this is bbc news. israel's foreign minister says his country's military could suspend its planned incursion into rafah — if there is a deal where hamas releases its remaining hostages. the united nations warns of an attack in sudan's north darfur state saying the consequences would be devastating. after more russian attacks on ukraine, president zelensky renews his appeal for western allies to provide more air defences. i'm helena humphreys. good to have you with us. we start in the middle east, where israel's foreign minister has said a planned military incursion into rafah in gaza could be suspended. that's if a deal is made to free the remaining hostages held by hamas.

ceasefire negotiations between israel and hamas have been stalled for weeks. local media are, however, reporting "notable progress" this weekend. us secretary of state antony blinken is expected to visit saudi arabia in the coming days. meanwhile, hamas has posted a new video, which shows two of the hostages captured during its october attack. keith siegel and omri miran both identify themselves. while the video is not dated, there is a reference to the recent passover holiday. it's the second such video that hamas — considered a terror group by the uk and us governments — has published in the past few days. our correspondent, anna foster, is in tel aviv, where families have been gathering to again call for the release of all the hostages. omri miran�*s father was actually already on the list of confirmed speakers for this event tonight. when he got up on the stage, he talked about the moment, he said he was sitting having coffee with someone and talking about his grandchildren when the man he was talking to held his phone and said, "look, they have released a video of omri." what was also interesting was as the crowd were gathered here tonight, is they showed that video in full, it is not something

that normally happens because of course when you see the people in it, the two men in this case looking very malnourished, obviously speaking under duress, sending messages to their families and urging the israeli government to come to some sort of arrangement, some sort of deal to try and achieve their release. now, of course that deal and those talks have been going on for weeks and weeks. the last time we saw a significant hostage release was at the end of last year. at one point, we were told the talks had very much broken down, the two sides weren't really in communication at all but the egyptian delegation�*s visit this week and the further efforts of the us and us secretary of state antony blinken, we are led to believe that perhaps they are moving slightly closer in terms of trying to achieve a deal, but certainly those powerful messages we heard tonight on the stage from the hostage families, they were talking directly to israel's leaders, directly to the politicians and were saying, you need you to do a deal. while we know they are alive,

you need to do what they can to ensure their release now. antony blinken, us secretary of state heading back to the region, he has been there at least —— demonstrators have also been calling for the resignation of israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. thousands gathered in tel aviv on saturday to protest against the handling of the war and to demand new elections. meanwhile, in gaza, itself, the hamas—run health agency says at least 50 people have been killed in israeli air attacks in the past day. on saturday, residents of two houses in rafah that were hit by israeli fire searched through the rubble. the united nations continues to warn of a lack of food, with half of the population starving. the us military has said a new humanitarian pier being built off the coast of gaza could be up and running by early may. the us has said there will be no american troops on the ground, but the bbc has learned that british troops could be deployed to help

deliver the desperately needed aid. our diplomatic correspondent james landale reports from jerusalem. some aid is getting into gaza by land. trucks carrying food, water and medical supplies. some aid is being dropped by air. but the united nations says it is nowhere near enough to help the people of gaza, who it says are facing famine. so there are plans for aid to come by sea. the us army is building floating platforms like this off the coast, where aid will be taken off ships and put into trucks. that floating causeway is expected to be anchored on the beach somewhere near here, where israeli forces will secure a distribution area. the us says there will be no american boots on the ground. so the uk is considering whether british forces should drive the trucks along the causeway, that may look something like this. but that would mean british forces being put in harm's way on the beaches of gaza, so—called wet boots on the ground, potentially at risk from hamas fighters.

hamas, at the end of the day, could try and interrupt this. i'd like to think they won't and i think probably they won't, but it's possible that they could. unfortunately in these sorts of operations, you end up in places you wouldn't want to have gone to. british forces could be deployed from this uk air base in cyprus, but as of now, it'sjust an option. there's been no decision and it's yet to pass the prime minister's desk. the mod refused to comment. sending british troops to the beaches of gaza would be a big decision. they would be at risk in a war zone. they would be operating in the holy land for the first time since the 1940s, but someone has to drive these trucks and they've got to make a decision soon. the us says this new aid corridor is going to be up and running by early next month. james landale, bbc news, injerusalem. now, here in the us, police in boston shut down a student protest demanding a ceasefire in gaza, after university authorities said the demonstrators were using "virulent anti—semitic

