targets inside lebanon. hello, i'm lyse doucet live in sderot. as the israel gaza war reaches six months mark. it was here in the early hours on october the 7th that hamas gunmen from the gaza strip stormed into southern israel, killing 1200 it was here in the early hours on october the 7th that hamas gunmen from the gaza strip stormed into southern israel, killing 1200 people and kidnapping more than 250. israel called it its darkest day. at the end of the murderous assault, 1200 israelis were dead, and over 250 had been taken hostage. the attack sparked what's become

the deadliest and most destructive israel—gaza war, killing over thirty—thousand palestinians according to the hamas run health ministry. here in syrup, you can see on the horizon, gaza city. even today, we can see the smoke rising. —— here in sderot. israel carries out a campaign it says it will continue until hamas is destroyed. in the last few hours, we have heard from the israeli military. the israeli military says it has withdrawn more ground troops from the southern gaza. they are leaving only those who are to secure a corridor which now divides the strip. lieutenant colonel peter lerner is a spokeseperson for the israel defence forces. i asked him about the announcement that idf withdraws troops from southern gaza. the idf has and is regrouping, conducting its next preparations for the next stage. the war is not over as long

as there are 133 israelis being held by hamas. the war can only be over when they come home and when hamas is gone. the reality is one which is unacceptable. we can't accept that hamas will govern the gaza strip precisely because we've seen what they do with the powers of government. they take advantage of that, they build a terrorist army. they came into our bedrooms, abducted, killed, murdered, massacred. that needs to change. but can you provide, lieutenant colonel lerner, more details on this movement? is it a rotation? will they be replaced 7 or does this represent a significant shift in the military campaign? the military campaign is continuously evolving, and this is just another stage in the war effort. as we completed our mission in khan younis, in the khan younis area, so then the troops rotate out, and we have other troops that are operating elsewhere. so it's important to understand it is a decline in the forces,

but there are more operations that need to be conducted. rafah is clearly a stronghold where there are four battalions untouched and where we released two hostages from just last month. so we need to be able to get all of the hostages back wherever they are. we need to dismantle hamas�*s capabilities, wherever they are, and we will mobilise ourforces accordingly. the forces aren't in the gaza strip just to take control of gaza. that's not the intention by any stretch of the imagination. the forces are there to get rid of hamas and bring back the hostages. lieutenant colonel peter lerner. at the six—month mark of the israel— gaza war, memorials are being held at some sites here across israel including at a site close to the border where a celebration turned into scenes of the slaughter. we spoke to people visiting latter—day

to light candles to remember those who perished that day. people expressing grief which is still raw. loved ones are still being held across the border in gaza. they also expressed frustration with the israeli government and forces being unable to come to their rescue soon enough, that there had been this massive security breach. 0ur massive security breach. our international editor, jeremy bowen, who has been covering this israel— gaza war since the start, has been to the kibbutz which suffered terribly on that day. six months after the attacks, it is a bit like going back into a time machine because all the damage is still here. and the reason for that is that

in this kibbutz, nir oz, one in four of 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 too of what happened, hamas came in around 6:30 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 fire from an israeli battery into gaza. this is now one of the typical houses in this kibbutz, abandoned and burnt out. six months on, it still smells of burning on the sofa,

there is still some neatly folded laundry, perhaps done the evening before october 7th. going around this place you can understand why israelis believe very strongly that they are fighting a just war in gaza. of course, 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. let us look back on the momentous events of october the 7th. we are going to speak to our next guest. let's speak to ehud barak, who served as prime minister of israel from 1999 to 2001. thank you forjoining us. aq having

