to leave their homes. hello, i'm azadeh moshiri. welcome to the programme. we start this hour with the war in the middle east. the israeli army says it's recovered the body of a hostage, who was abducted by hamas during the october 7th attacks. in a post on x, the israel defense forces said security forces recovered the body of elad katzir from khan yunis and returned him to israeli territory. the post said mr katzir was abducted from kibbutz nir oz, and that his mother hanna, was also abducted but released in november. his father, avraham was murdered in the kibbutz. the idf says mr katzir was murdered in captivity. in other developments, us presidentjoe biden is facing growing pressure

from within his own party to pause arms sales to israel. nearly forty congressional democrats have signed a letter calling for no further weapons to be sent —— until a full investigation is completed into monday's air strike on an aid convoy in gaza. it says the strike on the trucks — along with the ever—worsening humanitarian crisis in gaza — makes it unjustifiable to approve further weapons deliveries. the politicians who have signed the letter include one of mr biden�*s key allies — the former speaker of the house of representatives, nancy pelosi. this letter comes as a growing number of countries are calling for an independent investigation into that israeli strike on aid workers. on friday, the idf published the findings of an investigation into the deadly attack. britain has echoed calls by the charity world central kitchen for an independent review. of those seven aid workers killed, three were british nationals. the british foreign secretary, lord cameron, said london would carefully review the initial report.

he welcomed the sacking of two senior israeli officers as a first step, but said israel must publish its findings in full. and within the past few hours, australia's foreign minister, penny wong, said the australian government expects "full accountability" over the deaths. this has been a deadly failure of deconfliction. deconfliction is the process by which humanitarian agencies engage with defence forces to ensure that they are protected in conflict zones. well, there was obviously a deadly failure. it cannot be brushed aside and it cannot be covered over i asked our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet, who is injerusalem, about the shift in language from israel's allies. today, it's starting to sound like a possible turning point in this grievous war. ever since israel launched its retaliatory strikes against hamas and after the murderous assault on southern israel, it had the most powerful backing from its allies like the united states and like britain. but six months on, as we've been

hearing in this programme, even israel's friends are now asking tough questions about its conduct during this war. a short time ago, i spoke withjordan�*s foreign minister and deputy prime minister and i asked him whether it did feel like a turning point. for the past six months, we've seen nothing but an israeli government that is defying the will of the whole international community, proceeding with a massacre that have produced nothing but death and suffering and destruction to the palestinians. six months into this massacre, the world has to act more assertively to ensure that israel complies with international law, international humanitarian law. not only stop killing palestinians through this war, but also stop this starvation, which is claiming more lives day in, day out. so it is way past time that israel is held responsible for what it has done and stops this massacre and allows all of us then to come together and see how we can get

beyond this misery and work towards a future that will ensure peace and security for palestinians and israelis. well, as we've been reporting, israel has made a few new steps to get that desperately needed aid into gaza, including opening a northern crossing, a port in israel, and also expanding the capacity through jordan. i asked ayman safadi, would that make a difference? we've heard those promises before. we'll believe them when we see them. thus far, in the last six months, only an average of 100 trucks a day have entered gaza compared to what the un estimated was 800 trucks needed on a daily basis. so the amount of humanitarian aid entering into gaza is completely insignificant as of yet. we'll wait and see if israel really does take any action to allow more aid in and also to allow humanitarian agencies into gaza, because without the un being there in charge of those

operations, without ngos being able to work, without the threat of being bombed and killed, the issue of distribution will also be a major problem. so what's needed now is opening all land crossings into gaza and allowing the un and other ngos full access and full ability to receive the aid and to distribute the aid. he was saying much more must be done and done soon. the united states and britain are also saying they want to see tangible steps that israel will address these concerns about the protection of gazans and the delivery of humanitarian aid. you'll hear more of that interview here on bbc news today. but for now, back to you in london. i , chief international correspondent, lyse doucet. we will have more on that breaking news that the body of a hostage has been recovered from gaza according to the israeli military. first, let us delve into

