this is bbc news. israel says it's moving forward with preparations for a ground operation in gaza's southern—most city, rafah. protests against the war in gaza heat up at us college campuses coast to coast. and horses on the run through the streets of london — we look at what led up to these dramatic images. hello, i'm caitriona perry. we begin in the middle east. israeli officials have confirmed they are moving ahead with plans for a military assault on the city of rafah in southern gaza. israel says its hopes to launch an assault on the several hamas battalions remaining in rafah. the plan appears to be moving

forward despite warnings from aid groups and western allies to israel not to carry out a full—scale attack. last month, us president biden told israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu that "a major ground operation would be a mistake. he added that it puts thousands and thousands of innocent civilian lives at risk in rafah. before telling him "there is a better way." israeli allies and aid groups warn that the invasion would only add to the growing humanitarina crisis in rafah, where more than a million displaced people are taking shelter. and 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 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. 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. 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. we want to show you some live pictures — this is the scene right now at the university of southern california in los angeles, where police have begun arresting protesters on campus. the university's public safety department had announced that demonstrators who don't vacate the area would be detained by los angeles police. the campus has been closed and the students need their current id card to get in and out of

the campus. we have seen a number of students, protesters, already appear to have been arrested, at least detained, using plastic ties by the police and security officers on the scene. we will keep you up—to—date on what's going on. 0ur los angeles correspondent emma vardy has been reporting on those demonstrations. 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 the 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 cancelled speech.

there was also a heavy police presence at the university of texas in austin. the university said the protest was not authorised. and 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 quote, unacceptable — and said 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. 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. protest organisers say the incidents are overblown and they fear anti—semitism has been weaponised to shut down the protest. the university president has given them a deadline to finish negotiations with the school. it's unclear what happens after that. it could be that police are then called. at the moment it's unclear but things... will have to see what happens later

tonight. we have to see what happens later toniaht. ~ ., , have to see what happens later toniaht. ~ . , ., ., ~' tonight. we are still looking at the live — tonight. we are still looking at the live pictures - tonight. we are still looking at the live pictures of - tonight. we are still looking at the live pictures of the i at the live pictures of the scene at usc in los angeles. 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. arrests in texas, california, connecticut, new york, what are your thoughts on those scenes? i am concerned for the safety of these students and their parents. they are courageous men and women who are speaking truth to power, saying, enough with war crimes and the killings of innocent people, with us funding to the most part. they want peace, they want a ceasefire, and they are

being met with arrests, suspensions, attacks. it's a sad chapter. university should be a safe haven for free speech, assembly and for free thinking, and the opposite is happening. thinking, and the opposite is happening-— happening. there are some students — happening. there are some students who _ happening. there are some students who are _ happening. there are some students who are saying - happening. there are some i students who are saying they don't feel safe going past protests and they have heard anti—semitic commentary coming from them as well. anti-semitic commentary coming from them as well.— from them as well. that's absolutely _ from them as well. that's absolutely reprehensible | from them as well. that's i absolutely reprehensible and from them as well. that's - absolutely reprehensible and to be condemned. many student movements including columbia haveissued movements including columbia have issued statements denouncing anti—semitism, being very clear where they stand on hatred towards any people, particularly the jewish people. in fact what is really frustrating is these movements include manyjewish students. jewish students at columbia for example have celebrated the jewish holidays with other students on campus at these encampments, and others reject these accusations. i do think

there are some bad actors mixed with the protesters, but we shouldn't be painting all of them with the same brush. those who are coming to instigate or harm others should absolutely be kicked out, but those who are there to protest freely and exercise the first amendment should be protected.— should be protected. what is our should be protected. what is your view — should be protected. what is your view on _ should be protected. what is your view on how _ should be protected. what is your view on how the - should be protected. what isj your view on how the college authorities are handling this? you mentioned columbia, the speaker of the house mike johnson was there today, he is calling for the president there to step down for failing to restore order. the pro—palestinian protesters are also calling for her to step down, for calling in the police. down, for calling in the olice. , , ., police. the universities have been caught _ police. the universities have been caught flat-footed - police. the universities have been caught flat-footed in i police. the universities have - been caught flat-footed in many been caught flat—footed in many ways. they have been caught as a consequence of a conflict thatis a consequence of a conflict that is outside of their control, but they could absolutely create safe spaces for their students and be very clear with their processes and

be clear that they are not going to allow pro israel forces to dox their forces, and that those accessing anti—semitism will be dismissed. 95% of students are there in the middle to exercise freedom of speech. but we need to be clear, this is the by—product of a terribly stale foreign policy. prolonging the war, and the absence of a ceasefire, not only are you going to see ramifications abroad with regional escalations, that we have seen between israel and iran, but it's affecting us at home, our political space, it's affecting us at home, our politicalspace, it's political space, it's empowering white politicalspace, it's empowering white supremacy and perhaps even donald trump, and the answer is a ceasefire in gaza. , ., ., gaza. there is a great tradition _ gaza. there is a great tradition of _ gaza. there is a greatl tradition of on-campus gaza. there is a great - tradition of on-campus protest tradition of on—campus protest in this country. given what you have said, do you think the biden administration will be influenced in some way by what the students are doing? i

