live from washington. this is bbc news. israel says it's moving forward with preparations for a ground operation in gaza's southenmost city, rafah. i'm in los angeles where pro—palestinian protests led to clashes with police as tensions escalate on campuses across the us. and another showdown over abortion rights goes to the supreme court. hello, i'm caitriona perry. you're very welcome. israeli officials have confirmed they are moving ahead with plans for a military assault on the city of rafah in southern gaza. israel says it hopes to launch an assault on the several hamas battalions remaining in rafah.

however, aid groups and western allies have warned israel not to carry out a full—scale attack. in rafah, more than a million displaced people are taking shelter. as part of its invasion, israel is planning to evacuate civilians out of rafah. satellite imagery shows tents popping up around khan younis, north of rafah. an israeli official told reuters that the country has purchased 40,000 tents, each with the capacity for 10 to 12 people, meant to house palestinians evacuated from rafah. the bbc�*s wyre davies has more on israel's plans. we got a very clear indication from an israeli government spokesperson today that israel is moving ahead and planning for what is expected to be a pretty full—scale military incursion into rafah, the city incursion into rafah, the city in southern gaza, where israel says the remnants, significant remnants of hamas fighters and leadership are still based.

israel says it has destroyed about 19 hamas military battalions, meaning there are about 4—5 battalions, hundreds of heavily armed men, remaining in southern gaza, with the hamas leadership. israel has of course had to respond to these criticisms and appeals from allies, including the us in recent weeks, not to undertake this full—scale military invasion. principally because of the humanitarian consequences. there are thought to be abouti million people in and around rafah in southern gaza, people in dire circumstances, and the americans and british and others, including aid agencies, are really worried about the growing humanitarian crisis. some evidence that tents and other shelters are being built in preparation for the invasion, to move some people away from rafah, buti million people is a lot to move in the event of a military operation. egypt and israel are thought to have been holding talks about the consequences of a big

military operation right on the border with egypt. it's also worrying for israeli families. remember, about 130 hostages are thought to still be held in southern gaza, 100 still remain, and the israeli families of the hostages are increasingly worried that a military operation in this area might jeopardise the lives of the remaining hostages. israeli officials believe hostages are still being held in rafah. on wednesday, hamas published a video appearing to show an israeli—american hostage, 24—year—old hersh goldberg—polin, in captivity. the bbc has not independently verified the video or when it was taken. meanwhile the un's human rights chief says he is �*horrified' by the destruction of two of gaza's main hospitals amid reports of mass graves being found at the sites. palestinian officials say they have discovered the bodies of almost 300 people at nasser and al—shifa hospitals. the israel defence forces described reports that they buried bodies as �*baseless

and unfounded.�* our special correspondent fergal keane reports. and a warning, some viewers might find images distressing. bombed into brokenness, khan younis today from above. and down among the ruins, a mother and sister search for a missing son. nabil, aged 23, was killed injanuary. his mother and sister have been searching for nabil�*s body ever since. for two weeks since israeli forces left here, they've come to the nasser hospital. translation: even if he's. a dead body, i want my son. just bring me my son. my heart has been broken

for the past three months since i lost him. this is a place where nobody comes in hope of finding the living. only, if they're lucky, the dead, and an end to searching whose trauma is difficult to comprehend. translation: i saw bodies that had signs of torture. _ they were executed. some had their hands and legs tied together and were executed. how long will this continue? the graves are now at the centre of conflicting claims between hamas and local aid workers on one side and the israel defense forces on the other. hamas claims some of the dead were executed, had their hands the israelis describe these allegations as baseless, saying they'd opened existing

graves to check for dead israeli hostages. the examination was carried out respectfully while maintaining the dignity of the deceased. bodies were examined and which did not belong to israeli hostages, and they were returned to their place. colleagues at bbc verify have confirmed the existence of graves at the hospitals before israel began its operations in both complexes. buried like this because staff couldn't reach cemeteries due to fighting in the area. today, a senior un 0fficial told me there had to be an independent investigation to establish the facts. what we cannot allow in this current situation, where we have seen in gaza numerous grave human rights violations, many of them potentially war crimes, and where we have raised alarm of potential atrocity crimes, that this becomes another blip.

