Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC 20240703

Darkest moment in our history. [30 darkest moment in our history. Do ou darkest moment in our history. Do you have any more information about numbers in terms of those who have been taken hostage by hamas militants . Irate been taken hostage by hamas militants . ~ ~. Been taken hostage by hamas militants . Militants . We know that it is dozens. The militants . We know that it is dozens. The numbers militants . We know that it is dozens. The numbers are militants . We know that it is| dozens. The numbers are not militants . We know that it is dozens. The numbers are not clear yet. Dozens. The numbers are not clear et. �. Dozens. The numbers are not clear et. , ~ , yet. But dozens of people. And is the israeli yet. But dozens of people. And is the Israeli Government yet. But dozens of people. And is the Israeli Government willing yet. But dozens of people. And is the Israeli Government willing to | the Israeli Government willing to negotiate for those hostages . I dont know that. Negotiate for those hostages . I dont know that. Lets negotiate for those hostages . I dont know that. Lets talk negotiate for those hostages . I | dont know that. Lets talk more about what dont know that. Lets talk more about what is dont know that. Lets talk more about what is happening dont know that. Lets talk more about what is happening from i dont know that. Lets talk more | about what is happening from the International Community. Lets talk about neighbouring countries. What support you expecting that israel was moving closer towards these countries in recent times. We have full suoport countries in recent times. We have full suoport of countries in recent times. We have full support of president countries in recent times. We have full support of President Biden,. Countries in recent times. We have full support of President Biden, mr rishi sunak. We have full support from the International Community. We are hoping that the International Community will keep on supporting us. We need that support. We need them to realise who we are dealing with, it is notjust another country, it is terrorists that are murdering us by directly. Wejust hope it will end as soon as possible. Hope it will end as soon as possible hope it will end as soon as ossible. ,. , possible. 0k. It has been really aood to possible. 0k. It has been really good to talk possible. 0k. It has been really good to talk to possible. 0k. It has been really good to talk to you. Possible. 0k. It has been really good to talk to you. I possible. 0k. It has been really good to talk to you. I really good to talk to you. I really appreciate you coming here and answering our questions on bbc news. Thank you so much. You are watching bbc news. We are talking about numbers. The total number that has risen to more than a thousand day after hamas militants stormed israel. Here are some of the Key Developments as our. Israeli tv is now putting the number of israelis dead at more than 700. The Minister Of Health has put more than 300 palestinians being held in and strikes in gaza. More than 400 Palestinian Militants have been killed after infiltrating Southern Israel with dozens more captured. Israel with dozens more captured. Israel says it still trying to regain full control of areas where hamas militants have infiltrated. The numbers of. We hearfrom spokesperson the embassy in london that it could be more than a dozen. We know there are hostages taken by hamas militants. In northern israel, hezbollah rockets targeted military positions. It was responded to with marriages and artillery into southern lebanon. Barrage is. Biden has given rock solid support to israel. The Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken again to the president to assure support. We have the very latest now. A devastating bombardment, they promised overnight that they would pay the price for the unprecedented attack. And in gaza, this was the result. Translation what happened to as completely destruction, there were 150 people that lived destruction, there were 150 people that lived in this building and we cant that lived in this building and we cant live that lived in this building and we cant live there now. But that lived in this building and we cant live there now. That lived in this building and we cant live there now. But today in israel, cant live there now. But today in israel. More cant live there now. But today in israel, more gunfights cant live there now. But today in israel, more gunfights as cant live there now. But today in israel, more gunfights as israeli | israel, more gunfights as Israeli Security forces pursued people that infiltrated a day ago. Here they chased militants in a stolen car and killed them. And here, the shocking result of the earlier mass assault. The bodies of an israeli family shot dead, waiting to be taken for identification and burial. 0ver dead, waiting to be taken for identification and burial. Over here you have another one of the body bags and disturbingly enough, you find them by the roadsides of Southern Israel right now. Here, we are not very far from Israeli Military base that was overrun by hamas militants and has since been recaptured. And it is now known among the dead, there was a 20 year old british man, nathanial lung young. He had signed up to join. His brothersaid. For many, the fate of their loved ones are still unknown. 