tonight at ten — fears grow that the deadly violence between israel and palestinians could escalate into all—out war. "this is the just the beginning," says israel's prime minister, as his military destorys another tower block in gaza. translation: what should i say? this was a crime. they were civilians. a woman, her children, a barber and a shop owner. they didn't hit a militant nor an official. we are civilians sleeping in our homes. a barrage of rockets are fired from gaza into israel — mostly at tel aviv.

translation: why do they want to kill us? i it's madness, this thing. this can't be. people lost their lives here. president biden tonight said israel has a _ president biden tonight said israel has a right to defend itself but hopes— has a right to defend itself but hopes the violence will end sooner rather_ hopes the violence will end sooner rather than — hopes the violence will end sooner rather than later. also tonight... a full public inquiry into the uk's response to the coronavirus pandemic will start next spring. relatives of some who died say that's too late. the prime minister apologises unreservedly after an inquest ruled ten people killed in belfast in 1971 were entirely innocent — nine were shot by british soldiers. italy asks for help as thousands more migrants from libya make it across the mediteranean, amid reports that tens of thousands more are waiting to cross. and one of the most famous names on the high street, debenhams, closes its doors for good after 250 years of trading and coming up in the sport on the bbc

news channel, chelsea look to secure a place in the premier league top four, but it was a nightmare of a start against arsenal. good evening. the un has expressed fears of a full—scale war as the deadly conflict between israeli forces and palestinians continue for a third day. israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, warned palestinian militants that this wasjust the beginning — threatening to strike with blows they haven't dreamed of. tonight president biden said he had spoken to mr netanyahu and said he hoped the violence would end sooner rather than later. at least 65 palestinians — including 15 children — and six israelis — are reported to have been killed since monday. in the past few days, palestinian militants have fired a mass barrage of rockets into israel,

mostly on tel aviv. —— including on tel aviv. and israel has carried out a heavy bombardment of gaza, launching hundreds of air strikes. tensions have been growing injerusalem — partly fuelled by a long running threat to evict palestinians from their homes in eastjerusalem. it all came to a head on friday at al—aqsa mosque — the site where it stands is highly sensitive, sacred for both muslims and jews. israeli police used cs gas and stun grenades at the mosque and palestinian youths threw rocks at them. here's our middle east correspondent tom bateman. the world's asking if the region is on the brink of war. people who woke to this feel it's already here. palestinians in gaza faced the fiercest israeli bombardment

since the last all—out conflict. israel says it's going after militant leaders. some were killed in their homes. but civilians died in this strike, say palestinian health officials. in gaza, a territory under blockade, grief quickly turns to anger. dozens have now died since the violence erupted on monday. and they are still counting the bird said. —— and they are still counting their dead. rocket fire from gaza has continued deep into israel, and the sirens are near nonstop in towns close by.

sirens wail. ok, that's an interception — let's get in. we've heard air strikes pound the gaza strip just a couple of miles away throughout the course of this morning and into the afternoon, more retaliation, more fire, from gaza. underfire, asha and his son ran for the safe room. but their neighbour, an 89—year—old woman, didn't make it. she is seriously injured. her carer died in the strike. there are growing international calls for restraint, but for now it seems that no one here is listening. it is the intensity of these attacks that has led both sides to say they will step up their strikes in retaliation. a descent into much further

violence seems inevitable. more rockets are shot down in israel's skies, tonight in a mixed jewish arab town, i saw how fear and violence is spreading. violence betweenjew house and arabs are spiralling. here jewish extremists an ambulance and then check a car to see whether arabs alljews are inside. —— violence betweenjews and arabs are spiralling. ajewish man is beaten by arab—israeli here. a synagogue has been torched. israel's leader calls it anarchy. a wave of anger

that started in jerusalem calls it anarchy. a wave of anger that started injerusalem has spilled into the occupied territories added to israel itself. the country is engulfed in multiple flashpoints. it might be too late to contain it now. the curfew is being enforced in one of those towns but it seems to be largely ineffective and the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu has said he is considering sending an army troops to some of the areas experiencing those kinds of confrontations. as to the wider military conflict, as you said, sophie, us presidentjoe biden says that his expectation and al—aqsa mosque —— his expectation and hope is that it should end sooner rather than later but israel has the right to defend itself. but with more air strikes purging the gaza strip in the last few hours and small rocket fire along about time, it seems a long way off. studio:

