hello, i'm nicky schiller. we start in the middle east. both israelis and palestinians are preparing to mark six months of war on sunday. it was on october 7 that hamas attacked israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 others hostage. on saturday night, around 100,000 people protested in tel aviv. anti—government protesters were joined by families of hostages held in gaza. the demonstrators expressed their frustration with the government's inability to free the around 130 hostages who remain in gaza, held by hamas and its allies. the rallies in tel aviv and other cities, came after the israeli defense forces recovered the body of hostage elad katzir in gaza. the military believes the 47—year—old was murdered in captivity by the islamic jihad organisation.

in other developments, a hamas delegation is expected to attend ceasefire talks in cairo on sunday, following an invitation extended by egyptian mediators. israel's war cabinet is reportedly set to discuss whether to send a delegation, whilst a british royal navy ship is sailing to the eastern mediterranean to support the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the gaza strip. our first report this hour is from hugo bachega injerusalem. in tel aviv, protesters are back on the streets. it has been six months since palestinian gunmen stormed southern israel from gaza, and more than 100 israelis remain in captivity. people are urging their government to reach a deal with hamas for hostages to be freed, and they also want their prime minister to go. he should resign after what happened. six months ago the war start, and hamas and everything. he claimed that he wants to go to war and make hamas go away

and bring all the hostages home, back home. for one israeli family, the hope is over — elad katzir, kidnapped from kibbutz nir oz, his body returned from gaza today. the israeli military says he was murdered in captivity by the islamichhad group in january and that special forces recovered his body in khan younis overnight. during the attack in october, his father was killed. his mother was abducted but later released. in a facebook post, his sister blamed the israeli government for his death, saying, "he could have been brought back alive if there had been a deal with hamas", and said the israeli leadership was cowardly. in gaza, a desperate wait for food, amid warnings of famine. aid deliveries have been, at best, sporadic. when help does arrive, people rush to get it. translation: when we were displaced at the beginning, i

we used to eat rotten bread because of the high prices of food here. this is the only place where i can get food for my children. the attack on a convoy that killed seven aid workers this week has put even more pressure on israel. from the us came a warning — it should do more to boost humanitarian assistance and protect civilians and aid workers or risk losing american support. israel is not only facing pressure from its allies, but also threats from its enemies. the army here is on high alert. there is anxiety about a possible iranian strike. iran has vowed to respond to the death of a senior commander in damascus earlier this week in an attack iran has blamed on israel. both sides may still want to avoid a full—out war, but miscalculation is always a risk, and the consequences of an escalation unpredictable. well, as hugo mentioned

in his report, it is now six months since october the seventh, when hamas, designated a terrorist organisation by the uk, us and other governments, attacked israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 others hostage. israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, vowed to crush and destroy hamas so that it no longer posed any threat, launching a mission to bring all hostages home. in the war that has followed, gaza's hamas—run health ministry says at least 33,000 people have been killed. large parts of gaza have been destroyed and the united nations has called the situation in gaza a "humanitarian catastrophe". our international editor jeremy bowen has covered the war since the start and has returned to one of the kibbutzes in israel that was hardest hit by the hamas attacks.

six months after the attacks, it is a bit like going back into a time machine because all the damage is to leave. and the reason for that is that in this kibbutz nir oz, one in four of the population of the more than 1100 the population of the more than 400 people was either killed, or taken into gaza, about a mile away on the border. as hostages. looking around at the damage here. and hearing the stories also of what happened, hamas came in around 630 in the morning and were here until early afternoon, undisturbed, going house to house until the army arrived. the war is still going on, that is outgoing far from an israeli battery into

gaza. this is now one of the typical houses in this kibbutz, abandoned and burnt out, six months on, is still smells and burning on the sofa there is still some neatly folded laundry, perhaps down the evening before october seven. going around this place you can understand why israelis believe very strongly that they are fighting a just war in gaza because their allies feel the same, their quarrel is with the methods that israel has been using that has cost so many innocent palestinian lives, and as for the family who lived here in this house, they are dead. jeremy bowen, bbc news. with me is mohamed taha, from bbc arabic. a bleak milestone and little sign that the war is going to

end anytime soon?- sign that the war is going to end anytime soon? indeed. this war apparently _ end anytime soon? indeed. this war apparently is _ end anytime soon? indeed. this war apparently is going - end anytime soon? indeed. this war apparently is going on - war apparently is going on because of the two parties, they are really keen to achieve what they want, israel wants to eliminate hamas and israel also wants to have their security and dignity back. one want their return of the refugees to their return of the refugees to their homes, their permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of the troops from gaza. that is why there is a big gap between the two parties. i all the time we have a humanitarian crisis inside gaza? indeed. gaza at the moment, a place that is inhabitable, no schools or hospitals working, most of the infrastructure destroyed and most of the homes, 50%, destroyed completely. there are about 2 million people living in tents and this is mounting

