after the attack. 0ur middle east correspondent, lucy williamson, has more from jerusalem. a warning, her report contains some distressing details. out of the chaos and mass trauma of the hamas attacks, new stories are starting to emerge of rape and sexual assault, including graphic testimony from an eyewitness interviewed by police. i realised they were raping her one by one. then she was passed to another man in uniform. she was still alive when she was being raped. the scale of sexual violence here isn't clear. bodies were mutilated and survivors few and police admit they're facing a lack of forensic evidence from the site. you can still hear the israeli bombardment of gaza and see vast clouds of black smoke hanging over the gaza strip. but in the days following the attack, this site was an active combat zone. it was a big enough challenge to collect the bodies, let alone early forensic evidence of sexual crimes. a video shot by hamas during the attacks... an early warning. a large bloodstain on the trousers of one woman captive. female bodies piled on trucks naked or semi clothed. you see the way that it's burned... body collectors describe piles of women's bodies, naked from the waist down, some photographed with their legs splayed. those who witnessed sexual attacks have struggled with what they saw. i spoke with girls that are now... at least three girls that are now hospitalised for a very hard psychiatric situation because of the rapes they watched. they pretended to be dead and they watched it and they heard everything from the side. some of them want to kill themselves, some can't deal with it. crucial evidence has come from the makeshift identification unit at the shura army base. teams here describe clear signs of assault, including broken pelvises. but the scale of sexual abuse during these attacks may never be fully known. it's definitely multiple. it's hard to tell. i've also dealt with more than a few burnt bodies and those i have no idea what they went through beforehand. bodies that are missing the bottom half. i also don't know what they... if they were raped. staff at shura told me there were patterns in the violence visited on women's bodies according to location. investigators say these attacks were systematic and premeditated. but piecing together even one single story is slow and difficult work. the wider story of sexual violence in these attacks is onlyjust beginning. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. russian president vladimir putin is travelling to the united arab emirates and saudi arabia on on a rare overseas trip to discuss the israel—gaza war, as moscow seeks to reassert russia's role in the middle east. hamas, which most western countries consider to be a terrorist group, is on good terms with russia, frequently sending delegations to moscow. for more on this we're joined live now by our correspondent, sameer hashmi who's in dubai. what is president putin hoping to achieve? , , , ., , achieve? this trip is really significant _ achieve? this trip is really significant for _ achieve? this trip is really significant for president i achieve? this trip is really i significant for president putin achieve? this trip is really - significant for president putin for multiple reasons. one, he has untroubled much outside since the war in ukraine began. he visited former state is associated with the soviet union and then china in october. this will be one of his few rare trips. he is coming to the uae first, abu dhabi, which is 100 from the cop28 venue and he will be meeting the president of the country where they will be discussing a host of issues and then he flies to riyadh to meet the saudi arabia crown prince. they will discuss the war in the middle east which is happening in gaza. and the general situation in the middle east. whether it is yemen, syria, or sudan. he will also be discussing oil cuts and oil production because russia, the uae, and saudi arabia are member of the 0pec plus, the oil cartel which last week announced they would be making voluntary production cuts to prices. from his point of view, this trip is important because he wants to send a message that russia still holds influence in the middle east region. it has been a neutral play—palestine issue over the decades. the second thing is, he wants to expand —— neutral in the israel—palestine. during the ukraine war, saudi arabia and the uae did not take any sides, they were neutral. president putin wants to build on that relationship, which is why this trip is significant.— which is why this trip is significant. which is why this trip is siunificant. ., ., significant. to touch on something ou said significant. to touch on something you said at — significant. to touch on something you said at the _ significant. to touch on something you said at the start, _ significant. to touch on something you said at the start, by _ significant. to touch on something you said at the start, by no - significant. to touch on something you said at the start, by no meansi you said at the start, by no means is he unaware that the events in the middle east cast a shadow or at least have an influence, certainly, on what is happening in ukraine? yeah, that's the other thing, since the war in gaza has started, attention has shifted. and overshadowed what has been happening in ukraine. that is why mr putin thinks this is a good opportunity to show that russia is still active geopolitically and it still has influence in multiple regions in the world, including the middle east. traditionally, russia has always been involved in the middle east on multiple fronts, whether it was libya, syria, and, of course, it has always been a neutral player when it comes to the palestine—israel issue. tomorrow, after his trip is done, and he visits the uae and saudi arabia, on thursday, he is hosting a reigning president mr ibrahim racy... reigning president mr ibrahim ra ~ a racy... inaudible studio: - racy... inaudible studio: we - racy... inaudible studio: we are | racy... inaudible - studio: we are coming racy... inaudible _ studio: we are coming away from racy... inaudible — studio: we are coming away from the 3pp studio: we are coming away from the app that it that courage to welcome you to the covid inquiry which gets under way in half an hour, boris johnson appearing in the last few weeks have been building up to this moment where we heard testimony from scientists and civil servants and other politicians. it was boris johnson who made all the main decisions during the pandemic. it is those questions that will be asked today. i