procedures of hamas. And that conversation continues there as they seek to understand that situation. Nation as regional partners, particularly on the arab side, seek to push away from the israelis and the americans at this urgent turning point in the diplomatic relations. Relations. And charlie, stay with us. I just want to bring our viewers with us as well as that motorcade gets undennay. The motorcade gets undennay. The reason perhaps for some of that delay, once the president of the United States got into the vehicle , is to do with the fact vehicle, is to do with the fact that yesterday the german chancellor, olaf schultzs plane had to be evacuated at Israels Ben Gurion airport, and that was due to rocket attacks. Those flying with the chancellor were able to board the plane. A few minutes later, as well as the chancellor. But security is incredibly tight. Nobody can afford for this to go wrong. We see the trouble and the chaos that has been caused not only, of course, to human life and civilians with this hospital strike, but also in terms of the optics and the actual physical safety of international leaders. Safety of international leaders. Indeed. And were seeing a seemingly endless stream of cars there, not just the president of there, not just the president of the United States, but many of his advisors, Security Services and others accompanying him on this trip today. And others accompanying him on this trip today. Hey, charlie, i this trip today. Hey, charlie, i suppose the number one topic of conversation and concern will be what really happened overnight right at this hospital in gaza. The idf this morning saying that it has been the Palestinian Authoritys trying to hide what really happened or that hamas is really happened or that hamas is really behind. And this this really behind. And this this perhaps malfunction that led to the dramatic scenes we saw at that hospital might we be heanng that hospital might we be hearing words from the United States on this today. States on this today. This is, i think, what the israeli side is urgently keen to see. They want Third Party Support for their intelligence claims this morning, of course, both side making claims about the situation and those in the gaza strip and those in tel aviv urgently putting fonnard their side of the story. But this morning, the evidence provided by hamas has been limited, whereas the idf has put fonnard compelling, but by no means conclusive evidence about what they say was a misfired rocket by the Palestinian Islamic jihad group. Theyve shown footage of the launch from the gaza strip. The launch from the gaza strip. We were in tel aviv Walking Around reporting when that barrage of rockets was fired towards us. And as you said, the german chancellor taking shelter at that same time. It was a significant barrage. And the idf said this morning that some 450 rockets landed short, some rockets have landed short, some of them within the gaza strip since the start of this war. On the first day, they fired 4005 500 rockets into israel. So 500 rockets into israel. So there have been significant efforts to launch rockets into this country and not all of them work. They are a non state, hostile actor. Their tactics and procedures are not to the same level of a conventional military, and they do know that. We do know that they use homemade explosive devices and there are also claims made by there are also claims made by the israelis that they use water pipes to develop their rockets. And the launch systems that they use. So the opportunity for failure for launch, failure for misfire and also for rockets to break up in the air is relatively high when compared with conventional militaries in the region. But yes, there is now urgent conversation about the idea that the american side might come in and offer their own intelligence analysis of what happened last night as the idf continues to release more information on. Theyre very clearly trying everything they can to fight the narrative that was launched last night. Within moments of this appalling incident. Within just 15 incident. Within just 15 minutes, the Palestinian Authority announced three days of mourning for what it described as a crime of genocide in lebanon. The uae , saudi in lebanon. The uae, saudi arabia, turkey, egypt , jordan, arabia, turkey, egypt, jordan, all of the arab nations coming out within the first hour to condemn israel for what had happened before. The israeli say information was released sufficient. It took them two sufficient. It took them two hours to respond to our press requests. And many other requests. And many other journalists obviously here urgently reaching out to the idf last where they said that last night where they said that they did not do it and then this morning, the compelling morning, the more compelling intelligence been intelligence evidence has been put as put fonnard, compelling, but as we conclusive of. So we say, not conclusive of. So the hope today will be the israeli hope today will be that further insight, not just from the us , but hopefully they from the us, but hopefully they hope from other western powers observing the situation. We do observing the situation. We do have british spy planes. Lets not forget, flying over this coast, observing the situation. Those Maritime Patrol aircraft deployed by rishi sunak a week ago, they have been seen well , ago, they have been seen well, not seen there. We know that they are above this coastline observing strip. So observing the gaza strip. So there significant imagery and there is