Have already shut down after running out of fuel and those still operating have been forced to stop all but emergency services. 0vernight, eight trucks carrying food, water and medicine crossed the Rafah Border From Egypt Into Gaza but israel has banned fuel from entering the territory, saying hamas would use it for military purposes. These are the empty fuel pumps in southern gaza. An adviser to israels Prime Minister has told the bbc there are hundreds of thousands of litres of fuel in the hands of hamas. The bbc has not been able to verify this. Hamas is designated a Terrorist Organisation by the uk and other western governments. There are growing International Calls for a humanitarian pause in the fighting, to allow aid to Reach Gaza Which continues to come under intense bombardment. The Health Ministry in the hamas controlled territory says more than 6,500 people have now been killed there 2,704 of them children. Israel says more than 1,400 people were killed in the hamas attacks on the 7th of october. Another focus of the past 2a hours has been israels furious reaction to comments made by the un Secretary General at the security council. Antonio guterres said the hamas assault in southern israel had not happened � in a vacuum. He also said there was no justification for the attacks. Israel is now withholding visas from United Nations officials in response to the remarks. Mr guterres spoke again earlier, saying he was shocked by israels response as he clearly condemned what hamas did. I am shocked by the misrepresentations by some of my statement yesterday in the security council, as if. As if i was justifying Acts Of Terror by hamas. This is false. It was the opposite. In the beginning of my intervention yesterday, i clearly stated, and i quote, i have condemned unequivocally the horrifying and unprecedented seven 0ctober Acts Of Terror by hamas in israel. Nothing can justify the deliberate killing, injuring and kidnapping of civilians or the launching of rockets against civilian targets. Indeed, i spoke of the grievances of the Palestinian People, and in doing so, i also clearly stated and i quote, but the grievances of the Palestinian People cannot justify the appalling attacks by hamas. And then i went on with my intervention, referring all my positions on all aspects of The Middle East crisis. I believe it was necessary to set the record straight, especially out of respect to the victims and to theirfamilies. Thank you. That was the un Secretary General. 0ur Diplomatic Correspondent paul adams is injerusalem. It was interesting the Secretary General had to return to the microphones within 2a hours, has there been any israeli response to what he has said little earlier today . I what he has said little earlier toda . , � ~ what he has said little earlier toda . , � ~ ,. , today . I dont think the israelis are in any today . I dont think the israelis are in any mood today . I dont think the israelis are in any mood to today . I dont think the israelis are in any mood to listen today . I dont think the israelis are in any mood to listen to today . I dont think the israelis | are in any mood to listen to any clarifications from guterres they have made up their minds that they did not like what they heard from him yesterday, they i think believe that the un Secretary General or perhaps the un in general does not quite get the reality and the true barbaric reality of what happened here on October The 7th. Lets not forget, that israel and the United Nations have never had a particularly cordial relationship and right now, of course, they are locked in a debate about the provision of aid and specifically fuel in the gaza strip. Something which the un says it cannot function without, something which the israelis are set, they will not allow in because it is all being used by hamas. Allow in because it is all being usedb hamas. ,. , used by hamas. Exactly on the point of fuel, used by hamas. Exactly on the point of fuel. Where used by hamas. Exactly on the point of fuel, where are used by hamas. Exactly on the point of fuel, where are we used by hamas. Exactly on the point of fuel, where are we because used by hamas. Exactly on the point of fuel, where are we because un i of fuel, where are we because un agencies are saying that dude is simply a matter of hours now before they run out. We simply a matter of hours now before they run out they run out. We have been on a count on for they run out. We have been on a count on for several they run out. We have been on a count on for several days. They run out. We have been on a count on for several days. Down | they run out. We have been on a l count on for several days. Down to today. This was the day the un had been warning us that he would essentially run out of fuel, that would force them to curtail some of their services, they need vehicles to transport aid to where it is needed, they need to be able to run their schools, their medical facilities, all of the things they will not have to look out. They say they will have to look at now and decide what is absolutely essential and what they can do without and they are responsible for around 600,000 palestinians in the gaza strip. Of course, there are 2 million palestinians who are facing a dire humanitarian situation. At the moment, without fuel, the un says, none of its humanitarian programmes are really feasible. We have been watching what is happening at the un in terms of various resolutions, those calls that are coming from several quarters of some sort of pause, is there any sort of likelihood of that . Its sort of pause, is there any sort of likelihood of that . Its interesting that we are likelihood of that . Its interesting that we are hearing likelihood of that . Its interesting that we are hearing those. Likelihood of that . Its interesting that we are hearing those. From i that we are hearing those. From americans, canadians, europeans, all