to make a full recovery, after suffering a concussion after she was injured by a horse. three days of mourning have been declared in dagestan, after police posts, churches and a synagogue were attacked there. 20 people were killed — most of them police officers. and a 12—year—old boy with severe epilepsy has become the first person in the world to trial a new form of treatment. in recent weeks, the relationship between the us and israel has been strained. israel's claimed american shipments of arms have been delayed. america's warned israel to ensure civilian lives are protected in gaza, as the conflict continues. all the while, the humanitarian crisis in the territory is getting worse, and the families of the hostages who were taken on october 7th are desperate for them to return home. and it's against this backdrop that that israel's defence minister, yoav gallant, has been in washington dc today. he's at the state department, where he's meeting us secretary of state antony blinken, who'll press him on the importance of a realistic plan for the governance of gaza once the war is over. here's the state department spokesperson with more on what the two men will discuss. he is going to emphasise the need to avoid further escalation of the conflict. and then he will, as always, emphasise the need to improve humanitarian access, where we have seen somewhat of an slowdown in access in the south, and the secretary is going to emphasise to the minister that we want to see that situation reversed, and he will hope to hear concrete commitments from him to work on that problem. let's get more from nomia iqbal who's in wasghington. so, first of all, just tell us what this meeting could achieve. we see a lot of officials fly back and forth between israel and the us. well, yoav gallant _ between israel and the us. well, yoav gallant is _ between israel and the us. well, yoav gallant is here _ between israel and the us. well, yoav gallant is here for— between israel and the us. well, yoav gallant is here for the - between israel and the us. -ii yoav gallant is here for the second time in washington, dc. last time he was here in march, he is meeting his counterpart, the defence secretary lloyd austin and you mentioned the secretary of state antony blinken as well as the head of the cia and he will be discussing the next phase of the war in gaza, but also those increasing tensions on the lebanese border, which is of huge concern for the americans because of concern about what that might open up in the middle east. the prosecutorfor the international criminal court has requested an arrester for yoav gallant, alleging he is responsible for war crimes in gaza and crimes against humanity but the us has rejected that, and they see yoav gallant as a crucial voice and a crucial ally, especially since mr vote once a day after plan in gaza once the war is over and a plan that does not want this really is occupying gaza, which is what the us wants, and that is at odds with mr netanyahu and there has been tension between yoav gallant, mr netanyahu and the us administration. in terms of lebanon, the escalating tension there is of huge concern, notjust to the israelis but also to the americans and it could end up as a nightmare scenario and we know the biting administrator is committed to israel but they do consider his hezbollah different to hamas and they would not commit to troops on they would not commit to troops on the ground, for example. —— de biden administration is committed to israel. it's expected all of that will be discussed with mr gallant and his counterparts here in washington, dc. find and his counterparts here in washington, dc.— and his counterparts here in washington, dc. and his counterparts here in washinaton, dc. �* . , , ., washington, dc. and there has been a back-and-forth _ washington, dc. and there has been a back-and-forth about _ washington, dc. and there has been a back-and-forth about this _ washington, dc. and there has been a back-and-forth about this so-called i back—and—forth about this so—called freezing or unfreezing of shipments of bonds between israel and the us and a lack of clarity over who is saying what will stop —— bombs. mr saying what will stop —— bombs. iji' netanyahu saying what will stop —— bombs. m netanyahu gave this long interview over the weekend saying that us is essentially slow rolling aid to israel and saying that is affecting their defences in gaza, something their defences in gaza, something the has completely denied, and john kirby described mr netanyahu's comments as perplexing and the white house press secretary said, we generally do not know what mr knight and yahoo is talking about, he has made these comments without evidence. —— mr netanyahu. the americans are saying they have paused one shipment of £2000 bombs because they have concerns they are being used in civilian areas, heavily populated areas, but other than that, they have been continuing to give israel the military aid it requires and there is no evidence there has been a detrimental effect on what israel is doing in gaza, and it is worth mentioning that gallant will, as i mentioned, he is seen as a crucial ally and will presumably try to ease the tensions here in the us that we are seeing flare up between the americans and mr netanyahu. between the americans and mr netanyahm— netanyahu. 0k, nomia iqbal in washington — netanyahu. 0k, nomia iqbal in washington with _ netanyahu. 0k, nomia iqbal in washington with the _ netanyahu. 0k, nomia iqbal in washington with the latest - netanyahu. 0k, nomia iqbal in washington with the latest on | washington with the latest on israel's defence minister's trip to america. thank you for the moment. many hostage families have been calling for a hostage deal to bring the living captives home. one such family is of or levy, who was taken hostage by hamas on seventh october after arriving at a the nova festival with his wife, einav, who was murdered. tomorrow, almog, the son of einav and or, will celebrate his third birthday without his mother and his father. we are joined by the brother of or levy, michael, injerusalem. welcome to the programme. of course, this continues to be an incredibly difficult time for you. when you see israel's defence minister in washington, dc having more talks with various people, including the secretary of state, what is your message to him? my secretary of state, what is your message to him?