We will continue to forge ahead to do that, but that decision, as youve said, on so many levels, is totally wrong headed, and well be happy to work with congress, with this committee, on an appropriate response. Those comments from the us Secretary Of State came as he faced criticism from democrats and republicans over the administrations israel policy. As he began his testimony, mr blinken was interrupted by protestors, who called him a war criminal, and accused him of being involved in genocide. Medical workers in israel have told the bbc that palestinian detainees from gaza are routinely being kept shackled to hospital beds, and forced to wear blindfolds and nappies. Israels army has said that restraints are only used when theres a Security Risk. This report, from our middle east correspondent lucy williamson, contains some details and images you may find distressing. Sufiane abbuseleh survived months of war unscathed. He left military detention in israel permanently disabled. A taxi driver from khan younis, released without charge, after weeks of interrogation. His return soured by sadness. Translation my leg got infected and turned blue l and soft as a sponge. After seven days, they took me to the military hospital. They operated twice to clean the wound, but it didnt work. Afterwards, they took me to a public hospital, where the doctor gave me two options my leg or my life. Neither israels army nor Health Ministry responded to these allegations. There is growing concern over the medical care of guards and detainees in israel. There is growing concern over the medical care of gazan and detainees in israel. Classed as unlawful combatants, even before interrogation, doctors say they are kept shackled and blindfolded, including during hospital treatment. Allegations have centred on a new Field Hospital at the military base. One senior medic there says patients are kept blindfolded and in nappies, with all four limbs handcuffed to the bed. The army, not me, they create the patient to be dependent, 100 , on you, like a baby. You are cuffed, you are with diaper, you need the water, you need everything. Its dehumanisation of them. The army told us that the need to handcuff detainees in the medical facility was examined individually and daily and that cutting was done when the Security Risk required it. Diapers, or nappies, it said, were only for those patients with limited movement. The doctor told us these measures were applied to all patients without assessment, even those who couldnt walk. If they cant stand on their legs, why are they shackled . I cant answer this. This is stupid. The hamas attacks on the 7th Of October left israels hospital staff treating captured fighters, alongside their israeli victims. Many current detainees are released without charge, but the complex feelings of some medics remain. Two medics told us painkillers had been withheld, causing what one described as an unacceptable amount of pain. This man, who we are calling yoni, described a case he said took place in a public civilian hospital. His words have been voiced by an actor. I have knowledge of one case where the painkillers were used selectively during a procedure. If you put together that someone is undergoing an invasive procedure, which involved even incisions, and the patient doesnt know about that, and is blindfolded, then the line between treatment and assault thins out. Treating guards and captives on military sites was meant to resolve doctors� ethical dilemmas, but those dilemmas remain. The moment our hospital at state oman closes, one told me, we will celebrate. Lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. The first ever trial of a former us president is nearing its end, as Donald Trumps defence team rested its case on tuesday. Closing arguments in the historic Hush Money Trial are set to begin next tuesday. Then, the jury will begin weighing the evidence on whether mr trump illegally covered up a payment to adult film star, stormy daniels. The former president faces 3a Felony Counts of falsifying business records. He has pleaded not guilty. Ned the topic has the latest. The defence offers their case, and donald trump decides not to take the stand. Trumps� s lawyers wrapped up their case early on tuesday, after calling two witnesses. Donald trump had previously said he would testify in his own defence, but doing so would have opened him up to potentially damaging questions from prosecutors. It is no surprise that he opted not to. Butjurors cannot hold that against him, as the burden is on prosecutors to prove their case. Thejudge will remind thejury of that. Trumps Fifth Amendment right that he cant be compelled to be a witness against himself. Trump, speaking to reporters, said his team put up a great case. He was joined in court today by a large number of republican politicians and his eldest son. Don junior said his father didnt testify because there is absolutely no reason and no justification to, calling the trial a scam. Now that both sides have rested, they will spend the long weekend preparing their Closing Arguments to the jury. Meanwhile nearly a dozen trump allies pleaded not guilty. Rudy giuliani pleaded not guilty to nine Felony Charges on his alleged efforts to help the former president overturned the states 2020 election result. Ten others are accused of posing as Election Officials and attempting to falsely cast arizonas Election Results to falsely declared mr trump is the winner of the 2020 election. Similarfake election. Similar fake