The Eurovision Song Contest took a year off but now, its back. A big development in the israeli palestinian conflict. The us has increased pressure on israel to end its bombardment of palestinian militants In Gaza. Joe biden has told Benjamin Netanyahu that he expects a � significant De Escalation� today and a path to a ceasefire. Were waiting to see how that plays out. Both palestinians and israelis say a Ceasefire Isnt on the table. And so the Blame Game continues. Heres israels Prime Minister we are waiting to see how that plays out. Both palestinians and israelis say a Cease Fire Isnt on the table. Heres israels Prime Minister we try to target those who target us with great precision. That is not. As surgical an operation it is, even in the surgical room in a hospital, you dont have the ability to prevent Collateral Damage around the infected tissues. Even then, you cant. And certainly in a military operation, you cannot. But there is no army in the world that does more than the israeli army, than the israeli security services, the israeli intelligence, to prevent Collateral Damage. To have israel criticised for that is absurd. And heres palestinian President Mahmoud abbas who governs the occupied West Bank. Translation what the occupation is doing In Gaza, including vicious i attacks on civilians, deliberate shelling of residential areas, destruction of infrastructure, as well as the killing of women, elderly and children is organised State Terrorism carried out by the israeli occupation, and War Crimes punishable by international law. We wont spare any efforts to bring those responsible in front of international courts. So, no let up in the rhetoric. Israeli defence sources told the bbc their operation against hamas will continue at full throttle. New Israeli Air strikes have Hit Gaza heres some of the damage. Among the targets a network of Tunnels Israel says is controlled by hamas. And its Shelling Targets beyond its borders into lebanon after four rockets were fired from the country into israel. One of them was intercepted by the israeli Iron Dome Defence system. The rest fell in open areas. Meanwhile militants In Gaza fired anotheR Barrage of rockets into israel. Several are said to have hit Ashdod And Ashkelon though no casualties have been reported. 12 people in israel have died so far. And over 200 palestinians. The bbc� s Rushdi Abu Aloff is In Gaza with the latest. Last night was intensified, especially here, the second biggest city In Gaza, where about 70 Air Strikes were targeting roads, infrastructure for the militants known as hamas and other military groups. Also some of the houses were hit. The overnight threats caused four people to be killed, including two militants. Hamas says that one of the journalists who works for Hamas Run Tv was also killed in the Air Strikes. Hamas says that one of the journalists who works for Hamas Run Tv was also killed in the Air Strikes. Israel said they hit hamas hard. They managed to kill many commanders from it. One of the commanders was a senior commander who was responsible for the Gaza Strip Birgade that was killed in the beginning of the operation. Also yesterday, islamichhad was targeted, and a senior commander in Northern Gaza was also killed. We notice in the last couple of days since sunday, when the 42 people were killed, that less Israeli Air fire and less frequent rockets have been sent to israel from gaza. The conflict is having a huge toll on children on both sides. Two have died in israel. While Gazas Health Ministry says 63 children have died there. This is nine year Old Yara who died in an Israeli Air strike last sunday In Gaza city. Her younger sister rula, who was five, was also killed in the same attack alongside other relatives. 11 Children Whove died had been participating in a programme aimed at helping them deal with Trauma Run by the norwegian refugee council. And this is its secretary general, yaan egeland. They had nightmares. We were treating them, and we had progress. So, many of them are now doing good in school, coming out of the trauma, and then they were killed. So prime Minister Netanyahu is not correct when he just said that this is so precise and so surgical and whatnot. This is killing children. There are five to six times as many dead palestinian children as the total number of fatalities, military and civilian, combined on the israeli side. Next we want to look at gazas infrastructure. According to the un over 156 buildings have been destroyed. Six hospitals and 11 primary Health Care centres damaged. One Hospital Isnt Functioning because of a lack of electricity. Over 50,000 people are displaced. Many of them are here. At un schools which have been transformed into Make Shift shelters. This one is in Northern Gaza. Najla shawa is a humanitarian worker In Gaza. This is her experience. There are no shelters In Gaza. People need to understand that. No shelters In Gaza. There are only schools which are just normal, ordinary schools, above the ground. People are just hiding because they leave their areas that have been targeted, hit already, damaged or destroyed homes, or they are fleeing Border Areas under direct artillery fire. So, 50,000 people are fleeing to schools. Many other thousands of people, many of them that i know of who are fleeing their homes from within residential areas in the middle of gaza city, are leaving to other places. Every day, we have several hours of complete panic from friends and acquaintances who keep on calling each other. Yes, we need to leave, yes, there is a room here. Yes, there is a Drone Rocket here. All of a sudden, a Drone Racket to a house in a residential area. Everybody leaves the surrounding area with nowhere to go. Many people dont know where to go. There is no safe place In Gaza. Gaza is a strip of land bordering egypt, israel and the meditarranean. Its one of the most densely populated areas of the world. 1. 9 million people live here. 1. 4 million are registered as refugees. Although that figure is likely to be higher now. They live on 360 square kilometres of land an area thats poorer and smaller than the West Bank. Weve talked about the impact on children and infrastructure. Were also told that gazas only covid I9 Lab Cant now conduct tests because an Air Strike hit near the health ministry. Dr Natalie Thurtle is with doctors without borders injerusalem. These are her concerns. Gaza was near The End of its second wave, but not at The End, so they were still having 300 or so cases per day for a population of 2 Million when this escalation started. They still have 20 or so patients in icu with covid, and given the limited Itu Capacity of around 100 beds, that is a significant contribution to their icu needs going into this crisis. Now that there is no Testing Capacity and you have 58,000 internally displaced people who are primarily congregating in schools, places to achieve shelter. The risk of an escalation and a third wave of coronavirus is really, really serious. The msf has over 200 staff In Gaza. Honestly, its quite confronting speaking to them on a daily basis. They are frightened, their children are frightened. They are hiding in the basement every night. They genuinely are scared for their lives every day. Theyve lost family members, they lost their homes. It is really challenging for people on the ground to even think about working, and they are working, you know, they are struggling and continuing. And they are incredibly resilient. Thats the situation In Gaza. In the past ten days, hamas has fired more 3,400 rockets into israeli cities killing 12 people. Sa reet is a student in southern israel near the gaza strip. She told the bbc the