of fuel that aid agencies say is vital to power generators and other equipment. uk prime minister rishi sunak has met israel prime minister benjamin netanyahu as well as israel president isaac herzog in the last hour and expressed his solidarity with israel and also stated the need for humanitarian access. let's ta ke let's take a listen to the press conference between benjamin netanyahu and rishi sunak. the fact ou came netanyahu and rishi sunak. the fact you came to — netanyahu and rishi sunak. the fact you came to israel— netanyahu and rishi sunak. the fact you came to israel tells _ netanyahu and rishi sunak. the fact you came to israel tells us _ netanyahu and rishi sunak. the fact you came to israel tells us a - netanyahu and rishi sunak. the fact you came to israel tells us a lot. - netanyahu and rishi sunak. the fact you came to israel tells us a lot. i i you came to israel tells us a lot. i said to president biden yesterday there is one more thing heart—warming than standing with israel is standing in israel. the fact you did that is a very strong statement of support which we appreciate. the chancellor who visited called hamas the new nazis. he was right. you fought the nazis 80 years ago, resolutely. the entire world supported you. president biden called hamas worst than isis. they are the new nazis, the new isis, and we have to fight them together, just as the world united to fight the nazis and against hamas, it must stand with israel as we fight and defeat how. it is a battle of the entire world, israel, the modern arab countries and the battle of western civilisation and the free world and the future. we have two marker forces, world and the future. we have two markerforces, one is an world and the future. we have two marker forces, one is an axis of evil, that want to bring back the middle east of the middle ages to an age of bondage and war and slavery and annihilation. the other force age of bondage and war and slavery and annihilation. the otherforce is of progress and humanity that want to push the middle east into a world of peace and prosperity. we're on the of destroying that, that was why the of destroying that, that was why the action was taken. we have two win. we have their children, babies, women, holocaust survivors, and we have to work together and we are doing that to get them back. i appreciate you sent some military forces into the region. i value that. the civilised world stood review 80 years ago. this is our darkest hour, the world's darkest hour. we need to stand together and win. this is why i value your support, and the fact you are here, we must win together. that means this is a long war, and we will need your continued support. there will be ups and downs and difficulties. the people are united and prepared to take the necessary action. i've never seen the people of israel more united than they are now. we need that unity across—the—board and continuous support as we prosecute and win this just war against the modern barbarians, the worse monsters on the planet. thank you for coming here.— for coming here. prime minister, thank ou for coming here. prime minister, thank you for— for coming here. prime minister, thank you for your _ for coming here. prime minister, thank you for your warm - for coming here. prime minister, thank you for your warm words . for coming here. prime minister, l thank you for your warm words and welcome _ thank you for your warm words and welcome me. i'm sorry to be here in such_ welcome me. i'm sorry to be here in such terrible — welcome me. i'm sorry to be here in such terrible circumstances. in the last two _ such terrible circumstances. in the last two weeks this country has gone through— last two weeks this country has gone through something no people should have to _ through something no people should have to endure, the stubble israel, which _ have to endure, the stubble israel, which has _ have to endure, the stubble israel, which has lived through some of the most _ which has lived through some of the most awfui— which has lived through some of the most awful scenes, terrorism everyday _ most awful scenes, terrorism everyday. i want to share the condolences of the british people. and stress we absolutely support israei's _ and stress we absolutely support israel's right to defend itself in line with — israel's right to defend itself in line with international law, to take back hostages, and to strengthen your security for the long—term. i know— your security for the long—term. i know you — your security for the long—term. i know you are taking every precaution to stop _ know you are taking every precaution to stop harming civilians, against hamas _ to stop harming civilians, against hamas i— to stop harming civilians, against hamas. i want to thank you for the support— hamas. i want to thank you for the support your government has given to the families _ support your government has given to the families of british nationals caught— the families of british nationals caught up in this horror, including your— caught up in this horror, including your efforts — caught up in this horror, including your efforts to release the hostages, secure their release. i know— hostages, secure their release. i know you — hostages, secure their release. i know you will continue to cooperate with the _ know you will continue to cooperate with the british nationals involved. can with the british nationals involved. cah i_ with the british nationals involved. cah i also— with the british nationals involved. can i also say we have seen the scehes— can i also say we have seen the scenes over— can i also say we have seen the scenes over the past day that i'm shocked — scenes over the past day that i'm shocked all others, particularly at the hospital. we mourn the loss of every— the hospital. we mourn the loss of every light, — the