keep on getting cells i keep on getting desperate pleas from people in israel. mothers for kids. so can you please get someone from the red cross to get that medication for that child . my heart goes for that child. my heart goes out and i don't know what we can do from here, but i know there is so many good people . and is so many good people. and i must say in turkey, in qatar , must say in turkey, in qatar, they're doing an amazing job, amazing job. we're not going to talk about them because we don't know them, but they will be our best hope that things will get to them and they will have some some hope to survive. and as sharon said, i believe that if they are assets, they will take care them . i am sure care of them. i am sure obviously, you're well aware of the threats made from hamas . the threats made from hamas. >> i just wonder if either of you believe that the response from the israeli government thus

far will potentially put your parents in greater danger ? parents in greater danger? >> i mean, i think there is surface and under surface, and i'm not aware of what's the undercurrent is so , you know , i undercurrent is so, you know, i don't think that this government is what i would have hoped for. but i don't think it's the time for politics. yes, they are. the people negotiate eating my communities like if and i have to put my trust in them and at the same time call on every government in this world to almost expect of them to protect their citizens and work for their citizens and work for their release, it's very easy at this point where something so horrendous happened to simply wish to revenge on your enemy because there have been so successful . so my wish is that

successful. so my wish is that they care for their citizens and that they put them into the equation . no . i that they put them into the equation. no . i i will that they put them into the equation . no . i i will echo what equation. no. i i will echo what sharon said, because if i will get into this, it won't be . my get into this, it won't be. my >> that was the problem. >> that was the problem. >> the question of the judiciary i >> ukip john cleese, thank you both for appearing on our program over the last few days. >> we really appreciate it. but what is life like? >> the passing of day >> the passing of each day and particularly to one particularly as we get to one week since this happened ? week since this happened? >> difficult is that ? >> how difficult is that? >> how difficult is that? >> life is extremely difficult, but i think we are. not thing prepares you for that. you know , up prepares you for that. you know , up till . friday i'm working , up till. friday i'm working with my clients and help them with my clients and help them with their own emotions to get the better quality of life and make change in the world. what

we understand humans in different ways and we're talking about how ai is going to change the world and what is all kind of range of sexuality, and then everything comes back to the basic basic , basic, existential, basic basic, basic, existential, existential reasoning of what the hell we are for . here why the hell we are for. here why are we here? what's going on? is my mom alive? is she not? what her crime was? what can you someone remind me why she is a hostage for being a jewish living in in her own home in israel . it's extremely difficult israel. it's extremely difficult . i don't have words to look at. my son into his eyes and say this is why it happened. because i can't comprehend and i cannot explain how we live in a world in 2023 that this is still a reason for that kind of hate of

course, there is a lot of unknown knowns. and how do we live with unknowns ? i'd rather live with unknowns? i'd rather be positive and stay positive. i know that every person that was involved in this attack have a heart pumping in them . and my heart pumping in them. and my wish is that they will see that these people , they're humans and these people, they're humans and they will get to know them and they will get to know them and they won't use them as a an object . it they won't use them as a an object. it might be far they won't use them as a an object . it might be far fetched object. it might be far fetched . it might be that a naive , but . it might be that a naive, but that's the reason we talk. i still believe i hope it's heartbreaking . it's beyond heartbreaking. it's beyond difficult . we're living in difficult. we're living in london life . you know, we meet london life. you know, we meet friends and we have plans and we have all kinds of things that we just and then this is out of

complete universe. it just throw everything that i knew into a different dimension . i again , we different dimension. i again, we have no luxury to be afraid and to overthink. we just need to be very, very focussed. it's not that we need to actually we want to we have to value of life the value of what is apparent, what is a family, what is a community, what is humanity. i will fight for that for the rest of my life if i need to . i i, of my life if i need to. i i, i would just want to add that i think in first of all, we are here and we are safe. >> and the citizens of this region are about to go into war. so while we really worry about loved ones, we are also have the luxury of taking an underground

and life is pretty much undisturbed for our families, immediate family is. i would like to also add that the last four days are really strange . four days are really strange. they kind of the it's like we as i said it before, i feel the i is gone and the we is holding me together and that's the way of the people that i grew up with . the people that i grew up with. but it's the way of the people around me here and all over the world and friends i've made over a lifetime that have and people that just, you know, yesterday i received emails from people in qatar telling me that, you know, people there support us and are horrified by what is happening . horrified by what is happening. i think that this separate between people solely you know, i think there's those who want

us to hate and against that, the majority of us wants to, you know, to work together for making it a possible space in life for our children . and we life for our children. and we have to hold to on those people. and we have to i have experienced love of never experienced love of never experienced before around me here. and i feel we are carried by this love and we are all finding strength in us. we didn't know we have . finding strength in us. we didn't know we have. i mean, i never this is not really where i was planning to be on thursday afternoon. we have to rise to this and we have to believe that we can fight hate with . we can fight hate with. love

the other question and showing and showing. >> i know your parents were peace activists . you can expand peace activists. you can expand it a bit about that. i know that they spend their lives , but i they spend their lives, but i know that your parents were peace activists and that they spend their lives fighting for good neighbour neighbourly relations between them. >> well and norms. teacher was my arabic teacher, so mom's mom? mom's mom was my arabic teacher is. >> you can expand a little bit about that, about how my father my father was a peace activist all his life. >> he was , as i think in his >> he was, as i think in his professional life, he was most he did so much. and what he was most proud of was is a fight that went all the way to the high court in the 70s in which for the first time israel high court gave land back to bedouins in north sinai before israel returned it . he spent

returned it. he spent a lifetime. he was on the boat of return. he met arafat . he return. he met arafat. he believed he had many friends among . i went with him believed he had many friends among. i went with him in believed he had many friends among . i went with him in 2000 among. i went with him in 2000 to visit gaza and we met many people within gaza. he was part of an organisation called another voice that was from that part of the world on the border with gaza that met people , you with gaza that met people, you know, had relationship, especially before hamas , with especially before hamas, with many people. we are communities that live very close together. my father spent at least a day a week in his retirement at just getting a car from the kibbutz. the kibbutz authorised him to get the car because he didn't have a private one and he will go to the border in areas and pick up sick palestinian people and take them for appointments in east jerusalem and in is wasn't the only one. others that were slaughtered and lost everything were part of that. we

are communities. you know, we are communities. you know, we are communities. you know, we are communities that work together . my brother employed together. my brother employed many people from gaza and continue to pay their salary for many years. and we are not the only one. my family is not the only one. my family is not the only one. my family is not the only one. we are part of a community. we it's you know, i mean . these kind of stories that mean. these kind of stories that really like, you know, i grew up on all these holocaust stories. how my uncle's life was saved because, you know , he gave a because, you know, he gave a coat to a polish guy. i mean, it's like it's our whole growing up to tel aviv to hear from benjamin netanyahu , benjamin benjamin netanyahu, benjamin netanyahu, and also , mr netanyahu, and also, mr secretary , my good friend . tony secretary, my good friend. tony thank you for your important visit here today . visit here today. >> thank you . thank president >> thank you. thank president biden . and thank you to the

biden. and thank you to the american people for your incredible support for israel in our war against the barbarians of hamas . i thank you in of hamas. i thank you in english. i want to thank you in hebrew as well . and olivia utley hebrew as well. and olivia utley muskingum, dena blinken and i see biden , american at micha see biden, american at micha kabira , salaam . kamil hamas kabira, salaam. kamil hamas shelanu nagada salah hamas adonia. monsieur . jabina islam adonia. monsieur. jabina islam koev am elohim am al—hayat. i am sina anas sannar at kahota ivano misha alok sharma gaetano shameem al cpih . zvi balci shameem al cpih. zvi balci

iparraguirre anas sannar omri hakol aleichem versipora omri hakol aleichem versipora omri hakol aleinu varvara hazut . mr hakol aleinu varvara hazut. mr secretary , your visit is another secretary, your visit is another tangible example of america's unequivocal support for israel . unequivocal support for israel. hamas has shown itself to be an enemy of civilisation . the enemy of civilisation. the massacring of young people in an outdoor music festival , the outdoor music festival, the butchering of entire families , butchering of entire families, the murder of parents in front of their children, and the murder of children in front of their parents is the burning of people alive . the beheading . the people alive. the beheading. the kidnappings of a young boy not

only kidnap , molested, kidnappings of a young boy not only kidnap, molested, hurt , only kidnap, molested, hurt, attacked . and the second thing attacked. and the second thing display of celebrating these horrors, the celebration and glorification of evil . president glorification of evil. president biden was absolutely correct in calling this sheer evil . hamas calling this sheer evil. hamas is isis . and just as isis was is isis. and just as isis was crushed, so , too, will hamas be crushed, so, too, will hamas be crushed, so, too, will hamas be crushed and hamas should be treated exactly the way isis was treated exactly the way isis was treated . they should be spit out treated. they should be spit out from the community of nations . from the community of nations. no leader should meet them, no country should harbour them. and those that do should be sanctioned . tony, my friend .

sanctioned. tony, my friend. i say to you, i say to all of us, there will be many difficult days ahead. but i have no doubt that the forces of civilisation will win . and the reason that's will win. and the reason that's true is because we understand what is the first prerequisite of victory. it's what you just said in our meeting . moral said in our meeting. moral clarity . this is a time , a clarity. this is a time, a particular time , a special time particular time, a special time that we must stand tall, proud and united against evil . tony, and united against evil. tony, you are taking that stand. i'm america is taking that stand. thank you for being here today. thank you for being here today. thank you, america, for standing with israel today , may, tomorrow with israel today, may, tomorrow and always .

and always. >> prime minister , i'm grateful >> prime minister, i'm grateful to be back in israel in this incredibly difficult moment for this nation . but incredibly difficult moment for this nation. but in incredibly difficult moment for this nation . but in fact , for this nation. but in fact, for the entire . world if you'll the entire. world if you'll permit me , personal aside, i permit me, personal aside, i come before you not only as the united states secretary of state but also as a jew, my grandfather , maurice blinken , grandfather, maurice blinken, fled pogroms in russia . my fled pogroms in russia. my stepfather , samuel pizer, stepfather, samuel pizer, survived concentration camps auschwitz, dachau , majdanek . so auschwitz, dachau, majdanek. so prime minister , i understand on prime minister, i understand on a personal level the harrowing echoes that hamas has massacres

carry for israeli jews. indeed for jews everywhere . i also come for jews everywhere. i also come before you as a husband and father of young children . it's father of young children. it's impossible for me to look at the photos of families killed by such as the mother and father and three small children murdered as they sheltered in their home in kibbutz nir oz. and not think of my own children . this was just one of hamas's countless acts of terror in a utany countless acts of terror in a litany of brutality and inhumanity that yes , this brings inhumanity that yes, this brings to mind the worst of isis. baby slaughtered , bodies desecrated slaughtered, bodies desecrated young people burned alive, women raped , parents executed in front raped, parents executed in front of their children , children in

of their children, children in front of their parents. how are we even to understand this? the digest, this . and yet at the digest, this. and yet at the same time , same time that we've same time, same time that we've been shocked by the depravity of hamas ? we've also been inspired hamas? we've also been inspired by the bravery of israel's citizens, the grandfather who drove over an hour to a kibbutz under siege, armed only with a pistol and rescued his kids and grandkids . the mother , who died grandkids. the mother, who died shielding her teenage son with her body , giving her life to her body, giving her life to save his giving him life for a second time . the volunteer second time. the volunteer security teams on the kibbutz swiftly rallied to defend their friends and neighbours, despite being heavily outnumbered . and being heavily outnumbered. and we're lifted by the remarkable

solidarity of the israeli people, demonstrated in the long lines of people giving blood in the hundreds of thousands of reservists who've mobilised some rushing home from abroad . people rushing home from abroad. people around the country opening their homes to fellow citizens displaced from the . south the displaced from the. south the people of israel have long and rightly prided themselves on their self—reliance and on their ability to defend themselves, even when the odds are stacked against them . the message that against them. the message that i bnng against them. the message that i bring israel is this you may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, but as long as america exists , you will never, america exists, you will never, ever have to . we will always be ever have to. we will always be there by your side. that's the message that president biden delivered to the prime minister from the moment this crisis began. from the moment this crisis began . it's the message that began. it's the message that i and my other colleagues in the government have delivered to our israeli counterparts on a daily,

even an hourly basis . it's the even an hourly basis. it's the message that i bring with me to our discussions today , and it's our discussions today, and it's what i'll affirm when i meet with the members of israel's newly formed national emergency government . we welcome the government. we welcome the government's creation in and the unity and resolve that it reflects across israel's society . we're delivering on our word supply of ammunition, interceptors to replenish israel's iron dome alongside other defence materiel . first, other defence materiel. first, shipments of us military support have already arrived in israel and more is on the way as israel's defence needs evolve , israel's defence needs evolve, we will work with congress to make sure that they're met. and i can tell you there is ovennhelming , ovennhelming ovennhelming, ovennhelming bipartisan support in our congress for israel's security here in israel and everywhere . here in israel and everywhere. we will reaffirm the crystal clear warning that president biden issued yesterday to any

adversary state or non—state thinking of taking advantage of the current crisis to attack israel. don't the united states has israel's back ? we deployed has israel's back? we deployed the world's largest aircraft carrier to the eastern mediterranean. we bolstered the presence of us fighter aircraft in the region . we're providing in the region. we're providing other support as well. we continue working closely with israel to secure the release of the men , women, children, the men, women, children, elderly people taken hostage by hamas . we're pursuing intensive hamas. we're pursuing intensive diplomacy throughout the region to prevent the conflict from spreading , and i'll be to prevent the conflict from spreading, and i'll be doing that over the course of my trip in the coming days, too often in the past, leaders have equivocated in the face of terrorist attacks against israel and its people . that's why we've and its people. that's why we've been adamant with all countries in the wake of these attacks , in the wake of these attacks, there is no excuse . there is no

there is no excuse. there is no justification in these atrocities . you heard the prime atrocities. you heard the prime minister say it. this is this must be a moment for moral clarity . the failure to clarity. the failure to unambiguous condemn terrorism puts at risk not only people in israel , but people everywhere . israel, but people everywhere. look at what just happened. individuals from 36 countries killed or missing in the aftermath of hamas attack. europe asia, africa , the europe asia, africa, the americas, no region has escaped hamas's . reach. anyone who wants hamas's. reach. anyone who wants peace and justice must condemn hamas reign of terror. peace and justice must condemn hamas reign of terror . we know hamas reign of terror. we know hamas reign of terror. we know hamas doesn't represent the palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations to live with equal measures of security , freedom, justice, opportunity and dignity . we know hamas ,

and dignity. we know hamas, instead of promoting the well—being of citizens rules , well—being of citizens rules, repressively and dedicates the resources it has to terror tunnels and rockets . we know tunnels and rockets. we know hamas didn't commit its heinous acts with the interests of palestinian people in mind. we know hamas does not stand for the future that palestinians want for themselves and for their children . moss has only their children. moss has only one agenda to stroy israel and to murder jews . no country can to murder jews. no country can or would tolerate the slaughter of its citizens or simply return to the conditions that allowed it to take place . israel has the it to take place. israel has the right indeed the obligation to defend itself and to ensure that this never happens again . the this never happens again. the prime minister and i discussed how israel does this matters . we how israel does this matters. we democracies distinguish ourselves from terrorists by striving for a different

