we'll talk live to the charity medical aid for palestinians, whose compound was hit near khan younis injanuary. they too want answers from the israelis. dozens remain trapped in road tunnels in taiwan after the biggest earthquake in 25 years. at least nine people have died — we'll have the latest live on the rescue efforts. nato foreign ministers meet in brussels — they discuss military aid to ukraine and a fund to insulate nato from a possible trump presidency. i definitely grew up in a time with major pay disparity between the lead actor and myself. and we hear from actor kirsten dunst about hollywood's issues with equal pay. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala.

welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. israel is facing growing pressure to explain exactly how seven people working for an aid charity were killed in an air strike in gaza. three britons were among those who died in the attack on a world central kitchen convoy. who died in the attack rishi sunak paid trbute tojohn chapman, james henderson and james kirby, describing the deaths as an "awful awful tragedy". more of that interview in a moment, but first james kirby's family described him today as a hero. have a listen. he was completely selfless, which explains why he went to gaza. his experiences in the british army when he served in bosnia and afghanistan, he knew the dangers, he was no fool. and people were telling him, "this could be very dangerous for you." but he knew the dangers. he was selfless in that regard and hejust wanted to help people.

the group had been travelling in a clearly marked aid convoy at the time. last night, president biden said he was "outraged and heartbroken" and accused israel of not doing enough to protect aid workers. israel has said the strike was a grave mistake in complex circumstances. from jerusalem, yolande knell reports. seven beautiful souls. that's how world central kitchen says it will remember its colleagues killed by an israeli strike in gaza. they included three british security workers, all ex—armed forces. workers, all ex—armed forces — john chapman, james henderson and james kirby. the team from the us charity was travelling in a convoy. its distinctive logo on display. each car was hit in a precise attack. the uk said these deaths were completely unacceptable. australia's demanded accountability. america called what happened an outrage.

israel says it's still investigating. i want to be very clear. the strike was not carried out with the intention of harming wck aid workers. it was a mistake that followed a misidentification at night during a war in a very complex condition. already the impact is being felt by many thousands of hungry gazans who'd been relying on world central kitchen for a daily meal. its operations are now on hold. this suspension will really affect the lives of people and their access to food, especially children and pregnant women. the situation is going to become even more catastrophic. without world central kitchen staff to offload it, some 240 tonnes of desperately needed food sent to gaza on these boats is now being sent back to cyprus. other aid organisations are also having to reconsider their work until there's better protection

in the war torn territory. we are devastated and we're worried. we're worried about what this means for the delivery of humanitarian aid. and we have decided to pause our humanitarian operations. we need to have greater security for our staff and for their families. there's been a growing international outcry about the trickle of aid that's getting into gaza because of israeli controls. now deepening concerns about the safety of relief workers is limiting assistance even more, all at a time when famine is looming and gazans most need help. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. there's been more political reaction here in the uk in the last few minutes, let me take you through it, first forth on the former foreign office minister aaron duncan who is

joining a growing call for the uk to hold off its arms sale to israel. use... to tackle famine they're caused by israel. as a foreign minister, he writes, who oversaw the process of arms licensing, nothing but continuing to sell arms to israel from the uk cannot be justified and must cease. that is the former foreign office minister aaron duncan. david lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, has also issued comments in the last while, saying the government must suspend arms sales to israel, if lawyers have found clear risk of serious breaches of international law. he repeated the demand but david cameron must publish that legal advice, accusing lord cameron of going silent after failing to get a response to that request for that legal advice to be published. those, but is the latest from uk politicians on that call for an arms embargo. so let's continue with that

because, as i was saying in our main introduction, the prime minister, rishi sunak, has commented only last little while in the deaths of those three british aid workers and he has been speaking to each political pod cast for the sun newspaper. have a listen. yes, an awful, awful traced , have a listen. yes, an awful, awful tragedy. to — have a listen. yes, an awful, awful tragedy, to think _ have a listen. yes, an awful, awful tragedy, to think that _ have a listen. yes, an awful, awful tragedy, to think that these - have a listen. yes, an awful, awful tragedy, to think that these were l tragedy, to think that these were brave brits who are actually risking their lives to bring aid to people in need in gaza, to have lost their lives in these circumstances is tragedy add my thoughts are obviously with their family and their friends at this time. i spoke to prime minister netanyahu last night and was very clear with him but the situation is increasingly intolerable and what we urgently need to see is a thorough, transparent investigation into what has happened, but also a dramatic increase in the amount of aid getting into gaza, removing the barriers, but also close to work with aid agencies to make sure things like this don't happen again. increasing calls for britain to stop selling _ increasing calls for britain to stop selling arms to israel until that

