israeli air strikes pound the north and south of gaza. fist israeli air strikes pound the north and south of gaza.— and south of gaza. at least 110 palestinians _ and south of gaza. at least 110 palestinians were _ and south of gaza. at least 110 palestinians were killed - and south of gaza. at least 110 palestinians were killed in - and south of gaza. at least 110 - palestinians were killed in jabalia. palestinians were killed injabalia. according to the hamas run health ministry. meanwhile, hundreds of civilians are believed to be trapped inside a catholic church in gaza city. international pressure for a ceasefire intensifies — as us defence secretary lloyd austin arrives in tel aviv for talks with his israeli counterpart. this is the seen live in tel aviv where any moment now we expect to hear the outcome of those talks. the bbc understands the democratic unionist party has ruled out any deal to restore power sharing in northern ireland before christmas. hello, i'm rajini vaidyanthan, welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them.

let's ta ke let's take you to those live pictures from tel aviv where we expect to hear from lloyd austin, the us defence secretary, who is on a visit to israel. he's been holding talks there, and we are being told that the news conference will get under way any time soon. so we are going to keep that box up there so we can go to the news conference whenever it comes in. the united states is becoming increasingly isolated in its strong support for israel's military campaign. on sunday, britain, germany and france called for work towards a "sustainable ceasefire". this is a live shot, looking across at gaza. we have seen images like this of smoke across the skyline through the day.

hamas officials say that 110 palestinians were killed in israeli airstrikes onjabalia — the biggest refugee camp in gaza — on sunday. israel has issued no direct response — but say it's been targeting terrorist infrastructure. on the programme today we'll get more on conditions in gaza and the diplomatic response to the conflict. i'll also speak to senior advisor to the israeli prime minister, mark regev. but first, we start with this report from our middle east correspondent yolande knell — and a warning you may find some of the images in her report distressing. panic at the nasser hospital last night. wounded children brought in for treatment were newly injured by an israeli artillery strike, the hospital says. one 13—year—old, who had already lost her parents, hersibling, her leg, lost her life. recently, she had spoken tojournalists, appealing for treatment overseas. "my name is donia abu mohsen," she says. "my dream is to become a doctor

and treat our children." this small hospital in khan younis is increasingly finding itself near the front line, as israel's military has pushed into southern gaza. now doctors here say it is a struggle to care for patients at all. this is the last residue, as a major hospital in the south. it's the last residue for patients. it's the last sanctuary for people, as shelter. earlier in the day, this was british emergency doctor chris hook at the nasser hospital. he is at the end of a gruelling month in gaza. dr chris, who is normally based at bristol royal infirmary, but has worked on other war and disaster zones, told the bbc he'd never seen such a scale of injuries and death. there's not enough space, there's not enough supply. there's not enough staff

to treat all these injuries, and more keep coming, and you can hear even now, shelling going on around. the hospital site remains packed with thousands of displaced people, and last night the number of casualties could have been far higher. it appears the shell which hit here didn't explode. the israeli military hasn't commented on whether the hospital was a target, but it said it was attacking terrorists and terrorist infrastructure in the city. today, more israeli strikes on khan younis, seen as a stronghold of hamas. even as international calls for a ceasefire in gaza are mounting, the war here remains intense. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. let's look at another situation we've been keeping across in recent days. hundreds of civilians are trapped in a catholic church in gaza city, as israeli forces operate nearby. the catholic authority injerusalem says two women, were shot dead in the compound

of the holy family church. israel's army said it found no evidence its soldiers were involved. the group has been seeking refuge in the church for more than 60 days. amongst them, extended family members of british mp layla moran — including a a grandmother, her son, his wife and their ii—year—old twins. joining me is munther isaac, author and director at christ at the checkpoint — who is in touch with some of those inside the church. juan could you tell us more about who is inside that church? halli juan could you tell us more about who is inside that church?- who is inside that church? half of the christian _ who is inside that church? half of the christian community - who is inside that church? half of the christian community or- who is inside that church? half of the christian community or more| who is inside that church? half of i the christian community or more in gaza. some have been in the orthodox church and some in the catholic church. the christian community is divided between these two churches. there are more christians in the catholic church right now and there are in the orthodox church, and in