as security threats to the palestinians, to israel as well, and to the region and to europe as there may be expected a flood of migrants if this problem is not solved. we are heafina problem is not solved. we are hearing there _ problem is not solved. we are hearing there may _ problem is not solved. we are hearing there may be - problem is not solved. we are hearing there may be peace . hearing there may be peace talks and that hamas are going, after the egyptians invited them. what are we hearing about that? . ., , them. what are we hearing about that? . ., ., that? hamas said the delegation will 'oin that? hamas said the delegation willjoin the _ that? hamas said the delegation willjoin the talks _ that? hamas said the delegation willjoin the talks in _ that? hamas said the delegation willjoin the talks in egypt - willjoin the talks in egypt and there are other talks going in parallel injoe hart at the moment. all of the talks are —— doel ha, all of the talks is invited by the united states and their willingness to want these talks to happen and israel is not convinced an exchange deal should happen but israel believes that continuing the war will make sure that the hostages would get out, but they are leaning to the united

states and their pressures and hamas is leaning to these pressures, and they are not trying to find a way between the massive gap between the both parties that israel wants to press on the war, hamas want to press on the war, hamas want to return the refugees and the withdrawal of the israeli forces. hopefully, hopefully this american pressure on both parties, with ramadan, and in a couple of days things may come out of that because we see the seriousness of the talks at this time. seriousness of the talks at this time-— this time. and there is pressure _ this time. and there is pressure on _ this time. and there is pressure on benjamin | this time. and there is _ pressure on benjamin netanyahu. with all the protests on saturday night, around 100,000 people in tel aviv?— people in tel aviv? indeed, these mounting _ people in tel aviv? indeed, these mounting pressures i people in tel aviv? indeed, i these mounting pressures are also growing on benjamin netanyahu. it is not threatening his government by the government is solid. it has

the government is solid. it has the backing of the parliament. this administration, this administration is that are requesting their hostage deal to bring them back home is a threat of a kind of israeli spring, inviting benjamin netanyahu accepting this deal. thank you as always for your analysis. let's speak to richard makepeace a trustee for medical aid for palestinians and former consul general injerusalem. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. i wondered thank you forjoining us on bbc news. iwondered if thank you forjoining us on bbc news. i wondered if i could get your thoughts personally six months on?— months on? and absolutely appalling — months on? and absolutely appalling humanitarian - appalling humanitarian situation, as we all know. a massive death toll, massive displacement, destruction of infrastructure, particularly the lack of food, lack of clean

water, lack of medical supplies coming in. we are extremely worried that the death toll will rise sharply, especially amongst small children because of severe wasting an acute malnourishment and the lack of medical care. share malnourishment and the lack of medical care-— malnourishment and the lack of medical care. are you managing to net medical care. are you managing to get any _ medical care. are you managing to get any supplies _ medical care. are you managing to get any supplies in _ medical care. are you managing to get any supplies in through . to get any supplies in through the roots that israel does have open? the roots that israel does have 0 en? , ., , the roots that israel does have oen? , . , ., , the roots that israel does have oen? , ., , .,, ., open? yes, we have been able to brina open? yes, we have been able to bring significant _ open? yes, we have been able to bring significant quantities - open? yes, we have been able to bring significant quantities of- bring significant quantities of medical supplies, which we have managed to deliver to hospitals. we have been able to do some work in north gaza and we have had an emergency medical team working in one of the hospitals this week, but i'm afraid with the best will of the world, it is a drop in the ocean of what is required. is that you have a team working on one of the hospitals, what other conditions like in there at the moment? i

other conditions like in there at the moment?— at the moment? i mean, the hospitals _ at the moment? i mean, the hospitals are _ at the moment? i mean, the hospitals are barely - hospitals are barely functioning. some have been pretty much destroyed, including the biggest hospital, al schiffer, far too many patients and the critical lack of after—care. it's fine to be able to conduct operations but after operations, people will normally leave hospital and go to safe, secure surroundings with a have properfood, and can be looked after. of course, thatis can be looked after. of course, that is the reverse of the case now. �* that is the reverse of the case now. ~ , ., that is the reverse of the case now. ~ ,. that is the reverse of the case now. , . now. are you optimistic looking ahead at the — now. are you optimistic looking ahead at the six-month - now. are you optimistic looking ahead at the six-month marketj ahead at the six—month market going forward, that things will get better? going forward, that things will get lfitter?— going forward, that things will get better? well, we have had the announcements _ get better? well, we have had the announcements that - get better? well, we have had the announcements that there | the announcements that there will be a step change in the allowing humanitarian supplies in and workers to safely access recipients, but we have to wait

