this is bbc news, with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. israel brushes off international calls for an immediate ceasefire, as more civilians, including ten children, are among the dead following another air strike on gaza. questions for india, after the death from coronavirus of up to 1,600 teachers, draughted in to help with last month's elections. the teacher who lived here became ill when he had to go for training before polling day. by the time the election came around, he was in critical condition. he was rushed to hospital but died a few days later. authorities fear a serious outbreak of coronavirus on mount everest, as the number of climbers showing

symptoms of the virus increases. fears of a covid—19 outbreak at a hotel in rotterdam force four teams to withdraw from the eurovision song contest opening ceremony. hello, and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, has brushed off international appeals for an immediate ceasefire in gaza, saying it would take time to restore calm. he says the military operation against palestinian militants will continue with full force. the un secretary general has appealed for an immediate end to the fighting.

it comes as health officials in gaza report that 42 people were killed in the latest israeli bombardment — among them ten children. israel says hamas has launched 3,000 rockets in the last week, killing ten israelis. 0ur middle east editor jeremy bowen reports. not much is left of this street in the heart of gaza city, after the heaviest israeli strikes since this war started — and the deadliest day for palestinians. they were looking for survivors. he says, "raise your voice so we can hear you — are you 0k?" not many were found alive. families escaped with children who won't forget this day. translation: when i was carrying my small boy, he told me, "dad, - i don't want to die." what more do you want from him? there is no safety in the city. benjamin netanyahu, israel's prime minister,

convened his security chiefs. a cabinet meeting did not discuss a ceasefire. 0n the way down to the gaza border are some of the communities the government here says must be saved from rockets before it will stop its attacks. israel's leaders said the same thing during the other wars with hamas. the israeli army showed off their anti—missile system, iron dome. they say it shoots down around 90% of the missiles fired out of gaza. previous wars between israel and hamas have ended with mediation, generally with egypt involved, leading to a ceasefire. now, contacts have been made but it's a difficult process because each side needs to get to the point where they can say to their people that the sacrifices — the damage, the killing — were worth it. if israel takes this to the next level, with a ground invasion of gaza, that process gets knocked

on further into the future. the 2014 war lasted for nearly two months. iron dome is one reason why israel suffers fewer casualties than gaza. another is the weight of israel's firepower. well, civilians, of course, aren't our target. they never are. but you do kill them. and any loss of life on both sides of this conflict, any loss of civilian life is tragic. but it does happen an awful lot in gaza. and i hear that. and, again, any loss of civilian life is tragic. it happens here as well. while we were there, they launched. a volley of missiles was heading out of gaza, north towards the israeli town of ashkelon. iron dome didn't stop all of them. but this wasn't a fatal attack.

in gaza, a six—year—old girl was pulled out of the rubble. her mother, two sisters and two brothers were killed. until he saw her, her father thought he was the only one left. "thank god," he said, because one day she might recapture the smiles of all his daughters. jeremy bowen, bbc news, jerusalem. president biden says his administration is working with palestinians and israel towards he's calling "a sustained calm," adding that both deserved to live in safety and security. here'sjeremy bowen with his assessment on whether that's realistic. might even be a little ambitious, the way that people are talking at the moment. both sides in this are expressing their determination to go on — of course, they will keep saying that probably until the last minute

when they have a cease—fire. president biden himself has always been a very strong, staunch supporter of the israelis — back to the time when he was a young senator. he's been under quite a bit of pressure from inside his own democratic party — from progressives within that group who would like him to speak out against what's happening in gaza. but that's something that the biden white house has not been doing, and the line which the americans always use in these circumstances, and they've used it again, is that israel has "a right to defend itself" and they support that right. that was jeremy bowen there. we have been hearing from voices from all sides of the conflict here on bbc news — from israeli officials, palestinian leaders, and even from a member of hamas. let's add to that list of voices.

and joining me now is danny danon, israel's former representative to the united nations, and the current chairman of the world likud. thank you very much for speaking to us here on bbc news. my first question to you is why would the prime minister brush off calls for a cease—fire? prime minister brush off calls for a cease-fire?— prime minister brush off calls for a cease-fire? ., ~ , ., ., ., cease-fire? thank you for having me. the prime minister _ cease-fire? thank you for having me. the prime minister was _ cease-fire? thank you for having me. the prime minister was very - cease-fire? thank you for having me. the prime minister was very clear - the prime minister was very clear about this issue. hamas initiated the cycle of violence, and it will not determine when we are finished. be the ones who decide, and what we're doing now is restoring the deterrence. we are are paying a heavy price, and is really tough to run for shelter — but at the same time, ourtroops run for shelter — but at the same time, our troops are fighting back, hunting the terrorists down, and we are teaching them a lesson because

