Starting a two day visit to the wider middle east. Mr sunak is expected to meet his israeli counterpart Benjamin Neta nyahu and israeli president isaac herzog for what he said, on arrival here, he hoped would be very productive meetings. This, after urging regional leaders to avoid further dangerous escalation. This is what rishi sunak had to say on his arrival. Good morning, Prime Minister. Good morning. Im very pleased to be able to be here. Its an important time. Its important for me to be able to express my solidarity with the israeli people, following what was a horrific terrorist attack. Productive meetings ahead of us today. Im looking forward to seeing the Prime Minister and president. Theres lots of work for us to do. That is rishi sunak who arrived in israel this morning. In gaza, meanwhile, egypt has agreed to let humanitarian supplies in, via The Rafah Crossing. An initial convoy of 20 trucks of aid are expected to enter gaza. Although that is not 100 confirmed. That, after a deal announced by President Biden but its unlikely to happen until friday. Announcing the agreement, the us president warned that the aid convoys would be stopped if any supplies were confiscated by hamas, which governs gaza as is regarded as a Terrorist Organisation by the uk and us. We can bring you live pictures of gaza. Israels military says it has hit hundreds of sites in gaza over the last 2a hours. Including this morning, it says aimed at hamas infrastructure. With the latest, heres our correspondent wyre davies. As trucks carrying aid queue on the egyptian side of gazas southern border, the un and International Aid agencies have become increasingly alarmed at the unfolding humanitarian crisis. On a visit to israel that lasted barely a day, while reaffirming his steadfast support, joe biden also pressed the case for aid for gazas 2. 5 million palestinian citizens, many of whom are struggling to get access to food, water and medical supplies. Then on the plane home, the president told reporters that a deal had been reached. Egypt had agreed to let an initial 20 trucks in through The Rafah Crossing. This has been a very blunt negotiation ive had, and so we want to get as many of the trucks out as possible. Theres, i guess, 150 or something there, not all of them will go. The first tranche, if theres a second tranche, see how it goes. The aid will be delivered under un supervision, with the president saying it might not arrive until friday. There was also a warning that it will stop if any is taken by hamas, which had been one of israels main concerns. Weve said, and the americans have said, that there have to be safeguards in place to make sure that aid goes to the people its supposed to go to. Now, hamas are the only people in gaza with guns, and its not like if they come to an oil tanker and say come here, theres much that you can do about it. But there have to be arrangements in place to make sure that that doesnt happen. Both israeli and palestinian officials are still blaming each other for a huge explosion at a Gaza Hospital that killed almost 500 people. President biden had earlier said he believed israels version of events. As the dead were buried, the blame game continued and tensions rise, ahead of what many assume is an inevitable Israeli Ground invasion of gaza. And with almost 200 hostages held by hamas inside gaza, there are concerns that direct israeli action might jeopardise their safety. Their families will have taken some comfort after President Biden said hed also discussed their plight, saying he could not reveal details, but there was no higher priority than their safe return. There will be more diplomatic visits in coming days, including rishi sunak� s today, supporting israels right to self defence, but also urging restraint with civilian populations when, as expected, Israeli Ground forces do go into gaza. Wyre davies, bbc news. Jerusalem. As we have discussed with the british Prime Minister here in israel this morning before he goes on for meetings throughout the middle east Likejoe Biden who was here yesterday, he has been meeting families affected by the unprecedented terror on israeli soil on the 7th Of October. 1,400 people were killed and up to 200 taken hostage terrorist attack. We can see a tweet by the Prime Minister hugging a Family Member of someone believed to be taken hostage into gaza and what he says is, to have a cloud taken from you is a parents have a cloud taken from you is a pa rent� s worst have a cloud taken from you is a parents worst nightmare. This morning, i heard from families going through this unbearable agony. Working with our partners we are determined to secure the release of the hostages taken by hamas terrorists. That is a tweet by uk Prime Minister rishi sunak. No, mr sunak has all also be meeting israels president today isaac herzog and we have heard from Downing Street about what the two then discussed. First of all, Prime Minister sunak expressed his solidarity with israel in the wake of those unprecedented attacks by gaza militants who crossed over into israel on the 7th Of October and concern about the hostages who were taken into gaza, among