Have more on all of those released, and released now. We will have more on all of Those Strands i released, and released now. We will have more on all of Those Strands of| have more on all of Those Strands of our main story in a moment or two, but for the next few minutes we are going to head to the bbc Sports Centre to round up the headlines of the day. Hello, kevin. Good afternoon, matthew. Uefa have confirmed that the euro 2024 qualifier between belgium and sweden will be completely abandoned. Gavin. The match was halted for Security Reasons after two people were shot dead in brussels on monday. The attack took place three miles from the stadium. The result at half time, 1 1, will now be seen as final. And uefa have also announced that no further matches will be played in israel until further notice amid the ongoing conflict with hamas. My copy and macquarie tel aviv have been asked to find alternative venues. Mohamed salah has called on World Leaders to do more to stop people being killed in the conflict. The Egyptian International said aid to gaza must be allowed immediately. All lives are sacred and must be protected. The massacres need to stop, families are being torn apart. What is clear now is that humanitarian aid to gaza must be allowed immediately. The people there are in terrible conditions. The people of gaza need food, water and medical supplies urgently. I am calling on the World Leaders to come together to prevent the further slaughter of innocent souls, humanity must prevail. Not much over 24 hours now until the start of the Rugby World Cup semifinals with argentina playing new zealand while england take on the defending champions south africa one day later. And england have made three changes in the squad with Freddie Steward returning at fullback in place of marcus smith who has been ruled out through injury. Joe marler and George Martin also come into the side. England will go in as underdogs but their head coach is not concerned. I think this team has progressed, through each week we have had through this tournament, weve built and built and built and whatever situation the players have found themselves in in the game, the players have found a way to get the result they want at the end of it. And we know this weekend is different, every game is different. But i also know that weve got a great group of players who cared deeply about representing england and want to make sure they put in a performance that we are all proud of and our supporters are proud of on saturday night. South africa have named an Unchanged Team from the one that beat france in the quarterfinal. Team from the one that beat france Cobus Reinach keeps his place. Team from the one that beat france india will fancy their chances of winning their match in the Cricket World Cup today, they have started very well in their chase. That is just about all the sport for now. The Israeli Defence for a still preparing for an expected Ground Invasion of gaza with Tens Of Thousands of personnel, tanks, artillery, all on the edge of the territory, soldiers will face extraordinary risks including the challenge of attacking the hamas tunnels which snake under the territory. We can talk now to a former commander of operations in afghanistan who is watching this conflict unfold in israel and gaza at the moment. Thanks so much for joining us, richard. Iwill talk about risks of any operation in a moment but take me through what you think the Military Options that israel is currently considering cousin. ~ ,. , israel is currently considering cousin. ~ ,. , cousin. Well, israel has two fundamental cousin. Well, israel has two fundamental challenges, i cousin. Well, israel has two i fundamental challenges, there cousin. Well, israel has two fundamental challenges, there are many other challenges as well but predominantly, one of them is that a to deal with hamas inside gaza, which is being done right now from the air and at the point when the idf decide that they will have degraded hamas as far as they can from the air, and i believe it is quite likely they will launch a Ground Operation in order to eliminate and eradicate the remainder of hamas, one way or another. And there are different ways of doing that. And the second challenge that israel faces is in the north, where iran has 150,000 missiles operated by their proxy hezbollah, who could well be waiting to, they have already carried out some quite intensive attacks in the last. I some quite intensive attacks in the last. , last. I mentioned risks in the introduction, last. I mentioned risks in the introduction, what last. I mentioned risks in the introduction, what sort last. I mentioned risks in the introduction, what sort of i last. I mentioned risks in the i introduction, what sort of fighting would you anticipate . Would you anticipate . Further attacks against would you anticipate . Further attacks against israel would you anticipate . Further attacks against israel once i would you anticipate . Further. Attacks against israel once they have got into gaza. I attacks against israel once they have got into gaza. I mentioned risks, have got into gaza. I mentioned risks. What have got into gaza. I mentioned risks. What