hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan. you're watching the context on bbc news. the focus of the onslaught very much in khan younis, the largest city in the south of gaza and where the israeli defence forces believe that some of the most senior hamas leaders are holed up in tunnels. translation: israel needs security control over all territory west - of the jordan river. i think that it would be. a mistake to...for israel to occupy gaza again. israel cannot allow afford to allow a future palestinian entity to sign treaties, defence pacts with people like iran, or hezbollah fighters to visit and join them for exercises and joint operations.

coming up on the programme — israeli forces step up their assault on southern gaza's main city, khan younis, after intense air strikes and street fighting. it comes as differences emerge between the us and israel over what happens once the war ends. israel's pm benjamin netanyahu has dismissed the idea of a palestinian state. with 2,800 jobs to go at tata steel�*s plants in the uk, we ask where this leaves britain's steel industry — and take a look at the environmental arguments which the company says have driven the losses. and fans sue madonna for showing up to a gig more than two hours prince harry dropped his libel claim. good evening. we begin with the situation in gaza and growing concerns for the safety of hundreds of thousands of palestinians in the south of the territory — as israeli forces stage a renewed offensive against hamas. tanks have been pushing deeper into the territory's

second biggest city, khan younis. this is the eighth day of a communications blackout — these images shared by the israel defence forces show the battle on the ground. there have also been intense airstrikes. the united nations has warned that the conflict risks creating a society where order has broken down — and a generation of children "could lose out completely". the war has already killed more than 2a,000 palestinians and laid waste to much of gaza s infrastructure and civic society. 90% of educational buildings, universities and schools have been damaged or destroyed , according to the united nations. the world health organization also says that only 13 of gaza's 36 hospitals are functional — many have been damaged in airstrikes. and the un says two mothers are killed every hour in gaza.

our correspondent wyre davies reports. the impact of israel's bombing campaign in gaza is astonishing. its aim, to completely crush hamas, has also destroyed or damaged more than half of gaza's buildings. more than 2a,000 people have been killed, says the hamas—run health ministry. the war has also laid waste to much of gaza's infrastructure and civic society. this un school, blown up by celebrating israeli troops who accused hamas of using these buildings. major universities and more than 100 schools have been damaged or destroyed. like any society, gaza's future is its children. but here, they're victims of war. and, says the un, they may lose out completely on what should be rightfully theirs. you have today about half a million children in the primary and secondary school system.

how would they go back if you cannot bring people back to their home, which have been completely destroyed? and i'm afraid that here we are taking the risk to lose a generation of children. gaza's health system, too, is broken. the world health organization says that only 13 of gaza's 36 hospitals are functional. those who need treatment often go without. translation: i was receiving regular medical treatment for my cancer - at the hospital here in gaza. but during the israeli aggression, medical treatments have not been provided for the past four months. since this war began, israel's unprecedented bombing of gaza's main conurbations has laid much of the territory to waste. very few areas, from north to south, have escaped without damage. israel disputes the scale of gaza's humanitarian crisis, and says it doesn't target civilians or public infrastructure unless it's

suspected of being used by armed palestinian groups. israel also rejects accusations that it's deliberately turning gaza into a wasteland so people will have no option other than to leave. israel says it wants to allow in as much aid as the agencies can distribute, and it's not trying to demolish gaza's civic structures. but with key institutions like law courts and gaza's parliament also in ruins, there's not much of a society left. wyre davies, bbc news. the assault on khan younis comes as the white house has criticised the israeli prime minister's public opposition to the creation of a palestinian state. latest reports say presdent biden has held talks with mr netanyahu. while washington supports israel's campaign against hamas in gaza, despite otherwise close ties, the two allies have publicly aired differences again over the way forward. on thursday, benjamin netanyahu

dismissed the possibility of palestinian sovereignty — saying israel needed control over all of the west bank and gaza for its security. translation: in any arrangement in the foreseeable future, - with a settlement or without a settlement, israel needs security control over all territory west of the jordan river. this is a necessary condition and it clashes with the idea of palestinian sovereignty. what can you do? i tell this truth to our american friends and i also stopped the attempts to impose a reality on us that would harm israel's security. the prime minister needs to be capable of saying no to our friends, saying no when necessary and saying yes when possible. responding to mr netanyahu's remarks, the official spokesperson for palestinian president mahmud abbas, said that without an independent palestinian state "there will be no security and stability in the region". mr abbas, alongside the us and many other countries have long been