standard, even when it's difficult, and holding ourselves to account when we fall short , to account when we fall short, our humanity , the value that we our humanity, the value that we place on human life and human dignity , that's what makes us dignity, that's what makes us who we are . we count them among who we are. we count them among our greatest strengths . that's our greatest strengths. that's why it's so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians . and avoid harming civilians. and that's why we mourn the loss of every innocent life. civilians of every faith, every nationality who've been killed tragically , the number of tragically, the number of innocent lives claimed by hamas is heinous attacks continues to rise . among those we now know rise. among those we now know that at least 25 american citizens were killed . we joined citizens were killed. we joined families in israel and the united states around the world in mourning their immeasurable loss . nearly 15 years ago . my loss. nearly 15 years ago. my stepfather, who i alluded to earlier, samuel pisar , came here

earlier, samuel pisar, came here to yad vashem , performed the to yad vashem, performed the mourner's prayer that he wrote to accompany leonard bernstein , to accompany leonard bernstein, third symphony, kaddish , third symphony, kaddish, reflecting on the unspeakable horrors that he'd endured as a boy in the concentration camps, he wrote , that man , though, he wrote, that man, though, created in your image and endowed with the freedom to choose between good and evil , choose between good and evil, remains capable of the worst as of the best of hatred , as of of the best of hatred, as of love, of madness , as of genius . love, of madness, as of genius. in this moment where evil hatred and madness has once more taken so many innocent lives , we must so many innocent lives, we must stand together, resolve to confront what is worst among humanity. with what is best. we must provide an alternative

vision of violence and fear, nihilism and terror presented by hamas . that is what the united hamas. that is what the united states will do. standing with israel, working together with its people and all those in this region who remain committed to the vision of a more peaceful, more integrated, more secure, more integrated, more secure, more prosperous middle east. thank you very much . well thank you very much. well a very emotional news conference there by both benjamin netanyahu and antony blinken. >> mr blinken as us secretary of state reflecting that he was there not just as a us politician, but as a jew as well, that his family had been involved in the pogroms in russia and also in terms of surviving auschwitz and dachau, he said, speaking as netanyahu

had done of a moral clarity in terms of what had happened in hamas . hamas. >> i think we can now speak to a representative from the israeli defence force who can join to us react to what we've just heard. thank you very much for joining us, colonel peter lerner. just to pick up on what we heard from both men about this moral clarity that i assume is something that every member of your defence force is carrying with them as well . with them as well. >> absolutely . the reality on >> absolutely. the reality on the ground is one where we see some people that are a bit confused about the situation and what we heard from prime minister netanyahu and the secretary of state. >> blinken is that the world needs to choose to be on the right side of history. the current situation on the ground is one, as you can see, is we have our forces that are rallying, being prepared for a potential ground operation.

we've not been instructed to do that yet, but we need to have the forces prepared as we say, over the last 24 hours, we've putting a lot of effort on targeting the hamas commando unit that came in on saturday and led this butcher of israeli civilians in their houses . we've civilians in their houses. we've depleted , destroyed and killed depleted, destroyed and killed many of their leaders. and people who are involved in the attack . and we will continue to attack. and we will continue to do so. >> there are reports, as you know, from some reports there on the ground that there may be hamas gunmen still on the loose. i mean, is that your assessment ? >> well, the working assumption is , is and has been for the last is, is and has been for the last six days now that there is a possibility that that terrorists are still in israel. and indeed, yesterday in a couple of exchanges, we killed five terrorists that were in southern israel . i would say, yes, there

israel. i would say, yes, there is a working assumption that they are there. they could be hiding in the bushes in hiding in the bushes or in a cupboard. so we need be cupboard. so we need to be very cautious going on and cautious in what's going on and that's whole area around that's why the whole area around the still a closed the gaza strip is still a closed military zone. >> and anthony blinken there was talking about how much ammunition in the us is now supplying thing. >> he says there is more support on the way . how vital and how on the way. how vital and how crucial will is that military support from the us? >> what exactly are you receiving from them ? receiving from them? >> well, obviously i won't go into specific details, but what is important is the most, you know, the strong alliance between the people on the right side of history today. and, you know , the military needs the know, the military needs the tools in order to implement its mission to destroy hamas's capabilities . and, you know, our capabilities. and, you know, our friends around the world and specifically in this case, the americans are coming putting a step fonnard with with their naval forces and with munitions

and special capabilities . and and special capabilities. and that, i think, is really important for and a very, very strong message that israel is not alone against this type of barbarism . barbarism. >> and colonel lerner, i know you can't talk about operational details or any kind of advance nofice details or any kind of advance notice of anything, but it was interesting. i thought that anthony blinken spoke the fact that the united states was working to get the hostages released. and i know some 95 families have been informed that clearly their relatives were taken into gaza. how does that play taken into gaza. how does that play lay with the planning for anything in terms of a ground offensive ? offensive? >> so one thing needs to be very, very clear. hamas are responsible for the well—being of these people , of these women, of these people, of these women, children, men and elderly people. they are responsible for their well—being. we demand that they return the people. they release the people to israel. now we have to make the necessary precautions and we're

doing everything we can in to order bring our operation . plans order bring our operation. plans are being devised in order to prepare for the eventuality that we'll need to mobilise . we'll need to mobilise. >> and you do have this specialist unit, which i think benjamin netanyahu actually served with a hostage extrication target group, a commando group . we have several commando group. we have several special units with very , i'd special units with very, i'd say, a vast amount of different types of special capabilities . types of special capabilities. >> obviously, i won't go into specifics, but if you've seen fordow , you get a good idea. fordow, you get a good idea. i think it was the brazilian president who said there needs to be a minimum of humanity in the casualty of war. >> how do you interpret that ? >> how do you interpret that? >> how do you interpret that? >> i don't want to be interpreter of any brazilian. you know, we are at the at the families who are those that have

been abducted and those that have been butchered . and they have been butchered. and they are looking at us and there expecting safety and expecting security, safety and bringing home of their family members. we are doing that in a way where hamas will never, ever be able to threaten israel ever again . and that's how we are again. and that's how we are operating. we are targeting their command and control positions . we're targeting their positions. we're targeting their launch strikes . we're targeting launch strikes. we're targeting their staging grounds, their intelligence capabilities , their intelligence capabilities, their drone capabilities, everything is on the table. they cannot not be allowed to govern a territory as a staging ground for attacking israel . attacking israel. >> we're just looking at pictures in the south as we speak to you. colonel lerner, i know your fear will be a war on two fronts, as, of course, you've had to fight before . what you've had to fight before. what is your interpretation or assessment of the fact? nothing has been heard in any way on a major scale from hezbollah in the north in lebanon .

the north in lebanon. >> so we've had exchanges from hezbollah over the last couple of days . yesterday, we had an of days. yesterday, we had an anti—tank guided missile fired at our forces along the fence . at our forces along the fence. we responded , i would recommend we responded, i would recommend hezbollah watch very closely what's going on in gaza against hamas. and i would really suggest that they don't test us. we are preparing forces not only on the south that we can see now on the south that we can see now on your screens, but also in the in the north. we have recruited some 300,000 reserve lists. i'm actually one of those. and so, yes, we are prepared for that. developed moment. we hope it won't happen . but in our in the won't happen. but in our in the military , we say hope is not method. >> lieutenant colonel peter lerner, i know you've got to get to various other meetings. a very busy man , but thank you very busy man, but thank you very busy man, but thank you very much for the time here on gb news and updating us. thank you thank you. you very much. thank you. >> have a good day . >> have a good day. >> have a good day. >> well, let's talk now to charlie peters, gb news correspondent who is in tel

aviv. charlie you were listening to that press conference, a massive show of unity there from the us secretary of state and benjamin netanyahu. benjamin netanyahu , who described hamas netanyahu, who described hamas as an enemy of civilisation , an. as an enemy of civilisation, an. >> yes. and there was that joint message of a call for moral clarity. and it's very clear since the start of this war, as details of the atrocities in the south of the country have filtered up to the central parts and the northern regions , that and the northern regions, that israel has been clear that they want to align the actions of hamas with the actions of isis. they want to change how the world perceives this group and its actions in southern israel. and frankly , it's been quite and frankly, it's been quite straightfonnard for them to achieve that, because as some of the evidence coming out of the kibbutzes and the small communities where massacres have taken place. we heard in that press conference some of the details there being alluded to with children killed in their

homes and innocent men and women slain at home by the terrorists who push through the fence and arrived with little resistance at the time. now, mr blinken went further, i think, in saying that he wanted to draw a lack of equivocation between the actions of israel as it defends itself from hamas strikes and those comparing that to the actions of hamas terrorists in the area. we have, of course , seen some have, of course, seen some commentators trying to draw a comparison there between the two sides as they continue rocket barrages and airstrikes in each direction on now, obviously, at the same time as secretary of state there, blinken making those comments there is this very severe blockade occurring in gaza. many ngos and foreign secretaries expressing concern about the situation, the humanitarian situation in gaza, which is declining rapidly , which is declining rapidly, people relying on generators for

hospitals to run and electricity and water supplies have been cut. there is work now, of course, for the us not just to extend the munition supply to the us to replenish its iron dome air defence system and also possibly prepare that ground incursion into gaza. but it also has a role of extending a humanitarian hand. it is the big diplomatic player on the ground at the moment. it it may diplomatic player on the ground at the moment . it it may help to at the moment. it it may help to assist opening a possible humanitarian corridor in the rafah crossing into egypt. many many people in gaza, of course, hundreds of thousands have now been internally displaced, are seeking shelter and are uncertain that they will be able to achieve it. of course , people to achieve it. of course, people here say that israel doesn't just have a right to defend itself , it has to defend itself. itself, it has to defend itself. they talk about an existential threat to the country and the worst violence that's seen in 50 years. but at the same time, there concerns about there are concerns about the humanitarian situation in gaza. >> that point, charlie, >> just on that point, charlie, we that the

we do understand that the british prime minister has spoken egyptian spoken with the egyptian president about getting that aid into gaza . and there are reports into gaza. and there are reports that the rafah crossing is actually open at the moment . actually open at the moment. >> yes, but with such a huge amount of people all fleeing and seeking assistance , yes, it will seeking assistance, yes, it will need as much diplomatic security as possible to keep that crossing open and to make sure it's as successful, especially because just four days ago there were reports coming out of israel that the idf would attack any attempt to supply the gaza strip as it put in that severe blockade , air, land and sea. blockade, air, land and sea. nothing could come in. and so the diplomacy and the links between the prime minister and el—sisi, the president over in egypt will reaffirm that diplomatic effort to maintain those humanitarian corridors. but as israel prepares for that likely ground incursion in the south, it also has to defend in the north. so the us supply here, not just for the humanitarian situation, but also

to support the reservists in the north and the regular soldiers in the south. >> charlie , as we speak to you, >> charlie, as we speak to you, we're seeing these pictures of a large armoured column to the south of israel , near the border south of israel, near the border with gaza. there's a lot of activity. and clearly, colonel peter lerner, who we spoke to, was indicate what peter lerner, who we spoke to, wasoperational indicate what peter lerner, who we spoke to, wasoperational details |te what peter lerner, who we spoke to, wasoperational details are, 'hat peter lerner, who we spoke to, wasoperational details are, but the operational details are, but we understand now that blinken is going to amman in jordan and will speak there to mahmoud abbas. is it the case that they are waiting to see if there are any diplomatic moves, if there can be any kind of breakthrough , a diplomatic breakthrough would make a significant difference here, especially as it's unclear if israel actually has the capability to carry out the, quote, mission that they've been referring to in the south of israel, because it is an extreme mission to undertake to conduct the first ground invasion of the gaza strip since 2014. >> they've been shaping the ground, of course, with those

significant airstrikes on hamas capabilities . but do they have capabilities. but do they have the logistical capability to supply those armoured convoys heading south? do they have the logistical capability to defend themselves on several fronts? let's not forget also yesterday morning, there was shelling and mortaring coming in from syria . mortaring coming in from syria. lebanese hezbollah firing anti—tank guided missiles from the north and continued rocket barrages. some 400 a day in the south. so they may be referencing and hinting at a potential invasion, but it might not yet be an option. actually on the table. >> and the other question , which >> and the other question, which many tel aviv will be many there in tel aviv will be pondenng many there in tel aviv will be pondering this news that 95 families held hostage , two families held hostage, two families held hostage, two families have been told about their relatives in detail taken into gaza . and we had anthony into gaza. and we had anthony blinken saying the us was working with others to get the hostages released. the question being are they going to try and get people before any get those people out before any ground or does that ground incursion or does that have to be reassessed ? what if have to be reassessed? what if the reality is they cannot negotiate effectively with hamas

. or for any government when hostages are taken ? hostages are taken? >> and the number one priority for that state is to recover any of its citizens from captivity. but this is not an ordinary situation, and it's certainly not an ordinary state. it seems that actually the first priority for the israeli defence establishment here is the total destruction of hamas military capability. that is the priority over the situation with the hostages. actually where we are now in central tel aviv and the expo centre here. they realise is that the army needs support in identifying hostages, in finding locals who have gone missing. many presumed dead. but the questions are still remaining here in tel aviv, a start up capital of the region, a technology capital of israel. people are coming together to use ai and other technology to assess social media and try and identify possible hostages and people who've gone missing in the south. they are then feeding that information back to the idf, who can do with it whatever they can. >> benjamin netanyahu, of course

, he will know more than many about what is involved and how intricate it is to get these hostages out because as he was part of that elite rescue unit, him and his brother were commanders and. >> that's right. and of course , >> that's right. and of course, they'll be aware fully of how difficult it is to get anything out of the gaza strip. not only is it the most densely populated place in the world, but it's also full of intricate tunnelling and bunker systems where hamas can shelter at night and then appear in the morning to fire off rockets and then disappear before people can return fire. at the point of origin of those rockets . it also origin of those rockets. it also adds another dimension for any potential ground incursion that moving all that ginormous armour that we've seen , that convoy that we've seen, that convoy we've seen in the south, if that were to push into this most densely populated part of the world, difficult world, that is a very difficult place armour to operate. and place for armour to operate. and i also the idf defence i think also the idf defence establishment will be aware of that particular threat and we'll

be taking it very seriously to several challenges here in recovering hostages, but also potentially pushing in directly. >> charlie in tel aviv, thank you for updating us there as we see more smoke . on the southern see more smoke. on the southern border there of israel with the gaza strip. and clearly there is still a lot of activity. the armoured column, though , is on armoured column, though, is on standby and of course, we wait to see what the developments will be in terms of any ground incursion. we'll have the very latest for you here on the live desk. us on