type have got into gaza. I mentioned risks, what type of have got into gaza. I mentioned risks, what type of fighting i have got into gaza. I mentioned risks, what type of fighting do l have got into gaza. I mentioned i risks, what type of fighting do you anticipate . Risks, what type of fighting do you antici ate . ~ ,. , anticipate . Well, inside gaza is auoin to anticipate . Well, inside gaza is going to be anticipate . Well, inside gaza is going to be close anticipate . Well, inside gaza is going to be close quarter i anticipate . Well, inside gaza is i going to be close quarter fighting. When hamas carried out this attack two weekends ago, they did so knowing that there is going to be an israeli response of this sort and there for they have prepared the ground, and on the ground they have got booby traps covering large areas, theyve got ambushed sites, theyve got mines laid, theyve got people waiting to attack them using anti tank teams, and they have got the Attack Tunnels you mention from where they can attack Israeli Forces from pretty much any direction. So it is going to be tough fighting and particularly in the built up areas when israel goes into the major city of north gaza which i think it will have to do, gaza city, then they are going to be facing some of the toughest fighting in which i would expect there will be significant numbers of idf casualties in that fighting as well as Terrorist Casualties and unfortunately, because there will be civilians remaining there, there will also be probably a significant number of civilian casualties as well. But suffice it to say it is going to be probably the toughest fight israel has ever involved itself in, in its history. I has ever involved itself in, in its histo. ,. ,. , history. I was listening to one exert a history. I was listening to one expert a little history. I was listening to one expert a little earlier history. I was listening to one expert a little earlier talking i expert a little earlier talking about previous incursions and the length of those incursions, and their assessment was, this time, with the stated objective of trying to simply wipe out hamas altogether, it would be much, much longer. In terms of any sort of rough timescale you would have on an operation of that size, what is your assessment . It is a very difficult thing to forecast. And certainly not even the idf will know how long it is going to take. But i would say were looking at no less than 3 4 weeks i would have thought before hamas is essentially crushed. And that doesnt necessarily mean killing them all, i think there will be a large number killed, there already have been, and it is a horrible thing to say about killing people, but in this situation, israel has no choice, because those people will, if they are not dealt with in this way now, then we will see repetitions of Rocket Attacks and also the kind of massacre we saw last weekend. But it is not necessarily killing all of them, there are options where perhaps once theyve been hit sufficiently hard, that some of them, the survivors, may wish to get the hell out of gaza, and ive no doubt that the idf and egypt are looking at options for that where perhaps they can leave gaza through egypt and then go, whereto, i dont know at all, but one way or the other i think the idf is going to have to get rid of, either kill or remove the vast majority of hamas terrorists. And majority of hamas terrorists. And et it is majority of hamas terrorists. And yet it is entirely majority of hamas terrorists. And yet it is entirely possible that some of the militants may already have dispersed further south amongst the civilians in that move of people. A final thought in terms of what israel has assembled, compared to previous incursions, what do you make of the size of both hardware and reservists that have been called up . And reservists that have been called u . , � and reservists that have been called u . , up . Youre absolutely right, there will certainly up . Youre absolutely right, there will certainly be up . Youre absolutely right, there will certainly be hamas up . Youre absolutely right, there will certainly be hamas and i up . Youre absolutely right, there will certainly be hamas and other| will certainly be hamas and other terrorists who have moved down and will be within the civilian population. Wherever they go, they always use the civilian population as human shields, with the intention first of all of surviving and secondly of forcing israel, despite the measures israel takes, to killer civilians. And i think in terms of the Israeli Forces, i have spoken to Israeli Forces deployed on the border, commanders and soldiers, and theyve got a massive amount of force there and the soldiers i spoke to are ready to go in and ars to put their lives on the line to protect their lives on the line to protect their own countrymen. I havent heard anything about vengeance or retribution, or i have heard is going into defender people. And israel has mobilised over 300,000 people to do this, and also for defending the north, and so this is the Largest Scale mobilisation israel has ever had, on top of the Ground Forces, tanks, artillery, infantry and all the