trauma its causing. Living in a community that is full of people, and i can say, unfortunately, that a lot of people left the communityjust to take a bit of a break, some air, mostly the families with kids. They took their kids so their kids can actually sleep also at night. I personally, im a student, right neaR By in a city that is also been bombed also, sorry, been bombed. I havent been to college for also ten days, so i havent been studying either. Im sitting at home pretty much watching the news, hearing the bombings, running to the shelter, but i think i. I, like most of our country, really believe that this is what we have to do in order to get quiet to the South End our citizens. Reports in israeli media suggest that the Countrys Security Cabinet will assess the possibility of a ceasefire at its next meeting. Meanwhile, a Hamas Leader says efforts by mediators are � serious and continuous� but that palestinian demands had to be met. More from our diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams who is in jerusalem i think the messages are pretty mixed. This morning from israel� s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to foreign ambassadors here and said he did not have a stopwatch in his hand. You couldn� t put a timeframe on this. He said that the operations against hamas were continuing, and after the white House Statement was released and Mr Netanyahu also released a statement saying, i� m determined to continue this operation until its goal is achieved. Now, that raises the question of what is the goal . Essentially, it is the destruction of as much Hamas Infrastructure as possible and guarantees that israeli civilians are going to have a prolonged period of calm after this is all over. And by prolonged, i mean years. That is what israel expects from this. We don� t know what hamas has prepared to offer so far, but clearly, israel feels that until it has some guarantee Last Night we heard from a palestinian Activist And Campaign director with the global palestinian organisation, avaaz. And tonight we� re speaking to lahav harkov, diplomatic correspondent and senior Contributing Editor for the Jerusalem Post thanks so much for coming on the programme. Thanks so much for coming on the programme thanks so much for coming on the programme. Thanks so much for coming on the rouramme. ,. ,. , programme. Thanks for having me on. Saw how close programme. Thanks for having me on. Saw how close do programme. Thanks for having me on. Saw how close do you programme. Thanks for having me on. Saw how close do you think programme. Thanks for having me on. Saw how close do you think we programme. Thanks for having me on. Saw how close do you think we are programme. Thanks for having me on. Saw how close do you think we are to l saw how close do you think we are to a Cease Fire right now . I saw how close do you think we are to a ceasefire right now . A ceasefire right now . I actually do think we a ceasefire right now . I actually do think we are a ceasefire right now . I actually do think we are pretty a ceasefire right now . I actually do think we are pretty close. Do think we are pretty close. Probably not Tomorrow Morning come by in the coming few days. Partly because, you know, there is pressure from israel� s key allies, the united states, and partly because things do seem to be slowing down. Thomas is shooting rockets in israel as we speak. I see the notifications going across my phone. There is somewhat of a slowdown. Israel is not looking to prolonged us forever. I think there is a specific, the army, the terminology can eveR Bank of targets. So there are a number of targets. So there are a number of targets they want to hit in order to feel that hamas will be sufficiently deterred for the coming years. So just tojump in on exactly deterred for the coming years. So just to jump in on exactly that point. This is a Military Strategy here. At another a number of points they want to hit, and anything they will consider a Cease Fire . Anything they will consider a ceasefire . Anything they will consider a ceasefire . ,. Ceasefire . Yes. That is at least what israels ceasefire . Yes. That is at least what israels official ceasefire . Yes. That is at least what israels official top ceasefire . Yes. That is at least what israels official top Numberj Ceasefire . Yes. That is at least i what israels official top number what israel� s official top Number Government officials and military officials are saying. find Government Officials and military officials are saying. Government officials and military officials are saying. And given that Joe Biden officials are saying. And given that Joe Biden and officials are saying. And given that Joe Biden and the officials are saying. And given that Joe Biden and the pressure, officials are saying. And given that Joe Biden and the pressure, you i Joe Biden and the pressure, you mentioned the influence there, the statement stronger today than we have had in the past, some saying those statements could� ve come sooner. What do you make about . You know, i think sooner. What do you make about . You. Know, i think the statements could� ve come sooner, but i think that they didn� t because joe could� ve come sooner, but i think that they didn� t becauseJoe Biden truly supports israel� s right to defend itself. Biden calls himself a scientist. He believes that israel not only has a right to exist but must and should exist for the jewish people. Individual can� t defend itself, then they can� t do thatjob. So i think that biden is with israel on this. But, you know, wants to make sure that this isn� t prolonged and that there isn� t any necessary decks unnecessary deaths. The decks unnecessary deaths. The olitics in decks unnecessary deaths. The politics in israel decks unnecessary deaths. The politics in israel commit before this conflict started, Benjamin Netanyahu was struggling with the position of authority. How is his position of authority. How is his position now . Position of authority. How is his position now . Well, ive not seen an new position now . Well, ive not seen any new Election Position now . Well, ive not seen any new Election Style Position now . Well, ive not seen any new Election Style polls any new Election Style polls conducted in these past ten days. I think that israelis do have a bit of a rallying around the Flag Effect when there is a conflict like this, but israel is not the flag, and his support has slipped before, as you mentioned, he wasn� t able to build the Governing Coalition even though it was the largest party in our election that took place just a couple of months ago. I don� t see him being able to form a coalition after this. Him being able to form a coalition afterthis. I him being able to form a coalition after this. I think moving forward, the most likely scenario is that we will have another election, which will have another election, which will be the fifth in less than two years. So it� s a difficult political time israel. Years. So its a difficult political time israel. Years. So its a difficult political time israel. ,. ,. , time israel. Great to have you on. Thank you time israel. Great to have you on. Thank you so time israel. Great to have you on. Thank you so much. Let� s go to the us now. Donald trump has hit back after prosecutors in new York State said they� e now running a criminal inquiry into the Trump Organisation. In a statement on his website, the former us president says he� s being unfairly attacked and abused. He also said there is nothing more corrupt than an investigation that is in desperate search of a crime. Mr trump� s company has been under investigation for over two