29 Apr 2024

Middle East correspondent Sebastian Usher

From Nine To Noon, 9:50 am on 29 April 2024

Israel is preparing for an offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah as the UK considers sending its troops to help deliver aid via a new sea route. Sebastian Usher is the Middle East correspondent for the BBC.

This picture taken from Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip shows parachutes of humanitarian aid dropping over the besieged Palestinian territory on March 26, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas. Seven people have drowned in the Mediterranean trying to reach aid airdropped into Gaza, the Hamas-run territory's health ministry said on March 26. Six people were also injured in the previous day's airdrop, the ministry said. Hamas said a total of 18 people have now been killed in drownings or stampedes since aid airdrops to the starving north of the besieged territory began. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)

This picture taken from Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip shows parachutes of humanitarian aid dropping over the besieged Palestinian territory on 26 March 26, 2024. Photo: JACK GUEZJACK GUEZ / AFP