the intensity of violations have been massive. it is early afternoon at al nasser hospital, and nabil�*s mother has been directed to this section of the graveyard. nabil might be here. "i swear it's him, it's his jacket. my son, my son. i found him," she says. "my life, my heart, my son". to rejoice that your dead child has been lifted from an anonymous grave... that is a measure of the agony engulfing gaza. fergal keane, bbc news, jerusalem. protests against the war in gaza have been taking centre stage at college campuses across the us. on wednesday, skirmishes broke

out between protestors and police at the university of southern california in los angeles. these are live pictures at that university in la. and there was a heavy police presence at the university of texas in austin. the university said the protest was not authorised. pro—palestinian and anti—war protests at columbia university in new york sparked demonstrations at several other universities this past week — reviving a debate about free speech and the right to protest. there have also been reports of anti—semitic remarks at some of the demonstrations — something columbia's president has condemned as unacceptable — and will be met with appropriate action. on wednesday, speaker of the house mikejohnson met withjewish students at columbia. he called on the university's president to resign, and accused administrators of failing to protectjewish students from antisemitism.

we just can't allow this hatred and anti—semitism to flourish on campuses and it must be stopped in its tracks. those perpetrating the violence should be arrested. i am here today, joining my colleagues, and calling on the president to resign if she cannot immediately bring order to this chaos. we will keep an eye on the scene in la where a large police presence has moved in. we have reporters at universities across the us. first, the bbc�*s bernd debusmann is at columbia, where he's been looking into claims of antisemitism. jewish students told me they have experienced anti—semitism on campus, a man told me he was assaulted, others said they were fearful of wearing the yarmulke around campus. 0thers yarmulke around campus. others say the incidents are overblown and they fear anti—semitism has

been weaponised to shut down the protest. and our los angeles correspondent, emma vardy has been reporting on the demonstrations at the university of southern california. a number of points of tension on this campus. the valedictorian of usc, the top graduate of the year that the university has hand—picked, had her speech cancelled at the graduation ceremony. she had been accused of anti—semitism, and university were trying to de—escalate tensions which have escalated and cancelled her speech and a number of other speakers too. but it seemed that galvanised support for this protest today, protested here were holding placards saying let her speak, in relation to that counsel speech. earlier i spoke to former us state department middle east expert wa'el alzayat about the protests and the accusations of anti—semitism made against some of those protesting. i think many of the student

movement including colombia have denounced anti—semitism and been very clear on where they stand towards hatred towards any people, particularly the jewish people. what is really frustrating is these movements include many jewish students. thejewish students at columbia for example have celebrated the jewish holidays with other students on campus at these encampments. the rejection of these accusations, i think there are some bad actors mixed with the protesters but we should not absolutely be painting all of them with the same brush. those who are coming there to instigate and harm others should absolutely be kicked out. but those who are there to protest freely and exercise the first amendment should be protected. live now to dr charles asher small, founder and director of the institute for the study of global antisemitism

and policy. what is your response to what we are seeing at college campuses across the us? some of the top universities in this country are seeing these protests, we are seeing arrests and sizeable police presence as well. , �* ~ ., , well. first i'd like to wish ourjewish _ well. first i'd like to wish ourjewish viewers - well. first i'd like to wish ourjewish viewers a - well. first i'd like to wish l ourjewish viewers a happy passover. jewish people throughout the world in israel and around the world are celebrating their sense of freedom from bondage, leaving egypt and coming to their homeland israel, so happy passoverfor homeland israel, so happy passover for our viewers. what was not mentioned in your reports, columbia university and universities around the united states, jewish students are staying away in droves from the university. manyjewish the university. many jewish students the university. manyjewish students have experienced physical attacks and verbal abuse, they do not feel safe to be on campus, they do not feel safe to go to their classes, and as you know, columbia

universityjust instituted an university just instituted an online universityjust instituted an online alternative for students who are afraid of the intimidation to be on campus. so what's happening to the jewish students with very radical anti—semitic but also anti—democratic forces on campus, students from justice in palestine, openly aligned to hamas, a military offshoot of the muslim brotherhood... we have to remember the muslim brotherhood is an ideology that fuses a very narrow and might say the version of islam with anti—semitism and nazism. they preached that the true muslim is obligated to complete the work of hitler. this is a radical social moment and i