other elements theyve got, obviously very, very significant airpower which will continue to be directed into gaza as the Ground Forces go in. The continue to be directed into gaza as the Ground Forces go in. The Ground Forces go in. The other art of the Ground Forces go in. The other part of the the Ground Forces go in. The other part of the equation the Ground Forces go in. The other part of the equation that the Ground Forces go in. The other part of the equation that we i the Ground Forces go in. The other part of the equation that we didnt touch on, of course, the hostage situation amongst all of those things, and that is an issue we will be discussing here on the programme in the next couple of moments. Around the world and across the uk, youre watching bbc news. Lunchtime in bristol city centre. They are queueing out of the door and it is not hard to see why. It is so good, value for money wise, eight quid for a sandwich like that, cant go wrong. No one in this queue needs convincing but in case they did, this business is now officially the best, crowned the winner of the brides restaurant of the year award, presented tojosh and his family at a star studded event in london by top chefs from leith and Monica Gulati. It london by top chefs from leith and Monica GulatiMonica Gulati. It was fantastic watchin Monica Gulati. It was fantastic watching monica Monica Gulati. It was fantastic watching Monica GulatiMonica Gulati. It was fantastic watching Monica Gulati and i Monica Gulati. It was fantastic i watching Monica Gulati and prue leith, i am only 23 now, it was an experience, everyone was so welcoming and lovely. It is experience, everyone was so welcoming and lovely. Experience, everyone was so welcoming and lovely. It is a time when we are welcoming and lovely. It is a time when we are mainly welcoming and lovely. It is a time when we are mainly reporting i welcoming and lovely. It is a time i when we are mainly reporting about closures in the hospitality industry, this is a refreshing change. For more stories from across the uk, head to bbc news website. You are neither with bbc news. Israel says at least 203 people are now thought to have been taken hostage by hamas in those surprise attacks on october the 7th. Hamas has said it had hidden them in safe places and tunnels within gaza and threatened to kill them if civilian homes are bombed by israel without warning. We can speak to someone who has six Family Members missing, both his sisters, his Brother In Law and three young nieces. Queue so much forjoining us here on bbc news i wonder if you would start byjust telling me a little more about what has happened to those Family Members. Has happened to those Family Members has happened to those Family Members. � , ,. , members. And, my little sister and her husband members. And, my little sister and her husband and members. And, my little sister and her husband and their members. And, my little sister and her husband and their two members. And, my little sister and i her husband and their two daughters, three daughters, lives in kibbutz and my older sister went there to do and my older sister went there to do a shabbat for the weekend. Aam, we were waking up to alarms and bombings and we immediately called them because when we have bombings, and we are sure that they have them as well, we sent a message, hey, what is up . And they said, we are not sure, they said there are terrorists in the kibbutz, we dont know anything else. After 30 minutes also she said that they can hear terrorists around, they still dont know much, but start to understand whats going on there. After 30 minutes more, they said that they can hit the terrorists at their Neighbour House and that they are still in the safe room, and after another 30 minutes, they said that they can hear the terrorists in their house. And just to make sure you understand, the safe room has doors, but these doors can be locked. These are built for bombings, not for terrorists. Band bombings, not for terrorists. And when did you bombings, not for terrorists. And when did you actually find out, or have you had it confirmed, that they havent been killed but they are missing and are hostages . Shifter havent been killed but they are missing and are hostages . After we found out, missing and are hostages . After we found out. A missing and are hostages . After we found out, a couple missing and are hostages . After we found out, a couple of missing and are hostages . After we found out, a couple of pieces i missing and are hostages . After we found out, a couple of pieces of i found out, a couple of pieces of information during the first couple of days, we were visited by an army officer saying that all the six were now officially recognised as kidnapped. Important to my understanding, they say that from the moment they were kidnapped, they were still alive. To tell you that i know what is their situation at the moment, i dont have any idea. I moment, i dont have any idea. I cant imagine what you are going through, how are you getting through just day to day . I through, how are you getting through just daytoday . Just daytoday . , i think that is the key sentence, just daytoday . , i