Paul Moss

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Paul Moss and at 1400 GMT on Thursday, the 20th of February, these are our main stories. Hamas has released the bodies of four Israelis. We look at what this means for the ongoing peace process. What chance of improved relations between Ukraine and the US as President Zelensky prepares to meet America's special envoy.

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Paul Moss and at 1400 GMT on Thursday, the 20th of February, these are our main stories. Hamas has released the bodies of four Israelis. We look at what this means for the ongoing peace process. What chance of improved relations between Ukraine and the US as President Zelensky prepares to meet America's special envoy.

How fog could be used as a source of water for parched cities. Also in this podcast, the former head of Spanish football is found guilty over kissing the player Jenny Hermoso without consent. And many of those carrying out phone and email scams are themselves working under duress. We take a look.

How fog could be used as a source of water for parched cities. Also in this podcast, the former head of Spanish football is found guilty over kissing the player Jenny Hermoso without consent. And many of those carrying out phone and email scams are themselves working under duress. We take a look.

It was a macabre display. This morning, amidst the bombed out ruins of Khan Yunus in Gaza, four black coffins were laid out on a specially constructed stage. Inside were the bodies of Israelis, ready to be returned as part of the ongoing peace deal. And behind these coffins was a large caricature of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

It was a macabre display. This morning, amidst the bombed out ruins of Khan Yunus in Gaza, four black coffins were laid out on a specially constructed stage. Inside were the bodies of Israelis, ready to be returned as part of the ongoing peace deal. And behind these coffins was a large caricature of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

als Dracula, mit Blut, das von seinen Fangen fliegt. Die Post hat eine Begründung gemacht, wie die Hostagen gestorben sind. Der Kriegskriminal Netanyahu und sein Nazi-Armee haben sie, so sagt es, mit Missilen aus den Zionistischen Kriegsplänen getötet. Als wir diesen Podcast recordieren, haben sich die Identitäten der Körper noch nicht bestätigt.

als Dracula, mit Blut, das von seinen Fangen fliegt. Die Post hat eine Begründung gemacht, wie die Hostagen gestorben sind. Der Kriegskriminal Netanyahu und sein Nazi-Armee haben sie, so sagt es, mit Missilen aus den Zionistischen Kriegsplänen getötet. Als wir diesen Podcast recordieren, haben sich die Identitäten der Körper noch nicht bestätigt.

Aber es wird gedacht, dass sie 84 Jahre alt sind, Odette Lifshitz, ein Veteranenjournalist und Friedensaktivistin. but also two children from the Bibas family, kidnapped from their home near the Gaza border on October 7th along with their mother Cherie. The previous release of living hostages has prompted celebrations in Israel.

Aber es wird gedacht, dass sie 84 Jahre alt sind, Odette Lifshitz, ein Veteranenjournalist und Friedensaktivistin. but also two children from the Bibas family, kidnapped from their home near the Gaza border on October 7th along with their mother Cherie. The previous release of living hostages has prompted celebrations in Israel.

But today's handover has predictably been a very different affair, as I was told by Natalie Blenford, a journalist who lives in Tel Aviv.

But today's handover has predictably been a very different affair, as I was told by Natalie Blenford, a journalist who lives in Tel Aviv.

You mentioned the what you call propaganda effort of having these four coffins on the stage in Gaza. Have I got this right that this wasn't actually shown much on Israeli television?

You mentioned the what you call propaganda effort of having these four coffins on the stage in Gaza. Have I got this right that this wasn't actually shown much on Israeli television?

In any conflict people do want the bodies of the dead returned to them. But I guess what you said about the particular rituals of the Jewish faith mean that there was particular emphasis on getting these bodies returned, seen as a crucial part of the peace process.

In any conflict people do want the bodies of the dead returned to them. But I guess what you said about the particular rituals of the Jewish faith mean that there was particular emphasis on getting these bodies returned, seen as a crucial part of the peace process.

He issued a statement in response to the release of the bodies. We voiced it up.

He issued a statement in response to the release of the bodies. We voiced it up.

Those words inevitably raise the question of how soon the other hostages might be returned to Israel, those both living and dead. And that in turn depends on the course of the ongoing peace deal. By now Israeli and Palestinian negotiators were supposed to be discussing the second phase of the agreement, but those discussions haven't even started. Indeed, some wonder whether they ever will.

Those words inevitably raise the question of how soon the other hostages might be returned to Israel, those both living and dead. And that in turn depends on the course of the ongoing peace deal. By now Israeli and Palestinian negotiators were supposed to be discussing the second phase of the agreement, but those discussions haven't even started. Indeed, some wonder whether they ever will.