>> patrick christys weekdays from three on . from three on. news >> welcome back to the live desk . let's take you back to the live pictures we're getting from southern israel the border southern israel on the border with a large with gaza where there's a large armoured column that has built up there . clearly there is still up there. clearly there is still a belief that there will be some kind of ground operation. but colonel lerner from the colonel peter lerner from the israeli defence force updating us here on gb news, the decision on that, of course , will be one on that, of course, will be one for the authorities. but at the moment we have anthony blinken, the us secretary of state, having been speaking there in tel aviv , then going to jordan, tel aviv, then going to jordan, much diplomacy in the offing. christopher hope, our political editor, is also here in the studio because there are a lot of political moves here in london in the past hour. that's right. >> we're seeing suella braverman, the home secretary michael gove, levelling michael gove, the levelling up secretary the secretary chris philp, the policing police

policing minister, and police officers right now. we officers meeting right now. we are are they have completed are they are they have completed that meeting and they are leaving downing street. that meeting and they are lea' now, )owning street. that meeting and they are lea' now, these |g street. that meeting and they are lea' now, these are treet. that meeting and they are lea'now, these are live. that meeting and they are lea'now, these are live pictures i >> -- >> so what's going on here is this is about the policing of protests in the uk . we've seen protests in the uk. we've seen lots of goading of israelis by palestinians on social media. it comes after a letter from the deputy commissioner , john lydon deputy commissioner, john lydon police dame lynne owens , to the police dame lynne owens, to the jewish community saying we will stand you and we stand firmly with you and we will make sure will do all we can to make sure you and protected here you feel safe and protected here at home. >> is any particular >> is there any particular significance about the timing? we do know that internationally there had been this call for protest tomorrow . yes, friday, protest tomorrow. yes, friday, the day of prayer here. so we wonder whether perhaps these moves are being put in place ahead of that, almost certainly, as you go into the weekend, we get the one week on from the initial attacks by hamas. >> you're going to get more and more difficult weekend. more difficult this weekend. friday week. day, friday is a big week. big day, of the jewish faith. of course, for the jewish faith. so i think why they're so i think this is why they're doing getting ahead of doing they're getting ahead of that should expect that now. and we should expect some about some news later on today about

the outcome of that meeting because home secretary she because the home secretary she has already warned out, has already warned that out, waving flag or waving a palestinian flag or singing a chant calling for freedom for arabs could be a criminal offence. >> that's right. >> that's right. >> so there's obviously an operational matter for police rather than suella braverman. but charge but she, of course, is in charge of the policing budgets in this letter from lynne letter here from dame lynne owens, she's going owens, she says that she's going to there's to stand why? there's an expectation she's expectation that she's just getting into car, though, getting into a car, though, chris, we see at the centre chris, as we see at the centre of this . of this. >> i mean, can we just update is she talking about the law being updated or adapted or just interpreted by local authorities and police? >> we don't know . i know what >> we don't know. i know what the meeting was about. we don't know said. it might be know what was said. it might be a letter police. a letter to the police. certainly, damian owens is saying here the saying quite clearly here to the jewish there's an jewish community. there's an expectation police expectation that the police would to stop the would have acted to stop the demonstration or take action against also demonstration or take action agairabuse also demonstration or take action agairabuse or also demonstration or take action agairabuse or intimidation also demonstration or take action agairabuse or intimidation that) says abuse or intimidation that is religiously motivated will not and officers not be accepted and officers will when they see it. will act when they see it. that's the key sentence and it's incitement to racial hatred, of course, which is it's a very

fine line. and we're seeing on social it's upsetting social media, it's upsetting a lot clearly to jewish people and schoolchildren, schoolchildren being being warned, you know, maybe don't wear your blazers to school communities, stepping up. >> that's right. stepping up their they say >> that's right. stepping up theirthe they say >> that's right. stepping up theirthe police they say >> that's right. stepping up theirthe police say they say >> that's right. stepping up theirthe police say nobodyy here the police say nobody should be concerned their should be concerned about their child's school . child's journey to school. >> if you're on a bus >> they say if you're on a bus or or going to the shops or train or going to the shops or train or going to the shops or of worship, i think or a place of worship, i think it community security it was the community security trust says just last trust that says just in the last few days, number of few days, the number of anticipate have anticipate incidents have tripled . yeah, there was issues tripled. yeah, there was issues there was there was that shop that was attacked. i think on sunday or monday that wasn't an anti—semitic attack, the police said. some concern. >> it wasn't being treated as a hate crime. >> and people i mean, yes, that's what the police say. but that that was confusing. i think, jewish groups. yeah. think, for jewish groups. yeah. and course, and we've had, of course, british jewish families speaking in the last hour or relatives , in the last hour or relatives, sons and daughters of those who are being held hostage . are being held hostage. >> and we have in again, the past hour both netanyahu and blinken in tel aviv talking

about moral clarity on this . about moral clarity on this. this is this is something that the politicians are now beginning to have to address directly. >> that's why language is so important. it extremists or terrorism. that's that's why we are seeing that from the government. they're saying it's terrorism. james cleverly, of course, been in israel overnight, flew back, got back early morning. i think he early this morning. i think he may may be in bed or getting up. he's worked hard. he's worked very hard. >> we think that >> so we don't think that there's formal there's been any kind of formal debrief as such what he's debrief as such on what he's maybe officials have stepped in. >> i'm not sure whether he's personally we personally done it yet. we certainly him going personally done it yet. we ce downing him going personally done it yet. we ce downing street, him going personally done it yet. we ce downing street, buthim going personally done it yet. we ce downing street, but hei going personally done it yet. we ce downing street, but he isoing personally done it yet. we ce downing street, but he is heg to downing street, but he is he is doing hard yards and is doing the hard yards and getting sure britons our getting make sure britons our views, country's views views, our country's views in israel heard. israel are heard. >> and do we any idea >> and do we do we have any idea when he went yesterday, we when he went there yesterday, we know offer know obviously, it was to offer his unwavering but was his unwavering support, but was there discussed about there anything discussed about providing anything more, any military support or nothing ? military support or nothing? >> it's a complicated situation. i think the issue of i mean, i think the issue of britain's gaza could be an britain's in gaza could be an issue by the weekend because you have these israeli have got these these israeli forces up invade. we forces lining up to invade. we know, of course, the scottish

first minister has family who have to gaza on holiday and have went to gaza on holiday and they're there . i mean, they're stuck there. i mean, he's his snp conference this he's got his snp conference this weekend. he's got his own issues with politics. but this is of course, than that. with politics. but this is of couit's than that. with politics. but this is of couit's his than that. with politics. but this is of couit's his wife's than that. with politics. but this is of couit's his wife's parents.t. >> it's his wife's parents. >> it's his wife's parents. >> parents. that's right. >> wife's parents. that's right. >> wife's parents. that's right. >> his wife's siblings . >> and his wife's siblings. >> and his wife's siblings. >> so touching. we have >> so it's touching. we have britain's missing. >> it's touching so many families, so many british lives i >> now, the other issue is that we're that the foreign we're learning that the foreign office move the families office is to move the families of staff out of of diplomatic staff out of israel. british ainnays says that flights will be affected for some three weeks, at least . for some three weeks, at least. so there is a question of the logistics of how to get people out of there and safely back home and will there be some form of airlift? >> i can only imagine there will be by the weekend. i mean, i'm just speculating you just speculating here what you see going. you can't see how it's going. you can't have at risk from have britain's at risk from israeli going into gaza. israeli tanks going into gaza. equally, are issues there israeli tanks going into gaza. eqlbritain's are issues there israeli tanks going into gaza. eqlbritain's israel,jes there israeli tanks going into gaza. eqlbritain's israel, too. here yeah >> e yeah >> this this other >> but meanwhile this this other statistic been told about statistic we've been told about of at least 100 and reservists and active duty soldiers travel

from the uk to israel literally to go to join the frontline and the legal protection of them isn't clear. >> we saw the similar thing, didn't we, mark, with the with the war in ukraine? yeah and clearly people feel very they feel they feel angry and concerned. they're going back to protect their their their homeland, their families homeland, where their families are from. you understand why are from. you can understand why are from. you can understand why are they going. i think the legal protection of what you're doing less clear. doing out there is less clear. and they should be and i think that they should be careful about that. >> foreign office has >> and the foreign office has advised all but advised against all but essential israel and essential travel to israel and occupied palestinian territories. >> yeah, the other interesting thing sunak thing is that rishi sunak apparently made a phone call apparently had made a phone call with the egyptians this morning. and one of the central questions in terms of gaza, what happens about this rafah crossing and the humanitarian corridor . so it the humanitarian corridor. so it does appear again on as if we are very much at the front of any kind of diplomatic round . any kind of diplomatic round. >> that's right. and i think the uk does take a leading role in this. we can stand between with the us. course, there their

the us. of course, there their ships to off the shore of ships out to off the shore of gaza. but we are taking a leading role and it's you know it's what we should be doing to what are you gathering in terms of the temperature if that's the right word of the reaction? >> i mean, blinken had a very emotional news conference with netanyahu , indicating, of netanyahu, indicating, of course, his own family had been involved in pogroms and in the concentration camps . has london, concentration camps. has london, as much as every other cattle being taken completely by surprise by what's happened . surprise by what's happened. >> it is for me and we use this term black swan events, events that aren't forecast predictable , well, at least not forecast. they are predictable , i suppose. they are predictable, i suppose. but in terms of the covid 19 pandemic, the invasion of ukraine by russia, this is one more we've been talking, haven't we, our world of news we, in our world of news for years about this? sorry, chris. >> just hearing from the >> we are just hearing from the foreign office the government has fly has organised flights to fly british nationals of israel. british nationals out of israel. the flights are due to the first flights are due to leave tel aviv later today . all

right. >> i thought that was coming. yeah. so i've been listening to you. >> obviously, i didn't want to get ahead of it. >> know i thought something was happening. i appreciate it's a very delicate situation. we happening. i appreciate it's a very (wantte situation. we happening. i appreciate it's a very (wantte start:ion. we happening. i appreciate it's a very (wantte start anything. happening. i appreciate it's a very (weclearly,art anything. happening. i appreciate it's a very (weclearly, safety, :hing. >> and clearly, safety, logistics. absolutely. >> it to happen. i mean, and >> it has to happen. i mean, and that's why i mean, uk that's why i mean, if the uk is removing officials, then then britain's come out britain's also must come out too. yeah. >> what is do you think, >> what is it, do you think, james cleverly assessment james cleverly is assessment having there of what could having been there of what could be diplomatically ? be achieved diplomatically? because blinken is now on his way jordan, to amman, meet way to jordan, to amman, to meet mahmoud abbas, king mahmoud abbas, the king of jordan understand ed jordan as well. we understand ed has put himself fonnard perhaps as mediator and yet as some kind of mediator and yet we've had the indication from blinken and netanyahu you cannot deal with hamas, you cannot engage with them. >> but you have to think about the 2 million or so palestinians in area of side of the in that area of the side of the isle wight. and they are they isle of wight. and they are they are sitting ducks there, aren't they? there's they? and of course, there's pressure to make sure pressure on israel to make sure they do follow the they do. they do follow the rules of war as set out in the geneva conventions. >> said this, biden >> and biden said this, biden said very clear. but >> and that's very clear. but there be some some some there has to be some some some peace found. it's really

peace found. but it's really it is relations at the is so inflamed relations at the moment. see where moment. it's hard to see where they from here. they go from here. >> so let's just reiterate >> okay. so let's just reiterate that news. the that breaking news. the government organised flights to fly british nationals out of israel. the first flight set to leave for tel aviv later. and indeed, as we were saying, the foreign office indicating that families of diplomatic staff are also being moved out . numbers. also being moved out. numbers. any estimate on numbers? >> no numbers yet, but and not not gaza. note just israel at the moment . i not gaza. note just israel at the moment. i wonder not gaza. note just israel at the moment . i wonder whether it the moment. i wonder whether it might move to gaza right. >> right. okay. and just to update the picture had update you, the picture we had on the screen is in on the right of the screen is in the south of with the the south of israel with the border because we had border of gaza, because we had the update from the israeli defence force. colonel peter lerner. but we can see what appears to be a very large armoured column . they're armoured column. they're starting to gather in terms of the surrounding area of the gaza strip . we are being told that strip. we are being told that all non—military personnel and vehicles basically are barred

effectively. so clearly there is some development . but in terms some development. but in terms of the military response, but no indication as yet whether there will be or when there will be any kind of major incursion into gaza. yes. >> and at that press conference, the us secretary of state emphasised that they were continuing to work closely with israel , all to release the israel, all to release the hostage his. they're also pursuing intense diplomacy to prevent the conflict from spreading. he said. this must be a moment for moral clarity . a moment for moral clarity. individuals, people from 36 countries are missing after that terrorist act by hamas on saturday. >> the latest coming up from london from tel aviv and washington. stay with us on

gb news. >> good afternoon. it is 1:00. this is the live desk on gb news. coming up this thursday lunchtime us secretary of state antony blinken says the us will always stand with israel . always stand with israel. >> its new government says the siege of gaza will not end until hostages are released with these tanks armoured vehicles. now tanks and armoured vehicles. now gathering southern border gathering on the southern border with gaza . with gaza. >> here in the uk, children are pleading for the safe return of their parents currently being held hostage in gaza. israel says gaza will remain cut off

until there captives are freed and the foreign office has just announced that flights are being sent to tel aviv for british nationals trapped in israel . nationals trapped in israel. will also coming up, as we've just seen, mind the gap, that giant sycamore felled at hadrian's wall being removed by a giant crane. >> we're live at the scene with the national trust now to the national trust now trying to decide with the site decide what to do with the site i >> and former formula one boss bernie ecclestone has been sentenced to 17 months in prison, suspended for two years. he's pleaded guilty to fraud over a financial trust fund in singapore . all the details on singapore. all the details on that shortly. but first, let's get a full round up of the latest news with rhiannon . pip.

latest news with rhiannon. pip. >> thank you. good afternoon. it's 1:01. your top stories from it's1:01. your top stories from the newsroom . the us secretary the newsroom. the us secretary of state has reassured the israeli prime minister of washington's support during a trip to the middle east. benjamin netanyahu insists hamas should be treated exactly as isis was . secretary anthony isis was. secretary anthony blinken says he knows the terrorist group does not represent the palestinian people nor their legitimate aspirations. he told netanyahu that as long as america exists , that as long as america exists, israel will never have to defend itself on its own . we must stand itself on its own. we must stand together , resolve to confront together, resolve to confront what is worst among humanity , what is worst among humanity, with what is best. >> we must provide an alternative of to the vision of violence and fear, nihilism and terror presented by hamas . that terror presented by hamas. that is what the united states will do. standing with israel , do. standing with israel, working together with its people

and all those in this region who remain committed to the vision of a more peaceful , remain committed to the vision of a more peaceful, more integrated , a more secure, integrated, a more secure, a more prosperous middle east. >> anthony blinken says he's also trying to secure the release of hostages kidnapped by hamas. more than 100 israeli and foreign hostages have been kidnapped by the terrorist group and taken into gaza. nadhim zahawi, a british an israeli whose mother is among the hostages, is calling it a second holocaust. >> i'm here because i need to ask for help to release babies , ask for help to release babies, kids, mothers and old people from their captivity . there is from their captivity. there is no politics here, no context, no religion, no . race simple religion, no. race simple humanity . people who survived

humanity. people who survived the holocaust . humanity. people who survived the holocaust. found humanity. people who survived the holocaust . found themselves the holocaust. found themselves facing another one. >> and in breaking news, we now know that the government is organising flights for british nationals in israel with the first flight due to leave tel aviv later today . they aviv later today. they meanwhile, in gaza, vital medical supplies inside are running out and the red cross says it won't be able to maintain the civilian population there for very long. the only remaining power station stopped working yesterday. fuel supplies are also dwindling and could run out within hours. israel is preparing for a ground incursion into gaza, though the military says no decision has been made yet. more than 1300 israelis have been killed since saturday, including over 200 soldiers . including over 200 soldiers. israel has also massed tanks and

soldiers on its southern border with gaza and its northern border with lebanon. trading fire with hezbollah. the iranian backed terrorist group has threatened to intervene in the israel—hamas war by opening a second front in the conflict , a second front in the conflict, a move which could escalate the situation . meanwhile in the uk, situation. meanwhile in the uk, incidents of anti semitism have increased by more than 300% since hamas's attack on israel. that's according to the community security trust , that's according to the community security trust, which recorded 89 incidents in just four days so far this month. they include assaults , damage to they include assaults, damage to jewish property and abusive behaviour . jewish property and abusive behaviour. it comes jewish property and abusive behaviour . it comes after the behaviour. it comes after the home secretary warned protesting with palestinian flags could amount to a public order offence if it's deemed to be in support of terrorist ism . in other news, of terrorist ism. in other news, judges in england and wales are being told to postpone phone jail sentences for some