aid starts — selling arms to israel until that aid starts going on. do you back those _ aid starts going on. do you back those calls? i aid starts going on. do you back those calls?— those calls? i think we will also alwa s those calls? i think we will also always have — those calls? i think we will also always have a _ those calls? i think we will also always have a very _ those calls? i think we will also always have a very careful - those calls? i think we will also i always have a very careful export licensing regime that we adhere to, there are a set of rules and regulations and procedures we will also blue always follow and i have been consistently clear with pro—mister netanyahu since the start of this conflict but whilst of course we defend israel's right to defend itself and its people people from attacks from hamas, they have to protect civilian lives and sadly too many civilians have already lost their lives, get more aid into gaza, thatis their lives, get more aid into gaza, that is what we have is consistently called for and what we want to see is an immediate monetary and paused to allow more aid it and crucially hostages to be released and that is what we will be pushing for continually.— what we will be pushing for continually. what we will be pushing for continuall . , . , , ., ., , continually. presumably that was uuite a continually. presumably that was quite a testy _ continually. presumably that was quite a testy phone _ continually. presumably that was quite a testy phone call? - continually. presumably that was quite a testy phone call? what i continually. presumably that was i quite a testy phone call? what has ha--ened quite a testy phone call? what has happened is _ quite a testy phone call? what has happened is a _ quite a testy phone call? what has happened is a tragedy _ quite a testy phone call? what has happened is a tragedy and - quite a testy phone call? what has happened is a tragedy and there i quite a testy phone call? what has. happened is a tragedy and there are questions that need answering and thatis questions that need answering and that is why i have been very clear that is why i have been very clear that what we expect is a thorough and transparent investigation into what has happened, but also i want to see a dramatic increase into the amount of aid flowing into gaza and

closer work with aid agencies at these kind of thingsjust closer work with aid agencies at these kind of things just don't happen. these kind of things 'ust don't ha en. ., these kind of things 'ust don't ha . en, ., ., , these kind of things 'ust don't ha en, ., ., , , these kind of things 'ust don't ha en. . ., , ,, . ~' these kind of things 'ust don't hauen. . , ,, ., , happen. that was rishi sunak house s-ueakin in happen. that was rishi sunak house speaking in the _ happen. that was rishi sunak house speaking in the last _ happen. that was rishi sunak house speaking in the last little _ happen. that was rishi sunak house speaking in the last little while. - let's speak to gideon levy, journalist and columnist for the haaretz newspaper. thank you forjoining us live. your colleagues at the newspaper have been reporting on this and important to say it wasn'tjust one strike there was the initial strike on a car, then a second strike on another car, then a second strike on another car and then a third strike. the detail and this is quite disturbing. it is absolutely so. i mean, the claim of israel or the israeli army, that there was no intention, that it was a mistake, that it was by chance, sound quite ridiculous when you realise that it was one shot and those poor aid workers moved from

one card to the other in order to save their lives and nothing helped them. they caught them and what about one palestinian who was in those cars finally, but who israel fought is in the car? nobody knows who he was, nobody knows how important he was. altogether it shouldn't surprise anybody because thatis shouldn't surprise anybody because that is the policy of the israeli army in the last half a year in gaza. the fact that this time those internationals, not locals, shouldn't make a such a difference. let me ask you a twin question because america has called for a swift independent investigation. is there any chance of an independent investigation? and also, does this moment feel at all to you like a potential tipping point? we have seen what has happened at the un security council, we have seen gaza flattened, we have seen upwards of 32,000 palestinians killed, warnings about not going into rafah and now

