leader but he says that won't change his group's position in ceasefire negotiations. the us and japan announce �*a new era of strategic cooperation', with the building of a joint air and missile defence system. and three months after armed gunmen took control of a live tv broadcast in ecuador, we look at how the country dealing with the rise in gang violence. hello. an israeli airstrike in gaza killed three sons and four grandchildren of the poltical leader of hamas. ismail haniyeh, who lives in exile in qatar, has been actively involved in negotiations, to broker a ceasefire with israel, in return for some of the more than 100 hostages still being held by hamas.

he says the killing of members of his family will not change hamas's demands for a permanent end to the fighting, and the return of displaced palestinians to their homes. israel has confirmed the strike, describing the sons as "hamas military operatives". ceasefire negotiations have been at an impasse for months. bbc�*s partner cbs confirms that hamas says it is currently unable to identify and track down a0 israeli hostages who could be part of a ceasefire deal — raising fears that more hostages may be dead than publicly known. our middle east reporter sebastian usher has more from jerusalem. what we now know as an israeli strike has killed three of the hamas political leader, ismail haniyeh's sons. also, what we've heard from hamas and from mr haniyeh himself was that several of his grandchildren were killed in the strike as well. now, this is what israel has said that it will continue to do. it described the three men

as hamas operatives, saying that they had carried out terrorist activity in the central gaza strip. and even though israel has pulled out most of its troops from gaza, there is no sense that israel is ending its operation there and is continuing to target anyone that they regard as somebody who is a fighter, an activist for hamas. so on that level, this is what israel said it will do. on the response from hamas and from ismail haniyeh himself, he is essentially said that this doesn't change anything, that he has already lost members of his family, so many other palestinians in gaza have as well. he's not going to let this shift or change the policy that hamas is following. and he referred this specifically to the latest ceasefire negotiations. these are at a very delicate stage. we heard some optimism a day or two ago — we're not hearing that now.

and hamas in particular has said that it doesn't think that the new proposal satisfies four conditions that it's long set out. and it doesn't seem in the mood for concessions. and i would say that after this strike, it's probably even less ready for concessions than it was before. from the israeli side, the security cabinet was meeting last night. we've just been getting leaks in the israeli media, some of the things that the minister said, and i have to say that if these leaks are correct, there is no real consensus within the israeli cabinet. some ministers are saying essentially this deal that, are for three, perhaps a0 of the hostages and there are 130 around who are still believed to be in gaza, but not all of them are still alive, that this is pointless, that they want all the hostages released now or no deal. they're saying there probably won't be another deal. so this is the moment to accomplish that. as i say, the minutes that have been released on the israeli media show dissent amongst the israeli cabinet. so on both sides, unfortunately, it seems at the moment that hopes for a ceasefire deal, at least in the imminent, in the short term,

are not very high. at the white house on wednesday, president biden once again urged israel to step up humanitarian aid to gaza and pushed for ceasefire and hostage negotiations to continue. the continued criticism of prime minister benjamin netanyahu is putting increasing strain on the us—israel relationship. but biden's handling of the war has also come under scrutiny at home. current and former government officials in the us say biden's pressure on israel is not enough. they on israel is not enough. add that internal dissent within they add that internal dissent within the us government is growing. 0ur correspondent has more. seven current and former officials have told the bbc that they believe the current response does not go far enough in the pressure was exerted by president biden has not been

adequate to sort out the situation on the ground. they are calling — situation on the ground. they are calling for _ situation on the ground. they are calling for much - situation on the ground. they are calling for much more - situation on the ground. they are calling for much more to| situation on the ground. tie are calling for much more to be done. 0ne current official who is 25 years of national security experience said that the measures did not go far enough to reflect what they refer as moral urgency of the situation saying that it was the bare minimum to get through the bare minimum to get through the day and avoid arms transfers being halted. that was the flavour of the kind of things that some of these officials were saying. as for dissent within the us government we know it has been a growing factor is the humanitarian situation has deepenedin humanitarian situation has deepened in the war has worn on, so too has the sense of dissent. in february when hundreds of officials from the us and from europe signed a letter, a transatlantic statement rating their concerns that arms transfers from western countries could amount to a breach of international law if they were going to

israel to be used in contravention of international law. they have since called for far more stringent evaluations by the us and other countries as to that particular assessment. clearly the dissenters there and has been maintained despite efforts now by president biden to exert more pressure on the israelis and they are saying that there is clearly a lot of leverage here and they believe much more can be used to try and alleviate the deepening crisis on the ground in gaza. as for israel it is consistently rejected accusations that it has breached international humanitarian law in gaza. it has said that it is hamas hiding in civilian areas that has led to that high civilian death toll and also said repeatedly that military pressure is part of its campaign to try and get the hostages released. so where

