the bbc understands scotland's first minister humza yousaf will step down following a week of political turmoil. and spain's prime minister pedro sanchez will announce whether or not he's resigning in around an hour's time. and we're on the road in india, as the world's biggest election is in full swing. hello i'm azadeh moshiri, welcome to the programme. we start with the latest on the israel—gaza war. a delegation from hamas is due in cairo to meet mediators from egypt and qatar. they're there to discuss israel's latest proposal on a ceasefire and hostage release deal. there are reports that hamas has given a positive assessment of the latest israeli plan with a senior official quoted as saying that it has "no major

issues" with the proposal. a phone call between presidentjoe biden and israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, is said to have focused on the negotiations. america's top diplomat antony blinken has arrived in saudia arabia at the start of a new trip to the middle east. he's also expected to visitjordan and israel. israel's military says aid deliveries into gaza will increase in the coming days, as the un warns that palestinians are facing "catastrophic hunger". the israel defense force chief spokesperson daniel hagari says aid going into gaza has increased in recent weeks. let's listen to what he said. over the last few weeks, the amount of humanitarian aid going into gaza has significantly increased. in the coming days, the amount of aid going into gaza will continue to scale up even more. food, water, medicalsupplies, shelter equipment and other aid. more of it is going into gaza than ever before.

live tojerusalem and our middle east correspondent yolande knell. it is good to have you, yolande, what do we know about these negotiations are so far? 50. what do we know about these negotiations are so far? so, there does seem _ negotiations are so far? so, there does seem to _ negotiations are so far? so, there does seem to have _ negotiations are so far? so, there does seem to have been - negotiations are so far? so, there does seem to have been a - negotiations are so far? so, there does seem to have been a flurry l negotiations are so far? so, there | does seem to have been a flurry of activity in recent days, giving a new push towards a deal that would see israeli hostages being returned from gaza by hamas in exchange for a ceasefire, and we're expecting the hamas delegation in cairo to give their response to the latest israeli proposal that is on the table. and really what we know is that there has been a lot of effort by mediators to try to bridge the gap between the two sides. the main sticking point has been that hamas has said it is only willing to talk about returning hostages in exchange for a full ceasefire and a full withdrawal of israeli troops from gaza. israel up to now has been

saying it is only ready to talk about a pause in hostilities. so, there is this report in the us website, news website, axial, suggesting that israeli officials are ready to talk about a sustainable, the restoration of sustainable, the restoration of sustainable calm in gaza, this could be a formula of words that could help bring the two sides together. and we mentioned that phone call between joe and we mentioned that phone call betweenjoe biden and benjamin netanyahu, yolande, we know there is a lot of pressure from israel's allies, what are they hoping to get out of this?— allies, what are they hoping to get out of this? yeah, you sense there is a lot of international _ out of this? yeah, you sense there is a lot of international pressure i is a lot of international pressure at the moment, you've got the world economic forum taking place in riyadh, with the us secretary of state antony blinken, britain's foreign secretary lord cameron is there, arab ministers have been talking very much about gaza and what needs to happen, and then you have this phone call between the us president and the israeli prime minister, we understand that the focus there was very much on these

ongoing discussions to try to bring hostages home from gaza. it is notable that we have had these three hostages, all men, held by hamas, their videos released in recent days as proof of life by hamas, and two out of the three are israeli american citizens. so really that does add a lot of momentum also to the domestic pressure in israel, we have seen that with a big rally in tel aviv on saturday night once again, with hostage families demanding desperately that the government does more to bring their loved ones home. find government does more to bring their loved ones home.— government does more to bring their loved ones home. and meanwhile, the un has warned — loved ones home. and meanwhile, the un has warned that _ loved ones home. and meanwhile, the un has warned that the _ loved ones home. and meanwhile, the un has warned that the north - loved ones home. and meanwhile, the un has warned that the north of- loved ones home. and meanwhile, the un has warned that the north of gaza l un has warned that the north of gaza is still marching towards famine, it has talked about catastrophic hunger throughout the area. what we know about the state of aidy right now in gaza, yolande?—