the longer it will take... i are teaching them a lesson because the longer it will take. . ._ the longer it will take. .. i think it would be _ the longer it will take. .. i think it would be fair— the longer it will take. .. i think it would be fair to _ the longer it will take. .. i think it would be fair to say - the longer it will take. .. i think it would be fair to say that - the longer it will take. .. i think| it would be fair to say that both sides were paying a heavy price as well, there's a number of palestinian civilians who have reportedly been killed. mr netanyahu earlier this week did say that hamas had to stop the rockets first. they agreed it to a cease—fire that had been negotiated with egypt, the us had also been speaking, and qatar, as well — so i was at rejected?, said they would stop the rockets, and israel said no?— said they would stop the rockets, and israel said no? they don't have to say anything. — and israel said no? they don't have to say anything, they _ and israel said no? they don't have to say anything, they need - and israel said no? they don't have to say anything, they need to - and israel said no? they don't have to say anything, they need to stop| to say anything, they need to stop firing rockets into our city. 0ur civilian population — at the same time they are hiding like cowards behind hospitals and schools, intruding on the lives of innocent palestinians. they don't need to give us any condition, theyjust

need to stop firing rockets. and then, once things are quiet and israel... ~ , ., then, once things are quiet and israel... ~ ,, , ., �* israel... when you said they don't have to give _ israel... when you said they don't have to give you _ israel... when you said they don't have to give you any _ israel... when you said they don't have to give you any conditions, l israel... when you said they don't i have to give you any conditions, was that part of the cease—fire that was put on the table last week? could you just tell us a bit more about that? what conditions are you talking about?— that? what conditions are you talkin: about? ~ , , talking about? well basically, they offered the ridiculous _ talking about? well basically, they offered the ridiculous one - talking about? well basically, they offered the ridiculous one where l offered the ridiculous one where they demanded some issues regarding tojerusalem. they demanded some issues regarding to jerusalem. they said they are fighting tojerusalem. they said they are fighting forjerusalem. if they want to end the cycle, they should stop immediately sending weapons and missiles. but press releases won't get them anywhere. so missiles. but press releases won't get them anywhere.— get them anywhere. so what took lace get them anywhere. so what took place today _ get them anywhere. so what took place today at _ get them anywhere. so what took place today at the _ get them anywhere. so what took place today at the un _ get them anywhere. so what took place today at the un security - place today at the un security council? and number of countries including the uk brought up the fact that there is blame on both sides,

and part of the source of this problem was the evictions? that were coming up? and ijust finished very quickly? the uk has called for the immediate end of illegal settlements, returning to the 1967 lines. why are the illegal settlements taking place when they are against international law? this is absurd. first _ are against international law? this is absurd. first of— are against international law? ti 3 is absurd. first of all, we don't have both sides. we have a terrorist organisation fighting a peaceful democracy. they sent rockets and we retaliated. second, there is no excuse for that. we know it from the past, like in 2014, they're always looking for an excuse to target our cities stop back i looking for an excuse to target our cities stop baci— cities stop back i wonder if i could 'ust take cities stop back i wonder if i could just take a — cities stop back i wonder if i could just take a moment _ cities stop back i wonder if i could just take a moment then - - cities stop back i wonder if i could just take a moment then - let's . cities stop back i wonder if i could i just take a moment then - let's look just take a moment then — let's look at the political discourse taking place within israel itself will stop

let's not go beyond the borders, because there does appear to be some disquiet as to... there is some disquiet, there is some disquiet from israeli mps. absolutely, it's just that we are getting the same answer. absolutely. taste just that we are getting the same answer. absolutely.— just that we are getting the same answer. absolutely. we spoke about the evictions — answer. absolutely. we spoke about the evictions and _ answer. absolutely. we spoke about the evictions and jerusalem, - answer. absolutely. we spoke about the evictions and jerusalem, it - answer. absolutely. we spoke about the evictions and jerusalem, it was l the evictions and jerusalem, it was a lie. the legal issue under this feud, there's no reason to send 3000 rockets and our city. if there was one rocket flying into london today, you wouldn't accept any excuse. that's what we're doing here. we are defending ourselves and you cannot justify these excuses. i defending ourselves and you cannot justify these excuses.— justify these excuses. i think there was unanimous _ justify these excuses. i think there was unanimous agreement - justify these excuses. i think there was unanimous agreement that. justify these excuses. i think there i was unanimous agreement that israel has the right to defend itself, certainly that came across today, that's not being disputed. there is a question in terms of the proportional response that israel is

sending towards the palestinians. we do know that warning was given before the tower block was hit that was housing the media organisations. israel has said that hamas intelligence was inside that building. it would be interesting to see that evidence — but can ijust asked, the overnight bombardments, is the same warning given to palestinian civilians?- is the same warning given to palestinian civilians? first let me ask ou palestinian civilians? first let me ask you about — palestinian civilians? first let me ask you about proportional - - palestinian civilians? first let me i ask you about proportional - maybe ask you about proportional — maybe you can tell me what is proportional response when you have 3000 rockets flying and israel? maybe you can tell us what we should do? we asked the uk to condemn hamas, the eu to send observers — what is proportional when we are being targeted by thousands of rockets? it's proportional once they are stopped sending rockets in our