hospital. we mourn the loss of every light, civilians of every faith — every light, civilians of every faith and _ every light, civilians of every faith and nationality who have been killed~ _ faith and nationality who have been killed~ we — faith and nationality who have been killed. we recognise the palestinian people _ killed. we recognise the palestinian people are victims of hamas as well. that is— people are victims of hamas as well. that is why— people are victims of hamas as well. that is why i — people are victims of hamas as well. that is why i welcome your decision yesterday— that is why i welcome your decision yesterday that you talk to ensure routes _ yesterday that you talk to ensure routes into gaza will be open for humanitarian aid to enter. i am glad you made _ humanitarian aid to enter. i am glad you made that decision. we will supported, we will look to get more support— supported, we will look to get more support to _ supported, we will look to get more support to people as quickly as we can. ., support to people as quickly as we can, ., ., , �* , can. that was the uk prime minister meetin: can. that was the uk prime minister meeting with _ can. that was the uk prime minister meeting with the _ can. that was the uk prime minister meeting with the israeli _ can. that was the uk prime minister meeting with the israeli prime - meeting with the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. that was the first part of what we expect to be a two—day visit by the uk prime minister. we are now hearing reports that after the visit, rishi sunak will head to saudi arabia to meet with the crown prince. reports coming, but we are starting to get an indication of what the visit will look like. you will know president biden visiting the region yesterday, but his meeting with arab leaders was cancelled after the explosion at the hospital in gaza. this an indication rishi sunak could be travelling to saudi arabia later. we were told he will meet with the crown prince. let's get the very latest on a day of diplomacy. let me come to you first, because a day of diplomacy and the focus once again is how to get that much—needed aid into gaza. again is how to get that much-needed aid into gaza-— aid into gaza. yes, that is a huge focus. aid into gaza. yes, that is a huge focus- we — aid into gaza. yes, that is a huge focus. we heard _ aid into gaza. yes, that is a huge focus. we heard that _ aid into gaza. yes, that is a huge focus. we heard that again - aid into gaza. yes, that is a huge | focus. we heard that again picked aid into gaza. yes, that is a huge - focus. we heard that again picked up ijy focus. we heard that again picked up by rishi sunak in his press conference the way of israel's prime minister. joe biden was here yesterday, you have the un secretary—general in egypt today. the british foreign secretary is in egypt. he held talks with egypt's foreign secretary, everyone saying how important it is to get the aid into gaza, and egypt is key to getting its own. a tentative agreement brokered byjoe biden that 20 trucks should be able to enter the gaza strip to bring much—needed food, water and medical supplies, but not fuel because israel is worried it could diverted by hamas and used to help their attacks on israel from the gaza strip. israel has also said even when an initial convoy of aid start, it was the aid arriving at any moment ever sees any other supplies diverted by hamas. it is a fragile and difficult situation. you talked about diplomacy, often in a moment of international crisis, when we see leaders moving around the world, we talk about frantic diplomacy. it can sound like a throwaway line. a concern that the very volatile situation here could spread flames further into the middle east. we've seen that exchange of fire on the northern border between israel and lebanon. gaza is to the south, so israel worrying it could have a war on two fronts. rishi sunak is supposed to have another day in the region. that report he is expected to head to saudi arabia. and so bring that round, we heard israel's prime minister say when you try to bring peace into this complex region known for conflict, there had been talk recently of a normalising of relations being worked towards between israel and saudi arabia, and many saying that possibly one of the motives for the timing of hamas attacks on israeli soil could have been to stop that normalisation. that is a region where neighbours matter, they have huge influence on what is going on, and what goes on between israel and the palestinians has a huge effect on the wider middle east.— has a huge effect on the wider middle east. �* , , middle east. let's bring in damien in westminster. _ middle east. let's bring in damien in westminster. that _ middle east. let's bring in damien in westminster. that line - middle east. let's bring in damien in westminster. that line that - middle east. let's bring in damien in westminster. that line that the | in westminster. that line that the next part of this visit will include the trip to saudi arabia. downing street say later this afternoon he will fly to meet with the crown prince, describing saudi arabia as an important partner. that is the aim of this visit, to get world leaders on side to prevent an escalation of the crisis. it is leaders on side to prevent an escalation of the crisis. it is one ofthe escalation of the crisis. it is one of the aim _ escalation of the crisis. it is one of the aims. now _ escalation of the crisis. it is one of the aims. now confirmation l escalation of the crisis. it is one - of the aims. now confirmation from downing _ of the aims. now confirmation from downing street. i was trying to check— downing street. i was trying to check the — downing street. i was trying to check the line, they say yes, the official— check the line, they say yes, the