hello. i'm rajini vaidyanathan. we start with the middle east, where israel is coming under increasing international pressure over how it's conducting the war in gaza. president biden has said he believes prime minister benjamin netanyahu is making a "mistake" and has called on israel to agree to a six to eight week ceasefire. the president had previously said hamas should agree to pause and to release its remaining hostages. meanwhile australia has suggested that formally recognising a palestinian state would strengthen momentum towards peace. and in the past hour, the spanish prime minister pedro sanchez has said recognising a palestinian state is "in europe's geopolitical interests". in a speech to parliament, he also warned that israel's "disproportionate response" in the gaza war risks "destabilising the middle east, and as a consequence, the entire world".

more on that later in the programme. first to mr biden. he made his comments in an interview recorded last wednesday with univision, which is a us spanish—language tv network. let's have a listen. i think what he is doing is a mistake. i don't agree with his approach. i think it is outrageous that those three vehicles were hit by drones and taken out on a highway, where it wasn't like it was along the shore, wasn't like it was a convoy moving etc. what i am calling for is the israelis to just call for a ceasefire. i have spoken with everyone from the saudis, come thejordanians, saudis, come the jordanians, egyptians, saudis, come thejordanians, egyptians, they are prepared to move in, prepared to this food in.

and i think there is no excuse to not provide for the medical and the food needs of those people. australia's foreign minister has suggested that the country could recognise palestinian statehood, though hamas could have no role in its governance. penny wong said the refusal of benjamin netanyahu's government to even engage on the issue had caused widespread frustration. recognising a palestinian state, one that can only exist side by side with a secure israel, doesn'tjust offer the palestinian people an opportunity to realise their aspirations, it also strengthens the forces for peace and it undermines extremism. it undermines hamas, iran, and iran's other destructive proxies in the region. so i say to you, a two—state solution is the only hope of breaking the endless cycle of violence. live tojerusalem and our middle east correspondent, hugo bachega.

some strong comments from president joel baden. and of course now from australia and spain. do we have any reaction or any analysis on what israel's reaction might be? i think first talking _ israel's reaction might be? i think first talking about _ israel's reaction might be? i think first talking about president - israel's reaction might be? i think| first talking about president biden and his comments, this was an interview that was carried out last week right after that deadly israeli strike on the aid convoy, so perhaps at the peak of international condemnation and anger over the way the israelis have been been conducting this work. now even president biden putting pressure on the israelis to accept a ceasefire. so there is a deal on the table. the americans have been heavily involved in negotiating this deal and putting this deal on the table. they have

been putting a lot of pressure on the israelis to accept this deal. now we understand hamas is analysing this proposal. the main point of the deal, obviously the release of hostages, a0 hostages would be released in exchange for 900 palestinians now being held in israeli jails. in return this would lead to a six—week ceasefire. there's also a lot of pressure on hamas especially from the egyptians and qataris who have been acting as mediators in this negotiation. but he is prime minister benjamin netanyahu is under a lot of pressure from international allies and particularly the united states, a lot of pressure from the families of the hostages who want to see a deal at the same time is running out to save the hostages. but at the same time he is under a lot of pressure from his hardline allies who give support to his coalition. they say

they are against the idea of making concessions and that the israelis need to finish the job, destroy hamas, so they say the war must continue. a lot of pressure on prime minister netanyahu from all sides. thank you. we can cross live to tel aviv, to speak to yossi kuperwasser, director general of israel's ministry of strategic affairs. welcome to bbc news. let me just read again what we heard from presidentjoe biden. he said, i think what he is doing is a mistake, preferring to prime minister netanyahu, i don't agree with his approach, what you make of that? good morning. yes, there are differences of opinion... apologies,

i think we are _ differences of opinion... apologies, i think we are having _ differences of opinion... apologies, i think we are having problems - i think we are having problems connecting. we will try and get back that line in a moment, apologies for the moment. here in the uk, children have been let down by a lack of research and "remarkably weak" evidence on medical interventions in gender care, according to a landmark review published today. paediatrician dr hilary cass — who carried out the review for nhs england — is calling for gender services for children and young people to match the standards of other nhs care, saying the "toxicity" of the debate meant professionals were "afraid" to openly discuss their views. 0ur health editor hugh pym reports. sonia wanted to transition from the age of 15, but she found she couldn't get access to care and was put on a waiting list. by the age of 18, she hadn't had a first appointment and was transferred to adult services. after hearing there'd be another long wait, she opted to go private

until she could be seen by the nhs. sonia says the long delays were hard to cope with. all in all, i spent four years on waiting lists to be seen by an nhs specialist. it was incredibly frustrating and the period between being told that, "oh, we're not going to see before your 18th," and being referred on, and then me gaining private health care was an incredibly dark period in terms of my mental health. it was the the lowest i've been during the course of my transition. expanding gender services is a key focus of the latest independent review. recommendations include a separate pathway for young children and their families, allowing early discussions to take place, a follow—through service for i7— to 25—year—olds, and assurances that the same standards of care as other parts of the nhs will be provided.