fact many christians left the orthodox church when it was bombed earlier in the war and sought refuge in the catholic church. what earlier in the war and sought refuge in the catholic church.— in the catholic church. what sort of conversations _ in the catholic church. what sort of conversations are _ in the catholic church. what sort of conversations are you _ in the catholic church. what sort of conversations are you having - in the catholic church. what sort of conversations are you having with l conversations are you having with some of those trapped inside? we 'ust some of those trapped inside? - just tried to encourage them and try to give them a companion here because they feel lonely, they feel trapped and they are horrified. definitely two days ago when i talked to one of them they were in shock with the incident, the shooting of two women in front of them and when they tried to go and rescue them they were shot at as well. they are very fearful, especially as they have children with them inside. they now feel and know there is no safe place in gaza and everything and everybody is a target, it seems, in this brutal war. ~ target, it seems, in this brutal war. �* , ., ., . target, it seems, in this brutal war. ~ war. munther isaac, can i ask you what exactly _

war. munther isaac, can i ask you what exactly they _ war. munther isaac, can i ask you what exactly they have _ war. munther isaac, can i ask you what exactly they have said - war. munther isaac, can i ask you what exactly they have said they l what exactly they have said they have seen? obviously we are hearing different reports coming from inside the church. but i'd like to know what they have told you they have seen first hand?— what they have told you they have seen first hand? what they have told us is that the — seen first hand? what they have told us is that the two _ seen first hand? what they have told us is that the two women _ seen first hand? what they have told us is that the two women left - seen first hand? what they have told us is that the two women left the - us is that the two women left the solidity of the century to use the rest rooms and while in the space in front of the church and they were shot at and those in the church who saw that and tried to go and rescue them quickly were shot at as well. seven more people were injured. they were definitely in shock and fear. they were talking with a sense of emotion, they were very emotional when we talk to them. but this is what we heard, that they did nothing, not only that but there is nothing, not only that but there is no one else beside that community within the compound of the church. they talk about snipers who were

around them in the buildings. the catholic church, like the orthodox church, is in a very central place within the city and the christian community has been determined not to leave the city centre to the unknown in the south and what my friend told me, i don't want to end up there, if i die i will die here in the church. to be clear, who are they saying is responsible for the shootings? the? responsible for the shootings? they sa israeli responsible for the shootings? they say israeli snipers. _ responsible for the shootings? tie: say israeli snipers. the communication letter that came from the church said they were shot in cold blood by israeli idf soldiers. this is the report from within the church that was confirmed by jerusalem. church that was confirmed by jerusalem-— church that was confirmed by jerusalem. ~ ., ., , ., ,

jerusalem. what conditions are they livin: in? jerusalem. what conditions are they living in? we _ jerusalem. what conditions are they living in? we had _ jerusalem. what conditions are they living in? we had another— jerusalem. what conditions are they living in? we had another person i living in? we had another person speaking to a colleague on bbc radio this morning talking about how there is limited food there, how they are surviving off boiled spaghetti and very little else.— very little else. they have been da s very little else. they have been days when _ very little else. they have been days when they _ very little else. they have been days when they have _ very little else. they have been days when they have survived l very little else. they have been - days when they have survived from two pieces of dates all day. they are living in constant fear. they are living in constant fear. they are not sleeping because of the bombardment. someone in the church told us that one day in this war is worse than all previous wars combined in terms of the intensity of the bombardment. they are fearful for theirfamilies, of the bombardment. they are fearful for their families, especially those who have children with them. there is a sense of panic. and on top of all of that, almost all of them from what we have heard when during the ceasefire left the church to go to their homes and get winter clothes and check on their homes discover that their homes were destroyed stop more than around 100 houses between