offenders because prisons are too crowded. according to a report in the times, some could include those found guilty of burglary and rape . the judicial burglary and rape. the judicial office declined to comment on the report. it comes after the government said it plans to rent pnson government said it plans to rent prison spaces from foreign countries in an effort to address chronic overcrowding . address chronic overcrowding. bernie ecclestone has been handed a 17 month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to fraud. a warning the following may contain images, flashing images. the ex formula one boss will also have to pay £652 million to the tax authority . he appeared at authority. he appeared at london's southwark crown court this morning after failing to declare more than £400 million of overseas assets to the government. the billionaire turns 93 later this month . he turns 93 later this month. he had been due to face trial in november after he'd previously denied the charge . and an mp for

denied the charge. and an mp for the scottish national party has defected to the tories amid reports of a toxic and bullying culture in the party's westminster group. lisa cameron's defection comes as she was facing a selection battle to be the candidate for a seat in the west of scotland. she says she's a victim of group bullying at westminster and has suffered panic attacks. as a result. prime minister rishi sunak says he's delighted ms cameron's joined the scottish conservatives . this is gb news conservatives. this is gb news across the uk on tv , in your across the uk on tv, in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play your smart speaker by saying play gb news now it's back over to mark and . pip rhiannon. to mark and. pip rhiannon. >> thanks very much . welcome >> thanks very much. welcome back to the live desk and we'll start with that breaking news that britain is organising his flights from israel to help its citizens leave the country. the first due to depart from ben

gunon first due to depart from ben gurion airport in tel aviv later this afternoon . according to the this afternoon. according to the foreign office. it's just said that the vulnerable british nationals will be prioritised for the first flights. those eligible to leave contacted directly and the government saying british nationals should not go to airports unless they call to. it's understood the commercial flights costing £300 per ticket in israel . per ticket in israel. >> the us secretary of state, antony blinken , has told israeli antony blinken, has told israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu we are not going anywhere as the pair met in tel aviv, he's now heading anthony blinken to amman in jordan for more diplomatic talks. let's go to tel aviv and speak with gb news reporter charlie peters . news reporter charlie peters. okay we can't take charlie at the moment, but let's show you the moment, but let's show you the latest pictures from the gaza border in southern israel where the troops are massing

some three, 300,000 reservists have been called up and that massive ground offensive , there massive ground offensive, there is no word yet on when it will be happening, but israel is getting itself ready . getting itself ready. >> we heard in the news conference with antony blinken and benjamin netanyahu that this was a moment for moral clarity. no excuse , no justification for no excuse, no justification for the actions of hamas. and in terms of mr netanyahu indicating that there would be a direct reaction in terms of hamas and what was happening in gaza , but what was happening in gaza, but no details. when we spoke to colonel peter lerner earlier from the idf about when or if the ground incursion will take place into gaza, because clearly there is now this round of diplomacy, we understand that anthony blinken will be meeting mahmoud abbas in jordan to talk to him and the king of jordan to are also involved in efforts to mediate . mediate. >> we can now go to charlie

peters, who is in tel aviv. charlie so much to talk about here. so many developments. let's start, first of all, with this breaking news that we're bringing our viewers and listeners that british nationals are there are flights being laid on to get them out of israel today . yes that's right. today. yes that's right. >> and of course, it comes as british ainnays flights were turned away from ben—gurion airport yesterday day. and it also comes as some britons are arriving in tel aviv. we even heard from the israeli embassy in britain, 100 active and reserve duty soldiers return to israel from britain to serve in the idf . but the british state the idf. but the british state here in israel . charlie we have here in israel. charlie we have a break up with the signal there. >> but you were just indicating that obviously the british ainnays scheduled flights, i think probably have been taken

off schedule for some three weeks or so because we understand there were obviously some projectiles or missiles fired near ben—gurion airport. but b ut >> but >> that's right. are you going to be clear now? yes, that's right. so there were airports , right. so there were airports, there were reports of rockets landing near the ben—gurion airport yesterday and the day before the iron dome, air defence system was activated to intercept those rockets. it's been successful 90% of the time. local reports say since saturday when that invasion occurred. but every hour there are reports of successful rocket strikes from the gaza strip into central and southern, central and southern israel , in southern, central and southern israel, in particular in central israel, in particular in central israel . all the strikes are less israel. all the strikes are less frequent , but israel. all the strikes are less frequent, but in the south, israel. all the strikes are less frequent , but in the south, 200 frequent, but in the south, 200 to 400 a day, making the area impossible to reach for the rest of the population. only the military and the security forces are in that area. but clearly the threat level in the country has reached a level where the

british state now feels as though it must intervene and start to extract its citizens . start to extract its citizens. we've seen in the last day reports and sources to gb news extract some workers from israel here, people flying out charter flights from bergen to bring their workers out and into the west. and so those reports will continue, of course, as people seek to leave. this escalates situation. i have to say, in the last 20 minutes before we came on air, reports of other airports being involved in this story. we've heard we've heard reports from the idf of strikes on aleppo and damascus, international airports in syria. at this point, unconfirmed , but at this point, unconfirmed, but footage shared online by reputable sources seems to show indicate that the idf, the israeli air force, has struck those airports. it's a realistic possibility that they're doing this in order to limit the flow of armaments and the sustainment of armaments and the sustainment of weaponry coming in from iranian proxies. as we know , the iranian proxies. as we know, the

irgc, the islamic revolutionary guards corps, the asymmetric force of the iranian regime does operate very extensively in syria and has a strong connection to those airports in particular. so this conflict now becoming extremely threatening to people on the ground and now expanding way beyond the direct impact that was faced in israel into other countries bordering israel. now, charlie , such israel. now, charlie, such delicate diplomacy taking place. >> prime minister rishi sunak is involved in that diplomacy . we involved in that diplomacy. we understand he has been holding talks with the egyptian president to try to keep that crossing between egypt , egypt crossing between egypt, egypt and gaza open so that people might be able to get out, humanitarian aid might be able to get through . to get through. >> that's right. and i think the role that britain is playing in this conflict is more of a diplomat one and an intelligence situation. what israel needs , situation. what israel needs, britain really can't provide when it comes to munitions and defence. that's really where the

us is. the main player. two nights ago, providing for the first time those advance munitions to support that potential incursion into the gaza strip. but also, as we heard from secretary of state antony blinken in the last hour and a half, the replenishing of the iron dome air defence system, which is very costly to use. but of course the benefit of that system is the saving of lives and technology and infrastructure and the whole of the country's sort of sustenance . without the iron dome it would fall to the tens of thousands of rockets that we know hamas militants and terrorists have in the gaza strip. so britain's role here is that diplomatic role. james cleverly here yesterday meeting with israeli politicians and survivors from massacres in the kibbutz in the south of the country. and now the prime minister speaking with his counterpart in egypt to see and ensure that that crossing can be opened . can be opened. >> charlie, just to pick up on that breaking news you were alluding to there, reuters is now reporting syrian state media

that indeed damascus and aleppo airports out of service , quote, airports out of service, quote, after israeli attacks, which is after israeli attacks, which is a significant development, of course. and we did have that warning from anthony blinken in that news conference to any adversary or other state, don't i mean, one of the fears could be that if the syrians do get involved in terms, as you say, of any supply of weapons or other things that really will widen out the conflict . yes widen out the conflict. yes >> yesterday morning, around 8 am, we had reports of shelling coming across from syria, mortar fire in those border regions that the idf responded to with tank artillery , much like it had tank artillery, much like it had in the north of the country, responding to indirect fire from the south of lebanon , almost the south of lebanon, almost certainly from lebanese , certainly from lebanese, lebanese, hezbollah and the palestinian islamic jihad. so this conflict has already crossed the borders in the north into southern lebanon and syria into southern lebanon and syria in terms of how israel is firing back. in terms of how israel is firing back . but now it seems it has back. but now it seems it has gone much further in striking

and neutralising the air capabilities from syria, which could be resupplying iranian proxies in the north and potentially of course, in the gaza strip, where we know that hamas militants rely very heavily on funding from those sources to sustain its military capabilities, a capability that the idf says its number one mission is to destroy . mission is to destroy. >> charlie, what is daily life like in tel aviv at the moment? i know you are some way away from gaza . i mean, behind you, from gaza. i mean, behind you, you can see people going about their daily business, people walking their dogs. it seems very regular , but surely it very regular, but surely it can't be the people here aren't going about their daily business. >> there are thousands of them volunteering to support the war effort. this convention centre is a gathering of distribution and the hunt for missing persons . we've seen thousands of people coming here both yesterday and today in order to pick up suppues today in order to pick up supplies and distribute them to both civilians and soldiers in

the north and the south. it's an extremely impressive situation here. a grassroots organisation last week, most of the groups and activists who were here last week, they were protesting against the government and now with the existential threat to israel, they've gathered at this location in tel aviv in order to do whatever they can to support both civilians and soldiers across the country as they face that threat . we've seen so many that threat. we've seen so many suppues that threat. we've seen so many supplies coming in and out of here, defence, the former here, a defence, the former defence minister, lieberman was here two hours ago. police chiefs and soldiers regularly passing as well. it is passing through as well. it is a hub of activity , but the rest of hub of activity, but the rest of tel aviv extremely quiet. the usual hubbub and cultural atmosphere that you'd expect of tel aviv. it just isn't there . tel aviv. it just isn't there. >> charlie, thank you for that. we've lost vision with you there in tel apologies for that, we've lost vision with you there in twe've apologies for that, we've lost vision with you there in twe've heard ogies for that, we've lost vision with you there in twe've heard yous for that, we've lost vision with you there in twe've heard you loud that, we've lost vision with you there in twe've heard you loud and but we've heard you loud and clear. more from you, of course, throughout afternoon. but throughout the afternoon. but let's dan let's now bring in dan fefferman, policy scholar let's now bring in dan fefmiddle policy scholar let's now bring in dan fefmiddle east policy scholar let's now bring in dan fefmiddle east affairsy scholar let's now bring in dan fefmiddle east affairs andiolar on middle east affairs and executive director of sharaka. that's an ngo promoting peace in the region. thank you very much

indeed for time that indeed for your time on that very note, we understand that antony blinken is now probably flying to jordan, to oman and maybe meet with mahmoud abbas . maybe meet with mahmoud abbas. could this be a last attempt to broker some kind of diplomatic deal ? deal? >> your guess is as good as mine on this one. >> of course, the question is what kind of diplomatic deal can you reach with an organisation thatis you reach with an organisation that is clearly sworn to murder and kill and kidnap? the consensus was in israel and this is partly a big piece of why the defences were so low, really caught off guard on the border was that hamas was starting a gradual path of moderation that they wanted economic incentives and so israel was providing jobs. 10,000 gazans were coming into israel every day to work there were economic zones being set up on the border between israel and gaza. remind your viewers that israel unilaterally

withdrew from gaza in 2005. every last settler and soldier . every last settler and soldier. and so the understanding was in israel. and apparently the deceptive psychological warfare, the messaging coming from hamas was they want normal see, they want quiet, they want stability , they want to govern. they want economic incentives. and it's clear that that is not what they're looking for. it is clear now that they , together with now that they, together with backing from iran , are looking backing from iran, are looking to instigate a massive , massive to instigate a massive, massive regional to war draw hezbollah , regional to war draw hezbollah, to draw the syrians in it, to draw israeli arabs and west bank arabs in. and he railed the supposed peace talks that were happening with saudi arabia and the very successful abraham accords that that have been solidifying over the last three years. and therefore or as we heard at that news conference, this moment of moral clarity , this moment of moral clarity, perhaps netanyahu indicating that there will be no kind of dialogue or engagement now with

hamas . hamas. >> so therefore, what could mahmoud abbas and what was the palestinian authority at one time do in terms of trying to re reset the position in gaza . reset the position in gaza. >> sure. i think getting either the palestinian authority somehow back in power in gaza should should be a priority or getting some kind of moderate, responsible governance that knows how to work with the international community, perhaps backed by the kind of pro—peace arab sunni arab bloc that's forming these last few years. we also have another priority right now, and that's getting back the some 150 civilians who were kidnapped and are oh, we just we've just lost dan fefferman there , our policy scholar on there, our policy scholar on middle east affairs. >> we can just bring you some news that we just told you earlier, but local media in syria reporting that air

defences were used at the airports against attacks and that stokes fears that what is going on could descend into a wider war involving israel's neighbours. syria and lebanon. we will explore that further very shortly . do stay with us very shortly. do stay with us here on the live desk

a.m. till noon on gb news, britain's news channel . britain's news channel. >> welcome back to the live

justice update to that breaking news the government is organising these flights to get british nationals out of israel, with saying with the foreign office saying the to leave the first flight set to leave tel later this afternoon. tel aviv later this afternoon. well, of course, we then had this news conference little this news conference a little earlier london in a very earlier in london in a very emotional time with the children of those hostages taken by hamas. well, they said they felt they in a luxurious they were in a luxurious position, as they said, to even be sitting and worrying about elderly parents rather than fearing lives in the fearing for their lives in the hands of the terror group. and what they'd doing in israel i >> while israel maintains that the siege of gaza will not end until israeli hostages are released . released. >> but let's get more. the london reporter lisa hartle, who was at that news conference and can speak now more to the families who were there. lisa >> hello. yes, well, i'm joined by noam, whose mother has been taken hostage . no, i'm so sorry taken hostage. no, i'm so sorry to hear what you're going through. you were saying before that today you were actually

supposed to meet your mum from heathrow to celebrate heathrow airport to celebrate her 75th birthday. yeah right now, i was supposed to go and be on my way to. >> to pick her up, and she was very much looking fonnard to come here and celebrate with her. her 75th birthday actually in a lovely place in devon. she loves devon. >> and when was the last time that you heard of your mum's whereabouts ? whereabouts? >> so on? on the 7th of october. on saturday morning , my >> so on? on the 7th of october. on saturday morning, my mum had a exchange with my sister actually , because of the time actually, because of the time difference , she didn't want to difference, she didn't want to wake us up here and she said that she is seeing and hearing too many people outside and she's really worried she's going into the safe room in israel in every in the kibbutz, in every house there is a safe room which designed to protect them from

shelling and rockets , but not shelling and rockets, but not from people trying to come in. there is no way to lock it from inside . inside. >> and you were saying before that where you grew up because you grew up in this place as well, it's an incredibly tight community of 400 people. >> so you all know each other so well . you were raised by so many well. you were raised by so many other people who were also missing . missing. >> you know, it's just heartbreaking . every picture i heartbreaking. every picture i see, it's people i grew up with. it's people i know. it's my math teacher and my swimming teacher and the people i used to work with. and you know, mothers of other it's like one big family. so . it's even more difficult to so. it's even more difficult to because you go through the pain of each of the families. and it's almost take take, take your pain . times 200. pain. times 200.

