we may be going to the house of commons, yvette cooper the shadow home secretary has been granted an urgent question about suella braverman's comments. she's been asked to her comments about the metropolitan police force this morning. if that happens we will go straight to that. we are continuing our coverage of the israel—gaza war. our correspondent mark lowen is in southern israel now for us. the israeli military says hamas has lost control of northern gaza. hamas is designated a terrorist organisation by many governments including the uk. with ground forces closing in from multiple directions, urban fighting between israel and hamas has intensified in gaza city, accelerating the exodus of civilians. some 50,000 palestinians fled the north yesterday, according to israel,

after it opened a safe passage on the main road south for a few hours. another six—hour window has opened today along the same route. meanwhile, the un's human rights chief has accused both sides of committing war crimes. our international editor, jeremy bowen has been with the israeli defence forces, sections inside the territory. three while the bbc retained editorial control of the report, the sections featuring the israeli military have been cleared by the idf. like young soldiers in many wars, israeli troops looked excited, not apprehensive, as they made their final preparations to join israel's invasion of the gaza strip. they're moving in as the war approaches a critical point. their colleagues already inside the strip have surrounded gaza city. these men might be part of the next stage, locating hamas tunnels and fighting street by street.

israel's prime minister promised his country a mighty vengeance against hamas. but with so much firepower, one question — is israel following joe biden's advice not to be blinded by rage, to defend itself, but also protect the lives of palestinian civilians? we went into gaza with the israeli army on condition we didn't reveal their positions. video shot after they took us through the gap in the fence into gaza — though not this script — had to be submitted to their military censors. we got out of the back of an armoured vehicle and walked into a wasteland. after a month of air strikes and more than a week of tanks and troops, every building i saw was damaged or destroyed. they wanted to show us what they said was a hamas weapons factory, in this wrecked structure. this is their scuba diving equipment that's meant to come from sea, from their land to our land.

and they made drones that drop bombs, he said, in this workshop. places like this, he said, originated the 7th of october attacks. but upstairs was a family apartment. the soldiers said it was more proof that hamas used civilians as human shields, building bombs underneath a bedroom used by children. the officer said hamas — not israel — was responsible for civilian deaths. we know, intelligence. we know what we hit. we know the targets, they're approved by our command. it's not that i wake up and my objective is to ruin the city. i aim for enemy and enemy only, and i use all in my power to hit the enemy only. sojudging by the destruction here, the enemy was everywhere, you'd say? yes. israel's strategic equation measures the destruction and death it's

brought to palestinians in gaza — civilians as well as hamas — against the pain of its own people and the importance of making them feel safe again. the overriding impressions i have from being here is, first of all, the level of force that israel has brought to bear on the gaza strip — a vast amount of military power. we canjust we can just take you to chris philp, the policing minister, responding to an urgent question by labour over the comments by the home secretary suella braverman, in which she questioned the independence of the metropolitan police.— metropolitan police. thousands of eo - le metropolitan police. thousands of people demonstrating _ metropolitan police. thousands of people demonstrating over - metropolitan police. thousands of people demonstrating over recent| people demonstrating over recent weeks. thanks to the tireless work of the police these incident one might have largely passed without significant incident. however, a number of arrests, now nearly 200, have been made where people have

committed this order, racially aggravated crimes or assorted police officers, and it is ripe police officers, and it is ripe police officers have acted robustly in these cases. it is also right that these cases. it is also right that the police are operationally independent of government. that is a fundamental principle of british policing. as the prime minister made clear yesterday. the metropolitan police asked protesters to stop the planned protest this weekend but the request was refused, and the commissioner was contacted yesterday to seek reassurances that remembrance events will be protected and those incident no of course play and those incident no of course play a part in this nation's long and proud history and it would be a grave insult if they were to be disrupted in any way. it is for the metropolitan police to decide whether to apply to the home secretary to ban any such march. as of this morning no such application has been received back the home

secretary will carefully consider one, should it be made. i would like to reiterate that the police retain the confidence of the prime minister and the home secretary and i in using all available powers both under terrorism legislation and public order legislation to prevent criminality and disorder and to prevent hate speech. i would say to the house, i've been contacted this morning repeatedly by members of the jewish community who are deeply apprehensive about what this weekend may bring, and they want to put on record that we expect the police to protect those members of communities in london including thejewish community who are feeling vulnerable this weekend. there are powers in place to do that. hate has no place on london's streets, and we expect the police to ensure the laws are upheld. there are powers to deal