years as a civil case, and now the Attorney General in new York State, Letitia James, has moved it to a criminal investigation. This means that if serious Wrong Doing is uncovered it could go to trial and there could be jail time. The investigation is looking into the financial dealings of the Trump Organisation and in particular inflating the value of buildings misleading investors. Here� s laura podesta. They are looking into the pre president ial Business Dealings of President Trump and people within his organisation, the Trump Organisation, and whether President Trump manipulated the value of assets such as Trump Tower Right behind me here. Potentially inflating the price of this property in order to secure Bank Loans or deflating it in order to get a tax break. This isn� t the only investigation into Mr Trump� s Business Dealings within the state of New York. There� s one from the Attorney General and one by the District Attorney of manhattan. Here� s gary o� donahue. Well, there is already the existing criminal investigation by the District Attorney in manhattan. We know that that has been looking into the Trump Organisation, particularly into its financial dealings, and back in february, of course, they got hold of donald trumpS Tax returns after a protracted court battle. So that is going on at the same time, the Attorney General for new York State, Letitia James, she has been conducting a simple inquiry. Conducting a civil inquiry. Thats not become a criminal investigation. Thats whats changed here. And i think really what this represents is a Ratcheting Up of the pressure on donald trump, his family, members of the organisation. So, as gary mentioned, there there are two investigations in the state of New York. And there are other legal proceedings as well. Let� s have a look at some of the biggest. There are the allegations he paid two women who said they had had sexual relationships with him to keep quiet, ahead of the 2016 president ial election. Mr trump� s Lawyer Michael Cohen was sentenced to three years in jail over arranging this. He says he was directed to by Mr Trump. Mr trump hasn� t been charged. The Trump Organisation is also being investigated over whether it falsified business records related to the payoffs. The manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance has demanded to see years of financial records, including eight years of Mr Trump� S Tax returns, in connection with allegations of possible Insurance And Bank fraud. Three separate civil lawsuits allege that Mr Trump did not seek consent before accepting benefits from foreign states. One cites the hosting of foreign officials at the trump international hotel in Washington Dc as a possible violation. Mr trump� s niece accuses him and two of his siblings of cheating her out of an inheritance while pressuring her to give up interests in the family business. Mr trump denies all of the allegations as a witch hunt. Here� s journalist Jeffrey Kofman on whether this is alljust political. The two people prosecuting, Cyrus Vancejunior, the manhattan District Attorney, and Letitia James, the new York State Attorney General are both democrats. When Letitia James ran for office in 2018, she said she was going to go after trump. His son just yesterday or this morning was circulating excerpts of her Campaign Video saying such things. They, of course, are saying this is a fishing expedition. It� s a vindictive. Vendetta to get him at any cost, but, you know, the courts and the Court Of Public Opinion are two different courts, and this is going to have to. Criminal charges have a very high bar. They are going to have to prove something that can sustain the opinions of the court and undoubtedly appeals. Let� s talk to Julia Manchester from the political News Website the hill. Thank you very much for coming on the programme. Thank you very much for coming on the programme thank you very much for coming on the programme. Thank you for having me. Lets the programme. Thank you for having me lets go the programme. Thank you for having me. Lets go back the programme. Thank you for having me. Lets go back to the programme. Thank you for having me. Lets go back to the the programme. Thank you for having me. Lets go back to the top the programme. Thank you for having me. Lets go back to the top line, me. Lets go back to the top line, as aware of me. Lets go back to the top line, as aware of this me. Lets go back to the top line, as aware of this story. Me. Lets go back to the top line, as aware of this story. This me. Lets go back to the top line, | as aware of this story. This change from the investigations from civil investigations into criminal investigations. How significant do you think that is . It� s investigations. How significant do you think that is . You think that is . Its very significant. You think that is . Its very significant. It you think that is . Its very significant. It shows you think that is . Its very significant. It shows that l you think that is . Its very i significant. It shows that the you think that is . Its very significant. It shows that the Trump Organisation might notjust have to deal with financial penalties, but possibly criminal penalties in a court of law if any wrongdoing is found. Now, it� s important to point out that this is the Trump Organisation that is under investigation here, obviously President Trump is tied to this, but he himself is not under investigation. But as we know, one of the prosecutors in this case, he has obtained president from� S Tax returns which the former president has been very, i guess, stubborn about. He wanted on willing to make those public, we were watching ford� s elements. It is very serious. Julia, just quickly, the defensive on the Trump Organisation about statement here was talk of the witchhunts that this whole investigation was a witch hunt. Just your response to that . It� s investigation was a witch hunt. Just your response to that . Your response to that . Its not surprising your response to that . Its not surprising. Thats your response to that . Its not surprising. Thats what your response to that . Its not i surprising. Thats what president surprising. That� s what President Trump and his allies have been saying about all the investigations against him. We are about to see much more of former President Trump. He is going to start holding in person rallies and speaking publicly at events. I imagine this investigation that he calls a witchhunt will be a major talking point. Witchhunt will be a maor talking oint. ,. , witchhunt will be a maor talking oint. ,. Y. , witchhunt will be a maor talking oint. ,. , point. Juliet, stay there for us. I want to ask point. Juliet, stay there for us. I want to ask about point. Juliet, stay there for us. I want to ask about something i point. Juliet, stay there for us. I I Want to ask about Something Else point. Juliet, stay there for us. I want to ask about Something Else and a second, and that is the Lower House in the usn us Votes Today on whether to create a commission looking into the riot on the capitol injanuary. Five people died, including one capitol police officer, when supporters of President Trump stormed the Capitol Building on the 6th of january. Let� s look at the aims of this proposed commission. It will look at the circumstances surrounding the Attack Injanuary and study the Influencing Factors that could have provoked the attack. It will be able to issue subpoenas to secure evidence. The commission will be made up of ten commissioners, both republicans and democrats. The bill was initially introduced as a bipartisan bill, by Homeland Security Chairman bennie g thompson, a democrat, and