thank you, tom bateman. let's speak rushdi abu alouf, who's in gaza city. what is the situation there tonight? the sound of bombs and air strikes continue, shortly after midnight here in gaza. it has been the longest day of fighting for years. israel hit hundreds of targets and hamas, the militant group, fired hundreds of rockets. this situation is leaving this place in a very grim picture. people are suffering from the silent of bombing. a very angry and shocking mood to see the scale of destruction around the gaza strip after this very long day and night of fighting. it does not seem the night is over yet, in the last five minutes the israeli aeroplanes have

targeted a place. there are casualties there, and the latest health ministry figure is talking about more than 60 people killed, half of them for millions.— about more than 60 people killed, half of them for millions. thank you very much. — half of them for millions. thank you very much, rushdi _ half of them for millions. thank you very much, rushdi abu _ half of them for millions. thank you very much, rushdi abu alouf. -- i half of them for millions. thank you | very much, rushdi abu alouf. -- half of them civilians. _ it's the worst violence in the region for seven years. tensions have been mounting injerusalem throughout the holy month of ramadan. 0ur correspondent caroline hawley looks at what has sparked this deadly confrontation. the conflict between israelis and palestinians hasn't made headlines in recent years but it's been a the spark — jerusalem, a city of sacred sites and simmering tensions, the heart of the conflict. and now with depressing familiarity it's ignited violence once again. so what's behind the latest escalation? palestinian anger has been mounting for weeks. there have been clashes over a threat to evict dozens of families from their homes in israeli occupied eastjerusalem in favour ofjewish settlers.

there has also been trouble between israeli police and palestinians infuriated by restrictions on them gathering at the entrance to the old city at sunset. and, then, on the last weekend of ramadan came clashes at al—aqsa mosque, where israeli security forces said palestinians had been throwing stones. on monday, israel accused worshippers of preparing to attack a planned march by israeli hardliners. and troops stormed into the holy compound. hamas, which rules the gaza strip, is now portraying itself as the protector ofjerusalem, the defender of muslim worshippers. it has called its barrages of rocket fire "operation sword ofjerusalem." so why doesjerusalem matter so much? the importance ofjerusalem is perhaps the one thing the two sides can actually agree on. it has both religious and national significance. the israelis see it as their eternal, undivided capital, while for the palestinians they want it, or at least the eastern part

of it, as the capital of their future state. but this latest escalation has gone way beyond jerusalem. it's revived memories of the war in gaza in 2014, which left more than 2000 palestinians and dozens of israelis dead. that's the last time there was an explosion of violence on this scale. so what has been the international response? one of growing alarm. the un secretary—general said peace talks were the only way forward and must be revived. borisjohnson and the americans urged israelis and palestinians to step back from the brink. we believe the palestinians and israelis equally deserve to live with safety and security. and we will continue to engage with israelis and palestinians and other regional partners to urge de—escalation and to bring calm. but, for now, neither side showed the slightest sign of backing down, and as so often, it's civilians on both sides paying the price.

caroline hawley, bbc news. and there's more explanation of what's happening on the bbc news website. the prime minister has announced a full independent public inquiry into the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. borisjohnson said it would start next spring and would put the state's actions under the microscope. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, welcomed the inquiry but said it should begin as soon as possible. 0ur deputy political editor, vicki young, reports. after more than a year of covid trauma, what are the lessons the country must learn? the uk now has one of the highest covid death rates in the world. why weren't we better prepared for a pandemic? were the right decisions made at the right time... you must stay at home. ..to protect the most vulnerable? and why did some things go better than others? when you get the call, get the jab.