0utside for many, the fate of their loved ones are still unknown. Outside the main hospital in ashkelon, this woman berated an mp. I want you to try and find my boy and his girlfriend naomi, aged 24 and 23, she tells him, distraught. This hospital has been overwhelmed. Treating some 400 people, soldiers and civilians, some shot and some injured with continuing rocket fire. It was very difficult. A lot of casualties have been brought, one after one, one after one, very quickly. After one, one after one, very ruickl. , quickly. There was a reminder today at the potential quickly. There was a reminder today at the potential for quickly. There was a reminder today at the potential for this quickly. There was a reminder today at the potential for this conflict at the potential for this conflict to widen. The Israeli Military carried out artillery strikes and sudden lebanon after mortars were fired towards israeli positions. Gazais fired towards israeli positions. Gaza is still the main focus. It is believed that dozens of israeli hostages, including Women And Children are now being held there. We will not forget. Hamas terrorists target israeli civilians. Israel will target hamas and islamichhad terrorists wherever they may be in gaza. ,. ,. ,. , gaza. The israelis and palestinians, there is worrying gaza. The israelis and palestinians, there is worrying signs gaza. The israelis and palestinians, there is worrying signs of gaza. The israelis and palestinians, there is worrying signs of a gaza. The israelis and palestinians, there is worrying signs of a long there is worrying signs of a long war ahead. And you are watching bbc news. I have taken over and i will be with you for the next couple of hours. I want to take you now to ashkelon. 0ur Correspondent is live there. Its pretty dark there. There are Flashing Lights behind you. Talk us through what you can about where you are and what has been happening. Behind me, these Flashing Lights are where the road has been closed off. This has been almost a staging post in the last few hours, we have watched ambulances coming in and helicopters landing on the road, it looked like they were evacuating casualties out of the area. You are right, it is particularly dark now, but the skies have been regularly lighting up in the last few hours because there has been a regular barrage of missiles being fired from gaza and when they come, easy Points Of Light Shooting into the sky and you see the intercepted by the Iron Dome System which really catches most of the missiles are coming, but the sound, when that happens, some really loud booms that you can feel it shaking for your whole body and sometimes, people around here will jump sometimes, people around here will jump when that happens, even though it is something they are quite used to now. What is also worth mentioning is the amount of Israeli Military equipment and hardware that is starting to move into this area here. A lot of attacks are starting to come into Southern Israel and a lot of the priorities of the idf were securing that sudden israeli communities after they were infiltrated by hamas militants that broke through the fence yesterday morning. The question is what they will do once they feel they have secured the area. You can see, you know, all the time what is going on, you can see flashes in the background behind me, i can hear a plane going overhead, some time to get the sound of a drone as well. They are very distinctively different, you can hear the plane sort of shooting over, the drone is a very consistent, whining sound. Again, you can hear the booms that are going on. It has been constant, actually, lewis, for the last few hours and it really shows you that this conflict, as it is, certainly the escalation that we have seen in the escalation that we have seen in the last 48 hours or so is really an early indication i would say of what is likely to happen in the next few days and potentially the next few weeks. � �. Days and potentially the next few weeks. � ~. , days and potentially the next few weeks. � �. ,. ~ , weeks. And, anna, ust talk us throu~h weeks. And, anna, ust talk us through roughly weeks. And, anna, ust talk us through roughly if weeks. And, anna, just talk us through roughly if you weeks. And, anna, just talk us through roughly if you can, weeks. And, anna, just talk us | through roughly if you can, give us a sense of the geography of how far you are from gaza and other key points around you. You are from gaza and other key points around you. Gaza is less than ten kilometres points around you. Gaza is less than ten kilometres over points around you. Gaza is less than ten kilometres over here. Points around you. Gaza is less than i ten kilometres over here. Sometimes, when you are seeing those flashes that you will occasionally get on the horizon now, gaza is really close and that is something that the Southern Israeli communities have been dealing with, had been living with for quite a long time because hes missile attacks, which we are seeing an awful lot of Yesterday And Today are a regular feature of life here. Certainly, when you go down the coast in ashkelon, but when you go down a little bit to sderot, there are people in Apartment Buildings when you look out to gaza, on this trip, these two areas really do rub shoulder to shoulder and i think thats perhaps one of the reasons why hamas were able to carry out what was a Surprise Attack yesterday morning. The tension and increasing tension as no surprise. The