official spokesman has said rishi sunak— official spokesman has said rishi sunak is— official spokesman has said rishi sunak is going to saudi arabia. they say they— sunak is going to saudi arabia. they say they won't confirm any further potential — say they won't confirm any further potential stops in the middle east. that is— potential stops in the middle east. that is being done as the trip goes, for security — that is being done as the trip goes, for security reasons. at the minute, going _ for security reasons. at the minute, going to _ for security reasons. at the minute, going to saudi arabia. new head catcher— going to saudi arabia. new head catcher say there, and benjamin netanyahu said he thought one of the reasons— netanyahu said he thought one of the reasons for— netanyahu said he thought one of the reasons for the timing of the attack was that— reasons for the timing of the attack was that israel was approaching normalising relations with saudi arabia _ normalising relations with saudi arabia through the abraham accord brokered _ arabia through the abraham accord brokered by the us. 0ne arabia through the abraham accord brokered by the us. one of the reasons— brokered by the us. one of the reasons for what has happened was to try and _ reasons for what has happened was to try and forestall that, and that seems — try and forestall that, and that seems to— try and forestall that, and that seems to have passed. the issue now for rishi _ seems to have passed. the issue now for rishi sunak, going to saudi arabia, — for rishi sunak, going to saudi arabia, he _ for rishi sunak, going to saudi arabia, he will then be talking about— arabia, he will then be talking about those issues of regional security, — about those issues of regional security, ties with israel, concerns about— security, ties with israel, concerns about security. but also it was interesting what we heard in his summary— interesting what we heard in his summary as he stood alongside benjamin — summary as he stood alongside benjamin netanyahu, the expression of support, _ benjamin netanyahu, the expression of support, saying we stand with israel _ of support, saying we stand with israel he — of support, saying we stand with israel. he said he was proud to stand _ israel. he said he was proud to stand in— israel. he said he was proud to stand in israel's darkest hour, we want _ stand in israel's darkest hour, we want you — stand in israel's darkest hour, we want you to — stand in israel's darkest hour, we want you to win. that was in the light— want you to win. that was in the light of— want you to win. that was in the light of benjamin netanyahu saying it will be _ light of benjamin netanyahu saying it will be a long war, we need your continuous — it will be a long war, we need your continuous support. vitally important for the israelis to see the demonstration of support. 0ne the demonstration of support. one interesting note, we heard rishi sunak— interesting note, we heard rishi sunak saying he wanted to see more moves _ sunak saying he wanted to see more moves to— sunak saying he wanted to see more moves to getting aid into gaza, thanking — moves to getting aid into gaza, thanking the israelis for what has happened so far, which could be some aid tomorrow. in the comments i heard _ aid tomorrow. in the comments i heard from — aid tomorrow. in the comments i heard from benjamin netanyahu, he didn't— heard from benjamin netanyahu, he didn't speak of aid. it seems it is that one — didn't speak of aid. it seems it is that one movement tomorrow. we don't know if— that one movement tomorrow. we don't know if rishi _ that one movement tomorrow. we don't know if rishi sunak has secured anything — know if rishi sunak has secured anything more. know if rishi sunak has secured anything more-— know if rishi sunak has secured an him more. ., , anything more. damien, really good to let anything more. damien, really good to get that- — anything more. damien, really good to get that. more _ anything more. damien, really good to get that. more from _ anything more. damien, really good to get that. more from both - anything more. damien, really good to get that. more from both of- anything more. damien, really goodj to get that. more from both of them later. the focus is on getting aid into gaza. how will that happen and when. as trucks carrying aid queue on the egyptian side of gaza's southern border, the un and international aid agencies have become increasingly alarmed at the unfolding humanitarian crisis. on a visit to israel that lasted barely a day, while reaffirming his steadfast support, joe biden also pressed the case for aid for gaza's 2.5 million palestinian citizens, many of whom are struggling to get access to food, water and medical supplies. then on the plane home, the president told reporters that a deal had been reached. egypt had agreed to let an initial 20 trucks in through the rafah crossing. this has been a very blunt negotiation i've had, and so we want to get as many of the trucks out as possible. there's, i guess, 150 or something there, not all of them will go. the first tranche, if there's a second tranche, see how it goes. the aid will be delivered under un supervision, with the president saying it might not arrive until friday. there was also a warning that it will stop if any is taken by hamas, which had been one of israel's main concerns. we've said, and the americans have said, that there have to be safeguards in place to make sure that aid goes to the people it's supposed to go to. now, hamas are the only people in gaza with guns, and it's not like if they come to an oil tanker and say "come here," there's much that you can do about it. but there have to be arrangements in place to make sure that that doesn't happen. both israeli and palestinian officials are still blaming each other