their number of course are some uk nationals as well. Downing street also said Prime Minister sunak did discuss with israel and thanked israel for concern for uk nationals caught up in the hostagetaking and in the attacks. The Prime Minister, according to Downing Street, also expressed the uks support of israel and the fact that the uks support of israels right to self defence, says Downing Street. And he has also been discussing with israels president , as he will do also with the Prime Minister here Benjamin Netanyahu, about concerns that the volatile situation here should not escalate to the wider middle east. Well, discuss all of that, we can turn to our chief International Correspondent lyse doucet, who is in southern israel, so israels border with gaza. We saw first in that tweet by Prime Minister sunak the hug that he gave to a Family Member of somebody who was taken hostage by gaza militants and taken into the gaza militants and taken into the gaza strip. That does include some british nationals. British nationals. Yes, there are so many humid british nationals. Yes, there are so many humid tragedies british nationals. Yes, there are so many humid tragedies in british nationals. Yes, there are so many humid tragedies in this british nationals. Yes, there are so many humid tragedies in this deep| many humid tragedies in this deep political and security crisis and one of them which, to use the word of this time unprecedented, nearly 200, in fact. Of this time unprecedented, nearly 200, infact. We of this time unprecedented, nearly 200, in fact. We have an update on the number of hostages this morning and it is even more than thought, it is now 203. And that is notjust israelis ranging from an eight month old baby to eight year old holocaust survivor, but 30 other nationalities including britain. 18 year old. The numbers keep changes and we heard there were nine british people missing, a very painful word forfamily nine british people missing, a very painful word for Family Members. It tells them it is not clear if their loved ones are in the gaza strip held by islamichhad or hamas or their bodies have not been found, that they are part of the more than 1,400 that have already been confirmed dead and it would be important for Prime Minister sunak as it was for President Joe Biden to show sympathy to speak directly to those who are suffering so enormously. And they want to be reassured that when the Military Operation start, that their loved ones, their lives will not be at stake. And it was striking that yesterday, President Biden told some of the Family Members, he said, we will do Everything Possible to rescue your loved ones, to bring them home alive. Them home alive. Talking about British Passport them home alive. Talking about British Passport holders them home alive. Talking about British Passport holders and them home alive. Talking about| British Passport holders and you them home alive. Talking about British Passport holders and you say that amongst the hostages taken into gaza, there are 30 other nationalities involved in this. Also, many citizens from third countries amongst the civilians in the gaza strip who are experiencing aerial bombardment is from israel and to have been experiencing this siege, so there is no food, fuel, water or medicine is coming in. The uk is discussing its concerns to get its Passport Holders out, along with other countries as well. Through The Rafah Crossing into egypt is what is being discussed. It is Rafah Crossing Into Egypt is what is being discussed. Being discussed. It is a terrible asect of being discussed. It is a terrible aspect of tragedies being discussed. It is a terrible aspect of tragedies like being discussed. It is a terrible aspect of tragedies like this. Being discussed. It is a terrible aspect of tragedies like this is | aspect of tragedies like this is that people who are all suffering get divided. Divided on their terms of what passport they hold. And so far, only far Passport Holders, and that would include many gazans who have far passports, will have any chance, any chance at all of escaping from what the un secretary general Antonio Guterres has described as epic suffering. We were told there were about 1,000 Passport Holders who are anxious to leave. We know that some of them dont want to leave. There must also be British Passport holders and of course, we have covered extensively that the First Minister of scotland humza yousaf, the milder of his wife is there and her brother the milder. So it strikes very, very close to home. This is a tragedy of unprecedented proportions for this region the mother. It is also a tragedy which spreads right across the world, so many nations, so many people have been drawn in to this crisis. B5 people have been drawn in to this crisis. � ,. , people have been drawn in to this crisis. � , people have been drawn in to this crisis. ~ ,. ,. , crisis. As you say, there are very ainful crisis. As you say, there are very painful aspects crisis. As you say, there are very painful aspects about crisis. As you say, there are very painful aspects about situationsl painful aspects about situations like this. Palestinian civilians suffering together, but some have more chance than others of being allowed out if they want, depending on what passport they hold. The british Prime Minister today, as the us president who was here yesterday, expressing concern, though, for all palestinian civilians. The us president saying that not all palestinians in gaza are hamas. And a glimmer of hope that you and i were discussing earlier that a first convoy of aid trucks may be allowed into the gaza strip as early as tomorrow. 