and see whether this materialises. the record this far i'm afraid has been absolutely dismal. you are a former diplomat. _ absolutely dismal. you are a former diplomat. is - absolutely dismal. you are a former diplomat. is there i absolutely dismal. you are a former diplomat. is there a l former diplomat. is there a chance of a negotiated ceasefire to be allowed so you can get more aid in, and hostages can be brought out? i very much hope so. diplomats tend to be optimists by nature and where there's a will, there's a way. i hope that the combination of international pressure being brought to bear on both sides can lead to that result because, really, it is only a ceasefire which will enable us to start working properly to rectify what is really becoming an affront to humanity, frankly.— really becoming an affront to humanity, frankly. thank you forjoining — humanity, frankly. thank you forjoining us. _

next, slovakia has a new president. peter pellegrini is an ally of the country's populist prime minister. he won saturday's vote by a greater—than—expected margin, beating his rival ivan korcok after a campaign overshadowed by the war in ukraine. mr pellegrini favours peace talks with russia and described his pro—western opponent as a "warmonger". the result means there will no longer be any high—level official in slovakia who unequivocally backs kyiv in its fight against moscow. barely a year ago, slovakia donated an entire fleet of fighter planes to ukraine. our correspondent rob cameron in prague, in the neighbouring czech republic, has this assessment of mr pellegrini's win. ivan korcok has lost to peter pellegrini, the candidate of the populist nationalist governing coalition. it seems that mr pellegrini has won 53% of the vote to mr korcok�*s 47%, which is far better, a far wider margin, than had been suggested in the opinion polls running up to this second round of the election.

so that has been something of a surprise. and i think, really, it is the worst fears of the liberal pro—western opposition in slovakia coming to pass, because now the populist nationalist government, of which mr pellegrini is a part, led by robert fico, he now controls the parliament, the government, and will soon have his man in the president's office. they believe and they fear that that will give him free rein to create what they claim will be a sort of illiberal democracy, perhaps modelled along the lines of viktor orban's hungary. so they are certainly not celebrating this evening in bratislava. to australia next. there are warnings of further floods in new south wales following days of intense rainfall. despite a reduction in rainfall, rivers are on the brink of overflowing, heightening the risk of bank breaches. residents are strongly advised to evacuate nearby and low—lying areas. as the storms have shifted

towards the sea, most evacuation orders in sydney have now been lifted. live now to sydney where we can speak to australian journalist emma cropper. how bad has severe flooding been around sydney and new south wales? 1th been around sydney and new south wales?— been around sydney and new south wales? ~ , , south wales? as you can see, it is actually _ south wales? as you can see, it is actually a _ south wales? as you can see, it is actually a blue _ south wales? as you can see, it is actually a blue sky _ south wales? as you can see, it is actually a blue sky day, - is actually a blue sky day, really hot and 28 degrees. there was still a major threat of flooding because they call it blue sky flooding is, there is the huge warragamba dam feeding into a large river system where many homes and communities are built along the edge of that and the worry is over the past 24 hours and heading forward that that will start rising and heading into the homes and community. those evacuation orders for those families, a very anxious wait for them, families, a very anxious wait forthem, it families, a very anxious wait for them, it is a slow—moving flood. we have heard from authorities this afternoon that the water will not be as high it would be. the threat is not

as severe as they were worried about. but there are still evacuations in order and still very anxious for very many of those communities living along the river edge. the state emergency services, they are undertaking around 200 rescues and it gives you an idea of how dangerous it is up there even though it is such a beautiful sunny day in sydney.- sunny day in sydney. how unusual— sunny day in sydney. how unusual is _ sunny day in sydney. how unusual is this _ sunny day in sydney. how unusual is this type - sunny day in sydney. how unusual is this type of - sunny day in sydney. how unusual is this type of whether this type of time in australia? we do get heavy rain falls but it's really torrential rain in sydney for around 24—36 hours and after a long, hot summer in australia, a bit of a shock that brought us flash flooding. that is not unusual for that length of time but what we have seen down in this river area with the warragamba area, and this is about the seventh time the communities of gone through an event like this in recent years. they are unfortunately