slogans". northeastern university said about 100 people — a mix of students and outsiders — were detained. one of the student organisations involved in the protest rejected the university's statement. well, at columbia university in new york, the epicentre of the nationwide protests, one student leader was barred from the site and officials are looking into how the protests there are being handled. our north america correspondent, will vernon, has more. there have also been arrests today at indiana state university. 69 people, we understand, detained there — at indiana university, too. and negotiations are ongoing at columbia university in new york over the protest camp there. and that's what really sparked this latest escalation in the protests, really. pro—palestinian demonstrations have been going on for several months now at a number of universities, but the mood has really changed in the last week or so, and that was because of an incident at columbia. on the 18th of april, the nypd were called

onto the campus to take down a protest camp there. dozens of people were arrested and that really ignited tensions. and a number of other protest camps were then pitched at various universities across the country. now, the protesters say that they're unhappy with the us government's support for the israeli military campaign. they want a ceasefire in gaza, but also they're demanding that their universities divest, so cut ties with companies with links to israel. but manyjewish students say that they feel intimidated by these demos. there have been a number of reports of verbal assaults or even physical attacks onjewish people by the pro—palestinian demonstrators. the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, as well as many people in congress here, say that these protests are anti—semitic. of course, the demonstrators deny that. and university administrators say that a lot of this trouble is being caused

by radical outside elements that have infiltrated the ranks of the students. and that's certainly what we heard from northeastern earlier today. they told us that while around 100 were detained, only about 12 or maybe a bit more than that of them actually had student ids. so many of them were not from the university at all. yeah. our north american correspondent will burn in. —— will vernon. the situation has also been tense at the university of southern california in los angeles. these are scenes from earlier this week as skirmishes broke out between protesters and police. dozens of demonstrators were arrested on wednesday. the university has also cancelled its main graduation ceremony and the valedictorian speech by a muslim student due to "security concerns." now, i've been speaking about the fallout of those protests withjonathan park — he's a student at the university of southern california and the digital managing editor with the daily trojan newspaper. the mood in general is frustration and anger. the

thing on people's mines right now is the cancellation of the ceremony, and no matter what people's view is on gaza, that affects all seniors. these are seniors that have already had to have their graduations cancel back in high school because of the covid—i9 pandemic. and now they are not able to get that proper academic celebration, the celebration of their academic achievements with this final ceremony, because that has been cancelled. with the protests right now, there has been anti—semitism both against pro— palestine demonstrations that have been jewish palestine demonstrations that have beenjewish and pro— israel. we had, after the protests, a seder held by pro— israel students, a symbolic maker asking the israeli government to bring them home. the hostages to be brought home. there was an anti—semitic

heckler shouting insults and expletives targeting jewish people. the next day, pro— palestine groups, such as the local chapter ofjewish voice local chapter of jewish voice for peace, local chapter ofjewish voice for peace, they celebrated a seder celebrating the tens of thousands killed in gaza. there was an anti—semitic heckler that they had to sort of suppress. there has been anti—semitism on both sides, there. the united nations warns a possible assault by paramilitary forces in sudan's north darfur state would have "devastating consequences" in a region that is on the brink of famine. the agency says the rapid support forces are reportedly encircling the regional capital al—fashir, suggesting a coordinated move to attack the city may be imminent. at least 43 people, including women and children, have already been killed there in the past 2 weeks. war between the sudanese army and the rsf erupted last year. more than 8 million people forced from their homes due to conflict since april 2023 in what is the world's largest displacement crisis.

on friday, the un's human rights office expressed grave concern about the recent escalation of violence in north darfur. civilians are trapped in the city. those in darfur, afraid of being killed by the srs, flee. it is compounded by a shortage of supply as imported goods and humanitarian aid have been suppressed by the fighting. and enter the conflict that has ravaged the country for more than a year now. and it investigation of all alleged violations of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law. for more on the situation, i spoke to quscondy abdulshafi, senior regional advisor at freedom house —

a nonprofit dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world. i know you have been closely monitoring the situation on the ground, speaking with people where possible in al—fashir. what are they bracing for, basically?— what are they bracing for, basicall ? ., ~ ., ., basically? thank you for having me. i appreciate _ basically? thank you for having me. i appreciate it. _ basically? thank you for having me. i appreciate it. an - basically? thank you for having me. i appreciate it. an attack. me. i appreciate it. an attack on al—fashir would have a far—reaching and devastating consequence and it would really be a new story of the storyline of the sedan conflict, potential hopefully. —— sudan. in the past few days there have been an increase in ethnic targeting and rhetoric. this time it is minority ethnic groups that are stationed at, that exist in al—fashir. this attack on al—fashir will have that aspect of ethnic cleansing. the saf army are under the command of former