gaza, yolande? there is real evidence _ gaza, yolande? there is real evidence over _ gaza, yolande? there is real evidence over the _ gaza, yolande? there is real evidence over the past - gaza, yolande? there is real evidence over the past few i gaza, yolande? there is real. evidence over the past few days gaza, yolande? there is real- evidence over the past few days go there has been an increase in aid which is coming into gaza. the israeli military has been very keen to talk about how over the past month action has been taken get this crossing into the north of the gaza strip going, to use the ashdod commercial port in southern israel for supplies coming in for gaza, that had really not happened previously in any meaningful way. we have also got the fact that aid is coming in more and more through jordan to go into the south of gaza, the us has been highlighting that this man—made pier which will help for the maritime group for outgoing and is due to be operational within 2-3 and is due to be operational within 2—3 weeks. —— maritime route. as much as the us has said that this is in line with commitments that israel made to president biden, we are still getting these warnings that much more needs to be done. the un humanitarian office has been saying

that really, famine thresholds in gaza will be breached within six weeks if there isn't a massive amount more food that gets in, particularly to the north of the gaza strip. particularly to the north of the gaza strip-— gaza strip. yolande knell in jerusalem _ gaza strip. yolande knell in jerusalem for _ gaza strip. yolande knell in jerusalem for us, _ gaza strip. yolande knell in jerusalem for us, and - gaza strip. yolande knell in jerusalem for us, and we i gaza strip. yolande knell in. jerusalem for us, and we will gaza strip. yolande knell in - jerusalem for us, and we will keep jerusalem for us, and we will keep bringing you updates on antony blinken�*s trip in the middle east. scotland's embattled first minister humza yousaf is facing a challenging week ahead of two confidence votes. but rather than face them the bbc understands he's considering resigning. here's a quick recap of how we got here. the crisis began when mr yousaf, who leads the scottish national party, ended its governing coalition with the scottish greens. both parties are pro—scottish independence. there had been trouble in the coalition about the decision to scrap climate targets and about gender policy issues. now, he's struggling to secure support at holyrood for his minority government

which he theoretically could lead but he faces a confidence vote in his leadership. on top of that, there is also expected to be a confidence vote in his government. all the main scottish parties say they will vote against him. the snp mp alyn smith hopes the greens will back mr yousaf in the votes, despite their insistence that they won't. there's the possibility that a former snp member ash regan — who defected to another nationalist party — could save mr yousaf. but that's highly uncertain. the big picture in all of this is that the position of the scottish national party is weakening, with uk elections due. and that also has implications for the likelihood of scottish independence. let's talk to our correspondent in edinburgh, alexandra mackenzie. good to have you. so, what is the latest that we are hearing about these resignation rumours? goad these resignation rumours? good morninu. these resignation rumours? good morning- well. — these resignation rumours? good morning. well, i— these resignation rumours? good morning. well, i am _ these resignation rumours? good morning. well, i am at _ these resignation rumours? good morning. well, i am at bute - these resignation rumours? (emf.

morning. well, i am at bute house these resignation rumours? (emf. morning. well, lam at bute house in morning. well, i am at bute house in edinburgh and behind me is the official residence of the first minister in scotland. there is a demonstration going on behind me so i hope you can hear me 0k. and yes, it has been a very difficult few days for humza yousaf, and the stakes could not be higherfor him this morning. and what we're hearing is that there is a growing expectation that he could announce his resignation as early as today. but that has not been confirmed. and what we understood is that he is considering his position and has seriously been doing that over the weekend. we understand that resignation is one of the options. but a final decision, we don't know if that has been taken get or not. and this has unravelled so quickly, all since thursday, when humza yousaf abruptly ended the snp�*s