significant imagery and signals intelligence being gathered in the gaza strip. And there are now hopes, of course, that more information will come out establish this once out to establish this once and for all. What happened at that hospital last night. There are hospital last night. There are also questions about the death toll the run health toll. The hamas run Health Ministry saying its well over 500. But of course, no official confirmation on that yet, though the scene does look devastating. And charlie, stay with us. Again i just to explain again i just want to explain some of the pictures that were showing on our screen to the audience and describe them for those on the radio. Those listening on the radio. But this is where the president is and of course, is heading next. And of course, security incredibly tight. Security incredibly tight. Youll have seen that snake of vehicles following him from the airport in tel aviv. The president ial motorcade famously, often 40 or 50 vehicles. All of these will be highly secure armoured vehicles and indeed , armoured vehicles and indeed, there was an ambulance as well. Often the motorcade will also be carrying the blood of the president of the United States as well. And lots of armed response should the worst happen. And i suppose just reflecting on what happened with olaf scholz. Schultz yesterday at the airport, every precaution has to be taken and just running through the agenda of what he is expected to do today, in spite of the cancellations of his meetings later on the second half of it, he is expected to meet the full war cabinet in israel, as well as having a private session with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. And after that , he is expected to after that, he is expected to meet First Responders. Some of the families of those loved ones who are believed to have lost or have people held hostage in gaza. Hell make public remarks a little bit later on and will then have a short meeting with then have a short meeting with the israeli president , isaac herzog. No face to face meetings anymore with abbas Abdel Fattah El sisi or indeed King Abdullah. But it is thought that there will still be communication, if not direct there. And look , not direct there. And look, those live pictures now are the beginning of that motorcade coming in through the streets of tel aviv. And, of course, the president riding in the famous car, the beast, which famously got stuck in the downing street turning circle. Several years ago. But it is hermetically sealed against chemical attack. It does against chemical attack. It does carry the president s blood type. And of course , features type. And of course, features bullet proof windows as well. A specially modified , incredibly specially modified, incredibly secure car that the president uses not just for domestic travel, but International Travel as well. We can now revisit some images of the president of the United States getting off the plane , which happened just some plane, which happened just some moments ago, around 15 minutes ago. Joe moments ago, around 15 minutes ago. Joe biden disembarking from air force one, which has touched down in the last half hour there in tel aviv , greeting the prime in tel aviv, greeting the Prime Minister of israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, there on the airport grounds and other dignitaries as well, surrounded. By a throng of well, surrounded. By a throng of press cameras. And, of course, secret service security, security of course, being incredibly tight throughout this visit. But yes, just to update you on the news there, President Biden having touched down in israel, greeted the Prime Minister of israel and now well on his way to further meetings, which well have throughout the morning. Well go back to those live pictures now. The motorcade having just travelled through the streets of tel aviv on their way to the destination for their first behind closed doors meetings between the two men we just saw pictured there, Prime Minister netanyahu and President Biden. This is , to be perfectly biden. This is, to be perfectly honest, an extra ordinary war visit from the president of the United States. Unfortunately, it United States. Unfortunately, it is not the visit that he had announced. Having had half of announced. Having had half of those meetings cancelled in light of what happened last night. And as weve been reflecting all morning, really it is a race now to try and establish the facts around what happened to gaza hospital , the happened to gaza hospital, the hospital in gaza city at around 7 00. This is of course, the second active war zone that the president of the United States has visited during his time in office. No doubt this will have profound domestic implications as well as international ones. Our man on the ground, Charlie Peters, is still here with us in tel aviv. And charlie, what can tel aviv. And charlie, what can we expect to actually be achieved , achieved today in achieved, achieved today in concrete terms as well . One thing that the american side will want to avoid is seeing President Joe Biden rushing into a shelter. Of course, weve seen so much footage over the last week of World Leaders and foreign secretaries coming under rocket attack. And i think thats something theyre going to try and limit to and keep joe biden inside the beast car convoy, but also indoors as much as possible in buildings with shelters that he is not caught in the open to minimise that risk. He is not caught in the open to minimise that risk. But in terms