does president biden go from here? all roads still lead to his determination to try and put pressure and get a ceasefire for hostage release deal done but as things stand it still seems some way off. let's speak now with one of those officials featured in tom's reporting. annelle sheline is a former a state department official working on human rights issues in the middle east. she recently resigned over the biden administration's handling of the war in gaza. she's currently a non—resident fellow with the baker institute centre for the middle east. thank you for being here. as we just heard, the discontent within the us, within the biden administration, how widespread is that concern over the fact that the us may not be doing enough to stem the humanitarian crisis in gaza? it enough to stem the humanitarian crisis in gaza?— crisis in gaza? it is extremely wideswead- _ crisis in gaza? it is extremely widespread. one _ crisis in gaza? it is extremely widespread. one of _ crisis in gaza? it is extremely widespread. one of the - crisis in gaza? it is extremely. widespread. one of the groups that i work with is called feds united for peace which represents thousands of people inside the federal government to oppose the us policy on this

unconditional support to israel. i also think as we continue to see the political calculus on this shift we do see increasingly americans considering biden's handling of this, he is plummeting in poll numbers so i do hope that we may be beginning to see a significant shift here in american public opinion which is also reflected in the members of the us government. you recently resigned from your post at the state department. why did you decide to step down? was there a specific breaking point for you? i first tried to do — breaking point for you? i first tried to do what _ breaking point for you? i first tried to do what i _ breaking point for you? i first tried to do what i could - breaking point for you? i first tried to do what i could on i breaking point for you? i first| tried to do what i could on the inside. i co—authored a descent table and signed to other descent cables and expressed my concerns and open forums that the state department held because many employees are extremely concerned about this us policy. but it became clear

over time that it was not effective to try and affect change from within and so initially i was going to resign over gaza and let that be known that i was not initially planning to then go public with the resignation beyond just sort of letting my supervisors know and i was given the opportunity to speak with the senior state department official about my resignation. he's shared some of my concerns but then, ultimately i did decide to go public in part because it seems that public pressure is the only thing that is having any effect although, again, we're really not seeing again, we're really not seeing a significant shift we are not seeing biden use his massive amount of leverage that the us has over israel. it is just not being implemented yet because president biden does not want to change the policy.— president biden does not want to change the policy. when you went public— to change the policy. when you went public you _ to change the policy. when you went public you wrote - to change the policy. when you went public you wrote an - went public you wrote an opinion piece and i want to read part of what you wrote there. you said, quote

"whatever credibility the united states had as an advocate for human rights has almost entirely vanished since the war began. can you explain that statement? why do you feel that statement? why do you feel that way? i that statement? why do you feel that wa ? . , that statement? why do you feel that wa ? .,, ., ~ that way? i was working in the bureau of _ that way? i was working in the bureau of democracy - that way? i was working in the bureau of democracy human . that way? i was working in the i bureau of democracy human right offers an primarily focused on north africa. whether us government tries to support civil society in countries around the world, again in my portfolio is north africa. trying to supportjournalists and advocates for human rights, for freedom of association, and advocates for human rights, forfreedom of association, you know, across the middle east we see, unfortunately, increasing repression from government so this is extremely important work that i found meaningful to be part of but after october seven the us had no credibility at all as an advocate for human rights and no ability to even criticise these other

autocratic governments for their human rights abuses because of what the us was enabling and continues to enable inside gaza. i enabling and continues to enable inside gaza. i think the biden administration - enable inside gaza. i think the biden administration would i biden administration would counter and they've been clear on what they have been doing. they say they have been conducting several humanitarian aid drops in gaza, they are building a seaport to deliver more aid. we saw the secretary of state antony blinken made several trips to the region advocating for a ceasefire there. president biden had a stern phone call with benjamin netanyahu. what more do you want to see the us do? the fact that the us _ want to see the us do? the fact that the us is _ want to see the us do? the fact that the us is dropping - want to see the us do? the fact that the us is dropping aid, - want to see the us do? the fact that the us is dropping aid, a i that the us is dropping aid, a plan can only carry about three tons of aid whereas a single truck and curry 20 tons and we have hundreds of trucks lined up have hundreds of trucks lined up and waiting to get in there. israel does not allow them in. israel does not allow them in. israel insists on inspecting every truck including the ones coming across from egypt which are also inspected by israel. so it is astonishing that the united states is not insisting