this. ., , this. you see, matthew, iwill tell ou, i'm this. you see, matthew, iwill tell you. l'm not _ this. you see, matthew, iwill tell you, i'm not sure _ this. you see, matthew, iwill tell you, i'm not sure an _ this. you see, matthew, iwill tell you, i'm not sure an investigation j you, i'm not sure an investigation is so needed. what do you think you will find out? the only question is who gave the order. it is very clear that those people were killed when their cars were marked very clearly, when there truck was coordinated with the army... i mean, what with the investigation bring us? the name of the commander who gave the order? who cares? it is a policy. late of the commander who gave the order? who cares? it is a policy.— who cares? it is a policy. we have to understand... _ who cares? it is a policy. we have to understand... i— who cares? it is a policy. we have to understand... i suppose - who cares? it is a policy. we have to understand... i suppose an - to understand... i suppose an investigation would establish one way or another whether it was indeed a mistake or something more sinister? ., , ., , .,~ sinister? how can it be a mistake when cars — sinister? how can it be a mistake when cars so _ sinister? how can it be a mistake when cars so signed, _ sinister? how can it be a mistake when cars so signed, you - sinister? how can it be a mistake when cars so signed, you could i sinister? how can it be a mistake l when cars so signed, you could see the logos of the car from the roof, there is a huge sign of the organisation. and you know there are almost 100 journalists being killed in this war. so many medical teams,

people with white flags were shot dead. i mean, why do you think this one is an exception in this war? so, but that is my point of view, obviously. for me there is no difference between two weeks of shooting and bombarding al—shifa hospital and this. same case. and when al—shifa hospital was bombed for two weeks, most of the world kept silent. and now because it is internationals, the world is more... i understand it. but this is not the way to judge i understand it. but this is not the way tojudge things, i understand it. but this is not the way to judge things, and investigation will not tell us something that we didn't know. yes. now, to something that we didn't know. yes. now. to your — something that we didn't know. yes. now, to your other _ something that we didn't know. yes. now, to your other question, it depends on the international community. if the international community. if the international community will take measures now so it can be a turning point now. but if, you know, in two days this incident will be forgotten, as i am afraid it will, then you know, the war will continue.—

afraid it will, then you know, the war will continue. gideon levy, we have to leave _ war will continue. gideon levy, we have to leave it _ war will continue. gideon levy, we have to leave it there, _ war will continue. gideon levy, we have to leave it there, but - war will continue. gideon levy, we have to leave it there, but thank . have to leave it there, but thank you forjoining us live here on bbc news, thanks for your time. thank ou. the attack has put huge focus on the amount of aid workers killed in this war. as you were just listening to there. the un secretary general put that figure at 196. in november — a medecins sans frontieres evacuation convoy came underfire in gaza city. the vehicles were marked with msf logos. two members of staff were killed. on january 18th a residential compound housing international members of medical aid for palestinians in al mawasi was hit by a strike — several people were injured, four british doctors survived. the senior british mp alicia kearns posted earlier that there'd still been no explanation for that incident. joining me from ramallah is aseel baidoun, director of advocacy and campaigns

at medical aid for palestinians. thank you so much for being here with us on the programme. i will come to some of the issues around your aid agency in a moment, but first a reaction to those seven deaths from the world central kitchen? . deaths from the world central kitchen? , ., . ., , ., , kitchen? this horrific attack proves et a . ain kitchen? this horrific attack proves yet again that _ kitchen? this horrific attack proves yet again that there _ kitchen? this horrific attack proves yet again that there is _ kitchen? this horrific attack proves yet again that there is no _ kitchen? this horrific attack proves yet again that there is no safe - yet again that there is no safe place in gaza, way though you are palestinian, british or any nationality. gaza is the most dangerous place in the world how to be an aid worker and we don't have the words to strongly or enough to condemn this. and every other horrific attack on aid workers. we must be protected under international law and we are still, since january 18, calling for swift and independent investigations into this. let and independent investigations into this. .. r' and independent investigations into this. ., ., and independent investigations into this. let me ask about your compound that i mentioned _ this. let me ask about your compound that i mentioned there _ this. let me ask about your compound that i mentioned there in _ that i mentioned there in introduction because none of your shelters was hit in the middle of january, four british doctors survived, but had you given the idf the coordinates of that shelter?