with spreading hate, through harassment and abusive behaviour. the police can impose conditions on marches as indeed they have done to prevent pro—palestine protest is approaching the israeli embassy, to give one example. the police have also used in section 60 double—a conditions to require people to remove face coverings but the use of those powers is an operational matter for the metropolitan police service. mr speakerthis matter for the metropolitan police service. mr speaker this weekend should first and foremost be about remembering those who gave their lives in defence of this country. any disruption to remembrance services would be completely unacceptable and an insult to their memory and i have confidence the metropolitan police and other police forces will ensure this weekend passes off peacefully and without disruption. passes off peacefully and without disru tion. passes off peacefully and without disrution. , passes off peacefully and without disruption._ thank| disruption. yvette cooper. thank ou, mr disruption. yvette cooper. thank you, mr speaker. _ disruption. yvette cooper. thank you, mr speaker. well, - disruption. yvette cooper. thank you, mr speaker. well, the - disruption. yvette cooper. thank| you, mr speaker. well, the home secretary? she sent a policing

minister to come to refuse to repeat her words because we have seen her words, attempting to rip up the operational independence of the police and impugning their impartiality in the crudest ways, deliberately undermining respect for the police at a sensitive time when they have an importantjob to do, deliberately seeking to create division around remembrance which the policing minister rightly said should be a time for communities to come together and to pay our respects and she is deliberately inflaming community tensions in the most dangerous of ways. she is encouraging extremists on all sides, attacking the police, when she should be backing them. it is highly irresponsible and dangerous and, no other home secretary would ever have done this. mr speaker, remembering that mac remembrance events are important to all of us and need to

be protected. that is the job of the police, to enforce and respect the law, maintaining public safety, tackling hate crime and extremism and respecting rights in law to peaceful protest and they have to follow the law and the evidence, whatever politicians think, not to be the operational arm of the home secretary, because whether she likes it or not, that is the british tradition of policing and i, for one, am proud of it. we know what she's up to, claiming that homelessness is a lifestyle choice, picking fights with the police to get headlines but the job over the home secretary is to keep the public safe, not to run an endless tory leadership campaign. cabinet colleagues refusing to agree with her, flora believed chiefs lining up to condemn her so does my question is, believe in the operational independence of the police, and how can it do so while this home secretary is in post, and did the prime minister and number ten agreed to the content of this article?

because either the prime minister has endorsed this or he is too weak to sack her, and if you cannot get rid of her and get a grip of our conduct it means that he has given up conduct it means that he has given up on syria's government and home secretary should both let someone else to do the job. i secretary should both let someone else to do the job.— else to do the “ob. i thank the shadow home— else to do the job. i thank the shadow home secretary - else to do the job. i thank the shadow home secretary for i else to do the job. i thank the l shadow home secretary for her questions as always. she asked about where the home secretary is. it might be wise to ask privately rather than publicly, she is with a close family member having hospital operation this morning and i have a home secretary's permission to say that the house in the event somebody raised it as the shadow home secretary has gone so i'm passing that message onto the house. as we considered this topic, the fact that many of our fellow citizens are feeling deeply uneasy at what is going on in the middle east but its repercussions domestically as well, we have seen a spike in islamophobia offences, 21 arrests in the last four weeks for that, we have seen a

surge in anti—semitic offences with 98 arrests were anti—semitic offences in the last four weeks, and i have been contacted this morning by members of thejewish community who are deeply uneasy about what this weekend will bring. i don't think it is acceptable that our fellow citizens feel scared or uneasy, walking about the streets of london and it is reasonable for politicians, the prime minister, home secretary and others and some on the other side of the house as well to raise those concerns, and to make sure police are protecting those communities. it is not acceptable to have fear and hatred on our streets. let that message go out from this house today. in relation to the question of operational independence, yes of course the government resolutely backs the question of operational independence and as the prime minister made clear yesterday, after his meeting with the commission at number ten, his meeting with the commission at numberten, but his meeting with the commission at number ten, but the prime minister also said after his meeting at number ten that he would hold the