gender services provided by the controversial tavistock clinic in london ended last month. two new centres in london and liverpool have been set up. the use of drugs to stop the onset of puberty has now stopped until further research is done. the author of the report says hormone treatment should in future be used with extreme caution for 16— to18—year—olds and argues that children were let down by the quality of services. well, i think it's very important to be concerned about a group of children and young people, who are not getting the services that they need and they deserve in order to thrive and be well as they grow into adults. so i, of course, would hope that considerable note is taken of this report. keira bell started taking puberty blockers aged 16, after being referred to the tavistock. she then took legal action, arguing she wasn't challenged enough at the clinic and regretted her decision.

her lawyer responded to the review findings. whilst it is very reassuring for young people who are going through gender—questioning at the moment and their parents, that hopefully there will be a new service developed that will meet their needs appropriately, it is, unfortunately, for many young people, too late. they live with the ongoing consequences of poor clinical treatment and their lives forever changed. for sonia, the priority now is for the report's findings to be implemented, for more resources to be provided, and for calmer and fairer discussions around gender and identity. hugh pym, bbc news, birmingham. let's return now to the israel—gaza war and to tel aviv, to speak to yossi kuperwasser, former director general of israel's ministry of strategic affairs.

sorry we lost connectivity to you earlier. i will ask that question again, which is that president biden says that he thinks what benjamin netanyahu is doing is a mistake, he says, i don't agree with his approach. what is your response to that? ., ' . , ., that? there are differences of oinion that? there are differences of opinion between _ that? there are differences of opinion between israel- that? there are differences of opinion between israel and i that? there are differences of| opinion between israel and the united states on the question of how to lead the war from here to the future. we are in agreement that we have to defeat hamas, but the president is concerned about what will happen to the civilians in gaza and we are seeing yes, we have to take care of the civilians and make sure they are not harmed but at the same time this can be at the expense of finishing thejob same time this can be at the expense of finishing the job and making sure hamas are defeated. we believe that releasing the hostages depends on defeating thomas mike, they continue

to... . , ., ., to... there have been more than 33,000 civilians _ to... there have been more than 33,000 civilians killed _ to... there have been more than 33,000 civilians killed now - to... there have been more than 33,000 civilians killed now since j 33,000 civilians killed now since that war began.— that war began. that is not true. please be _ that war began. that is not true. please be correct _ that war began. that is not true. please be correct with _ that war began. that is not true. please be correct with your - that war began. that is not true. - please be correct with your numbers. there have been 33,000 people killed in gaza according to the ministry of health by hamas out of which at least 12 or 13,000 of terrorists of hamas, not civilians. least 12 or13,000 of terrorists of hamas, not civilians.— hamas, not civilians. number is disuted hamas, not civilians. number is disnuted by _ hamas, not civilians. number is disputed by the _ hamas, not civilians. number is disputed by the un _ hamas, not civilians. number is disputed by the un and - hamas, not civilians. number is disputed by the un and other. hamas, not civilians. number is| disputed by the un and other aid agencies, of hamas operatives. but leaving that aside, the point is now you have presidentjoe biden saying there needs to be a ceasefire, he is calling for the israelis to call for a ceasefire for the next 6—8 weeks, to allow total access to all food and medicine going into the country, thatis and medicine going into the country, that is because so many people are unable to access the basics now

since that war began. isn't it time now that israel calls percy's fire? we agreed to a ceasefire after six weeks in the context of the deal in which our compositors will be released as well. but i think what president biden has in mind. they reached an agreement that will enable more humanitarian aid to come in and we have a group and i think this interview a week ago before the conversation between president biden and prime minister netanyahu with egalitarian age, so i don't think it reflects a situation right now and we agreed to a ceasefire and in order to enable the release of our hostages. the humanitarian situation, 133 hostages still held by hammes mike, they don't get any humanitarian assistance at all,...