for a huge explosion at a gaza hospital that killed almost 500 people. president biden had earlier said he believed israel's version of events. as the dead were buried, the blame game continued and tensions rise, ahead of what many assume is an inevitable israeli ground invasion of gaza. and with almost 200 hostages held by hamas inside gaza, there are concerns that direct israeli action might jeopardise their safety. their families will have taken some comfort after president biden said he'd also discussed their plight, saying he could not reveal details, but there was no higher priority than their safe return. there will be more diplomatic visits in coming days, including rishi sunak�*s today, supporting israel's right to self—defence, but also urging restraint with civilian populations when, as expected, israeli ground forces do go into gaza. wyre davies, bbc news. we will look at the importance of the rafah crossing later in the programme, a significant entry point. all that for you to come. around the world and across the uk, you were watching bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news people in parts of scotland are urged to stay at home as storm babet is expected to bring severe flooding and disruption. the storm is currently hitting ireland and the army has been deployed to a town where more than 100 properties were flooded. we'll have more details in our weather update a little later polls have opened for by—elections in two key english consituencies. voters will decide who replaces nadine dorries in mid—bedfordshire and chris pincher in tamworth after the conservative mps stood down. polling stations opened at 7am and will close at 10pm this evening, with results expected from early on friday morning. welsh water has admitted illegally spilling untreated sewage at dozens of treatment plants for years. it comes after the bbc presented the water company with analysis of its own data. in one of the worst affected areas, the company has been spilling untreated sewage into an environmentally protected area near a rare dolphin habitat for at least a decade. more on all of those stories online. you're live with bbc news. as we are reporting, palestinians in the war—torn gaza strip are desperately awaiting the arrival of aid trucks promised under a deal us presidentjoe biden struck with egypt and israel. let's look in more detail at what has been causing the delays. there are three border crossings to get in and out. in the north we have the crossing and in the south we have commercial goods. these border israel and are both currently closed. the third option is the rafah crossing, the only one which doesn't border israel, it borders egypt. the only route to get humanitarian aids. let's have a look at the crossing. 0n the right year we have gaza, under that we've got egypt. if we go in closer, we have customs at the rafah border, the fence runs along here, and we have the access road from gaza to egypt. since israel started to conduct ps strikes on gaza more than a week ago, that border crossing has been closed. in cctv footage verified by the bbc, we see an explosion at the border. despite the fact it has been close, we've seen thousands of civilians gathering at the border this week in gaza, hoping to get into egypt. 0n the egyptian side we've seen hundreds of aid lorries trying to get those supplies into gaza. now it seems some of them might be able to do it. since presidentjoe biden's visit we know and agreement has been made to allow 20 trucks of aid into gaza, which will be the first wave. there could be a second. they will be focusing on repairing the road for better access, which could take a few days. it is unclear if people will also be allowed through. what is israel's response? they said they won't block the supplies so as long as hamas don't have access to them. meghan 0wen on the details of the crossing. live now to our egyptian correspondent abdel bassir hassan in ismailia — near the suez canal. just talk to as about the significance of reopening the crossing. we are led to believe that a hundreds of trucks on the egyptian side, but the deal remains thatjust 21 make it through. the border crossing is closed at the minute. it crossing is closed at the minute. it is so far no major changes at the border, at least from the palestinian side. so far, just minutes ago, two hospitals have arrived at the border from the egyptian side. these are to go into gaza and weightthere, according to egyptian statements. it will deploy hospitals at the date. 0nce egyptian statements. it will deploy hospitals at the date. once it is open, it is not open so far. as a report said just now, the distance between the two gates, which is almost like 500 metres is destroyed. it is logistically inappropriate to receive or allow the movement of travellers or even trucks into the other side. and there are no staff at the other side of the crossing, since it was targeted by the israeli air strikes some days ago. the egyptian foreign minister has stated last night that these are only the main obstacles against opening the crossing. 0nce main obstacles against opening the crossing. once it is clear egypt will give guarantees from the israeli side it will not target those going to work to repair the damages, it is ok, they will start work from the egyptian side. 0nce work from the egyptian side. once the international organisations, the staff who are going to be in gaza to receive the aid, are having a plan and clear mechanism on how they will hand the assistance. an important point is that the egyptian foreign minister said they will allow the foreign passport holders and allowing the aid to gaza. he said the difference. 