rebel movement that made the peace deal in 2018. they are from arab ethnic groups. it means the conflict in al—fashir is absolutely different than the conflict in other cities. it has a key ethnic aspect on it. and that is very much dangerous. if this attack happens, it will have very far—reaching, devastating and far—reaching, devastating and far—reaching consequences. anyone listening to that will understand how concerning that sounds, the prospects, there, of ethnically motivated violence. but, as i understand it, the area is already encircled, so anyone wanted to give we could find it difficult stop they are also on the brink of famine. stop they are also on the brink of famine-— of famine. there is no way for --eole of famine. there is no way for peeple to _ of famine. there is no way for people to sleep. _ of famine. there is no way for people to sleep. it _ of famine. there is no way for people to sleep. it is - of famine. there is no way for people to sleep. it is the - people to sleep. it is the largest city controlled by rsf, there is increased check—in in there is increased check—in in

the city. people being ethnically targeted are being targeted seriously. dozens of people fled in the past to date after tax of cities around al—fashir. they have no place to flee and there is nowhere to go. north darfur is a very desert area and people can die because of lack of water to drink. it is very dry at this moment. it is very difficult for the large number of idps living in the city. there are no options or way for people to run from the city. fix, no options or way for people to run from the city.— run from the city. a desperate situation- _ run from the city. a desperate situation- i— run from the city. a desperate situation. i want _ run from the city. a desperate situation. i want to _ run from the city. a desperate situation. i want to talk - run from the city. a desperate situation. i want to talk about| situation. i want to talk about what is feeling this. there are two rival generals, government forces and paramilitary forces. but the united nations has been sounding the alarm of weapons coming in from foreign

countries. our serious is that? this is a proxy war in the full terms of understanding that. particularly both of these actors, and when it comes to the war in darfur where dynamics are very clear, rsf is mainly controlling the whole region except for the al—fashir. the united arab emirates is supplying the arms and logistics in an unprecedented manner of supporting a conflict in the country. which makes a lot of, you know, attention, which also makes it difficult for an effort to control the violence and hostilities. on the other side, yes, the south is already expanding its outreach. there is news that russia is getting in the other side of the aisle. and egypt is a main supporter of the south is well with our drones. so it is very difficult

control and end the hostility in sudan and the escalation of violence without having a strong eye on external actors that are feeling the conflict for their own ends. i that are feeling the conflict for their own ends.- that are feeling the conflict for their own ends. i want to talk about — for their own ends. i want to talk about international - talk about international community on this. we have about a minute left, but in terms of donor pledges from paris, do we know that money could be getting on any soon, when we know the humanitarian situation is very difficult. the united nations is also calling for deescalation. it is difficult. it— calling for deescalation. it is difficult. it was _ calling for deescalation. it is difficult. it was very - calling for deescalation. it 3 difficult. it was very good to see that pledge is met, but it is also very gloomy picture of seeing that how this could reach to the people who are in need. there are several very striking policies from the de facto government in port sudan, but also from the rfs side which is like don't go there or you — or those mormons that

come, they have to put conditions, that people have to be rsf and they have to obey the rsf rules to get access to aid. otherwise they will starve to death. that is why the question of also, you know, the access to aid, it is very difficult. it is — there are good calls with regard to al—fashir to stop the war coming from the same department, from the secretary general of the un, but this is very much personal. it is very good for those calls to be directly directed to the commander of rsf, the person responsible who has the power to stop this attack, and also let him know if any genocide and mass atrocity happens again like happened before, he will be personally responsible, because he has the power to stop it not to happen. but i think it is good that this message is mad but i feel it is very much generalised than