think i can show you some of the protest as we have in the background as well as the world's media. many people have travelled hundreds of miles to be here today to see borisjohnson, even though they won't necessarily get a ticket inside the inquiry room but they felt it necessary to be here. i am joined by oonagh cousins and sammie and you are both campaigning on behalf of those suffering with long covid. tell me why you are here today, sammie mcfarland. —— why you are hitting a, oonagh cousins. i caught covid and i've had to retire. i am here to represent the 1.9 million people in the uk that are suffering this disease. what million people in the uk that are suffering this disease. what does it mean for you _ suffering this disease. what does it mean for you to — suffering this disease. what does it mean for you to actually _ suffering this disease. what does it mean for you to actually be - suffering this disease. what does it mean for you to actually be here? i mean for you to actually be here? you have travelled down here, you obviously won't get to personally speak to boris johnson, obviously won't get to personally speak to borisjohnson, but obviously won't get to personally speak to boris johnson, but you felt you needed to witness it?— you needed to witness it? yeah, watchin: you needed to witness it? yeah, watching it _ you needed to witness it? yeah, watching it on — you needed to witness it? yeah, watching it on tv, _ you needed to witness it? yeah, watching it on tv, and _ you needed to witness it? yeah, watching it on tv, and kind - you needed to witness it? yeah, watching it on tv, and kind of i watching it on tv, and kind of living the experiences of it and watching it, very disassociating experience. borisjohnson hasjust experience. boris johnson has just seemed experience. borisjohnson hasjust seemed to be completely oblivious to the damage that this virus has done. i kind ofjust want to see what he has to say for himself, just to see him in person. it will be an interesting experience today. bruno, took me your — interesting experience today. bruno, took me your experience, _ interesting experience today. bruno, took me your experience, it - interesting experience today. bruno, took me your experience, it is - interesting experience today. bruno, took me your experience, it is not i took me your experience, it is not just yours, it is your daughter, as well. �* ., , ., ., ., well. both my daughter and i got covid in march _ well. both my daughter and i got covid in march 2020. _ well. both my daughter and i got covid in march 2020. -- - well. both my daughter and i got covid in march 2020. -- oonagh| well. both my daughter and i got| covid in march 2020. -- oonagh, covid in march 2020. —— oonagh, tell me about _ covid in march 2020. —— oonagh, tell me about your experience. i haven't been _ me about your experience. i haven't been able _ me about your experience. i haven't been able to— me about your experience. i haven't been able to return to work and she hasn't been — been able to return to work and she hasn't been able to continue with her studies. she has missed two years— her studies. she has missed two years of— her studies. she has missed two years of education. we set up a charity, — years of education. we set up a charity, long covid kids and we represent — charity, long covid kids and we represent 62,000 children living in the uk _ represent 62,000 children living in the uk with long covid who are experiencing the same. obviously, boris experiencing the same. obviously, itoris johnson _ experiencing the same. obviously, boris johnson initially, _ experiencing the same. obviously, boris johnson initially, we - experiencing the same. obviously, boris johnson initially, we have - borisjohnson initially, we have heard, part of his evidence here at the inquiry didn't seem to take long covid mac very seriously. i won't use the word that we have heard he said about it because i couldn't possibly mention it on television but the feeling was it cynthia wasn't taken seriously early enough? that's exactly right. == wasn't taken seriously early enough? that's exactly right.— that's exactly right. -- it simply wasn't. that's exactly right. -- it simply wasn't- that _ that's exactly right. -- it simply wasn't. that is _ that's exactly right. -- it simply wasn't. that is our _ that's exactly right. -- it simply wasn't. that is our experience . that's exactly right. -- it simply| wasn't. that is our experience to our advocacy _ wasn't. that is our experience to our advocacy we _ wasn't. that is our experience to our advocacy we have _ wasn't. that is our experience to our advocacy we have done - wasn't. that is our experience to our advocacy we have done over| wasn't. that is our experience to i our advocacy we have done over the last few _ our advocacy we have done over the last few years, that long covid man hasn't _ last few years, that long covid man hasn't been — last few years, that long covid man hasn't been taken seriously and never_ hasn't been taken seriously and never featured on the dashboard, not mentioned _ never featured on the dashboard, not mentioned in briefings. it is a serious — mentioned in briefings. it is a serious consequence of the pandemic -- long _ serious consequence of the pandemic —— long covid mac hasn't been. lots -- long covid mac hasn't been. lots of issues he — -- long covid mac hasn't been. lots of issues he will _ -- long covid mac hasn't been. lots of issues he will be _ —— long covid mac hasn't been. lots of issues he will be questioned about over the next couple of days. do you have an open mind, though? we already know he is likely to bother apologised today and do you have an open mind that he might change his mind and he was only human, politicians are only human. laughter not sure about that! we will see what his responses are but fundamentally, the uk, along with us and brazil have had the worst pandemic response. we spent more money, longer in lockdown, more deaths and we don't have statistics on covid but we know it is probably bad. looking after the lies of the nation is the primary responsibility, basic responsibility, basic responsibility, of our leaders. he continuously put his ego and self interest ahead of that. —— looking after the lives. this inquiry is a tool of state to get accountability and we hope to see that today. irate and we hope to see that today. we better let you go in because it will start very soon. as i say, the issue of long covid mac is a one —— one of a number of issues put to the former prime minister today. some of the decisions he had to take, the various areas had to be considered. let's take a look at some of the issues he is likely to face today. from this evening, i must give the british people a very simple instruction. you must stay at home. in the end, it was his call, he was responsible for the biggest decisions made during the pandemic. that is why people will only be allowed to leave their home... but how he came _ allowed to leave their home... but how he came to make those decisions will be at the heart of questions he faces today. the inquiry has heard from scientists and senior politicians at the first —— that the first and second lockdown should have come earlier. irate first and second lockdown should have come earlier.