fully destroyed and partially destroyed. so now if they survive, and this is their hope, they have to face it alone because they are basically homeless, they have nowhere to go after this war is over. ~ , ., , over. munther, is there anywhere else for them _ over. munther, is there anywhere else for them to _ over. munther, is there anywhere else for them to go, _ over. munther, is there anywhere else for them to go, are - over. munther, is there anywhere else for them to go, are they - over. munther, is there anywhere| else for them to go, are they able to leave the church at the moment? at this time they say it is even dangerous to step outside of any building, let alone outside of the church compound in the street. their report of constant shooting around the church compound. as i said, the two churches, the orthodox and catholic, are in a very central place and it seems there are battles around them. i can't confirm but this is their sense. they are not able to go outside and check. the solar system on the roof and many windows and so on have been damaged already within the church compound.

they hear all the time bombings around them and remains of the bombs, they find them at the church compound. so there are fierce battles around them everywhere. munther isaac, thank you for bringing us up to date with the conversations you have been having with people inside the church. joining me now from tel aviv is mark regev, senior adviser to the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. thank you forjoining us. you are listening to that interview with munther isaac. what can you tell us has been happening inside the church? we tell us has been happening inside the church?— tell us has been happening inside the church? ~ . . ., ., the church? we are aware that the --eole the church? we are aware that the peeple have _ the church? we are aware that the people have taken _ the church? we are aware that the people have taken shelter - the church? we are aware that the people have taken shelter in - the church? we are aware that the people have taken shelter in the i people have taken shelter in the church, which everyone recognises is a safe place because there has been fighting in the vicinity between the israeli defence forces and the hamas terrorists and civilians obviously don't want to be caught up in the

crossfire and have entered the church. they don't feel safe to be outside the church. and we have been talking to the christian leadership both injerusalem and local leaders in gaza and we have been providing aid and support to those people. and we don't want to see any civilians, nor the civilians, being caught up in the crossfire. we nor the civilians, being caught up in the crossfire.— nor the civilians, being caught up in the crossfire. we heard munther isaac in the crossfire. we heard munther isaac saying _ in the crossfire. we heard munther isaac saying that _ in the crossfire. we heard munther isaac saying that idf _ in the crossfire. we heard munther isaac saying that idf sniper - in the crossfire. we heard munther isaac saying that idf sniper shot i in the crossfire. we heard munther isaac saying that idf sniper shot at those people in the church. what do you say to that?— you say to that? categorically we don't target _ you say to that? categorically we don't target civilians. _ you say to that? categorically we don't target civilians. that's - you say to that? categorically we don't target civilians. that's not l don't target civilians. that's not what we do, that is against our rules of engagement. what i can say is there were five fights within the vicinity of the churches, not by accident, but people went into the church because it is a combat zone. there has been an exchange of fire. if there were members of the christian community who were caught up christian community who were caught up in the crossfire between the

israeli defence forces and the hamas terrorists, then that is unfortunately a possibility and we are checking into that now as we speak. i5 are checking into that now as we seak. , . . ., ., speak. is the church a target? do ou speak. is the church a target? do you believe _ speak. is the church a target? do you believe that _ speak. is the church a target? do you believe that hamas _ speak. is the church a target? do | you believe that hamas operatives are operating there. is that why there might be idf operatives, as our witnesses are saying, inside the church? it our witnesses are saying, inside the church? , . ., ., ., , church? it is unclear to me at this state. church? it is unclear to me at this stage. obviously, _ church? it is unclear to me at this stage. obviously, as— church? it is unclear to me at this stage. obviously, as you - church? it is unclear to me at this stage. obviously, as you know, . church? it is unclear to me at this. stage. obviously, as you know, it's been documented numerous cases in the past of hamas terrorists abusing protected sites like hospitals, like schools, like mosques, and in this case a church. so we can't exclude that possibility. hamas, as has been said by the uk government, by the european union, by the united states, hamas has a deliberate strategy of using those sort of protected sites as a human shield for its war machine and it must be condemned for doing so. flan for its war machine and it must be condemned for doing so.— for its war machine and it must be condemned for doing so. can i play this cli - , condemned for doing so. can i play this clip. mr _ condemned for doing so. can i play this clip, mr regev, _ condemned for doing so. can i play this clip, mr regev, from _ condemned for doing so. can i play this clip, mr regev, from layla - this clip, mr regev, from layla moran, a liberal democrat member of