arguing that such a thing should happen. Perhaps for a couple of reasons, one, to try and get the agent because so far, what we have seenin agent because so far, what we have seen in the past 4 5 days are pitifully small quantities of aid crossing the Water Crossing from egypt into the causes strip. Not even close to addressing the real humanitarian needs in the gaza strip and perhaps to buy more time for discussions and negotiations about the fate of hostages. It is foreign hostages, more than 200 still being held in the gaza strip and the belief that negotiations which are involving a number of parties including catarrh do need to be given time to yield results. Qatar. The elders are a group of independent Global Leaders founded in 2007 by the late South African President nelson mandela. They say palestinian and israeli lives must be valued equally in the Global Response to the current crisis. Lets speak to a member of the elders, juan manuel santos, the former president of colombia and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Thank you so much forjoining us live on bbc news. Give me your assessment, reaction, to what we have seen over the last couple of weeks. ~ ,. , , weeks. Like everybody i feel this is a terrible situation, weeks. Like everybody i feel this is a terrible situation, we weeks. Like everybody i feel this is a terrible situation, we put weeks. Like everybody i feel this is a terrible situation, we put out weeks. Like everybody i feel this is a terrible situation, we put out a i a terrible situation, we put out a Statement Today calling for a cease fire or at least a pause for the respect of civilians. We feel the respect of civilians. We feel the crime, what hamas did was a crime, a Terrorist Attack should not be responded with with another crime and that is also the call for israel to respect the International Humanitarian law. We have always asked for something very basic in any conflict. For dialogue. Nelson mandela used to say a very powerful sentence, the best weapon, the most powerful weapon you have is to sit down and talk. We need to see how we can sit down and talk to see how we can sit down and talk to see how we can put in and to this tragedy, humanitarian tragedy to both parties. Humanitarian tragedy to both arties. ,. , humanitarian tragedy to both arties. ,. ,. , parties. Your comments are not the similar to those parties. Your comments are not the similar to those we parties. Your comments are not the similar to those we heard parties. Your comments are not the similar to those we heard from similar to those we heard from Antonio Guterres only yesterday, that so enraged israel who were today talking about trying to create an artificial symmetry both between what hamas did in their response, are you doing almost the same . Ida. Are you doing almost the same . No, we are saying. Are you doing almost the same . Iifr, we are saying, and we condemn with no hesitation what hamas did, it was a Terrorist Attack, but what we are saying is that the responses should not be a violation of humanitarian law. A crime should not be responded with another crime because then we will all be worse off. Will all be worse off. Israel denies that they are will all be worse off. Israel denies that they are flouting will all be worse off. Israel denies| that they are flouting international law, they say they are targeting hamas not civilians. Civilians are being used as human shields, hamas, however, slaughtered moo people, they took hostages, they dont think israel should exist and they want to kill as manyjews as possible thats what 0ctober kill as manyjews as possible thats what October The 7th proved, fundamentally different things. Again, what we are interested in is saving lives. The life of and is the same as the life of an palestinian and we are calling to preserve life on both sides. Thats why you say both such should be treated equally. We are not saying that the attack on israel by hamas was not a Terrorist Attack, it is similar to what israel is doing now and what we want to prevent precisely is israel starting to commit crimes against humanity or war crimes by violating the International Humanitarian law. By targeting, even if they are not targeting, even if they are not targeting, they are affecting civilians. He targeting, they are affecting civilians. ~ targeting, they are affecting civilians. , ~. ,. ,. , civilians. He talked about dialogue and ou civilians. He talked about dialogue and you quoted civilians. He talked about dialogue and you quoted nelson civilians. He talked about dialogue and you quoted nelson mandela, l civilians. He talked about dialogue| and you quoted nelson mandela, is civilians. He talked about dialogue i and you quoted nelson mandela, is it helpful, do you think, to make this intervention publicly because i talked to the elders a few years ago when we had them all on the programme here, the former president jimmy carter, others, they were all about quietly working behind the scenes with global powers to have a sort of influence to try to get the sort of influence to try to get the sort of influence to try to get the sort of things that you were talking about, but was crucially, behind the scenes, not going publicly as you are. The behindthescenes, not going publicly as you are. The statement was made in publicly as you are. The statement was made in the publicly as you are. The statement was made in the name publicly as you are. The statement was made In The Name Of publicly as you are. The statement was made In The Name Of all publicly as you are. The statement| was made In The Name Of all of the others. We all discussed during two full days, the situation here, and we thought we should come out and confirm our principles. The principles of preserving life, the principles of preserving life, the principles of preserving life, the principles of defending international