thank you for “oining us. aq having me. what thank you for “oining us. aq having me. what we — thank you forjoining us. aq having me. what we are _ thank you forjoining us. aq having me. what we are hearing _ thank you forjoining us. aq having me. what we are hearing from - me. what we are hearing from southern israel _ me. what we are hearing from southern israel from _ me. what we are hearing from southern israel from people i southern israel from people remembering those who were killed that day, the hostages who were taken, is that they are grieving, and the grief and pain is still profound. but, they are also angry at the massive security failure. you understand the israeli military well, how could that have been allowed to happen? it is well, how could that have been allowed to happen?— well, how could that have been allowed to happen? it is a ma'or failure of our d allowed to happen? it is a ma'or failure of our intelligence, i allowed to happen? it is a ma'or failure of our intelligence, of h allowed to happen? it is a major| failure of our intelligence, of our army. this morning, it is a major failure of strategy by the government who, for unexplainable reasons, almost unexplainable, believed for several years that hamas was not a threat and the palestinian was a liability rather than the other way around. and

basically, our government encouraged the qataris to pay $1.5 billion to hamas. quite a majorfailure the qataris to pay $1.5 billion to hamas. quite a major failure with the worst day, october the 7th, the worst day in our history, and we are paying the price for it, but i'm confident that at the end, we will overcome, and we will resume our march forward. overcome, and we will resume our march forward-— overcome, and we will resume our march forward. israel's wall cabinet is divided by _ march forward. israel's wall cabinet is divided by benjamin _ march forward. israel's wall cabinet is divided by benjamin netanyahu l march forward. israel's wall cabinet i is divided by benjamin netanyahu who says the war must go on until her mass is destroyed —— hamas. others say the war will not achieve that directive, that israel must use other ways. where do you stand in that divide?— that divide? look, i think that toda , a that divide? look, i think that today. a new _ that divide? look, i think that today, a new chapter- that divide? look, i think that | today, a new chapter eventually starts in this war. the last big

level of division, the gaza strip, only one out of 30 brigade level units now remain inside gaza. it is by the very fact a new chapter. now, it is a debate within our cabinet. i belong to those who think that it is not just of the worst belong to those who think that it is notjust of the worst day, but in spite of the devotion, sacrifice, and the courage of our fighting soldiers, it was very poorly managed strategically. there was an inability by the prime minister to take the strategic choices and decisions that have to be made during the war. i am a great believer in the old saying that if you don't know which end you want to reach, no wind will take you there.

for a reason it has to do with political interest, that was the proper way of running the war. netanyahu blocked almost physically any discussion about the morning after, the day after the war. as a result, hamas gained the last of these clumsy managements on a strategic level. if these clumsy managements on a strategic level.— these clumsy managements on a strategic level. if you are a prime minister now— strategic level. if you are a prime minister now and _ strategic level. if you are a prime minister now and if _ strategic level. if you are a prime minister now and if joe _ strategic level. if you are a prime minister now and ifjoe biden - strategic level. if you are a prime i minister now and ifjoe biden called you up and said: we need a ceasefire, what would you say? i say, not now. i say, we have been fighting a five and a half months. from the second week, the choice that we have had was whether talk to the united states. tell them, our security... basically, let us close the door behind with thejordanians,

with the saudis, showing signs of readiness tojoin the with the saudis, showing signs of readiness to join the club, and deploy the moderation led by the united states into a new regional order facing the axis of rogue states led by iran backed by russia, including syria, hamas, hezbollah, yemen, and someone, and basically establish another multinational force which will be ready to take the gaza from our hands within two or three months for limited periods during which they will bring into the gaza strip are revived or revitalised palestinian soldier, as the only legitimate player legally to go there and basically have a

deal with saudi arabia, probably, and the only expected thing from israel is to be ready to launch a process that at the end will lead towards the vision of two states, something all of us have done including netanyahu. there have been several attacks in the last three decades. ., , ., decades. you try to make peace with palestinians — decades. you try to make peace with palestinians and _ decades. you try to make peace with palestinians and failed. _ decades. you try to make peace with palestinians and failed. it _ decades. you try to make peace with palestinians and failed. it is - palestinians and failed. it is remembered here in israel beyond. d believe there will one day... do you still want there to be a palestinian state alongside israel? has still want there to be a palestinian state alongside israel?— state alongside israel? as you accurately _ state alongside israel? as you accurately describe _ state alongside israel? as you accurately describe the - state alongside israel? as you accurately describe the israeli | state alongside israel? as you - accurately describe the israeli mood now, it is one of deep pain. there is still trauma in the air. there