support for israel's strategy by allies. let's speak to dr laura james — a senior middle east analyst at the geopolitical analysis firm oxford analytica. can your time. we are six months into this war. how do you think things have changed when we see the language being used by allies this week compared to the beginning of the war? fix, week compared to the beginning of the war? �* ., ., . ., ., , week compared to the beginning of the war? �* ., ., . ., ., the war? a ma'or change. there was a hue the war? a major change. there was a huge solidarity — the war? a major change. there was a huge solidarity with _ the war? a major change. there was a huge solidarity with israel _ huge solidarity with israel immediately after october the 7th. quite understandably. now, many allies, as well as enemies, are increasingly uncomfortable with the humanitarian gusts. even the united states, which actually is the only one that really matters, is using much harsher language than before to press israel to make more humanitarian concessions. i

press israel to make more humanitarian concessions. i want to brin: ou humanitarian concessions. i want to bring you a — humanitarian concessions. i want to bring you a line _ humanitarian concessions. i want to bring you a line we _ humanitarian concessions. i want to bring you a line we have _ humanitarian concessions. i want to bring you a line we have just - bring you a line we have just received from writers: a hamas delegation will head to ceasefire talks on sunday. that is from hamas. we are waiting to hear more confirmation on what talks they are talking about. given the ceasefire talks are ongoing, how important is it to get some progress there. figs it to get some progress there. as far it to get some progress there. is far as the united states is concerned, these talks are really a way out of an important dilemma. this is not whatjoe biden needs in an election year, he cannot afford to let israel down. that would make and very vulnerable to his republican opponent. at the same time, he is coming under more and more pressure from sections in the democratic party because of the humanitarian cost, and because of

all of the other issues around this. if there was a deal on the hostages, a temporary ceasefire, that would open the way to his strategy of trying to get an arab— israeli deal, including saudi normalisation which might end the whole conflict and create a new middle east. it is a very long shot, but this is the first step, the ceasefire talks. there will be a lot of pressure on israel to engage.— israel to engage. when you talk about a longer— israel to engage. when you talk about a longer term _ israel to engage. when you talk about a longer term plan - israel to engage. when you talk about a longer term plan of - israel to engage. when you talk i about a longer term plan of some kind and how difficult that is, who would be involved there? arab states have shown reluctance to safeguard all actors —— or act as a peacekeeping source in gaza. all actors -- or act as a peacekeeping source in gaza. nearly has ut peacekeeping source in gaza. nearly has put forward _ peacekeeping source in gaza. nearly has put forward a _ peacekeeping source in gaza. nearly has put forward a solution _ peacekeeping source in gaza. nearly has put forward a solution that - peacekeeping source in gaza. nearly has put forward a solution that is - has put forward a solution that is credible. israel is talking about what amounts to long—term occupation because they have not got any one plausible that they would be prepared to hand over tables of the

arab states understandably don't want to be put in that position of being complicit with israel over a brutalised palestinian population. i think that at the same time, there is a sense that if palestinian statehood were on the table, and that point, the arab states, especially the gulf arab states, might be prepared to engage. that seems impossible given the right—wing israeli government currently. irate right-wing israeli government currentl . ~ ., right-wing israeli government currentl . ~ . ., ., currently. we are hearing from the israeli government _ currently. we are hearing from the israeli government that _ currently. we are hearing from the israeli government that when - currently. we are hearing from the israeli government that when it i israeli government that when it comes to peacekeeping forces in gaza, they are concerned about the security situation for themselves after the 7th of october attacks. to your point, it is difficult to plan, as all world leaders have been saying. thank you for your time. thank you. is. saying. thank you for your time. thank you-— thank you. a reminder of your breakin: thank you. a reminder of your breaking news: _ thank you. a reminder of your breaking news: the _ thank you. a reminder of your breaking news: the israeli - thank you. a reminder of your. breaking news: the israeli army thank you. a reminder of your - breaking news: the israeli army says that the body of a hostage, elad katzir, has been recovered from gaza. now, three bodies...

