Is it fair to keep pursuing him in this way . We will speak to the uns special rapporteur on torture. Good evening. The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal court says he is seeking Arrest Warrants for the israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu and the Defence Minister yoav gallant on charges of war crimes and Crimes Against Humanity in gaza. Karim khan has also applied for Arrest Warrants for three leaders of hamas, for war crimes and Crimes Against Humanity in connection with the October 7th Attacks in israel. 1,200 people were killed and 252 others were taken hostage. Since then, more than 35,000 people have been killed in gaza as part of the idf operation, according to the territorys hamas run health ministry. In the request that has been sent to the icc panel ofjudges, the prosecutor has alleged there is evidence to suggest starvation has been used by the Prime Minister and his Defence Minister as a method of war against civilians. He also alleges the israeli leaders have killed wilfully intentionally directing attacks against civilians. In respect of hamas, the prosecutor alleges there is clear evidence they ordered mass murder, rape and the taking and Inhumane Treatment of hostages. The panel must now decide whether they believe the evidence is sufficient to issue Arrest Warrants something which could take weeks or months. But as you would expect, the response from both israel and hamas has been swift and damning. Hamas has said the Arrest Warrants for its leaders equated the victim with the executioner. In the last few minutes the israeli Prime Minister released this statement. Prime minister released this statement Prime Minister released this statement. ,. ,. ,. ,. , statement. The outrageous decision b the icc statement. The outrageous decision by the icc prosecutor statement. The outrageous decision by the icc prosecutor karim statement. The outrageous decision by the icc prosecutor karim khan i by the icc prosecutor karim khan against the democratically elected leaders of israel as a moral outrage of historic proportions and will cast an everlasting mark of shame on the international court. Israel is reaching a just war against hamas, a Genocidal Terrorist Organisation that perpetrated the worst attack on the jewish people that perpetrated the worst attack on thejewish people since the holocaust. With us tonight stephen rapp, he was the former Us Ambassador at large for war crimes within the 0bama administration. Thank you for being with us, ambassador. He is come on for a lot of political criticism today, karim kon, but i suggest he would not have brought these charges unless he thought there was evidence to marry the charge. Izre thought there was evidence to marry the charae. �. , the charge. Ive heard the prosecutor the charge. Ive heard the prosecutor operates the charge. Ive heard the prosecutor operates independently and has a staff including an american who has let this investigation where my successor for this Chief Prosecutor for sierra leone. So this is based upon their evaluation of the evidence and the applicability of the Rome Statute To Palestine and gaza because palestine is a state party and the State Parties to determine if there is jurisdiction. fin parties to determine if there is jurisdiction parties to determine if there is urisdiction. ,. ,. , jurisdiction. On that point, you say palestine is jurisdiction. On that point, you say palestine is a jurisdiction. On that point, you say palestine is a state jurisdiction. On that point, you say palestine is a state party, jurisdiction. On that point, you say palestine is a state party, i jurisdiction. On that point, you say palestine is a state party, i think l palestine is a state party, i think the British Government made a point today that palestine is not recognised as a state, is not relevant here . It recognised as a state, is not relevant here . Recognised as a state, is not relevant here . , �. , relevant here . It wasnt relevant, there was a relevant here . It wasnt relevant, there was a certainly relevant here . It wasnt relevant, there was a certainly good relevant here . It wasnt relevant, i there was a certainly good argument on that question was relevant. But since it was admitted as an observer or state to the un in 2012, it became a state party to the icc in 2015. That was recognised, that ratification was recognised by the united nations, theirformer united nations, their former prosecutor united nations, Theirformer Prosecutor put that commission before the judges in 2020 and in 2021, thejudges said, yes, the state, any crime committed on the territory of palestine either the west bank or the gaza strip would be under iccjurisdiction at any crime, allegedly committed, by a citizen or national of palestine, people from gaza may go over into israel for example, the crime committed by those individuals, if they are citizens of the state party could be subject to the icc. The citizens of the state party could be subject to the |cc. Subject to the icc. The United States has subject to the icc. The United States has put subject to the icc. The United States has put out subject to the icc. The United States has put out a subject to the we the united. States has put out a Statement Subject to the we the United States has put out a Statement Today stated this could get in the way of the Peace Negotiations, the negotiations for a cease fire. It is not party to the icc, not a party state nor is israel. Some have called on dubai did an initiation to impose sanctions on the court. What difference would that make if that were to