think that is the key sentence, day just daytoday . , i think that is the key sentence, day today. I i just daytoday . , i think that is i the key sentence, day today. I dont think about the next week, you dont think about the next week, you dont think about the next week, you dont think about the next month or birthday, you just think about what you are going to be at the next hour because every moment someone can because every moment someone can come because every moment someone can come and officers can appear at your doorstep saying something horrible. Im just me for my daughter, my parents, just trying to, you know, keep on going. I dont think we have any other choice. It is keep on going. I dont think we have any other choice. Any other choice. It is excruciating even listening any other choice. It is excruciating even listening to any other choice. It is excruciating even listening to you any other choice. It is excruciating even listening to you describe i any other choice. It is excruciating even listening to you describe all. Even listening to you describe all of that, many of the families who are in similar circumstances to you, they have set up forums, how much support are you able to give each other . , support are you able to give each other . ,. , other . , we are in these forums, there is a other . , we are in these forums, there is a civilian other . , we are in these forums, there is a civilian body other . , we are in these forums, there is a civilian body that i other . , we are in these forums, there is a civilian body that also i there is a civilian body that also is built to support these families and also to support the negotiations. I think every family does what they need to do, some are protesting in tents, some are doing interviews, some are just, protesting in tents, some are doing interviews, some arejust, i dont know, everyone is dealing with it the best way they can, i guess. But we are in contact with some of the families and we try to be there for them, that is the israeli people. And i know that exactly as you say everyone is dealing with this in different ways, you were telling our producer that you avoid looking at stuff online, there is so much horrifying detail out there, you talked about your hopes in terms of government moves, are you hearing anything from official channels of where they are with any sort of contacts, let alone negotiations, are you getting any sort of Information Flow from government . No, i dont. Information flow from government . No, idont. But Information Flow from government . No, i dont. Buti Information Flow from government . No, i dont. But i dont see it, it is not that i dont want to know every moment where they are and how they are doing, but i am also a reasonable person, i think that things are in the move, i guess there are reasons why some things we are not aware of and we dont know. I want to hope that they have a clue where they are and hopefully we are not bombing them, wherever they are, thatis not bombing them, wherever they are, that is my hope. But we dont have any official news or understanding. The army is in contact with us regularly, but i think this is more to make us confident that someone is in touch with us, and if there is an update, we will know. In touch with us, and if there is an update, we will know. Yes, a channel of communication. Update, we will know. Yes, a channel of communication. Just update, we will know. Yes, a channel of communication. Just a update, we will know. Yes, a channel of communication. Just a last of communication. Just a last thought, because my previous guests, we were talking about the Military Incursion that we know is coming in perhaps the next few days what do you think about that . Do you think there should be a Ground Invasion, would you like to see their not be a Ground Invasion, given everything that you are contending, where are you on that . Is that you are contending, where are you on that . You on that . Is your interviewee mentioned you on that . Is your interviewee mentioned before, you on that . Is your interviewee mentioned before, we you on that . Is your interviewee mentioned before, we all, i i you on that . Is your intervieweej mentioned before, we all, i am, you on that . Is your interviewee l mentioned before, we all, i am, i mentioned before, we all, iam, i cant speak In The Name Of everyone, but i understand that we have to make sure that this thing wont happen again. My family is there, i hope that they will get three of there soon but i also hope that this type of thing will never happen again. And so, as difficult as it is to say that, i also understand our army and israel now need to protect itself, and as he mentioned, we are not talking about revenge, were just talking about protection. I hope and i heard what he said about the bombing and i hope that they know what theyre doing and they know what theyre doing and they know how to keep our family say. That is the only thing i can say, thatis that is the only thing i can say, that is the only thing i can know. I am not an army person. I am jUst A Civilian just like am not an army person. I am jUst A Civilianjust like them. Am not an army person. I