Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC 20240703

And, israels allies have shown their support through displays like this. Heres berlins Brandenburg Gate lit up in white and blue to show support for israel. Lets show you live pictures from gaza now. And weve seen renewed israelis airstrikes overnight, as we head towards dawn in the region. Israel has responded to hamas� attack with devastating air strikes including in the last few hours. Have a look at this new video coming in to the bbc. Explosions. The latest developments come as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his Security Cabinet has approved plans to destroy the military and governmental capabilities of hamas and islamichhad. Netanyahu has said israel is, quote, � at war� after the hamas raid early saturday morning. Israels government says hamas launched more than 2,000 rockets into the country, killing more than 250 people and wounding over 1100 others. Officials in the gaza strip say over 230 people have been killed and over 1700 were injured in retaliatory strikes. The Un Security Council plans to meet about the violence in the region tomorrow. The Early Morning assault began with a barrage of rocket fire from gaza just after dawn with explosions heard on the streets of ashkelon. Sderot, which is near gaza, is thought to have been infiltrated by militants. Theres been plenty of reaction from around the world much of it aghast at the violence weve seen. And some directly in support of isarel, especially here in the us. Earlier we showed you the brandenberg gate. Well, heres the Empire State Building in new york, lit up in blue and white the colors of israels flag. And here in washington, President Biden gave this statement earlier expressing solidarity with israel. The United States stands with israel. We will not ever fail to have their back. Well make sure that they have the help their citizens need and they can continue to defend themselves. You know, the worlds seen appalling images. Thousands of rockets in the space of hours raining down on israeli cities. I got up this morning and started this at 7 30, eight oclock, my calls. Hamas terrorists crossing into israel, killing not only Israeli Soldiers but israeli civilians. In the street, in their homes, innocent people murdered, wounded. Entire families taken hostage by hamas just days after israel marked the holiest of days in thejewish calendar. Its unconscionable. You know, when i spoke to Prime Minister netanyahu this morning, i told him the United States stands with the people of israel in the face of these terrorist assaults. Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop theres neverjustification for Terrorist Attacks and my administrations support for israels security is rock solid and unwavering. Let me say this as clearly as i can this is not a moment for any party hostile to israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching. Elliot abrams who served in the george w. Bush and trump administrations joined me earlier to discuss all this. Thank you forjoining us this evening, the Biden Administration is calling for allies around the world to form allies around the world to form a coalition, to respond to this. What are your expectations for this . Candidly, i think there will be lots of support for israel for a few days, then casualties appear on the other side in this case, in gaza, and people tend to fade away, and the Initial Support weakens or disappears. In Initial Support weakens or disappears Initial Support weakens or disa ears. ,. , disappears. In terms of the us su ort disappears. In terms of the us support you disappears. In terms of the us support you anticipate disappears. In terms of the us support you anticipate that support you anticipate that being said fast and what do you think, and what links do you think, and what links do you think washington will go to in order to support its key ally, its longtime ally, israel . I think President Biden was quite strong today and saying the us would and i think it means two things, it means diplomatic support for israel at the United Nations if there are efforts by others in the Security Council or General Assembly to condemn israel. And it may mean resupply in the course of the next week, say, israel runs short of any particular item, it would mean sending it to them as the us did in the 1973 war. 50 years ago almost exactly, today. You mentioned ago almost exactly, today. You mentioned there ago almost exactly, today. You mentioned there the ago almost exactly, today. You mentioned there the United Nations, of course we know the Un Security Council will be meeting tomorrow, sunday. Do you think anything can be achieved there . You think anything can be achieved there . No, i dont think at this achieved there . No, i dont think at this point achieved there . No, i dont think at this point there achieved there . No, i dontj think at this point there will be a condemnation of hamas by name, there might be a condemnation of violence but in the past it has been difficult to get through condemnations of hamas by name, that is what i look for, that would be a strong sign of support for israel and a strong sign that countries such as china and russia really do disapprove of hamas did. But i am the i am Doubtfulthat Hamas did. But i am the i am doubtful that would happen in the problem with the bland resolution that just the problem with the bland Resolution Thatjust because for an end to violence. Resolution that just because for an end to violence. What about the for an end to violence. What about the netanyahu about the meta nyahu administration about the Netanyahu Administration if we take a look at the language used today by the Prime Minister, he has vowed the destruction of