commissioner to account, as politicians are supposed to do, as police and crime commissioners do, as the mayor of london does, as london's pcc and we do as members of parliament, it is perfectly proper and right. in terms of the approval process with number ten i don't have any visibility on that at all. but let us keep in mind that we are seeing a humanitarian crisis unfolding in gaza, let's keep in mind there are 200 people being held hostage, 11100 people were slaughtered by terrorists, and members of our own community are feeling scared this weekend. let's keep that on the front of our mind, not party political point scoring. studio: chris hill the policing minister standing in for the home secretary who, he explained, is attending a family matter, following an urgent question by the shadow home secretary, questioning the operational independence of the

metropolitan police following comments by the home secretary in which she appeared to brand the met biased over the march is coming up over the weekend. the policing minister there, reiterating that the government very much believes in the operational independence of the metropolitan police, and they said that it metropolitan police, and they said thatitis metropolitan police, and they said that it is up to them to apply for a ban on the march. that hasn't happened so far, they said. they said the police retain the confidence of the home secretary and chris pope reiterated concerns among the jewish chris pope reiterated concerns among thejewish community chris pope reiterated concerns among the jewish community about pro—palestine marches which have seen tens of thousands out on the streets every weekend for the past few weeks, and there have been, as he commented, 98 anti—semitic arrests over the past month in the uk, 21 arrests for islamophobia. yvette cooper the shadow home secretary criticising home secretary, saying that she is attacking police impartiality, deliberately undermining them and seeking division. we will have

plenty of analysis on this story later on. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk. more than 4000 poppies cascading at the potteries museum and art gallery in hanley, each one handmade. the display has been made by the let's make jam wi branch in newcastle. we range in ages from the 40s to the noughties, every decade. and they are knitted, they are crocheted, there is felt. all sorts. and then we came up with the design and then we assemble it accordingly, and there is absolutely thousands in it. the poppies are being displayed over the city's spitfire. the aircraft was designed by rj mitchell, who was born in north staffordshire. of course, during world war ii, the spitfire became emblematic of the allies' fighting spirit. the swathe of poppies will stay

on display until remembrance sunday, honouring both the service of veterans and the city's history. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. mark lowen is in southern israel for us, back to you, mark. thank you, samantha. let's remind you of how this began on 7th of october when hamas, designated a terrorist organisation by several governments around the world including the uk, launched that surprise attack on israel, killing 11100 people and taking more than 240 israel, killing 1400 people and taking more than 240 hostage. on the hostage issue, the hostage release problem and attempts to try to make progress on hostage release, israel has said that there would be no ceasefire in its huge military,

retaliatory offensive, until there is a release of hostages but there is a release of hostages but there is talk about humanitarian pauses to make progress on the hostage issue. let's explore the hostage problem more with a former israeli hostage negotiator who has spent nearly two decades negotiating with hamas. he joins us live now. thank you for being with us. can ijust ask you, first of all, we have had it reported that there are high—level talks are ongoing with the qataris, over american hostages and a three day humanitarian pause, do you have any more information on that? {131 any more information on that? of course, the hamas leadership in gaza and there _ course, the hamas leadership in gaza and there are high—level talks taking — and there are high—level talks taking place in cairo with egyptian and israeli — taking place in cairo with egyptian and israeli intelligence and hamas

contacts_ and israeli intelligence and hamas contacts in the military wing of hamas — contacts in the military wing of hamas. there is apparently a third track_ hamas. there is apparently a third track taking place in beirut with an american — track taking place in beirut with an american negotiator, head of the national— american negotiator, head of the national intelligence agency in lebanon and their contacts with hamas— lebanon and their contacts with hamas leaders and perhaps people from the _ hamas leaders and perhaps people from the military wing, as well. i don't _ from the military wing, as well. i don't believe the story of 12—15 hostages — don't believe the story of 12—15 hostages in exchange for a ceasefire, it is simply not realistic _ ceasefire, it is simply not realistic. first of all to engage in a ceasefire — realistic. first of all to engage in a ceasefire as was requested according to this proposal to take place _ according to this proposal to take place from three days, it is impossible, the israeli troops are deep _ impossible, the israeli troops are deep into— impossible, the israeli troops are deep into gaza right now, surrounding gaza city, and a three-day— surrounding gaza city, and a three—day pause would, they would be sitting _ three—day pause would, they would be sitting ducks where they are, and it is simply— sitting ducks where they are, and it is simply not worth the risk for 1245— is simply not worth the risk for 12—15 hostages, when we are talking about— 12—15 hostages, when we are talking about 240 _ 12—15 hostages, when we are talking about 240 hostages being held. do about 240 hostages being held. dir: you about 240 hostages being held. drr

