Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC 20240703

And human dignity. Hello. The white house says israel has turned the water supply to Southern Gaza back on, after it was switched off following the hamas attack eight days ago. It said the decision followed a conversation between President Biden and the israeli Prime Minister, binjamin netanyahu. The Israeli Energy minister insisted the decision is in line with israels existing policy, which is to block all food, fuel, and waterfrom entering gaza until hamas agrees to hand back more than 100 hostages seized in last saturdays assault. People in the northern half of gaza are continuing to flee the area ahead of an expected israeli incursion. Thousands of troops are already massed on the border with gaza. The israelis say they hit over 100 military targets in air strikes overnight. Hamas has continued to fire rockets into israel, including towards tel aviv. The us Secretary Of State, antony blinken, has been in egypt, where hes been pressing for humanitarian aid to be allowed into gaza through the rafah border crossing. Aid has arrived in sinai, but egypt says it wont allow foreigners to leave unless there are guarantees the aid will be sent into gaza. Heres mr blinken speaking to the press before leaving egypt. We came here with four key objectives, to make clear that the United States stands with israel. To prevent the conflict from spreading to other places. To work on securing the release of hostages, including american citizens and to address the humanitarian crisis that exists on gazza. We started in israel. It was important to make it very clear that the United States has a real� s back. We will stand with them today, tomorrow and every day and we are doing that in word and deed. I spent time with Prime Minister netanyahu to go through the needs israel may have to make sure i can effectively defend itself and you have seen a lot of that existence moving forward and that is a conversation that will continue. Israel has the right, indeed it has the obligation to defend itself against these attacks from hamas and to try and do what you can to make sure this never happens again. As i said in tel aviv and as President Biden said, the way that israel does this matters. It needs to do it in a way that affirms the shared values that we have for human life and human dignity, taking every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians. After we left israel, we have gone now, i think i have lost track by another six countries in the region, jordan, bahrain, qatar, united arab emirates, saudi arabia and now here in egypt. The purpose of seeing all of our partners was first and foremost to listen to them, to hear how they see this crisis and look at what we can do together to deal with many of the concerns it has raised. Antony blinken, the us Secretary Of State in cairo a few minutes ago. I can tell you he has appointed an american diplomat and Ambassador Well known in the region to lead the humanitarian effort. So David Satterfield will be taking the lead regarding assistance. Let us talk to our correspondent injerusalem. First of all the worrying line from the Foreign Minister in iran that the Foreign Minister in iran that the finger is on the trigger if israel does not listen to the concerns in the region. That must worry everybody concerns in the region. That must worry everybody. Yes, concerns in the region. That must worry everybody. Yes, there concerns in the region. That must worry everybody. Yes, there has. Concerns in the region. That must worry everybody. Yes, there has been a lot of maximalist rhetoric from the iranians in the last 48 hours. I think that is to some extent to be expected in this situation. The Secretary Of State will have tried to have done, and he talked about the seven arab countries he has been visiting over the last few days, is to try and get a sense of what is behind these iranian threats. 0ne to try and get a sense of what is behind these iranian threats. One of the key directions he has tried to do that through as the visit to riyadh. He spoke to muhammad bin salman, the Saudi Crown Prince this morning. The crown prince had a rear phone call with the iranian president recently. They are arch rivals in the middle east but their relations had been thawing over the last year so there is a line of communication and that is important and mr blunkett will be trying to find out whats going on with the you expect them to say these things but will they really do it. They had the ability to put pressure and instruct other Lebanese Shiite militant groups to dial up or down the tension with israel. We have seen skirmishing between his baller and is released on the border which has got quite serious today with a lot of crossfire. With his brother. It has seen a lot of fatalities this week so there is so thatis fatalities this week so there is so that is what he is trying to achieve today. His brother. Still that is what he is trying to achieve today. His brother. Today. His brother. Still no orderfor today. His brother. Still no order for the today. His brother. Still no order for the incursion today. His brother. Still no order for the incursion to today. His brother. Still no i order for the incursion to begin. Orderfor the incursion to