apologies, now, to do with that news, we will delve into it. we'rejoined now by allison kaplan sommer, journalist at haaretz newspaper and host of the haaretz podcast. thank you for your time. we appreciate it. there has been a lot of domestic pressure on benjamin netanyahu to get some progress when it comes to this.— it comes to this. yes. definitely. progress. _ it comes to this. yes. definitely. progress, some _ it comes to this. yes. definitely. progress, some sort _ it comes to this. yes. definitely. progress, some sort of - it comes to this. yes. definitely. progress, some sort of a - it comes to this. yes. definitely. | progress, some sort of a hostage deal. the israelis are not eager to see the door daley war over without a guarantee it is going to create a sense of security on the northern borders, there is definitely increasing pressure, led by hostage families, for them to reach a deal and return hostages to israel. what and return hostages to israel. what has the israeli _ and return hostages to israel. what has the israeli government said when it comes to the strategy they are taking? of course, there is a lot of

pressure on them by their allies when it comes to the amount of civilian deaths, as well as the deaths of the aid workers. the deaths of the aid workers. the deaths of _ deaths of the aid workers. the deaths of the _ deaths of the aid workers. tia: deaths of the world central deaths of the aid workers. tuaz deaths of the world central kitchen aid workers, there was an unusually quick and apologetic admission of guilt on the part of the israeli military forces. they released a report within hours and days in detail about the operational failures and mistakes that led to the killing of the aid workers. there has been increased responsiveness to the concerns of the world over the humanitarian deaths in gaza. even more so, there is worry in israel about the big picture, about whether complete victory that was supposed to be the goal of the war, a complete victory over hamas, over what that means, if

it is possible to be achieved. we have been in this war for six months, total victory still looks far away, and what the long—term vision is. what is this going to look like long—term? regarding israel's presence in gaza and involvement in gaza if the government is unwilling to bring in the palestinian authority on a palestinian authority cannot handle gaza. if there is not enough willingness on the international community and arab states to act as a security force in gaza, then processes of elimination: reoccupation of the gaza strip. the majority of israelis are not interested. t majority of israelis are not interested.— majority of israelis are not interested. ., ., ., interested. i want to return to the breakin: interested. i want to return to the breaking news. — interested. i want to return to the breaking news, they _ interested. i want to return to the breaking news, they said - interested. i want to return to the breaking news, they said that - interested. i want to return to the | breaking news, they said that they had recovered a body. there is so much pressure domestically on benjamin netanyahu to recover the hostages, but to get them home safely. at this stage, what hope do

you believe there is. is this a kind of news it would be considered progress to the people of israel? absolutely. recovering a dead body is not considered progress by the israeli people. they want their stitches back and alive. many remain alive. the mood was captured by a facebook post by elad katzir�*s sister, who announced as much as the israeli army announced that her brother's body had been recovered and returned to israel. she said: you are going to hearfrom and returned to israel. she said: you are going to hear from the army about their daring rescue operation in which they returned my brother's body to israel, do not let anybody pull you, this is not a rescue operation, this is an incident of my brother having been abandoned to die, the first abandonment took place when the military did not move into the kibbutz from which he was kidnapped, the nir oz kibbutz, and

there were two videos released of her brother alive and in captivity. they know he did not die on the 7th of october, that he was killed by his captors. she said: make no mistake, this is a failure of the israeli government to have achieved a hostage deal that would have brought back my brother alive. instead, i am getting his body. you have to understand, this is a woman whose mother was taken hostage, she was returned in the first deal, and his father was killed by hamas on the kibbutz on october the 7th. this is a family completely devastated by the attack, she has been fighting for her brother's release four months. now, she gets the news that she gets a body back and do not her brother back alive. it is certainly not viewed as any kind of reason for celebration. the not viewed as any kind of reason for celebration-— celebration. the israeli government insists this military _ celebration. the israeli government insists this military campaign - celebration. the israeli government insists this military campaign to - insists this military campaign to eliminate hamas and the threat of hamas is the best chance of getting

