Hello, im geeta guru murthy, thanks forjoining us. The stoppage is a day after the Israeli Army says it has recovered the bodies of six hostages who were taken during the attacks of the 7th of october. That led to mass Demonstrations Injerusalem and Tel Aviv on sunday. Organisers are calling on Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate a deal with hamas to bring home the estimated 100 remaining hostages. Sundays protests were largely peaceful but some crowds broke through police lines, blocking a major highway in Tel Aviv. Our correspondent is following the story. After the biggest protests in israel since the start of the war in gaza with hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating across the country, today a general strike. So thousands of businesses Will Be closed, some schools, universities, government ministries, banks, some bus networks, so we are expecting a major hit on the Economy Today in israel. The outrage against hamas is a given but these protests are not about that, they are aga
Its affecting some flights at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and business, schools, and other forms of transport have also been hit. The stoppage is a day after the Israeli Army said it had recovered the bodies of six hostages who were taken during the attacks of 7th october. Alastair burt is a former conservative mp who served as Minister Of State for the middle east. He gave me his reaction to developments. The scale of protests is certainly unprecedented. There has been thousands of people demonstrating regularly against prime Minister Netanyahu firstly for internal political reasons, then post October The 7th lately in terms of his handling of the crisis, but the scale of the protest and the sense that the prime Ministers Strategy after October The 7th of seeking total victory of the elimination of hamas and the recovery of the hostages has proved to be a failure because it was impossible. He was advised that you couldnt do both and that advice has been borne out by experience and
this is bbc news. the headlines: israeli air strikes pound the south and north of gaza. the hamas run health ministry says at least 110 palestinians were killed injabalia, while hundreds are believed trapped inside a catholic church in gaza city. international pressure for a ceasefire intensifies, as us defence secretary lloyd austin arrives in tel aviv for talks with his israeli counterpart. this is the scene live in tel aviv where we re expecting to hear the outcome of those talks in the next few minutes. challenges to uganda s recent anti homosexuality law are heard in court. judges consider criticisms that it violates human rights. ukraine admits artillery ammunition shortages, but a leading government official remains optimistic that international funding will continue. sport, and for a full round up from the bbc sport centre, here s olly foster. we ve had the draw for the champions league last 16, the first knockout round. at this stage, teams from the same country or w
On capitol hill. Well have much more on that. Also ahead, the latest out of The Middle East. President biden is pushing for a ceasefire to address the humanitarian crisis in gaza. Well show you former president Donald Trumps outburst during his Civil Fraud Trial in new york. First, willie, lets go to the latest on the tragedy unfolding in maine. At least 15 people are dead this morning, up to 50 may be injured in the community of lewiston, located 30 miles north of portland, maine. Police s gunman entered two separate locations. First, a Bowling Alley, where he fatally shot seven people before moving on to a nearby bar. Some of the victims may have been injured in stampedes as crowds raced to escape as the shooting started. Officials fear many teenagers could be among those killed and injured as the Bowling Alley was hosting its youth night. Police have identified now a 40yearold male as a Person Of Interest in connection with these shootings. Hes still at large, considered Armed And D