proponents of a two—state solution, saying it's the best hope for peace in the israeli—palestinian conflict. this is how the territories look at the moment. a future solution would see an independent palestinian state established alongside the existing one of israel — giving both peoples their own territory. it is the official position of the uk, us, the united nations, and until now, israel. so what next and how does this end? to talk more, i am joined by gina abercrombie—winstanley, a former us ambassador who has served in a number of diplomatic roles in the middle east — including monitoring elections in gaza. gina has worked with secretary of state antony blinken — and joe biden, when he was a senator. welcome. can i get your thoughts on the comments from benjamin netanyahu

first? the comments from ben'amin netanyahu first? ~ , , the comments from ben'amin netanyahu first? . , , ., ~ first? well, he is being frank, finall , first? well, he is being frank, finally. after _ first? well, he is being frank, finally, after years _ first? well, he is being frank, finally, after years of - first? well, he is being frank, finally, after years of going i finally, after years of going back—and—forth with us officials, stating publicly he was supportive of finding a two state solution, so now the gloves are clearly of. part of this, many others understand to be part of his calculation of remaining prime minister of israel as long as the war continues. there won't be elections calls, he has lost his mantle of mr security. this may help and be a way of getting it backin may help and be a way of getting it back in his mind. we have a return to the original definition of from the river to the sea, because that is what he is talking about with regard to israeli control of territory. so he's pointed out there, the united states has headed, we know the president has spoken with the prime minister. can imagine

very well a proportion of the conversation was light. it would have been direct and frank, reiterating the support the united states has given israel, but there are limits and the president has been clear of the last couple of months about those limits. where do ou think months about those limits. where do you think this — months about those limits. where do you think this leaves _ months about those limits. where do you think this leaves the _ months about those limits. where do you think this leaves the us's - you think this leaves the us's support for israel, which has so far been steadfast, although we've had concerns about humanitarian aid raised in recent weeks and ensuring the number of civilian casualties in gaza are minimised?— gaza are minimised? indeed. as i thinkjohn kirby _ gaza are minimised? indeed. as i thinkjohn kirby mansion, - gaza are minimised? indeed. as i thinkjohn kirby mansion, the - thinkjohn kirby mansion, the changes which have happened have happened because of the pressure the united states, the international community, let's be clear how put on israel to conduct this conflict in a different way. no one has been happy with the number of civilian casualties, and we will all have to take a reckoning of it when it is

over. we have been clear, certainly the comments coming from the president, from the white house yesterday, they are crisp and clear this is a nonstarterfor the us position, and you've heard democratic members of the house have also let out a statement that makes clear that this is unacceptable. not just to the executive ranks, but also to important members of the legislative rank, this is important. as the american people want to see a peaceful resolution to this, and that means finding a way forward for both parties. there cannot be an end of the cycle of violence without both parties finding dignity, stability and sovereignty in that land. that is what united states supports. land. that is what united states su orts. ., ., , . land. that is what united states su--orts. ., . , . ., supports. you have experience of monitoring _ supports. you have experience of

monitoring elections _ supports. you have experience of monitoring elections in _ supports. you have experience of monitoring elections in gaza. - supports. you have experience of. monitoring elections in gaza. what does your insight tell you about how gazans could be given the right to self—government once the conflict ends? self-government once the conflict ends? f self-government once the conflict ends? j ., self-government once the conflict ends? f ., , self-government once the conflict ends? j . , . ., . ends? they've had it, they conducted successful elections, _ ends? they've had it, they conducted successful elections, very _ ends? they've had it, they conducted successful elections, very much. - ends? they've had it, they conducted successful elections, very much. the| successful elections, very much. the first time when i was there, and subsequently. it is a terrible thing there haven't been elections in the gaza strip for 70 years. that has to be changed. the challenge is the palestinian authorities, which are real, their discussions about who whilst has the credibility. any decision about who leads the palestinians has to include the views of the palestinians themselves. they are adults, inform people like the rest of us, and self—determination requires their voice. d0 self-determination requires their voice. ~' , self-determination requires their voice. ~ , , , voice. do you think, very briefly, president _ voice. do you think, very briefly, president biden _ voice. do you think, very briefly, president biden will— voice. do you think, very briefly,