>> and what was your your main message you wanted to get across to everyone today my main message today is for the immediate release of all the sevilla ions, especially the under 18 and the over 65 without any conditions , just to release any conditions, just to release them in accordance with the international law and the human code. >> at some point, even for a war, there is rules and we need to act within those rules. if it's soldier, soldier, i get it. i understand they suffering. i understand . if you want to understand. if you want to fight, fight, how can you fight over nine month old baby . and an over nine month old baby. and an eight years old sick woman when there's more than 80 people from just from my community, from the kibbutz who's been captured more ? most of them are kids. and the elderly . it's like really

elderly. it's like really relocating a care home, vulnerable people that have been snatched out of their beds into gaza. snatched out of their beds into gaza . i think at some point this gaza. i think at some point this is our job to hold leadership , is our job to hold leadership, humanity where the lines where are the lines ? how do we draw are the lines? how do we draw them ? how do you use your power them? how do you use your power through the camera and your audience to think and to sink into your heart and think, why are we here for if it's not for the basic human conduct of. how come that nine month years old baby , nine month old baby can be baby, nine month old baby can be part of this? i it's beyond me. >> i've got a question from the presenter, mark longhurst. i'm just going to see what mark wanted to ask you. >> yes . i was just wondering, >> yes. i was just wondering, with antony blinken saying the united states was helping to try

to get the refugees released, but clearly the assessment now that hamas basically are not people to negotiate with. what your thoughts are about the ground offensive and the fact that the families will still be in gaza at that stage , if that in gaza at that stage, if that makes sense . makes sense. >> mark was just saying about what are your thoughts on the proposed ground offensive with the people like your mum, hostages also being in gaza? if that goes ahead , mark, you know, that goes ahead, mark, you know, any escalation won't help anyone. >> i think everyone needs to prioritise as the young kids, the babies , people with autism the babies, people with autism and people with dementia that find themselves caught up in this. the only crime is being jewish, living in israel , and jewish, living in israel, and they need to be out of that. any escalation won't serve that. so

whatever the plan is, i don't know. i'm trying not to get too much into what is happening. i'm just trying to stay positive head on and try to call to anyone that have a pumping heart in them to get the sevilla organs, the under eighteens, the over 65 out of this . first, over 65 out of this. first, second. and if there is a fight, soldier, soldier, i can understand that . understand that. >> thank you so much for speaking with us today. and once again, i'm so sorry for everything you're going through. and really you the and i really hope you get the good news you're wishing good news that you're wishing for. you . so we heard for. thank you. so we heard earlier from sharon as well. she's her parents also missing. so the message today is love over hatred. and they're just hoping to hear some good news or keep that hope going until they hear from their loved ones and hopefully they can be rescued from gaza as quickly as possible . yes. >> lisa, thank you. and if you can convey our thanks to him for

answering our extra questions andindeed answering our extra questions and indeed our best wishes for all of them and their families. thank very much indeed. thank you very much indeed. >> incredible how they >> so incredible how they managed to hold themselves together . together with some dignity. yeah. to do that press conference answer questions. conference and answer questions. let's get a roundup of your latest headlines . here's latest headlines. here's rhiannon . rhiannon. >> thank you, pip. it's 131. >> thank you, pip. it's131. your top stories from the newsroom . the government's newsroom. the government's organising flights for british nationals . in israel with the nationals. in israel with the first due to leave tel aviv later today. the foreign secretary, james cleverly has urged british nationals in israel who wish to leave to register their presence . antony register their presence. antony blinken says he's trying to secure the release of hostages kidnapped by hamas. more than 100 israeli and foreign hostages have been kidnapped by the terrorist group and taken into

the gaza . back here, judges in the gaza. back here, judges in england and wales are being told to postpone jail sentences for some offenders because prisons are too crowded. according to a report in the times , some could report in the times, some could include those found guilty of burglary and rape. the judicial office declined to comment on the report. it comes after the government said it plans to rent pnson government said it plans to rent prison spaces from foreign countries in an effort to address chronic overcrowding and an mp for the scottish national party has defected to the tories amid reports of a toxic and bullying culture in the party's west minster group. lisa cameron's defection comes as she was facing a selection battle to be the candidate for a seat in the west of scotland. she says she's a victim of group bullying at westminster and has suffered panic attacks as a result. prime minister rishi sunak says he's delighted ms cameron's joined

the scottish conservative cause . and you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website gbnews.com . direct website gbnews.com. direct bullion sponsors. >> the finance report on gb news for gold and silver investment . for gold and silver investment. >> here's a snapshot of today's markets. the pound will buy you $1.2305 and ,1.1588. the price of gold is £1,530.35 per ounce. and the ftse 100 is at 7669 points. direct bullion sponsors the finance report on gb news for physical investment

this evening. gb news the people's . channel people's. channel >> welcome back to the live desk here on gb news. now, the former formula one boss, bernie ecclestone, has pleaded guilty to fraud at southwark crown court today. as a result was sentenced to 17 months in prison . although it's been suspended for two years. he failed to declare more than £400 million in overseas assets to the government. it was in a trust in singapore. >> he's also been ordered to pay . some £652 million to britain's tax authority. the hmrc. let's

get more with our reporter theo chikomba who joins us from outside the crown court . outside the crown court. >> an expensive day to his pocket and his reputation . theo pocket and his reputation. theo yes , indeed. yes, indeed. >> well, bernie ecclestone admitted to fraud here after failing to declare £400 million, which was in a trust in singapore. >> but today, though , he avoids >> but today, though, he avoids a prison sentence in a previous heanng a prison sentence in a previous hearing earlier this year, there was arguments about whether or not he would be fit to go to trial. >> that trial was due to take place in november, lasting an estimated five weeks. but that's no longer going to take place. as you mentioned, he has been handed a suspended sentence lasting two years, but sentenced to 17 months. now, a judge , to 17 months. now, a judge, simon brien, gave ecclestone that sentence and he said if he commits another criminal offence dunng commits another criminal offence during that time, then he would have to come back here to southwark crown court . now, the southwark crown court. now, the court also heard that ecclestone has reached a civil settlement

with hm revenue and customs to pay - with hm revenue and customs to pay . £652.6 million with hm revenue and customs to pay. £652.6 million on with hm revenue and customs to pay . £652.6 million on the 9th pay. £652.6 million on the 9th of october, just several days ago, which was covering 80 mean tax years and he told the judge just before 10 am. this morning, i plead guilty after having previously pleaded not guilty earlier this year , his guilty earlier this year, his defence barrister, christine montgomery, kc , told sentencing montgomery, kc, told sentencing judge mr brian mr bryan that the defendant bitterly regrets the events that led to this criminal trial and following the proceedings this morning, we heard from the hmrc and the cps outside the court and this is what they had to say . what they had to say. >> bernie ecclestone has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to a single offence of fraud relating to dishonest representations made to hm revenue and customs . made to hm revenue and customs. all members of uk society , all members of uk society, regardless of how wealthy and or famous they are, must pay their

taxes and be transferred out and open with hmrc about their financial affairs . the cps are financial affairs. the cps are pleased to bring such a complex case to a successful conclusion. we worked very closely with hmrc throughout and it is rewarding to see that they have also secured such a significant civil tax settlement through the negotiation process. so i think bernie ecclestone had ample time and opportunity to take responsibility and be honest about his tax affairs. >> instead of taking that opportunity, he lied to hmrc and as a consequence , we opened a as a consequence, we opened a criminal investigation . that criminal investigation. that investigation involved enquiries all around the world and culminated in today's trial . and culminated in today's trial. and today, bernie ecclestone pleaded guilty to fraud . and as you guilty to fraud. and as you know, he's now been sentenced as well as the sentence he's made a payment of over £650 million in relation to his tax affairs ,

relation to his tax affairs, over £340 million of that amount is a penalty . so a very is a penalty. so a very significant amount. so all i can say here is obviously for general tax payers , if you're general tax payers, if you're worried about your tax affairs , worried about your tax affairs, please come to hmrc , make full please come to hmrc, make full declarations and we can get vital money for public services i >> and it's been described as a long lasting investigation , long lasting investigation, which not only was in this country but across different parts of the world. and today , parts of the world. and today, after he made his guilty plea , after he made his guilty plea, we heard from the prosecutor , we heard from the prosecutor, richard wright, kc, who said the defence had knowingly given an untrue or misleading answer to hmrc when he told them he had no further trust outside the uk. and he said as of july 2015, mr ecclestone did not know the truth of the position, so was not able to give an answer to the question . mr ecclestone was the question. mr ecclestone was not on how ownership of the

accounts in question were structured, and the court also did hear about how he had said he wouldn't be benefiting from this money in those trusts. but it turned out that it would have benefited him . butjust to benefited him. butjust to reiterate, he has been handed a suspended sentence for two years here at southwark crown court and a big tax bill. >> as you're saying as well. theo, thanks for updating us there at southwark . now, we had there at southwark. now, we had there at southwark. now, we had the situation earlier that steve barclay, the health secretary, doing the morning rounds as they're called, had refused to confirm or deny reports that judges have been told not to jail some criminals due to our pnsons jail some criminals due to our prisons reaching capacity. suggestions that the government has sought to clear the court backlogs. yeah >> gb news understands that suspected offenders will be kept out on bail from monday, but it will only be criminals not deemed a risk to the public. well, our political editor christopher hope is here, too, to go through this with us. we

know there's huge pressure on the prison population, but one of the things i found astonishing was that there's plans to potentially rent cells from european countries because we're so full. >> well, they haven't told us what they'll do about it. but we do know that there's an internal meeting with lord justice eddis, who's the senior president of the crown courts in england and wales, and he spoke to them. and here's spokesman say here's his spokesman won't say what said. times reports what was said. the times reports andits what was said. the times reports and it's been confirmed to me by and it's been confirmed to me by a source that they are they think that from monday they can't send they will have to keep out bail . these keep people out on bail. these are level criminals, not are low level criminals, not rapists not serious criminals, are low level criminals, not rapi low not serious criminals, are low level criminals, not rapi low levelerious criminals, are low level criminals, not rapi low level criminalsninals, are low level criminals, not rapi low level criminals were ;, but low level criminals were kept out on bail until they can find space within the court system. whether that means people are going to overseas courts, know yet. courts, we don't know yet. and that's different of that's a whole different can of worms, frankly . but as things worms, frankly. but as things stand, problem with stand, there's a problem with with jails being full from monday . of course, you are monday. of course, when you are released on on bail, if you break those conditions, you risk a more senior a more serious term in prison. so the hope from

the government's point of view and law enforcement is they won't jump and law enforcement is they won'tjump bail and disappear. they will stick to the conditions they're being made to follow. >> right. okay. now, we're expecting think , justice expecting i think, the justice secretary, to make secretary, alex chalk, to make a statement to the commons on monday. >> almost certainly that is not listed details. that's right. it's listed yet the it's not listed yet in the schedule. but i guess one of the other questions will be whether they're to think they're having to think about early and increased parole. >> if the situation is so bad physically and we've seen before, haven't we, when over 1000 offenders under i think it was in tony blair's time when he was in tony blair's time when he was something was prime minister something happened have these periodic >> so you do have these periodic spikes in the prison population in. it shows how, you in. but yes, it shows how, you know, while the appalling situation in gaza is happening, war in ukraine, there are issues here we can overlook sometimes . here we can overlook sometimes. >> yeah, just going to say just to touch on the issue and be quite clear about it because i think the times newspaper was referring to rapists and burglars, which would be rather

alarming to the to the public. we don't understand that is going to be the case if they're a risk to other people, they stay inside the space will be found. >> them, it's low risk >> for them, it's those low risk criminals and serious criminals, but not seen to be a risk to people. >> one thing the justice secretary has been saying is that ploughed in that money is being ploughed in to system. there are to the prison system. there are new prisons built, he says i >> they're trying to find them. they often fall foul of planning rules. want new rules. people don't want new pnsons rules. people don't want new prisons down the road and getting into the getting more capacity into the system the existing system and updating the existing overcrowded jails is overcrowded nature of jails is an issue. we've seen issues with wandsworth and elsewhere, wandsworth prison and elsewhere, so more so they're trying to build more prisons. and prisons. it's hard to do and it's . it's slow. >> yeah, and that's the other issue. of course, when talk issue. of course, when you talk about the about wandsworth, we saw the escape there now it does escape there and now it does appear that they've got huge staffing problems, sometimes only 50% of staffing that's only 50% of the staffing that's needed turning up for work. >> yes , indeed. and it's hard. >> yes, indeed. and it's hard. so this the system has been so is this the system has been creaking for years. i mean, i was our home affairs editor for the telegraph back in the noughties, big noughties, and it was a big issue big idea, then issue then the big idea, then that straw had was these

that jack straw had was these supen that jack straw had was these super, jails were super, super jails that were these sight, but they these line of sight, but they fell and when the when fell foul. and when the when the tories austerity tories came in and austerity bit. it's a perennial bit. but it's a perennial problem country there's problem in this country there's not enough jail space. >> hear from >> did we hear anything from labour on this particular issue? i'm trying to think back. labour on this particular issue? i'm irying to think back. labour on this particular issue? i'mi don'tto think back. labour on this particular issue? i'mi don't recallik back. labour on this particular issue? i'm i don't recall thatck. labour on this particular issue? i'mi don't recall that back >> i don't recall that back then. certainly not this week at then. certainly not this week at the conference where i've been. >> yeah. okay. other. other things in—tray the things in the in—tray in the meantime. but alex chalk meantime. yeah, but alex chalk will basically we have to really answer some quite difficult questions on monday. >> that's i mean , >> well, that's right. i mean, when you when you're out of pnson when you when you're out of prison it's a problem. prison space, it's a problem. the of the justice the duty of the justice secretary to keep safe and secretary is to keep us safe and make the right people are make sure the right people are locked can't be is a problem. >> thank thank you. >> chris, thank you. thank you. yeah >> now, well , i'll left so many >> now, well, i'll left so many of us distraught. this the famous sycamore gap lap tree which was well, effectively destroyed. and today it is being removed from hadrian's wall two weeks after it was chopped down. >> so there will be a gap because a crane will lift the remains of the 50 foot high tree

off the wall. people are being urged to avoid the immediate area. when that happens , but area. when that happens, but experts say hope to keep the trunk in situ. there basically for any growth to re—emerge. and also perhaps to take from the tree some seeds, then to get seedlings to take. let's get the very latest at the scene in northumberland with our reporter tony maguire . tony, this is tony maguire. tony, this is going to be quite a delicate operation because i guess they've got to make sure that they've got to make sure that the wall itself is not damaged further . further. >> yeah, that's correct . that >> yeah, that's correct. that afternoon, mark and pip, certainly the whole day so far, we're now approaching 2:00 in the afternoon in since about 8:00 this morning. the checks have been ongoing. first on the crane and then on the road for the crane to get here. of course , the hadrian's wall, a proper consultation of the condition of the wall will be explored later

in the year. but for right now, it's only been two weeks since the incident here in northumberland. and already, you know, a plan has been put in place after many options, after many suggestions, including helicopter airlift. but the opfion helicopter airlift. but the option that they went for is to basically remove the branches , basically remove the branches, is cut the main trunk into about 4 or 5 pieces and then and then we have of the crane behind me lifting it out just in the last few minutes, we've seen the first pieces of the trunk come out behind me from behind the wall where it's going to be loaded onto the back of a truck or a buggy and then removed. and it's going to be stored by the national trust. so the national trust , they own the tree trust, they own the tree essentially , and it's around essentially, and it's around 125, 130 years. this tree has been part of this landscape . and been part of this landscape. and