way they were able to break through the fence and infiltrate using paragliders to end the trade by sea with very little warning certainly from the Israeli Security services who said that this was likely to happen, and the us of course who are one of israels largest allies, no one realised it was about to happen along with the shock that is going on here, stun community, there are also questions being asked about why intelligence didnt pick up such an imminent large attack. Didnt pick up such an imminent large attack didnt pick up such an imminent large attack. And looking ahead, anna, i large attack. And looking ahead, anna. I getting large attack. And looking ahead, anna, i getting any large attack. And looking ahead, anna, i getting any sense large attack. And looking ahead, anna, i getting any sense of large attack. And looking ahead, | anna, i getting any sense of what will happen the night . It is will happen the night . It is difficult to will happen the night . It is difficult to know. Will happen the night . It is difficult to know. We will happen the night . It 3 difficult to know. We have been talking about the potential Israeli Ground incursion into gaza because thatis ground incursion into gaza because that is something that is crucial, really. When we saw the israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talking in the early hours after the attacks yesterday, you promised a substantial response and that would certainly take the form of a ground operation, but of course, you have a lot of civilians, palestinian, Civilian In Gaza and i was there about 18 months ago, most recently, it is very tightly packed. Its not very easy to escape. Israel controls the edge of the strip, its very difficult for people to move away from an operation it might be lunch. But also dont forget, the hostages, the videos we saw on social media yesterday, of israeli hostages being taken by hamas militants and taken potentially back into gaza. That will be something again that is at play when the idf are trying to decide how to respond to that. There are israeli civilians being held hostage in gaza in the belief is thatis hostage in gaza in the belief is that is the case, perhaps as many as 100, but enormously difficult to tell at this stage. All of these things will have to be considered as israel planned its next move. Qm. Israel planned its next move. 0k, anna, we israel planned its next move. 0k, anna. We must israel planned its next move. 0k, anna, we must leave israel planned its next move. 0k, anna, we must leave you there. Thank you so much for your expertise there in ashkelon, we were coming back to anna later. We mention that the hostages. It seems to be coming increasingly likely that a significant number of those killed and captured by hamas where young people attending a Music Festival in the Southern Israeli desert. Social media pictures showed Hundreds Fleeing The Nova Festival Which was held near the small settlement of reim a kibbutz near the border with gaza as Caroline Hawley reports. Moments before at a festival that brought together young people across israel. A carefree crowd with no idea of the hall are about to erupt. Images posted on social media show people running for their lives. Witnesses say that the rockets were fired, palestinian gunmen began attacking from several directions. Dont kill me, she pleads, as she and her boyfriend are taken captive. Both the still missing, thought to have been taken into gaza. Today, her father spoke through his anguish to israeli media. Translation i asked to see that video and then i saw that it was definitely her. She was so scared, so frightened. I always protected her and at this very moment, i couldnt. She always protected her and at this very moment, i couldnt. Always protected her and at this very moment, i couldnt. She is 25 with a passion very moment, i couldnt. She is 25 with a passion for very moment, i couldnt. She is 25 with a passion for travel. Very moment, i couldnt. She is 25 with a passion for travel. She very moment, i couldnt. She is 25 with a passion for travel. She had| with a passion for travel. She had been messaging a friend just before she was kidnapped and then the live location ended. It is she was kidnapped and then the live location ended. Location ended. It is ust us, waitin location ended. It is ust us, waiting and hoping, location ended. It isjust us, waiting and hoping, really. Location ended. It isjust us, waiting and hoping, really hoping and praying that everything is good. That she and praying that everything is good. That she will come home safely. Her and her that she will come home safely. Her and her boyfriend and everyone. Everyone and her boyfriend and everyone. Everyone in captivity right now. Jake everyone in captivity right now. Jake marlos family and friends are also desperate for news. Hes a 20 year old british man working at the festival. He is reported to have told her mother he loved her and promised to keep her updated as his fame began running at ringing out. The aftermath. Phone. We dont know whats happened to other people that came in the cars to celebrate at the party. Shell shocked reunions with those who survived. The brutality of the attack, the terror of it, it will now be seared into the psyche a nation. Taking you to the psyche a nation. Taking you to the new 5 us right now. Talking about the events. This is what Antony Blinken said. This about the events. This is