president biden will be - voice. do you think, very briefly, president biden will be putting l voice. do you think, very briefly, - president biden will be putting more pressure on benjamin netanyahu's position as prime minister of israel further down the line, if these differences and gaps widen question i think we will see changes, not only from the executive branch, but from the legislative branch.- from the legislative branch. there are ieces from the legislative branch. there are pieces of _ from the legislative branch. there are pieces of legislation _ from the legislative branch. there are pieces of legislation working l are pieces of legislation working through, gathering, about taking additional looks at what we are giving the military and government and how it can be used. already this is building. and how it can be used. already this is buildinu. ., ~' ,, , and how it can be used. already this is buildinu. ., ~ ,, , . ., is building. thank you very much for shafinu is building. thank you very much for sharing your — is building. thank you very much for sharing your first-hand _ is building. thank you very much for sharing your first-hand insight - is building. thank you very much for sharing your first-hand insight on i sharing your first—hand insight on this important story. tata steel has confirmed it's cutting up to 2,800 jobs in the uk — with most workers affected within the next 18 months. the majority of the job losses will be at this steels works in port talbot, south wales. indian owned tata plans to close two blast furnaces and replace them with a more efficient electric production involving fewer harmful emissions and fewer

people to operate it. our wales correspondent, hywel griffith, is there for us now. the chancellor of the exchequer, mr hugh gaitskell, comes to open the largest steel plant in europe. heavy industry on a staggering scale. for decades, these works have dominated the local landscape, defined the local economy. it's a place where several generations of the same family have found work. but all that may now change. mark followed his uncles here 42 years ago. he's now one of five in his family who work here. most around the blast furnaces where the jobs will go. this town was built on the steelworks, so it was built around it. so the steelworks is the community and the way it's shrunk over the years from the heydays when there was 21,000 working here, but it is the heartbeat of the local community. the coal—fired furnaces have been in use 2a hours a day, 365 days a year. but at the end of 2024,

that will cease. tata hopes to have a new, greener electric furnace in place sometime in 2027. that means for at least two years after these furnaces are shut down, the company will import steel here from abroad to finish off. which raises the question whether this decision is really driven by environmental concerns or economic ones. steel made overseas still causes carbon emissions, theyjust don't count towards the uk stats. tata admits it's several years of financial pressure which has brought this change. we've tried very hard over the years to preserve the site, keep it going, despite all the challenges. over the last 15 years, i think we've invested something like £5 billion to keep the business going. so it's not that we've given up in a hurry, it's not that we've not tried. the company secured half a billion pounds from the uk government to build the new furnace. trade unions feel that money should

have gone to supporting a much slower transition. they're giving out the money to make 3,000 people redundant. that is not a good way to spend taxpayers money. we have a plan which would have cost a few more hundred million, but it would have secured the majority ofjobs here. it's not just at the works where the impact has been felt. for 13 years, the docks cafe has been feeding workers. tiffany fears they may be closed within months. it's pretty bad, to be honest to you. you get people just the worry of losing theirjobs or not being able to fend for their family, losing the houses, losing, losing everything, really. a place reinforced by one industry now feels fragile. its fate decided by forces far beyond its control. hywel griffith, bbc news, port talbot. to discuss the imapct ofjob losses from this closure from tata, i am joined by karina robinson,

a business consultant and ceo of redcliffe advisory, who looks at how technology has changed the way we work. welcome to the programme. when you look at what happens in the last day, this announcement from tata, do you thinkjob losses were inevitable? i you thinkjob losses were inevitable?— you thinkjob losses were inevitable? ., , inevitable? i fear they were inevitable. _ inevitable? i fear they were inevitable. we _ inevitable? i fear they were inevitable. we keep - inevitable? i fear they were inevitable. we keep on - inevitable? i fear they were - inevitable. we keep on throwing inevitable? i fear they were _ inevitable. we keep on throwing good money after bad money, and it is just, in the end we won't be able to save these jobs. the just, in the end we won't be able to save thesejobs. the uk just, in the end we won't be able to save these jobs. the uk will become a manufacturing hub again. ithink save these jobs. the uk will become a manufacturing hub again. i think a lot more that money should have gone to retrain workers. we aren't very good at retraining. we've seen it from the coal mines, the closing onwards, something we've got to do much more of. just this week, at the world economic forum, there was a lot about al, every single executive

is looking at how they can use it, and that will lead to many, many morejob losses. we and that will lead to many, many more job losses. we don't have the money to throw money at companies to try and convince them to keep workers on when it is actually going to be an unprofitable business. irate to be an unprofitable business. we will come to ai soon, but let me talk about the point on retraining and reskilling people. you might need years to do that. does that mean people shouldn't... mean people shouldn't. .. we'retalking mean people shouldn't... we'retalking about some of the job losses happening within the year. so do companies need to be much more mindful of a timescale when it comes to reskilling people? i mindful of a timescale when it comes to reskilling people?— to reskilling people? i think so, i think training. .. _ to reskilling people? i think so, i think training. .. and _ to reskilling people? i think so, i think training. .. and this - to reskilling people? i think so, i think training. .. and this is - think training... and this is something, what ever you think of the government, it has put emphasis on it. it should be an ongoing thing in every company. the ai job losses