becoming very used to work. very difficult for them to go through, a lot of anxiousness and the bridges go under, the homes are flooded up to the reeves and they need to be rescued. they are becoming used to this type of event and i guess it's hard for anyone to go through at a time like this. i thank you very much. just days after scotland introduced the new hate crime act, there's a warning that this weekend's old firm game between celtic and rangers football clubs in glasgow could see police tied up with even more complaints under the legislation. the conservatives say the issue has been weaponised, leaving officers unable to deal with real crime, while first minister humza yousaf says he has every confidence in the force and their experience of dealing with big matches. our correspondent andrew kerr sends this report. an old firm match on sunday, ranges taking on celtic, the most highly charged football fixture in scotland in the week

of the new hate crime act and at ibrox, the manager is relaxed. at ibrox, the manager is relaxed-— at ibrox, the manager is relaxed. against it. i'm a positive _ relaxed. against it. i'm a positive person, - relaxed. against it. i'm a l positive person, everybody knows. i understand the passion of the people, i understand. the conservative side this morning about the new act. late morning about the new act. we have already seen their hatred law of— have already seen their hatred law of humza yousaf being weaponised and there is a deep concern — weaponised and there is a deep concern that the old firm match will result — concern that the old firm match will result in even more complaints being made to the police, — complaints being made to the police, most of these all likelihood being fixed atheists and this— likelihood being fixed atheists and this will result in police been — and this will result in police been tied up having to deal with— been tied up having to deal with instead of dealing with real— with instead of dealing with real crime in the communities. the first— real crime in the communities. the first minister says there is no cause for concern. it is an operational— is no cause for concern. it is an operational matter - is no cause for concern. it is an operational matter for i an operational matter for police and they have been managed to police old firm games and matches for many years and i'm so very well and in my opinion i have every confidence in them doing so again for the match this weekend and let me clear about

the hate crime act that has come into place. they have a high criminal threshold indeed. the scottish police federation says officers were having to do over time and they want parliament to consider resources when you've laws are passed. in a statement, police scotland said an appropriate policing plan is in place to maintain public stuff 50 and minimise any disruption to the community ahead of the fixture at ibrox. , . ., at ibrox. pretty high criminal threshold. — at ibrox. pretty high criminal threshold, to _ at ibrox. pretty high criminal threshold, to me, _ at ibrox. pretty high criminal threshold, to me, and i'm i at ibrox. pretty high criminall threshold, to me, and i'm not sure in the context of somebody�*s match it will be met given it is a football match with only one side supporters in the stadium. i think there will be a potential big increase in complaints because one thing the law has done is raise peoples awareness it is around. ., , , around. for the greens back the bill, it is been _ around. for the greens back the bill, it is been a _ around. for the greens back the bill, it is been a frustrating i bill, it is been a frustrating week. i bill, it is been a frustrating week. . , , week. i have been genuinely dismayed — week. i have been genuinely dismayed by _ week. i have been genuinely dismayed by some _ week. i have been genuinely dismayed by some of- week. i have been genuinely dismayed by some of the i week. i have been genuinely. dismayed by some of the quite shallow game playing going on

around the hate crimes legislation by some people who should know better.— should know better. labour voted the — should know better. labour voted the bill _ should know better. labour voted the bill through i should know better. labour voted the bill through but l voted the bill through but denied being missing in action in its defence, saying it had these reservations. the clarification _ these reservations. the clarification from i these reservations. the clarification from the i these reservations. iie: clarification from the minister to get the communication right on the legislation, adequate implementation of the legislation, proper resourcing of the police officers are making sure adding misogyny to this hate crime act because right now it is missing. it is the hate monster. it right now it is missing. it is the hate monster.- right now it is missing. it is the hate monster. it has been a torrid time _ the hate monster. it has been a torrid time for— the hate monster. it has been a torrid time for the _ the hate monster. it has been a torrid time for the hate - the hate monster. it has been a torrid time for the hate crime i torrid time for the hate crime act. ministers are hoping for a calmer weekend. to denmark next and in the heart of copenhagen's christiania district, a once—thriving hippy enclave, residents have taken matters into their own hands. armed with spades and crowbars, they've torn up pusher street, a notorious hub for drug trade, long plagued by organised crime. despite its historic

roots in counterculture, the neighbourhood has grappled with the scourge of drug—related violence. now, with marijuana openly sold, despite its illegality in denmark, locals have embarked on a bold regeneration plan, collaborating with police and authorities in a bid to reclaim the street from gangs. now solar eclipse fever is really building! millions of people in north america will be able to witness a rare solar eclipse on monday, hoping to spend around four minutes of total darkness as the moon blocks the sun's light. but it's not safe to look at with the naked eye. our north america correspondent, emma vardy, has been looking at some of the way you can safely catch a glimpse of the solar event. a once in a century solar eclipse will be happening right here in north america. you want to watch it but haven't we