what Antony Blinken said. About the events. This is what Antony Blinken said. This is the worst attack Antony Blinken said. This is the worst attack on Antony Blinken said. This is the worst attack on israel Antony Blinken said. This is the worst attack on israel since Antony Blinken said. This is the worst attack on israel since the | Antony Blinken said. This is the worst attack on israel since the Yom Kippur War war, almost exactly 50 years ago. There is a big difference. That is a state on state conflict, army against army with clear front lines. Conflict, army against army with clearfront lines. This is a massive Terrorist Attack targeting israeli civilians, gunning people down on the streets of the town, in their homes, dragging israelis, men, Women And Children across the board with gaza, Hostel Holocaust Revolver a Holocaust Survivor in a wheelchair and it should be revolting to people across the world. [10 and it should be revolting to people across the world. And it should be revolting to people across the world. Do you acknowledge that both israeli across the world. Do you acknowledge that both Israeli Intelligence that both Israeli Intelligence officials and Us Intelligence officials and Us Intelligence officials were caught of guard here . This is officials were caught of guard here . This is an officials were caught of guard here . This is an attack that i dont think anyone saw coming. In the immediate. Was it an Intelligence Failure . [10 was it an Intelligence Failure . Do ou was it an Intelligence Failure . Drr you acknowledge that . We will have plenty of time, they as really as well have plenty of time to look into that, all of us will have time to look into that, the focus now has to look into that, the focus now has to be on making sure that israel has what it needs to deal with the attack and at the same time, israel has come to us and as for specific specific additional assistance and im sure you will hear about that today and we will be responding to that and we have the ability to do that. Iran and hamas have a relationship. It wouldnt be what it is without that year long relationship with iran. At the moment, we dont have anything that shows is that iran was directly involved in the attack in paralleling it or carrying it out, but we are looking at that very carefully and we will see where the facts lead, but we know that theyve had a long relationship with hamas. Its one of the reasons that we have been aggressively working to counter iran including sanctioning more than 400 iranians and companies precisely for things like the support provided to hamas. It is no surprise that those opposed to the talks, opposed to Israel Normalising its relation with its neighbours in countries beyond the region are hamas, hezbollah and iran. Its entirely possible that one of the motivations for this attack was to try and derail the efforts to try and advance novelisations, Something Thatis advance novelisations, something that is very hard, lots of issues to work through to try and do that. The result would be, if you are able to get there, a much different path for the region and for the future, a path of greater stability, more integration and people working together to better their lives. The secretary of together to better their lives. The Secretary Of State Antony Blinken now. Live now to Shingai Nyoka In Washington. What have we been hearing there In Washington about the sport from israel . Irate washington about the sport from israel . ~. , washington about the sport from israel . ,. Israel . We have been hearing that President Biden israel . We have been hearing that President Biden and israel . We have been hearing that President Biden and vice israel . We have been Hearing Thatj President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed by the National Security council this morning and President Biden directed what he said was Additional Support for israel, but we are still not clear about what that support is. Yesterday, he did hint that there were specifically three areas they were specifically three areas they were looking at, military, intelligence and diplomatic support. A lot of people are in the dark about exactly what it is that america will commit to, as when many people are aware, the United States is israels biggest ally, providing about 3. 8 billion us dollars a year according to state secretary Antony Blinken. There will be a lot of behind the scenes conversations happening about what israel requires in the days and weeks ahead. {line in the days and weeks ahead. One line from afp in the days and weeks ahead. One line from afp as in the days and weeks ahead. One line from afp as we in the days and weeks ahead. One line from afp as we are talking, very simply says that biden tells netanyahu that more military aid is on the way to israel. More military aid on the way to israel. As you are saying, no details on any more specifics other than that. Remind us of their historical ties between the two countries. Two countries. President biden alluded to two countries. President biden alluded to that two countries. President biden alluded to that in two countries. President biden alluded to that in his two countries. President biden alluded to that in his public alluded to that in his public address yesterday. He acknowledged that the United States was the first country to congratulate israel when it became a state in the 1940s. He alluded to those historical