hamas, how far do you think Benjamin Netanyahu will now be looking to go . Ii netanyahu will now be looking to no . ,. , netanyahu will now be looking to io . , netanyahu will now be looking to no . , netanyahu will now be looking toao . ,. , to go . If you go back to the 2000 and to go . If you go back to the 2000 and 611 to go . If you go back to the 2000 and 611 on to go . If you go back to the 2000 and 611 on war, to go . If you go back to the 2000 and 611 on war, the l to go . If you go back to the 2000 and 611 on war, the Prime Minister said on day one he would destroy his follow, that did not happen. Hezbollah. I think there will be a very substantial Israeli Attack on hamas, i think they realise the rules of the game has changed, they thought hamas would never do any and, like this so they will hit hard and i think there will hit hard and i think there will be a government of national unity, but after this is over lets say a month from now, i think there will be a commission of National Enquiry and i think the Netanyahu Reputation as minister of security is really damaged, i think he has got a lot to answerfor in this think he has got a lot to answer for in this terrible intelligence failure. Intelligence failure. You mentioned intelligence failure. You mentioned 2006, intelligence failure. You mentioned 2006, if intelligence failure. You mentioned 2006, if we | intelligence failure. You i mentioned 2006, if we can intelligence failure. You mentioned 2006, if we can go back to that moment, because back to that moment, because back then the United States give israel a long leash essentially to change the ground, do you think that is a strategy they will pursue, once again . I strategy they will pursue, once auain . ,. ,. ,. , again . I do, although in that case the war again . I do, although in that case the war lasted again . I do, although in that case the war lasted a again . I do, although in that| case the war lasted a month, again . I do, although in that. Case the war lasted a month, 34 case the war lasted a month, 3a days, after couple weeks us was beginning the State Department was pushing israel to stop at. I think thats likely to happen here, i think the israelis have a few week, i doubt they have much more than about a month. How long do potentially foresee what we are seeing now going on for when we are witnessing what appears to be an unprecedented attack . I appears to be an unprecedented attack . ~. ,. , attack . I think the hamas attack . I think the hamas attack will attack . I think the hamas attack will end attack . I think the hamas attack will end soon attack . I think the hamas i attack will end soon because they will be pushed out back to gaza and because there will at some point run out of rockets and missiles to keep shooting. The question for israel is whether they plan to do a bigger version of what they have done in the past which is air attacks or do they plan to go in on the ground, i think thatis go in on the ground, i think that is plausible, i do not think there is any taste for a kind of reconquer in gaza, going back to pre 2005, when the Prime Minister sharon took the Prime Minister sharon took the idf out of gaza. I may be wrong but it seems to me they do not really want to run gaza, what they want to do is enormous damage to hamas. D0 enormous damage to hamas. Do ou enormous damage to hamas. Do you think there is any policy the United States or indeed its International Partners can pursue to de escalate the situation . I pursue to deescalate the situation . Pursue to deescalate the situation . ,. , , situation . I do not because i think the situation . I do not because i think the main situation . I do not because i think the main support situation . I do not because i think the main support and i think the main support and encouragement for hamas is coming from iran, and is is not going to stop, it is true that when there were heavy sanctions on iran they had less money and they could not sell well and they could not sell well and they had less money hamas and hezbollah and others. And i dont think unless you can get iran out of The Business Of Supporting Hamas and hezbollah that the underlying situation is going to change. Is going to change. Elliott abraham is going to change. Elliott abraham is is going to change. Elliott abraham is their is going to change. Elliott abraham is Theirjoining L is going to change. Elliott l abraham is theirjoining us, thank you so much for your perspective tonight, really appreciated. Appreciated. You are very welcome washington has been in direct contact with several middle Eastern Countries about the escalating conflict, including saudi arabia. Us Secretary Of State Antony Blinken spoke with the Saudi Foreign minister with the Ministry Saying in a statement that the two officials quote discussed developments in the unprecedented situation in gaza and its surroundings and the necessity to work to immediately stop the escalation, stressing the kingdoms rejection of Targeting Civilians in any way and the need for all parties to respect International Humanitarian law. Lets bring in the bbc� S State Department correspondent Barbara Plett usher. Secretary of state Antony Blinken has making a round of calls in a flurry of diplomacy, what do you think the result of those efforts could be . He certainly those efforts could be . He certainly has those efforts could be . He certainly has been making a round of calls, he has called pretty much every Foreign Minister in the middle east, including the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister also turkey and the palestinian authority, various allies in europe as well and also senior officials who work under him and work on the national Security Council have been doing