are calls for revenge. there is a boiling blood. that is not exactly the time to talk about peace. israel has a compelling imperative to make sure that hamas will not ever win on the gaza strip and will not be capable of threatening israel. that is the main objective. we made certain mileage towards it. i should admit that even after six months, it is farfrom being completed. netanyahu was speaking about a small step, an absolute victoryjust behind the corner. that is not true. if we enter into a raffle, it might take several months until it is over. i think now is not the time to announce eternal peace coming from heaven. it is the time to release the hostages, strike a deal about

the hostages, strike a deal about the refugees —— the hostages, bring them back home. and then, decide how to continue. i think that there is a good chance that is we the fighting in gaza, we can reduce the tension in gaza, we can reduce the tension in the north, bring into homes all of the hundreds of thousands of israelis who left the gaza area, and the lebanon border area, and we can reduce the risk of finding ourselves in a regional war. reduce the risk of finding ourselves in a regionalwar. it reduce the risk of finding ourselves in a regional war. it is time to correct the relationship that was deeply held with the united states and resume support for israel. israel always has to have a full—scale war with a major world power, and always having a short and decisive campaign, and always holding the moral high ground. somehow, netanyahu seems to me —— seems to miss all of these three

lessons. a decisive short war as well as the need to have the american power beside us and the need to hold the moral high ground by avoiding the humanitarian crisis and many other painful mistakes along the way. and many other painful mistakes along the way-— and many other painful mistakes along the way. ehud barak, former prime minister, _ along the way. ehud barak, former prime minister, thank _ along the way. ehud barak, former prime minister, thank you - along the way. ehud barak, former prime minister, thank you for - prime minister, thank you for joining us with your assessment of the military strategy and possible political pathways ahead. thank you. thank you having me. let political pathways ahead. thank you. thank you having me.— thank you having me. let us get another perspective _ thank you having me. let us get another perspective on - thank you having me. let us get another perspective on this - another perspective on this continuing war, this grievous israel— gaza war which is now at the six—month mark. we can now cross over london.

husam zomlot, do you see what is happening as a possible turning point in this war? hello. so far, i have not seen that pressure from the united kingdom, the united states, the of the international community working on israel. he would have imagined that the six months on from the genocidal aggression that we are still talking about the genocide? it would have imagined that after the first child in the world would be shocked, 100 children, 1000 children, 10,000 palestinian children, the world would be shocked. now, we are nearly 100,000 names and killed, mostly women and children. what kind of pressure are we talking about? the

uk, us, lebanon, including an immediate embargo on arms ending up in the bodies of our children and leveraged like suspending israel's membership of the un because it has already violated the un security council resolution and calling for an immediate ceasefire which the uk voted for. so, genocidal israel is not the discussion, the discussion as the rest of the world and what it is going to do, and what are the consequences on all others after the normalisation of the mass murder of children, the normalisation of the mass destruction of an entire population, the erasure of an entire people by the use of famine, and disease as weapons of war. we are in the 21st century, and i believe the consequences will be severe. i believe the world, especially the west, have got to think seriously now, notjust about palestine and what is happening, but about the

international rules, international system. when will be the next war? whose children? how are bigots all around the world going to use this moment to normalise such after scenes that then our humanity. i'm sorry to tell you that whatever lip service we are hearing from london orfrom washington, it service we are hearing from london or from washington, it is service we are hearing from london orfrom washington, it is not working. or from washington, it is not workinu. ~ , ., or from washington, it is not workina.~ ,. , ,, , working. we understand pressure is beinu working. we understand pressure is bein: ut working. we understand pressure is being put on — working. we understand pressure is being put on the — working. we understand pressure is being put on the negotiating - working. we understand pressure is being put on the negotiating teams| being put on the negotiating teams in cairo, pressure on hamas, pressure on israel from their respective allies, to come to a deal. full swapping hostages in gaza for palestinian prisoners in israeli jails, and to achieve a humanitarian pause, a ceasefire. are you hearing that there is now a greater chance that there is now a greater chance that those talks can succeed? these