— first and second lockdown should have come earlier. we will follow the science. we _ have come earlier. we will follow the science. we will _ have come earlier. we will follow the science. we will be _ have come earlier. we will follow the science. we will be guided i have come earlier. we will followj the science. we will be guided by the science. we will be guided by the science- _ the science. we will be guided by the science. that's _ the science. we will be guided by the science. that's why _ the science. we will be guided by the science. that's why we - the science. we will be guided by the science. that's why we are i the science. that's why we are followin: the science. that's why we are following the _ the science. that's why we are following the scientific - the science. that's why we are following the scientific advice l following the scientific advice on the way we are. irate following the scientific advice on the way we are.— following the scientific advice on the way we are. we also heard boris johnson had — the way we are. we also heard boris johnson had a _ the way we are. we also heard boris johnson had a questionable - the way we are. we also heard boris johnson had a questionable grasp i the way we are. we also heard boris johnson had a questionable grasp ofj johnson had a questionable grasp of the science. the johnson had a questionable grasp of the science. johnson had a questionable grasp of the science-— the science. the prime minister at the science. the prime minister at the time gave _ the science. the prime minister at the time gave up _ the science. the prime minister at the time gave up science - the science. the prime minister at the time gave up science when - the science. the prime minister at the time gave up science when he | the science. the prime minister at - the time gave up science when he was 15. the time gave up science when he was 15 and _ the time gave up science when he was 15 and i_ the time gave up science when he was 15. and i think he would be the first to — 15. and i think he would be the first to admit it wasn't his forte. and there — first to admit it wasn't his forte. and there have been plenty of concerns about his decision—making process. it concerns about his decision-making rocess. . , concerns about his decision-making rocess. ., , ., . , , concerns about his decision-making rocess. ., . , , ., process. it was the wrong crisis for this prime minister's _ process. it was the wrong crisis for this prime minister's skill- process. it was the wrong crisis for this prime minister's skill set. - this prime minister's skill set. which — this prime minister's skill set. which is — this prime minister's skill set. which is different, _ this prime minister's skill set. which is different, i— this prime minister's skill set. which is different, i think, - this prime minister's skill set. i which is different, i think, from not potentially _ which is different, i think, from not potentially being _ which is different, i think, from not potentially being up - which is different, i think, from not potentially being up to - which is different, i think, from not potentially being up to the i which is different, i think, from . not potentially being up to the job of being _ not potentially being up to the job of being prime— not potentially being up to the job of being prime minister. - not potentially being up to the job of being prime minister. then- not potentially being up to the “0b of being prime minister. then there was -a of being prime minister. then there was party gate- _ of being prime minister. then there was party gate- i — of being prime minister. then there was party gate. i take _ of being prime minister. then there was party gate. i take full _ was party gate. i take full responsibility _ was party gate. i take full responsibility for - was party gate. i take full l responsibility for everything was party gate. i take full - responsibility for everything that took place on my watch. the responsibility for everything that took place on my watch. the pm, and numerous senior— took place on my watch. the pm, and numerous senior figures, _ took place on my watch. the pm, and numerous senior figures, including i numerous senior figures, including the numerous seniorfigures, including the then chancellor, now prime minister rishi sunak, were fined for parties they went to at a time when the rest of us were expected to follow lockdown rules. i the rest of us were expected to follow lockdown rules.- the rest of us were expected to follow lockdown rules. i would find it hard to pick _ follow lockdown rules. i would find it hard to pick one _ follow lockdown rules. i would find it hard to pick one day _ it hard to pick one day where the regulations— it hard to pick one day where the regulations were _ it hard to pick one day where the regulations were followed - it hard to pick one day where the l regulations were followed properly inside _ regulations were followed properly inside that building. _ regulations were followed properly inside that building. horat- regulations were followed properly inside that building.— inside that building. how is your e esiuht, inside that building. how is your eyesight. mr — inside that building. how is your eyesight, mr cummings? - inside that building. how is your eyesight, mr cummings? the i inside that building. how is your i eyesight, mr cummings? the inquiry heard time and _ eyesight, mr cummings? the inquiry heard time and time _ eyesight, mr cummings? the inquiry heard time and time again _ eyesight, mr cummings? the inquiry heard time and time again about i eyesight, mr cummings? the inquiry heard time and time again about the| heard time and time again about the toxic working culture. and dominic cummings. toxic working culture. and dominic cumminus. ., toxic working culture. and dominic cu