home hostages. thank you for your time. ., ~' ,, three bodies have been found by russian authorities after a dam on the river ural was breached. more than 4,000 people have been evacuated from the orenburg region, which lies near the kazakhstan border, due to flooding. the mayor of orsk says around half of the old town district has been flooded and could be cut off from the rest of the city. local officials have denied reports the dam has been completely destroyed. the russian investigations committee is understood to be considering criminal charges because of suspected safety breaches during the dam's construction. six people have been killed during a russian drone attack on ukraine's second—largest city, kharkiv. the city's mayor says iranian—made drones hit several buildings, including a residential blocks of flats, early on saturday morning. 11 people were injured. let's speak to our eastern europe correspondentm sarah rainsford, who is in kyiv. it is notjust kharkiv

that has been attacked. what is the phase that we are in when it comes to this war? irate what is the phase that we are in when it comes to this war? we were in car k iv when it comes to this war? we were in car kyiv seven _ when it comes to this war? we were in car kyiv seven days _ when it comes to this war? we were in car kyiv seven days ago. - when it comes to this war? we were in car kyiv seven days ago. hah - in car kyiv seven days ago. hah kyiv... there were air rates for hours and hours every day. there are strikes to in this latest attack, officials are saying that the missiles fired by russia at kharkiv, and dozens of drains. regional police in kharkiv regency that a couple of s 300 missiles were fired at kharkiv, and when rescuers headed to the scene, that is when russia launched many groans as well at the same target. they say this is a

practice becoming increasingly common. a few days ago, we reported about kharkiv when rescuers were at the scene, three emergencies workers were killed in a repeat strike on the same target. we don't know what the same target. we don't know what the targets were in this case, it is possible they were military targets, it is possible russia were targeting the energy infrastructure of kharkiv, which has been battered in days and weeks recently and has left huge numbers of people in the city and region with only limited power. many people are experiencing blackouts of up to six hours per day. that affects industry and production and the entire working of the city. it affects morale. it is difficult for people now to remain in kharkiv with the power blackouts and also with the fear that these attacks are going to continue. they really have escalated in the last few weeks. really have escalated in the last few weeks-— really have escalated in the last few weeks. . , ., ., . ., few weeks. easier the attacks have been escalating, _ few weeks. easier the attacks have been escalating, ukraine _ few weeks. easier the attacks have been escalating, ukraine is - been escalating, ukraine is meanwhile concerned about military aid from allies. where do you think things stand there? it is

aid from allies. where do you think things stand there? it is concerned, and every single _ things stand there? it is concerned, and every single time _ things stand there? it is concerned, and every single time there - things stand there? it is concerned, and every single time there is - and every single time there is another of these strokes, a missile strike, a drone attack on ukraine by russia, officials here immediately come out and say that they need more air defences, more support from western allies. that has happened again this time. president zelensky made a statement saying that these are russian terror attacks, and that ukraine runs allies need to send more air defences. in kharkiv that is really difficult, it is so close to the russian border, it is ukraine's second city, it is really important, but it is a0 kilometres from the border, so when russia fires from kharkiv, the chances are missiles will hit there. we have increasingly seen that, and that is why people never say never is. there have been a lot of rumours and talk about a possible military push by russian troops towards kharkiv, a strategic city. that has always been ukraine's fear. there is no obvious evidence of that, but it is the talk in the air, and it is why people are