the same with their counterparts in israel and in the region and i think the main emphasis right now, is to try to contain the conflict in gaza, and so for example mr lincoln will have spoken with his egyptian counterpart in egypt who has been instrumental in previous flareups to get the fighting to stop but more than that they have been calling people in the wider region, anyone they feel that would have any influence to try to prevent the conflict from spreading into the wider region. And there in particular the point that it would would be 11 on with hezbollah whether or not hezbollah would join the fight and start attacking israel from its northern border and i think that is a big focus of the administration to try and prevent that from happening, and Administration Official said to us they have been deeply engaged in this type of diplomacy and that he figured that would continue for some time. Figured that would continue for some time some time. You mentioned lebanon some time. You mentioned lebanon on some time. You mentioned lebanon on but some time. You mentioned lebanon on but on some time. You mentioned lebanon on but on that some time. You mentioned i lebanon on but on that point, looking at the region, barbara, how do you think the events of the last 2a hours will effect the last 2a hours will effect the abidin administrations broader policy towards the region . Abidin administration. I region . Abidin administration. ~ administration. I think the abidin administrations. Administration. I think the abidin administrations broader policy has been about trying to get stability in the region and one of the main planks of that has been trying to negotiate Normalisation Agreement between saudi arabia and between israel. That involved certain elements of the palestinian question on the request was for a concessions to be made to the palestinians as a result of that agreement, do something the saudis insisted on and the americans had been pressing the israelis to do but it was only a small part of the wide agreement. That now is going to be put on hold, at the least i would say until this conflict settles down and until the implications of what has happened become clear. Analysts are saying it is probably not going to grind to a halt but they had to wait until this conflict settles, to find out how it might impact the Administration Officials said to us that hamas would not derail it, he said but he also said they were quite far or they had ways to go yet before they had ways to go yet before they would reach an agreement anyway. They would reach an agreement an a. ~. , they would reach an agreement an a , ~. ,. ,. , they would reach an agreement an a. , anyway. What about timing why is hamas doing anyway. What about timing why is hamas doing this anyway. What about timing why is hamas doing this now . Anyway. What about timing why is hamas doing this now . If anyway. What about timing why| is hamas doing this now . If you look at what is hamas doing this now . If you look at what the is hamas doing this now . If you look at what the hamas is hamas doing this now . If you look at what the Hamas Leaderl Look at what the hamas leader said he mentioned a number of things, he mentioned that the west Bank Occupation and there has been quite a lot of conflict in the west bank over the past year, especially as the past year, especially as the Israeli Government has become much more right wing thenit become much more right wing then it was before and has been very aggressive in its policies in the west bank especially with the settlers and repaired Palestinian Militants becoming more assertive as well, lots of israeli raids especially nablus and jenin a lot of deaths in the west bank, he mentioned the west bank and the Al Aqsa Mosque Mosque Injerusalem A very holy site for muslims their third holiest site and also very holy for dues because it is near the site of the temple, the old temple. And there all so you had police raids recently you had more jewish worshippers going into the mosque that has created tension. All of these things, but these things have existed for a while, what talking about the normalisation is also a factor, hamas officials have mentioned they want to send a message to arab leaders that they cannot be ignored, that arabs cantjust make deals with israel and expect to get peace, that the palestinians, the end of the occupation has to also happen be or they get peace, that has been a factor as well. �. ,. , , as well. And Porton Context there from as well. And Porton Context there from our as well. And Porton Context there from our state as well. And Porton Context there from our State Department correspondent. We can stick now with this idea of building up International Support for israel and for that my colleague spoke with the National Security reporter at the washington post. We heard from President Biden and we saw Secretary Blank and stand by his side during that address. The Secretary Of State has been reaching out to several World Leaders about the situation of speaking with egypt, leaders from turkiye and qatar among many others. What are you hearing about the efforts to reach out to regional partners there . ,. , reach out to regional partners there . ,. ,. ,. , there . They are trying to round u. There . They are trying to round no snoport there . They are trying to round no snoport for there . They are trying to round up support for israel there . They are trying to round up support for israel or there . They are trying to round up support for israel or at up support for israel or at least try to understand what is going on inside israels neighbours and in the neighbourhood. They had been, the Biden Administration had been involved in trying to forge a major Landmark Deal