will be white—collar ones as well, so everybody needs to be retraining, reskilling all the time. in general, evenif reskilling all the time. in general, even if you keep yourjob, it's never a wasted time. it will make you more efficient, better at your job. i think there needs to be much more emphasis on doing it right. these workers are all working in port talbot. what new skills are you saying they and others to keep up with a changing economy in the uk and the world, what should they be doing? what skills should we be doing? what skills should we be doing to keep up with an ai world? it really depends on where you are, physically, and where you want to stay. and also it depends on how long it will take you. i'm not saying they should become computer scientist from wind day to the next. instead, where do we not have enough

workers in the uk? there are in so many areas great gaps. truck drivers, for instance. carers. it is virtually every sector has gaps in employment, and it is about marching the gaps in employment with the workers and with what their skills are. ., ., workers and with what their skills are. . ., .,, ,., ., ~ workers and with what their skills are. . ., .,, ., ~ i. are. ok. karina robinson, thank you ve much are. ok. karina robinson, thank you very much for— are. ok. karina robinson, thank you very much forjoining _ are. ok. karina robinson, thank you very much forjoining us. _ are. ok. karina robinson, thank you very much forjoining us. the - very much forjoining us. the community union which represents workers at tata has described the plan to cut those jobs as devastating for the industry here in the uk. around the world and across the uk. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the bodies of four people, two of them have been found at a house near norwich. norfolk police said officers forced their way into an address in costessey this morning after a call from a member of the public. it's believed they were all

from the same family. detectives leading the case believe it's an isolated incident. the met office has named the next storm to hit the uk which is set to bring gusts of up to 80mph over the weekend. storm isha will blast through the uk on sunday, with amber weather warnings issued for wind in northern and western england, northern ireland and parts of scotland. british retailers suffered the biggest drop in sales in almost three years in december — raising the risk the economy entered a recession in the fourth quarter. official figures reveal a sharp fall in demand for goods, but also food sales, in the run up to christmas by 3.2%. data appeared to show people did their shopping earlier, taking advantage of black friday sales. you're live with bbc news. new criminal charges have been filed against the actor alec baldwin in the us. he's being charged with involuntary manslaughter. it follows the fatal shooting,

on the set of the movie rust, of the cinematographer, halyna hutchins. he had previously been charged with manslaughter, but the charges were dropped last april, two weeks before a criminal trial was due to begin. mr baldwin was practising firing a gun before filming a scene when it went off, on the location in new mexico. he has maintained he did not pull the trigger, and did not know the gun was loaded with live ammunition. japan has successfully landed a spacecraft on the moon. the uncrewed device — named moon sniper — touched down near the moon's equator just a few hours ago. it means japan has become just the fifth country to reach the lunar surface. our science correspondent, pallab ghosh, has the story. japan's lunar landing has touched down with a soft landing but there has been a glitch. the solar panels are not working, so unless it is fixed the spacecraft will run out of power.

experts say the mission has achieved 99% of its aims. this was all about precision landing. they have not confirmed the exact precision of the landing, but they are the fifth nation to land successfully on the moon and that is a huge success. they are able to test out a new advanced face recognition system to hone into its landing site with deadly precision, earning its nickname the moon sniper. it also deployed one of its many lunar rovers, able to hop where no rover has hopped before. and another one can literally roll back the frontiers of knowledge. it is a new way of doing space exploration and a big part of it is to bring down the risk to de—risk the missions and do more of them at a faster turn around and hopefully get more science and exploration out of each one.

live now to dr megam argo — from the school of engineering and computing at university of central lancashire. thank you forjoining us on the programme. japan nowjoins the club of nations which has landed on the moon. how big is japan's space programme, and how much time has beenin programme, and how much time has been in the works question mark this mission has been in the works for a couple of decades.— couple of decades. that's not unusual in — couple of decades. that's not unusual in government - couple of decades. that's notl unusual in government funded couple of decades. that's not - unusual in government funded space programmes, it can take a long time to get things off the ground. these missions always take a lot of time to come together and a lot of testing before they get to the stage of launching. their space programme is significant, they had some successes in the last few years, landing on more than one asteroid and doing a sample return from it and doing a sample return from it and bring a material back, which is

