Gardner has the latest. In a country that prides itself on free speech and democracy, Israeli Police shut down the offices of aljazeera today, seizing its broadcast equipment. If you are watching this pre recorded report, then aljazeera has been banned in the territory of israel. This was one of its final broadcasts from jerusalem before the police arrived. The government accused the qatar based tv channel of incitement to terrorism, calling It A Mouthpiece for hamas. Its bureau chief called it a dangerous move. Israel cannot claim all the time that it is a democracy, and at the same time they are cutting, and preventing the journalists to do theirjob. Meanwhile, down on the gaza border, close to rafah, a deadly rocket attack by hamas, on the very crossing point through which it was hoped more aid could flow into the territory. It has since been shut. At least three Israeli Soldiers were killed. Today, israels embattled Prime Minister reacted to the demands for a permanent ceasefire and an israel withdrawal from gaza. The state of israel is not willing to accept this, he said, capitulating to the demands of hamas would be a terrible defeat for israel. But the government here is under pressure from parts of its own population. Last night, Tens Of Thousands of israelis rallied in protest at delays in getting the hostages out of gaza. They dont believe the government is making it a priority. The Israeli Government wants its hostages out but at the same time it has vowed to destroy hamas, which is why it will not agree to a permanent ceasefire. But hamas, which holds the hostages, says it wont sign a deal unless the ceasefire is permanent, which is why the peace talks have stalled. A delegation from Hamas Hasjust been in cairo talking to mediators. They have now left to consult with their leadership. In gaza, the war continues, with airstrikes and deprivation. Gazans are desperate for this war to end. So, too, are many israelis. But others in israel see this as unfinished business. They want this war pursued until hamas is utterly destroyed. Frank gardner, bbc news, jerusalem. As you just heard in franks report, there Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the closing down in israel of the broadcaster Aljazeera Which has qatari owners accusing it of incitement and of threatening national security. Earlier i spoke to Carlos Martinez de la serna, Program Director at the committee to protect journalists, asking him about his reaction. Aljazeera within israel. It is completely unacceptable in a democratic country to ban and not allow its citizens to access a diverse set of voices. Those that they might disagree with. Those that have been controversial reporting whatever reasons you want. Thats what really enables Press Freedom. And netanyahus cabinet is really undermining that. Now, put that in context. Aljazeera is one of the most Important News organisations currently reporting within gaza where journalists already paid the ultimate pricement many of them have been killed, including many Family Members ofjournalists have been of journalists have been killed. Ofjournalists have been killed. They bring the facts about a war thats already more than eight months old. They bring the reporting, the consequences, how the war is impacting civilians. And that voice is being cut to israeli society. Voice is being cut to israeli socie. , voice is being cut to israeli socie. G , voice is being cut to israeli socie. , ,. ,. , society. Just remind us and our viewers society. Just remind us and our viewers reporting society. Just remind us and our viewers reporting from society. Just remind us and our viewers reporting from gaza l viewers reporting from gaza is extremely limited, isnt it . It is extremely limited. An important reminder is that no internationaljournalists important reminder is that no International Journalists are allowed into gaza. So for more than eight months, we have relied on the reports of the localjournalists relied on the reports of the local journalists that are already them suffering the war, taking care of themselves and when they can, taking care of theirfamilies, in very when they can, taking care of their families, in very dire, extreme situations. Almost 100 journalists have been killed. We havent seen Something Like that since weve been keeping records on wars and journalists. And aljazeera has been consistently producing some of the most important reports. Now, those reports wont be accessible for the israeli society. Wont be accessible for the israeli society. Now, carlos, what is israel israeli society. Now, carlos, what is israel trying israeli society. Now, carlos, what is israel trying to what is israel trying to achieve by doing this, then . And i want to note as well that israel is not the only country in the middle east to ban al jazeera. I in the middle east to ban al jazeera. ~. In the middle east to ban al jazeera. ~. ,. , jazeera. I think that you should ask jazeera. I think that you should ask israel jazeera. I think that you should ask israel that i should ask israel that question. I dont know what theyre trying to achieve. I know the impact of the decisions. The impact of the decisions. The impact of the decisions is that the space for Press Freedom is shrinking. Theyre actually enacting a regime of censorship in gaza and now inside israel. Those are the consequences. This is not about aljazeera whether its banned in other countries or not. Its about how do you protect Press Freedom in a democracy, and this is not how to do it. ~ �. ,. , to do it. Well move our attention to do it. Well move our attention away to do it. Well move our attention away and to do it. Well move our. Attention away