0nce allowing the aid to gaza. he said the difference. once the border crossing is open logistically, the foreign passport holder will be subject to normal procedures of chequered their identities. it doesn't have to be related to the admission of the assistance. this is according to the egyptian foreign minister. 0nce according to the egyptian foreign minister. once the border is open, the foreign nationals will be allowed after checking their papers and identifying them and make the necessary checking measures on such cases. this is the situation at the moment. it has been reported israel has decided a safe zone is set to be receiving the aids. close to the border, and will be supervised by the international organisations. it the international organisations. it is good to have you with us. i am sure you will keep a close eye on the border. thank you. ijust want to take you to the live pictures from a hospitaljust outside, a place where many of the gazans are. we've been following these pictures. and forgive some of the movement, but there is a big plume of smoke, one would assume some sort of attack. this is the scene outside a hospital. we will keep a close eye on that. we don't know what we will see, so we will come away from the pictures. and the picture looking towards gaza from southern israel. there have been repeated air strikes, israel says it has hit targets overnight. those pictures we were looking out suggest the air strikes are continuing in parts of gaza. there has been continued diplomacy today. the uk prime minister has been that meeting with the israeli prime minister. we are told he will continue his visit as he makes his way toward saudi arabia to meet with the crown prince. this is the latest picture from gaza. we will have the latest headlines for you coming up next. stay with us on bbc news. hello again. storm babet has been making its presence felt, in the sense we've have had some heavy rain and strong winds, and that will continue through the day. the met office have its highest level of warning — the red warning — in force for angus and south aberdeenshire for heavy rain, and that comes into play at 18:00 tonight and lasts until noon tomorrow. now, you can see over the next few days, all of us are going to see some rain, but the heaviest will be across north—east scotland and the pennines, where some parts will have in excess of 100 millilitres. as we go through the rest of today, then, the rain becomes ensconced and stalls across north east scotland. we'll see further rain into the south. but for northern ireland, england and wales, it's sunshine and showers. some of those showers are going to be heavy and thundery, some merging to give longer spells of rain, and it's going to be windy wherever you are. but the met office has an amber weather warning out for the strength of wind across north—east scotland, especially close to the coast, we could have gusts of 70 mph, so some large waves. and just under that, you can see another rain warning, and another one across the north—east, where we could have 100 millimetres of rainfall. but it's the red warning area that's giving us most concern. here, we could have up to 250 millimetres of rain and extensive flooding's quite possible — as, indeed, is further disruption. now, as we head through the evening and overnight, the rain continues across the north, it's going to be windy, with gales — even severe gales — across the north and east, and then it looks like a new area of low pressure is going to show its hand across parts of england and also wales. it's not going to be a cold night, though. now, tomorrow, this area of rain across the south—east is still open to question. it might drift a bit further west quicker than we're showing here or slower, so do keep in touch with the weather forecast. but the rain will ease off across scotland. and although it's still going to be very windy, with coastal gales along the east coast, we're not looking at the gusts of 70 mph that we're likely to see today. then as we head on into saturday, well, depending what happens on friday, the low pressure looks like it's going to pull off into the north sea. it will be brighter out towards the west, we'll have further rain across the north of scotland and the wind will still be a feature, but it won't be as windy as it's going to be in the next couple of days. and it's only slowly as we move into sunday, things start to ease further. this is bbc news. the headlines: the diplomacy continues to get desperately needed aid into gaza. but for now, the border remains closed. the uk's rishi sunak meets israel's leaders, expressing his solidarity. but also urging humanitarian support for gaza. the support for gaza. palestinian people are victims of the palestinian people are victims of hamas too, and that is why i welcome your decision yesterday that you took to ensure that routes into gaza will be opened for humanitarian aid to enter. benjamin netanyahu describes the conflict as israel's �*darkest hour', and says the country needs continued support. this is not merely our battle, it is the battle — this is not merely our battle, it is the battle of the entire civilised world — the battle of the entire civilised world it — the battle of the entire civilised world. it is the battle of israel, it is the — world. it is the battle of israel, it is the battle of the modern arab countries, — it is the battle of the modern arab countries, it is the battle of western _ countries, it is the battle of western civilisation, the battle of the free — western civilisation, the battle of the free world, the battle for the future _ and the situation's also tense on israeli's northern border, where troops have exchanged fire with hezbollah. so clearly, the focus today has been on gaza _ so clearly, the focus today has been on gaza and — so clearly, the focus today has been on gaza and the attempt to get a depot _ on gaza and the attempt to get a depot in — on gaza and the attempt to get a depot in egypt.