minimise that risk. But in terms of the opportunities available to american diplomacy, they have certainly shortened since last night in the last 12 hours. So much on the ground has changed with the arab solidarity. Certainly hardening since that explosion at the hospital that crucial meeting in the eyes of the americans with King Abdullah of jordan and the egyptians to help develop the humanitarian situation in the south. Being scrapped will have a devastating impact on the influence of american diplomacy. Impact on the influence of american diplomacy. I think also the americans are hoping to establish a further understanding of what the israeli plan is in north gaza, where they have asked all those citizen jews to flee south. Hundreds of thousands of them likely remaining in north gaza ahead of what could be an appallingly brutal, slow and deliberate invasion by idf troops, which could see hand to hand, door to door underground, fighting some of the most brutal urban fighting you can anticipate in the entire world will happen in the gaza strip if that invasion goes ahead and there will be conversations to try and support israelis try and support the israelis from the american side about how they can defeat hamas military capabilities limiting capabilities while also limiting that devastation in the gaza strip, which is having a Significant Impact on their diplomatic relations with arab partners in the region, particularly jordan. Jordan has particularly jordan. Jordan has described this blockade in the gaza as a war crime, saying the same to rishi sunak when he visited downing street on sunday, really reaffirming deep concerns there about the situation in the gaza strip, the blocking off of electricity and Water Supplies in the south of particular concern because, of course, the americans and are hoping that the israelis can move as many civilians south as possible ahead of further bombardments and that likely Ground Invasion to clear out hamas military capabilities. But if the arabs side , particularly if the arabs side, particularly jordan and egypt, have been pushed away by that report of those strikes on the on the hospital last night, sorry, then thatis hospital last night, sorry, then that is going to make that mission so much more difficult and there will be deep frustration within the american side today. And the israelis , side today. And the israelis, that all of those nations typically aligned with the palestinian cause have so quickly adopted the line, pushed out by the hamas run Health Ministry and the palestinian authorities in the west bank as well , that this was an israeli well, that this was an israeli airstrike. As more and more compelling but not conclusive evidence suggests that it was instead a misfired or or failing rocket by the Palestinian Islamic jihad. That failed Islamic Jihad. That failed rocket. Just one rocket could have had devastating implications for the humanitarian diplomacy that so many have expected to take place over the days sensed here in tel aviv, as though the situation with the israelis was calm. With the israelis was calm. Yesterday, we heard from Lieutenant Colonel richard hecht, an idf spokesman , who hecht, an idf spokesman, who said that other options were on the table, that everyone is talking about a Ground Invasion. They may do something else. And now those links between the israelis and the americans and the egyptians and the jordanian, crucially, have simmered. They crucially, have simmered. They have frozen somewhat. They have been drifting apart since that explosion last night. And it seems as though both sides are talking not only from different scripts, different scripts, but from different understanding of what happened last night. Understanding of what happened last night. So if understanding of what happened last night. So if they can last night. So if they can establish the israelis military support from the americans in terms of intelligence on what happened on the ground, that will be crucial. But as it stands , the israelis still stands, the israelis still trying to convince the world that what happened last night was a failure by the Palestinian Islamic jihad, by israeli Islamic Jihad, not by israeli air forces. Yeah, i think compelling, not conclusive, is the phrase , conclusive, is the phrase, charlie. And, you know, we were heanng charlie. And, you know, we were hearing suggestions that Prime Minister sunak might be following in the president s footsteps and travelling to israel and indeed his hopes, i think were to the region tomorrow. So thats in question tomorrow. So thats in question now, in light of all of this confusion around the hospital strike. But if the facts can be established, and im sure that israel will be at pains to try and persuade President Biden that they werent involved today, if they are able to do that, things could could change quite dramatically. Its not to quite dramatically. Its not to say that, in fact, some of those talks could be reopened. And it certainly seems from israels point of view, while that the president will want to have strong words with them in relation to following International Law, the israelis may also so be under pressure to prove conclusively that this was not their work in gaza. Yes but not their work in gaza. Yes but at the same time, i think the arab side from the nations here, jordan in particular, but also the uae, lebanon , egypt and the uae, lebanon, egypt and saudi arabia , once they have saudi arabia, once they have established that line so strongly last night, it is unlikely to