don't think many american students and professors understand the ideology and the background to this radical... sorry to interrupt, we don't have a lot of time, but to bring it back to the issue we are looking at, the scenes we are looking at, the scenes we are seeing of these protests. there are those issues from the jewish students. some protesting have said they don't feel safe, such is the large police presence there. it's a question of how you balance the right to freedom of speech and the right to protest with the right to feel safe on campus. how do you think college authorities are handling that? i think again there is a crisis, the us has a very strong and robust notion of freedom of expression, the first amendment, freedom of speech, academic freedom is a cornerstone of the american democratic system and beliefs. but when student organisations are literally calling for the physical assault ofjewish students or any identifiable

group, students hiding with all masked at... —— with covid masks... masked at... -- with covid masks- - -— masks... you can't say all student — masks... you can't say all student organisations - masks... you can't say all student organisations are | student organisations are making those calls. it’s student organisations are making those calls.- making those calls. it's a specific _ making those calls. it's a specific organisation - making those calls. it's a specific organisation with making those calls. it's a i specific organisation with a specific organisation with a specific ideology... i specific organisation with a specific ideology. . .- specific ideology... i am askinu specific ideology... i am asking you _ specific ideology... i am asking you about - specific ideology... i am asking you about what l specific ideology... i am | asking you about what we specific ideology... i am - asking you about what we are seeing across the spectrum of the us. there has been a call from the republican speaker of the house mikejohnson that the president of columbia should step down, would you agree with that call? i step down, would you agree with that call? ., �* ~ ., ., that call? i don't know how columbia _ that call? i don't know how columbia university - that call? i don't know how columbia university are - that call? i don't know how. columbia university are going to deal with their crisis, they have a serious problem. my question would be, if students showed up with white sheets calling for the annihilation of a group on campus like african americans, the killing of gay people, which the muslim brotherhood is doing tojewish students and other moderate muslims around the country, i think we have a serious problem

that needs to be booted out of our university system. we that needs to be booted out of our university system.- our university system. we will have to leave _ our university system. we will have to leave it _ our university system. we will have to leave it there. - our university system. we will have to leave it there. just - our university system. we will have to leave it there. just to | have to leave it there. just to point out, the majority of students there are holding a peaceful protest and say they are calling for an end to the war in gaza, but we have to leave it there, doctor, thanks forjoining us on bbc news. thank you. forjoining us on bbc news. thank you-— forjoining us on bbc news. thank you. a teenage girl has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after two teachers and a teenage student were injured in a stabbing incident at a secondary school in south—west wales. pupils were locked in classrooms for about four hours as police investigated the incident in ammaford. 0fficers recovered a knife. three people have been arrested by police investigating the deaths of five migrants, including a seven year old girl in the english channel on tuesday.

the men, who are from sudan and south sudan, are being held on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration and entering the uk illegally. at least 6,265 people have crossed the channel in small boats since the start of 202a. the skies of athens turned orange on tuesday, after strong winds carried dust from the sahara desert across the mediterranean sea, shrouding the acropolis and other famous landmarks. on wednesday, the winds shifted and moved the dust as temperatures dropped. an arizona grand jury has indicted 18 people on charges they took part in a fake elector scheme to re—elect former president donald trump in 2020. court papers list a "former us president," presumably mr trump, as an unindicted co—conspirator. us media outlets including

the associated press report that former new york mayor and attorney rudy giuliani and former trump white house chief of staff mark meadows are among the names of seven defendants redacted within the indictment. the state's attorney general says the plot undermined arizona citzens�* voting rights. whatever their reasoning was, the plot to violate the law must be answered for, and i was elected to uphold the law of this state. the scheme, had it succeeded, would have deprived arizona voters of the right to have their votes counted for their chosen president. meanwhile, arizona has moved one step closer to ending a i60—year—old law banning abortion, after state house lawmakers voted to repeal it. three republican state representatives broke ranks to vote with democrats, with the repeal passing 32 to 28. the bill now goes to the state senate, where it could pass. abortion rights are being examined in the us supreme court. on wednesday, justices heard arguments about how close