if there will be a possible ceasefire, if you say israel is willing to engage in that and those talks continue, is not offensive on rough it still point? we have heard from mr netanyahu still going to go ahead despite concerns from allies like the us. {131 ahead despite concerns from allies like the us-— ahead despite concerns from allies like the us. of course. we say that it is a ceasefire, _ like the us. of course. we say that it is a ceasefire, not _ like the us. of course. we say that it is a ceasefire, not the _ like the us. of course. we say that it is a ceasefire, not the end - like the us. of course. we say that it is a ceasefire, not the end of - it is a ceasefire, not the end of the war. hamas wants to oppose on us the war. hamas wants to oppose on us the end of the war so they can carry out more massacres in the future. we say we can have a ceasefire but finished the job of taking over gaza and eliminating hamas. that is what keeps the agreement from happening. we have the commitment to make sure hamas doesn't pose any threat in the future to israel from gaza, but we are committed to and that to happen we have to take over and make sure

hamas cannot bring in weapons from egypt and make sure that hamas cannot regroup. egypt and make sure that hamas cannot rearwa— egypt and make sure that hamas cannot regrow— cannot regroup. there is a lot of concern that _ cannot regroup. there is a lot of concern that this _ cannot regroup. there is a lot of concern that this assault - cannot regroup. there is a lot of concern that this assault on - cannot regroup. there is a lot of| concern that this assault on rafa could destabilise the situation even further and there is real concern about civilians in that area. we have about civilians in that area. - have prepared and we are returning more space for civilians to have places for rafah, we left communist people could come back from there and we will not enter rafah before we take care of the civilian population and make sure they are in a separate place but we will have to fight rafah unless hamas decides to lay down their arms and flee. this is also an option, if hamas decides to do that that would be better for everybody. i don't agree that it would destabilise the situation, it is the best way to sterilise a situation. if we win in rafah it will be a message for the entire

region. will be a message for the entire reuion. . , will be a message for the entire reuion. ., , ., , will be a message for the entire reuion. ., , ., ., region. that is not my analysis, it is what we _ region. that is not my analysis, it is what we have _ region. that is not my analysis, it is what we have heard _ region. that is not my analysis, it is what we have heard from - region. that is not my analysis, it is what we have heard from a - region. that is not my analysis, it is what we have heard from a lotl region. that is not my analysis, it. is what we have heard from a lot of countries including the united states who have urged israel not to go ahead with that offensive. maybe the are go ahead with that offensive. maybe they are mistaken. _ go ahead with that offensive. maybe they are mistaken. i— go ahead with that offensive. maybe they are mistaken. i think _ go ahead with that offensive. maybe they are mistaken. i think we - go ahead with that offensive. maybe they are mistaken. i think we are . they are mistaken. i think we are quite certain that it would make the stabilisation of the middle east possible but this will start moving the pendulum from moving in a run's direction and helping them to move forward with their nuclear programme with the destabilisation of the region with the support of thick proxies with the war against israel and moving in the opposite direction, putting pressure on hezbollah and putting pressure in order to destabilise the region and pave the road for some sort of co—operation between us and the saudis, exactly what is needed, the saudis, exactly what is needed, the saudis are worried about these radical elements. 0nce saudis are worried about these radical elements. once we take care

of them, more comfortable with moving forward towards normal relations with israel, it is the opposite of what some people are saying. they want to serve hamas victory. saying. they want to serve hamas victo .., ,., saying. they want to serve hamas victo .~ ., ,., ., victory. apologies for that line, it was a bit shaky — victory. apologies for that line, it was a bit shaky on _ victory. apologies for that line, it was a bit shaky on the _ victory. apologies for that line, it l was a bit shaky on the connection, but thank you very much for your thoughts on that story. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

now to what's been described the one of the worst miscarriages ofjustice in british legal history — the post office horizon inquiry will today hear from lord arbuthnot. the former mp is a leading supporter of the campaign forjustice for the hundreds of sub—postmasters who were wrongly convicted of theft orfraud. it's after former sub—postmaster and campaigner alan bates on tuesday accused the post office of lying about their faulty accounting systems, on the first