shift, i think, much, even if the evidence being produced by the israelis and possibly with american intelligence support, even if that evidence becomes more compelling but not conclusive, then i think even still its highly likely that those arab powers in the region will stand by their statements last night, because i think its likely they see this as an opportunity to stop the invasion. They see this as an opportunity to pour more into National Condemnation on the situation on the ground to prevent israel from moving in from that likely invasion. If they can win the hearts and minds of the world in the understanding that israeli actions are brutal, they are indiscriminate and they destroy civilian hospitals , schools and civilian hospitals, schools and indeed livelihoods , then they indeed livelihoods, then they will be able, they to hope, reduce the likelihood of that likely Ground Invasion. So likely Ground Invasion. So i think even if even if the western intelligence support comes in today to reaffirm and buttress some of those claims made by the israeli side this morning, we saw that intelligence from Imagery Analysts and also very rare signals intelligence, with the idf claiming a conversation between two Hamas Terrorists in the gaza strip describing the failed and describing the failed airstrike from the Palestinian Islamic jihad with that information released, they will be hoping that the americans can come in and support it. But as i said , regardless of what the said, regardless of what the americans and the israelis say today, regardless of the evidence they produce, i think the arabs side see as the arabs side see this as an opportunity to prevent that israeli Ground Invasion. And joe israeli Ground Invasion. And joe biden is caught between two very dramatic sides here. And what he says could be influential of course, but also likely will not have the effect that the americans are hoping to achieve, both in terms of the humanitarian Shopping List they have south. Humanitarian have in the south. Humanitarian safe aid crossing from safe zones, aid crossing in from the egyptian but also to the egyptian side, but also to try and get to the bottom of what happened last night in the Christian Hospital in gaza city. Christian hospital in gaza city. The age old phrase, is that a lie can get halfway around the world before the truth has got its boots on. But one of the lines from the idf earlier this morning was that its impossible to know what happened at that hospital as quickly as hamas claimed. Within an hour of the incident, you had so many lines from hamas, from various others within the region claiming they knew exactly what happened. Does it add credence to the Israeli Defence forces and their assessment that they took the best part of 12 hours to come up with their explanation to present their own evidence . Present their own evidence . Yes, it took two hours for the first line to come out from the first line to come out from the idf last night after the reported explosion on the hospital and the hamas line came out almost instantly after that explosion took place. Within 15 explosion took place. Within 15 minutes, the palestine authorities in the west bank had described it as a crime of genocide. And then we also saw genocide. And then we also saw the iranian is come out and call on people to march to israeli embassies. We saw protests embassies. We saw protests outside of british embassies last night and american embassies across the region in lebanon, there were blockades towards the beirut embassies there as people marched to protest fires lit outside of the Israeli Embassy in oman in jordan as well. So very tense situation inflamed suddenly within the hour of the reported hospital explosion in in the west bank. Of course, we have seen those tensions flaring over the last week without many people noticing this has been the deadliest week on record in the deadliest week on record in the west bank as so much attention is drawn to the gaza strip. And, of course, lets not forget the north of israel, where with lebanese where skirmishes with Lebanese Hezbollah west hezbollah continue. The west bank deaths of bank has seen over 61 deaths of palestinians since this conflict started yesterday. A 17 year old and 71 year old killed by israeli forces. So concerns are israeli forces. So concerns are growing now that this situation last night, as you say , tom, last night, as you say, tom, this view that the israelis are responsible for the attack will grow inside the arab world and more protests and more violence and more escalation will continue. Continue. Okay, Charlie Peters in tel aviv for now, thank you very much indeed. As we reflect on the breaking news that in the last half an hour, the president of the United States has arrived on an extraordinary visit to israel when there are Big Questions about this questions about where this conflict goes next. Thats it from me and from tom for this morning. Its britains good morning. Its 930 on good morning. Its 930 on wednesday, the 18th of october. This is britains newsroom on gb news with bev turner and emily carver. The blame game. A deadly explosion hits a hospital in gaza overnight reported to have killed 500 people. An attack which both palestinians and israelis are blaming each other for. And biden enters the war zone. The us president had expected to spend part of today in in tel aviv. Expected to spend part of today in in tel aviv. He hes going to in in tel aviv. He hes going to be with the israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But