will lessons be learned ? today we are a step closer to learning some answers. amid such tragedy, the state has an obligation to examine its actions as rigorously and candidly as possible, and to learn every lesson for the future, which is why i've always said that when the time is right, there should be a full and independent inquiry. the inquiry is due to start next spring, and evidence will be given under oath. fran had been married just three weeks when her husband steve died of covid last year. she told me she was pleasantly surprised when she heard today's announcement, but questioned the timing. what we would like to have is a rapid review, and that is something that can be done in a matter of weeks. that wouldn't tie up people's time to the degree that a fulljudge—led inquiry would involve, and that would hopefully begin to get some quick answers to some of the very pressing questions that need to be resolved so that other families don't have the same experiences we've had.

but the government says doing it now would distract those still dealing with the pandemic. when it comes to the scope of the inquiry, the labour leader had this request. this inquiry will only work if it has the support and confidence of the families. and i urge the prime minister and the government to consult the families at the earliest possible moment. the government should also consult those on the front line who have done so much, whether in the nhs, social care or other front lines. the families of those who have died want answers, and the prime minister has promised transparency. ministers and officials will be quizzed in public, thousands of documents will be published. but inquiries like this are never quick. it could be years, probably after the next election, before conclusions are reached. the hope is that looking back and learning lessons will mean no more names are added to this wall. but today an international panel highlighted serious failures across the globe and said without urgent change the world will be at the mercy

of another disease outbreak. vicki young, bbc news, westminster. let's now look at the latest data on coronavirus. the latest figures show there were 2,284 new covid infections reported in the past 2a hours, with 11 deaths recorded — all of them in england. more than 35.7 million people have now had their first dose of a vaccine. that's over 67% of the uk's adult population. from 7am tomorrow, 38 and 39—year—olds will be able to go online to book their firstjabs. almost 18.5 million people have now had both jabs, so 35% of all adults are now fully vaccinated. 0ur medical editor fergus walsh is here. the variant first identified in india is of increasing concern says the prime minister today? yes, b.i.617.2,

yes, b.i.6i7.2, one of three indian variants, and there have been more than 5000 cases identified in the uk, a sharp rise over the previous week, and a lot in the bolton area and many of those linked to travel back from india before it was put on the red list for hotel quarantine. we know it is at least as transmissible as the kent variant which is the dominant version of coronavirus in the uk and the key question is, will it render vaccines ineffective? it doesn't look like it but we don't really have the data yet. on monday chris whitty, the chief medical advisor said it appeared less likely to be able to escape vaccines than the south african variant, another variant of concern, that has been around here since december and has never really taken off. it is vital we stay on top of these variants of concern and there is a surge testing in bolton, a lot of tests picked up in people under the age of 25 which has prompted the mayor of manchester ask for vaccination to be open to all

those in the region over 16. the mutated variants of the one thing that could derail the return to normality but on the positive side vaccines can be changed if needed and there are plans for a third booster dose in autumn but only if required. booster dose in autumn but only if reuuired. , . ., , booster dose in autumn but only if reuuired. , ~ ., , ., ., required. fergus walsh, thanks for “oininu us. downing street said tonight that borisjohnson has "apologised unreservedly on behalf of the uk government" for the events that took place in ballymurphy in west belfast in 1971 — when ten people were killed in the wake of an operation by the british army. yesterday the families of those who died won a 50 year fight to clear their names when a coroner ruled they had been "entirely innocent." 0ur ireland correspondent emma vardy is at stormont. it was a big moment in northern ireland yesterday when the coroner delivered those findings, for the families of the victims, they were vindicated, that their loved ones

names were cleared, but that has been followed today by some anger and confusion about the way the prime minister's statement was delivered. almost immediately after the findings yesterday, calls began to grow for an official apology, and today we were told that one came but it did not come in a parliament at the dispatch box or at an official press conference, and downing street said in a virtual meeting between borisjohnson and the first and boris johnson and the first and deputy first ministers of northern ireland that the prime minister apologised there, unreservedly, for the events of ballymurphy and he apologised for the anguish caused to families in their long pursued for the truth. but families of the victims are not happy with that and they would have preferred the prime minister to reach out to them or directly and to give an apology in public, and one relative said state boris johnson's public, and one relative said state borisjohnson�*s comments were an insult. —— said tonight. we also heard from the irish prime minister who has encouraged the british government to go further and said