come to pass . Thejoe Biden Administration to impose sanctions. We Biden Administration to impose sanctions. ~ u, sanctions. We were called the Trump Administration sanctions. We were called the Trump Administration sections sanctions. We were called the Trump Administration sections were sanctions. We were called the Trump Administration sections were put sanctions. We were called the Trump Administration sections were put on | Administration Sections were put on the icc prosecutors because they had opened an investigation on alleged torture by the cia in the military in afghanistan and elsewhere. The sanctions were lifted by thejoe Biden Administration. I do not think sanctions are appropriate, used against terrorist organisations, to be used against a legal body, understand everything that goes on here will have to be determined by qualified, independentjudges. So thatis qualified, independentjudges. So that is not the way to a purchase. The way to approach in this case is the defendant, the ways to defend for israel are to say that, and israel, they are investigating these violations and they are doing a process on it. So there are ways to be taken to challenge it. I think theissue be taken to challenge it. I think the issue the administration raises in regard of peace is when im quite familiar with. When i was in boston had issues like this come up. As an imposter i would often reach out to International Courts and say to their prosecutors, that this may harm certain positive things that were going on at the time, Peace Negotiations and that sort of thing and prosecutors listen to you sometimes, sometimes they timed their things accordingly, but they rarely decide not to do a case based upon of some kind of political influence. It is important to note here that at this time, there was some hope of Peace Negotiations in several weeks ago, now those have completely broken off. There are issues regarding humanitarian axis, the deprivation of feud, food and other necessities to the palestinian population in gaza and there is obviously the Us Government has made strong statements about that. On the other hands, there has not enough calories reaching the people to support their survival, despite improvements, in Northern Gaza in particular. Now we have the blockage of the main entry point at rafah. So the humanitarian situation, is, in a way, even worse than it was several weeks ago. So it is hard to make the argument now not to proceed with justice. 0bviously, argument now not to proceed with justice. Obviously, we will see how this case will develop. I justice. Obviously, we will see how this case will develop. This case will develop. I think the developments this case will develop. I think the developments on this case will develop. I think the developments on the this case will develop. I think the developments on the ground this case will develop. I think the developments on the ground willj this case will develop. I think the developments on the ground will have exacerbated or even fast forwarded the decision. It exacerbated or even fast forwarded the decision the decision. It certainly weakens an one the decision. It certainly weakens anyone that the decision. It certainly weakens anyone that was the decision. It certainly weakens anyone that was tricked the decision. It certainly weakens anyone that was tricked into the decision. It certainly weakens anyone that was tricked into get l the decision. It certainly weakens. Anyone that was tricked into get to the prosecutor not to proceed because there has not been positive developments, sufficient positive developments, sufficient positive developments on the humanitarian front in particular. Of course we have the interference with some of the humanitarian convoys that are crossing israel toward gaza, but no arrests, no intentions of those that are doing those attacks, beating up Truck Drivers and others. So you dont see any general investigations regarding violations, obviously, it could take some time, but those are all factors that i think make it difficult to argue to the prosecutor to not proceed. We will see what the judges do with these Arrest Warrants, i anticipate, judges do with these Arrest Warrants, ianticipate, a judges do with these Arrest Warrants, i anticipate, a relatively prompt action within several weeks and then the final issue with International Justice which and then the final issue with internationaljustice which of course gets us back to the political arena is that it requires state cooperation. The icc does not have a police force and cannot send out people to make arrests. It has to rely on states and they will be relying on the 124 countries that are in the icc which is essentially almost all of europe, almost all of Latin America and large parts of africa and asia. So those estates will be under an obligation to cooperate and to make an arrest. And some countries will of course condition various aspects of their Foreign Relations on whether states are complying with International Obligations so this will have an effect. If it will lead to arrests, we will see. Effect. If it will lead to arrests, we will see we will see. Lovely to get your thou. Hts we will see. Lovely to get your thoughts and we will see. Lovely to get your thoughts and lovely we will see. Lovely to get your thoughts and lovely to we will see. Lovely to get your thoughts and lovely to see we will see. Lovely to get yourj thoughts and lovely to see you we will see. Lovely to get your thoughts and lovely to see you this evening. With me is our chief International Correspondent lyse doucet. Some interesting