— secretary of state, what is your message to him? secretary of state, what is your messaueto him? g , , message to him? my message is very simle, net message to him? my message is very simple. get to — message to him? my message is very simple. get to a _ message to him? my message is very simple, get to a deal— message to him? my message is very simple, get to a deal as _ message to him? my message is very simple, get to a deal as soon - message to him? my message is very simple, get to a deal as soon as - simple, get to a deal as soon as possible and get them all out. that is as simple as that. they are running out of time and they are still alive, and they have to be home as soon as possible. what does a deal look like _ home as soon as possible. what does a deal look like to _ home as soon as possible. what does a deal look like to you? _ home as soon as possible. what does a deal look like to you? for— home as soon as possible. what does a deal look like to you? for me, - home as soon as possible. what does a deal look like to you? for me, it. a deal look like to you? for me, it is very simple- — a deal look like to you? for me, it is very simple. hamas _ a deal look like to you? for me, it is very simple. hamas will- a deal look like to you? for me, it is very simple. hamas will release all the hostages and this war will end, it is as simple as that. and end, it is as simple as that. and what did you — end, it is as simple as that. and what did you think— end, it is as simple as that. and what did you think of the way that benjamin netanyahu has handled things so far, because we have seen many families of people who were taken on the 7th of october take to the streets in tel aviv and jerusalem in protest at the way they feel he has handled things. what is your view on that? for feel he has handled things. what is your view on that?— feel he has handled things. what is your view on that? for me, the only thin that your view on that? for me, the only thing that is — your view on that? for me, the only thing that is important _ your view on that? for me, the only thing that is important is _ your view on that? for me, the only thing that is important is to - your view on that? for me, the only thing that is important is to bring i thing that is important is to bring them all back. the fact that they are not back means that none of us is doing enough to bring them back, and we have to do it. i am talking about myself, i am talking about the media and i am talking about the israeli and foreign governments. we all have to put more pressure on hamas to release their hostages and get them free, set them free as soon as possible. find get them free, set them free as soon as possible-— as possible. and i guess the question _ as possible. and i guess the question is. _ as possible. and i guess the question is, do _ as possible. and i guess the question is, do you - as possible. and i guess the question is, do you think- as possible. and i guess the question is, do you think at| as possible. and i guess the i question is, do you think at the moment your government, or the us, indeed, is applying the right amount of pressure? because so far there hasn't been a deal and people are still being held captive. i hasn't been a deal and people are still being held captive.— still being held captive. i guess ou are still being held captive. i guess you are right- _ still being held captive. i guess you are right. i _ still being held captive. i guess you are right. i think— still being held captive. i guess you are right. i think that - still being held captive. i guess you are right. i think that the i still being held captive. i guessl you are right. i think that the us and any government in the world should put more pressure on hamas, because they are committing crimes against humanity. my brother's only crime was that he wanted to celebrate peace and love in a music festival and he saw his wife being murdered in front of him, and then was abducted into gaza by monsters that were, as you saw on the video, celebrating the fact they caused so much death and suffering to innocent civilians. like you said, we have an almost three—year—old son that will not celebrate his birthday with his parents because of it and no kit in the world should suffer from it. how do ou and the world should suffer from it. how do you and your _ the world should suffer from it. how do you and your family get through every day knowing that you no longer have your brother or his wife, but also so many other people are still being held? —— no kid in the world. we arejust trying being held? —— no kid in the world. we are just trying to wake up every morning, if we actually managed to sleep, and keep fighting for or and the rest of the hostages' release, that's it, that's all we do 20 a7. and do you feel hopeful that a deal might be around the corner soon? we have might be around the corner soon? - have to get you a deal, there is no other choice, not for israel and not support hamas. this war should end and the hostages need to be back. the right order is actually the hostages are released and then this war will end. {eek hostages are released and then this war will end-— war will end. 0k at michael leavy, thank ou war will end. 0k at michael leavy, thank you very _ war will end. 0k at michael leavy, thank you very much _ war will end. 0k at michael leavy, thank you very much for _ war will end. 0k at michael leavy, thank you very much for sharing i war will end. 0k at michael leavy, i thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and of course, condolences to you and the rest of your family for your loss. to you and the rest of your family foryour loss. —— to you and the rest of your family for your loss. —— michael levy. thank you so much. meanwhile, israel's prime minister has said what he called the intense phase of fighting hamas in gaza is nearly over, allowing troops to be freed up to be deployed to israel's northern border with lebanon, where fighting has escalated with the hezbollah armed group. in his first israeli media interview since the start of the war in october, benjamin netanyahu said he expected the ground operation in the southern gaza city of rafah to be completed soon. but he said the war wouldn't finish until the islamist group no longer controls the gaza strip. the un children's agency, unicef, has been saying for a while now that there is no safe place for children, who are paying the highest price in the war. the charity warned that the effect of the war on gaza's children "will span generations," affecting them both physically and psychologically. well, now, the international charity save the children has released new figures suggesting as many as 21,000 children are