parliament here who has family who are in that church? now they are without water, without food and there is a sniper inside the compound. there is a woman and her daughter who have been killed. and what's been happening is as they try and leave their room, say, to go to the toilet, or something, there is firing at them. either the rules of engagement are being ignored orthere is a plan to clear the whole of gaza. whatever it is, it needs to stop. my family are not justifiable collateral damage in this war. they have nothing to do with hamas. they do not deserve this and nor do the tens of thousands of innocent palestinians who have died so far either. mr regev, you heard layla moran say herfamily and mr regev, you heard layla moran say her family and thousands of others in gaza should not be collateral damage for israel's war. what would you say to her? i

damage for israel's war. what would you say to her?— you say to her? i would agree with her, we you say to her? i would agree with her. we don't _ you say to her? i would agree with her, we don't want _ you say to her? i would agree with her, we don't want to _ you say to her? i would agree with her, we don't want to see - you say to her? i would agree with her, we don't want to see a - you say to her? i would agree with her, we don't want to see a single| her, we don't want to see a single civilian caught up in the crossfire. that is why, already two months ago, when we knew the area where the church is was going to be a war zone we urged civilians to leave the area precisely because we did know it would become a war zone and we didn't want to see them caught up in the crossfire.— the crossfire. there has been nearly 20,000 civilian — the crossfire. there has been nearly 20,000 civilian deaths _ the crossfire. there has been nearly 20,000 civilian deaths since - the crossfire. there has been nearly 20,000 civilian deaths since the - the crossfire. there has been nearly| 20,000 civilian deaths since the war began. 20,000 civilian deaths since the war bean. �* , , 20,000 civilian deaths since the war beian, �* , , . ., 20,000 civilian deaths since the war bean. h, . ., ':: ':: began. let's be clear, some 90, 90 596 of the civilians _ began. let's be clear, some 90, 90 596 of the civilians of _ began. let's be clear, some 90, 90 596 of the civilians of northern - began. let's be clear, some 90, 90 596 of the civilians of northern gaza | 5% of the civilians of northern gaza and specifically of that area chose to heed our advice and to leave, and so doing save their lives. —— 95%. i'm sure if you can see the pictures of the area, i have to explain, this is an intensive combat zone where we have taken casualties in our soldiers, in constant firefights with hamas terrorists," a fighting, not easy, and obviously it is best if civilians leave the area. these people have stayed and they are in the church and we will make our

utmost effort to make sure that they remain safe out of the firing. that's our commitment as a democratic society. flan that's our commitment as a democratic society.- that's our commitment as a democratic society. can i pick up on what ou democratic society. can i pick up on what you have _ democratic society. can i pick up on what you have said _ democratic society. can i pick up on what you have said there? - democratic society. can i pick up on what you have said there? are - democratic society. can i pick up on what you have said there? are you| what you have said there? are you blaming the civilians in northern gaza for staying there when many say they have nowhere else to go? that gaza for staying there when many say they have nowhere else to go? hot at they have nowhere else to go? not at all. i don't blame _ they have nowhere else to go? not at all. i don't blame anyone _ they have nowhere else to go? not at all. i don't blame anyone for - all. i don't blame anyone for staying. ijust said that all. i don't blame anyone for staying. i just said that we all. i don't blame anyone for staying. ijust said that we knew in advance this was going to be a war zone and that's why we urged people to leave. but we know they are in the church and we will make every effort to safeguard them. you do know, of course, that hamas has deliberately endangered civilians by using schools and churches and mosques to shoot out of because they want to use gaza civilians as human shields. as i said, notjust israel say so, the uk says that is their strategy, the european union, the americans and others, this is a documented modus operandi of hamas, it is their strategy. you documented modus operandi of hamas, it is their strategy.— it is their strategy. you mentioned the us, it is their strategy. you mentioned the us, the _ it is their strategy. you mentioned the us, the uk— it is their strategy. you mentioned the us, the uk and _ it is their strategy. you mentioned the us, the uk and other - it is their strategy. you mentioned | the us, the uk and other european countries. what we have seen in the