being directly tailored to those actors who have the power to stop the violence.— to stop the violence. quscondy abdulshafi, — to stop the violence. quscondy abdulshafi, senior— to stop the violence. quscondy abdulshafi, senior regional. abdulshafi, senior regional advisor at freedom house, thank you forjoining us.— you for “oining us. thank you ve you forjoining us. thank you very much — you forjoining us. thank you very much and _ you forjoining us. thank you very much and thank- you forjoining us. thank you very much and thank you - you forjoining us. thank you very much and thank you to l you forjoining us. thank you i very much and thank you to the viewers. to ukraine, where president volodymyr zelensky is calling on western allies to urgently send at least seven more patriot missile systems. it comes after another night of russian bombardment seriously damaged energy infrastructure in ukraine — with four power plants hit. president zelensky said the targets included facilities supplying gas to the european union. fighting continues in the eastern donetsk region. russian troops made gains there earlier this week. ukrainian media reports that another village near avdiivka has been captured as russia tightens its hold on the region. earlier, i spoke to brigadier general mark kimmitt, former us assistant secretary of state for political—military affairs. we have seen the call again

from the limit to make volodymyr zelensky yet again. ——we have seen a call again from volodymyr zelensky, coming off 60 billion us dollars in military aid. was it that the aid didn't go far enough, do you think i potentially? well, the first issue _ you think i potentially? well, the first issue is _ you think i potentially? well, the first issue is we - you think i potentially? well, the first issue is we need - you think i potentially? well, the first issue is we need get| the first issue is we need get it on the ground. it is clear the russians realise that they are not making as much ground progress as they would like so they are starting to attack infrastructure again, using ballistic missiles and cruise missiles and without the patriot missile systems and other systems which are critically short of ammunition right now, ukraine is taking some pretty significant attacks on the infrastructure, particularly gas and oil electrical production facilities.— electrical production facilities. �*, ., ~ ., facilities. let's talk about what that _ facilities. let's talk about what that means - facilities. let's talk about what that means for - facilities. let's talk about i what that means for civilians on the ground. we are over two

years into the war. attacking that kind of energy infrastructure can have a serious impact on them, counted, at a time when morale would already be very low. do you think that is moscow's aim? i think it is. look, it has been a tough number of years. they are counting on more and more troops coming to the front line. most of them except for the draftees, our young, and ready to go, but at the end of the day, volodymyr zelensky can't keep the water up unless he has the popular support of his people. if only fitton can break the morale of the ukrainian people, they will call the negotiations, and the negotiations will be harsh and they will not be in ukraine — independent ukraine — they will not like what vladimir putin demands of them.-

not like what vladimir putin demands of them. --if vladimir putin can _ demands of them. --if vladimir putin can break. _ demands of them. --if vladimir putin can break. talk— demands of them. --if vladimir putin can break. talk about - demands of them. --if vladimir putin can break. talk about the | putin can break. talk about the patriot missiles, given it is come hot on the heels of the us aid package, what does it indicate on the ground, militarily? is this an aim to get the upper hand for ukraine, or, the situation therein, looking at the other village near avdiivka being captured, is it that troops are in a trickier position than we might have thought?— have thought? well, it is clear the case that _ have thought? well, it is clear the case that the _ have thought? well, it is clear the case that the ground - have thought? well, it is clearl the case that the ground troops are having a tough time in defence. they are not losing a significant amount of ground. they are certainly not seeing any breakthrough by russian forces. but those carefully dug defensive positions in some areas, they have had to evacuate, move back to less defendable positions. the russians are continuing to push. they are making progress, significant progress, but they are still grinding down the ukrainian forces in a way that is a historical norm for how

russia fires these types of wars. . �* russia fires these types of wars, , �* ., ., " russia fires these types of wars. , ~ ., ., wars. yes. and looking at what ou sa wars. yes. and looking at what you say about how russia - you say about how russia historically has done with regard to that on the battlefield, and ——in your frank assessment, do you think you ukrainian victory is still possible here? i you ukrainian victory is still possible here?— you ukrainian victory is still possible here? i think the best we can ask _ possible here? i think the best we can ask for _ possible here? i think the best we can ask for this _ possible here? i think the best we can ask for this year - possible here? i think the best we can ask for this year is - we can ask for this year is that when the ammunition gets into ukraine, it can stiffen up the lions. i think there are a very little chance of success in this fighting season, in a year it may be different, but this year, i don't think any side has a chance of victory. at, side has a chance of victory. a year from now, think about the future in that way, do you think that the western result would still be there? do you think there would be that funding for a further military injection, for example? i think the west recognises _ injection, for example? i think the west recognises the - injection, for example? i thinkl the west recognises the danger that a russian victory in