you believe that it is likely that israel knows where these hostages are? i israel knows where these hostages are? ~ , , ~ , israel knows where these hostages are? ~' , , ., are? i think it is very likely that with their _ are? i think it is very likely that with their present _ are? i think it is very likely that with their present positions - are? i think it is very likely that j with their present positions and entering — with their present positions and entering through the north of gaza, and covering so many tunnel entrances, that is a significant amount— entrances, that is a significant amount of— entrances, that is a significant amount of intelligence information over some — amount of intelligence information over some of the hostages might be. the assumption is that they will be spread _ the assumption is that they will be spread out — the assumption is that they will be spread out across the gaza strip underground and perhaps in houses as well. the israeli soldier who was held well. the israeli soldier who was hetd for— well. the israeli soldier who was held for five years and spent a year and a _ held for five years and spent a year and a hatt— held for five years and spent a year and a half in — held for five years and spent a year and a half in the basement of a home with a _ and a half in the basement of a home with a family — and a half in the basement of a home with a family living above him. they could _ with a family living above him. they could be _ with a family living above him. they could be anywhere in the gaza strip. it is could be anywhere in the gaza strip. it is very— could be anywhere in the gaza strip. it is very unlikely that israel can rescue — it is very unlikely that israel can rescue att— it is very unlikely that israel can rescue all of the hostages through military— rescue all of the hostages through military operations. the only way of doing _ military operations. the only way of doing that _ military operations. the only way of doing that is to negotiate an agreement. and it seems that the terms _ agreement. and it seems that the terms of— agreement. and it seems that the terms of a — agreement. and it seems that the terms of a negotiated agreement for the terms _ terms of a negotiated agreement for the terms of all of the hostages is way beyond anything that israel is willing _ way beyond anything that israel is willing to — way beyond anything that israel is willing to give in to. | way beyond anything that israel is willing to give in to.— willing to give in to. i was going to ask about —

willing to give in to. i was going to ask about that, _ willing to give in to. i was going to ask about that, israel's - willing to give in to. i was going i to ask about that, israel's strategy seems to be to bomb hamas to the negotiating table, pursuing a military offensive whilst trying to get progress on hostage release. how risky is that strategy? i get progress on hostage release. how risky is that strategy?— risky is that strategy? i don't think that — risky is that strategy? i don't think that they _ risky is that strategy? i don't think that they are _ risky is that strategy? i don't think that they are bombing l risky is that strategy? i don't - think that they are bombing hamas to -et think that they are bombing hamas to get them _ think that they are bombing hamas to get them to the negotiating table they are — get them to the negotiating table they are bombing hamas to kill hamas — they are bombing hamas to kill hamas. there are two main objectives of the _ hamas. there are two main objectives of the war— hamas. there are two main objectives of the war designated by the israeli government, one is to dismantle hamas' _ government, one is to dismantle hamas' ability to govern and the other— hamas' ability to govern and the other is— hamas' ability to govern and the other is to — hamas' ability to govern and the other is to return the hostages. these _ other is to return the hostages. these are — other is to return the hostages. these are somewhat contradictory and cannot _ these are somewhat contradictory and cannot be _ these are somewhat contradictory and cannot be done in parallel. if there is no _ cannot be done in parallel. if there is no negotiated agreement, they are trying _ is no negotiated agreement, they are trying to— is no negotiated agreement, they are trying to achieve humanitarian agreement at least for the release of the _ agreement at least for the release of the women, children and elderly. if of the women, children and elderly. if that _ of the women, children and elderly. if that is _ of the women, children and elderly. if that is not — of the women, children and elderly. if that is not possible then i believe _ if that is not possible then i believe that this will rely entirely on military operations, which of course — on military operations, which of course puts the hostages and soldiers — course puts the hostages and soldiers at great risk.