begin. Benjamin netanyahu under a lot of political pressure, is a confidence in israel that he is the man to lead this operation. It is in israel that he is the man to lead this operation. This operation. It is a hard question this operation. It is a hard question to this operation. It is a hard question to answer this operation. It is a hard i question to answer because this operation. It is a hard question to answer because the nature of the last week has been one of shock and outrage at the scale and level of the atrocities carried out by hamas. Remember Benjamin Netanyahu before this was in the thick of an unprecedented political crisis in israel, one year worth of protest against his rule and the Hard Line Nature of his ultranationalist government. And what that meant for the identity of israel. Half this country wanted him gone. Now we have this crisis, unprecedented, the centre of it is a massive security feeling. That is absolutely crucial for the way i really think about their own country, the levels of trust in the Israeli Military go way beyond any other institution in this country, huge ratings of absolute trust they israelis have in the army. They believe no more than any other institution and this chips away at the very foundations of that so we are into new territory. What it means politically for him is hard to say, there is huge support for this Military Operation among israelis. They want to see that hamas can do this again. Benjamin netanyahu is at the helm of this which is why he has an Emergency Cabinet in place which includes key Opposition Leaders which includes a former leader of the israeli army so there is expertise in there which might defuse what was already a political crisis in this country. The defuse what was already a political crisis in this country. Crisis in this country. The us Secretary Crisis in this country. The us secretary of crisis in this country. The us Secretary Of State crisis in this country. The us Secretary Of State said crisis in this country. The us Secretary Of State said in crisis in this country. The us l Secretary Of State said in cairo this afternoon he is trying to set p this afternoon he is trying to set up a mechanism where the un, United States and israel and egypt can discuss and talk about the things that need to be put in place for the palestinians. There seems to be a stand off at the moment because western governments want to get their own show citizens out of gaza. Egyptians are saying we are not going to open the crossing until we get guarantees on the eight. So how will they circumvent that stand off . That is right, lines of trust backed up that is right, lines of trust backed up from the Sinai Peninsula up to the border between gaza and egypt, the border between gaza and egypt, the crossing. The egyptians had been pushing for the aide to go in, they want to relieve the pressure inside gazza regarding the humanitarian disaster. There were moves to try and get palestinians who have foreign passports in gazza out through the rafa crossing. Egypt has consented to do that but we heard egyptians would not allow anyone to go out until the eight convoy went and which put pressure on israel which said it would not bomb the convoy until the age when in my senses from mr linkid that he is saying the crossing will reopen but we dont have any information on the as yet. They have told americans to get close to the crossing in case it could get reopened. But in a limited form, there could be moved in on that but we still await the details. We will talk about the humanitarian situation later in the programme. Thank you for that. Last saturdays attacks by hamas and other militants were the most deadly since the foundation of the state of israel in 1948. Its still not clear how they were able to happen. Lets speak to one of those involved. Markjoffe was at home in kfar aza when hamas fighters entered thank you for coming on the programme. How are you . Difficult to describe physically programme. How are you . Difficult to describe physically i programme. How are you . Difficult to describe physically i am programme. How are you . Difficult to describe physically i am 0k. Describe physically i am 0k. Mentally, quite shocked and numb i think. But i got out of it which is more than can be said for others. Tell us, for those who have not been following the stories, tell us the impact on your qubits. Kibbutz. We live 1. 5 miles from the border, it is our about 40 and 50 adults and children. We have 53, the numbers are still being assessed, but we have 53 civilian members killed and 13 still missing which means it is not known what happened to them. Seven kidnapped which means they were seen to be kidnapped, including three children. And only six wounded which gives you the extent to which people were murdered physically. The Current Assessment as it could take a year or two before we get back to our homes, if we get back to them at all. It has basically been destroyed, the kibbutz. I all. It has basically been destroyed, the kibbutz. I can tell how hard it destroyed, the kibbutz. I can tell how hard it is destroyed, the kibbutz. I can tell how hard it is to destroyed, the kibbutz. I can tell how hard it is to talk destroyed, the kibbutz. I can tell how hard it is to talk about