to death a woman must be to receive an abortion in states where there are strict bans. the case centres on a federal law requiring hospitals to provide stabilising treatment to any patient who arrives with an "emergency medical condition". the question before the supreme court is whether the emergency medical treatment labor act, or emtala, covers emergency abortions, even in states where the procedure is banned. it's been nearly two years since justices overturned the constitutional right to an abortion — leaving it up to individual states to decide on abortion rights. 14 states now ban abortion at all stages of pregnancy, some with limited exceptions. idaho is one of them — and that state's near—total ban is now before the court. earlier i spoke to dr alison haddock, president—elect of the american college of emergency physicians. thanks forjoining us. idaho

has a near total abortion ban, with an exception for the life but not the health of the mother. from your perspective as an emergency physician, what are the risks to the health of are the risks to the health of a woman in an emergency pregnancy complication, short of the risk to her life? the challenge _ of the risk to her life? the challenge is _ of the risk to her life? the challenge is its _ of the risk to her life? the challenge is its very - of the risk to her life? tue: challenge is its very difficult to say when an emergency crosses from being a threat to health to a threat to life. for example someone can have a infection and that can be a threat to their health, permanent disability, the infection worsening and surgery being required. but they might survive. so when does it become a threat to life? the same can be true with bleeding. how much haemorrhage is a threat to your health and how much a threat to your life? where is the line? i'm just not sure in most cases that we have a definite answer

to the question. {lin that we have a definite answer to the question.— that we have a definite answer to the question. on that point, in idaho to the question. on that point, in idaho at _ to the question. on that point, in idaho at the _ to the question. on that point, in idaho at the moment, - to the question. on that point, in idaho at the moment, whatl in idaho at the moment, what are the options to the pregnant woman? and for the physicians treating her in that emergency situation where you have to make those decisions? tt’s make those decisions? it's reall make those decisions? tit�*s really challenging position for a physician to be in because they have a consulting responsibility, where they diagnose an emergency medical position and obligated to provide stabilisation treatment but the risk of facing criminal charges. so a lot of times they are looking for options to transfer patients out of state, if they are in a serious condition where termination of the pregnancy is the best option. that's the kind of treatment plan they are developing, to give the patient to somewhere they can safely receive the care they need. t receive the care they need. i would imagine in some scenarios, time does not allow for the transferring across state lines?— for the transferring across state lines? that's correct, some very _ state lines? that's correct, some very difficult - state lines? that's correct, i some very difficult situations, and we are going to see

physicians working with colleagues in those situations. hospital closures in rural areas, and states with substantial rural areas like idaho, mean that there may be places where there is no one to help the emergency physician face the challenge. they might need to call legal staff to figure out how to transfer a patient, and figure out how they can get the care they need. ., ,, they can get the care they need. ., ,_ . .,, need. for physicians making that decision _ need. for physicians making that decision between - need. for physicians making| that decision between saving the health and life of the women and potentially facing a criminal prosecution themselves, should the woman passed away, is this decision liable for medical negligence case? —— is the physician? you case? -- is the physician? you have malpractice _ case? —— is the physician? tm. have malpractice charges, you are kind of stuck trying to

navigate the best you can. i want physicians to be able to provide the best care that they can to their patients. they should be protected in those cases. but with the balance of state laws, it's getting more complicated for them to be able to just do the right thing. should the supreme court, when it hands down its decision in early summer, should that ruling supersede state laws? would that be the end of the matter? t would that be the end of the matter? ~ . , matter? i think that will be helful matter? i think that will be helpful to _ matter? i think that will be helpful to give _ matter? i think that will be helpful to give those - matter? i think that will be | helpful to give those things, get them lined up. but if criminal prosecution is sought, i'm not a lawyer, but my understanding is that you can be taken to criminal trial and it is yourjob to defend yourself using the state law that protects the health and life of the mother as your defence. criminal trials are

