Hello, im lewis vaughanjones. Welcome to The Programme. We start in the middle east, where the palestinian president says only the us can prevent an Israeli Attack on rafah, where more than a million have fled. Mahmoud abbas is at the World Economic forum summit in riyadh. He will be joined there on monday by the us Secretary Of State, Antony Blinken. Other Key International figures are expected in the saudi city and Sideline Meetings are expected to discuss the war in gaza and the way forward. That could include further Ceasefire Talks a hamas delegation is reportedly in cairo for discussions there on monday. This is the appeal from palestinian president , mahmoud abbas, to the us, urging it convince israel to reconsider any offensive in rafah. Translation and i say here whats happening now in gaza, | and what will happen in the coming few days, and what israel will do by invading the city of rafah, all the palestinians from gaza are gathered in rafah and its only one small strike tha
Benjamin netanyuahu about the situation in gaza. In a statement the white house said that the president reaffirmed his ironclad commitment to israels security. It referenced what it said was a successful defence against irans unprecedented missile and drone attack earlier this month. The two leaders reviewed ongoing talks to secure the release of hostages together with an immediate ceasefire in gaza. And they also discussed increases in the delivery of humanitarian assistance into gaza through preparations to open new northern crossings, starting this week. The statement concludes that the leaders discussed rafah and the president reiterated his clear position although it didnt give details of what that is. In the last few hours its also been announced that us secretary of state, Antony Blinken Will Visitjordan and israel after a stop at World Economic forum summit in riyadh. Our North America Correspondent Will Vernon is in washington with more details on the Biden Netanyahu phone c
it comes as a senior un aid official warned that half of gaza s population is starving, saying deliveries of food are now almost impossible because of the fierce fighting and aerial bombardment. our middle east correspondent yolande knell has the latest. the misery of life under canvas. fourin the misery of life under canvas. four in five gazans have now fled their home and they are still fighting to survive, with severe shortages of food and drinking water. aid agencies say they are struggling to deliver the basics, even close to the egypt order where supplies come in. supplies come in. humanitarian aid at the moment supplies come in. humanitarian aid at the moment is supplies come in. humanitarian aid at the moment is the supplies come in. humanitarian aid at the moment is the only - supplies come in. humanitarian aid at the moment is the only lifeline l at the moment is the only lifeline for people and we are simply not able to get the access that we need to get t
campaign in gaza to be stepped up. israeli tanks are reported to be slowly advancing towards the centre of khan younis and there are reports of khan younis and there are reports of house to house fighting. the head of house to house fighting. the head of the world health organization says the war in gaza is having a catastrophic impact on healthcare. he has warned health workers are working in unimaginable conditions in a desperate effort to help civilians. more on that in a moment. but first, this report is from our middle east correspondent, yolande knell. an agonising goodbye. at least 14 people were killed in an airstrike on a school where they were sheltering. crushed by the rubble, mohammed lost his mother, father and an unborn brother. what we want is to stop the bloodshed, every day we are losing our loved ones says this man. those who lived and even those who are still in the womb. nearby the rumble of tank fire amid fierce street fighting. further south, the town of