out of water and oxygen. in a statement, dr mohammed abu salmiya said israeli troops had blown up the main water supply line. he described the conditions as tragic, with patients screaming from thirst. and he said israeli tanks are surrounding the hospital, drones are flying overhead and soldiers are moving inside. rushdi abualouf reports from gaza. all communication is down tonight in gaza, and is going to be down for a long time because this time is not by israel. it's because of the lack of fuel. the telecommunication company announced this morning that they are running out of fuel. and since the egyptians are only allowing about 25,000 liters of fuel to to run the essential transport transporting of aid from gaza into from egypt into gaza only going to be used by the un. all of the communication is down, internet is down, and the two mobile carrier here is down. and getting the information is very difficult. last call i made to our contact in shifa hospital. he was talking about tanks and hundreds of soldiers are storming the hospital again, searching from room to room, calling in loudspeakers, the people to go out. he said they were shooting randomly into the building, destroying many cars and also bulldozing some of the external wall to the hospital. he said tanks were inside the the hospital and he was screaming on the phone saying that this is maybe the last call since 4:00 in the morning here local time. no information was available from the gaza city in the north and here in the south, the sound of israeli drones and sound of israeli f—i6 are flying overhead. and there is no no information about any sort of fresh israeli attacks because all of the communication is down. it's extremely difficult to contact people in the north and in gaza city and also communication among the people here. about a million people are displaced in the southern gaza. tonight is also difficult. the israeli army took the bbc into a small part of al—shifa hospital, and showed it rifles, ammunition and body armour it says hamas had hidden there. the idf also said it had found laptops containing photos and videos of hostages held by hamas, which is considered a terror organisation by the uk and many other western governments. israeli military restrictions meant that our correspondent lucy williamson wasn't allowed to speak to doctors or patients, but her words weren't censored, and she described what she saw. we're in an israeli military vehicle inside the gaza strip now. they're taking us towards gaza city. this area, we're passing through an area where the ground operation first began weeks ago now. and since then, the israeli army has fought its way methodically towards gaza city, towards the gates of the shifa hospital. and that's where they're taking us now. we're still being told to keep our lights off. are we going this way? well, the israeli army has been really searching through this hospital. you can see they've had to force the door of the mri room here to get inside. they've been looking for evidence of this being a hamas base, a place where hamas planned attacks. and they say that among the things they've uncovered are more than a dozen kalashnikovs, grenades, personal protective equipment, some of it with the hamas military brigade insignia on it. you can see some of them here hidden under these bags of medical supplies. we're also told that there have been laptops found with some information about the hostages. they also found some recent files that suggest this may have been a hamas operating base as recently as a few days ago. 0sama hamdan is a senior representative of hamas in lebanon. he's been giving a press conference and has been responding to the israeli claims that the al shifa hospital is a hamas stronghold. all those weapons were not in shifa. there is no center or control room for hamas in this hospital. we avoid all the hospitals all the time. the israelis, they have said that about rantisi hospital and they were lying. they said that about al-quds hospital and everyone realised that they were lying and now everyone is watching their lies. even with the support of the united states administration, which is a very silly and stupid support because you can'tjust believe netanyahu, who is a liar and everyone knows that. he was also asked about the israeli hostages being held in gaza. he refused to acknowledge they were hostages and insisted they want to release them. we started by saying we are ready to release them. in fact, we want to release them and send them back, although they are not in the hands of hamas, but we will work in order to bring them from everywhere in gaza. there was no conditions. in fact, at the beginning, netanyahu himself rejected to have them. we sent two americans and then we sent two israelis even with the rejection of netanyahu and his government. we have reached approximately a conclusion three times before through the mediators and each time netanyahu undermines that. so if anyone wants to see them back, he has to make his own pressure on netanyahu, no—one else. we are joined now by nawaf al—thani, former director of defense intelligence operations in qatar, and former defense attache�* to the us. thanks very much for being with us. we understand that you don't represent the qatari government now but if you can just explain to us, having done both, formally, can you explain what the relationship is between qatar intelligence, the us, israel, how they might be working together now, specifically when it comes to securing the release of some 240 hostages held by hamas although they deny that, as we have just heard but taken by ms on october seven. the other miguel, 0ctober seven. the other miguel, usually, and i assuming this is no different to the case in qatar right now, the foreign ministry leads or negotiation efforts. there are negotiating efforts that they have built in the past decades of doing this. , , ., this. they will be leading the with counterparts _ this. they will be leading the with counterparts in _ this. they will be leading the with counterparts in israel. _ this. they will be leading the with counterparts in israel. and, - counterparts in israel. and, obviously, with the hamas presence on the ground. h0??? obviously, with the hamas presence on the ground-— on the ground. how does the fact that hamas _ on the ground. how does the fact that hamas political _ on the ground. how does the fact that hamas political leadership i on the ground. how does the fact that hamas political leadership isj that hamas political leadership is hosted by qatar help or hinder, do you think, in these possible negotiations? at mac i believe that, having a clear line of communication is vitalfor having a clear line of communication is vital for those acts. i having a clear line of communication is vital for those acts.