representativejohn katko, a republican. Representative katko has been a supporter of impeaching President Trump over the attack on the capitol. Here he is back injanuary. The president � s role in this insurrection is undeniable, both on Social Media ahead Ofjanuary 6th and in his speech that day, he deliberately promoted baseless theories creating a combustible environment of misinformation and division. To allow the president of united states to incite this attack without consequences is a direct threat to the future of this democracy. For this reason, i will vote to impeach this president tomorrow. The Minority Leader in the house of representatives, republican Kevin Mccarthy, opposes the bill. In a statement, Representative Mccarthy said the scope does not examine interrelated forms of political violence so he cannot support the legislation. Julia is back with us, so what does Representative Mccarthy mean by this . Well, what Kevin Mccarthy is essentially saying is well, what Kevin Mccarthy is essentially saying well, what Kevin Mccarthy is essentially saying is that this is only focusing essentially saying is that this is only focusing on essentially saying is that this is only focusing on january essentially saying is that this is only focusing on january six. I only focusing on january six. These attackers were connected to President Trump in that they had attended that rally before. So he views this as a very much of a democratic motivated efforts to investigate this attack. Kevin Mccarthy And Other Republicans have also brought up political violence such as the violence we saw last summer here in the united states amid the black Lives Matter protests and the violence that spun out of those protests in some scenarios. We also heard republicans talk about the shooting of House Minority Whip sees the lease, a republican who was shot at a Baseball Practice just a couple of years ago here in washington. However, if you read between the lines, i think it� s very obvious that smith Kevin Mccarthy feels pressure from President Trump and much of the pro Trump Base to not go along with this commission because this commission does indeed happen, there is a chance that Kevin Mccarthy will have to go and testify. Kevin mccarthy and President Trump don� t want republican leaders are republican lawmakers to be put in that position, so it is very political in nature, the manoeuvring around this commission. Nature, the manoeuvring around this commission commission. Juliet, ust 20 seconds left on the commission. Juliet, just 20 seconds left on the programme, commission. Juliet, just 20 seconds left on the programme, but commission. Juliet, just 20 seconds left on the programme, but the left on the programme, but the chances of us Learning Anything from this commission is yellow i think it� s very possible, we saw that the 9 11 commission years ago, we learned a lot about Terror Organisations in the attack on the us, so i think we can definitely learn much more if it is done properly. I make ok, juliet from, pink you very much for coming on and lending us your expertise. That is it for me. Get me online at twitter stop this is bbc news, bye bye. Good evening. It certainly has been a showery week so far, hasn� t it . But the Showers Today have been a little less frequent, and out to the west, there has been some decent spells of sunshine. In the sunshine it has felt quite pleasant, a beautiful afternoon in dorset. Shower clouds threatening in the Isle Of Sheppey in kent, but even here, the showers have been lighter in comparison to the last couple of days. You can see those shower clouds, with the best of the sunshine out to the west. Clouds, with the best I Want to draw your attention, however, to this mass of cloud pushing in off the atlantic. It� s a Weather Front which is winding its way in over the next few hours and will arrive during the early hours of thursday morning. It� s going to bring some Heavy Rain and some unseasonably strong winds, really. Ahead of it, we will have the best of the clearer skies across eastern england, some showers continuing into scotland, Clouding Over from the west. So here, temperatures will hold up at around 8 9 celsius to start off thursday. The rain will be quite heavy as it moves in through Northern Ireland, southern Scotland And North West England and wales in particular. Turning Light And Showery across central and southern england, and perhaps not really making much of an impression into the far north of scotland. But the winds, really a feature, widely gusting at 30mph to 40mph. Perhaps, on exposed south west coast, it could even be close to 60mph at times. So, the temperatures are going to be subdued in comparison to today. Highs of 10 14 celsius quite widely. The low continues to move in and anchors itself close to the Scottish Borders in the north of england. The strongest of the wind is down to the south. That is going to continue to push in frequent spells of Heavy Rain across england and wales, and it is going to be windy with it. Showers into the far north of scotland, perhaps a little bit quieter for Northern Ireland through friday afternoon. But, again, a blustery day for this time of year, strongest of the winds across the channel coasts, possibly up to 60mph. Temperatures again, subdued for the time of year, 8 11; celsius the high. We get a Brief Respite for the start of the weekend, a little more drier and sunnier weather around, before slowly, another front comes in towards The End of sunday from the west. But once we get sunday and monday out of the way, High Pressure is set to build, and that for our final week of may should bring us some dry and sunny weather. Unfortunately, temperatures, though, only average. The us stepped in to stop the fighting in the middle east. President biden says he expects a significant De Escalation in the conflict today. But us defence sources tell the bbc is campaign against hamas In Gaza will continue. Former President Trump says he has been unfairly attacked after New York� s prosecutor launches after New York� s prosecutor launches a criminal enquiry into his property empire. And Eu Member states back a plan to allow tourists who are fully vaccinated to visit in time for the summer holidays. And Power Pop and syrupy ballads, the Eurovision Song Contest took a year off, but now it is back. Hello, welcome to the programme. First, the israeli palestinian conflict, which is in its tenth day. The us is one of israel� s strongest allies and whilstJoe Biden has expressed support for a Ceasefire Up until now he had not demanded one and that has put him at odds with some democrats. One of his biggest critics on the issue is one congresswoman who came Face To face with him on tuesday. This was the moment. This was in michigan and they spent eight minutes in what looked like an intense debate. She has family in the West Bank and has been planned on calling onJoe Biden to do more to support palestinians. According to the New York times she told the president during that eight minutes that the Status Quo was enabling more killing and his policy of supporting Mr Netanyahu was not working. Later, Joe Biden visited a Ford Factory in michigan where he tested an electric vehicle. I am telling you this because it was during that Test Drive that he was asked about the israeli palestinian conflict. This is how it played out. Can i ask you a quick question on the conflict in israel . Ida. Can i ask you a quick question on the conflict in israel . The conflict in israel . No, you cant. The conflict in israel . No, you cant here the conflict in israel . No, you cant. Here we the conflict in israel . No, you cant. Here we go. The conflict in israel . No, you cant. Here we go. Are the conflict in israel . No, you cant. Here we go. Are you i the conflict in israel . No, you i cant. Here we go. Are you ready . So, he doesn� T Answer and accelerates away. President biden insists israel has a right to defend itself. Critical of that Rhetoric Isjohn dugard a former United Nations Special Rapporteur to the unhcr. The evidence provided by the failure of the united states to support a resolution at this stage and secondly there is the fact that the united states continues to operate its embassy from jerusalem, which is contrary to international law. Also, there is the fact that the united states sends military Aid Or Tribute to israel in the form of 3. 