between saudi arabia and israel in which saudis, the saudis would have recognised israel and they had hoped to achieve a major piece deal. Clearly what is happening now is that it is going in the opposite direction. They are trying to gauge the temperature and round up gauge the temperature and round up supportand, gauge the temperature and round up support and, also, prevent a bigger regional flareup. Up support and, also, prevent a bigger regionalflareup. There bigger regional flareup. There are bigger regionalflareup. There are worries that hezbollah from lebanon could launch a second front. You mentioned what President Biden had hoped would be a Signature Deal between israel and saudi arabia. When you think that deal stands now and what may be in the background, what role do they play in what we saw playing out with hamas. It is hard to know exactly what role the potential deal might have had in the attack versus long standing rivalries and israel palestinian relations. But the white house is saying today that they are not really sure, they are not ready to write off the deal yet they are not sure whether this necessarily kills it and they were saying that it had a long way to go in the first place but there are also concentrating on helping israel deal with the immediate conflict. I think they have set aside hopes in the short run, at least, of achieving a break through between the saudis and the israelis. Another interesting thing was that the deal did not place palestinians in the centre. It was much more bilateral saudi israeli relations and there was hope for some kind of concession for palestinians. But clearly what is happening today and in coming days really changes that and scrambles the calculations. The white house and several us lawmakers pledging their support for israel today but i know you have been reporting on this throughout the last several months. There has been tension between the two countries, tension between the two leaders, biden and netanyahu. How do you think those loggerheads in terms of what Benjamin Netanyahu was doing a moving the country potentially more to the right. How could that affect the situation. Situation. That is not something situation. That is not something that situation. That is not something that is. Situation. That is not i something that is being situation. That is not something that is being talked about right now. Today. It is absolutely the case that these are not administrations that had been friendly with each other. A lot of frustration in washington from biden and others in the white house about the way netanyahu has pursued judicial reforms which they view as undemocratic, all sorts of things. They have not been close. At the same time, you know, israel has a long standing Security Relationship with the United States, a lot of political backing of the United States for Security Help in these kinds of situations and that has been the focus, i think, today, the white house detailing incredible numbers of conversations at all levels from top to bottom of the Military Establishment between the us and israeli military. Benjamin is certainly talking to President Biden is certainly talking to netanyahu. Recriminations and frustrations about Intelligence Failures on the israeli side, perhaps on the israeli side, perhaps on the american side as well. Perhaps being distracted by other elements of domestic politics. But, for now, they seem to be setting aside the frustrations they have had in the past and concentrating on ensuring security and stability in the short run. In the short run. Michael burned down in the short run. Michael burned down with in the short run. Michael burned down with the i in the short run. Michael burned down with the washington post, thank you so much for your insights. You saw carl in that interview and hejoins me in the interview. As this crisis comes at the end of the week that a senior political scene and here in the United States shift dramatically with the ousting of the House Speaker as well. We are currently in the middle of the race for a replacement and it has been a busy week. Talk to us. Could that in any way affect israel support us support for israel . That is the worry at the forefront of the minds of many lawmakers here in washington right now because we have an unprecedented situation. We have never seen a speaker of the house, kevin mccarthy, ousted in the way that this took place on tuesday. There is now a temporary speaker of the house in place in Patrick Mckinley and there is no precedent for the real level of power that he has. Many believe that this is very much almost a ceremonial role, any kind of new legislation or bills or, in this case, new Defence Funding for israel would need a permanent speaker of the house to be there and to bring that business to the floor and see it through. The situation we have right now is that we do not have a speaker of the republicans are due to meet next week and potentially vote on wednesday and that may be a delay for some people. We have seen many different members of Congress Speaking out online including mike lawlor in new york saying to the point bring back kevin mccarthy. That is the urgency with which many lawmakers see the situation. Of course, support for israel is very much in the United States a ipad is an issue. Statements have been coming out online on both sides of the aisle in support of israel. But it truly is an unprecedented situation. Another open question, of course, is that the United States as it stands does not have an ambassador to israel. President biden nominated jack lew, the former treasury secretary back in september. That has been held up in congress for more than a month now. So dysfunction, whatever you want to call it, chaos on capitol