that israel open up all crossings to allow in aid for the people of gaza who are starving. we have famine conditions in north gaza and the construction of a port, again, is completely nonsensical when you could simply drive in the aid but on top of that the first thing israel has to do is to stop bombing because as we saw with the world central kitchen, the deaths of those humanitarian aid workers, israel is targeting everyone. everything that moves inside gaza. so we then saw several organisations and countries say that we will no longer provide aid because it was too dangerous for their employees and citizens. so the first thing biden has to do is apply us law which would stipulate that israel is no longer eligible to receive us foreign military assistance because it is blocking american humanitarian aid. this section 620i humanitarian aid. this section 620i have the foreign assistance act as well as other

laws that say that a foreign military that conducts those gross violations of human rights, those units are no longer eligible to receive us military assistance. the state department is not enacting those laws because biden does not want them enacted. excuse me, we not want them enacted. excuse me. we will _ not want them enacted. excuse me, we will have _ not want them enacted. excuse me, we will have to _ not want them enacted. excuse me, we will have to leave - not want them enacted. excuse me, we will have to leave it - me, we will have to leave it there. a former state department official and a fellow with the baker institute for the middle east. thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us. meanwhile inside gaza, it's eid—al—fitr, the end of ramadan, and palestinians are marking the holiday amid destruction and widespread hunger. aid groups say desperately needed food, supplies, and aid trucks are not getting inside via the erez crossing — despite a recent announcement by israel that it would be reopened. in the north, displaced families visited the graves of their loved ones. here in washington, presidentjoe biden is hosting japanese prime minister fumio kishida at a state dinner.

the visit began with a welcoming ceremony on the south lawn where biden hailed the relationship between the countries as a cornerstone of peace and security. the leaders announced what they call a new era of strategic cooperation — with the building of a joint air and missile defence system. speaking alongside the visiting japanese prime minister, biden said the upgraded military pact was strictly defensive in nature. he also announced a japanese astronaut would become the first non—american to walk on the moon. for his part, mr kishida emphasised the importance of a free and open indo—pacific region based on the rule of law, amid a perceived growing threat from china in the south china sea and around taiwan. this is the most significant upgrade in our lion since it was first established. i'm pleased to announce that for the first time japan pleased to announce that for the first timejapan and pleased to announce that for the first time japan and the united states and australia will create a network system of air missile and defence architecture. we are also looking forward to standing up

a trilateral military exercise that when japan and the a trilateral military exercise that whenjapan and the united kingdom. that when japan and the united kinudom. �* ,, �* that when japan and the united - kingdom._ confirmed kingdom. translation: confirmed that unilateral— kingdom. translation: confirmed that unilateral attempts _ kingdom. translation: confirmed that unilateral attempts to - that unilateral attempts to change status quo by force is absolutely unacceptable wherever it may be and that we will continue to respond resolutely against such action through cooperation with allies and like—minded nations. for and like-minded nations. for more on _ and like-minded nations. for more on these _ and like—minded nations. for more on these dealings with china we spoke to a former directorfor asian china we spoke to a former director for asian economic affairs at the national security council. it affairs at the national security council. it has been remarkable, _ security council. it has been remarkable, the _ security council. it has been remarkable, the increasing. remarkable, the increasing alignment between the two countries on china. this has a lot to do with china's expansion of its military capabilities and increasing assertiveness particularly in areas where it has contested territory such as the islands where japan has to deal with incursions by chinese ships and aircraft. it has to do with china's increasing assertive

stance around the waters of taiwan and as we will see highlighted in the discussion with the philippines, serious concerns about china's activities and contested territories. japan will give the us 250 new cherry trees to replace the hundreds that will be lost in construction work around washington's tidal basin. japanese prime minister fumio kishida made the announcement during his official state visit. biden says the gift marks the 250—year friendship between the countries which he compared to the cherry trees — saying their bond is �*timeless and thriving' around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some stories making news in the uk. more than 7,000 complaints were made to police in the first week after scotland's new hate crime law came into operation. the controversial law created a new offence of stirring up hatred against what are known as protected characteristics, including age, sexual orientation, and transgender identity.