and move to do it. Well move our attention away and move to europe. Chinas leader xi jinping has arrived in paris to meet his counterpart emmanuel macron. Its mr xis first trip to europe since before the covid pandemic nearly five years ago. After meeting the french president in paris, mr xi will travel on to Eastern Europe where hell visit hungary and serbia. I spoke to valerie niquet, a china analyst at the foundation for strategic research. We began by asking why he chose france as his first stop. Well, first, this is a return visit. Because macron was in china one year ago. But also, this is the 16th anniversary of diplomatic relations between france and china. It was the goals were decided in 1964 to recognise the prc. This is a way to celebrate this. Of course, there are many reasons to discuss between france and many difficult reasons to discuss between france and china much its not such a positive time for the visit between trade issue, Technology Transfer issues but also the ukraine war. So a lot on the plates of the two leaders in paris. �. ,. , plates of the two leaders in paris. �. , , paris. And what are both sides lookin paris. And what are both sides looking to paris. And what are both sides looking to get paris. And what are both sides looking to get out paris. And what are both sides looking to get out of paris. And what are both sides looking to get out of this looking to get out of this visit . ~. ,. Visit . Well, on the french side, obviously visit . Well, on the french side, obviously macron i visit . Well, on the french side, obviously macron is| visit . Well, on the french side, obviously macron is still hoping to play a role. And this is also why hes asking, like he did before, Ursula Von Der Leyen to be here with him to receive xijinping to demonstrate to china that receive xi jinping to demonstrate to china that there is a kind of united front facing the huge chinese economy and its capability to put pressure on european industries, especially the automobile industry. We must remember that scholz, the german chancellor, was in china a few week ago, and he focused very much on germanys interest in terms of economies. Not on the same page as macron on taxes, for instance, On Electric Vehicles. So definitely, that issue is very important for france. Its extremely important for xi also. Chinas economy is not in also. Chinas economy is not in a very good shape. They absolutely need to export export more hi tech to europe, mostly. Especially in the perspective of going back to the us at the end of this year. So xi will try to pursue it. Maybe macron to lift its posture on more taxes, On Electric Vehicles from china. Im not sure that it will work. And, of course, the issue of ukraine is extremely important for france and for europe, too. But i do not see at all xi playing any kind of actively positive role in order to put pressure on russia to get out of ukraine. Pressure on russia to get out of ukraine of ukraine. Weve only got about 20 of ukraine. Weve only got about 20 seconds of ukraine. Weve only got about 20 seconds left. Of ukraine. Weve only gotj about 20 seconds left. Can of ukraine. Weve only got about 20 seconds left. Can you tell us about the significance of president xi going to serbia and hungary . And hungary . Well, this is where the and hungary . Well, this is where the true and hungary . Well, this is where the true friends and hungary . Well, this is where the true friends are | and hungary . Well, this is. Where the true friends are of china. Both ideologically. Serbia is not in the eu. Would like tojoin the serbia is not in the eu. Would like to join the eu. But serbia is not in the eu. Would like tojoin the eu. But it is also at the forefront of the belt road initiative. In europe, hungary is very close to china. A lot of chinese investments, including automobile sector, in hungary. And it is part of the eu. So it is a way to divide and rule for china. I mean, try to create divisions between the eu and the us, but also between the eu member states. The us, but also between the eu memberstates. So the us, but also between the eu member states. So its a way to demonstrate to macron and to other european democracies that china still has some kind of influence on the capabilities inside europe. President Lula Da Silva is paying his second visit to Southern Brazil as conditions worsen following massive flooding and landslides which forced over 80,000 people from their homes. Local Authorities Say that dozens of people have been killed, and that over 70 are missing. Further rainfall is expected. Jon donnison reports. Much of brazils most Southerly State is under water. Roads turned into rivers and Tens Of Thousands of people forced to flee their homes. Translation now, when im being rescued, i feel relieved, | but its terrifying because we saw the water rise in an absurd way. It rose at a very high speed. After a week of storms and heavy rain at least half a Million People are without power and clean water. Translation now, when im being rescued, ifeel relieved, but its terrifying because we saw the water rise in an absurd way. It rose at a very high speed. After a week of storms and heavy rain at least half a Million People are without power and clean water. Translation i need a lot of help a lot. We have nowhere to sleep and nothing to eat. We have nothing. And the very young are being impacted, too. This tiny baby had to be winched to safety by helicopter. Many of those who died were killed by landslides. And at least two people lost their lives when the floods caused an explosion at a Petrol Station in port alegre. President Lula Da Silva visited the region for the second time this week to see the damage for himself. Brazils military has been brought in to help with the rescue effort and to distribute aid. The extreme weather has been caused by a rare combination of hotter than average temperatures, high humidity and strong winds. And forecasters say its not over yet. Jon donnison, bbc news. I spoke to constance malleret, a freelance journalist based in rio dejaneiro. 