destroyed, the kibbutz. I can tell how hard it is to talk about and l destroyed, the kibbutz. I can tell how hard it is to talk about and i | how hard it is to talk about and i am not surprised given what you have been through. We will put some of the pictures up from the kibbutz. I was asking a correspondent earlier why the figures keep fluctuating and why the figures keep fluctuating and why there is still a confused picture about who is missing and who might be in gaza and who is dead. Do you think any of those missing from the kibbutz are among the hostages currently being held in gaza . That miaht be currently being held in gaza . That might be true currently being held in gaza . That might be true. I currently being held in gaza . That might be true. I can currently being held in gaza . Twat might be true. I can tell you that the kibbutz here is showing figures that are 100 accurate. In other words, they have a body which has been identified by dna. 0r words, they have a body which has been identified by dna. Or they have someone who has been kidnapped and they saw them being kidnapped. Therefore these numbers are slowly, the numbers of missing people are slowly going down and the numbers of verified people are slowly going up. Do you have a safe room at your house and where you are in it . And when the military finally arrived, how difficult was it to open the door . ,. , , 11,5 door . Our house was built in 2003 and all the door . Our house was built in 2003 and all the houses door . Our house was built in 2003 and all the houses were door . Our house was built in 2003 and all the houses were built door . Our house was built in 2003 and all the houses were built with | and all the houses were built with safe rooms. We spent from seven in the morning until 230 the following night in a safe room without opening it. We went in believing we were suffering a rocket attack. So we did not take anything into the room. We were expecting to stay there for the length of a rocket attack, not for a terrorist occupation of the kibbutz. Not a scenario anyone had prepared for. How difficult to open the door . I do not know. If you are seeing the video, in our street there is a terrorist went into six or seven houses when we were there we were following the Neighbourhood Whatsapp Group live at the time. They managed to get into to safe homes and killed the people inside them. In other houses they did not get him. You had to stand there and hold the bolt on so the door handle and hope you are stronger than the person on the other side. Stronger than the person on the other side stronger than the person on the other side. ,. , , other side. Goodness me. What shines throu~h other side. Goodness me. What shines throu. H to other side. Goodness me. What shines through to me other side. Goodness me. What shines through to mejust other side. Goodness me. What shines through to me just talking other side. Goodness me. What shines through to me just talking to other side. Goodness me. What shines through to me just talking to a through to me just talking to a number of israelis in the last few daysis number of israelis in the last few days is how many of you had interaction with palestinians, palestinians were coming across. Did you have connections, did you know people who had connections with the palestinians . I have known a left wing radical palestinian, a supporter i guess. We have a group which meets every friday afternoon. Ever since the start of the return march to talk about and with palestinians in gaza, many of my friends had connections with the palestinians. We are very sympathetic with the average palestinian who has been held hostage by hamas. In other words we know well they cannot speak freely, we have friends who have spent seven months in the hamas prison for speaking with us. We are very careful not to do anything to expose them. Their contact with us. Because we know they are living in a regime which does not allow any contact with us. So we make the difference between the hamas which is basically holding the gaza strip hostage and the ordinary people who live there who may or may not be hamas supporters but are certainly not our energies because they are arabs. I personally believe that. Not our enemies. Personally believe that. Not our enemies. ,. ,. ,. , enemies. You have heard us talk about the faith enemies. You have heard us talk about the faith that enemies. You have heard us talk about the faith that is enemies. You have heard us talk about the faith that is put enemies. You have heard us talk about the faith that is put in enemies. You have heard us talk about the faith that is put in the | about the faith that is put in the Israeli Military and security operation, you waited for hours for someone to come, how has that changed the psyche for israelis who live in the south of the country Question Mark how secure do you feel in your home now . T Question Mark how secure do you feel in your home now . In your home now . I would not want to talk for israelis in your home now . I would not want to talk for israelis in in your home now . I would not want to talk for israelis in general. In your home now . I would not want to talk for israelis in general. It to talk for israelis in general. It was a situation that was not