8 billion a year. So the united states has disqualified itself as an honest broker. This is not a conflict between states. Israel is engaged in a Police Operation In Gaza and it is subject to the rules of proportionality. So i think on all Counts Israel must now be seen to be in violation of international law. But to make matters worse, the united states is aiding and abetting the cabinet of israel in these activities. However, us rhetoric is changing. In their fourth Phone Call since the crisis began, President Biden says he told Benjamin Netanyahu he expects to see a significant reduction in Hostilites Today and a path to a ceasefire. It� s the most important intervention yet from the White House. Here� s Barbara Plett Usher in washington. Still no explicit call for a ceasefire, on a path to a ceasefire is what he is saying. That is fairly mild, really. No criticism either of any israeli military action. What he has done is linked it to what he called progress in degrading hamas capability. We know the israelis had a Target List of Hamas Infrastructure and leaders and weapons they wanted to hit. So he is saying, Joe Biden, you have done enough, and he is suggesting the israelis are coming to that you as well because he says he has talked about progress, as he called it, together with the israeli Prime Minister. We know he has been facing a faiR Bit of criticism from his response so far within his party from the left wing, but also from some start israeli allies, saying he should be more outspoken in his calls and he should push both sides publicly to end the violence, not just hamas, which is what he has been doing until now. Also criticism from the international community because the biden administration has three times block a statement at the Security Council calling for an end to the violence. The White House has been arguing that it is more effective to have behind the scenes diplomacy, that is the wayJoe Biden white, intense behind the scenes diplomacy, not publicly calling out israel. If the Israelis Respond to this the White House will argue that approach has been effective. But critics will say thatJoe Biden has been, and still is, following the israeli timeline. Let� s look at the significant covid developments now. European union countries have backed proposals to re open borders for non essential travel into the bloc. They say fully vaccinated people and those from countries with low Infection Rates should be allowed in. Here� s an eu spokesperson. This will help progressively resuming International Inbound Travel where it is possible to do so safely. At the same time it will ensure quick action to counter the spread of new viruses vary ins. But there are complications. A Safe List of countries won� t be published until friday. It� s likely the uk will be on the list. But the uk has its own rules on travel, which some say are confusing. There� s a Traffic Light System with countries marked red, amber or green. Portugal is the only Eu Country which is green. Quarantine isn� t required on return. Travel to ireland is open under common Travel Area rules. Every other Eu Country is amber, along with 146 more places. It is legal to visit for any reason buT Travellers must quarantine after visiting. This issue came up at Prime Minister� s questions earlier. If he does not want people to travel to Amber List countries, if that is his position, he does not want them to travel to amber less countries, why has he made it easierfor them to do so . We why has he made it easier for them to do so . ~. ,. ,. ,. , to do so . We are trying to move away from endlessly to do so . We are trying to move away from endlessly legislating to do so . We are trying to move away from endlessly legislating for from endlessly legislating for everything and to rely on guidance and asking everything and to rely on guidance and asking people to do the right thing. And asking people to do the right thing, and it is very clear, mr speaker, thing, and it is very clear, mr speaker, you should not be going to an amber speaker, you should not be going to an Amber List country, except in extreme an Amber List country, except in extreme circumstances, such as the serious extreme circumstances, such as the serious illness of a family member. You should serious illness of a family member. You should not be going to an Amber List country you should not be going to an Amber List country on holiday. So that� s the debate happening here in the uk. For more on what the eu has decided here� s our Europe Correspondent Jean mackenzie in brussels. This is about agreeing one set of Travel Rules for the whole of the eu to try and make things a little simpler than they have been. So the first thing that has been decided todayis first thing that has been decided today is to allow tourists who have been fully vaccinated with an eu approved vaccine to come here on holiday. The second is to add more countries to the eu� s Safe List, these are countries where people can come on holiday even if they have not been vaccinated. They have not decided yet which countries to add to this list, that will happen on friday, but they will be looking at the rate of infections in the country and what the trend is like. They do not want to add a country to only have to take it off one or two weeks down the line, think about the confusion that will cause when people start booking holidays. On friday we should find out whether the uk is going to make it onto that list. Now, this is really a signal that things in europe are improving after a very slow start to the Vaccination Campaign at the start of the year things have picked up. More than a third of Eu Citizens have now had their first dose of the vaccine and the eu feels it is safe to reopen its borders in some way. Now, one of the sticking points will be what the individual countries decide to do themselves, because, as we have seen, countries have already started making up their own rules. For example, greece, portugal and italy have allowed Uk Travellers to return, and it is likely as the Summer Season goes on we will start to see individual countries do their own thing and there will be some discrepancies depending on where you want to spend your summer. One of the concerns about opening up travel is the indian Variant of covid 19. Nearly 3,000 cases of the Variant have been recorded in the uk. There� s debate among Health Experts about how infectious it is. Borisjohnson has tried to calm fears that it could undermine britain� s Vaccine Roll out. Here� s our Health Editor Hugh pym. A Vaccine Bus in brent, no bookings needed, people can walk up and have theirjabs. Do not run away because i am going to have stuff to give you. After a rise in cases of the indian Variant in some parts of the Country Ministers believe vaccines can work against the Variant. Irate ministers believe vaccines can work against the Variant. Against the Variant. We have increasing against the