last few days is a change in position for some of israel's steadfast allies. let me bring you some comments from former uk defence secretary ben wallace that i wanted to put to you. he says of prime minister netanyahu, if he thinks a killing rage will rectify matters, then he is very wrong. his methods will not solve this problem. he goes on to say, his actions are radicalising muslim youth across the globe. is your military offensive now actually in the longer term going to make people in israel less safe than safer? i going to make people in israel less safe than safer?— safe than safer? i beg to disagree with ben. safe than safer? i beg to disagree with ben- i— safe than safer? i beg to disagree with ben. i think— safe than safer? i beg to disagree with ben. i think the _ safe than safer? i beg to disagree with ben. i think the worst - safe than safer? i beg to disagree with ben. i think the worst thing l with ben. i think the worst thing that could happen is that hamas has a victory. if hamas has a victory, if somehow israel is not committed to destroying hamas, then that will energise extremism across the planet, notjust in gaza because that will empower islamic extremists to say we can win. while if israel defeats hamas, which we will come and will defeat them decisively, that discredits hamas. that shows

the people of gaza and everyone, where does this path of extremism and violence and terrorism and brutality, where does that take the palestinians? only to a dead end. that can help actually create space, i believe, for more moderate and pragmatic voices.— i believe, for more moderate and pragmatic voices. briefly, i want to come u- pragmatic voices. briefly, i want to come up on — pragmatic voices. briefly, i want to come up on something _ pragmatic voices. briefly, i want to come up on something else - pragmatic voices. briefly, i want to come up on something else that i pragmatic voices. briefly, i want to| come up on something else that mr wallace said, he says israel is losing its moral authority alongside its legal one. are you concerned that you are starting to lose some of that steadfast support? you raise two questions. _ of that steadfast support? you raise two questions, moral— of that steadfast support? you raise two questions, moral authority - of that steadfast support? you raise two questions, moral authority and | two questions, moral authority and political support. two questions, moral authority and politicalsupport. i've two questions, moral authority and political support. i've just come out of a meeting with the us secretary of defence, austin, who is visiting israel and will shortly be speaking and i heard from him very strong support for israel's right to defend itself. in fact, our obligation to protect our people. i heard from him a common vision that we have to defeat how mass and we have to see a new reality in gaza where hamas is no longer ruling the

enclave. let's be clear, israelis simply refuse to live any longer next to this terrorist on clave in constant fear that terrorists will cross the border and kill their children in the middle of the night. no, we don't want to live than that, no one should have to live like that. a , . no one should have to live like that. a, , ., ., , no one should have to live like that. , ., ., , ., that. maya regev “oining us from israel, thank — that. maya regev “oining us from israel, thank you _ that. maya regev joining us from israel, thank you for _ that. maya regev joining us from israel, thank you for your - that. maya regev joining us from - israel, thank you for your comments. the us secretary of defence lloyd austin is in israel and we expect to hear from austin is in israel and we expect to hearfrom him at a news austin is in israel and we expect to hear from him at a news conference in tel aviv. these are the live pictures of the podium. as soon as mr austin takes to the podium we will bring you the news conference. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some of the other stories making the news. a new type of non—hormonal menopause treatment for hot flushes and night sweats has been approved in the uk. the daily pill, veozah — or fezolinetant — works