78 people have been confirmed dead so far. And thats up from 75 earlier today. And its a number thats probably going to rise further as at least 105 people are still reported missing. 0n people are still reported missing. On top of that, you have about 115,000 people who have about 115,000 people who have been displaced, who have been forced to leave their homes, who have lost their homes, who have lost their homes in many cases. And about 18,000 people in shelters provided by the public authorities. So, a scenario of absolute tragedy and a very devastating situation which is facing the worst floods in its history. Theyre not localised. Were not talking about floods that are affecting just two cities but affecting nearly two thirds of the states municipalities. And in one of the states that is more than twice the size of england. Its an absolutely huge region thats been affect the by The Rain Storms and floods. And the state governor has said that its brazils worst Climate Disaster ever, and today described the situation as a war like scenario. Described the situation as a warlike scenario. Described the situation as a warlike scenario. Given the sheer volume warlike scenario. Given the sheer volume or warlike scenario. Given the sheer volume or sheer warlike scenario. Given the sheer volume or sheer size | warlike scenario. Given the. Sheer volume or sheer size of the area affected and the number of people who have been displaced, what are they struggling with most . The Rescue Efforts struggling with most . The Rescue Efforts are struggling with most . Tue Rescue Efforts are the struggling with most . Tte Rescue Efforts are the main issues. We saw this in the images in the reportjust now. The local authorities and the mayor was saying just earlier today that they need more boats. They need more helicopters to be able to step up helicopters to be able to step up Rescue Efforts. And although rain has continued today, theres likely to be a slight reprieve over the next two days. But authorities are saying that its going to take much, much longerfor the situation to go back anywhere near normal as it will take days for the water levels to fall back to normal levels. Weve seen president luiz inacio Lula Da Silva is on his second visit to brazil due to the floods. How has his government responded to the crisis . ,. ,. , government responded to the crisis . ,. , crisis . His government has been emhatic crisis . His government has been emphatic saying crisis . His government has been emphatic saying that crisis . His government has been emphatic saying that it crisis . His government has been emphatic saying that it will emphatic saying that it will support the state in any way possible. Today, lula travelled with a big number of ministers and representatives of legislature, putting on a show of unity between the three branches of government and saying that every branch of government will do whatever is necessary to be able to release resources as quickly as possible for the state. Not only for it to be able to keep up only for it to be able to keep up the Rescue Efforts we were discuss, but also, going forward, to be able to rebuild its infrastructure, because the damage will be absolutely huge. Will be absolutely huge. Around the world and across the uk. This is bbc news. Youre live with bbc news. Lets return now to the conflict in the middle east. Health officials in gaza say nine people have been killed in an israeli strike on a home in rafah. It comes as the United Nations has warned against an Israeli Attack on the City Of Rafah saying it risks causing many more deaths. Israel has said that even if there is a ceasefire agreement, it will be temporary and that it will go ahead with a Military Assault on rafah to destroy hamas. Around 1. 4 Million People are sheltering in rafah many of them have sought refuge there from other parts of gaza. Our Special Correspondent fergal keane reports now on the looming crisis facing the people in rafah. The story of desperate need, told in a single line. Stretching on the road to rafah. This is the queue on the egyptian side of the border. Rafah is both the hub through which most of gazas aid passes. And now home to nearly 1. 5 Million People five times its original population. A place where hospitals have become refugee camps. Where no living space is wasted. The wards where families cook. Where their children roam the corridors of a place that is for now safe. 11 year old yasin al galban is, according to his mother, surviving on painkillers. Here, the brutal truth of the war is etched on the faces of its young victims. The fear is that this is what awaits rafah if an invasion is ordered. In the coalition government, the far right Finance Minister opposes any deal that would spare rafah in return for israeli hostages. Theres no half work. Rafah, nuseirat, deiral balah. Absolute destruction, says bezalel smotrich. The israelis say there are four hamas battalions in rafah to be destroyed, with or without a ceasefire. The un is making plans for more field hospitals, but warns it wont stop a disaster. It will not avoid what we expect will be substantial additional mortality and morbidity. A lot more people dying . A lot more people dying, a lot more death and a lot more diseases. This is where utter destruction leads. P