hello, i'm loren taylor. we start with the latest in the israel—gaza war. palestinians are fleeing central gaza where israeli forces have continued their offensive. more than 200 deaths have been reported in the past 2a hours. the un says 150,000 people are on the move around central gaza. in other developments, israel says it regrets the harm caused to civilians in a strike on a refugee camp on december 24th. at least 86 people were reported to have been killed. an israeli minister has warned the military will act to remove hezbollah from the israel—lebanon border if attacks continue. 0urfirst report is from shaimaa khalil — and a warning, her report contains some distressing images from the start. once again, a child tells their story of the war. this child's home in khan younis

was bombed overnight. "we were upstairs," she says, "then we were hit, and i started running." she tries to comfort her sister, but she has no idea that her mother and brother were killed in the strike. her father abdullah sits next to the body bags. he's still in shock. "this is my son," he says. "this morning, he asked me for biscuits. "i went to buy them, and when i came back, "i found him and my wife dead." munitions explode the ground offensive continues to deepen in the southern city of khan younis... ..where hundreds of thousands have fled from the fighting in northern gaza. israel says it's trying to protect civilians during its operation against hamas fighters. but it said it regretted what it called extensive collateral damage in a strike last weekend.

the hamas—run health ministry says at least 86 people were killed in the strike on the maghazi refugee camp in central gaza. israel says it used the wrong type of munition. people shout here injerusalem, thousands of teenagers march towards the israeli parliament. "alive, now," they chanted. they want a new deal to return those still in captivity. the war is not going to end any time soon. that is the message from the israeli government, but that only increases the frustration among the young people gathered here, many of them from communities that have been worst—affected by the october the 7th attacks. their message to those in power — bring the hostages back home now. i'm from kibbutz kfar aza. i was there on the 7th of october, and my people were kidnapped. we want them back. for me, personally, i really hope that it ends for both sides as quickly as possible. war is horrible on either end of it.

in the agony of war, new life begins. iman tends to three of her quadruplets. one is still in intensive care. there is very little food and not enough formula or diapers. she and her family are sheltering in a un school after being forced out of their home in the north. her new babies born into displacement. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, jerusalem. the israeli military has taken journalists into what it says is the largest underground tunnel found so far. since the beginning of the conflict, hamas has maintained an underground network allowing fighters to move, undetected, from one part of the territory to another. finding — and clearing — them has been difficult. this video released by israel shows what it says is part of the tunnel network being destroyed near a hospital in the nasser area of gaza city. the tunnel that our correspondent kasra naji and camera operator

soran qurbani were taken to is not far from the erez border crossing which was breached by hamas when it launched its attacks on israel. here is their report. at the main crossing into northern gaza, for the israeli military, progress in the war has been a lot slower than anticipated. the reason — the vast network of tunnels that hamas is using for hit—and—run attacks on israeli soldiers and for hiding. erez crossing is right behind us. you can see how the entrance was blasted open. the israeli army took us and a group of otherjournalists inside gaza on foot to show us the biggest tunnel that they have discovered so far. there were no restrictions on journalists other than not showing some positions of troop concentration. we are just north of gaza. this is what gaza looks like from here — a devastated shell of a ghost town.

we can hear the sound of heavy machine gunfire and drones flying overhead. there is also the occasional blast of an artillery round. this is the mouth of the huge tunnel israelis have discovered just a few hundred metres from the border with israel. a spokesman for the army, originally from iran, spoke to me in persian. translation: in this tunnel, you can find anything. - you can live in them. you can sleep in them. you can take a bath. you can keep prisoners here for years, if you like. and no—one from the above would know what you are up to. from here, the tunnel doesn't look like a major discovery or a massive engineering feat. but inside it's clear that this has been a major development project for hamas to be able to quickly move gunmen to the border with israel.