on the brain's temperature—control centre to alleviate symptoms, which affect more than a million people in the uk. the drug has not yet been recommended for the nhs to prescribe. thousands of xl bully owners have been told they will not need to put down their dogs when a ban on the breed comes into force in two weeks. from december 31st, the dogs will have to be muzzled in public and it will be illegal to breed, sell or abandon them. people with dangerously out of control dogs can be jailed for 1h years. the government is expected to announce that it's planning a provisional increase of 6.5% in its funding for local councils in england next year. a final figure will be agreed by the treasury early in the new year. councils have been warning that they face significant budgetary pressures. those are some of the other stories we have been taking a look at in the newsroom. you're live with bbc news. we are staying with developments in the middle east and we are in the next few moments expecting to hear

from the us secretary of defence lloyd austin who is on a visit to the region. as you can see next to me, there is the podium. it is all set in tel aviv. we will keep the pictures there so we stay across them. as soon as we see mr austin or his counterpart take to the podium we will bring you that statement live as it happens. now to northern ireland. and the bbc understands the democratic unionist party has ruled out the prospect of a deal to restore devolved power at stormont before christmas. northern ireland has been without a devolved government for almost two years, after the democratic unionist party withdrew support following brexit. the westminster government wanted the devolved assembly to be recalled this week so ministers could be appointed — but it's understood the dup's position is that the negotiating process is not yet complete. here's our ireland correspondent, chris page. this is a time of year when people tend to think of christmas parties rather than political parties. but in northern ireland,

the festive season has often brought frantic negotiations. the 25th of december can be seen as an unofficial deadline. the westminster government had hoped that the devolved power—sharing assembly at stormont would be recalled this week to appoint ministers. there had been signs that a deal to bring back devolution was moving closer. but it's understood the democratic unionist party has now ruled out returning to stormont before christmas. the dup has said it's not being led by calendar dates. other parties say patience has run out. well, obviously it's the dup that we're all waiting for to make a decision. but in northern ireland politics, we're well used to those deadline points. and there have been instances in the past where at the very last minute, when it looked like the light was going out, the light came on.

and i would urge my dup colleagues to actually put people first. what we've had instead is raising waiting lists and the health service, we've had public sector workers out on strike because they haven't been paid properly and all because we don't have a government. so there really is no reason to wait any longer. the people are bored of all of this and they're quite angry that politicians who are being paid to go to work, aren't going to work. people working in the public sector in northern ireland say their pay has fallen behind england, scotland and wales. a series of strikes is continuing, the most recent by transport workers at the weekend. we have seen teachers out. we have seen nurses out and now we're seeing transport workers out. there's a serious crisis in the public finances in northern ireland. the trade union movement is on record as saying of course it would be better to have local institutions in place for all those things like local democracy, accountability. they should have their salary taken away _ they should have their salary taken away if _ they should have their salary taken away if they— they should have their salary taken away if they will _ they should have their salary taken away if they will not _ they should have their salary taken away if they will not help _ they should have their salary taken away if they will not help us - they should have their salary taken away if they will not help us move i away if they will not help us move forward _ away if they will not help us move forward with — away if they will not help us move forward with our— away if they will not help us move forward with our lives _ away if they will not help us move forward with our lives and - away if they will not help us move forward with our lives and our- forward with our lives and our progress _

there are so many important issues going on that we need to deal with. and i feel everything is being swept by the wayside. whether stormont does return depends on whether the dup lifts its veto on power—sharing. the party's been pushing for the trade border with great britain to be eased. it says brexit arrangements have damaged northern ireland's place in the uk. the dup is being told not to budge by more hard—line unionists. the negotiations today will focus on financial support for a new devolved government. but the politicians who are here still don't know if they'll get to spend the money. live now to our correspondent, charlotte gallagher, who's in belfast. we were listening to chris's report. what are the chances of something being agreed?— being agreed? there was so much 0 timism being agreed? there was so much optimism last _ being agreed? there was so much optimism last week _ being agreed? there was so much optimism last week about - being agreed? there was so much i optimism last week about potentially a deal being struck. it seemed the democratic unionist party were moving towards that, perhaps a return to devolution in northern