law, the principles of giving the multilateral system which unfortunately is failing, a chance to work. This is something that we truly believe and because we think the solution here is the cannot be an eye for an eye. Gandhi used to say if you continue an eye for an Eye Of The World will be blind in a short time. Eye of the world will be blind in a short time Eye Of The World will be blind in a short time. , i. , short time. Thank you so much for takin a short time. Thank you so much for taking a moment short time. Thank you so much for taking a moment to short time. Thank you so much for taking a moment to speak short time. Thank you so much for taking a moment to speak to short time. Thank you so much for taking a moment to speak to us i short time. Thank you so much for. Taking a moment to speak to us here on bbc news. Lets turn to the hostage situation. More than 200 israeli and foreign hostages were siezed by hamas during its october 7 attack. Qatar has played a key role in negotiating the release of some of those hostages by hamas. The qatari Prime Minister has given a News Conference in doha and says hes hopeful negotiations will lead to the release of more hostages. We have seen some progress in i the past few days with the release of the first two americans and then the release of the two women two days ago, and with the mediation of egypt as well. I i think that if we compare where i we started and where we are right now, there is some progress and some breakthrough and we will remain hopeful. The negotiations are still ongoing. And at any moment of time, i think that if we will be able to get along between the two parties, i think we will see some breakthroughs hopefully soon. We are nowjoined live by nawaf al thani, former qatari military attache in the us and former director of Defense Intelligence operations in qatar. We are grateful for your time here on bbc news, listening to that and you were listening to at the Prime Minister was saying, how hopeful are you of further Hostage Releases. As an you of further Hostage Releases. Is an observer obviously i am not part of the government and i cannot speak on their behalf but as an observer of what has been said in what has been done, there is still a hope of the hope is disappearing quite rapidly with every bomb in every sheu rapidly with every bomb in every shell that lance and gaza from the idf. In shell that lance and gaza from the idf. ,. ,. ,. , idf. In terms of future Hostage Releases under idf. In terms of future Hostage Releases under the idf. In terms of future Hostage Releases under the picture idf. In terms of future Hostage Releases under the picture is i idf. In terms of Future Hostage i releases under the picture is very unclear and i recognise what youve just said but over the last few days, there have been various reports of perhaps up to 50 releases may happen, is that a sort of figure that you recognise, that you are hearing as well . I that you recognise, that you are hearing as well . Hearing as well . I dont unfortunately hearing as well . I dont unfortunately have hearing as well . I dont unfortunately have a i hearing as well . I dont i unfortunately have a Figure Hearing as well . I dont unfortunately have a figure but looking at the track record of the Qatari Foreign ministry and diplomacy in the past, it has worked through stages. It would not be surprising that this conflict as well with the escalatory diplomacy and mediation with the egyptians in other partners would take some time, but its a good start as the Prime Minister has so far said in his Statement Today we them have moved from one position to a much more positive one by releasing hostages. Mike or what. We hope this will continue in as an observer i see the track record of qatar in this type of mediation has been a successful one in the past two decades. There is no reason why qatar would not continue. Unfortunately there is the variable of the Ongoing Operations by the idf and the descalatory nature of those its to see if they have any success in the future. There is plenty of talk about pauses, cease fires, President Biden has been clear that should not happen before all of the hostages have been released. In terms of your perspective, any sort of sequencing towards a cease fire, how do you see that . Towards a ceasefire, how do you see that . , n,. ,. , 4 that . For me, matthew, i look at results. That . For me, matthew, i look at results if that . For me, matthew, i look at results. If we that . For me, matthew, i look at results. If we will that . For me, matthew, i look at results. If we willjudge that . For me, matthew, i look at results. If we willjudge an results. If we willjudge an activity by achievements and results, then what the qatari mediation and other partners like the egyptians have been achieving while stating that a cease fire and a secession of hostilities will increase the success of those mediations, i would certainly believe that is the perfect, if any perfect way, the closest to it to save as many hostages as possible. Let me ask you some whiter questions because of course qatar is the home to the hamas leader, has anything fundamentally changed in that relationship between qatar and hamas as a result of what we saw on October The 7th . As a result of what we saw on October The 7th . Lets step back from that question October The 7th . Lets step back from that question a October The 7th . Lets step back from that question a bit October The 7th . Lets step back from that question a bit becausej October The 7th . Lets step back from that question a bit because the relationship with hamas as it was with many relationships that qatar had were based on achievement of peace and results of mediation. Sure but i ust peace and results of mediation. Sure but i just want peace and results of mediation. Sure but i just want you peace and results of mediation. Sure but