— is vital for those acts. i believe this is not _ is vital for those acts. i believe this is not theoretic. _ is vital for those acts. i believe this is not theoretic. we - is vital for those acts. i believe this is not theoretic. we have i is vital for those acts. i believe - this is not theoretic. we have seen negotiations succeed and hostages being released, israelis and americans in the past, so this is a proven methodology and i think the qataris have to be given every chance to succeed and from what i am observing they are very optimistic, the israelis need to show more seriousness in their efforts towards releasing the hostages by cooperating with the negotiators in this process. cooperating with the negotiators in this process-— this process. what are you seeing that made you — this process. what are you seeing that made you optimistic - this process. what are you seeing that made you optimistic becausej this process. what are you seeing i that made you optimistic because we have spoken to many relatives of hostages here in the bbc who say they have heard nothing. they don't have communication for measure land we spoke to israeli government representatives to again say they have heard very little so what makes you optimistic?— you optimistic? well, two things. the track record _ you optimistic? well, two things. the track record of _ you optimistic? well, two things. the track record of the _ you optimistic? well, two things. the track record of the qatari - the track record of the qatari negotiators. even as recently as during this conflict, we have seen the release of ukrainian children and return from russia to ukraine while the gaza conflict was going. plus the successes that i've mentioned in gaza before. that is the first reason for, i would believe, cautious optimism but optimism nonetheless. the other is the qataris are not given up on this. they have stated the prime minister and foreign minister have stated on the negotiating teams and stated on the negotiating teams and stated many times that they are committed to this process. but it is cautious optimism because the second part of this is a seriousness from the israelis to move forward. unfortunately, that optimism, while it is within me today, is diminishing day by day with every refusal for the israelis moving forward. ~ ., ., .,~ refusal for the israelis moving forward. ., ., forward. what do you make of the comments — forward. what do you make of the comments we _ forward. what do you make of the comments we just _ forward. what do you make of the comments we just heard - forward. what do you make of the comments we just heard from - forward. what do you make of the comments we just heard from a l forward. what do you make of the - comments we just heard from a hammer spokesperson talking in lebanon saying that actually the hostages are not in the hands of hamas and that they do want to give them back? —— make hamas. the that they do want to give them back? -- make hamas-— -- make hamas. the hostages and palestinian — -- make hamas. the hostages and palestinian civilians _ -- make hamas. the hostages and palestinian civilians are _ -- make hamas. the hostages and palestinian civilians are paramount| palestinian civilians are paramount for the qatari negotiators. we have seen that actually have an effect. we've seen hostages being released so we cannot doubt something that we have already seen being effective. we have already seen foreign nationals living in gaza through the negotiated process being able to leave in the hundreds. there are still gaza, unfortunately. the restrictions by the israelis on humanitarian aid and also people leaving gaza has hindered a lot of that but it all hinges on israel's seriousness for a ceasefire so the negotiations and other efforts towards stopping the killing of civilians, which is extremely unfortunate, that is the only thing that hinges on it and it returns to what the israelis will do.- that hinges on it and it returns to what the israelis will do. when you are defence — what the israelis will do. when you are defence attach _ what the israelis will do. when you are defence attach it _ what the israelis will do. when you are defence attach it to _ what the israelis will do. when you are defence attach it to the - what the israelis will do. when you are defence attach it to the us, - are defence attach it to the us, what was your view? what is your view now and the influence that the us brings to bear on his real when it comes to any pause in its actions or the ceasefire that you talk of? whatever they feel they do to bring those hostages home. weill. whatever they feel they do to bring those hostages home.— whatever they feel they do to bring those hostages home. well, my view toda , i those hostages home. well, my view today. i can — those hostages home. well, my view today. i can only _ those hostages home. well, my view today, i can only speak _ those hostages home. well, my view today, i can only speak of _ those hostages home. well, my view today, i can only speak of my - those hostages home. well, my view today, i can only speak of my view. today, i can only speak of my view today, i can only speak of my view today as it has developed through the years and today, as a researcher, as a lecturer, as an observer, give a lecture yesterday georgetown university and speaking to the students there we mentioned that the idea of negotiating is ingrained in me constitution and its heritage and its history, which is something quite rare in many countries where constitutional article does call for negotiation and peaceful resolution and de—escalation. so i think that is the driving force between everything that qatar has been doing, least of which the issue of hostage negotiation and the resolve of the conflict and peaceful resolution. thank you very much forjoining us from washington. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. in a world first, british regulators have approved a gene therapy that aims to cure two blood disorders, sickle cell disease beta thalassemia. it's the first treatment to be licensed that uses a tool known as crispr, which can be used to correct faults in the dna of cells, allowing them to produce haemoglobin. the energy regulator, 0fgem, is launching a public consultation on standing charges. the fees are added to most gas and electricity bills at a daily rate, and can't be reduced no matter how much you cut back on your usage. people have until the nineteenth of january to submit their views. bbc analysis shows two—thirds of nhs maternity units in england don't consistently meet safety standards, as assessed by the health regulator. the care quality commission says maternity has the worst safety ratings of all the hospital services it inspects. the government said maternity care is of the �*utmost importance'. you're live with bbc news. pedro sanchez has won a parliamentary vote giving him a second term as spain's prime minister. the country is divided, though, over his decision to grant catalan separatists an amnesty in return for their support. his socialist party came second injuly�*s inconclusive election, but mr sanchez reached deals with smaller parties to find enough votes to continue in government. thousands of protesters rallied outside his party's headquarters on wednesday, opposing the amnesty for catalan separatists. he won another term by a wafer—thin margin of 179 votes to 171. to barcelona now where we can speak to pere aragones. he's the president of the government of catalonia. thank you for being with us. tell is a bit more about this amnesty deal and what it is going to mean for you and what it is going to mean for you and your party and the many hundreds of catalonian separatists who are in prison. of catalonian separatists who are in rison. ~ ., of catalonian separatists who are in rison. ~ . w ., prison. well, we have reached an agreement _ prison. well, we have reached an agreement with _ prison. well, we have reached an agreement with pedro _ prison. well, we have reached an agreement with pedro sanchez i prison. well, we have reached anj agreement with pedro sanchez to prison. well, we have reached an - agreement with pedro sanchez to pass an amnesty law in the parliament. an amnesty law for older people being prosecuted for their role in the referendum of 60 years ago and also for their commitment with the movement in catalonia to peaceful and democratic protests in catalonia. so now this amnesty is in the parliament. it has been registered. and we will have a clear consequence that all these people will be free of any charges by the judiciary. it will be free of any charges by the 'udicia . ., , ., will be free of any charges by the 'udicia . . , ., ., ., judiciary. it was a tough deal, wasn't it? _ judiciary. it was a tough deal, wasn't it? it _ judiciary. it was a tough deal, wasn't it? it has _ judiciary. it was a tough deal, wasn't it? it has taken - judiciary. it was a tough deal, wasn't it? it has taken weeks| judiciary. it was a tough deal, l wasn't it? it has taken weeks of negotiation and pedro sanchez has secured just a four seat majority. are you confident that the deal that has been reached will be strong enough to secure him a second term? the law that has been registered in the spanish parliament is fully constitutional, has been a very vigorous work behind this proposal so it is the first step and i can say a necessary step to continue with the negotiation process in catalonia between catalonia and spain to reach a political solution for the political conflict between the two nations. find for the political conflict between the two nations.— for the political conflict between the two nations. and what does that look like, then? _ the two nations. and what does that look like, then? certainly, _ the two nations. and what does that look like, then? certainly, pennantsj look like, then? certainly, pennants to the say that the deal will trigger another bid for secession. is that what you see happening? it might be working for an agreement to have a referendum on catalonia and a referendum between the spanish government and the catalonia, this is our proposal to solve the political conflict between catalonia and spain and now the second stage of the negotiation process starts. the first stage was the last time in spain, we had some agreements release their political prisoners and now we have this opportunity, finally, to solve what is clearly a political conflict and political conflicts, political discussions must be solved through democracy, through dialogue, through negotiation and finally, if it is possible, with agreements. and that is the path that we have started working. is the path that we have started workinu. ~ ., ., , , ~' working. what does this look like and what does _ working. what does this look like and what does it _ working. what does this look like and what does it happen - working. what does this look like and what does it happen if - working. what does this look like and what does it happen if you i and what does it happen if you don't get it? and what does it happen if you don't et it? ~ ., and what does it happen if you don't ret it? ~ ., ., _, get it? well, now, we are committed with this negotiation. _ get it? well, now, we are committed with this negotiation. have _ get it? well, now, we are committed with this negotiation. have an - with this negotiation. have an overwhelming majority in catalonia for the catalan people who want a referendum to decide the future of catalonia. so we are very persistent. we know that the will of the catalan people is the solution and we are committed that, with the democratic ways, to achieve our goals, achieve our objectives, so we are confident with the catalan people. are confident with the catalan --eole. ., ~' ,, are confident with the catalan --eole. ., ~' , are confident with the catalan --eole. ., ~ , . ., people. thank you very much for 'oininr us people. thank you very much for joining us from _ people. thank you very much for joining us from barcelona. - people. thank you very much forj joining us from barcelona. thank people. thank you very much for - joining us from barcelona. thank you very much- — police in the uk have admitted that it "failed" a woman who was killed by a colleague, months after she reported him to officers for stalking. an inquest into the death of gracie spinks, who was 23, found she had been unlawfully killed by michael sellers injune 202i. derbyshire police has apologised to gracie's family for their handling of the case. 0ur midlands correspondent navtejjohal reports. she was beautiful. always laughing, singing. dancing. doing, idon't know, always up to something. grace sinks know, always up to something. grace spinks loved — know, always up to something. grace spinks loved family, _ know, always up to something. grace spinks loved family, horses _ know, always up to something. grace