Variant. We have increasing confidence against the Variant. We have increasing confidence that i against the Variant. We have l increasing confidence that the vaccines are effective against it. That means our strategy is the right one, to carefully replace the restrictions on freedom with the protection from the vaccine. What restrictions on freedom with the protection from the vaccine. What is our protection from the vaccine. What is your current protection from the vaccine. What is your current Assessment Protection from the vaccine. What is your current assessment of protection from the vaccine. What is your current assessment of how i protection from the vaccine. What isj your current assessment of how fast this new Variant is spreading relative to the existing uk varying . We have a credible range that goes from a we have a credible range that goes from a few we have a credible range that goes from a few percent more transmissible through two, and you have probably read the stage papers, through have probably read the stage papers, through to have probably read the stage papers, through to 50 more transmissible. I think most through to 50 more transmissible. I think most people feel it is going to he think most people feel it is going to be somewhere in the middle rather than at to be somewhere in the middle rather than at the to be somewhere in the middle rather than at the extremes of that band, but it than at the extremes of that band, but it is than at the extremes of that band, but It Isjust than at the extremes of that band, but It Isjust too than at the extremes of that band, but it is just too early. Than at the extremes of that band, but It Isjust too early. He than at the extremes of that band, but it is just too early. But it is ust too early. He said thins but It Isjust too early. He said things would but It Isjust too early. He said things would be but It Isjust too early. He said things would be cleareR But It Isjust too early. He said things would be clearer from | but It Isjust too early. He said i things would be clearer from data next week. Back in brent, they are monitoring developments with the Variant. Irate monitoring developments with the Variant. ~. ,. , monitoring developments with the Variant. ,. ,. Variant. We are seeing an increase in the Variant Variant. We are seeing an increase in the Variant that Variant. We are seeing an increase in the Variant that was Variant. We are seeing an increase in the Variant that was first in the Variant that was first described in india, and while many of the cases are associated with travel, or contacts with people that had travelled, there has been some community transmission. Hagar community transmission. How concerning community transmission. How concerning is community transmission. How concerning is that . Community transmission. How concerning is that . It community transmission. How concerning is that . It is i community transmission. How i concerning is that . It is something we need to concerning is that . It is something we need to keep concerning is that . It is something we need to keep a concerning is that . It is something we need to keep a very concerning is that . It is something we need to keep a very close i concerning is that . It is something we need to keep a very close Eye L concerning is that . It is something i we need to keep a very close eye on. The uk wide situation is encouraging. Some Intensive Care Units have no covid patients for the second successive day total Hospital Admissions have been below 100. The question now is whether the Variant changes that picture in any way. Hugh pym, bbc news. India has just set a new, unwanted global record, the highest number of daily deaths due to coronavirus anywhere in the world. More than 4,500 people have died due to the virus in the latest 24 hour period. Even with a downturn in infections over the past few days, the number of fatalities have been going up. Experts say many who were infected during previous weeks are now battling for their lives. So far, india has recorded more than 283,000 deaths, but experts say the real Death Toll is several times higher. India is home to the world s biggest vaccine manufacturer, the Serum Institute of india, and in march it halted Vaccine Exports to prioritise india. Now it� s saying it doesn� t expect to resume exports before The End of the year, which is a huge blow for covax, the scheme set up to ensure an equitable global distribution of vaccines. Our correspondent in delhi, Rajini Vaidyanathan has more. We heard earlier in the week from the who, who are putting pressure on the who, who are putting pressure on the Serum Institute and the Indian Government to make sure that they can get things back on track. Even backin can get things back on track. Even back in march when i was reporting on the suspension of experts, there were many African Nations who were really concerned. This reminds us that this pandemic that is going on here in india at great pace still, which you reported just then, the highest daily debts, we are also reminded that this is an interconnected story. So what is happening here in india, the fact that coronavirus continues and there is a demand domestically for vaccines, is going to impact the rest of the world. Although the headlines have moved on somewhat, the situation in india remains dire. Overall, the daily reported Case Numbers are coming down, certainly in delhi from where i am speaking to you, things are much better. But in other parts of india they are still seeing huge increases. I was talking to an Ngo Worker in the southern city of bangalore, which is seeing huge rises of cases at the moment, and she says she is constantly on the phone trying to help people get a hospital bed, trying to help them get oxygen, all the things we heard about from here in delhi, and she said it is very much the case that this pandemic is not over in india. Health authorities in malawi have burned 19,000 doses of the astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine. They say these jabs had expired and they weren� t sure if they were still safe to use. Malawi is the first african country to publicly destroy expired vaccines. The authorities say this is intended to convince people that alljabs they� re being offered are safe. Our africa Health Correspondent Rhoda Odihambo is in malawi. The Minister Of Health insisted that it had to be made public to exude confidence among the people so they can come out and get vaccinated. In malawi there is a lot of hesitancy when it comes to taking up vaccines. Number one is because of the misinformation people are getting abroad, and also within the country. And there is also the scepticism to people who know the importance of getting vaccinations will say if we had been living like this for so long, then why again do we need the covid19 long, then why again do we need the covid 19 vaccines . These are the reasons that has led to the slow uptake of covid 19 vaccines, but the ministry is doing its best, Coming Up Ministry is doing its best, coming up with appropriate messages to ensure the vaccines are used, the ones that are available, and none of them will be expired. Stay with us On Outside source, still to come. Iceland was my entry to the Eurovision Song Contest. They will noT Perform after one member tests positive for coronavirus. Police investigating a fire that happened at the home of the Chief Executive of celtic Football Club, Peter Lawwell say it was started deliberately. Lorna gordon reports. On the outskirts of glasgow, a fire started delivery at the home a fire started deliberately at the home of one of scottish football� s most significant