always been told never looked directly at the sun? this is what you need to know. the old device still applies, you must not look directly at a solar eclipse. that could permanently damage your retina, the part of your eye which offences light so to witness the spectacle what can you do? time to accessorise! these are solar viewing or eclipse glasses, nasa says they are 1000 times darker than your average sunglasses and keep your eyes safe. they are widely available but remember to check they have the iso symbol and have the code 123, 12 — two, to show they meet the latest international standard. and if you do not have eclipse glasses you do not have eclipse glasses you can make a pinhole projector with just paper or foil, pricked with a small pinhole, allowing you to watch the projected image of the eclipse without looking directly at it. the same principle works with anything that has small holes, like a

colander, even holding your hand like this could give you a projection of the event and if you cannot do any of these, or are not in the path of the eclipse this time around, there is always the internet, where you can watch a live feed from a telescope, orjust wait you can watch a live feed from a telescope, or just wait a you can watch a live feed from a telescope, orjust wait a few more decades. happy viewing! great glasses! and we will have special live coverage of the solar eclipse on monday here on bbc news. you can also find lots more on the bbc news website including how scientists will be conducting experiments during the four minute blackout window. that's at bbc.com/news and on the news app. finally this half hour, i want to show you some amazing pictures out of italy. mount etna has been sending these rare smoke rings into the sky. a new crater opened on the summit of europe's largest active volcano,

leading to an unusual display of vortex rings. they're made of gases and propelled upwards by a circular vent in the volcano. it's a relatively rare phenomenon. locals said that the last time it happened was last december. the mesmerising display has been captivating visitors the rings have led locals to re—name the volcano �*lady of the rings'. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. on saturday we saw two sides to storm kathleen. on the one hand, across eastern england with some weak sunshine, temperatures reached 21 celsius in suffolk — the warmest day of the year so far. further west, though, those winds were a lot stronger — gusts of 60—70 mph and some large waves as well. and storm kathleen is still on the scene, tracking northwards to the west of the uk. still going to bring with it some windy weather on sunday,

and there'll be some further sunshine, but also some showers. it's not going to be quite as warm as it was on saturday. we're going to start with a bit of early rain to clear away from north—east england and south—east scotland, and then more showers will come in from the north—west to scotland and northern ireland. we'll see some wet weather arriving in wales, pushing through parts of the midlands and northern england, later into the south—west of england. the best of the dry weather and sunshine probably through east anglia and the south—east of england, but it's going to be a windy day. the strongest of the winds likely to be in the far north—west of scotland — over 60 mph. temperatures are going to be lower than they were on saturday, but a pleasant 16 or 17 in the south—east and across east anglia in the sunshine. now, as storm kathleen weakens by monday to the north of scotland, we're going to find our next area of low pressure moving in from the south. and this one is going to bring with it some cloud and some outbreaks of rain. that's mainly going to run northwards up the western side of the uk, but we will see some rain for northern england and southern scotland. northern scotland likely to be dry. the winds becoming lighter, and we'll get some sunshine

and dry weather for awhile through the midlands and across some eastern parts of england. again, temperatures 16 or 17 degrees. by the end of the day it's not going to be as windy, but our area of low pressure is likely to deepen overnight and the winds strengthen again towards the south—west of england and through the english channel into the channel islands. and we've still got some cloud, we've got some outbreaks of rain left over on tuesday, to push steadily eastwards across england and wales, and some further showers to the north—west of scotland. the wind direction is changing to a north—westerly and that's going to bring with it some colder air, so maximum temperatures on tuesday are only 10—12 celsius. now, that colder air shouldn't last too long. during wednesday and into thursday, the wind direction changes. we get milder south—westerly winds, but that brings with it the chance of some more rain.

this is bbc news. the headlines: tens of thousands of israelis rally in tel aviv, demanding a deal to free the remaining hostages seized by hamas six months ago. scuffles broke out and at least four people were arrested. yesterday, the israeli military said the body of one hostage had been recovered. a hamas delegation is expected to attend ceasefire talks in cairo on sunday following an invitation extended by egyptian mediators.

slovakia's elected a new president. peter pellegrini is a nationalist who's sceptical of sending military aid to ukraine. and as millions prepare for the solar eclipse in for the solar eclipse north america, people are being in north america, people are being told to use safety goggles to watch the eclipse. and italy's mount etna has been putting on a show by blowing near—perfect circles into the sicilian sky. now on bbc news, it's time for click. earlier this year, the click team went to kenya and this week, we put together the best of the stories we covered there.

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