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BBC news 2014-07-23

BBC News with Julie Candler.

All American airlines and a number of their European counterparts have suspended flights to Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv over safety concerns. United States Federal Aviation Administration imposed the suspension of up to 24 hours on US fights to Ben Gurion after a rocket from Gaza landed nearby. Chris Morris is in Jerusalem. “It is significant for Israel that would be a blow to morale, if you like, and a reminder that there is a price to be paid for this military operation and the conflict with Hamas, not just in terms of the loss of life or Israeli soldiers and civilians but also an economic price. It's clear just going on the country that things like tourism are down and flights are being canceled and then that is only going to increase that trend. Israel won't be pleased about this clearly. Israel's Transport Minister has said they should change their mind; otherwise they will be rewarding terror.”

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has telephoned the American Secretary of State John Kerry, asking him to get the ban lifted. The US has said the framework for any ceasefire in Gaza must be based on the Egyptian plan which Hamas has, so far, rejected. Speaking in Cairo, Mr. Kerry said Hamas was facing an important decision. “Hamas has a fundamental choice to make and it is a choice that will have a profound impact for the people of Gaza. And the Egyptians have provided a framework and a forum for them to be able to come to the table to have a serious discussion together with other factions of the Palestinians.” The Israeli Prime Minister said the international community should hold Hamas accountable for rejecting repeated ceasefire proposals.

Members of the international police agency Interpol have started preliminary work identifying the victims from the Malaysian airliner downed in eastern Ukraine. The victims being held in the government controlled city of Kharkiv would be transported to the Netherlands for full identification before being returned to their families.

The European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has said EU will introduce sanctions on more Russian individuals and organizations to punish Moscow for its support of separatists in eastern Ukraine. Gavin Hewitt reports. ‘The 28 European foreign ministers met under pressure from Britain and the United States to increase sanctions against Russia. In the event, they unanimously agreed to impose travel bans and asset freezes on more Russian officials, although the numbers to be targeted and their names were not revealed. The ministers also threatened Russia with hasher sanctions that would be aimed at key sectors of Russian economy. The European Commission has been given a task to draw up proposals for imposing measures against the Russian defense, energy and financial service sectors by Thursday.”

World News from the BBC.

A double suicide bomb attack in the Libyan city of Benghazi has killed at least four soldiers guarding the gate of a Special Forces Barracks. Military sources in the city said one bomber detonated a lorry after forcing his way onto the base. This was followed by a second attacker in the car.

Italian police have arrested five men on suspicion of murdering dozens of migrants on a boat crossing form North Africa to Europe. Survivors say the killings happened at the weekend when a fight broke out in the extremely crowded conditions on board. Here is Alan Johnston in Rome. “Survivors say there was a terrible violence when some passengers travelling below deck tried to come up through a hatch. They were apparently struggling to breathe in the heat and engine fues. The survivors have told the police that five men were determined to drive those coming out of the hatch back down. The five are alleged to have attacked and stabbed people. Then according to the police statement, they flung their victims into the sea.” Another 30 people died in the hold where they are believed to have suffocated.

The Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan has told the parents of more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamist militants that he will do everything he can to rescue them. More than 150 people attended the meeting including some of the girls who escaped their captors. Mr. Jonathan, who's been criticized for not doing enough to try to rescue the girls, said he was committed to routing the Islamist group Boko Haram.

A racehorse owned by Queen Elizabeth has tested positive for morphine. Buckingham Palace said the prohibited substance was found in Estimate, which won one of England's most prestigious races. The Queen cheered the five-year-old horse when it won the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2013 and came second this year. Buckingham Palace said initial indications are that the positive drugs test resulted from the consumption of a contaminated feed product.

BBC News.