ukraine would mean. it means, perhaps, attacks in other areas, other non— nato nations, perhaps a nato nation as well. if we have a second biden term, i'm pretty convinced that president biden will not only keep america in the fight, providing support, but will rally the europeans. it will be a long war but it is a war that has to be fought and it is particularly notable that the ukrainian troops are doing this without nato soldiers by their sides as they are fighting. brigadier general mark kimmitt, former us assistant secretary of state for political—military affairs, thank you, as ever, for your thoughts. russian journalist konstantin gabov has been arrested on charges of extremism. he's accused of preparing material for a youtube channel once run by the late opposition leader alexei navalny. aides and allies continue to run that channel after mr navalny died

in a russian prison back in february. yulia navalnaya blames president putin for her husband's death. mr navalny�*s movement is designated as "extremist" by vladimir putin's government. finally, a gold pocket watch worn by the wealthiest passenger on the titanic has sold for £900,000 at auction. that's over $1 million. once fees are added, it's the highest price ever paid at auction for a single item recovered from the scene of the disaster in 1912. a leather violin bag owned by the leader of the orchestra which famously played on as the ship sank, fetched £290,000 - or $366,000. duncan kennedy reports from the sale. there's nothing like the titanic to evoke memories, passion... ..and buyers. this auction included one of the items that titanic collectors desire most of all — it's the gold pocket watch belonging to a passenger believed to be one of the richest people in the world, jothacob astor. he and 1,500 others died when the ship sank in april 1912 in the north atlantic.

what jj astor's watch represents is something touchable from history, which is why people are still willing to pay so much money for it. the bidding for the watch started way beyond the estimate of £150,000 and kept climbing... at £900,000... gavel thumps add on all the fees and the anonymous buyer will pay £1.17 million — a world record for an item from the titanic. at the end of the day, this price reflects not only the importance of the astor watch, but also the enduring appeal of the titanic story. books, films and documentaries have kept the titanic story alive, but it's artefacts like these that make it tangible and desirable. duncan kennedy, bbc news, in wiltshire. you are watching bbc news. thanks for your company. i will see you soon.

hello there. we're seeing some changes to the weather this weekend. part two of the weekend promises to be quite wet across some eastern areas, another chilly but bright day further west that you are, but it marks a changed all weather because as we move into the new week, we'll start to draw up some warmer air from the near continent. many areas will actually turn a lot warmer than what we've had over the past week. this area of low pressure will continue to bring some rain to central, southern and eastern parts of england through the night. so early sunday, this is the position the rain will be in. less cold for england and wales, 5—8 degrees, but another cold night for scotland and northern ireland, a touch of frost. but it's here you'll have the best of the sunshine from the word go for sunday morning. further east, it will be a cloudy, wet picture, with that rain slowly pulling away from eastern england, becoming confined to north—east scotland, the northern isles. elsewhere, plenty of sunshine around, a few scattered showers developing into the afternoon, and a windy day to come, particularly close to the north sea, close near to that area of rain. temperature—wise, the low teens for many, but distinctly chilly again across this northeast corner.

that rain continues to clear northwards into the northern isles during sunday night. it turns a lot drier for many with clear spells. we'll start to see thicker cloud and some showery bursts of rain pushing into western areas, though, by the end of the night, though many areas will stay dry. temperature—wise, well, actually milder for many, particularly scotland and northern ireland, than we've had of late. still a few chilly spots there for northeast scotland. this is the picture for monday, certainly the pressure picture. we've got low pressure out toward the west. this will be bringing south or southwesterly winds across the country. and actually for large parts of england and wales, particularly towards the south and east, it's going to stay dry all day with some good spells of sunshine. but rain will be splashing into western areas and moving across the irish sea as we move through the course of the day. some of this will be quite heavy. we've got the low teens celsius in the north and the west. could be up to 16 or 17 celsius in the southeast with that sunshine and the warm wind coming off the continent. for the rest of the week, we hold on to lower pressure towards the west of the uk.

that will continue to bring ourair source from the south—east or the east at times, and there will be weather fronts close by. so it's an unsettled theme, i think, but it's going to feel warmer throughout this week than what we've had over the past week. it could be up to 20 degrees in the warmest spots across the southeast. but with low pressure nearby, it will tend to remain on the unsettled side. take care.

voice—over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. my my daughters are very different. miriam is very quiet. very reserved. introverted personality. is completely different. she's very independent. wants to be in charge of everything. to have conjoined twins, as a parent, you have something that you didn't expect... ..something that you never imagined. i would not pretend that it is easy. it is not.

but it's a huge privilege, a huge blessing. you feel lucky to witness this constant battle for life.