talks have been _ that those talks can succeed? these talks have been ongoing _ that those talks can succeed? these talks have been ongoing for- that those talks can succeed? these talks have been ongoing for a - that those talks can succeed? tyre talks have been ongoing for a long time, there has been an internationalformula, the us has been involved for hostage exchange. an emergency permanent ceasefire, that formula has been rejected by benjamin netanyahu. it is very clear that benjamin netanyahu wants a perpetual aggression on gaza. he needs war, and if it is not in gaza, he is going to lebanon, syria, he is provoking in the west bank, this prime minister of israel lives now on aggression, lives on confrontation. and therefore, we are not hearing very promising news so far. the leveraged of the west of the world has not been exercised despite all of the statements we have been hearing. and still, netanyahu is preparing for an invasion of rafah, he has declared it many times. you know the consequences and the untold stories and suffering that would be because if he does so. the plan is very

clear: netanyahu and the israeli government want to push the palestinians out of gaza. they have already made gaza unlivable. the sheer level of destruction which has occurred in gaza is unmatched. it is unprecedented. therefore, netanyahu unprecedented. therefore, neta nyahu is unprecedented. therefore, netanyahu is manoeuvring by saying he is engaging in negotiations, he is outmanoeuvring his internal rival, outmanoeuvring his internal rival, outmanoeuvring his internal rival, outmanoeuvring his allies in the us and the uk and elsewhere, and he is just waiting to bide time for that moment when he is capable of pushing a vast number of palestinians out of their homeland. that is the plan, otherwise, how do you explain the policy? how do you explain what they are doing in the north of gaza? how do you explain the humanitarian aid workers? can you explain the famine and what have you? the pan to be mag plan is being executed. what happens in cairo with the netanyahu is distraction and sideshows.

international community would say that they are putting on pressure. the qataris would say that the egyptians are doing what they can. they also focus on what is called the day after. the united states working with neighbours likejordan, egypt, saudi arabia, but also the palestinian authority. they are coming up with a plan. the palestinian authority have a new government, new prime minister, is the authority going to do more? that is what is being asked, to move away from a widely discredited and unpopular authority and do something bay palestinians can exact, but also that israelis feel can guarantee their security? the palestinians have sufficient _ their security? the palestinians have sufficient national- have sufficient national institutions, we havejust formed have sufficient national institutions, we have just formed a government made off technocrats capable of providing for our people in gaza, west bank, and capable of

allah directory and politics. the issueis allah directory and politics. the issue is not palestinian. —— capable of allah directory and politics. discussing the day before is missing the point. i heard your previous interview... the point. i heard your previous interview- - -_ interview... you represent the palestinians, _ interview... you represent the palestinians, you _ interview... you represent the palestinians, you are - interview... you represent the palestinians, you are a - interview... you represent the palestinians, you are a very i interview... you represent the i palestinians, you are a very senior diplomat, so i assume you are also thinking about what the palestinians play their part. of course, israel has a huge part to play, but there are the palestinians if this is to work for israelis and palestinians. we are ready with one government that will present all palestinians. it exists. it represents all palestinians inside and outside. i government hasjust been palestinians inside and outside. i government has just been formed from the west bank and gaza. it is supported internally and internationally. we are ready. what we need to do and what this government needs to do is to visit the root cause of all of this, otherwise, we are repeating the same

mistakes again. i havejust otherwise, we are repeating the same mistakes again. i have just heard ehud barak saying short wars. he needs to look at long piece. that will only arrive when we visit the root cause of all of this, otherwise we are sitting ducks, and of these tragedies will be repeated, not only in palestine but the entire region. we have got to think about israel's occupation. this is a moment when we turn this tragedy into a momentum, a momentum that will take is in a different direction. we have talk about this micromanagement, tit—for—tat, the palestinians blaming the victims all the time. this is a moment when i believe that there should be sufficient international energy towards one immediate and permanent ceasefire, number two, a massive, massive and unprecedented humanitarian reconstruction. number three, accountability. we must bring those who committed war crimes to account, hold them accountable in the icc and