the tunnel is wide enough to drive a car through. it's 4.5 kilometres long. it opens in the northern part of the city of gaza. it's wired for electricity and other amenities. it's made of concrete. it must have taken hamas years to build and cost millions of dollars. it begs the question — how did the israeli intelligence agencies miss something of these dimensions? after about 30 metres or so, we were not allowed to go any deeper into the tunnel for our own security. soldiers had their guns and their lights pointed at the dark end of the tunnel, just in case. israel discovered this tunnel over two weeks ago, its mouth hidden in a sand dune. i've just come out of this tunnel. you can only go down this tunnel for about 20 metres or 30 metres. and israeli soldiers stop you from going any further, which means that two weeks

after having been discovered, this tunnel is still not completely safe or secure. the tunnel is... we've been through the whole tunnel from side to side. it branches off into different directions. it goes down. however, you have to understand that these tunnels are very complex, and all of a sudden, you can find another entrance of a tunnel you never knew about. this stretches for kilometres all the way to gaza, into gaza city. this tunnel goes to gaza city. and so therefore cautiously saying that we know every element of this tunnel, but we're not going to take any chances. it is now clear that the tunnels have presented the israeli army with a big challenge. they say the war may now last for many months, particularly now that hamas says it has moved to guerrilla tactics of hit—and—run attacks using these tunnels. kasra naji, bbc, northern gaza.

the united nations has warned the situation in the occupied west bank is rapidly deteriorating and has called for the end to unlawful killings of palestinians. it's released a report which says about 4,785 palestinians have been detained in the occupied west bank since the 7th of october. it also found cases of physical and psychological abuse and torture. nearly 300 palestinians were killed due to israeli military operations in the occupied west bank and eastjerusalem. it details a sharp increase in air strikes and incursions by israeli security forces on densely—populated areas including refugee camps. violent incidents from armed settlers have also increased, including sexual assault, beatings and humiliation. for more, i spoke to ajith sunghay, head of office for the un high commissioner for human rights in the occupied palestinian territory. this report basically casts

a spotlight on the grave human rights violations that are being committed in west bank. what we've seen is a marked increase in the kind and the intensity of violations that have been happening, particularly since the 7th of october, up until yesterday. we felt it was compelling to draw the attention, first of all, the nature of force used by security forces. it is being used as if there is an armed conflict in the west bank, whereas, in fact, according to international law, they should be dealing with this in the framework, in the legal framework, of law enforcement. so what we see now instead is use of fighterjets, bombs being dropped, drones being used, hundreds or thousands of troops also sort of being sent and use of snipers and unlawful and unnecessary force in most cases, which has led, like you said, to the highest number of palestinians killed since we started recording in 2005. so this year alone, we have seen

about 500 people being killed. and tell us about the torture allegations. indeed. thanks. we have about 4,700 palestinians recorded as being detained by the israeli security forces. we do not have access to all detention centres. many of them are inside israel. however, some of them who have been released have had access to us, and we have a range of way of gathering information. based on that, we understand that in many cases, the treatment of detainees have been what we call as ill treatment, and in some cases, that amounts to torture as well. now, tal heinrich, who's a spokesperson for the israeli prime minister's office, has dismissed the report as quite ridiculous and says it completely belittles the major security threats to israelis emerging from judea and samaria, which is how they refer sometimes to the west bank. they say, "we've arrested hundreds of terror suspects and will continue

"to do whatever it takes to maintain our security." given that response, how do you think your report is going to be received by the israeli government? do you think they will listen to it and respond to it positively? unfortunately, i'm not very surprised by the reactions, but we do hope that they will take our recommendations seriously. but the recommendations are notjust for the israelis, but also for the international community. i think if we do not take the report seriously, and the recommendations, our big concern is this is going to fast deteriorate into a further grave security situation, but also grave human rights violations. that's exactly why we thought it was very important to put this report out, to raise an alarm. so we really hope that the israeli authorities take these recommendations seriously and also what we have recorded. and we will be live tojerusalem with the latest on the israel gaza

war later in the bulletin. here in the uk, three men have died after their vehicle was recovered from the river esk near glaisdale in north—east england. police say another man who attempted to help those in the vehicle was pulled to safety from the river. it follows heavy rain and flooding caused by storm gerrit. 100 homes have been damaged by a mini tornado, which ripped through part of greater manchester when the storm blew in. police declared a major incident in tameside, after roofs were torn off homes, trees were blown down and walls collapsed. there were no reports of any injuries. areas surrounding stalybridge were the worst affected, including the village of millbrook. fiona trott reports from greater manchester. the eye of the storm. so strong that some homes couldn't even keep the residents safe. they'll evacuate us now. this tree smashed through a roof just metres from where maisie pilkington slept. if you was to get a wrecking ball and go through the house, it was like, because i opened the door and i thought,