day of the latest stage of the horizon it scandal. the inquiry heard how mr bates wrote that the organisation was being run by �*thugs in suits' in a letter in 2010. let's cross to our correspondent at the hearings — azadeh moshiri — now. what can we expect today? in a few moments lord _ what can we expect today? in a few moments lord james _ what can we expect today? in a few moments lord james arbuthnot - what can we expect today? in a few moments lord james arbuthnot will walk through these doors, a former conservative mp, now a tory peer, but he has been campaigning alongside these victims for more than 1a years and he got involved in one of his constituentsjo hamilton became a victim himself. he is engaged with. its executives as well as misters on this issue so this next phase of the inquiry is trying to answer that crucial question of who knew what and where his correspondence and conversations with executives, people like paula

vennells the former chief executive who will be appearing at this inquiry in may, that correspondence and knowledge will be crucial. his language has been very strong in the past. he said there was a perversion of the course ofjustice, and that he believes people connected to this scandal should face a long spell in jail. siranthony scandal should face a long spell in jail. sir anthony hooper is someone else who will be appearing today. he chaired the mediation scheme between the post office and the sub—postmaster is. that started in about 2013 and it wasn't seen as a success, given his role as chair, he will have a lot of knowledge about scandal, the issues at stake, and he also previously raised questions about the horizon system as well as the guilt of the former sub—postmasters, most of whom, all of whom we know are actually victims. ~ . . , of whom we know are actually victims. . ., ., , ., , ., victims. what are they hoping to achieve once _ victims. what are they hoping to achieve once this _ victims. what are they hoping to achieve once this inquiry - victims. what are they hoping to i achieve once this inquiry concludes. as far as the sub—postmasters are

concerned, the victims i spoke to yesterday, they know the post office has said it is deeply sorry for the impact this has had on victims, but thatis impact this has had on victims, but that is not quite good enough. for them they are well past the point of an apology and they want financial redress, they want to see all convictions overturned and they want to see those connected to the scandal, those responsible not only held accountable but see jail time. this public inquiry is trying to understand how something that is widely seen as one of the biggest miscarriages ofjustice in uk history actually happened, what went wrong, who knew what and when. they want to know the extent of what all the sub—postmasters are accusing the post office of, cover—up, essentially, so once all this evidence has been gathered the post office mr kevin hollinrake said the met police, we will have been following all this closely, will hope have evidence that have been established that they can use to

hold those responsible to account. for the moment, thank you. here in the uk, the mp william wragg has voluntarily given up the conservative party whip after he admitted sharing mps' personal phone numbers with someone he had met on a dating app. it means he'll no longer sit in the house of commons as a conservative. he stepped down as vice chairman of an influential committee of mps earlier in the week. let's speak to our political correspondent, henry zeffman, who joins us live from westminster. the latest twist in the story of william bragg, what more can you toast? it william bragg, what more can you toast? , , . ., , ., , toast? it is such a weird story. -- wra: ., toast? it is such a weird story. -- wragg- it — toast? it is such a weird story. -- wragg. it emerged _ toast? it is such a weird story. -- wragg. it emerged last _ toast? it is such a weird story. -- wragg. it emerged last week- toast? it is such a weird story. --j wragg. it emerged last week that toast? it is such a weird story. -- l wragg. it emerged last week that a string of men, we suddenly know how many, but way more than a dozen at the very least were being contacted over a period of several months by people claiming to be in some cases they called themselves charlie, some

cases abbey, and it wasn't completely clear what they wanted but in some cases they exchange explicit images with these people. last thursday william wragg a conservative mp for hazel grove, in greater manchester, he came out and said, actually he had passed the numbers of some conservative mps onto somebody that he had met on a dating app because he felt threatened by them because they had comprising information, we don't know what, on him, and from that point onwards i think his position as conservative mp was always going to come under strain. to start this week he announced he was standing down from a couple of committee positions, but some people still wanted him to go further and like last night he announced he was voluntarily relinquishing the conservative whip which means he is still an mp but he will be sitting as an independent rather than as part of the conservative group. it is a strange story, isn't it? in the case of mr wragg, he said he met

this individual on a dating app but other people across westminster were counted messaged out of the blue by these two people known as charlie and abby, including yourself, i was reading your article on the bbc website yesterday. tell us more about that and how much is this part of a wider concern about this so—called honey trap? of a wider concern about this so-called honey trap? exactly. william wragg's _ so-called honey trap? exactly. william wragg's story - so-called honey trap? exactly. william wragg's story such - so-called honey trap? exactly. william wragg's story such a i so-called honey trap? exactly. - william wragg's story such a thing about it because healy gave the previous statement of the times on thursday and we heard from him since was about meeting someone on a dating app but every other case i'm aware of including as you take mine and you can read about that on the bbc website where unsolicited whatsapp win from this charlie and abbie, in my case it was obvious that it was a scam and i got both numbers, which many but crucially not all other cases i am aware of it. i don't know the extent to which this feeds into other concerns in westminster because we still don't