ties. I think theres been a lot of discussion about the current relationship that President Biden Public Administration has with angela netanyahu, the tension over the last year, and the statements that we have been hearing, successive statement, notjust from President Biden but from the various agencies, really confirm the us position that, you know, they might have been tension, but they stand unequivocally behind israel. What we are also hearing from the israeli ambassador to the us is that there might be americans among the hospitals statement hostages that were taken. America trying to confirm that. They said that they are not able to. They are still trying to find out that is the case. Thank you so much for keeping us up to date in dc. Thank you for that. Lets speak to aaron david miller, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former Us State Department middle east analyst and negotiator in both republican and democratic administrations. Thank you so much for coming on the programme. What are your immediate thoughts as we head into the night now . As we can still see, the skyline above guards are still the top. Skyline above guards are still the to. ,. skyline above guards are still the to, skyline above guards are still the to. Top. Look, we can measure their sunday today. Top. Look, we can measure their sunday today, but top. Look, we can measure their sunday today, but i top. Look, we can measure their sunday today, but i suspect top. Look, we can measure their sunday today, but i suspect the | top. Look, we can measure their sunday today, but i suspect the more accurate timing is probably weeks or even months. What we are seeing here is a transformative event that goes beyond any immediate Security Challenge that they have faced. And i suspect, although i am not predicting it imminently, the israelis will have to change 20 years of Risk Aversion where it comes to gaza that is containment, carrots and sticks to fundamentally alter the political and security equation. And that means, in my judgment, and major air, equation. And that means, in my judgment, and majorair, land and sea campaign in an effort to eradicate and decapitate the hamas leadership. Destroy military infrastructure, Depo Arms Manufacture and facilities. I think the operation is coming. I worried greatly about the day after. Im not entirely persuaded about how you fundamentally change the government in gaza. That is what i am most focused on. In gaza. That is what i am most focused on in gaza. That is what i am most focused on. Lets Ust Pause For A Moment to focused on. Lets Ust Pause For A Moment to focus focused on. LetsjUst Pause For A Moment to focus on focused on. LetsjUst Pause For A Moment to focus on exactly focused on. Letsjust pause for a j moment to focus on exactly that. That is quite a major commitment you are envisaging. An operation like that, what are the chances of actually being successful . The asymmetrical actually being successful . Tie asymmetrical power that separates the state of israel from hamas and lets be clear, hamas, what they have done, this is not, it required great coordination and planning, but its not the us military, is not the british military, it faces a state of formidable power, whose intelligence operational capacity and experience would lead me to conclude that in effect, the israelis can accomplish several of their goals, what i am most concerned about and cant wrap my arms on mind around is that the after problem. I think they can deal after problem. I think they can deal a devastating blow to hamas leadership. More than that, to change the equation on who governs gaza to prevent the return of hamas in a bloody tragic wash and rinse repeat cycle, the Rocket Exchanges between israel and hamas, that is something that is a stretch. Its very difficult for me to imagine in a sense, which is why, frankly, im so concerned. 50 a sense, which is why, frankly, im so concerned. So concerned. So what is the advantage. So concerned. So what is the advantage, then, so concerned. So what is the advantage, then, if so concerned. So what is the advantage, then, if you so concerned. So what is thej advantage, then, if you cant imagine the day after and the day after problem not seemingly having a solution, what is the advantage of going ahead with such a large scale Military Operation . T going ahead with such a large scale Military Operation . Military operation . I think that beini Military Operation . I think that being psychological Military Operation . I think that being psychological and Military Operation . I think that l being psychological and political realities, what we are witnessing on the ground, particularly an almost exclusively in those communities approximate to gaza, the stories of sovereignty and brutality of what hamas has done, when all of that actually comes to talk and the stories they will tell, it will only mmp stories they will tell, it will only ramp up the desire for some sort of conclusive ending. My concern, i will say again for the third time, im not sure the israelis or any of us frankly can figure out what will happen after. Us frankly can figure out what will happen after us frankly can figure out what will ha en after. , happen after. Stand by, we will come back and just happen after. Stand by, we will come back and just a happen after. Stand by, we will come back and just a moment. Happen after. Stand by, we will come back and just a moment. We