they should be a comprehensive response, which respects the wishes of the families, so it is an unsatisfactory state of affairs here tonight from the perspective of the families who lost loved ones 50 years ago. many people will be watching to see how the northern ireland secretary brandon lewis handles this because he is due to make a statement in the house of commons tomorrow.— make a statement in the house of commons tomorrow. thanks for “oining us. the uk economy shrank by 1.5% in the first three months of 2021 — according to official figures. but it bounced back in march helped by schools reopening and retail spending — growing by more than 2%. overall, the economy is still nearly 9% smaller than it was before the pandemic. 0ur economics editor, faisal islam reports in milton keynes, as around the country, the curtain is about to rise again on our big screens, preparing for their grand reopening — testing the projectors,

prepping the ticket machines, a symbol of normality and of economic recovery. we know that there is pent up demand. people have really been on their couches for too long and they want to come out and experience films in the big screen with big sound and comfortable seats, with cinema food and beverage. today it was confirmed that lockdown saw a marked fall in the economy in the first three months of the year, but that a rebound had begun by march. while any fall in the economy is clearly disappointing, this does reflect what was happening during the second lockdown in the first couple of months of this year. more up—to—date data shows the economy starting to rebound. the bank of england's debit and credit card spending levels are at about 99% of where they were before the pandemic. if you look at the number of people on the high street, the footfall data is at about three quarters of normal levels as the recovery starts to take hold.

quarters of normal levels and then there is the housing market where, during the pandemic year, house prices have gone up by a five—year high, record mortgage lending, leading to average house prices at over £250,000, also a record. it's the jobs figures that matter, the chancellor said, on a visit to a brewery that has now returned all its furloughed employees to work. he will stick to his budget plans. almost a year ago we set out our plan forjobs. what today's figures show is that that plan is working, and that is great to see. with regard to the decisions we've made, i think those were the right decisions. it's important we have borrowing and debt levels that are sustainable. but optimism about reopening tempered by caution, given all that has happened over the past year — a pandemic and coping with some post—brexit trading costs. we did lose about 10% of our customers who closed

their doors for good. so that pain has already been met for some people. we appreciate how tough this has been for our customers. we didn't want to have to pass those on but it has been... we've have had to swallow a lot. we've seen some issues over the border as well with ordering stuff in. exports to the eu were well down over the first three months of new trading arrangements, but ministers pointed to some recovery back towards more normal levels by march. the return of normality, from trips to the cinema to trade with neighbours, is right now the great hope for the economy. faisal islam, bbc news in milton keynes. italy is warning it needs more help to deal with a surge in the number of migrants arriving there via boat from libya — amid reports that tens of thousands are waiting to cross the mediterranean. the main gateway is the tiny italian island of lampedusa, which lies between sicily and the

north african coast. more than 2,000 migrants have landed there since saturday with reports there are up to 70,000 in libya waiting to make the crossing on overcrowded boats run by people—smugglers. the situation threatens to overwhelm the island's limited facilities, and the eu is calling on other member states to help. from lampedusa, our italy correspondent mark lowen sent this report. shadows seeking the light of europe. after days at sea, each step on land is controlled. they risked a perilous crossing from libya, buffeted by high winds. and even though they are detained here in italy and taken to guarded camps, they are safe and alive. by day, too, they arrive. more migrants picked up at sea, aiming for the island of lampedusa. over 2,000 landing here since the weekend. this gateway to europe

is under renewed pressure, battling the pandemic while carrying the hopes of the desperate. six years since the height of europe's migrant crisis, they are still coming. in lesser numbers now, but this is the third straight day of arrivals. the question is whether this is just a temporary spike or whether it is the start of a summer rush to europe's shores. we are here to welcome people, to say to the people, you are alive, but we also want to say to the people, welcome in europe and your rights are important to us, we take care of you. but in this moment, we don't feel this. for the eu's frontier countries like italy, migration remains an intensely political issue, and for some here, the hospitable welcome has worn thin. translation: it's time to say enough, after 30 years. - i want the camp to be closed immediately and a naval blockade so they can't access the island.