electoral cases are election. Similarfake electoral cases are being pursued in michigan, georgia and nevada. Ispoke pursued in michigan, georgia and nevada. I spoke to an rodney davis, former republican congressman for illinois. A warm welcome to you both, thanks as ever for being back with us. Stephanie, i would like to begin with you. The trump Hush Money Trial, donald trump Hush Money Trial, donald trump wont be testifying, not something uncommon we should take for criminal defendants, but of course all this while he had been dangling that possibility. Are you at all surprised that donald trump appeared to resist . I surprised that donald trump appeared to resist . Surprised that donald trump appeared to resist . I am not. He always appeared to resist . I am not. He always says appeared to resist . I am not. He always says he appeared to resist . I am not. He always says he is appeared to resist . I am not. He always says he is willing l appeared to resist . I am not. | he always says he is willing to testify, and i thinkjustin very rare cases his lawyers have allowed him to do so. I do think that talks a lot about how this is a political effort, but really it appears that he is the only one who is using this trial for politics. To interview his Vice President candidates, to identify liberal republicans will show up and support him, to raise money for his campaign and to attack his political opponents, and none of that is too much of a surprise these days. I of that is too much of a surprise these days. I want to touch on surprise these days. I want to touch on your surprise these days. I want to touch on your words surprise these days. I want to touch on your words there, i touch on your words there, saying it using this for politics. Rodney, what do you make of the fact that we have seen some prominent republicans go to manhattan, stand outside the courthouse and call this trial a sham . Casting doubt on thejudicial system. Trial a sham . Casting doubt on thejudicialsystem. Do trial a sham . Casting doubt on the judicial system. Do you think thats appropriate . I find it interesting Many Republican candidates, especially those pining to be president trumps Vice President ial nominee are going back president ial nominee are going back i president ial nominee are going back i think it sets a terrible precedent for the future of our country. Precedent for the future of our country, but at the same time the trial country, but at the same time the trial itself is a trial the trial itself is atrial that the trial itself is a trial that has been put forth at the state that has been put forth at the state level for charges that should state level for charges that should have been federal charges through the federal election committee, that they and the election committee, that they and the doj decided against prosecuting. So i do think the trial prosecuting. So i do think the trial is prosecuting. So i do think the trial is questionable in and of Itself Trial Is Questionable in and of itself but trial is questionable in and of itself but at the same time i also itself but at the same time i also find itself but at the same time i also find it very disturbing that also find it very disturbing that Many Republicans are actually using the trial as the opportunity to show support. Stefanic opportunity to show support. Stefanic of your thoughts on that . ~. , that . Well, i do find it regretful that . Well, i do find it regretful that that . Well, i do find it regretful that so that . Well, i do find it regretful that so many that . Well, | do find it regretful that so many elected officials are using the judicial system in this trial to campaign, and also to attack our institutions. I think the American People deserve better than that from their electeds. I mean, talking about trust in institutions right now, if we take a look at what has been happening in arizona, also in georgia, michigan, nevada for example, these fake elector cases, which are now piling up, stephanie, do you think that is registering with voters . I think voters are dealing with the day to day issues that they have to try to manage, getting their kids to practice and to school and putting food on the table so they are not really. But at the end of the day they should see that around the former president there is a lot of people who play Fast And Loose with the rules, whether it was to create fake business documents, to cover up hush money payments, or to put forward a slate of fake electors after the Secretary Of State of arizona, as well as the other states had certified the other states had certified the electors for that state. They were trying to create confusion in the last election. Rodney, your take, do you think voters care . Voters care . No, they dont. That shows voters care . No, they dont. That shows because voters care . No, they dont. That shows because the voters care . No, they dont. L that shows because the more indictments that come towards donald indictments that come towards donald trump, the more controversy, the higher his Polling Numbers seem to go. Right Polling Numbers seem to go. Right now, if the election were held right now, if the election were held today, donald trump would win in held today, donald trump would win in a held today, donald trump would win in a landslide, and he recognises this, his team recognises this, his team recognises this, his team recognises this, but i dont think recognises this, but i dont think the recognises this, but i dont think the Biden