gershon baskin, former negotiator with the israelis, thank you for joining us. plenty more to come from here, on the israeli gaza conflict, you are watching bbc news. let’s here, on the israeli gaza conflict, you are watching bbc news. let's get more now on — you are watching bbc news. let's get more now on this _ you are watching bbc news. let's get more now on this row _ you are watching bbc news. let's get more now on this row between - you are watching bbc news. let's get more now on this row between the i more now on this row between the government and the opposition labour party after the home secretary suella braverman accused the metropolitan police of bias over the policing of the pro—palestinian marches, and allowing a march to go ahead this saturday on armistice day. there has been an urgent question in the house of commons over this as we have been showing you. we canjoin the shadow over this as we have been showing you. we can join the shadow minister for the cabinet office now, pat mcfadden. the home secretary was not there, as chris fill the policing

minister explained, she has to attend a family matter. what did you make of his defence where he insisted the government truly believes in the independence of the metropolitan police, something that the labour party has been questioning? i the labour party has been questioning?— the labour party has been questioning? the labour party has been truestionin ? ., �* ,, , questioning? i don't think it is credible or — questioning? i don't think it is credible or government - questioning? i don't think it is i credible or government ministers to say that they believe in the independence, operationally, of the police, after the home secretary's conduct over the last 24 others. being home secretary is one of the most important responsibilities in the british government. it is one of the british government. it is one of the major departments of state. and the major departments of state. and thejob of the major departments of state. and the job of the home secretary is to keep the public safe. this home secretary is using that position, not to do herjob, but to pick one fight after another. last week it was homelessness charities, this week... i was homelessness charities, this week... ., ., ,, . my week... i want to speak specifically on the marches, _ week... i want to speak specifically on the marches, that _ week... i want to speak specifically on the marches, that is _ week... i want to speak specifically on the marches, that is what i week... i want to speak specifically on the marches, that is what she . week... i want to speak specifically i on the marches, that is what she has written about today, she says senior officers in the metropolitan police

are biased, pursuing double standards and taking a softer approach with left wing groups such as black lives matter, than over right—wing groups concerned with issues such as lockdown stop to think there are conflicting views within the metropolitan police that they have chosen to take a softer line on some over others? it is they have chosen to take a softer line on some over others? it is an extraordinary _ line on some over others? it is an extraordinary attack _ line on some over others? it is an extraordinary attack on _ line on some over others? it is an extraordinary attack on the - extraordinary attack on the operational independence of the police. theirjob with regard to all marches, whatever their political purpose of the march, is to keep the public safe. there was a statute in place, if they believe that a march isn't going to keep the public safe they can apply to the home secretary to have that march not permitted. that is the way the system works. what the home secretary has done is to launch an attack on the operational independence of the police. let's be clear about what is going on. this is a home secretary

conducting a leadership election campaign to replace the prime minister. and he is sitting there, too weak to stop her. and that is an indictment not only of her conduct part of the government itself. let me ask you _ part of the government itself. let me ask you about a comment made by the policing minister chris doak who said that the police can impose conditions on marches and there are concerns within many in thejewish community here in the uk about the behaviour of some of those people on those marches, tens of thousands of people have been out on the streets every weekend over the past four weeks, the vast majority of them accepted as peaceful but there are people on the fringes, as you know, who have been waving anti—semitic flats, slogans, childs and there have been some arrest and there are concerns within the government and some within thejewish community that not enough is being done to please those who are causing offence and potential hate crimes. do you agree with that?—

and potential hate crimes. do you agree with that? look, i think that this is a moment _ agree with that? look, i think that this is a moment of _ agree with that? look, i think that this is a moment of high _ agree with that? look, i think that this is a moment of high tension i agree with that? look, i think that| this is a moment of high tension in the country, in parts of the country, and if anyone breaks the law, anyone engages in anti—semitic behaviour over any kind of crime like that, they should be arrested and they should view the full force of... �* ., , ., , and they should view the full force of... �* , ,~ of... but do you believe they are bein: of... but do you believe they are being policed — of... but do you believe they are being policed effectively, - being policed effectively, anti—semitism and islamophobia tax have risen significantly in the past few weeks —— attacks. have risen significantly in the past few weeks -- attacks.— have risen significantly in the past few weeks -- attacks. they are both of hu . e few weeks -- attacks. they are both of huge concern _ few weeks -- attacks. they are both of huge concern right _ few weeks -- attacks. they are both of huge concern right now. - few weeks -- attacks. they are both of huge concern right now. with i few weeks -- attacks. they are both | of huge concern right now. with what is happening in the middle east, coming to parts of our own country. it is for the police to apply the full force of the law, here. but, i do not believe that the home secretary's comments over the last 24 hours, ourfirst secretary's comments over the last 24 hours, our first and foremost with these concerns apart. i believe