"oh, my god." in daylight, the damage was clearer to see. metal and glass not strong enough, lead not heavy enough to withstand the force of this tornado on her street. what seems to have happened is the tree's hit the roof, gone through my bathroom, so the whole roof and ceiling of my bathroom is down, the tree is in the bathroom. the whole tree is being held up by one branch and it's starting to snap currently, i've been told. so if it does snap, it's going to go through the whole house. it wasn't just maisie�*s street. look at the devastation in other parts of stalybridge. their homes and their lives have been ripped apart. this was the village of carrbrook. and we were so scared, we didn't know what to do. i don't know who phoned the police. police, ambulance, fire brigade, everybody were around. and tonight, hundreds of residents still have questions that can't be answered. can i go back home? when can i go back home? is my house safe? so we're trying to get movement

ion that as quickly as possible, i but the amount of damage that it's | done to the amount of properties, | you know, we haven't got- the resources just yet to get that done very quickly. so we have gone out to get support. what people here are still coming to terms with is how so much devastation was caused by something that lasted less than a minute. tornadoes can be massively damaging. you can see winds in excess of 100mph concentrated on a very small area. that is enough to bring down parts of houses, trees, cause massive amounts of damage. what is striking is how sudden this was but also how random it was, the path of the tornado. how can the roof of one house be completely ripped off and another stay intact? but even those who have been worst affected by this, they say that they feel lucky. they say that repairs and replacements are an inconvenience compared to the tragedy that could have occurred. fiona trott, bbc news, stalybridge.

let's get some of the day's other news now. more than a0 people have died after a fuel tanker crashed and exploded in central liberia. officials say it burst into flame soon after people rushed to the site to scoop fuel from the tanker after it overturned on a road about 130 kilometres from the capital, monrovia. the cause of the crash is unclear. the venezuelan president has ordered the armed forces to hold military exercises. it's in response to a british decision to send a warship to support neighbouring guyana. in a tv address, nicolas maduro said 5,600 soldiers would take part. earlier this month, venezuela resurrected an old claim to an oil—rich region, which for decades has been part of guyana and its colonial predecessor, british guiana. a man who died after a car collided with a group of people in sheffield yesterday has been named as father—of—two christian marriott.

mr marriott was with his wife and two young sons when he went to provide first aid to a woman following an altercation between a group of people. police have described him as a good samaritan who lost his life while helping a stranger. cher has reportedly filed for a conservatorship of her son elijah blue allman due to his alleged substance abuse and mental health issues. court documents seen by us media reportedly claim mr allman — seen here with the star in 2002 — is "substantially unable to manage his financial resources". back now to our top story — the latest in the israel gaza war. let's go live tojerusalem and our correspondent shaimaa khalil. shaimaa, on to ask you first of all about some reports coming from egypt that came up hamas delegation arrived there and they are going to deliver hamas's response to the egyptian initiative for a cease—fire. can you remind us what that was and whether any size likened do agree 2—wood? that

that was and whether any size likened do agree 2-wood? that is the big question- — likened do agree 2-wood? that is the big question- it _ likened do agree 2-wood? that is the big question. it is _ likened do agree 2-wood? that is the big question. it is a _ likened do agree 2-wood? that is the big question. it is a big _ likened do agree 2-wood? that is the big question. it is a big if, _ likened do agree 2-wood? that is the big question. it is a big if, if - big question. it is a big if, if either side is going to express even initial interest or interest in principle, but essentially this is a three stage proposal i egypt that could see the gradual release of hostages in exchange for palestinian prisoners, that could see different phases of pauses in fighting, that could lead to a cease—fire, but essentially the safe delivery and distribution that is desperately neededin distribution that is desperately needed in gaza, but also they have put in a proposal about governance, a governing body of experts they could take over at the administer ration of gaz after the war. but here's what this plane is up against. it is up against israel's determination to expand its military operation, to expand and deepen the ground offensive. we've seen and deepened into central gaza. it also hamas's continuing firing of rockets into israel, as recently as this week. we heard about reports of firing a barrage of rockets into