not covered by malpractice insurance as physicians, so it puts them in the top position having to try to analyse state laws and wonder how sure they can be if they can safely provide the best care to their patients. tt provide the best care to their atients. ., ., ~' provide the best care to their atients. ., ., ~ ., , ., patients. if we look at state laws in arizona, _ patients. if we look at state laws in arizona, we - patients. if we look at state laws in arizona, we saw - patients. if we look at state l laws in arizona, we saw today lawmakers taking a major step towards repealing an 1864 law banning abortion except in the case of a risk to the life of the mother, which was revived by the arizona supreme court two weeks ago. given what we have seen in many states since the repealing of roe vs wade, with reproductive rights being pulled back, whatever decision in this case, does it have the potential to have an impact in those states as well? t those states as well? i absolutely think it those states as well? t absolutely think it does. i hope a decision will be made for states to align themselves, but i would like us to go further and make sure positions, if there is any kind of health risk to the mother,

would be able to make the right decisions in partnership with the pregnant patient they are seeing in the hospital. just briefl , seeing in the hospital. just briefly, what _ seeing in the hospital. just briefly, what impact - seeing in the hospital. just briefly, what impact does it have on the lives of american women and their health, when there are so many different laws in different states? t laws in different states? i think it's incredibly laws in different states? t think it's incredibly confusing for the layperson to understand what's happening. no one thinks they are going to find themselves in this kind of situation. we see this in emergency medicine all the time. no one thinks they are going to be the one who has the illness that requires that care. we are happy to provide care. we are happy to provide care but it's hard to know in that situation. i think it is a confusing situation and we are seeing physicians wanting to practice in places which are safest for them and they have the most clarity about the care they can provide. so i am worried about shortages in key areas as well.—

areas as well. doctor, thank ou for areas as well. doctor, thank you forjoining _ areas as well. doctor, thank you forjoining us _ areas as well. doctor, thank you forjoining us on - areas as well. doctor, thank you forjoining us on bbc . areas as well. doctor, thank - you forjoining us on bbc news. thanks for watching, stay with us. some really chilly—feeling air for the time of year, and it's going nowhere for the next couple of days. but of course, the sunshine's helping to lift the temperature somewhat. lots of blue sky across many parts of scotland, 13 celsius in edinburgh, butjust seven degrees for these north sea facing coasts such as scarborough. lots of clouds, and a brisk, a bitter northerly wind blowing, too. and as we head through the rest of tonight, there's a little feature running southwards bringing the threat of some further showers, possibly wintry over the hills of scotland. temperatures dipping very close to freezing into thursday morning. watch out for some icy stretches perhaps. and it's still blustery for those north sea facing coasts, and across the northern isles as well. a mixture of sunny spells, but also some showers across many northern areas of england, scotland and northern ireland. more cloud and some showers pushing southwards across england and wales. temperatures again

towards the east just 8—10 degrees celsius, but a little milder again further south and west. now, as we head through thursday night, there'll be a lot of clear spells around. again, it's another cold feeling night for the time of year, the snow levels again dropping across parts of scotland. another frost for many of us as we head into friday morning. again, watch out for some icy stretches here and there. friday, we'll start to see a few changes. this area of low pressure starts to push in to south west england, affecting parts of the channel islands as well, bringing some more showery outbreaks of rain here. and the winds will fall lighter as well, so it won't feel quite so bitterly cold towards those north sea facing coasts. but still, the bulk of the showers will be here. a scattering of showers, also some sunny spells, probably sunniest out towards the north and the west again. but temperatures still very low for the time of year, below the average, 8—12 degrees celsius for most of us. things are set to turn a little less cold, though, as we head through the weekend. some milderfeeling air. and it's going to be quite

unsettled, tending to be drier in the north and the west. so, if we just look at this low pressure system, it's spinning in from the south. it's going to give plenty of wet weather, particularly towards the south and the east, but also some milder feeling conditions. temperatures will rise to more or less the seasonal average. so certainly no heat wave. here's the temperature outlook for our capital cities as we head through the weekend and into the start of next week. so not as cold, but really quite showery. bye— bye.

facebook parent company meta forecasts weaker—than—expected second quarter sales, sending its stock into free—fall. tiktok vows legal action, as president biden signs into law a bill that could ban the social media platform in the us. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm mariko 0i. us tech giant meta — the parent company for social media platforms facebook and instagram — reported first—quarter earnings. revenue and earnings both beat expectations but the share price

is down over 15% in after hours trading.