a little bit scared, frankly, at the moment, in kharkiv, certainly those i have spoken to in the last few days. i have spoken to in the last few da 5, ,,., ., i have spoken to in the last few da 5, ., ., i have spoken to in the last few da s. ., ., ,, ., ., ., days. sarah rain spreading kharkiv, thank ou. two british police forces, the met and leicestershire, are now investigating claims that unsolicited, explicit images and messages were sent to several mps and people working in westminster. yesterday luke evans, the mp for bosworth, revealed he was targeted in the so—called honeytrap. our political correspondent, helen catt, has the story. here's a video i didn't expect to make on a friday evening. conservative mp luke evans has been the first man to identify himself publicly as a possible victim of a suspected westminster whatsapp scam. the first set of messages i got was on a day i was with my wife and i got a one—time open photo on whatsapp of an explicit image of a naked lady. as soon as i got these, the next day i reported it to the police, the authorities and the chief whip.

leicestershire police, which cover his bosworth constituency, are investigating. dr evans is one of a number of men in westminster who've been sent unsolicited messages by a person claiming to be someone they've met before, variously using the names abby or charlie, but how might they have got hold of the numbers? another mp has suggested he may be responsible for leaking some of them. william wragg is a senior conservative who chairs a committee scrutinizing the government. he's admitted to the times that he passed on colleagues' numbers to a man on a dating app after sending him intimate pictures of himself. mr wragg told the paper he was scared the individual had compromising material on him and he was mortified and sorry. the mp involved has given a courageous and fulsome apology, but the lesson here for all mps is that they need to be very careful about cybersecurity. the met police confirmed they are investigating reports of a number of unsolicited messages

sent to mps over recent months. that is right, that there is a proper investigation into this. in positions of responsibility, we always have to think about our actions, but there are also malevolent players out there who are trying to influence politics. for now, it's not known whether this is the fallout from an individual lapse ofjudgment or a malicious attempt by unknown others to gain influence behind these walls. mps have been warned against speculating while investigations continue. helen catt, bbc news, westminster. mexico has suspended relations with ecuador. it's in protest against a police raid on its embassy in quito to arrest a former ecuadorean vice—president, jorge glas. he'd been sheltering in the compound since december but was wanted on corruption charges. mexico says it had granted glas �*political asylum', but ecuador authority called the action �*illegal�*. glas's lawyer said he was innocent.

ana maria roura from bbc mundojoins us now. what led up to this raid by police? they were in the middle of a diplomatic impasse when this happened. mexico granted asylum to a former vice president, jorge glas, that was inside the mexican embassy since december 2023. he is charged with allegations of corruption, but he says he is a victim of political persecution in ecuador after mexico granted him asylum yesterday, the government of ecuador ordered these police inside the embassy to detain the former vice presidentjorge glas. we know he is now in custody of the authorities.— of the authorities. what have the leaders said _ of the authorities. what have the leaders said when _ of the authorities. what have the leaders said when it _ of the authorities. what have the leaders said when it comes - of the authorities. what have the leaders said when it comes to . leaders said when it comes to respecting each country's sovereignty?—

respecting each country's sovereignty? respecting each country's sovereiun ? , , ., , ., sovereignty? this is really not... this is unprecedented _ sovereignty? this is really not... this is unprecedented in - sovereignty? this is really not... | this is unprecedented in ecuador. sovereignty? this is really not... i this is unprecedented in ecuador. i would say in the region, in latin america, many in ecuador are very shocked with this situation. other people say that the former vice president, jorge glas, should face justice in ecuador, and this is the position of the government, that four months into power, the president says is fighting impunity in the country. we have been seeing several reactions to this, for example, mexico... this is a flagrant... of mexico. there are critics, for example, from the president of honduras, who criticises ecuador.— president of honduras, who criticises ecuador. thank you for that update. _ criticises ecuador. thank you for that update, we _ criticises ecuador. thank you for that update, we do _ criticises ecuador. thank you for that update, we do appreciate i criticises ecuador. thank you for | that update, we do appreciate it. criticises ecuador. thank you for i that update, we do appreciate it. a reminder of our breaking news at the