ashkelon, for example. it is in a vicious plan. it has been thought through with the qataris, the other big negotiators in this conflict, and has been presented to hamas, israel and of course the united states, but again we understand the hamas delegation will give their observations and talk technicalities about this plan of the whether or not this is going to go further, thatis not this is going to go further, that is really the big question. in the meantime, powers and the region are still concerned about this possibly escalating and spreading, with israel suggesting it could open new fronts against hezbollah on the lebanon border?— new fronts against hezbollah on the lebanon border? yes, and if you hear for example — lebanon border? yes, and if you hear for example the _ lebanon border? yes, and if you hear for example the difference _ for example the difference minister, minister gallant, or benny gantz, they have all come out with really strong words about what is happening in israel's northern border —— defence minister. mr gallant has said hezbollah, and this is to do with the exchange of fire in the increase exchange of fire since october the 7th between the israeli

military and hezbollah, remember, hezbollah�*s and that their capabilities is much more sophisticated than hamas and i think this is really the big concern —— military capabilities. they have said that if the world, mr gantz, for instance, said if the world is not conducive solve this problem, not conducive solve this problem, not going to control hamas and distanced them from the border, israel is going to do it itself. apart from the rhetoric and that increased exchange of fire, no one is expecting a huge up in the fighting, if you will. no one wants another big front to happen in the north, in the northern border. you would only have to go back to 2006 and see how destructive that was. but we are seeing tension building on that front.— but we are seeing tension building on that front. shaimaa khalil, thank ou ve on that front. shaimaa khalil, thank you very much _ on that front. shaimaa khalil, thank you very much indeed. _ now to a criminal case which has gripped the united states. a woman who conspired to kill her abusive mother has been released early from prison.

gypsy rose blanchard, pictured on your left, pleaded guilty to the second—degree murder of dee dee blanchard, on the right, in missouri in 2015. the 32—year—old plotted with her boyfriend, nicholas godejohn, to kill her mother following years of abuse. he stabbed dee dee blanchard to death with a knife her daughter gave him and the pair fled the scene. mike landis is an anchor on fox 49 news — he explained to me why the case had been so big in the us. yes, i think it's because it's been so controversial. 0bviously, any time you have a murder case, things seem cut and dry with a crime being committed. but because of this, with her background with gypsy, there was because if you've been following this case, her mother was suffering from what many people believe to be munchausen syndrome, where you basically fake an illness in a child of yours, to simply get attention right there.

so you had a lot of this controversy. 0bviously, gypsy pleaded guilty to the murder of her mother, but a lot of people thought perhaps she wasjustified in doing it because she was kept a hostage by her mother all of those years. here locally, that's been what everybody has talked about back and forth was — was she justified, was she being abused and did she have a reason to do that? but she did commit a murder, according to her own admission there in court. so i think that's why you've had a lot of people on both sides of this the entire time. tell us a bit about the boy. the boyfriend is still in prison, as i understand it. what happens to him? he has been placed in prison for life and that's why a lot of people have also wondered how it turned out. 0bviously, gypsy was sentenced to ten years — getting out early now, of course — but she was able to make a plea deal with prosecutors basically testifying against nicholas godejohn, and with that, that sent him to prison for life. so he is obviously the one who used the knife that did the actual killing while gypsy was convicted of her planning in that. but he will be in prison

there for the rest of his life. a lot of people are wondering, is it fair that he's going to prison for the rest of his life, whereas gypsy is getting out after these eight years? that's one thing that obviously was left to the court to decide on that. and in the meantime, gypsy has been talking, giving interviews — she gave an interview from inside prison and it sounds as though she said she actually regrets what she did. tell us a bit more about what she's been saying. yeah, basically, with that, with the background of this, from a time when she was an infant, gypsy was held hostage by her mother, made to believe that she had all these ailments — was able to convince doctors to perform unnecessary treatments and surgery on gypsy for all of those years. and so with that, gypsy has said, "you know, perhaps i shouldn't "have killed my mother, maybe i could have "gone to the police." it's been a controversial issue with that as well, because this family was led the entire community to believe that this girl was sick, she was disabled, and nobody wants to be the person to question that.