the locals here, you know, many of them turning up, almost outnumbering the press here on top of the hill in northumbria and wanting to see this kind of momentous part of history , a lot momentous part of history, a lot of sadness, a lot of regret, but also a lot of hope. as you said there. while the trunk is being moved away, the stump, they believe, is still alive and they believe, is still alive and they believe it will still shoot new trees. now speaking to a couple of people earlier on, they told me that the irony of the situation is as that whoever was responsible is actually extended the life of the tree . and in the life of the tree. and in doing so, this . 130 year old doing so, this. 130 year old tree may well live another 130 more. so certainly it's been quite a long strenuous process today, but we're looking like now we're finally in the final stages of the removal and the conversation will, of course , conversation will, of course, turn to what what could possibly

replace it in this part of the world. quite an important scene and encouraged thousands of people to walk the hills here and just to snap pictures of the most photographed tree in the entire british isles and certainly even a celebrity. whether or not for robin hood, prince of thieves . and of prince of thieves. and of course, it's all important . tree course, it's all important. tree of the year award in 2016. and things still going on here. but we'll keep you updated . we'll keep you updated. >> okay. tony mcguire in northumberland, thank you . northumberland, thank you. there's been such glorious images over the years of that tree. so many of us have seen it up close and personal. it's a difficult it's a difficult day seeing that happen . seeing that happen. >> thought to have been planted by newcastle philanthropist and lawyer john clayton in the second half of the 19th century. but we're learning that part of the process as well . just put the process as well. just to put a positive there, going a positive note in there, going to tree in detail to to examine the tree in detail to actually get an exact date as to when it started. christopher you

got an insight on this as well. well, actually walked past well, i've actually walked past i britain once and i walked across britain once and i walked across britain once and i walked across britain once and i walked past that tree. >> emotional >> and it's very emotional seeing bit. seeing it when you're a bit. yeah, the so many of us yeah, yeah. on the so many of us have i think i would i would pay for a tree to winched in to for a tree to be winched in to replace it. >> the other aspect is the >> well the other aspect is the woods taken they may woods being taken away. they may make it so you make some benches from it so you may to in, have may be able to chip in, have a rest in anyway. chip in. rest chip in anyway. chip in. we'll update you the scene we'll update you at the scene with later as with tony a little later as well. you . well. thank you. >> okay. well, the prince and princess wales, out princess of wales, they are out and today to promote their and about today to promote their new of improving new initiative of improving teenage mental health through sport and fitness. >> yeah, familiar theme for them, of course, to support young people and families, young people and their families, mental people mental wellbeing and how people can themselves in each can help themselves in each other. skills for other. building skills for healthy experiences in sport and life. it says here. let's get more now with cameron, our royal correspondent who is there. and cameron, as we say , this is a cameron, as we say, this is a recurring theme with them and they're being seen many of these events now directly . yeah they

events now directly. yeah they certainly are. >> excuse me . certainly are. and >> excuse me. certainly are. and the prince and princess of wales were certainly showing their competitive streak here this morning , playing on opposite morning, playing on opposite teams on both netball and a sports called goalball , which is sports called goalball, which is for visually impaired athletes. despite the princess of wales injured fingers . remember from injured fingers. remember from that trampoline act evident a few weeks ago, which are still very much bandaged up, she managed to win the gold ball match. she was on a team against prince william. however, prince william won the netball match, which wouldn't have thrilled the princess as she is an avid sportswoman , particularly when sportswoman, particularly when she was at school and is keen on netball and tennis. but there is a very serious meaning behind their visit to the bisham abbey national sports centre in in england here today and that is, as you said, all about mental health. on tuesday it was world's mental health day and the prince and princess of wales have very much been shining a

light on different initiatives across the country this week to do mental health. today was do with mental health. today was all about young people and young athletes. a new survey by sports aid , which is a charity which aid, which is a charity which supports young athletes who who was with the prince and princess of wales today, it found that a lot of these young athletes , lot of these young athletes, particularly performance particularly with performance sports, a lot sports, are experiencing a lot of anxiety city. and this is off the back of a separate survey commissioned by the prince and princess of wales's royal foundation, which found that a majority of young people feel their friends are struggling with mental health and need more support. so the prince and princess of wales were shining a light on those quite stark statistics, but also pointing out the different support available to young people . but available to young people. but william has always said in the last decade or so or at least since 2016, when william and catherine launched their heads together initiative, the mental health initiative, trying to break down that stigma when it comes to talking about one's

mental health. he says that physical mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness , particularly when it comes to sport . sport. >> cameron i also just want to ask you because it is obviously so pertinent at the moment at the duke and duchess of sussex, harry and meghan, they have reacted to this growing israel hamas conflict and they've called it they've condemned rather all acts of terrorism and brutality. the wording of that statement rather different from what william and catherine have said and what the king and queen have said . it does appear that have said. it does appear that way. >> yes. pip, if you remember, the prince and princess of wales's spokesperson, they talked of the horrors inflicted by and i quote, the hamas terrorist attack. the king last night. a spokesperson for him called out the barbaric acts of terrorists or terrorism , even in terrorists or terrorism, even in israel . whereas archewell israel. whereas archewell foundation, who represents harry

and meghan, they're foundation the statement they released this morning said that harry and meghan, the duke and duchess of sussex, stand against all acts of terrorism. harry and meghan's spokespeople , they're very much spokespeople, they're very much speaking more wisely about terrorism rather than specifically talking about the terrorist acts carried out by hamas on saturday. so that is a big difference. the king, of course, as we've seen , has gone course, as we've seen, has gone one step further and he's actually had a phone call, we understand, with president herzog on of israel, as well as king abdullah of jordan . so king abdullah of jordan. so clearly, he wants to go one step further in trying to really increase . sorry, i'll hand back increase. sorry, i'll hand back to you, pip. sorry >> thank you for that. yes, we're just going to update you breaking news. we have got flights leaving tel aviv coming back to britain with people on board. with the board. we'll update you with the

latest.

well . well. >> good afternoon. it is 2:00. this is the live desk here on gb news. coming up this thursday lunchtime , us secretary of state lunchtime, us secretary of state antony blinken says the us will always stand with israel as the new government. >> there says the siege of gaza will not end until hostage's release. he's now meeting the president. herzog this is what he's having to say . he's having to say. >> that meeting taking place. we

will bring you the details of that. plus, as multiple funerals take place in jerusalem and families of hostages around the world send urgent pleas for their release, the foreign office has announced that flights are being sent today to tel aviv for british nationals trapped in israel . trapped in israel. >> in other news, the prince and princess of wales continuing their initiative for positive mental health. they visited a sports facility championing mental fitness . mental fitness. >> and here is the press conference with anthony blinken and the israeli president. >> impossible for any of us to comprehend on a human level what what israel's experienced at the hands of hamas these last few days. hands of hamas these last few days . but we are determined to

days. but we are determined to be with you as you defend your people and defend the values that join us together . that join us together. >> what we seen, i think , will >> what we seen, i think, will be very hard to erase from our minds and certainly our hearts . minds and certainly our hearts. >> but i sense a fierce determination in israel to prevail and prevail. israel will and the united states is here as your partner to help ensure that your partner to help ensure that you do . there really are two you do. there really are two paths before countries in this region and in many ways, countries in this world. but here in the middle east, there's the path of integration , the path of integration, cooperation, normal ization and equal measures of . justice

equal measures of. justice opportunity, dignity for all peoples, including the palestinians . or there's the palestinians. or there's the path that hamas has shown to the world. these last few days terror, destruction , nihilism , a terror, destruction, nihilism, a path that leads to nowhere for anyone except to the darkest places in our souls . so the places in our souls. so the choice is clear . we're together choice is clear. we're together and we will walk down that righteous path together. that's what all of our people are looking for us to do. thank you i >> thank you. thank you very much . much. >> so anthony blinken , the us >> so anthony blinken, the us secretary of state, speaking there in the last few minutes with president herzog. of course , benjamin netanyahu , he had met benjamin netanyahu a little earlier, understood now to be on his way to jordan, to amman, meet mahmoud abbas amman, to meet mahmoud abbas from authority. from the palestinian authority. so diplomacy very much under the way, as well as that pledge as

anthony blinken said to benjamin netanyahu, who will always be there by your side . there by your side. >> let's get a full round up of your latest news now in the newsroom . here's rhiannon . newsroom. here's rhiannon. >> thank you. good afternoon. it's 2:03. your top stories from the newsroom . the us secretary the newsroom. the us secretary of state has reassured the israeli prime minister of washington's support during a trip to the middle east. benjamin netanyahu insists hamas should be treated exactly as isis was. anthony blinken says he knows the terrorist group doesn't represent the palestinian people nor their legitimate, legitimate aspiration . as he told the prime aspiration. as he told the prime minister that as long as america exists, israel will never have to defend itself on its own . to defend itself on its own. >> we must stand together , a >> we must stand together, a resolve to confront at what is worst among humanity with what

is best. that we must provide an alternative to the vision of violence and fear of nihilism and terror presented by hamas . and terror presented by hamas. thatis and terror presented by hamas. that is what the united states will do. standing with israel, working together with its people and all those in this region who remain committed to the vision of a more peaceful and more integrated , a more secure, integrated, a more secure, a more prosperous middle east. >> anthony blinken says he's also trying to secure the release of hostages kidnapped by hamas. more than 100 israeli and foreign hostages have now been taken by the terrorist group into gaza . noam sagi, british into gaza. noam sagi, british israeli whose mother is among the hostages, is calling it a second holocaust. >> and here, because i need to ask for help to release babies , ask for help to release babies, kids, mothers and old people from their captivity . there is from their captivity. there is no politics here, no context, no

religion, no . race simple religion, no. race simple humanity . people who survive the humanity. people who survive the holocaust . found themselves holocaust. found themselves facing another one. the government's organising flights for british nationals in israel with the first due to leave tel aviv within hours. >> the foreign secretary, james cleverly, is urging british nationals who wish to leave to register their presence . those register their presence. those eligible should not go to the airport, they've been told unless instructed . meanwhile, in unless instructed. meanwhile, in gaza, vital medical supplies are running out and the red cross says the situation is deteriorating fast at the only remaining power station stopped working yesterday . day fuel working yesterday. day fuel suppues working yesterday. day fuel supplies are also dwindling and could run out within hours .

could run out within hours. israel is preparing for a grounding incursion into the gaza strip , though the military gaza strip, though the military says no decision has been made yet . more says no decision has been made yet. more than says no decision has been made yet . more than 1300 israelis yet. more than 1300 israelis have been killed since saturday, including over 200 soldiers as back here in the uk, incidents of anti—semitism have increased by more than 300% since hamas's attack on israel , as according attack on israel, as according to the community security trust, which recorded 89 incidents in just four days. so far this month. they include assaults , month. they include assaults, damage to jewish property and abusive behaviour. it comes after the home secretary warned protesting with palestinian flags could amount to a public order offence if it's deemed to be in support short of terrorism . a in other news, judges in england and wales are being told to postpone jail sentences for some offenders because prisons are too crowded. according to a

report in the times , some could report in the times, some could include those found guilty of burglary and rape . the judicial burglary and rape. the judicial office declined to comment on the report. it comes after the government said it plans to rent pnson government said it plans to rent prison spaces from foreign countries in an effort to address chronic overcrowding . address chronic overcrowding. bernie ecclestone has been handed a 17 month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to fraud . the ex—formula one to fraud. the ex—formula one boss will also have to pay £652 million to the tax authority . he million to the tax authority. he appeared at london's southwark crown court this morning after failing to declare more than £400 million of overseas assets to the government. the billionaire turns 93 later this month . he had been due to face month. he had been due to face trial in november after he previously denied the charge . previously denied the charge. and an mp for the scottish national party has defected to the tories amid reports of a toxic and bullying culture in the party's westminster group .

the party's westminster group. lisa cameron's defection comes as she was facing a selection battle to be the candidate for a seat in the west of scotland. she says she's a victim of group bullying at westminster and has suffered panic attacks as a result. prime minister rishi sunak says he's delighted ms cameron's joined the scottish conservative is this is gb news across the uk on tv in your car and digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news now it's back over to mark and . pip rhiannon. and. pip rhiannon. >> thanks very much indeed and welcome back to the live desk. now we brought you that very emotional news conference earlier with the children of some of those hostages taken by hamas, talking publicly to say that they felt they were in a luxurious position, as they said , to be even sitting and worrying about their elderly parents rather than fearing for their lives in the hands of the terror group israel maintains that the siege of gaza will not

end until israeli hostages are released . released. >> well, we can now speak to sharon lipsett, whose parents are being held by hamas . good are being held by hamas. good afternoon, sharon. we are so very grateful for you talking to us this afternoon on gb news. we understand that your father is 83 years old. your mother is 85 years old. how how are you managing to get through every day , every hour, every minute as day, every hour, every minute as you wait for . day, every hour, every minute as you wait for. news >> i, i am trying to hold on to my community here in the uk and in israel , to the community of in israel, to the community of people that were part of the kibbutz. and i'm trying to do everything i to can bring bring the hostages back home. this is all i'm doing. this is all i'm focusing my mind on because as

it is so much now, it's happening, it's unfolding, and we don't have time to bury the dead. we don't have time to bury the dead . we have to look after dead. we have to look after those that survived this massacre . and we have to massacre. and we have to advocate for the release of the hostages . hostages. >> we heard from anthony blinken , the us secretary of state who was speaking to benjamin netanyahu, and he said that the us was working to get the hostages released . now we know hostages released. now we know he's flying to jordan, to amman. he's likely to meet mahmoud abbas from the palestinian authority. is it your hope that there will be pressure from within the palestinian cause on hamas to get the hostages released out ? released out? >> absolutely . absolutely. the >> absolutely. absolutely. the arab world should come together and help us release this innocent , elderly, elderly innocent, elderly, elderly people , these women and children people, these women and children that are in babies and disabled people and people that require medication. they must immediately be released . this is

immediately be released. this is not a war, part of a war. this is about releasing this innocent people, getting them out of the equation. they have suffered enough. they need to come back home now so that we can look after them. >> sharon , when did you last >> sharon, when did you last hear from your parents? did they tell you that there was something happening at the kibbutz on saturday? did they have time to make contact with you ? you? >> they i did not speak to my parents at the time. my uncle spoke shortly before all contact was disconnected. my mum was asleep. she takes a medication that makes her drowsy. in the morning my father was telling my uncle that they are in the safe room. that's a room safe for missiles and that he can hear their the shooting and shouting outside. so he was aware that there is an attack , but i don't there is an attack, but i don't think he expected it to be of

the scale . the scale. >> as you say, your parents need medication. but i understand that the other aspect of this is that the other aspect of this is that your your dad had helped palestinians is coming from gaza to get medical treatment over the years at israeli hospitals . the years at israeli hospitals. >> yes. my father truly believed in our humanity, in our shared humanity , and what it means to humanity, and what it means to be neighbours and there is regimes and there's government agents. and we can agree or disagree , but us as human beings disagree, but us as human beings , we never forgot that the children and mothers in gaza suffer more than we do from the attacks and from the escalation of violence in the middle east and my father spent his life fighting for peace , and he in fighting for peace, and he in his retirement, he he just took a car every week. and through a local organiser , an israeli local organiser, an israeli

organisation that helped palestinians reach through israel to the hospitals in east jerusalem and in in other parts of israel. you know , there's a of israel. you know, there's a wish for the media to always betray us, just as arch enemies. and that is a total reduction of our humanity. there are and that is a total reduction of our humanity . there are people our humanity. there are people on the other side . we have on the other side. we have relationship with them . you relationship with them. you know, i grew up with people from gaza that worked with us. we used to know them . my brother used to know them. my brother employed people from gaza. that became very good friends. we have to remember that we have a shared humanity across all these tanks and all these weapons and that we have to believe in that and just to touch again on what was discussed with benjamin netanyahu, this moment for moral clarity that phrase used by him and by anthony blinken in that aspect is it your hope, too, that perhaps the palestinians