power—sharing agreement with the scottish green party. there was increasing tension between the two parties, especially after a decision by the snp to drop key climate change targets and that has had huge implications. it has left humza yousaf with a majority government, with no opposition allies, to call on, he is in a very vulnerable position, as he was due to face these two confidence votes in the scottish parliament. and to survive the confidence vote on his leadership, he needed support from at least one opposition member of parliament, one msp. but those options were quite limited. he is understood to have ruled out the deal with alex salmond's alba party, so his other option was to look towards the scottish green party,

but they were furious after the end of the bute house agreement. and the other parties, the scottish liberal democrats, scottish labour and the scottish conservative party, they were not going to back the first minister. so, very limited options, so we understand that he is seriously considering his future as first minister. we seriously considering his future as first minister.— seriously considering his future as first minister. we mentioned that it is a uk election _ first minister. we mentioned that it is a uk election year, _ first minister. we mentioned that it is a uk election year, what - first minister. we mentioned that it is a uk election year, what does - first minister. we mentioned that it is a uk election year, what does all| is a uk election year, what does all of this mean for the snp?- of this mean for the snp? well, it does have huge — of this mean for the snp? well, it does have huge implications - of this mean for the snp? well, it does have huge implications for i of this mean for the snp? well, it. does have huge implications for the snp, but i think the key thing at the moment is whether we are going to hear about that resignation. we do understand that over the weekend, the first minister did reach out to the first minister did reach out to the other parties by sending letters to the other parties asking them to come and meet him. ash regan, of the alba party, said that she was happy

to meet with the first minister. the party leader is alex salmond, and he said the price of ash regan�*s support would be the re—prioritisation of independence. but we do understand that he's unlikely to go for that deal, we understand that one senior snp figures said it would be intolerable for any snp leader to be beholden to alex salmond. alex salmond was of course, a former leader of the snp. and douglas ross, the leader of the scottish conservatives, said he does not expect humza yousaf to survive the week as first minister, and that was also echoed by scottish labour over the weekend as well. alexandra mackenzie in — over the weekend as well. alexandra mackenzie in edinburgh _ over the weekend as well. alexandra mackenzie in edinburgh for— over the weekend as well. alexandra mackenzie in edinburgh for us. - over the weekend as well. alexandra mackenzie in edinburgh for us. of i mackenzie in edinburgh for us. of course we are going to keep watching that story for developments throughout the day. to spain next. the prime minister, pedro sanchez,

is expected to announce the in around an hour whether he will resign. he began considering whether to step down last week when a court opened a corruption investigation into his wife's business dealings. he says that the probe is politically motivated. live to madrid and our correspondent guy hedgecoe. good to have you, guy, could you put some of this in context for us and give us a few more details on the investigation itself?— investigation itself? well, all of this started _ investigation itself? well, all of this started last _ investigation itself? well, all of this started last week, - investigation itself? well, all of this started last week, this i this started last week, this uncertainty, surrounding pedro sanchez, he announced he was going to be taking a few days off from his official engagements in order to consider his future. he made that announcement the same day that it was confirmed that an investigation was confirmed that an investigation was taking place into his wife's activities. the allegations against his wife are that she somehow influenced the awarding of several hundred million euros in government money to a private company during

the covid pandemic back in 2020. and she used or abused her position as wife of the prime minister to do that. this allegation has been presented by a group called clean hands, which has presented similar lawsuits against other politicians over the years. many of those lawsuits, i should over the years. many of those lawsuits, ishould point over the years. many of those lawsuits, i should point out, over the years. many of those lawsuits, ishould point out, have failed, and the government and mr sanchez it says that there is no basis to these allegations whatsoever. however, he seems to have been very upset by this case and for that reason he says he is considering his future, because he says this is part of a broader campaign against him and his family. it isa campaign against him and his family. it is a big moment for spain, there were rallies over the weekend. british and irish ministers will meet today as tensions grow over the uk's policy on migrants. the irish government says it's