am jUst A Civilian just like them. I am not an army person. I am Ust A Civilian just like themi civilian ust like them. I know eve civilian just like them. I know every moment civilian just like them. I know every moment is civilian just like them. I know every moment is difficult i civilian just like them. I know every moment is difficult so i civilian just like them. I know l every moment is difficult so we civilian just like them. I know i every moment is difficult so we are very gratefulfor your every moment is difficult so we are very grateful for your time. Thanks so much for talking to us. Now let me bring you a line of developing news because the veteran State DepartmentOfficialjosh Paul has apparently resigned because of president bidens handling of the israel gaza war. Lets get more on that developing story from our state Department CorrespondentBarbara Plett usher. She is in washington. Barbara, how significant is this . Well, it is a resignation by an official which is significant to a certain extent because it shows unhappiness within the administration and he was working for a bureau in the State Department that reviews contracts for Military Sales to make sure that they comply with us law, especially with regards to given rights provisions and then when they are ok they get sent on to congress for approval and he said that israel blocking water, electricity, food and medicine to gaza, he felt that this violated provisions in the federal law which meant that the Military Sales should not go to human rights abusers. So, he said, basically, this is something that should be upheld but ultimately it is left up to the president to decide, the president can waive those considerations. In the past, over 11 years he had seen the past, over 11 years he had seen the Us Government proving things for countries including once he felt should not have been approved because of human rights, but in those cases he said he felt there would be a pushback from congress, officials would be grilled or something. And indeed that did happen quite a lot with saudi arabia but in this case he said he did not think there would be any resistance from congress and show he felt compelled to resign. He said blind support for one side, Policy Decisions which were destructive and unjust and shortsighted and he felt it was not good for us interests or anyones of security. And he also said matthew that he had quite a bit of support within the State Department and from congressional aides that he had received quite a lot of messages of support. Barbara plett usher in lot of messages of support. Barbara plett usher in washington, lot of messages of support. Barbara plett usher in washington, thanks i plett usher in washington, thanks very much. Just as barbara was finishing, another huge blast in gaza. You can see in the centre of your screen for a huge plume of smoke, so, that Military Action continuing from the as ready forces. Lets consider some of the diplomacy. We can talk to a Senior Fellow at the middle east institute. Thank you for being on the programme. Where do you think diplomacy is at the moment . Well, i think the Us Administration has clearly stated its priorities. No doubt it is clearly behind israel, it has given it the green light to go ahead. Im israel, it has given it the green light to go ahead. Light to go ahead. Im really sor , light to go ahead. Im really sorry. There light to go ahead. Im really sorry, there was light to go ahead. Im really sorry, there was real light to go ahead. Im really| sorry, there was real difficulty light to go ahead. Im really i sorry, there was real difficulty on your line. We had a slight echo. I will try one more time. In terms of the various diplomatic moves, we have seen from the americans, joe biden, rishi sunak is there today, in terms of perhaps the Heads Of State and the leaders of arab countries, is there anything that you would expect from that quarter that may help . I think it is clear by now that the Joe Biden Administration is solidly behind israel in its plans to commence a Ground Invasion of gaza. But the focus from there is to try and minimise the humanitarian suffering on the ground and therefore no Biden Administration to alleviate also some of the pressure not only in terms of the public blowback but also with its arab partners in the region, is trying to create safe zones, humanitarian corridors, allow for the provision of food and medicine, and that is where the focus is, rather than trying to prevent or de escalate the coming Ground Invasion. Another focus of the administration is to try and contain the fighting, there is real and growing concern about this taking on a regional component, not only with the Northern Front in lebanon, with hezbollah on the border, making sure that it is continuing to be active, but we are seeing also American Forces coming under attack in syria and iraq from iranian backed militias. Hagar under attack in syria and iraq from iranianbacked militias. How much of a roblem iranianbacked militias. How much of a problem was iranianbacked militias. How much of a problem was it, iranianbacked militias. How much of a problem was it, you iranianbacked militias. How