points there, not least the fact that a fence on the ground may have dispelled the arguments that were being made not toissue arguments that were being made not to issue these warrants now. There are constantly. To issue these warrants now. There are constantly, month to issue these warrants now. There are constantly, month after to issue these warrants now. There | are constantly, month after month, promises by israel to accelerate the delivery of aid, pressure by the bite in administration, Statements Ljy bite in administration, statements by the Biden Administration that it will happen. You remember them saying the magic word, there will soon be 500 trucks a day, i dont think there has been a single day, perhaps one, where they came close to it. So this has been a particular issue, of course, the israelis say they are doing all they can. The problem is with the un. The un is acting for hamas, it is the most brutal accusation they make which of course, they deny. But they say that the un does not have the trucks or the un does not have the trucks or the ability to deliver the humanitarian aid. So both sites sniping at each other and caught in the middle, more than 2 million palestinians in places on the brink of starvation and of course, the hostages, around 130, with no real clarity as to how many are still like and what their conditions are. What do you make to the investors point there that sometimes you have to find a balance between the efforts to get a cease fire and the search for justice efforts to get a cease fire and the Search Forjustice ambassador� s. Because this is come up before another conflicts around the world. This relationship between peace and justice has been brought up, as he mentioned, Time And Again for decades. I rememberthe mentioned, Time And Again for decades. I remember the un Envoy Working In Afghanistan in the region in the 90s and the 2000s saying to human rights groups, you go after justice, myjob is peace and dont get in my way of peace. And others as saying, you cannot have peace, peaceis as saying, you cannot have peace, peace is not possible without justice. A true peace meansjustice must be done and be seen to be done. And others, that includes, i remember the head of the new region refugee committee, he was a un envoy working with the head of the lords resistance army, and i remember the indictment with him saying to me, this is getting in the way of peace and he himself is a very much human rights advocate so there are those who say yes, they must go and but first we have peace and then justice. So the sequencing has always been at the issues of how do you move towards peace and in the long run, just this. Do they go sequentially or in parallel. And this is exactly what is happening now. Time and again we see it. Star; now. Time and again we see it. Stay with us. I want to talk iran, where they have has declared five days of mourning for the countrys president Ebrahim Raisi who was killed sunday in a helicopter crash. He was travelling back from azerbaijan with the Iranian Foreign minister hossein amir abdollahian, when their helicopter came down in thick fog. The search in a mountainous area in North Western iran near tabriz was hampered by the bad weather. There were seven others on board. What does it all mean . Everybody has been making the point that the hard line is the conservative hard line is, we will fill the gap, but there is a certain amount of celebration that we have seen on social media. So is there a Security Vacuum at the moment and how concerned will they be . There is no Security Vacuum how concerned will they be . There is no Security Vacuum and how concerned will they be . There is no Security Vacuum and there how concerned will they be . There is no Security Vacuum and there is no Security Vacuum and there is certainly no political vacuum. First of all, the conservatives, the hardliners, the cultural conservatives he could say in iran, they now control all of the main levers of power, all of the elected and unelected bodies in iran and this process began to be solidified in the elections in 2021 which broadly, raisi to power which saw a record low turnout in the country. I saw for myself in the 19905 covering the elections in iran, 5trong saw for myself in the 19905 covering the elections in iran, strong and enthusiastic turnout among voter5. That has been declining. In the election after election. And in that process, i would expect that this will happen again in the elections that they are now preparing i5 will happen again in the elections that they are now preparing is that all of the other rivals, the candidates who are moderates or pro reform, will be excluded from the race to clear the path for the conservatives. Aaron mind, as we have said Time And Again, while the president is a senior position, it is not the most powerful. That is the ultimate authority is the supreme leader, 85 year old, 5upreme leader, 85 year old, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and also the Islamic Revolutionary guard corps but it comes especially to foreign policy. But it comes especially to foreign oli. ,. , ,. , but it comes especially to foreign oli. � policy. The protests that weve already had policy. The protests that weve already had in policy. The protests that weve already had in the policy. The protests that weve already had in the celebrations policy. The protests that weve already had in the celebrations and fireworks that weve all seen on social media, that is reflective of him as he suggests, in respect of the decaying legitimacy that there is around the clerics and