they should be helped in their own countries, not come here where the authorities spend millions on them, but let us die. through europe's outer door, into a waiting room. but with the camp full, dozens are left outside. many here will have asylum claims rejected. but it's unclear how many of those will actually be sent back. you speak some english, yes? some. ok. we can't speak to people? no, no. 0k, we're being told we can't speak to the migrants. but from inside the camp, the stories came to us. the robbers come to your house, my own house in libya, and robbed me. even now, this hand, i can't... i can't use this hand, do something with it. what about people who would say to you that you have come in an illegal way? no problem, let them say i came in an illegal

way, because they don't know what happened. so let them say that. but if they ask me, they hear my story, they would understand my pain. it's hand to mouth here but, for some, this is better than what they left behind. and as long as dreams of europe remain, many more will follow in their tracks. mark lowen, bbc news, lampedusa. the family of nine—year—old jordan banks, who died after being struck by lightning during a football coaching session, have described him as their "brightest star." he was injured during a thunderstorm while on a playing field in blackpool yesterday afternoon and died later in hospital. the former bosnian serb leader and convicted war criminal, radovan karadzic, is to serve the rest of his life sentence in a britishjail. the 75—year—old was convicted in 2016 of crimes including genocide which he carried out during the conflict in the former yugoslavia. the foreign office said he would be

transferred to a uk prison from a un detention unit in the netherlands. 29 men have been charged in connection with child sexual exploitation in calderdale in west yorkshire. the allegations date from 2003 to 2010 — and are against one female victim who was aged between 13 and 20 at the time. most of the offending is alleged to have taken place in calderdale, but some offences are said to have occurred in the bradford district. the government's laid out plans for a new law that would result in universities and student unions in england facing fines if freedom of speech was not protected on campus. the new law could open the way for individuals to take universities to court. here's our education editor branwen jeffreys. controversy on campus is nothing new, but universities are caught in a wider culture clash, facing a new law to enforce freedom of speech. i don't want academics

to feel intimidated, i don't want them to feel as if they are going to be silenced and that they are not going to be in a position to be able to voice ideas and views that may challenge conventional wisdom. you know, that has been too much of a chilling effect in terms of so many of our universities and our student unions across the country. i spoke to one catholic writer whose talk was cancelled at a university where she'd spoken for many years. my views haven't changed in the slightest, it's more that society has moved on and people have become more culturally sensitive. but the only way that you defeat an idea, whether you agree with it or not, is to actually listen to it, to air it and then, you know, to attack its fundamental points if you disagree with them. universities are factories for new ideas, new ways of thinking, and they have a huge cultural influence through their research, through debate and their

students, and that's why they are at the centre of the freedom of speech debate about what we should and shouldn't say about politics, history, race and gender. some universities have strengthened their policies. they already have a legal duty to protect free speech. i think there is a question as to whether or not this isn't a sledgehammer to crack a nut. there isn't evidence of a huge problem, there are existing duties, and so i think what i'd like to understand more from the government is what additionally they are trying to achieve with this legislation. the notion that every disgruntled student or somebody who might have wanted to speak on campus or whatever can bring an independent action and that universities will get caught up in a kind of legal morass that could actually have a chilling effect on speech on campus. student leaders and lecturers agree,

doubtful a new law will change much. branwen jeffreys, bbc news. a service has been held at westminster abbey honouring the contribution and sacrifices of nurses and midwives during the coronavirus pandemic. this year's annual florence nightingale commemoration service was held as a service of remembrance. members of the nursing and midwifery professions were joined in the congregation by the prime minister and the health secretary. it's one of the most famous names on the high street. but all debenhams stores will close for good this weekend after 250 years of trading. the new owner boohoo said the business will now run online—only. a number of them closed today. our business correspondent emma simpson has been speaking to two workers who've been with the firm for more than 20 years each. it's the end of an era. it was a great place to work.

totally lost its way, - totally lost its way, and this is the result of it.