important for science and helping us understand the history and abolition of the server system. they've done some significant research. i of the server system. they've done some significant research.- some significant research. i was “ust some significant research. i was just reading. — some significant research. i was just reading, one _ some significant research. i was just reading, one of— some significant research. i was just reading, one of the - some significant research. i was just reading, one of the challenges were of these unmanned aircraft is they rely on solar panels, also the energy to charge the batteries, and actually we are hearing the on—board batteries on this one only have a few hours left of power.- batteries on this one only have a few hours left of power. yes, that is normal for _ few hours left of power. yes, that is normal for a _ few hours left of power. yes, that is normal for a spacecraft. - few hours left of power. yes, that is normal for a spacecraft. you . few hours left of power. yes, that l is normal for a spacecraft. you have is normalfor a spacecraft. you have the solar rays to recharge the batteries so your spacecraft can operate during sunlight, but then during night time or when it is out of view of the stone, you can use the back of the qubits power on. in this case, the solar panels are generating the power expected, that means this battery back—up system is all they have for the moment. unless those panels can be brought back to

life, the mission is not going to last much longer, unfortunately. it was never designed to last very long anyway, luna daytime on the move only last for two weeks on the earth, as the earth and sun and moon all go around, the moon only has a short period of daylight lasting for two weeks. it is short if you want to do a long—term mission, which is why the battery back—up is fundamental because you need to keep it safe, when you don't see the sun. the cold you get, you can get extremely cold, the temperatures can damage your electronics. there is batteries are there to keep a little bit of heat in the spacecraft, to keep it operating.— bit of heat in the spacecraft, to keep it operating. thank you very much for taking _ keep it operating. thank you very much for taking us _ keep it operating. thank you very much for taking us through - keep it operating. thank you very much for taking us through that l much for taking us through that story. i will be back after a short

break, so do stay with us. hello there, good evening. it's all change weather—wise as we head through this weekend. it's been cold and wintry through the week, with snow showers in the north. sharp overnight frosts and lots of dry weather, some weak winter sunshine, too, on friday for many. but much milder—feeling conditions over the weekend, it's also going to be wet and very windy, with a named storm — stormy isha — on sunday night into monday morning, could cause some disruption from strong winds. why is it happening? well, the high pressure is pulling away towards the east, allowing atlantic fronts to roll in from the west, along with some much milder—feeling airjust streaming in from the southwest — marked in yellow here — displacing that cold, arctic air further northwards and eastwards. and there will be some more rain overnight tonight across western areas of scotland — some snowmelt, too, possibly still a little wintry over the higher ground. icy conditions for the far north of scotland. some more rain edging into western wales and into northwest england. temperatures towards eastern areas

of england are likely to dip below freezing for a while, and then, rise again to just above freezing as we head into the start of the day tomorrow. so, we should be largely frost—free to start off saturday morning. and then, tomorrow, some more outbreaks of rain across western wales, up through the pennines and possibly approaching western scotland by the end of the day. strong, gusty winds for irish sea coasts, gusting perhaps as high as 50—55 mph. lots of dry weather towards eastern areas here — temperatures will struggle to recover through the day, but further west, 9—10 celsius — so back up into double figures with that milder—feeling air. as we head through sunday, this is storm isha rolling in from the west. you can just see the squeeze on the isobars here — very strong, gusty winds, with the worst of them to come on sunday night into the first part of monday morning. but on sunday, the winds will start to pick out from the southwest turning more westerly. there'll be outbreaks of heavy rain, too, warnings in force across northwest england and southwest scotland. could be some localised flooding here, maybe.

the air is mild — top temperatures between 9—13 celsius. now the whole of the uk is covered by a weather warning for strong winds, but of most concern are these areas here — they've been upgraded to an amber weather warning. these warnings in force until 9am on monday morning. some gusts of wind could exceed 70—80 mph, particularly for exposed coasts. it's all likely to cause disruption if you are travelling on monday morning, so do keep an eye on the forecast. bye— bye.

she hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan. you're watching the context on bbc news. measles cases soar in england, as doctors warn it could spread rapidly across the uk unless there's urgent action to increase uptake of the mmr vaccine. will it's that time in the programme where we get a full round—up of the latest sport. hello from the bbc sport centre. jordan henderson has hinted he has regrets about his move to saudi arabia but says he has full respect for the league and his team al—ettifaq after they cancelled his contract to allow him to move to ajax. he's held his first press conference since signing for the side, who are currently struggling in the dutch league.

he's hoping the move will improve his chances of playing