happen after. Stand by, we will come back and just a moment. We will happen after. Stand by, we will come| back and just a moment. We will take a pause there. This is bbc news. I just want to continue with you. We just want to continue with you. We just had to take a quick pause there as we said goodbye to some viewers watching around the world. This is a case, if you cant imagine what happened is day after, what do you think the calculation that for was from hamas . Knowing the reaction that their action would lead to, what was their calculation . It is what was their calculation . It is only speculation. What was their calculation . It 3 only speculation. Unlike 73, where saddam had a limited aim to deal with the israelis in the first two weeks of the war and establish positions on the east bank and canal, he had a strategy, it would come to fruition six years later in 1979 with the peace treaty and a new relationship with the United States. Hamas has no grand strategy. If you asked me to speculate, number one, i think they wanted to establish the fact that they did, sadly and tragically, that they could inflict the degree of pain on israel that is unprecedented in the Israeli Palestinian relationship. Thats number one. And they can do so in a coordinated and competent fashion. Number two, coordinated and competent fashion. Numbertwo, i coordinated and competent fashion. Number two, i think they wanted to remind israel and the world that if you want quiet in israel, you dont go to mahmoud abbas, you go to hamas. If you want your business and has just that, you hamas. If you want your business and hasjust that, you dont hamas. If you want your business and has just that, you dont go to mahmoud abbas, you go to hamas. And finally, iran is always stirring the pot. I dont believe for a minute that hamas is a whole subsidiary to iran, but there is no doubt that their motives are aligned on this one. I think hamas succeeded in creating a situation where Israeli Saudi Normalisation which is a great importance to the biden administration, clearly to the government of israel and. They have made any concessions on the hearth of the Israeli Government to the palestinians to be part of this us facilitated triangle arrangement, i think they have made those concessions virtually impossible. They may also have hoped that their move, which frankly is one large Terrorist Attack, thats how i basically describe it. That it was somehow unite the west bank, perhaps raise tensions injerusalem and maybe even get hezbollah involved. Hezbollah did shell certain areas this morning. I dont think that iran or hezbollah is looking for an escalation with israel or the United States. , escalation with israel or the United States. Escalation with israel or the United States. ,. , escalation with israel or the United States. ,. , states. Those are my thoughts. Ok, im ust states. Those are my thoughts. Ok, im just getting states. Those are my thoughts. Ok, im just getting a states. Those are my thoughts. Ok, im just getting a statement states. Those are my thoughts. Ok, im just getting a statement in states. Those are my thoughts. Ok, im just getting a statement in here | im just getting a statement in here from secretary lloyd austin on Us Force Posture changes in the middle east. I am force posture changes in the middle east. Iam Reading Force posture changes in the middle east. I am reading this as im reading out loud for the first time. I want to see if i can get your thoughts. My thoughts continue to be with israel and the people and those who have lost loved ones as a result of the abhorrent Terrorist Attack by hamas. Today, in response to this attack on israel and following detailed discussions with President Biden, i have directed several statues strengthened the steps to bolster regional deterrent efforts. I have directed their movement of the uss Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike group to the eastern mediterranean. I am also just going to pause there because im going to welcome back viewers from around the world. You are watching bbc news, i am continuing with this breaking news. A statement from the secretary lloyd austin on Us Force Posture changes in the middle east. Im going to continue with the statement. I direct the movement of the us general r ford Carrier Strike group, this includes air us air carrier and other vessels there as well, some Guided Missile Destroyers come uss thomas had no, and a continuing list. We have taken continuous steps to augment our force in the region. The us maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrent posture if required. Just want to get your reaction to that. It could have a sort of deterrent effect. I dont have that is based on hard and real intelligence, the possibility of Proxy Attacks on us forces in iraq and syria. It also has symbolic value. I think you have seen that across the board. It will be just interesting to see whether or not there is military moves and deployments actually are a response to a changing threat assessment. It is hard to see from where or with respect to what. Is hard to see from where or with respect to what. Tithe is hard to see from where or with respect to what. Respect to what. One more line here. It respect to what. One more line here it also respect to what. One more line here. It also says respect to what. One more line here. It also says it respect to what. One more line here. It also says it will