figures. This footage filmed by a passeR By. Ijust came round the corner and i seen like a massive ball of fire. It was really orange, it lit up the Night Sky there was a lot of Fire Engines and a lot of Police Presence in the area. In daylight, the damage is clear to see. Burnt out cars and the charred remains of what looks like a converted garage attached to the main house. Forensic investigators on site closed off the roads as they continued their investigation. Peter lawwell has been Chief Executive of celtic Football Club for 17 years. During his time at the Helm The Club have won 29 trophies, including 13 league titles. They have not won any trophies this last season. He, his wife, daughter, son in Law And Granddaughter were all at home at the time of the fire. Police scotland say Cctv Footage shows a Man Touring Accelerant shows a man pouring accelerant onto the vehicles parked outside the house. They have described this as a reckless act which caused significant damage and said the consequences could have been so much worse. A spokesperson for celtic Football Club said. Peter� s family are extremely shaken and shocked by these terrible events, but thankfully all our site. Events, but thankfully all are safe. This afternoon, they were seen leaving their home after this distressing and disturbing attack which comes as Peter Lawwell has just a few weeks left as the Chief Executive of celtic before he retires. Lorna gordon, bbc news, south east lanarkshire. This is outside source live from the bbc newsroom. Our Lead Story is. President biden has told israel he expects a significant De Escalation Today in the conflict with the palestinians and a path to a ceasefire. Spain has returned half of the record 8,000 migrants who crossed into the Spanish Territory of ceuta from morocco this week. The territory lies across the sea from spain, on the North African coast. Moroccan guards are reported to have begun closing the border again after they were accused of Turning A Blind Eye to the crossings. The vast majority of the migrants are moroccans in search of a better life in europe, some on them returned voluntarily. Our Correspondent Nick Beake sent this report from ceuta. Once again they were queueing at the bordeR Between morocco and the Spanish Territory. But after arriving on European Soil in record numbers over the past two days, they were now going in the opposite direction, heading home. This 30 year Old Man told us why. His direction, heading home. This 30yearOld Man told us why. No ob, no house, no food. I 30yearOld Man told us why. No ob, no house, no food. We i 30yearOld Man told us why. No ob, no house, no food. We sleep i no house, no food. We sleep industries. So you are going home now . Yes, i go to my house. But sanish now . Yes, i go to my house. But Spanish Police now . Yes, i go to my house. But Spanish Police and soldiers continue to push back those trying to get here, although this was nothing like the previous 48 hours. Spain has now regained control of its border with morocco, helped by the hundreds of extra troops who have been drafted in. At the spanish Prime Minister says this is an ongoing crisis, not just for his country, but for europe as a whole. But at fernando� s Coffee Ljy as a whole. But at fernando� s coffee by the residents we met felt in the eye of the storm. Maria jesus told us the migrants come here because of hunger. Us the migrants come here because of hunter. � , � �. , hunger. Translation but we cannot have 8000 entering hunger. Translation but we cannot have 8000 entering the hunger. Translation but we cannot have 8000 entering the city, hunger. Translation but we cannot have 8000 entering the city, it hunger. Translation but we cannot have 8000 entering the city, it is i have 8000 entering the city, it is too much for the city. Our Prime Minister should put morocco back in its place. Minister should put morocco back in its lace. ~. , its place. Mercedes said she feel sor for its place. Mercedes said she feel sorry for the its place. Mercedes said she feel sorry for the kids its place. Mercedes said she feel sorry for the kids who its place. Mercedes said she feel sorry for the kids who do its place. Mercedes said she feel sorry for the kids who do not i its place. Mercedes said she feell sorry for the kids who do not even have t shirts. There are real people behind this, but it happens every time morocco wants Money Or Something from spain. This latest episode shows your� s migrant crisis has not gone away. The pandemic only masked it. The Eurovision Song Contest made a Triumphant Return in rotterdam Last Night. Thousands of fans packed into a stadium for live performances. Lithuania kicked things off. This was the first of two Semi Finals, there was lots of up tempo pop, as well as some emotional ballads, as you� d expect. Ten countries got voted through to the finals on saturday. The second group of acts have their Semi Final on thursday. Some acts didn� T Travel to the netherlands. Australia sent in a video entry. It was one of several knocked out of the competition. There was plenty of Stranger Stuff too. This russian entry, rapping whilst wearing a giant tea warmer, was voted through. 3,500 fans were allowed in, each of them having first tested negative for coronavirus, twice. It� s certainly a different way of experiencing live performance. This is one of the organisers. We were very happy that we do have an audience, but we do not have the usualfull an audience, but we do not have the usual full House Audience that we have for the song contest, and that is a difference. We usually have the fans on the floor in front of the stage, waving their arms and hands. This year there is no audience on the floor. The bbc� s Anna Holligan was there Last Night speaking to some of the acts, who shared a sense of relief that the contest was going ahead. It is nice to be in front of a crowd again. Everybody for so long has been a lockdown, so it is such a great buzz. How did it go . Everything went crazy and it was really good. We are extremely happy to be here. 50 really good. We are extremely happy to be here. ,. , to be here. So lithuania there, Ust Cominu off to be here. So lithuania there, ust coming off stage. I to be here. So lithuania there, ust coming off stage, and i to be here. So lithuania there, ust coming off stage, and here i to be here. So lithuania there, ust coming off stage, and here we i to be here. So lithuania there, just| coming off stage, and here we have ireland about to go on. This is what the fans are so excited about. Finally the chance to see live music again. And everyone who has got a ticket for this year had one for last as well, but that was cancelled because of covid. The usual Eurovision Fever is heightened because all of these people have been waiting so long this moment. While people are excited, there are concerns as well. Two delegations have reported positive tests since reaching rotterdam. I have reported positive tests since reaching rotterdam. Have reported positive tests since reaching rotterdam. I have not been outside in a reaching rotterdam. I have not been outside in a week, reaching rotterdam. I have not been outside in a week, actually. Reaching rotterdam. I have not been outside in a week, actually. But, i outside in a week, actually. But, yeah, right, we are still dealing with it and it is a very real threat still to everyone� s l. There� s since been another positive Covid Test in one of the delegations anna mentioned there. This is iceland� s act. After one Band Member tested postive the rest say they won� T Perform in thursday� s Semi Final. Their entry will still go forward but it will be as a Video