supposed to be possible. And i also do not want to say anything against the israeli army. I can tell you how many civilians died in the kibbutz but i have no idea how many Israeli Soldiers died saving them. I can imagine it is a lot more than the number of civilians who died in the kibbutz. These figures have not been published. So while it was an extremely unnerving experience to feel that our kibbutz had been overtaken and we were on our own. And to find ourselves in the middle of a firefight between Hamas Terrorists and their army for another 12, 14 hours. We were rescued by Israeli Soldiers and we were marched out of the kibbutz. By Israeli Soldiers. And so many Israeli Soldiers. And so many Israeli Soldiers. And so many Israeli Soldiers gave their lives for the civilians in our area. You know, because you talked about it, this is the situation. [30 know, because you talked about it, this is the situation. This is the situation. Do you think ou will this is the situation. Do you think you will stay this is the situation. Do you think you will stay in this is the situation. Do you think you will stay in your this is the situation. Do you think you will stay in your kibbutz, this is the situation. Do you think you will stay in your kibbutz, will| you will stay in your kibbutz, will you will stay in your kibbutz, will you want to remain in the south . Tt is a bit early to say that. It is a bit early to say yes or no to that question. I believe since 1996 when i moved to the south, my children live in tel aviv. 0ne i moved to the south, my children live in tel aviv. One of the instinctive things to do in my Retirement Age would be to move closer to my children. They would be keen for us to move to the tel aviv area. I do not know how much will remain at the southern communities after this. So i cannot answer that question. We after this. So i cannot answer that ruestion. ~. , after this. So i cannot answer that ruestion. ~. ,. , after this. So i cannot answer that ruestion. ~. ,. ,. , question. We are really grateful for our question. We are really grateful for your coming question. We are really grateful for your coming on question. We are really grateful for your coming on the question. We are really grateful for your coming on the programme. I i question. We are really grateful for your coming on the programme. I know it has been a very difficult week for you, it has been a very difficult week foryou, our it has been a very difficult week for you, our thoughts are with you and yourfamily and we hope for you, our thoughts are with you and your family and we hope there is some healing in the kibbutz in the weeks ahead. Thank you very much for coming on the programme. Thank weeks ahead. Thank you very much for coming on the programme. Coming on the programme. Thank you for havin coming on the programme. Thank you for having me coming on the programme. Thank you for having me. We coming on the programme. Thank you for having me. We were coming on the programme. Thank you for having me. We were joined coming on the programme. Thank you for having me. We were joined from i coming on the programme. Thank you for having me. We were joined from a | for having me. We were oined from a member of the for having me. We were oined from a member of the kibbutz for having me. We were joined from a member of the kibbutz in for having me. We were joined from a member of the kibbutz in the for having me. We were joined from a member of the kibbutz in the south. I member of the kibbutz in the south. Let me take you to washington. The Majority Senate leader is speaking at the moment. Let us have a listen to what hes saying about the events the middle east. find a listen to what hes saying about the events the middle east. And the world cannot the events the middle east. And the world cannot move the events the middle east. And the world Cannot Move On the events the middle east. And the world Cannot Move On and the events the middle east. And the world Cannot Move On and say the events the middle east. And the world Cannot Move On and say that. World Cannot Move On and say that was yesterday because if we do not prevent the threat from hamas from occurring, it will happen again and again and again. Let us not forget that hamas does not believe in any jewish state. If you read some of their covenants and charters, they were due to thejewish people in the rest of israel what they did to the people along the gaza border. They must be stopped. The viciousness of this attack, it is just wrenching, Young Women Raped and murdered side ljy Young Women Raped and murdered side by side, babies throat slit in front of their parents and then issued to parents and so many other things we have read about so we cannot let this evil continue to crowd the earth. So in the face of this horrific attack, we are here to share a message of resolute solidarity. We say to israel, america will stand with its ally israel and i, along with my colleagues here, will lead the effort in the United States senate to provide israel with the support required to fully defend itself from this monstrous attack. Again to the israeli people, we have got your back. The purpose of our trip has been threefold. First, to send a clear message to the israeli people that the united state stands