the conservative government. There has been for decades conservative government. There has been for decades now conservative government. There has been for decades now which conservative government. There has been for decades now which have i conservative government. There has i been for decades now which have seen the Living Standards of iranians, the Living Standards of iranians, the financial hardships that they live with deepening and deepening, partly because of the crippling International Sanctions but also because of corruption and mismanagement. The saw in this unprecedented protests sparked in September 2022 of the death and custody of mahsa amini is that there is a whole new generation of women who do not want to stand for these very strict islamic rules governing their lives, telling them what to wear, how they must act, that they must wear a headscarf, those protests that we saw, you reported on, often was, they definitely shook the Islamic Republic, but certainly did not break it and bring it down. Will the opponents of the Islamic Republic inside and outside of the country try to take this moment to maximise the possibility to give another coke to the conservatives . They will do Everything Possible now. This is their main priority to ensure continuity. I now. This is their main priority to ensure continuity. Ensure continuity. I dont know whether he ensure continuity. I dont know whether he was ensure continuity. I dont know whether he was really ensure continuity. I dont know whether he was really a ensure continuity. I dont know whether he was really a front l ensure continuity. I dont know whether he was really a front runner to replace Ayatollah Ali Khamenei but clearly with him out of the picture now, that does clear the way for the sun, does that mean iran becomes more authoritarian, more militarised, . Becomes more authoritarian, more militarised, . Militarised, . Even though i said it will be the conservatives militarised, . Even though i said it will be the conservatives that militarised, . Even though i said it will be the conservatives that will| will be the conservatives that will be likely to dominate the upcoming elections, it does not mean that they are also unified. There is expected to be jockeying for the position. Among the most hardline camps in the Conservative Party and more pragmatic camps and this is just link because they understand this is notjust about the changeover of the presidency, this is preparing the ground for the transition which matters. Ayatollah ali khamenei is 85 years old, in recent years he was seen to be at deaths door, at some point this transition will come so there will be a link between dues and the person of the president and choosing props the new candidate. That is a very opaque process and if a reminder was needed of the unpredictability of politics, i noticed last week how that was suddenly all of these articles intense speculation on who would succeed the supreme leader, i thought that was interesting that they are picking up the story again and raisi was mentioned as a contender so to was the 54 year old second son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but there may be other candidates. Thejob of khamenei, but there may be other candidates. The job of choosing the successor is the task of the assembly of experts. And raisi, had assembly of experts. And raisi, had a coveted spot there in that position has to be filled as well. So all of this is links. The conservatives will be very mindful of this as they try to fill in and Connect The Dots to ensure that it remains business as usual. Interesting times in iran and also across the middle east. Lovely to have your company. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Lets take a look at a major story we are following here in the uk. The seven year Public Inquiry into the infected blood scandal widely considered to be the biggest scandal in nhs history has identified a catalogue of failures. More than 30,000 people in the uk were infected with hiv and hepatitis c after being given infected Blood Products by the National Health service in the 19705 and 805. Many have since died, others unknowingly passed infections on to partners who then died. Victims and their families have spent decades looking for answers to their questions, fighting for compensation, often ignored by successive governments. Both the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader today apologised to the victims and the families. We will have more on the inquiry later this hour including reaction from chris smith, who lost his father when he was just eight years old. One of many who lost Family Members who contracted fatal illnesses, from contaminated blood. Big day forjulian assange. The high court in london has blocked his extradition to the United States, at least for now. The court had previously sought assurances from washington, that the 52 year old would be able to rely on a First Amendment defence to the spying charges he face thats Freedom Of Speech and that if convicted he would not face the Death Penalty. The wikileaks founder has spent more than a decade resisting deportation. Had he lost his appeal today he could well have been on a flight within 24 hours. Lets speak now to alice edwards, Un Special Rapporteur on torture. Thank you for coming on the programme. Can we talk about this because it has been a long running legal saga here in the United Kingdom, he spent five years in a high security prison in belle marsh, has he suffered enough in your opinion . I has he suffered enough in your oinion . ~ ,. ,. , opinion . I think