Recording of their rehearsal performance. Ewan spence is an editor at the podcast and website, eurovision insight. Thank you for coming on the programme. Good afternoon and good evening to everyone in the bbc. This is difficult circumstances to be putting on such a huge event like this. How do you think they have handled it so far . I this. How do you think they have handled it so far . Handled it so far . I think it has been a frankly handled it so far . I think it has been a frankly remarkable i handled it so far . I think it has been a frankly remarkable that handled it so far . I think it has i been a frankly remarkable that the Eurovision Song Contest was one of the first cancellations after much of europe went into lockdown in March 2020 and it promised then it would be back in 2021 and it is. It is one of the first Big Music events to come back with a live audience and it is about 95 of what we would have expected from a eurovision from the before times. The organisers have worked hard on covid protocols and they have worked hard on dealing with all the issues that have arisen without coming through, keeping the press and the audience together. But what is happening on screen is we are still getting the Eurovision Song Contest. People at home having their small, socially distant parties, are going to have a wonderful show for the second semifinal on thursday and the Grand Final on saturday. You semifinal on thursday and the Grand Final on saturday. Final on saturday. You are giving top marks final on saturday. You are giving top marks to final on saturday. You are giving top marks to the final on saturday. You are giving top marks to the organisers i final on saturday. You are giving top marks to the organisers of. Final on saturday. You are giving i top marks to the organisers of the events in the difficult circumstances. What marks are you giving to the performances we have seen so far . Giving to the performances we have seen so far . One of the great things is that many seen so far . One of the great things is that many of seen so far . One of the great things is that many of the seen so far . One of the great things is that many of the artists seen so far . One of the great things is that many of the artists who i seen so far . One of the great things is that many of the artists who were | is that many of the artists who were not able to make it last year, about two thirds of them, have come back again this year. Because they knew they were coming back they have spent more time working on their song and they could push the artistic envelope a bit more and the quality this year, speaking to people in the fan community, is much higher. This year is a golden year for songs that are coming out, from ukraine, to a supermodel from italy, right up to the modern sound of the united kingdom and the soulful R B of malta. There is something in here for everybody, even those who like the Classic French sound. That for everybody, even those who like the Classic French sound. The Classic French sound. That is treat to the Classic French sound. That is great to hear. The Classic French sound. That is great to hear, a the Classic French sound. That is great to hear, a bumper the Classic French sound. That is great to hear, a bumper year. I the Classic French sound. That is l great to hear, a bumper year. This is not unfair, but i will ask you anyway, we have got ten seconds left, who will win or who shall we look out for . Look out for . Italy, france or malta. Look out for . Italy, france or Malta 0r look out for . Italy, france or malta. Or norway look out for . Italy, france or malta. Or norway at look out for . Italy, france or malta. Or norway at an i look out for . Italy, france or i malta. Or norway at an outside look out for . Italy, france or malta. Or norway at an outside gas. Who knows . It is such a closely packed year. Who knows . It is such a closely packed year who knows . It is such a closely acked ear. ,. , . Packed year. Great stuff, thank you so much for packed year. Great stuff, thank you so much for coming packed year. Great stuff, thank you so much for coming on packed year. Great stuff, thank you so much for coming on the packed year. Great stuff, thank you i so much for coming on the programme. Thank you for watching. Good evening. It certainly has been a showery week so far, hasn� t it . But the Showers Today have been a little less frequent, and out to the west, there has been some decent spells of sunshine. In the sunshine it has felt quite pleasant, a beautiful afternoon in dorset. Shower clouds threatening in the Isle Of Sheppey in kent, but even here, the showers have been lighter in comparison to the last couple of days. You can see those shower clouds, with the best of the sunshine out to the west. I want to draw your attention, however, to this mass of cloud pushing in off the atlantic. It� s a Weather Front which is winding its way in over the next few hours and will arrive during the early hours of thursday morning. It� s going to bring some Heavy Rain and some unseasonably strong winds, really. Ahead of it, we will have the best of the clearer skies across eastern england, some showers continuing into scotland, Clouding Over from the west. So here, temperatures will hold up at around 8 9 celsius to start off thursday. The rain will be quite heavy as it moves in through Northern Ireland, southern Scotland And North West England and wales in particular. Turning Light And Showery across central and southern england, and perhaps not really making much of an impression into the far north of scotland. But the winds, really a feature, widely gusting at 30mph to 40mph. Perhaps, on exposed south west coast, it could even be close to 60mph at times. So, the temperatures are going to be subdued in comparison to today. Highs of 10 14 celsius quite widely. The low continues to move in and anchors itself close to the Scottish Borders in the north of england. The strongest of the wind is down to the south. That is going to continue to push in frequent spells of Heavy Rain across england and wales, and it is going to be windy with it. Showers into the far north of scotland, perhaps a little bit quieter for Northern Ireland through friday afternoon. But, again, a blustery day for this time of year, strongest of the winds across the channel coasts, possibly up to 60mph. Temperatures again, subdued for the time of year, 8 14 celsius the high. We get a Brief Respite for the start of the weekend, a little more drier and sunnier weather around, before slowly, another front comes in towards The End of sunday from the west. But once we get sunday and monday out of the way, High Pressure is set to build, and that for our final week of may should bring us some dry and sunny weather. Unfortunately, temperatures, though, only average. This is bbc news. I� m martine croxhall. The Headlines Surge Testing and more vaccines will be made available in six new areas of concern in england to combat the spread of the indian Variant. With cases of the new Variant still rising, the government has said it� s important people get vaccinated. As the Prime Minister said at lunch time, we have increasing confidence that the vaccines are effective against it. That means that our strategy is the right one. Thousands of volunteers in the uk are to receive a Booster Covid 19 vaccination as part of the first Clinical Trial in the world. The Prime Minister defends his advice noT Travel to Amber List countries on holiday as labour accuses ministers of Confused And Contradictory messages. Meanwhile Eu Ambassadors back plans to allow tourists who� ve had both their covid jabs to visit europe this summer