Campaign or the biden think the Biden Campaign or the Biden Administration recognises that they are part of a problem. They are not addressing the major issues that addressing the major issues that most voters care about. They that most voters care about. They are that most voters care about. They are not addressing our border they are not addressing our border surge, they are not addressing inflation, and stephanie is correct. Most americans do not live, eat and breathe americans do not live, eat and breathe politics like we do, and breathe politics like we do, and they breathe politics like we do, and they are just not paying attention right now, and what they attention right now, and what they are attention right now, and what they are paying attention to is driving they are paying attention to is driving them towards donald trump driving them towards donald trump in driving them towards donald trump in the next election, rather trump in the next election, rather than away. Trump in the next election, rather than away. Rodney, on that point. Rather than away. Rodney, on that point, you rather than away. Rodney, on that point, you mentioned that point, you mentioned inflation has been some encouraging data there when it does come to the economy, though. Ijust wonder if does come to the economy, though. I just wonder if you think that could boost biden as we head into november, one of course that is something donald trump had been speaking about often. ~ ,. , often. Well, it will depend on how low the often. Well, it will depend on how low the inflation often. Well, it will depend on how low the Inflation Rate how low the Inflation Rate does how low the Inflation Rate goes. Remember it spiked, and then goes. Remember it spiked, and then having a slight regression is not then having a slight regression is not helped that most americans are looking for, and as long americans are looking for, and as long as americans are looking for, and as long as Interest Rates for home as long as Interest Rates for Home Ownership and borrowing continue Home Ownership and borrowing continue to stay at higher rates continue to stay at higher rates compared to the last administration, that gives donald administration, that gives donald trump the ability to campaign on what he can do Better Campaign on what he can do better when it comes to the economy, and polling right now clearly economy, and polling right now clearly shows the republicans have clearly shows the republicans have a clearly shows the republicans have a simple majority when it comes have a simple majority when it comes to have a simple majority when it comes to those who feel they can do comes to those who feel they can do better on the economy. Stephanie, your thoughts on that . ~ 4 stephanie, your thoughts on that . ~ ~. ,. , that . Well, i think Inflation Numbers that . Well, i think Inflation Numbers are that . Well, i think Inflation Numbers are a that . Well, i think Inflation Numbers are a macro that . Well, | think Inflation Numbers are a Macro Economic numbers are a Macro Economic number and they mean things to elected officials in washington but they dont mean much to the Average American who goes into Average American who goes into a grocery store. I got to listen to a focus group recently, and they can tell me how much a head of cabbage cost just a few years ago and how much it cost today, how much a gallon of gasoline costs, and until those Inflation Numbers flow down to actually having an impact on the prices people pay at the grocery store, at the gas station, it is not going to have a positive effect that it needs to have, and unfortunately when you are president , you own the economy. Stephanie, briefly, then hopefully over to rodney, with regards to the post we saw, using the language, unified reich today, how much of a nightmare with that language feature Campaign Today . The interesting feature Campaign Today . Iie interesting thing is feature Campaign Today . Iie interesting thing is that feature Campaign Today . Ii;a interesting thing is that trams have always been able to have their dog whistle but do it with a way of plausible deniability, they have said it was an accident. I do think it was an accident. I do think it was an accident it is a reflection that too many conservative sites carry too much anti semitic language that you could sweep it up and accidentally posted. I accidentally posted. Rodney . I think the trump accidentally posted. Rodney . I think the Trump Campaign accidentally posted. Rodney . I. Think the Trump Campaign needs to he think the Trump Campaign needs to he a think the Trump Campaign needs to he a lot think the Trump Campaign needs to be a lot more disciplined in what to be a lot more disciplined in what they to be a lot more disciplined in what they post. I think it is indicative what they post. I think it is indicative across the political spectrum, most republicans and democrats are too quick to hit the post democrats are too quick to hit the post button, rather than taking the post button, rather than taking a the post button, rather than taking a look closely at what they taking a look closely at what they are taking a look closely at what they are retreating or reposting. This is another example of that, and i personally see how undisciplined the trump effort is, even undisciplined the trump effort is, even when he was president , when is, even when he was president , when it is, even when he was president , when it comes to Social Media Posts when it comes to So