20 not enough, 20 trucks in that convoy. But we may not even make it to 20. In that convoy. But we may not even make it to 20 make it to 20. There is still much to be done make it to 20. There is still much to be done before make it to 20. There is still much to be done before president make it to 20. There is still much to be done before president joe l to be done before President Joe Biden, the paps optimistic assessment that 20 trucks could start rolling as early as friday actually happens and when it does, it will send a rare symbol of hope across the gaza strip, even though they know this is just a small, small start. Normally, and this is farfrom normal times, small start. Normally, and this is farfrom normaltimes, but small start. Normally, and this is farfrom normal times, but even before all this happened, the dire humanitarian crisis in gaza, the United Nations was bringing in 100 trucks a day. That is a bare minimum. Of course, now is a situation which their suffering is beyond compare. Gazans now worry that if they dont die under israeli bombardment, they will starve to death for not having water or food, all of the Life Saving Services that we all rely on. In that convoy, if it does go through, those 20 trucks, we understand there will be food, water, medicine, but no fuel. The United Nations says that is one service, one good that is desperately needed now because you need electricity for water sanitation, you need it to pump the water, but that was a step too far for israel. It worries about what they call dual purpose goods, so they call dual purpose goods, so they could be used by hamas, they worry about the diversion of aid. President joe biden, that message will be Iterated Today by rishi sunak and probably already has been reiterated, the innocent civilians of gaza should not suffer. They know their message has been made absolutely clearly from arab leaders across the region that they know israel is going to strike hard against hamas, but they have to do Everything Possible to minimise the harm to civilians either under the Military Operations or in terms of that complete siege that was ordered by israel. Antony blinken, when he days ago made his Lightning Tour of six capitals, arab capitals in four days, came back to israel and said, the one message i heard loud and clear from every the one message i heard loud and clearfrom every single the one message i heard loud and clear from every single arab leader is, protect the civilians. Do Everything Possible to keep them safe and to keep them alive. Such wor in safe and to keep them alive. Such worrying times safe and to keep them alive. Such worrying times across safe and to keep them alive. Such worrying times across this safe and to keep them alive. Such worrying times across this region, thank you very much indeed. The bbc� s special International Correspondent lyse doucet en israels border with gaza. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Lets look at some other stories making news. People in parts of scotland are urged to stay at home as storm babet is expected to bring severe flooding and disruption. The storm is currently hitting ireland and the army has been deployed to a town where more than 100 properties were flooded. The met office says more areas could lose power for days. Polls have opened for by elections in the constituencies of Mid Bedfordshire and tamworth. Voters will decide who replaces Nadine Dorries in Mid Bedfordshire and Chris Pincher in tamworth, after the conservative mps stood down. Polling stations opened at 7am and will close at 10pm this evening, with results expected from early on friday morning. Welsh water has admitted illegally spilling untreated sewage at dozens of Treatment Plants for years. It comes after the bbc presented the Water Company with analysis of its own data. In one of the worst affected areas, the company has been spilling untreated sewage into an environmentally protected area near a rare Dolphin Habitat for at least a decade. Youre live with bbc news. Iam i am with you from jerusalem. With the british Prime Minister rishi sunak here on a two day visit to the middle east, we can turn to analyse what he can achieve in this visit with our Political CorrespondentDamian Grammaticas who joins with our Political CorrespondentDamian Grammaticas whojoins me now from westminster. We have been looking all morning about rishi sunak� s his list of concerns here. There are so many from trying along with other International Leaders to avoid an escalation to the fate of British Passport holders, amongst those taken from israel by militants into the gaza strip on the 7th Of Oct