so. I have been very worried opinion . I think so. I have been very worried about opinion . I think so. I have been very worried about mr opinion . I think so. I have been very worried about mr assange | opinion . I think so. I have been very worried about mr assange mental and physical health. I think this long running legal saga has taken a terrible toll on his health and underlying this case is about our values and what we and the protections we afford to people who are essentially blowing the whistle on crimes that are committed in wartime. flit on crimes that are committed in wartime. , on crimes that are committed in wartime. , i. On crimes that are committed in wartime. ,. ,. , on crimes that are committed in wartime. ,. , wartime. Of course you have to set that in a legal wartime. Of course you have to set that in a legal context. Wartime. Of course you have to set that in a legal context. The wartime. Of course you have to set that in a legal context. The uk wartime. Of course you have to set that in a legal context. The uk is l wartime. Of course you have to set that in a legal context. The uk is a| that in a legal context. The uk is a signatory to the Un Convention against torture. So what needs to be considered within this appeal . What considered within this appeal . What i considered within this appeal . What i understand considered within this appeal . What i understand is considered within this appeal . What i understand is only considered within this appeal . unmet i understand is only two considered within this appeal . Ibfi� ue� ii i understand is only two of considered within this appeal . Kwisgt i understand is only two of his nine rounds of appeal have been allowed to proceed and they are revolved around freedom of expression and that the palatability of uk and us law. That is not the area i work in. Compatibility. My concerns as he may face a disproportionate penalty which will not be before this court, but should he fill in the next and final round in the domestic courts, he should be given the opportunity to challenge his, any extra diction under the court of human rights. Ive under the court of human rights. Ive been perplexed about the questions of disproportionate penalties have not been fully litigated. I was pleased to see the Death Penalty had been taken off the table, although, that was a strange one because it was brought in at the last minute in the february hearing. So still some way to go for mr assange. So still some way to go for mr assanae. ,. ,. , assange. Thus his mental health, because he assange. Thus his mental health, because he is assange. Thus his mental health, because he is obviously assange. Thus his mental health, because he is obviously suffering | because he is obviously suffering from a depressive disorder at the moment, does that have any relevance in the case, particularly, given how he would be detained, where he sent to the United States . If he he would be detained, where he sent to the United States . To the United States . If he is unsuccessful and to the United States . If he is unsuccessful and the to the United States . If he is unsuccessful and the next i to the United States . If he is unsuccessful and the next round and thatis unsuccessful and the next round and that is the final round in the uk, there is still an obligation on the United Kingdom to do a final health check for mr assange to see he is fit to travel and withstand any proceedings. But i would really like to see is that the three governments, the United States and United Kingdom and his own country, australia, come to some kind of arrangement so that the saga can finally be put behind all of the actors. The case has been terrible for mr assange but of course, it is currently still affecting the credibility and Human Rights Credentials of the United States in particular. Pare credentials of the United States in articular. � ,. ,. , credentials of the United States in articular. �. , , particular. Are you not suggesting that there would particular. Are you not suggesting that there would be particular. Are you not suggesting that there would be any, particular. Are you not suggesting that there would be any, i particular. Are you not suggesting that there would be any, i know. That there would be any, i know there are lots of discussions around there are lots of discussions around the you burn courts of human rights when it comes to migration at the moment, but you are not suggesting he would be denied an appeal at the echr . He would be denied an appeal at the echr . European court of human rights. Echr . European court of human richts. , ~ echr . European court of human richts. , ~ ,. , rights. No, i think the court would take the case. Rights. No, i think the court would take the case. There rights. No, i think the court would take the case. There is rights. No, i think the court would take the case. There is a rights. No, i think the court would| take the case. There is a procedure of the rules 39 injection, it has to be taken very quickly and what i have been reminding the uk government is, whatever the outcome, if it is negative, he would need to be given the time to be able to make that challenge and that they dont extradite him before he has had that opportunity. But we still have, i understand the hearing may be held in autumn, he still has the chance to fight on Freedom Of Expression Grounds and i think they are relatively strong so we will see how he perceives. Relatively strong so we will see how he perceives he perceives. Interesting you say, when i he perceives. Interesting you say, when i talk he