seeing an influx of asylum seekers coming from northern ireland because they are "fearful" of being sent to rwanda. it says it will pass emergency legislation to return them. but the uk says it will not take them back unless the eu changes its position on returning migrants to france. helen catt reports. the border between the republic of ireland and northern ireland is designed to be easy to cross. but the irish government says its recently seen an influx of asylum seekers coming over it because they're fearful they'll be sent to rwanda if they stay in the uk. and ireland can't return them. the irish high court ruled last month that would be unlawful because of the existence of the rwanda scheme. the irish government is now planning to pass new laws to enable it to do so. the uk government, in choosing brexit, chose to go it alone on migration. what they've actually seen since then is an increase in people seeking asylum in their country — their policies are their policies. what my objective is as minister forjustice is to ensure

that we have a structure and a migration system that works. but a uk government source said that until the eu accepts the return to france of people who've crossed the channel, it won't be taking any returns from ireland. a planned meeting between the home secretary and ms mcentee has been postponed. the prime minister told sky news the situation showed the scheme was already working. the deterrent is, according to your comment, already having an impact because people are worried about coming here and that demonstrates exactly what i'm saying. if people come to our country illegally but know that they won't be able to stay, they're much less likely to come. small boat crossings have been made in record numbers this year. the latest figures show 7,000 migrants arrived this way before the end of april. labour says it shows the plan isn't working. the home office said it was in the final stages of making the rwanda scheme operational. several papers are reporting

that migrants will start being detained this week before the first flight is due to leave in ten to 12 weeks' time. helen catt, bbc news. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

as we mentioned earlier, america's top diplomat, secretary of state antony blinken, is in saudi arabia at the start of a new tour of the middle east. i believe we have some live pictures here, from riyadh, where antony blinken is meeting some of his counterparts before he meets other arab leaders to discuss the situation in gaza. you can see him right there. of course, a lot of expectations on this trip. this is as countries are trying to negotiate not only a ceasefire deal but a hostage release deal. with more, here's our correspondent

sameer hashmi, who's at the world economic forum summit in riyadh, where mr blinken has arrived. the focus is about gaza, because antony blinken has arrived, as you mentioned, he will be meeting regional leaders, including foreign ministers of saudi arabia and other countries, the qataris have been involved in these discussions right from the start of the war. and in addition to that he will also be meeting saudi arabia's crown prince at some point during today. and then later in the evening there will be a joint meeting between leaders, foreign ministers of arab states, along with foreign ministers as well as mr blinken, so it is a hectic day and the efforts will be to try to keep the negotiation going, try to find out how can we achieve a ceasefire in gaza and also the release of hostages, so today is going to be a lot of activity around that. ., , .,

going to be a lot of activity around that. . , . ., going to be a lot of activity around that. . , ., ., ., that. that is an outline of the tri - , that. that is an outline of the trip. let's _ that. that is an outline of the trip, let's have _ that. that is an outline of the trip, let's have a _ that. that is an outline of the trip, let's have a look - that. that is an outline of the trip, let's have a look at i that. that is an outline of the trip, let's have a look at the l trip, let's have a look at the stakes. joining me now is a professor of government at georgetown university in qatar. touchit georgetown university in qatar. touch it for your time. if we could start with saudi arabia, not only are they a us ally, they are also an arab state, could you talk to us a bit about what that means in terms of their role, given those two elements?— of their role, given those two elements? ., , , elements? considering everything that is happening, _ elements? considering everything that is happening, and _ elements? considering everything that is happening, and in - elements? considering everything that is happening, and in the i that is happening, and in the aftermath, in the years following the arab spring saudi arabia has emerged as one of the most powerful and consequential countries in the middle east, perhaps the most powerful arab country. and of course... the trump card would be saudi normalisation... i do apologise _ saudi normalisation... i do apologise but _ saudi normalisation... i do apologise but i _ saudi normalisation... i do apologise but i believe i saudi normalisation... i do apologise but i believe antony blinken is actually speaking now so let's just take a listen so we can look at it closer. to let'sjust take a listen so we can look at it closer.— look at it closer. to address the humanitarian _ look at it closer. to address the