within gaza will now start to reassess s the position of hamas and what hamas has done ? i don't and what hamas has done? i don't know the position of the people of gaza because they have been terrorised by a terrorist organisation for many years . organisation for many years. there is no voices of dissent coming from gaza because they will be silenced . let's be clear will be silenced. let's be clear about that . will be silenced. let's be clear about that. hamas is isis. he is terrorising their own people . terrorising their own people. yeah, i don't know what they think the people of gaza because they are bound to it. the people in the diaspora, they have families there. they you know , families there. they you know, any of us that have read anything in our life know how terrorist and dictators work. yeah. so kind of expecting to know the opinion of the palestinian people at this point. before hamas was eradicated is kind of, you know, a contradiction in. >> yeah, sharon, i understand you grew up in the kibbutz where

your parents were taken from . your parents were taken from. can you tell us a as you when you were growing up, a very, very safe area. you felt safe . very safe area. you felt safe. you felt secure? i was like, i got to look , you know , anybody got to look, you know, anybody walking on the street of new york might not feel totally secure, either. >> or hackney or sheffield, but . but we did feel secure. yes we were used to being on a border. and, you know, in 87, after the first intifada, we no longer went to visit the beaches in gaza. and things have changed. but we did feel that the army was there protecting us. >> and in terms of protecting the hostages , i gather some 95 the hostages, i gather some 95 families have now been contacted by the idf to say that they believe the families or the individuals are being kept in gaza itself. what are your

thoughts on what may happen with a ground incursion action? should there be efforts s to get the hostages out . first the hostages out. first >> absolutely . my whole >> absolutely. my whole community is there. what can i say to you? my friend's daughter is there . my neighbours, three is there. my neighbours, three children are there. what am i to going tell, you know, let's go for it . is it going tell, you know, let's go for it. is it kind of like something like a game that in which i can kind of stand here and tell you that my friend's daughter is less important than my son? what is that the calculation? >> perhaps , that hamas have made >> perhaps, that hamas have made i >>i -- >>iam >> i am not hamas. i don't know the calculation. we can speculate about it, but i am here to remind you that there is only for my community. we know of more or less 80 people that are missing , presumed kidnapped. are missing, presumed kidnapped. we have no knowledge of their whereabouts after that moment . whereabouts after that moment. they are the focus of all of

this . let's be clear. there is this. let's be clear. there is no focus. i'm here standing here with you today because i'm advocating for these missing people. i'm not here for just my parents. i'm here for my community. my community is destroyed by an act of violence. so horrific, so utterly horrific that we will spend the rest of our life coming to terms with it. but at this point, we are fighting for the lives of members of our communities and neighbouring communities that have gone through the most horrific act of destruction and violence and killing and torturing and the least, you know, you think about the worst thing and they happen there. i know that for a fact . but i know that for a fact. but i cannot change that. i can ask and beg every decent human being to bring about the release of these people at this very moment. now this is what we can

do now. we can try and act together. and i call on all the leaders of the arab world, of the western world, of china, of i don't i am begging , the western world, of china, of i don't i am begging, i am begging for everyone to come together there and bring back the safe return of these people i >> sharon , you are so brave. we >> sharon, you are so brave. we wish you all the very best and we are sending you love and strength to you and your families and your friends. thank you.thank families and your friends. thank you. thank you so much for for, talking to us this afternoon here on gb news. >> and of course we will keep you updated with the diplomatic moves, as we say. anthony blinken , who said that the blinken, who said that the united states will be trying to secure release of the secure the release of the hostages. travelling hostages. now travelling to jordan , to oman, to meet with jordan, to oman, to meet with mahmoud abbas of the palestinian authority, and also , we believe, authority, and also, we believe, to king jordan to try and to the king of jordan to try and open some kind of lines of

communication. >> in a moment, we will be taking you live to tel aviv, where the british government has announced today that british nationals will be being brought home. a flight will be leaving tel aviv in the next few hours . tel aviv in the next few hours. you're with the live desk. stay

a.m. till noon on gb news, britain's news channel . britain's news channel. >> welcome back to the live desk and let's update you with the

latest. we're being told the uk government now arranging flights from israel for british nationals on the first flight due to leave ben—gurion and tel aviv later this afternoon . aviv later this afternoon. >> us secretary of state antony blinken has met with both the israeli president and the israeli president and the israeli prime minister and has said that the us is not going anywhere . anywhere. >> moss has only one agenda destroy israel and to murder jews . no country can or would jews. no country can or would tolerate the slaughter of its citizens or simply return to the conditions that allowed it to take place . israel has the right take place. israel has the right indeed the obligation to defend itself and to ensure that this never happens again . never happens again. >> well, mr blinken is going some he's heading now to oman in jordan to speak to mahmoud abbas on the palestinian authority. and also the jordanian king, we understand, as diplomacy is well on the way. however indications to of a massive build up on the

border between southern israel and gaza with armoured columns. let's get more now from tel aviv and our news reporter charlie peters, who's assessing the situation. and charlie , the situation. and charlie, the complicating factor, as we've just been discussing with one of the daughters of the hostages is what they do about the well , 95 what they do about the well, 95 up to 130 maybe hostages who are still in gaza . still in gaza. >> yeah, that's right. and in the last hour , lieutenant the last hour, lieutenant general herzi halevi , the chief general herzi halevi, the chief of staff of the israeli defence forces, spoke for the first time since saturday morning's invasion. he reaffirmed israel's commitment to recover those hostages of several nationalities, but in particular mentioning the israelis taken from their homes by hamas terrorists. he said that they will do everything that they can to recover them . as the defence to recover them. as the defence assesses all of its options. interestingly army lieutenant general halevi also made reference to the fact that he

acknowledged that the intelligence and security failure on saturday, but said that now is the time for war investigation action can come later. he said that hamas, who were responsible for this violence and had started this latest round of conflict, was doomed . doomed. >> charlie, you say about how they said investigation can come later, but there is a huge amount of anger in israel, which is ever growing about how the israeli prime minister, how they missed this as. >> that's right. and i think some in the israeli establishment have tried to describe the attacks since saturday as israel's 9/11, drawing an analogy to the moment of sudden political unity that swept over the united states in 2001 after those attacks . i 2001 after those attacks. i don't think it's quite the same based on the conversations i'm having here. the atmosphere is, of course, one of terror and fear and uncertainty. but the government was already in quite a controversial place before

these attacks. and that situation has really reaffirmed and the concerns that people have about whether or not netanyahu , who describes himself netanyahu, who describes himself as mr security, really is the person to ensure that that security is delivered. however on the other hand, where i am here, this activist centre for volunteering and providing suppues volunteering and providing supplies , it's being run by the supplies, it's being run by the same groups that just last week were actually protest fighting against the israeli government, but they were protesting in particular about its interventions proposed interventions proposed interventions into the judiciary, which has been caught in via the religious zionism part of the government. the most right wing part of the government at the moment. but they've put that all aside and they've put that all aside and they've decided to come up and step, in of step, step up in support of civilians and the military and the state in general during this existential threat to the country . country. >> and indeed that sort of replica created at the very top of government with this new war cabinet, this new government as such, benny gantz, who was the

opposition party, the former general, now at the top table. so are there indications that are there reflections there that perhaps this will mean a different approach in dealing with the whole situation . in with the whole situation. in >> well, as a war cabinet, i think people are expecting it just to continue to do what they expect the state to do in the first now with a first place. but now with a sense of solidarity, which the country needed after last week's and well, many months preceding the disturbances, the political disturbances that were going on and the internal strife that was happening politically here, that's the main benefit. i think , of that war cabinet that united government, when asked united government, when i asked people last night in aviv people last night in tel aviv how felt about the how they felt about the situation i said, are you situation here, i said, are you happy about the unity government ? that's the first question i asked someone. they said happy ? that's the first question i asthe someone. they said happy ? that's the first question i asthe wrong ne. they said happy ? that's the first question i asthe wrong word.|ey said happy ? that's the first question i asthe wrong word. it' said happy ? that's the first question i asthe wrong word. it isaid happy ? that's the first question i asthe wrong word. it is what ppy ? that's the first question i asthe wrong word. it is what ityy is the wrong word. it is what it is the wrong word. it is what it is it. that's the is and we need it. that's the situation . it's acceptance situation. it's an acceptance of the state of affairs. it's not really a significant step. i think in the minds of the people. their focus really is on just hoping that the state can step up, secure all those

frontiers and hopefully recover their family and friends held hostage by held hostage by terrorists in the gaza strip in the next few hours. >> charlie, british nationals will be flying home flights from tel aviv leaving and it is the most vulnerable people that that are being prioritised . that's right. >> and it comes after moves from insurance companies and emergency rescue groups over the last 24 hours that operates in the region to start recovering some of their people in the area to lots of companies that pay for that sort of emergency support in areas like israel, which are fractious and face the security instability that we are seeing at the moment. they expect these services to be delivered when the time comes. and a lot of those companies have pressed that red button. people i've spoken to leaving ben—gurion airport yesterday for that purpose . some charter that purpose. some charter flights leaving the airport. and it seems now that the british embassy is taking the same step

. it's for the . but it's just for the vulnerable at this point. obviously, further details will come as as as the british come out as as as the british state decides how to retract further people if necessary. and very quick thought, charlie. >> you were just referring to the reports of these attacks on damascus and aleppo airports . damascus and aleppo airports. and of course, we had blinken suggesting earlier to any adversary or state thinking about trying to take advantage of this , don't. yes of this, don't. yes >> and of course, in the moments in the moments before we came on air, we've had further confirmation of those strikes in syria, taking out the runways at both aleppo and damascus international airport. obviously all of the proxy supported by iran in the region looking at this very concerning situation in israel from a security perspective, is it an opportunity ? is it a threat? opportunity? is it a threat? that statement , i think really that statement, i think really reaffirming that that the us will support israel if it chooses, if it chooses to strike

at any potential threats to its security and wider in the region ? >> charlie in tel aviv, thank you very much for updating us once more with all the latest. >> let's get a roundup of the latest headlines for you now from rhiannon . from rhiannon. >> good afternoon . it's 2.30. >> good afternoon. it's 2.30. your top stories from the newsroom . the government's newsroom. the government's organising a flights for british nationals in israel with the first due to leave tel aviv within the next few hours . the within the next few hours. the foreign secretary james cleverly urged british nationals in israel who wished to leave to register their presence. those eligible are being told not to go to the airports unless instructed . by the us secretary instructed. by the us secretary of state says he's trying to secure the release of hostages kidnapped by hamas in a show of solidarity with israel , antony solidarity with israel, antony blinken met with israel's prime minister and president. he'll

also hold meetings with regional leaders, including the palestinian president . leaders, including the palestinian president. more leaders, including the palestinian president . more than palestinian president. more than 100 israeli and foreign hostages have been kidnapped by the terrorist group and taken into gaza. terrorist group and taken into gaza . in other news, judges in gaza. in other news, judges in england and wales are being told to postpone jail sentences for some offenders because prisons are too crowded . according to are too crowded. according to a report in the times , some could report in the times, some could include those found guilty of burglary and rape. the judicial office declined to comment on the report. it comes after the government said it plans to rent pnson government said it plans to rent prison spaces from foreign countries in an effort to address chronic overcrowding . address chronic overcrowding. and an mp for the scottish national party has defected to the tories amid reports of a toxic and bullying culture in the party's westminster group. lisa cameron's defection comes as she was facing a selection

battle to be the candidate for a seat in the west of scotland . seat in the west of scotland. she says she's a victim of group bullying at westminster and has suffered panic attacks as a result. prime minister rishi sunak says he's delighted ms cameron's joined by the scottish conservatives . and you can get conservatives. and you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website, gbnews.com

christys on gb news i'm gb news

radio . and welcome back to the radio. and welcome back to the live desk. >> now the former head of formula one, bernie ecclestone, has pleaded guilty to fraud at southwark crown court earlier after failing to declare more than £400 million in overseas assets to the government. >> he's been sentenced at southwark crown court to 17 months in prison , suspended for months in prison, suspended for two years and ordered . to pay two years and ordered. to pay £652 million to britain's tax authority . authority. >> let's get more now with our reporter theo chikomba, who's been following the case at southwark crown court. and theo, as , affecting an as we refer, affecting an expensive day for mr ecclestone , in of his pocket , both in terms of his pocket and his reputation . and his reputation. >> yes, that's right. well, the former formula one boss was today handed that 17 month sentence, but suspended for two years. now he had come under a

long investigation which has been described as complex and world wide. now, here at southwark crown court today, judge simon brien gave ecclestone that 17 months sentence, suspended for two years, meaning he will only go to jail if he commits another criminal offence during that period. now the court also heard that ecclestone reached a civil settlement with hm revenue and customs . to pay £652.6 million customs. to pay £652.6 million on the 9th of october, which is covering 18 tax years. and he told the judge, i plead guilty just before 10:00 this morning after having previously pleaded not guilty earlier this year. now we also heard from his defence barrister, christine montgomery , kc, who said this. montgomery, kc, who said this. she she told the sentencing judge that her defendant bitterly regrets the events that led up to this criminal trial. he was due to stand in trial next month, which was estimated to last around five weeks, but

after the proceedings today, we heard from both the cps and hmrc outside southwark crown court, and this is what they had to say. >> bernie ecclestone has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to a single offence of fraud relating to dishonest representations made to hm revenue and customs . made to hm revenue and customs. all members of uk society , all members of uk society, regardless of how wealthy and or famous they are, must pay their taxes and be transparent and open with hmrc about their financial affairs . the cps are financial affairs. the cps are pleased to bring such a complex case to a successful conclusion. we worked very closely with hmrc throughout and it is rewarding to see that they have also secured such a significant civil tax settlement through the negotiation process . negotiation process. >> so i think bernie ecclestone had ample time and opportunity to take responsibility and be honest about his tax affairs instead of taking it opportunity. he lied to hmrc and as a consequence , we opened a

as a consequence, we opened a criminal investigation . that criminal investigation. that investigation involved enquiries all around the world and culminated in today's trial. and today , bernie ecclestone pleaded today, bernie ecclestone pleaded guilty to fraud . and as you guilty to fraud. and as you know, he's now been sentenced as well as the sentence he has made a payment of over £650 million in relation to his tax affairs and over £340 million of that amount is a penalty . so a very amount is a penalty. so a very significant amount . so all i can significant amount. so all i can say here is obviously for general tax payers , if you're general tax payers, if you're worried about your tax affairs, please come to hmrc, make full declarations and we can get vital money for public services advice there from the taxman. >> but theo , let's reflect no >> but theo, let's reflect no reaction as i understand it yet from bernie ecclestone. of course, he was normally quite garrulous . garrulous. >> yeah, we had asked just before it came out, >> yeah, we had asked just before it came out , are

>> yeah, we had asked just before it came out, are you going to give a statement and he didn't do that. in the end, as we've seen in previous hearings, he comes out and goes into his car. he comes out and goes into his can he he comes out and goes into his car. he was with his wife and representatives here today at southwark crown court and they quickly went away, not too long after the proceedings were over. but we did hear from the prosecutor who said ecclestone made untrue or misleading, represents changes to hmrc at a july 2015 meeting when he said established only a single trust in favour of his daughters. deborah tamara and petra. and to according the charge, he had told hmrc he was not the settlor nor beneficiary of any trust in or outside of the uk. but as we know now, ecclestone was charged when investigators uncovered covered evidence he stood to gain from that that arrangement. but it's worth pointing out that he is 92 years old. he's due to be 93 this month. his birthday is coming up. while he has had

to pay a large bill for his tax in the last 18 years or so, perhaps it's a it's a welcome move for him this week . move for him this week. >> theo, thank you very much indeed for updating us there at southwark crown court. thanks >> now, perhaps teensy would >> now, perhaps a teensy would have teensy weensy bit of good news this lunchtime because the uk economy that much grew by nought point 2% in august, according to the latest official figures from the office for national statistics. well, chancellor jeremy national statistics. well, chancellorjeremy hunt national statistics. well, chancellor jeremy hunt saying that last month's gdp growth showing resilience. >> what does it say about the state of economy and indeed >> what does it say about the statfuture economy and indeed >> what does it say about the statfuture directionly and indeed >> what does it say about the statfuture direction ofand indeed >> what does it say about the statfuture direction of interested the future direction of interest rates? let's get more of our economics and business editor liam halligan with on the money . talking about teensy weensy. >> surely that's surely teeny. >> surely that's surely teeny. >> not much teensy weensy. >> not much teensy weensy. >> there's nothing wrong with teensy weensy. >> is there some kind of north south dictionary? >> tinky winky, which is the teletubbies. >> oh, okay.