missing in gaza. the organisation estimates 17,000 children have become separated from their families during the chaos of the conflict, especially during the latest displacements following the israeli offensive in rafah. a further a,000 are believed to have been trapped beneath rubble, and an unknown number detained or buried in unmarked graves. let's speak to president of the middle east policy council, ambassador gina abercrombie—winstanley. let's discuss all of those issues. welcome to the programme. there is a lot to get to and we will come to the humanitarian situation and the children in a minute but ijust want to ask you about today's talks in washington to begin with. it seems like we talk about a dealer being around the corner. what do you think might be substantive in this particular visit from yoav gallant, israel's defence minister? —— we talk about a deal being around the corner. flit talk about a deal being around the corner. i i, , , i, i, talk about a deal being around the corner. , , i, i, i, corner. of course, there is a lot of fence mending _ corner. of course, there is a lot of fence mending to _ corner. of course, there is a lot of fence mending to be _ corner. of course, there is a lot of fence mending to be done - corner. of course, there is a lot of fence mending to be done by- corner. of course, there is a lot of fence mending to be done by the i fence mending to be done by the minister in response to the prime minister's public statement critical of president biden, making very clear there is hesitation about accepting the ceasefire that originated from israel, so all of that has got to be navigated in addition to everyone getting on the same page about the arms transfers that are indeed coming from the united states to israel, because the border conflict with lebanon on and hezbollah is definitely heating up. do you think that is then a huge concern across the corridors of power in washington? absolutely. we have heard from _ power in washington? absolutely. we have heard from the _ power in washington? absolutely. we have heard from the chairman - power in washington? absolutely. we have heard from the chairman of- power in washington? absolutely. we have heard from the chairman of the l have heard from the chairman of the joint chief of staff's warning that a possible israeli incursion into lebanon on good not only bring a response from hezbollah but a response from hezbollah but a response from hezbollah but a response from iran itself and the difficulty that that would likely bring us forces in the region. president biden is approaching an election, it is a very difficult time to have this conflict in the region and certainly one that brings in us forces, american lives in danger to a greater extent, is going to be something to be avoided at all costs. i, �* , i, costs. indeed, and let's return to what we were _ costs. indeed, and let's return to what we were discussing - costs. indeed, and let's return to what we were discussing just - costs. indeed, and let's return to i what we were discussing just then, which is the humanitarian crisis in gaza, you are hearing from unicef that there is no safe place for children that are paying the highest price in the war and that of course remains a huge concern, notjust amongst people in the region but again, where you are in washington. yes, it is part of the great challenge for the american administration, for president biden, to balance the continued support for the state and people of israel in the state and people of israel in the face of these costs to the civilians in the gaza strip, particularly children put civilians in general, the devastation of infrastructure. indeed, their very futures. and we are cognisant of that and americans are paying attention to that and it is in our press, in our media, and people want the president, as best he can, to help find a solution to it. unfortunately, it is not in his hands, it is in the hands of the leaders of hamas and israel. and we of course also _ leaders of hamas and israel. and we of course also spoke _ leaders of hamas and israel. and we of course also spoke to _ leaders of hamas and israel. and we of course also spoke to the - leaders of hamas and israel. and we of course also spoke to the relative i of course also spoke to the relative of course also spoke to the relative of someone who was killed in those attacks on the 7th of october and there are many families of people who are still being held hostage you want their loved ones to return home as well. my last question to you, ambassador, is what leveraged you think the us realistically has over israel in all of this? the think the us realistically has over israel in all of this?— israel in all of this? the us has been adamant _ israel in all of this? the us has been adamant about _ israel in all of this? the us has been adamant about the - israel in all of this? the us has - been adamant about the importance of the return of the hostages from the beginning. the president has been very steady on that. right now, it appears that neither the prime minister, northe appears that neither the prime minister, nor the head of hamas, is interested in a cessation of this conflict. even at one of them, and hamas in particular, should have stepped up with a clear acceptance of the ceasefire, but the reality is neither side has. as far as the hostages are concerned, we heard the president say, we will have to see what he does, that if he ceasefire negotiations between israel and hamas do not go forward, that the united states would see about whether a separate deal could be done via the united states and we will see if he follows through on that. i, ~ , i, , i, will see if he follows through on that. i, ~ , i, i will see if he follows through on that. i, ~ i , i, that. 0k, thank you so much, gina abercrombie _ that. 0k, thank you so much, gina abercrombie winstanley, - that. 0k, thank you so much, gina abercrombie winstanley, bringing | that. 0k, thank you so much, gina l abercrombie winstanley, bringing as your analysis on that main story. thank you. your analysis on that main story. thank you-— your analysis on that main story. thank you. around the world and across the _ thank you. around the world and across the uk, _ thank you. around the world and across the uk, this _ thank you. around the world and across the uk, this is _ thank you. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc - thank you. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. | princess anne is in hospital with concussion after apparently being injured by