definitely so, the compound had been submitted to the d complexion process. and this meant there should be like an added protection. however, it wasn't and the british government has also confirmed that on december 22 that the compound was registered and assessed as a protected site by the israeli army. now, you have asked for an explanation. i put onto the screen what alicia kearns, the senior british mp has also been posting about this. tell me what you have had in response from the israelis. since the attack, various parts of these really military and the government, they have provided explanations. we received six different explanations as to why the air strike took place. these explanations have not provided clarity, so they ranged from the israeli military being unaware of what happened, also denying involvement, as they were not operating in that area. other explanations were accepting response ability for the strike, which was

attempting to target a target adjacent to the compound, but the compound is not close to any other building. we also heard an explanation, accepting responsibility for the strike and asserting this was a mistake caused ijy asserting this was a mistake caused by a defective tail fin on the missile that was fired and another explanation was, accepting response ability and advising that what hit the compound was a piece of aircraft fuel edge. the compound was a piece of aircraft fuel edae. ., the compound was a piece of aircraft fuel ede. ., , ., , the compound was a piece of aircraft fuel edae. ., , ., , ., fuel edge. now, the israelis have talked about _ fuel edge. now, the israelis have talked about yesterday's - fuel edge. now, the israelis have | talked about yesterday's incident, talking about the fog of war. the question now being asked is that, is it the fog of war or is there perhaps the potential of israel targeting sites, targeting convoys? what is your view of that? the view is we are still— what is your view of that? the view is we are still uncertain _ what is your view of that? the view is we are still uncertain because - is we are still uncertain because the variety of responses just continued at the lack of transparency, so we just need a clear explanation and we just need a clear explanation and we just need a clear assurance that this will not happen again. and the government,

the israeli government was unable or unwilling, i don't know, to properly investigate this incident, so we are just calling for an independent investigation just just calling for an independent investigationjust for just calling for an independent investigation just for us to understand what happened. a, investigation just for us to understand what happened. a final ruick understand what happened. a final quick thought- _ understand what happened. a final quick thought. the _ understand what happened. a final quick thought. the impact, - understand what happened. a final| quick thought. the impact, though, what happened to your organisation on the broader attempts to actually distribute life—saving aid, what impact did it have? it distribute life-saving aid, what impact did it have?— distribute life-saving aid, what impact did it have? it didn't have an im act impact did it have? it didn't have an impact because _ impact did it have? it didn't have an impact because we _ impact did it have? it didn't have an impact because we have - impact did it have? it didn't have i an impact because we have heroes, our colleagues in gaza are heroes and they continued, regardless of this threat of their lives, they continued to do their work and to distribute aid and even our medical missions continued to go into gaza. but really, we are scared of the security concern now that israel has been targeting with full impunity aid workers and health workers. aseel baidoun, thank you so much for joining us live here on today's verified live, thank you. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

you are alive with bbc news. now let's turn to what has been happening in taiwan because we have seen a massive earthquake there. rescuers in taiwan are trying to reach dozens of people trapped after the most powerful earthquake there in 25 years. at least nine people have been killed and more than 800 injured. the worst hit area was a mountainous region on the east coast, but tremors were felt more than 60 miles away in the capital, taipei, with many buildings shaking violently. and tsunami warnings were triggered in neighbouring countries, although they have now been scaled back. rupert wingfield—hayes reports. this is the moment the quake struck a taipei tv station in the middle of their morning news. the shaking was intense and prolonged. buildings across the city swayed violently. cupboards were emptied, furniture toppled.

this construction site, this big building behind me here under construction, a massive piece of either construction equipment or steel came off the top of this building this morning during the quake, crashed into the building beside it and then crashed down into the alleyway behind me, where you can see some workmen 110w. they've closed off that road. remarkably, no—one was injured, no—one was on the street there at the time. no—one in the taiwanese capital has experienced anything like this in a quarter of a century. many young people have neverfelt shaking on this scale. translation: an earthquake hasn't happened in a long time, _ so it felt really terrifying. on the east coast, in the city of hualien, the shaking was much stronger and the damage much more severe. people on their way to work watched in fear and awe as a partially collapsed building was left leaning at a precarious angle across this intersection. translation: whenever our team move, the building becomes unstable _ and they have to find something