>> oh, okay. >> 0.2. good, bad or indifferent. >> um . >> um. >> um. >> better than we expected . >> better than we expected. given that last month or the month before gdp actually contracted. let's have a look at the numbers and then we can argue about the precise pronunciation weeny pronunciation of teeny weeny teensy weensy yellow polka dot bikini . bikini. >> get on with it. >> get on with it. >> there it is. so >> there it is. so >> figures out this morning >> so figures out this morning in july , the uk economy shrank in july, the uk economy shrank by nought point 6, which is a pretty big contraction. >> but then in august, these are the numbers that came out this morning. they come out with the delay. gdp actually grew by 0.2. so the economy is on a kind of roller coaster gross domestic product. the overall size of the economy is going up and down in august, it was the service sector that grew. so that's professional services, restaurants, hospitality , be the restaurants, hospitality, be the things that the uk does. so much of that accounts for about 80% of that accounts for about 80% of our economy, but production actually making things that dropped by 0.7. that's because

firms aren't investing much in actual stuff. there are still some supply chain issues. so look, the economy's on a roller coaster. we are not in recession. the economy isn't contracting for two successive quarters. so six months in a row, unlike in germany, brings me no pleasure to say that we need the german economy to do well. it's the locomotive of europe. but what i would say is that because growth is actually still quite subdued , the bank of still quite subdued, the bank of england may think again before it raises interest rates . and it raises interest rates. and they're increasingly economists are starting to agree with the likes of me who's been saying maybe interest rates have peaked, maybe we may not get another interest rate rise. >> and indeed we didn't. we have a member of the mpc, the monetary policy committee, using a phrase flat lining. >> so that's she's doing. a phrase flat lining. >> scshe'ss she's doing. a phrase flat lining. >> scshe's a she's doing. a phrase flat lining. >> scshe's a very she's doing. a phrase flat lining. >> scshe's a very distinguished a phrase flat lining. >> s(economistry distinguished a phrase flat lining. >> s(economist atdistinguished a phrase flat lining. >> s(economist at the nguished a phrase flat lining. >> s(economist at the londond trade economist at the london school economics . and i often school of economics. and i often rail on this program and in my newspaper columns about the lack of groupthink of group, about the groupthink groupthink going on on the mpc,

the committee. the monetary policy committee. these, nine these, of course, the nine economists who decide what interest rates are, they have eight meetings year , includes eight meetings a year, includes the governor of the bank of england, andrew bailey. i england, andrew bailey. but i would swati dhingra of all would say swati dhingra of all of she the most not of them, she is the most not intellectually independent, and she for some time has been saying don't raise interest rates any more. you're going to hammer too much. hammer the economy too much. don't rates any don't raise interest rates any more. she's unusually more. and so she's unusually spoken out now the next spoken out now before the next interest decision to say, interest rate decision to say, look, guys, we really to look, guys, we really need to hold interest and that hold interest rates and that will good news for mortgage will be good news for mortgage holders and also those with personal debt and firms. >> but the bad news being that in terms of inflation and indeed growth, therefore it's this fuel price. and what that's going to do to us. >> so the us inflation number for august has just come out and it's 3.7. crikey, if we had three point, we're up at 6.7. and why is inflation in the uk less than here? well they've got a very dynamic economy. yeah why is inflation less in the us than here? because they've got really

cheap energy compared to us electricity in the us for households and firms, half the price of what it is here. why is that? because the us has become an energy producing superpower since it started fracking. you know so many people. we don't want fracking, we don't want fracking. but end up with fracking. but you end up with cheap cheaper. cheap electricity or cheaper. and so your economy grows and you less inflation. and of you have less inflation. and of course, mean, i said this when course, i mean, i said this when i was at the recent labour party conference. gas prices have gone up conference. gas prices have gone “p by conference. gas prices have gone up by 35% in the last week. wholesale gas prices here in the uk, oil prices are up sharply, not least because of opec, the exporter cartel and the atrocities in the middle east. >> i was going to ask your view on that and the fallout and what may happen in the bigger middle east and some sort of conflagration . this is really conflagration. this is really going to really stoke prices. perhaps things go bad, potentially. >> so many of us have assumed that, oh, last winter energy pnces that, oh, last winter energy prices were terrible because it was the aftermath of the war in

ukraine. and obviously russia, a huge producer. ukraine. and obviously russia, a huge producer . sanctions huge energy producer. sanctions on russian oil and gas exports and so on, sent international energy markets haywire and so on. and we did have really high energy prices last last winter, and it cost the british government tens of billions of pounds to subsidise household goods, to subsidise some energy intensive firms, though of course not many firms, no restaurants or pubs got their bills subsidised. that's so bills subsidised. that's why so many have to the wall and many have gone to the wall and there's been an assumption, pippa mark, that energy prices this winter, of course they'll be inflation is be cheaper because inflation is coming down and everything's getting interest getting better and interest rates aren't going to have to go up more because on up any more because that guy on gb so. but actually, gb news says so. but actually, actually combination of actually the combination of ongoing war in ukraine, in the opec exporters cartel , and opec exporters cartel, and that's the saudis, lots of other middle eastern countries, venezuela, nigeria , working with venezuela, nigeria, working with the russians to limit supplies, going to global oil markets. that's why oil prices are up sharply from about $70 a barrel to around $90 a barrel now. and now we're seeing on top of that

wholesale gas prices rising because as well, we've got concerns about what's going on in the middle east. we've got reports of sabotage on pipelines across the north sea between finland and estonia . this all finland and estonia. this all sounds so remote to ordinary people's ordinary , everyday people's ordinary, everyday lives as we all try and make ends meet and do our best for ourselves and our families. but these are the kind of geopolitical dangers , geopolitical dangers, unfortunately, which could lead to higher energy prices. then, as you rightly say, mark, inflation then wouldn't come down sharply. the bank of england may not keep rates where they are. they may have to keep raising rates fight that raising rates to fight that inflation. that's a worst case scenario, though. my central scenario, though. my central scenario that oil scenario remains that oil prices, gas prices, moderate . prices, gas prices, moderate. we've got cheaper energy this winter and rates stay where they are. >> one final thought from you as you say, you were at the labour party. i was indeed for my sins. we saw your presence there frequently. >> i wasn't on the stage doing karaoke like tom hannood you weren't goodness. karaoke like tom hannood you werbut goodness. karaoke like tom hannood you

werbut your goodness. karaoke like tom hannood you werbut your thoughts. karaoke like tom hannood you werbut your thoughts on goodness >> but your thoughts on goodness god, going to say that. god, i wasn't going to say that. >> goodness, no. >> goodness, no. >> thank you. threw at me. >> thank you. threw it at me. i'll it back. so keir i'll throw it back. so keir starmers speech. yeah, he. he is making the economy, you know, the main plank of their push for power for this election , as i've power for this election, as i've been saying for months, will for been saying for months, will for be absolutely on the economy . be absolutely on the economy. >> as bill clinton's chief strategist said back in the 90s it's the economy stupid . it's it's the economy stupid. it's what people really really care about more than what a woman is, or more even than immigration. it's always the economy, particularly when you have a cost of living crisis, as we currently do. i mean, some of the lines in keir starmers speech, we're going to put growth at the centre of this election. she sounds like liz truss . so it will be on the truss. so it will be on the economy if inflation comes down, if growth comes back, the lead that labour have over the tories will narrow, right? if the cost of living crisis goes on, then that's going to play into labour's hands. >> very last quick thought, does

that that rachel that mean that actually rachel reeves speech and her performance is actually more important than what we heard from keir starmer? >> i think certainly she she got a lot of attention . it's a lot of attention. it's interesting. put them on interesting. they put them on separate , think. mean, separate days, i think. i mean, keir starmer gave a decent speech and you know, i think on balance, though, it was a ghastly security breach getting all that glitter thrown over him. it was a headline writer's dream, starmer dream, you know, starmer sparkles liverpool and so on. sparkles at liverpool and so on. but i think the speech rachel reeves made actually through reeves made actually cut through more came across as more because she came across as competent. she it was long on rhetoric for the for the sort of left of the labour party, you know hammering private schools, hammering wealthy non—dom residents here in the uk. but crucially financial markets. so she wasn't making big spending pledges. she was responsible. sterling didn't move. and in that sense, boring is what labour needs to be. >> boring is good. yeah >> boring is good. yeah >> thank you. go and practise your singing in the shower. let's take you to northumberland

because it was so upsetting, wasn't it? this famous sycamore gap a tree which was chopped down. well, today it is being removed. what's left of it from hadrian's wall. two weeks after being illegally felled in what was described as a deliberate act of vandalism. >> yeah, they've moved a huge crane in to lift the sections of the 50 foot high tree and trying to then avoid the damage to the wall itself. so this was a pretty careful and perilous operation . and you can see they operation. and you can see they cut the limbs off the main trunk there before moving that. and there before moving that. and the hope is that the wood itself there in that main trunk might be used by the national trust to make some furniture or at least a bench, and that might be returned to the place as well . returned to the place as well. so lots of plans for the national trust to consider. gb news reporter tony mcguire is in northumberland for us and some people, tony, will say, well , people, tony, will say, well, it's only a tree, but my goodness , it represented so much goodness, it represented so much more of that . more of that. >> so many people had their

photo taken. i mean, an absolutely glorious sight for decades. it's tough seeing this today, but hopefully there is some hope as well for the tree . some hope as well for the tree. yes that's correct. >> i mean, certainly i think that the turnout today just from from locals and even from some a little further afield who have come to almost say a final farewell, it was a few times it came up today that saying goodbye to this tree , this 130 goodbye to this tree, this 130 year old behemoth which towered over hadrian's wall. year old behemoth which towered over hadrian's wall . and it was over hadrian's wall. and it was a bit like saying goodbye to kind of a family member , someone kind of a family member, someone that had been in your life for so long. but, you know, looking fonnard to what would be left behind and where to kind of go from here. now, two of the people that i spoke to, i learned today from the national trust and also representing the north cumberland national park service , they told me about kind service, they told me about kind of their ideas about looking for

other future. let's listen . other future. let's listen. >> the tree's not dead , we >> the tree's not dead, we believe, and whoever did this has effectively coppiced the tree, which is which is actually an old traditional all woodland activity. so the stump should regrow as long as we can keep grazing animals off it. so there's a silver lining there. and effectively it's extended the life of the tree, the tree, we think, is about 120, 130 years old. and we'll be able to confirm that because we've been able to get a sample off to be analysed , which should give us a analysed, which should give us a give us the story of its life ideas about what might happen in the future . the future. >> everyone's trying to keep an open mind. we've had many open mind. we've had so many positive suggestions us but what i am assured of is that the respect people held for this tree is going to be how the tree is treated and it would be nice to think that the tree can continue to tell its story into the future. somehow.

>> so we know that obviously at the moment that there is obviously an ongoing court case, but really today was about it, you know, the tree and discussions and conversations about what would come next. now you heard there that actually the tree, they believe the stump is still alive and they hope that will come from that. and perhaps this form, the next generation of most photographed tree across the british isles . tree across the british isles. and as you mentioned, people here, they've always come along. and certainly in northumberland, it wasn't all around this tree. and there will still be visitors that come here. but i must say, you know, and you'll probably agree from the shots you saw there , usually it was such an there, usually it was such an iconic sight. now behind me iconic sight. and now behind me is this huge space. and altogether, everybody here today , public press and organisers of the removal , they agree it's the removal, they agree it's just a little bit strange and it will take much to get used to it

i >> updating us there . >> updating us there. northumberland on the sycamore or gap that is now just a gap. >> let's bring you some pictures . us of a funeral that's being held currently 22 year old irish israeli woman kim dante . now held currently 22 year old irish israeli woman kim dante. now kim was killed during hamas terror attack on the outdoor music festival on saturday. these are the latest pictures we are getting from israel of that funeral. >> and of course , many more will >> and of course, many more will follow as a result of the numbers involved. just in total, the latest assessments, not exact numbers , is more than 1300 exact numbers, is more than 1300 israelis have died . and 1354 israelis have died. and 1354 deadin israelis have died. and 1354 dead in gaza with another 6000 wounded. so the human toll, the human cost of this continuing to rise and an indication that some

95 hostage families have been told that their relatives have been taken into gaza. so a terrible time for them as well . terrible time for them as well. but the latest we're getting from the foreign office here is that there will be a flight leaving ben—gurion airport in tel aviv with britons on board in the coming hours. this afternoon . afternoon. >> those pictures you are looking at are of the funeral of kim dante and her sister paid tribute to her, saying it was the killing of our angel, our flower , our kim, my blood. who flower, our kim, my blood. who was murdered by the cursed terrorists and on the wider picture, we've got antony blinken , the us secretary of blinken, the us secretary of state, now flying to amman in jordan to meet mahmoud abbas. >> and we think the king of jordan as well to try to develop any kind of diplomatic channels to end the conflict. we'll have all the latest for you on gb news. stay

us well. it's 3 pm. it's patrick christys. >> it's gb news. and it's all action today. we, of course, start with the very latest in this israel hamas war because numerous different angles coming up like this one that we're going to be talking about right towards the top of the show, a former leader of hamas has called for there to be an international day of jihad tomorrow, which i am deeply concerned about. and i will be

calling on our police and the police right across europe to be clamping down on that immediate . we cannot have those kind of issues playing out the issues playing out on the streets over here. the bbc is in hot water as well, though, aren't they? that's right. they've been reported to ofcom over the language that they are using say, refusing using or should i say, refusing to comes to a to use when it comes to a designated terror group, hamas. there appears to be a lot of debate at the moment as to whether not the manner in whether or not the manner in which certain young people and babies were killed by hamas in israel. and i think that fundamentally misses the point, don't you? in other news, though , could rapists be spared jail? yes is this just the latest account of soft touch? britain surely , surely, surely this has surely, surely, surely this has to stop now. we've got to come down on people. and finally, this one as well. yes a bit of a scandal. a bit of a scandal. quite a lot of a scandal potentially here as well. some of the money went to of the money that went to the captain, fund. well, captain, tom moore fund. well, where did it go? i'll be revealing all very, very

shortly. patrick christys