ireland, because as chris said there has not been a devolved government here for almost two years. that means key decisions about things like health care, education, they arejust like health care, education, they are just not being like health care, education, they arejust not being made. in the building behind me, that's where the four largest parties and the uk government are having talks at the moment. but as it stands, we do not think they are going to come out later today and say yes, a deal has been struck a devolved government is going to return to northern ireland before christmas. the bbc understands that the dup have said more work needs to be done, they are not going to be set by a calendar, they're going to be set by their conditions. so the government at the moment is offering money for the northern ireland executive to go back, £2.5 billion, for public services here. but for the dup there is a bigger issue than the money, it's about those post—brexit trading arrangements. essentially when goods come in to northern ireland at the moment from the uk they have to be checked. the dup believe that puts their position in the union at

stake, they are being treated differently to england, scotland and wales and they are being incredibly unhappy about that. as it stands thatis unhappy about that. as it stands that is a big stumbling block for the dup than any kind of cash for public services. if they do go back into stormont they will probably have to compromise on that but we don't know how big a compromise they are willing to make.— are willing to make. charlotte ganauo, are willing to make. charlotte ganago. joining _ are willing to make. charlotte ganago, joining us _ are willing to make. charlotte ganago, joining us from - are willing to make. charlotte i ganago, joining us from belfast are willing to make. charlotte - ganago, joining us from belfast for the moment, thank you very much. before we go this half an hour, let's take a view to those live pictures of the podium in tel aviv. we expect to hear a statement from the us defence secretary lloyd austin. we have had a statement from him. he was saying he was here to emphasise what president biden has said over and over again, our commitment to israel is unquestionable. i am commitment to israel is unquestionable. iam here commitment to israel is unquestionable. i am here to mourn with you for the soul is taken on the 7th of october. america's commitment to israel is strong. but it does come as the us position does seem to have changed since the

beginning of israel's military offensive. we will have a news conference as it still happens. do stay with us. hello. the big day is just a week away, but the weather is not currently looking particularly festive. a lot of cloud out there, some outbreaks of rain. it is going to become very windy over the next few days. but as colder air tries to tuck in from the north, we do have the chance for some snow in some places later in the week. we find ourselves in something of a battleground — cold air to the north of us trying to dig in, mild air trying to push in from the south. in between, we find the jet stream, the stream of very strong winds high up in the atmosphere, spinning up various areas of low pressure. we end monday on a pretty mild note in most places. a lot of cloud, still some patchy rain across england and wales, clearer skies for parts of the far north of england, northern ireland and scotland, albeit with this weather front pushing its way southwards. overnight, we see cloud and heavy rain developing across england and wales. clearer skies for northern ireland and scotland. showers, which could be wintry over high ground in scotland, maybe cold enough for frost and ice

in parts of northern scotland, whereas further south it remains very mild into tuesday morning, with some outbreaks of heavy and persistent rain. but that rain will tend to clear southwards through the day. behind it the skies will brighten. we'll see some spells of sunshine, but scattered showers rushing in on quite a brisk north—westerly wind. some of those showers will be wintry over high ground in scotland and temperatures dropping away. colder air pushing its way down from the north. however, by wednesday we get back into milder air. wednesday is going to be a windy day, quite a cloudy day. there will be some bits and pieces of rain around, some heavier rain across some parts of western and northern scotland and temperatures back up into double digits for many. through wednesday night and into thursday, we looking and into thursday, we're looking at a potentially quite a deep area of low pressure passing to the north of the uk and, as this cold front slips southwards, well, that will bring

a return of colder air. we will see some wintry showers. in fact, snow showers to quite low levels in scotland, coupled with very strong or gale force winds that could well give blizzard conditions. further south, cloud and outbreaks of rain. holding on to some mild air in the south, something colder further north. as we head into the christmas period, there's some uncertainty aboutjust how long that cold air will stick around. it may be cold enough for some of us to see snow in the run—up to christmas.