ijust want you to address the but i just want you to address the question because you have talked of mediation, but also you saw what happened on October The 7th, and you house in fund the leader of hamas. Im asking you, as a result of that sort of savagery, and anyway, has the relationship changed at all . Has been reconsidered . Ii are the relationship changed at all . Has been reconsidered . The relationship changed at all . Has been reconsidered . If we look at the fundin been reconsidered . If we look at the funding which been reconsidered . If we look at the funding which is been reconsidered . If we look at the funding which is very been reconsidered . If we look at the funding which is very important, been reconsidered . If we look at the funding which is very important, a i funding which is very important, a lot of confusion happens in that area, the funding that qatar has presented in the past has been in coordination with the israelis through the israeli banks and cosigned by The Americans to build hospitals, schools and other humanitarian assistance for gaza, not for certain entities like hamas or others. 0bviously, not for certain entities like hamas or others. Obviously, the schools unfortunately are in our rubble. Those hospitals have now been destroyed. Those hospitals have now been destroyed those hospitals have now been destro ed. ,. , destroyed. Sure but i have tried twice now destroyed. Sure but i have tried twice now to destroyed. Sure but i have tried twice now to get destroyed. Sure but i have tried twice now to get you destroyed. Sure but i have tried twice now to get you to destroyed. Sure but i have tried twice now to get you to address what happened on October The 7th because we saw militants, glory and the killing and i am asking you after what you saw, are you still prepared to host hamas there in your country . I said, i am am not an official,. Imjust asking i said, i am am not an official,. Im just asking for your review. My view is im just asking for your review. Ij� i view is that im just asking for your review. Ii view is that the current statement of qatar is the healthiest in the region. Hold everyone who commits crimes against civilians accountable. That was the in the statement by the Prime Minister today, all by the standard of international law. Hold everyone to the same standard and everyone who commits a crime against civilians must face a just and legal outcome. The same thing will come for the civilian lives come the qatari position is clear. All civilian lives, qatar never said palestinian lives, qatar never said palestinian lives, also civilian lives do matter into our sacred in the Prime Minister as he mentioned in his state bank, if i remember, that he was surprised by the rhetoric by the Israeli Government by attacking qatar. While in fact, to citizens of israel that has now been released and are back with family oh, in part, there safe return their own government, the right wing government, the right wing government of netanyahu by the efforts of the descalatory approach by the qatari government and their partners like egyptians and others. That is a fact, a tangible measurable fact. That this descalatory diplomacy will bring good results. But it needs more than one party to do this and israelis need to be serious about that. One part about that is to allow humanitarian aid to enter, to allow for civilians not to be killed. I have to ended there. Thank you very much forjoining us live there from jylha. Doha, qatar. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Lets look at some other stories making the headlines. A man has been sentenced to life with a minimum of 23 years behind bars for murdering his girlfriend just eight weeks into their relationship. Christopher mcgowan was out on bail when he attacked Claire Inglis at her home. He was found guilty at the high court in stirling last month. One of the two killers Ofjames Bulger has been granted a private hearing to decide whether he should be released from prison. The board will decide Ifjon Venables is safe to live in the community or whether he must remain injail. He was ten years old when he and Robert Thompson murdered two year old james bulger in 1993. Four uk astronauts could soon be heading into orbit on an all british mission. An American Company that organises visits to the International Space station is developing the plan. Houston based axiom has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Uk Space Agency to try to make it happen. Youre live with bbc news. We will return to The Middle East and the next little while but lets turn to the us now. To the us congress where House Republicans house representatives are aiming to Elect Mikejohnson A Social Conservative that served on the donald trump defence team. A move that, if successful, would end a three week long vacuum that brought all legislative activity in the chamber to halt. Live now to washington where our correspondent david willis joins us now. Here we go again. Absolutely it looked as though, here we go again. Absolutely it looked as though, the here we go again. Absolutely it looked as though, the cited here we go again. Absolutely it looked as though, the cited as| looked as though, the cited as the whole saga would drag on until christmas not necessarily this christmas, but Behind Closed Doors last night, the republicans came up with this candidate, hes hardly a household name, mikejohnson, a conservative lawyer from louisiana and he is a staunch supporter of donald trump. He is currently or about to undertake a vote in the house of representatives, a full floor vote. They will be nominating speeches and it will be up to mr johnson to get the 217 votes that he needs in order to be elected speaker. As you mentioned, the fourth republican nominee in the space of three weeks. There is, however, every indication that mike johnson can go where steve