beginning of the programme that the israeli army have said they have recovered a body of a hostage that was abducted after the october the 7th attacks. now, that news has also come as we received an update from the hamas — run health ministry that there are now 33,137 people who have been killed, palestinians killed in the war. the context to all of this is that the israeli allies, the united states, and the uk, are under increasing pressure when it comes to the level of support they are providing after an israeli air strike killed seven aid workers. i want to bring you that breaking news again: the body of elad katzir has been recovered by the israeli military. they say that body was recovered from khan younis and returned to israeli territory. his family have been notified, and

they have also said that publicly. the post said he was abducted from tibbetts nir oz on october the seven and that his mother was also abducted, sadly, his father was killed. please stay with us here on bbc news. we have plenty more to come. hello there. a very blustery weekend of weather right across the uk, with gusts of wind widely of a0 to 50mph. gales towards western coasts, perhaps locally severe gales. it's all because our next named storm is with us today, storm kathleen. that area of low pressure has been deepening over the last 2a hours or so. you can see this beautiful swirl on the satellite picture here, that lovely curl of cloud, a very strong jet stream. that low is gradually pushing northwards as we head through the next day or so. a real tight squeeze on the isobars,

particularly for these irish sea coasts, but because it's a southerly to south—westerly wind, we're also dragging up some very warm air, so quite a dramaticjump in temperatures across parts of scotland and we could even see 22 degrees celsius across parts of east anglia later on this afternoon, making it the warmest day of the year so far again. we've seen that rain clear away from scotland through the morning. there will be some blustery showers here. another line of showers gradually pushing eastwards and gradually easing. a lot of sunshine and plenty of dry weather out towards eastern areas of england. a very windy day towards these irish sea coasts. there could be some gusts of wind of up to 70mph. it's enough to cause some transport disruption and, of course, some very large waves, as well. but some very warm air — temperatures well above the seasonal average. overnight tonight, there will still be some blustery showers around. in fact, there could even be a rumble or two of thunder. it does stay very windy too, but because the cold front will have cleared its way eastwards, we will also see some

slightly fresher conditions into tomorrow morning. but temperatures still mild for this point in april, still double figures towards the south. tomorrow, another day of sunshine and some showers. again, some of those showers could be heavy and thundery, they could even start to form in lines at times. all of this is pushing further southwards and eastwards. lots of dry weather too, but staying very windy. gusts of wind strongest out towards western areas of scotland. these will be the day's temperatures. as you can see, they are lower than today's, but still mild for the time of year — generally 12 to 17 degrees. it's not quite it either for the unsettled conditions. another deep area of low pressure will be spinning its way northwards and eastwards as we head through monday and tuesday. i think monday could be dry for many eastern areas, but we'll see some wet weather out towards the west. lighter winds, but it does stay very unsettled as we head through next week. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. the headlines... the israel military confirms it's recovered the body of hostage elad katzir from khan younis — nearly 6 months after being abducted by hamas. president biden is facing growing pressure from within his own party to pause arms sales to israel, following an israeli air strike that killed seven aid workers. led by former house speaker nancy pelosi, about a0 democratic members of congress have signed an open letter expressing outrage at the deaths.

two police forces in the uk are now investigating reports that several mps were sent explicit messages and images, in a suspected parliamentary honeytrap. more than 150 people have been rescued from flood waters in and around sydney — as more people prepare to leave their homes. the area's main dam supplying most of the city's drinking water has started overflowing. it follows three days of torrential rainfall. let's get more now on the story that the conservative mp, dr luke evans, has said he was a victim of "cyber flashing". he alerted police who are now investigating a suspected westminster honeytrap. he spoke to the leicestershire police force last month after receiving unsolicited pictures of naked women on whatsapp. the metropolitan police has also confirmed it is investigating explicit images and messages sent to mps. our political correspondent charlotte wright has more.

yes, so this is william wragg, the conservative mp,