whether it be a doctor, people with charities, nobody wants to call somebody out on a sickness or a disability saying, "that's fake." and so gypsy would have said that had she tried speaking out. and in fact, she did try running away and telling people. but the mother, dee dee, was able to come back and say, "you know, gypsy, she's disabled, she's mentally ill. "i'm the one in charge of her. "don't believe her." and so with that, gypsy said that she could have gone and gotten help, but she felt at the very end that that was her only way out to freedom was, unfortunately, to end the life of her mother. finally this half an hour, we wanted to take you to spain to show you these pictures. every december the 28th, residents of the town of ibi in alicante stock up on flour and eggs for a 200—year—old festival that takes place on the day of the innocents — spain's version of april fool's day. they basically throw flour and eggs at each other. locals who don't take part are fined and all the money goes to charity.

they seem to dress up in mock military garb for this festival. 20,000 people took part, 10,000 kilos of eggs. do stay with us on bbc news. good evening. well, storm gerrit certainly brought some challenging weather conditions on wednesday, particularly for those of you returning back from seeing friends and family over the christmas period. now, an early heads—up if you're travelling this weekend to see in the new year, as further heavy rain forecast, maybe some snow likely in the north, and the winds — widespread gales on exposed coasts. so that's worth bearing in mind. through the night tonight, we'll see a rash of showers turning increasingly wintry in scotland, some showers into northern ireland. a milder story further south, with rain easing.

here, around 5—9 degrees. going to be a chilly start in scotland, though. still under the influence of low pressure, and with the winds coming round to a northerly, that means that showers to higher ground in scotland could be a mix of rain, sleet and snow. got this weak weather front as well. that's going to produce some persistent outbreaks of showery rain into northern ireland, north—west england. and a westerly flow will drive in a few scattered showers across south—west england and wales, which will drift its way steadily eastwards as we go through the day. here, we'lljust scrape double—digits, but a cooler story across the far north and east of scotland in particular. now, as we move out of friday into saturday, here's that area of low pressure which could cause some further travel disruption, bringing some wet and windy weather in from the west. now, ahead of it, under clearer skies, we could see temperatures falling below freezing in the far north of scotland, so a cold start. and that could be relevant as that front starts to move in. so, first thing on saturday, dry and bright, but the rain will start to push in from the west and some of it quite heavy.

and as it bumps into that colder air, we'll see some snow even at lower levels for scotland as well. so it's going to be a windy day. the best of the drier weather through the midlands, east anglia, south—east england. 12 degrees the high. the rain heavy as it moves its way gradually into south—west england, wales and northern england. some real torrential downpours likely. a brighter end to the day in northern ireland, but look at this. yes, we could see some snow even at lower levels for scotland, and that's worth bearing in mind, accompanied by gale—force gusts of winds. so that low pushes through at quite a pace in the early hours of sunday morning. sunday is, of course, new year's eve, and for those of you out and about, it is going to get a little bit cooler, but it's going to stay pretty unsettled. happy new year.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. 50 years ago, london had a terrible reputation for food. generally, it was bland, stodgy and overcooked. but all of that has changed and now this city is a gastronomic destination. my guest today, michel roux, has played a big part

in that transformation. his restaurant, le gavroche, has won michelin stars and international acclaim. but now, he's closing it. so is this the end of a golden age of master chefs and fine dining? michel roux, welcome to hardtalk. it is a great pleasure to be sitting in this restaurant, one of the most famous in london, been in your family for the best part of six decades. the countdown to closure has begun. how do you feel about that? incredibly mixed emotions. it's... it's obviously happiness because there's light

at the end of the tunnel, and by that, i mean not in a negative way,