with the show. Two, to meet with leaders in israel and discuss in detail what israel needs in terms of resources, military, intelligence and humanitarian. And support so that we can put the best eight package together quickly. And three, to show that israels support so far behind me are two democrats and two republicans. We have a lot of partisan divisions in america but this is not one of them. Israeli forces have already begun the work to extinguish the threat of hamas, thatis to extinguish the threat of hamas, that is a goal that has to happen. Has to happen. It is also an Important Mission to rescue hostages taken by hamas, many of whom are women, children, elderly, some are americans. We met with some of the families of these hostages today and as a parent and grandparent it is truly heart wrenching, we wept as they told their stories. They were such beautiful and brave people and every second seems like a day as they wonder what has happened to their child, parent, brother, sister. We told them we would do everything we could, including speaking to the president next week who will talk to these parents as well. We will talk about the us doing everything it can to help get hostages relieved. The Biden Administration and the Israeli Government have assured us that is happening. Now, these are two necessary tasks, eliminating the threat of hamas once and for all and freeing hostages but these tasks are made more difficult because unlike hamas, civilised democracies like the us unlike israel must hold themselves to a higher standard. The Biden Administration has underscored that democracy is like ours are stronger and more secure when we uphold the rule of law. We echo that to the Prime Minister of israel and to the Prime Minister of israel and to every israeli official we met. We told them that as well as military assistance, intelligence assistance, diplomatic assistance, we wanted humanitarian assistance. I said to them to find the fastest, safest and most efficient way to do so. We also told them it was really important and it is difficult, we know it is difficult but we still have to, to minimise civilian casualties. That is the senate minimise civilian casualties. That is the Senate Majority minimise civilian casualties. That is the Senate Majority leader on a visit to tel aviv and he is travelling with a couple of republicans and some democrats. They will be meeting the cabinet and the israeli Prime Minister and the hours ahead. We will take a short break and be right back, stay with us. Hello again. When he was a cold start the day temperatures down to nine forward this morning but plenty of sunshine across the board. You can see that in the Satellite Picture the exception is across scotland are sure is across scotland showers will affect the west and we have a Weather Front bringing a zone of more persistent rain just across the north of mainland scotland so quite wet here through the afternoon. Showers with the northern isles, quite windy but not 28 yesterday. Temperatures continue to be low average for the time of year, 11 or 12 celsius, filling can the sunshine. 0vernight, we keep the clear spells for a good part of the night which will allow temperatures to dip dyed just below freezing in the countryside. Many of our towns and cities will see temperatures a degree or two above freezing. Tomorrow morning, the patch of mist first thing. That should clear. Quite a lot of high cloud in the West Making Sunshine he is in the West Making Sunshine he is in the west but for most of the uk, it looks like another fine and dry day with sunny spells coming through white light. Temperature is about 1113 c, white light. Temperature is about 11 13 c, similar to this afternoon. Tuesday, more mist and fog patches to start the day, most of the uk having a dry day with sunshine but we will see rain working into the south west of england, perhaps reaching southern wales lay in the day. That rain is tied in with low pressure to the south. Through wednesday and thursday, that low pressure brings wet and windy weather northwards across the uk. It will also bring large rainfall totals, 20 40 millimetres possible. The rain then moves north into scotland and Northern Ireland by thursday. The focus is on the heavy rain affecting england and wales on wednesday. Winds pick up across scotland bringing cloud to coastal areas in the east. Temperatures coming up a few degrees, closer to average, 12 15 c. Heavy rain pushing not in say Northern Ireland and scotland for thursday and then another area of low pressure will bring rain pretty widely to end the week. Live from london, this is bbc news. Israel continues its bombardment of the gaza strip with Fighter Planes and drones striking targets across the territory. The doctors have told the territory. The doctors have told the bbc they refused to evacuate. Thousands of other palestinians have continued to flee from the normal part of god � s eye. Nearly1 million are estimated to have been displaced. The israeli Prime Minister held his first Cabinet Meeting for his new National Emergency government. The us Secretary Of State is to return to israel following talks in cairo. He says israel should take every precaution to avoid harming civilians. Plenty more from the situation in the middle east, but