scalise, jimjordan and johnson can go where steve scalise, jim jordan and tom emmer failed where they had the nomination for all of four hours and ten minutes before patrolling yesterday. Before the simple reason that he is a middle of the road conservative, he does have the support of donald trump, but he is not the firebrand kind of conservative thatjim jordan, for example, is. Iii kind of conservative that jim jordan, for example, is. In terms of what we have jordan, for example, is. In terms of what we have seen, jordan, for example, is. In terms of what we have seen, the jordan, for example, is. In terms of what we have seen, the last few what we have seen, the last few weeks has been just self harm for the Republican Party, hasnt it . Aha, the Republican Party, hasnt it . Very unsavoury display of infighting and backbiting and a failure to Reach Agreement at a crucial time, leaving the speakers chair empty at a time of international as well as national crisis. Of course there is the looming threat of a federal government shut down, if Funding Measures are not approved within the next couple of weeks. Aside from that, President Biden has called on congress to approve billions of dollars in military aid for israel and ukraine. The house has been paralysed and unable to consider any such measures. There has been a lot, as he put it, self harm and going on. I think for that reason, as well, a lot of people in the Republican Party willjust well, a lot of people in the Republican Party will just wanting to put an end to this with the election of mikejohnson today. Thank you very much. Just hearing that the israeli Prime Minister do to give a Press Statement in half an hours time. We will bring that to you live on bbc news. Hello there. We did have some sunshine today through the midlands and wales in particular. The earlier heavy rain across southern parts of england cleared away, but it was rather cloudy in scotland and that cloud likely to linger into this evening and overnight. Same, too, across parts of the North East Of England with some showery outbreaks of rain, a brisk east wind. At the same time, a Weather Front moving in towards Northern Ireland bringing some heavier outbreaks of rain, also in towards wales, the south west of england. And as we approach midnight and the early hours of thursday morning, that wet weather pushing in towards the midlands, the north west of england and in towards the far south east. Temperatures here overnight, a rather chilly four degrees in norwich. Not as cold in scotland compared with last night, and mild in the south west at around 11 celsius. Into thursday, a low pressure situated to our west once again bringing Weather Fronts, showery outbreaks of rain and some brisk winds around the South West Coast and the north and north east coast of scotland. Through the day, weve got the overnight rain continuing to track its way northwards towards the North East Of England and further showery outbreaks of rain through scotland as well. Some of this wet weather could well become fairly stagnant across eastern areas through the end of the week. Elsewhere on thursday, weve got some sunshine, but also a number of sharp showers and temperatures around 11 15 celsius. On friday once again, low pressure situated to the west, sending Weather Fronts, showery outbreaks of rain our way. There will be some brighter skies in the mix at times, too. You can see, though, certainly across parts of scotland, outbreaks of rain consistently pushing in from the north sea on those brisk east, south east winds. Elsewhere for much of england and wales, its a bright friday, plenty of sunshine around, but also a number of heavy showers. Same, too, in towards parts of the Northern Ireland. Temperatures similar. And then into the weekend, that area of low pressure still with us, so further Weather Fronts and outbreaks of rain. And at the same time, were starting to see a bit of a north wind developing, bringing some cooler conditions to the far north of scotland. At the same time, in between, weve got this area of rain, which could cause a few issues through parts of eastern scotland. Elsewhere on saturday, weve got outbreaks of rain and some sunshine through the midlands, east anglia and the North East Of England. So a rather unsettled outlook, and it stays that way through the tail end of the weekend and into the start of next week, too, with some sunshine but also showers or longer spells of rain at times. Thats the forecast. This is bbc news. The headlines un chief Antonio Guterres says hes shocked by the misrepresentation of his words after israel condemned him for saying the hamas assault had not happened in a vacuum. Some aid gets into gaza, but the un warns it will have to stop its operations in gaza tonight if it runs out of fuel. Labour leader sir keir starmer meets muslim mps from his party amid tensions over labours stance on the israel gaza war. And in the uk, two met Police Officers are sacked over their actions during a stop and search of british sprinter Bianca Williams and her partner in 2020. More on all those stories in a moment or two but first lets pause. Sport, and for a full round up from the bbc sport centre, heres tulsen. Theres a big night of Champions League football ahead with three british teams in action. One of those will see Newcastle Aim to continue their excellent start to the tournament as they face german side Borussia Dortmund at st james park. Newcastle go into the game top of their group having beaten Paris Saint Germain 4 1 in their last match, and manager eddie howe says the crowd plays a big part in the result. Tough game ahead. I think the beauty of the psg again looking back was the whole environment created by the supporters, and i think we need to forget the psg result. Take the confidence from it, but forget it and try and create the atmosphere all over again. And for us, try and recreate