humanitarian crisis... _ solution is to get the ceasefire and the hostages home. but we are also not waiting — the hostages home. but we are also not waiting on the ceasefire to take the necessary steps. president biden has insisted that israel take specific. _ has insisted that israel take specific, concrete measures and steps _ specific, concrete measures and steps to— specific, concrete measures and steps to tackle humanitarian suffering, civilian harm and the delivery — suffering, civilian harm and the delivery of aid into gaza. we have seen _ delivery of aid into gaza. we have seen progress in the last few weeks, with increased volumes, and the building — with increased volumes, and the building of the us maritime pier which _ building of the us maritime pier which we — building of the us maritime pier which we will be opening in the coming — which we will be opening in the coming weeks. it is not enough, we still need _ coming weeks. it is not enough, we still need to — coming weeks. it is not enough, we still need to get more aid in, in

and around _ still need to get more aid in, in and around gaza. we need to improve the humanitarian operations, and we have defined greater efficiency at the heart — have defined greater efficiency at the heart of that. and finally we have _ the heart of that. and finally we have to — the heart of that. and finally we have to make sure that we are focusing — have to make sure that we are focusing on... all of this is the focus — focusing on... all of this is the focus of— focusing on... all of this is the focus of the _ focusing on... all of this is the focus of the next few days for me as itravel— focus of the next few days for me as i travel to— focus of the next few days for me as i travel tojordan and focus of the next few days for me as i travel to jordan and israel. focus of the next few days for me as i travel tojordan and israel. i will have _ i travel tojordan and israel. i will have a _ i travel tojordan and israel. i will have a chance to meet with humanitarian groups, the israeli government. and to press for tangible. _ government. and to press for tangible, immediate and sustained progress — tangible, immediate and sustained progress. even as we focus on these immediate _ progress. even as we focus on these immediate needs, we continue to focus _ immediate needs, we continue to focus on — immediate needs, we continue to focus on a — immediate needs, we continue to focus on a plan to build a, and lasting — focus on a plan to build a, and lasting peace. a pathway to a state for palestinians, with guarantees for palestinians, with guarantees

for israel's — for palestinians, with guarantees for israel's security is part of an integrated _ for israel's security is part of an integrated and more secure region. today— integrated and more secure region. today is— integrated and more secure region. today is also an opportunity to promote — today is also an opportunity to promote greatest ability in this region. — promote greatest ability in this region, which has been one of our core _ region, which has been one of our core objectives. we are focused on addressing — core objectives. we are focused on addressing the greatest threat to regional— addressing the greatest threat to regional security, iran. this is the first meeting since iran's unprecedented attack on israel... studio: — unprecedented attack on israel... studio: that was a secretary of state antony blinken, the top us diplomat, speaking at the world economic forum in riyadh. he is there to negotiate and participate in talks around a ceasefire deal that would also involve a hostage release deal. he is their meeting arab counterparts and leaders. he is also planning on making a trip to jordan and israel on this middle east trip. we can bring back in my guest mehran kamrava, apologies for

interrupting you, but he was talking about wanting to have real, sustained progress, and we were just talking about the role of saudi arabia in all of this, could you resume what you were saying there about the fact that they have gained about the fact that they have gained a very prominent role in the region now? ~ , ,., , a very prominent role in the region now? ~ , , a very prominent role in the region now? ~ , ~ a very prominent role in the region now? absolutely. saudi arabia has emerred now? absolutely. saudi arabia has emerged as _ now? absolutely. saudi arabia has emerged as perhaps _ now? absolutely. saudi arabia has emerged as perhaps the _ now? absolutely. saudi arabia has emerged as perhaps the most i now? absolutely. saudi arabia has i emerged as perhaps the most powerful country, diplomatically and surely economic like, in the arab world, and in the greater middle east. so i think saudi support is pivotal for some tangible progress between the israelis and the palestinians at this point. israelis and the palestinians at this point-— israelis and the palestinians at this oint. ~ ., , , . this point. where does this conflict leave the arab-israeli _ this point. where does this conflict| leave the arab-israeli relationship? leave the arab—israeli relationship? because we did see a rapprochement before the war, but now of course israel has become even more entrenched when it comes to its views on a two—state solution, do you see any possible movement there?