hill, couldn may be already years have an effect on the ability of the United States to monetarily support this. In talking about Notjust The Monetary Effort the diplomatic efforts as well, of course concentrated efforts for the us course concentrated efforts for the u . ,. ,. , course concentrated efforts for the u. ,. ,. ,. ,. , the Us Administration to talk to israel today the Us Administration to talk to israel today but the Us Administration to talk to israel today but also i the Us Administration to talk| to israel today but also going beyond that as well, i imagine . To 30 in the morning was when the state Department Team the national Security Council again fielding calls, placing contact with regional partners speaking with regional partners speaking with israel directly. It has been very interesting and striking to see the way that the Secretary Of State Antony Blinken has been reaching out to various regional partners. With or direct phone calls with countries like egypt, qatar, jordan, turkiye, even speaking directly with mahmoud abbas. And it is clear that the us is trying to leveraged its various partners in the region. If you want to look back at 2021, the countries that ended up Brokering Talks between hamas and israel were actually egypt and israel were actually egypt and qatar so important to get those kind of countries involved and that is what we are seeing, a flurry of phone calls by the Secretary Of State. All hands on deck and contacting diplomatic channels in the wake of this unprecedented level of attack. And that is all for now. We leave you with these live pictures of gaza city as one is breaking and our coverage continues at the top of the hour. I am continues at the top of the hour. Iam Helena Humphrey in washington, dc. Thank you for your company and i will see you soon. Hello. Rarely do we see a day of weather contrasts quite as stark as those we experienced during saturday. Across many parts of scotland we had huge amounts of rain, flooding and disruption. We had this met Office Amber Warning in force. This expiring through the first part of Sunday Morning but this new warning stretching from aberdeenshire up towards inverness, this warning is in force until 2pm on sunday with further flooding and disruption likely. This is the rain we had on saturday. It was relentless. Well over 100 millimetres of rain in places and some spots in the north of scotland only got to 7 8 degrees. Compare that with 25 in southeast england, those huge contrasts. That was the warmest 0ctober day weve seen in five years. Into sunday, this frontal system still plaguing parts of scotland with some outbreaks of rain. The focus for the heaviest rain does shift a little further northwards and eastwards. Still though some rain through the central belt, could cause further problems, southern scotland looking drier with a little bit of sunshine. Patchy cloud and sunny spells for northern ireland. Quite murky for some western coasts of england and wales and a bit more cloud for eastern coasts too, but we should, broadly speaking, see some spells of sunshine on what will be another very warm day for the time of year 25, 26 degrees, not as cold across the north of scotland. Heading through sunday night, we will still see some bits and pieces of rain across scotland, Maybe Fringing Into northern ireland, but generally it will turn a bit drier, quite windy in the far north, very mild as we start monday morning with some areas of low cloud, mist and fog, particularly for western coasts and some of that could linger as we go through the day. Scotland certainly drier than it has been, although this little line of rain could just plague the southwest of scotland from time to time. Temperatures north to south 13 in stornoway, still 2a in london. Moving deeper into the week, we will see something of a change, that warmth is set to be swept away. A frontal system pushing its way south and east through the middle of the week, heavy rain with that, and behind it something cooler, something a bit more like we would expect at this time of year. So a mainly dry, warm start to the week but things will change from midweek onwards. Im Helena Humphrey, thank you forjoining us. Residents across gaza are bracing themselves after the israeli army warned of more air strikes to destroy hamas targets in retaliation for saturdays major attack. Sirens have again sounded in parts of southern israel. Lets get the latest developments roughly 2a hours since this all began. Israel will cut off the supply of electricity, fuel and goods to gaza. Thats according to Media Reports citing a statement from israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office. Gaza was already thrown into darkness on saturday as israeli authorities cut power to its territories. As were mentioning, the israeli army has told residents of seven different areas across the gaza strip to take refuge in shelters as it prepares to launch new attacks on hamas targets. Meanwhile, israeli hostages who were held in a southern town have reportedly been rescued. Thats according to israels public broadcaster. Three Israeli Soldiers were moderately and lightly wounded. 0n the diplomatic front, us Secretary Of State Antony Blinken has called for calm and stability in the west bank, during a call with palestinian president mahmoud abbas. And, israels allies have shown their support through displays like this. Heres berlins Brandenburg Gate lit up in white and blue to show support for israel. Lets show you live pictures from gaza now. And weve seen renewed israelis aistrikes overnight, as we head towards dawn in the region. Israel has responded to hamas attack with devastating airstrikes including in the last few hours. Have a look at this new video coming in to the bbc