to hold onto to ensure their safety before pulling people out. but it is the landslides that have unleashed the greatest terror. the east coast of taiwan is a rugged landscape of high mountains and deep valleys. the quake triggered hundreds of landslides that came roaring down into the valleys below. this is where most of the more than 700 injuries must have happened. people would have had little warning and nowhere to escape. taiwan has done much to strengthen its buildings and infrastructure since another huge quake killed more than 2,000 people back in 1999. this time, few buildings have been brought down and the death toll is, so far, mercifully small. but there is little that can be done to stop a mountain falling into the valley below. rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news, in taipei. let's speak to jan camenzind broomby, who's

a journalist and is in hualien, epicentre of the earthquake. thank you so much for being here on the programme live for us. we will talk about the rescue efforts in a moment, butjust give me your sense of it. have you felt anything like what you felt so few hours ago? i what you felt so few hours ago? i was originally in a city in the south of taiwan, and it was not hit out strongly, but i have since come to hualien, a city that wasjust kilometres away from the epicentre of this quake, the largest quake in 25 years, and when you speak to people here they will say that when the quake started they didn't think much of it, quakes happen a lot in taiwan, but then itjust didn't stop after that, so the people here that this has been a big shock. you might see behind me slumped building. this is a one of 18 buildingsjust in this city alone that have sustained significant damage and we heard that from an official we were speaking to

just earlier, the death toll at nine, potentially rising, but hopefully not. over 700 people injured, many of them in the city and in the surrounding county, or boulders and rocks raining down on tourists here. tell boulders and rocks raining down on tourists here.— tourists here. tell me about the rescue efforts _ tourists here. tell me about the rescue efforts because - tourists here. tell me about the rescue efforts because it - tourists here. tell me about the rescue efforts because it is - tourists here. tell me about the i rescue efforts because it is thought there may be a considerable amount of people still trapped. what are you hearing about that?- you hearing about that? that's riaht, you hearing about that? that's right. there — you hearing about that? that's right, there are _ you hearing about that? that's right, there are two _ you hearing about that? that's right, there are two forms - you hearing about that? that's right, there are two forms of l you hearing about that? that's - right, there are two forms of rescue that seem to be going on right now and one of them is actually happening right now behind me in this building here. we heard just from an engineer only minutes ago that theyjust from an engineer only minutes ago that they just rescued from an engineer only minutes ago that theyjust rescued the last survivor, who was taken out of this building and sent into the hospital. many people, however, didn't make it. we spoke to one person on the street. his building was destroyed and he said he lost friends and people who passed away due to the collapse of this building here. this building behind us is due to be demolished tomorrow and there are other efforts going on around the area as well to rescue those people who have been trapped in tunnels and trapped in the mountains. a group of tourists originally thought to be

missing have been stranded further up missing have been stranded further up into a gorge that is a popular tourist destination just a couple of kilometres over this way. and so, we will have to see what he's rescue attempt, what bring. find will have to see what he's rescue attempt, what bring.— will have to see what he's rescue attempt, what bring. and we were seeinr in attempt, what bring. and we were seeing in our— attempt, what bring. and we were seeing in our piece _ attempt, what bring. and we were seeing in our piece and _ attempt, what bring. and we were seeing in our piece and you - attempt, what bring. and we were seeing in our piece and you just i seeing in our piece and you just mentioned, the mountainous areas. in terms of rescue teams getting to remote areas, what are you hearing and how big is geographically and area are we actually talking about? taiwan is quite a small country, actually, and normally it is very easy to get around. the difficulty this time for many of the rescue operators has been the major road that links hualien where i am standing now, the city that was hit the most, to type the capital, which was destroyed completely or large sections of it have been destroyed completely, that mean city is perfect been cut off from the north, which means people have been struggling to come down on the north to the south. those rescue operations have been trying to find