unfortunately, despite the rhetoric we hear from various capitals around the world, really, it is only the palestinians who care about the palestinians. i think rapprochement between the various arab countries and israel is only a matter of time, normalisation with countries such as saudi arabia, even qatar, really, i think might have been set back by a couple of years, but i think it is on the horizon. given the geostrategic conditions that prevail across the middle east and beyond. how does rebuilding gaza come into all of this? because antony blinken has said, the state department has said part of that discussion will be around post—war gaza. and yet there are a lot of stumbling blocks when it comes to these negotiations with arab states, when it comes to whether there will be a peacekeeping

force, what the role of the palestinian authority would be, what options do you see on the table? that is a really good question, but one that is very difficult to answer. wars are relatively easy to start, they're notoriously difficult to conclude. and i don't think anybody, anybody — hamas or israel or anyone else — about the day after. how will gaza be governed? this is a place in ruins, literally every building has been destroyed. and it will be extremely difficult to effect a some sort of meaningful government... to effect a some sort of meaningful government- - -_ government... professor mehran kamrava, thank _ government... professor mehran kamrava, thank you _ government... professor mehran kamrava, thank you so _ government... professor mehran kamrava, thank you so much i government... professor mehran kamrava, thank you so much for| government... professor mehran i kamrava, thank you so much for that, and we will bring you more updates on this as his trip continues. stay without here on bbc news.

hello again. as we go through this week it will be turning warmer than it has been, but not necessarily drier. you can see from the colours on the chart that the temperature is rising, and it is going to be higher than last week. we dragged in an easterly which will also bring in some low cloud ma mist and murk, in the middle part of the week onwards. at the moment we have rain putting northwards and eastwards, for northern ireland, showers which could be heavy and thundery. the brightest and sunniest skies will be in the south—east, and here you could catch the occasional shower but also the highest temperatures, at 18. ii but also the highest temperatures, at 18. ii in stornoway. this evening and overnight, the rain continues to push northwards and eastwards, and then the next low pressure comes in from the south—west, taking rain and strengthening winds northwards. we will see some clear skies, but even so it is not going to be as cold a night across the board as it was last night, overnight lows, 7—11. into tuesday, we have got weather fronts in the west producing rain,

this weather front is going to be coming into the south—east, introducing a bit more cloud and the occasional shower, eventually, after a sunny start. it is the west, really, where we are going to have all of this rain moving steadily northwards. forsome all of this rain moving steadily northwards. for some eastern parts of scotland, parts of north—east england, through the midlands, we will hang onto the dry conditions with some sunshine and temperatures getting up to in honda, hull, i2 with some sunshine and temperatures getting up to in honda, hull, 12 in plymouth. a wednesday, it will be a bit of a change, low pressure still driving our weather, these fronts moving from the east towards the west, the position of this could still change. so we are starting off with a lot of low cloud, mist and in eastern areas, bit of a grey and drizzly start to the day, and we also have the weather front moving from the west to the east taking rain with it. some of this could be heavy. it may not get into the south—west of england, possibly parts of wales, northern ireland and western scotland it will be sunshine and showers, highs up to 19 in east anglia. on thursday this is where we

think the weather front is going to be lying. again, a lot of cloud around this, some showers which could be heavy and thundery, pushing northwards, and we have got something drier and brighter with something drier and brighter with some sunshine. on thursday in western scotland, somewhere could get up as high as 22 degrees.

the bbc understands the snp leader humza yousaf will go. shona joins us now, could you sum up the situation as you understand it for our listeners and viewers. i as you understand it for our listeners and viewers. i think one of our listeners and viewers. i think one of your earlier _ listeners and viewers. i think one of your earlier contributors i listeners and viewers. i think one i of your earlier contributors summed it up well, a situation of his own making. he felt the need last week to end a period house agreement, a confidence and supply arrangement between the snp who did not quite have a majority and the green party who had a number of msps elected using our additional member system. a lot of snp voters voted the snp first and the green party second and that gives them some