influenced in some way by what the students are doing?- the students are doing? i hope the students are doing? i hope they are. _ the students are doing? i hope they are. and _ the students are doing? i hope they are, and not _ the students are doing? i hope they are, and not drawing - the students are doing? i hope they are, and not drawing the l they are, and not drawing the wrong lessons. i have seen some heads of pro israel organisations demand that the national guard be called and more police forces be sent. that is absolutely the wrong way to address this. young people are telling us something, we need to listen. they are no longer 0k something, we need to listen. they are no longer ok with us money going to foreign governments that are killing children. the right answer is to be a dialogue with them and to be a dialogue with them and to heed their calls. young people have always been proven right, on climate, they are going to be proven right on palestine. the occupation must end and we need a ceasefire now. ., end and we need a ceasefire now. . ., ., , ., now. thanks for “oining us on bbc now. thanks for “oining us on sac news. _ around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. 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 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. meanwhile, arizona has moved one step closer to ending a 160—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 and 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. 1a 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 a woman in an emergency pregnancy complication, short of the risk to her life? the challenge is it's 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, of permanent disability, the infection worsening and surgery being required. to remove organs. 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. on that point, in idaho at the moment, what are the options to the pregnant woman?

and for the physicians treating her in that emergency emergency situation, where you have to make those decisions? it's really challenging position for a physician to be in, because they have a conflicting 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 get the patient to somewhere they can safely receive the care they need. i would imagine in some scenarios, time does not allow for the transferring across state lines? that's correct, there can be 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. the biden administration has confirmed that it sent long—range missiles to ukraine for use inside its territory. the us national security advisorjake sullivan said the weapons, known as army tactical missile system, or atacms, arrived in ukraine in march. he said the us provided the weapons because russia was attacking ukraine with long range—missiles it had secured from north korea. there is no silver bullet in this conflict. 0ne capability

is not going to be the ultimate solution, it is an amalgam of capabilities that come together and combine with the bravery and combine with the bravery and skill of the ukrainian fighters that will make the difference in this conflict. we think it's good we are able to provide them but i don't expect to stand before you and say one capability has been the silver bullet in this conflict. news of the delivery of long—range missiles came soon after president biden signed a foreign aid bill into law. there were extraordinary scenes in london wednesday morning when a group of military horses threw their riders and bolted through the streets leaving four people, including a cyclist, in hospital. two of the horses were caught more than five miles away from where the incident began. 0ur correspondent ellie price takes up the story. if it wasn't so dangerous, it would be strangely beautiful. two military horses on the run in central london during the morning rush hour. 0ne hits a taxi...

..and they carry on down fleet street. in total, five household cavalry horses ran loose after unseating four riders. one had been in charge of two horses. the damage unmistakable as they crashed into several vehicles, including this bus. three soldiers were hospitalised, their injuries not deemed to be life—threatening. the bbc understands a fourth person injured was a cyclist. at such a busy time in the day, there were, of course, plenty of witnesses. when i saw these horses galloping along, it's a very surreal thing to see, as you can imagine. then they came running down here. some went off that way, some went straight on, and one of the horses decided to go through a van and made a mess of the van. they were going really, really fast, really galloping down the road. other people around me were really shocked, lots of people were upset. i thought i was watching a film at first. pictures on social media showed members of the public catching

and calming one of the horses. eventually all five were caught and were checked over by a vet. the chaos started to unfold near buckingham palace this morning. the black and the grey made it here to the strand before ending up five miles away at limehouse in east london. we understand it was noise from a nearby building site that causes the horses to spook and then bolt. they unseated their riders coming down here, and one of the loose horses crashed into a taxi just about here. household cavalry horses are used to loud noises and loud events. every morning around 150 are exercised on the roads and parks of the capital, to get them used to city sounds. the commanding officer insisted this sort of event was rare, but asked the public to avoid making loud noises around the animals. tonight all five horses are back at their barracks. ellie price, bbc news. stay with us here on bbc news.

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 milder 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 into the start of next week. so not as cold, but really quite showery. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. commentator: zinchenko. he's been a premier league star for manchester city... zinchenko will claim it. ..and now arsenal. and he's a proud ukrainian. 0leksandr zinchenko says he'll swap football for fighting against russia if he's called up. i think it's a clear answer. of course. i would go. as the war continues, the arsenal player says ukraine's break with its russian neighbour is for good.

since this invasion, we can't be friends with them anymore.