really know anything about what went on here. there are long—standing concerns in westminster about the security and vulnerability of mps, about fishing scams, extortion attempts specifically from hostile foreign states such as russia, china, you name it, but here we don't really know that it is something like that. in fact i think most people are inclined to think it isn't something i got but we just don't know who was behind this or what their motives were or what comprising material they have on william wragg which made him feel threatened and into handing over numbers, we don't know what their motives were contacting him, i could go on and on with these questions. there is a metropolitan police investigation going on and i think it is very safe and up a lot of people at the apex of power here in westminster are desperate to know what has happened.— what has happened. thank you. as hen was what has happened. thank you. as henry was saying _ what has happened. thank you. as henry was saying you _ what has happened. thank you. as henry was saying you can - what has happened. thank you. as henry was saying you can read - what has happened. thank you. as henry was saying you can read his| henry was saying you can read his personal account of how he was contacted by this charlie and abbie

on the bbc news website. i will be back after a short break. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. tuesday unfortunately brought more stormy weather with it and coastal flooding with the high tides as well as inland flooding. a brief ridge of high pressure is pushing that low pressure out of the way but the weather fronts are hot off the heels again, off the atlantic, with more rain to come through the day ahead. this is what we had on tuesday, 60 millimetres and more across beddgelert in north wales. many of the other wettest places seeing 30—a0 millimetres of rain. and despite the showers having eased, the rain and winds through the night, and it turns chilly with a touch of frost, potentially, a few areas first thing, and some mist and fog in the south, already temperatures are rising in the west ahead of the next band of rain that you may have seen there. so, wet through the morning rush across northern ireland underneath this weather front. and as it comes in, it's introducing milder atlantic air so it will turn

misty and foggy over the hills, as well as the fog first thing further east. once it sets in across scotland on and off through the day, early brightness and sunshine in the east replaced by that rain as it meanders eastwards through the day. you can see it does ease off a little bit in southern parts but it's got a legacy of cloud left in its wake. so, a mild day where we see any breaks, perhaps 16 in northern ireland, but there is a met office warning for the west of scotland. again, another a0 millimetres, possibly more, over the hills. further south there will be a steady spell of rain and lots of misty, murky weather over the hills. another pulse comes in through the evening and overnight, particularly scotland and northern ireland. it tends to weaken as it pushes southwards, but all the cloud and the wind, and the winds will be strong again today, perhaps not as strong as yesterday, but they hold the temperatures up through the night. and a fairly brisk wind will continue with us on thursday, maybe some mist and murk first thing, particularly in the south underneath the remnants of this weather front. but actually once that clears out of the way we might see some brighter skies and sunshine coming through before the next pulse

of rain starts to materialise across western parts again. but look at the temperatures on thursday, it's looking mild, in fact warm in the strengthening april sunshine. and that milder, warmer atlantic air is with us through thursday and indeed friday to end the week, perhaps even start the weekend. but not for long, because we get some colder air starting to dig in behind it and you can see for the weekend, or by the end of the weekend, it's a return to slightly cooler weather for most.

welcome to viewers on bbc news and bbc two. this is the nation's phone in on bbc radio 5 live, we are discussing the 388 page report from the paediatrician doctor hilary cass. inevitably, in 388 pages, there is loads in it. she has found children questioning their gender have been let down by remarkably weak evidence into medical interventions like puberty blockers and also the whole thing is darkened by this toxic debate. as she puts it, hilary cass, an exceptionally toxic debate. we are proceeding hopefully respectfully, hearing all

views on this issue. currently, as you join me, i am speaking to susie who is telling us about her trans son. and phil is with us as well. sorry not to get to you sooner but everyone is welcome. get in touch. it's about your voice and your views. tell me about, if you would, susie, the struggles of your son and what he has been through over the past five years. what he has been through over the past five years-— past five years. starting at the beginning. _ past five years. starting at the beginning. the _ past five years. starting at the beginning, the back _ past five years. starting at the beginning, the back story - past five years. starting at the i beginning, the back story issues. past five years. starting at the - beginning, the back story issues. in summary, it's about, when he realises that... most of our kids from when they are little you can see something, you mightjust not want to see it, from shopping at an

early age and the boy section,