perceives. Interesting you say, when i talk to he perceives. Interesting you say, when i talk to the he perceives. Interesting you say, when i talk to the uk he perceives. Interesting you say, | when i talk to the uk government, he perceives. Interesting you say, l when i talk to the uk government, i noticed Jeremy Corbyn was outside the court with various assange supporters, to get the sense this is actually a Major Political problem for the uk government given the relations with them for white house and obviously trying to uphold the Extradition Treaty they have with the United States, but is it not becoming a political soar for the the United States, but is it not becoming a Political Soarfor the uk government . I becoming a political soar for the uk government . Government . I think it is a political government . I think it is a political soar government . I think it is a political soar for government . I think it is a political soar for the i government . I think it is a political soar for the uk i government . I think it is a l political soar for the uk and government . I think it is a i political soar for the uk and the us. Ithink political soar for the uk and the us. I think western governments are under a lot of scrutiny and this is one of the cases that has animated the human rights community, rightly so. Sometimes it looks like there is a double standard being applied so i think in an Election Year it would be great if this could be resolved. Mr assange is a human rights defender, he has stood up for human rights and the prohibition on war crimes and etc. So i think time would be better spent on other matters of international offence. Abs, matters of international offence. A Un Special Rabbits were on torture, thank you for coming onto the programme. We will take a short break on the other side we will focus on the Blood Inquiry that has reported here in the uk and also one of the final days on the hush money case in new york. Hello. Thanks forjoining me. Its been a warm monday and a fine end to the day for many of us with scattered, fairweather, clouds, Hazy Sunshine. But also one or two heavy showers and thunderstorms have been breaking out across parts of wales, also Northern Ireland. And these downpours may last for a while. For many of us, though, the evening and night is looking dry and generally quite clear. But later on in the night, thick cloud may bring some rain to parts of east anglia, lincolnshire and maybe the midlands, but itll be quite localised here. Quite nippy for some of us in the north around four or five degrees. But for many major towns and cities its closer to ten. So heres the forecast then for tuesday and overall it wont be quite as sunny, at least a lot of Hazy Sunshine out there and at times really quite thick cloud. Also a greater chance of encountering the showers. And they will be breaking out across parts of South Western england, wales, where especially here in western, Northern Ireland and also the highlands. But there is a possibility of running into a bit of rain almost anywhere in the uk. Temperatures where the sun does come out for any lengthier period of time could get up to around 20 or 21. But for most of us, the highs will be in the upper teens and really quite gloomy along the north sea coast at times. And that rain may turn quite steady in east anglia and lincolnshire during tomorrow evening. Then wednesday its all change. A large area of low pressure will sweep out of the east southeast and this is really quite substantial rain. So rain early in the day reaching eastern counties. Then it will spread right across Northern England into scotland. Now to the west and to the south the rain will be more showery, meaning that there will be some sunshine. So belfast i think cardiff, plymouth, portsmouth, london should get at least a bit of bright weather. But remember showers from time to time. Further north, though, the rain will be heavy. Now talking about the rainfall being its being substantial. Look at the accumulation over the course of the week in some areas, 30 to 40 millimetres of rain, perhaps even as much as 100 around the murray firth, which could cause some problems. So a thoroughly wet wednesday into thursday. And as you can see, most of us in for at least some rain, least of which will fall in the south. Now, heres the outlook for the rest of the week and into the weekend. It does look as though things could dry out as we get towards friday and saturday so that heavy rain wont last for too long. Thats it for me. Bye bye. Hello, im christian fraser. Youre watching the context on bbc news. A national day of shame for britain as the inquiry into infected blood in the countries National Health service says thousands of people were filled. Field. Sport and for a full round up, from the Bbc Sport Centre, here sarah. Hello from the Bbc Sport Centre lets start with news we all knew was coming, but it has now been officially confirmed. Liverpool have named arne slot as their new head coach. The reds had already agreed a Compensation Deal worth £9. 4 million with feyenoord, a club slot guided to the dutch title in 2023 24 and then to the dutch cup this season. Slot will replacejurgen klopp, who had been in charge of the club since october 2015. Heres our correspondent andy swiss. Arne slot has signed a three year contract. Hell officially start onjune one. This after they agreed a Compensation Deal worth more than £9 million, which gives you an idea ofjust highly they rate him. Also worth noting that he has been announced as head coach of liverpool rather than a manager as part of their new look structure