this is a home secretary who is now running a leadership campaign, who thinks that herjob is to pick one fight after another. last week homelessness charities, this week the metropolitan police stop you if you are going to pick a fight with next? like i do have any concerns about these marchers coming up this weekend saturday at least? this is really important weekend for the country, because this is the weekend when we have remembrance sunday and armistice day which this year falls on the day before. i don't want anything to interfere with this precious moment, when the country comes together to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us in the past. and, with that in mind, it is important to keep this weekend special and to apply normal judgments that would be applied to any demonstration taking place. fiat

any demonstration taking place. pat mcfadden, shadow ministerforthe mcfadden, shadow ministerfor the cabinet office, thank you for being with us. we are going to get the latest from the covid inquiry in central london now on bbc news. first, look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. the weather forecast for today is one of sunshine and showers. now, most of the showers are going to be in the south, in the west where they could be heavy with some hail and also some thunder and lightning. and on the tops of the scottish hills, we could well see some wintriness. low pressure is driving our weather. it's anchored to the northwest of scotland. but look at these isobars. it's going to be very windy today across the south—west of england and that won't moderate until tomorrow. so into the afternoon, we continue with all these showers in the west and the south. still windy, fewer showers central and eastern areas and across northern scotland. so here we will see more sunny intervals. temperatures nine to about 11 degrees north to south. as we head on through the evening and overnight period, we hang on to some of these showers

and then a new weather front comes in and brings some rain across wales and also southern counties of england. move north of that, there's a lot of dry weather, clear skies and it's going to be cold, cold enough for a touch of frost across parts of scotland, northern england and northern ireland. there'll also be some fog which will be slow to clear tomorrow. so tomorrow the low pressure has drifted over into the north sea, changing the wind direction so it has more of a northerly component to it. colder direction for us as illustrated by the light blue tinge on that chart. so tomorrow, apart from feeling colder, it's going to be a wet start in the south. that rain clearing away. then a lot of dry weather and a fair bit of sunshine, but a lot of showers coming in, especially around the coasts. a few of them making it inland as well, temperatures eight to 13. but if you're exposed to that wind, it will feel cooler. now, as we head on into the weekend, well, this weather front is going to try and come in during the course of saturday, armistice day. but of course, after a cool start with some mist and fog,

which will be slow to clear, many of us will hang on to the dry weather in the sunshine. but you can see it's going to cloud over a bit later into the southwest where the wind will strengthen and we'll start to see some rain coming in later again. for remembrance sunday it's going to be a cloudier day. generally, any mist and fog that forms overnight will be slow to clear. and then we've got the rain sweeping in from the southwest. now, there's still a level of uncertainty about how far north so do keep up to date with the weather forecast. but temperature—wise, we're looking at 8 in the north to 14.

welcome to bbc news. you arejoining us for a live coverage of the covid inquiry, it is taking evidence until christmas. today it will hear from martin hewitt who headed the national police chiefs' council between 2019 and 2023. he was in charge of policing during the pandemic, a time when public health and order where in sharp focus. fixed penalty notices were issued

for activities such as throwing a party, meeting friends indoors or travelling to other towns for food. he is likely to because the boat the handling of the investigation into lockdown bleaching social events, what is no known as partygate. let's remind ourselves of what restrictions were put in place in march 2020. in england people were told to stay—at—home and avoid all unnecessaryjourneys or told to stay—at—home and avoid all unnecessary journeys or social contact. you are only a load to leave your home for essential shopping or medical needs, one form of exercise per day such as a run, walk or cycle, either alone or with your household. you were a load to travel to and from work but only where this is absolutely necessary.

public gatherings of more than two people