different ways to get around, shipping and supplies, increasing numbers of boats ferrying them in, the army here also taking on a significant amount of control and increasing manpower on the ground. just a quick final thought because although that building behind you, or the rescue efforts around that, what is obvious from looking at the pictures that have been emerging throughout the course of the last few hours is the amount of buildings that have remained standing up, but actually how they've been built to withstand earthquakes and for the majority, that has actually been successful, hasn't it?— majority, that has actually been successful, hasn't it? that's right, to some extent _ successful, hasn't it? that's right, to some extent there _ successful, hasn't it? that's right, to some extent there has - successful, hasn't it? that's right, to some extent there has been - successful, hasn't it? that's right, to some extent there has been a l to some extent there has been a success in terms of the buildings here standing upright. in 1999 the result is that we saw last time we had an earthquake of similar size were much, much worse, the death toll and injury count much higher. it hasn't been like at this time, thankfully. there has been some efforts that the taiwanese government put in place ensuring

buildings are built with stronger foundations, etc, to ensure the earthquakes don't damage the buildings. jan earthquakes don't damage the buildinus. , .. .. �* _ buildings. jan camenzind broomby their lives for— buildings. jan camenzind broomby their lives for us _ buildings. jan camenzind broomby their lives for us on _ buildings. jan camenzind broomby their lives for us on the _ buildings. jan camenzind broomby their lives for us on the ground. i their lives for us on the ground. thank you so much for the latest on the rescue operation. before the break i am going to take you to pictures we havejust break i am going to take you to pictures we have just seen at nato headquarters because the family photo, the foreign ministers, the leaders there are gathering to talk about more aid for ukraine and that fund to try to insulate nato from a future trump presidency. we will have more on that story on nato here in the next two minutes. more headlines and just a moment. hello there. we've got some windy weather on the way by the end of the week and some warmer weather, too, but still some spells of rain. everything is sprinting across from the atlantic. this area of cloud bringing rain later, this one bringing rain overnight. and that cloud has brought rain today across scotland. it's been wettest in central and southern parts of scotland. with the north—easterly wind in scotland, it still feels on the cold side.

it's more of a south—westerly wind elsewhere, which is why we're seeing higher temperatures. but the rain is all coming from the south—west. some rain into this evening still in scotland. then some showery outbreaks of rain pushing into england and wales overnight. some heavier bursts of rain in southernmost parts of england. the risk of thunder and strong winds in the channel. that will keep temperatures up here. still chilly air we've got in scotland overnight. it could be cloudy, grey and even a damp day in scotland, possibly for northern ireland and the far north of england. elsewhere, further south, once the overnight rain clears away, we should see some sunshine with the odd shower around and more rain arriving in the south—west later. temperatures ahead of that could reach 15, 16. but still feeling cold across northern and eastern scotland in particular. rain coming into the south—west, getting pushed northwards overnight by that area of low pressure. wet weather as we head into friday in scotland and northern ireland, maybe even some snow over the mountain tops. that will push through.

then lots of showers following in on behind. these will be heavy and blustery as a southerly wind starts to strengthen. still cold in the north of scotland. temperatures elsewhere could make 17 or 18 in eastern areas of england. the next area of low pressure arriving for the start of the weekend. this one could be more threatening because it is deeper and it will mean much stronger winds as we head into saturday. rain from overnight on the weather front soon moves away from scotland. then again we will see sunshine and showers. the low itself is tracking to the west of ireland and bringing in a southerly wind. it will be a windy day on saturday with the strongest winds out towards western areas. but because it is a southerly, even the temperatures in scotland will be higher. but we could reach 20 degrees across east anglia, and that would make it the warmest day of the year so far.

this is bbc news, the headlines... tributes to the aid workers killed by an israeli strike — while the pressure mounts on israel to explain how that happened. apologies for the wrong pictures on that headline.

gathering in brussels, nato foreign ministers tackle both ukraine's military aid needs and a potential safeguard against a new trump presidency. president zelensky signs a new law cutting ukraine's draft age by two years — as the country faces heavy losses on the front line. and the president of botswana threatens to send 20,000 elephants to germany in a dispute over conservation. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's ann—marie. good afternoon. hello from the bbc sport centre. luis rubiales, the former president of the spanish football federation, has been arrested as part of a corruption investigation. he was detained on his arrival in madrid from the dominican republic. he is suspected of receiving illegal commissions when negotiating a lucrative deal to stage the spanish super cup

competition in saudi arabia.