much of a problem was it, you think, iranianbacked militias. How much of a problem was it, you think, or i iranianbacked militias. How much of a problem was it, you think, or a i a problem was it, you think, or a setback, Thatjoe Biden was not able to meet some of those leaders who of course were originally scheduled to meet him . A course were originally scheduled to meet him . N, � , meet him . Matthew, its very telling and i think what meet him . Matthew, its very telling and i think what we meet him . Matthew, its very telling and i think what we ought meet him . Matthew, its very telling and i think what we ought to meet him . Matthew, its very telling and i think what we ought to take i and i think what we ought to take away from this is that the Us Administration has already been dealt a strategic defeat in terms of its Policy Priorities. Its Policy Priorities coming into this was just to simply keep the middle east off the president of� s table, the administration is much more interested and focused on competition particularly with the war in ukraine but also the rivalry with china and the potential for conflict with taiwan there. What we see is the administration is now helplessly being sucked into the middle east. Helplessly being sucked into the middle east. ,. ,. , middle east. Apologies, i am going to have to cut middle east. Apologies, i am going to have to cut across middle east. Apologies, i am going to have to cut across you. Middle east. Apologies, i am going to have to cut across you. It middle east. Apologies, i am going to have to cut across you. It has i to have to cut across you. It has been a really difficult line, and we are out of time so apologies for that. More headlines here in a moment or two. Storm babet is going to be bringing some extreme rainfall to the uk over the next couple of days, a rare, top level Red Met Office rain warning has been issued for aberdeenshire, angus, dundee, perth and kinross. It is here where we will see the largest rainfall totals, but over the next few days we will also see the rain heavy enough and persistent enough to cause problems elsewhere across northern and Eastern Scotland and eastern areas of england. It is the accumulation of rain that is going to be the important factor. And it is notjust rain, we also got some very strong winds for Eastern Scotland with dusts of up to 70mph, Strong Enough to blow down trees, which in itself could cause some disruption. The Rain Turning Heavier during today. In scotland, we have these amber Weather Warnings for heavy rain, it is among these areas where we are likely to see some flooding but this more concentrated red Weather Warning is an area where we are expecting some of the largest accumulations of Rain Partially the hills, and that is likely to lead to even bigger impacts, severe impacts, some communities could get completely cut off due to flooding. 0vernight tonight and into the first part of friday, that rain really coming down very, very heavily throughout the night into the first part of friday morning and it is the accumulation of rain that causes the problems, so flooding is likely to be getting worse at this stage. England, wales and northern ireland, the rain also getting heavier during the night. On friday there will be some improvement across Northern Scotland however even as the rain stops falling here, all that water will still be pouring off the catchments and the flooding is likely to get worse before it gets better even long after the rain has stopped falling. And then there is the focus of the rainfall shifting further southwards to the scottish borders, the cheviots, the peaks in the pennines, where, on friday and into saturday, we will also see some large rainfall accumulations, over 100mm in places which is likely to cause some Flooding Issues as well. So, storm babet over the next two days is likely to bring some widespread areas of flooding and disruption is expected. This is bbc news. Rishi sunak gives israel his full backing in a meeting with the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu. You described this as israels darkest hour. Im proud to stand here in your darkest hour as your friend, we will stand with you and your people in solidarity. This friend, we will stand with you and your people in solidarity. Your people in solidarity. This is not onl your people in solidarity. This is rrot only our your people in solidarity. This is not only our battle, your people in solidarity. This is not only our battle, its your people in solidarity. This is not only our battle, its the i your people in solidarity. This is i not only our battle, its the battle of the not only our battle, its the battle of the entire civilised world. Aid agencies warn gaza is in need of far more aid than promised so far. The un humanitarian chief says about 100 lorries a day will be required. Frustration as trucks loaded with supplies remain stuck at the Border Crossing point with eygpt. And the agonies of the hostage families as the Israeli Military says 203 people, are now thought to have been taken by hamas. Innocent civilians, innocent children in harsh conditions. They need to be released now. Welcome to verified live