police scotland said the "vast majority" of the reports were anonymous and in most cases no further action is being taken. some 7.4 million uk adults are still struggling to pay bills due to the high cost of living, according to a survey from the financial conduct authority. the number has fallen from last year, but many households still feel "heavily burdened". its survey suggested one in nine adults had missed a bill payment in the six months to january. britain's most successful gymnast, max whitlock, has announced that he will retire after the olympics in paris this summer. the 31—year—old is bidding to become the first to win four 0lympic medals on the same apparatus when he competes on the pommel horse. you're live with bbc news. the organisation of american states has condemned ecuador after police last week raided the mexican embassy in quito

and arrested former vice presidentjorge glas. mr glas took shelter in the embassy after fresh corruption charges against him. the 0as also criticised mexico — without naming it directly — for trying to help mr glas escape to mexico. a lawyerfor mr glas says he is now on a hunger strike in prison. meanwhile, ecuador continues to deal with an "internal armed conflict," three months after armed gunmen took over a live tv news broadcast. earlier this week, ecuador�*s president, daniel noboa, said efforts to combat gangs would continue. and later this month, the public will vote on further anti—gang measures, including stricter gun controls and tougher prison sentences. so, how is ecuador — a country once known as an �*island of peace' dealing with the rise in gang violence? bbc mundo's ana maria roura returned to her home country to see how it has changed. ecuador�*s government has, in effect, declared war on its

gangs. hearing the capital, soldiers carry out their now daily patrols they have made more than 16,000 arrests in three months. it is incredible to see quito, a city that used to see quito, a city that used to be very quiet and very touristic like this with this amount of military forces on the streets. the takeover of a live tv news programme in january showed the world how gun violence has gripped ecuador. — like gang violence. a member of one of the biggest and violent gangs in ecuador has agreed to speak to us. tensions are really high here so he always has to be on the move. roll, not his real name, started dealing drugs for his local gang at 15 as the drug's business began to boom he moved into trafficking large quantities of cocaine. after i press him about his new role he

admits he has killed people. things are dangerous right now. they can come at you from anywhere. ifeel remorse they can come at you from anywhere. i feel remorse for taking people's life. your i to take anyone's life? the country's _ take anyone's life? the country's official - take anyone's life? the| country's official murder take anyone's life? the country's official murder rate is multiplied by eight over the past five years, overtaking colombia and mexico. i ask him why. colombia and mexico. i ask him wh . , ., ., , colombia and mexico. i ask him wh . ., , ., , why. everyone wants territory. just to have — why. everyone wants territory. just to have the _ why. everyone wants territory. just to have the territory, - just to have the territory, foreign cartels are conducting gangs here to get them. at foreign cartels are conducting gangs here to get them. at the bi est gangs here to get them. at the biggest port — gangs here to get them. at the biggest port the _ gangs here to get them. at the biggest port the coastguard - gangs here to get them. at the | biggest port the coastguard has stepped up its patrols. translation: stepped up its patrols. tuna/mom- stepped up its patrols. translation: h, , translation: here in the past we were dealing _ translation: here in the past we were dealing with _ translation: here in the past we were dealing with common l we were dealing with common criminals. now anyone we see could have a high calibre weapon because gangs are now officially classed as terrorists. we are the army are

allowed to act more freely, shooting straightaway without the protocol.— the protocol. this area is particularly _ the protocol. this area is particularly vulnerable i the protocol. this area is particularly vulnerable to the protocol. this area is - particularly vulnerable to gang violence because of its location and its deprivation. these other neighbourhoods that surround the port, probably one of the poorest areas here in the port which is one of the poorest cities in latin america. it is a challenge for all of ecuador�*s authorities. six public prosecutors have been killed in the past two years including one who was leading the investigation into the television station attack. after losing her colleague and friend, michelle lunarfears friend, michelle lunar fears for friend, michelle lunarfears for her own life. translation: if we do not get any more guaranties about our safety i will have to resign. lawyers have not studied and practised for years to do a job that is

suicidal. for years to do a 'ob that is math for years to do a 'ob that is suicidal. ., , suicidal. the government says it is winning — suicidal. the government says it is winning the _ suicidal. the government says it is winning the war— suicidal. the government says it is winning the war and - suicidal. the government says it is winning the war and has l it is winning the war and has dramatically reduced the number of violent deaths. but there is a growing unease about how long they can keep cops on the streets. troops on the streets. flooding has engulfed cities and towns across russia and kazakhstan, forcing more than a hundred thousand people to flee their homes. residents in the russian town of orenburg, seen here in footage released by state media, say it's the worst flooding in living memory. winter snows in the ural mountains have melted faster than usual this year, causing two of europe's longest rivers, the volga and the ural, to swell by several metres, and the ural, to burst its banks. in neighbouring kazakhstan, more than 97,000 people have been evacuated from flood risk areas, local officials warning river levels, are yet to peak. our russia editor steve rosenberg, has the very latest.