the icj. we need to see arrest warrants. we need to make sure that this is never going to happen again to our children, your children, are any children in the world, any population in the world. number four, sanctions. if you want to enforce, on netanyahu and israel, it is only by sanction, by an embargo of arms, a cessation of membership of arms, a cessation of membership of the un for israel. by banning certain products and settlers from arriving in the uk and other countries. by banning illegal companies, uk companies coming from working in illegal companies. the list is long, and we need to think about the political horizon. we must give all the people in palestine. we must make sure that we tell them there is a different feature, a different feature from the government of israel, a different feature from the reductionist discussion about the day after. we need to manage the conflict rather

than resolve. this is when we end the occupation. i than resolve. this is when we end the occupation.— the occupation. i am so sorry, we are coming _ the occupation. i am so sorry, we are coming to _ the occupation. i am so sorry, we are coming to an _ the occupation. i am so sorry, we are coming to an end _ the occupation. i am so sorry, we are coming to an end of - the occupation. i am so sorry, we are coming to an end of the i are coming to an end of the programme, thank you very much for joining us from london, husam zomlot. you are watching bbc news. our special coverage of the israel— gaza war six months on. good afternoon. well, after a stormy start to our weekend, the winds are still a feature out there but not as severe as yesterday. and there are still some lengthy spells of sunshine to be found. but the rainbow says it all. yes, some of us will continue to see some showers. most frequent showers across the north—west of scotland and running up through south—west england across wales, stretching up into the midlands and lincolnshire. one or two heavier ones. maybe the odd rumble of thunder and still, accompanied by gusts of winds in excess of 40—50 mph in the land, stronger

still in the far north of scotland. here, highs of 10—13. not quite as warm in the south—east as yesterday, but nevertheless, 17 degrees is still pretty good for this time of year. as we move into monday, there is another deepening area of low pressure that is going to be pushing in from the south—west. it stays pretty unsettled for the next few days, i am afraid. the heaviest of the rain first thing on monday morning, channel islands, isles of scilly, cornwall, stretching up across the west coast of wales. there will be some sharper showers ahead of it as well, but quite a lot of cloud, not rain all of the time for much of central and eastern england. still highs in the middle of the afternoon of 17 degrees. the heaviest of the rain moving up through the irish sea, effecting the isle of man into northern ireland. the east of england along with scotland will be dry and relatively pleasant. 11—15 degrees not out of the question across north—east england through the afternoon. but as that low pressure continues to drift its way steadily north, the wind direction changes and strengthens down

to the south—west. gales first thing on tuesday morning, and that north—westerly cooler air source will push the milder air that we have seen of late out of the way. so tuesday is not looking like a particularly pleasant day. there will be spells of heavy rain sitting across scotland in particular, and north—east england. we will see quite a lot of cloud and a brisk winds, in fact gales, down to the south—west. that is just going to make it feel noticeably cooler than the last couple of days. so temperatures on your thermometers are likely to peak between eight and 12 degrees. it is a bit of a roller—coaster at this time of year, and that is exactly what is going to happen because as we move towards the middle to the end of the week we could potentially get warmeragain, particularly across eastern england.

this is bbc news, the headlines: israel says it has withdrawn thousands of its ground troops from southern gaza after four months of fighting in the khan younis area. it's unclear how the withdrawal will affect plans for a ground offensive in rafah, where more than one million displaced palestinians are sheltering. the israel—gaza war reaches its six month mark. on october 7th, hamas attacked israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking hundreds hostage.

in the war that has followed, the hamas—run health ministry says at least 33,000 palestinians have been killed. slovakia's elected a new president — peter pellegrini is a nationalist who's sceptical of sending military aid to ukraine. he won by a greater margin than expected, defeating the pro—western candidate ivan korcok. and as millions prepare for the solar eclipse in north america we look at how to safely watch the total blackout as the moon blocks the sun's light. now on bbc news, click. earlier this year, the click team went to kenya and this week, we put together the best of the stories we covered there. we're bringing power to the flower with the drones and ai dealing