sirens. in places, orenburg is a city submerged. roads turned into rivers by the worst flooding here in living memory. "evacuation under way," is the message for anyone still living here. "all the houses are flooded," says the local mayor. he's sailing down the streets, surveying the devastation. spring floods are common in russia, but not on this scale. it's thought the combination of heavy rain and rapidly melting snow in warm weather caused rivers to burst their banks. in orenburg, thousands have left their homes or been helped to leave by emergency services and by volunteers. "everything was dry yesterday," she says. "the water came at night, so fast." they have been rescuing pets as well stranded by the deluge of water. and look what damage it's done inside the houses. the floating fridge —

a reminder of the destructive power of water. and flooding has affected towns and villages across the ural mountains and western siberia. beyond russia, too. this is neighbouring kazakhstan. here, 100,000 people have been evacuated from the flood zone. meanwhile, other russian regions are preparing for flooding as water levels continue to rise. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. the us is imposing its first—ever nationwide limits on harmful chemicals found in tap water across the country. on wednesday, federal officials finalised a rule requiring local governments to remove six versions of a chemical known as pfas from water systems. they�* re often called "forever chemicals" and they're used in hundreds of everyday products — but they're nearly impossible to degrade. research suggest millions of americans' drinking water is contaminated with pfas chemicals, which have been

linked to diseases like cancer and thyroid disease. the new regulations give local municipalities three years to monitor for pfas in their water supplies. if harmful levels of the chemicals are found, governments have five years to reduce the amount of the chemical in the water. communities in historically underresourced areas are often at risk of encountering these harmful chemicals. for too long, our communities have disproportionately suffered from bad air quality, high levels of pollution and the worsening impacts of climate change. the simple fact is all people, no matter the colour of their skin or how much money they have in their pocket deserve clean air to breathe, clean water to drink and a safe place to live away from environmental hazards and harm. stay with us here on bbc news.

hello. well, some of us are in for a fine day. thursday's expected to bring warm, sunny spells to many northern and eastern parts of the country. certainly won't be like it everywhere — in fact, farfrom it in the morning across many western and southern areas of the uk. right now, a lot of cloud shrouding the uk. weatherfront is crossing us, bearing rain and dribs and drabs possible anywhere through the night and in some areas even quite heavy for a time. but this weather front is caught in a current of very mild air streaming in from the southern climes, quite a breezy end to the night is expected as well. but i think by the time we get to around 6:00 in the morning, you can see the skies are clearing across many eastern and some western areas of the uk as well. temperatures will be in double figures in most major towns and cities. so here's the morning, then, the forecast. you can see still a fair amount of cloud across some southern and western areas, dribs and drabs of rain, but already

sunshine across, say, many northern and north—eastern parts of the uk. the temperatures very pleasant indeed — widely, i think, into the high teens or 20 degrees across england, eastern scotland, around 18 and out towards the west, around 1a to 17 degrees celsius. but the west will always be more cloudy. now into friday, the south of the country is closer to an area of high pressure. so i think brighter skies here, but i say brighter, not necessarily all that sunny, because we still have that relatively mild and murky current south—westerly wind, in fact, bringing some outbreaks of rain to north—western areas. so the sunny, brighter skies will always be further towards the east and south and every bit as mild or warm, 20 degrees widely in some areas — mid or high teens. now, that warmth isn't going to stick around. in fact, saturday night into sunday, we're expecting this slightly cooler air mass

or much cooler air mass drifting in out of the west and the north atlantic and brought also by this area of low pressure, which is expected to sweep in some rain to many north—western areas of the uk. so yes, we've got three days of relatively mild if not warm weather given some sunny spells, but by the time we get to sunday and certainly into monday, it's all change — colder and outbreaks of rain from time to time.

from space to land and sea. security and economic ties between the us and japan have been given their largest—ever upgrade. and we break down the challenges and opportunities created by migrants arriving in the world's number one economy. i'm steve lai. our top story today: japan and the united states are forging an even closer relationship following a bilateral summit in washington. prime minister fumio kishida and presidentjoe biden unveiled a wide range of agreements that will enhance not just security but economic ties as well. take a look at some of these pictures arriving for an official dinner at the white house all dressed to the nines. aside from plans to upgrade their military alliance,

the two historical allies also reached deals aimed at boosting