homes. , �* ., .,, homes. yes, we've heard those oints, homes. yes, we've heard those points. thank— homes. yes, we've heard those points, thank you _ homes. yes, we've heard those points, thank you very - homes. yes, we've heard those points, thank you very much . homes. yes, we've heard thosej points, thank you very much for that. final question, is israel continuing to send at the reserve forces and the forces that are amassing on the border? i understand 9000 have been sent to the frontier. is israel planning an all—out ground invasion? where is this going? because we are all looking forward now towards a solution. figs because we are all looking forward now towards a solution. $5 of because we are all looking forward now towards a solution. as of now, the cabinet — now towards a solution. as of now, the cabinet is _ now towards a solution. as of now, the cabinet is not _ now towards a solution. as of now, the cabinet is not discussing - now towards a solution. as of now, the cabinet is not discussing a - the cabinet is not discussing a ground invasion into gaza. we are capable of changing the plans — but the target of the operation was to get the leaders of hamas and to restore deterrence, and that's exactly what we're doing now. we are chasing the head of the hamas, a terrorist organisation, a vicious one, that supports terrorism all

around the world.— around the world. very quickly, internal politics _ around the world. very quickly, internal politics - _ around the world. very quickly, internal politics - a _ around the world. very quickly, internal politics - a number- around the world. very quickly, internal politics - a number of. around the world. very quickly, - internal politics - a number of mps, internal politics — a number of mps, who have been talking about intercommunal violence, a dangerous precedent within israel — many people within domestic israeli politics are discussing the motivations for this. and the type to mr netanyahu's political future. i don't accept it. today your government... the party does not support the prime minister. we are now corroborating together. when we are under attack... that's what we are under attack... that's what we are happy —— what is happening. 0nce are happy —— what is happening. once we finish the operation, we can go back to building coalitions and foreign governments. today a read

together left and right united, supporting the government —— today we are united. supporting the government -- today we are united-— we are united. they you so much for our time we are united. they you so much for your time today. _ we are united. they you so much for your time today, thank _ we are united. they you so much for your time today, thank you. - we are united. they you so much for your time today, thank you. thank l your time today, thank you. thank ou ve your time today, thank you. thank you very much- — your time today, thank you. thank you very much- -- _ your time today, thank you. thank you very much. -- thank— your time today, thank you. thank you very much. -- thank you - your time today, thank you. thank you very much. -- thank you so i your time today, thank you. thank - you very much. -- thank you so much. in india, as many as 1,600 teachers have died from covid—19 after being draughted in to help run polling stations during local elections last month. their union says many begged to be released from election duty — fearing for their health as india's ferocious second wave took hold. from the state of uttar pradesh, our international correspondent 0rla guerin reports. now, they must stand alone, without their father to guide them and with their grandmother, rajvati, crushed by grief. she tells us the election killed her son, sushil kumar.

he was forced to attend election training. by voting day, he was gasping for breath. that night, he was dead. it was the very picture of a superspreader event, an election in a pandemic in uttar pradesh, a state with more than 100 million voters. critics say for prime minister narendra modi, votes count more than lives. this 21—year—old says her family lost its guiding light. my father was like the god of us. he was everything for us. i can't forget him in my entire life.

i love him, and my mum also. her mother, vimlesh, is gone, too. she watched her husband die. two hours later, she had a heart attack, leaving another empty space that cannot be filled. and across the state, the death toll is growing, lives not lost, relatives say, but squandered. the primary teachers�* union claims 1,600 of its members died because of election duty. we've just arrived at another house where anotherfamily is in mourning. the teacher who lived here became ill when he had to go for training before polling day. by the time the election came around, he was in critical condition. he was rushed to hospital, but died a few days later. lokesh kumar left behind a five—year—old

daughter and infant son. his wife, smriti, says he lived for teaching and was their sole breadwinner. his was a death foretold like so many more here, victims of covid, but also of negligence. the teachers�* union tried hard to get the election postponed, but in the end, it was powerless, like its members. 0rla guerin, bbc news, uttar pradesh, india. mountaineers and authorities at everest base camp in nepal have told the bbc they are seeing increased numbers of climbers with covid—19 symptoms, raising fears of a major outbreak in the region. last year, the climbing season was cancelled — this was a serious blow to those that rely heavily on income

generated from everest expeditions. we can speak to mark synnott, author and mountaineer who has climbed mount everest himself. great to have you with us this evening on bbc news. first off, what do you make of this decision to perhaps look at the future of climbing everest?— perhaps look at the future of climbing everest? well, i think a lot of us are _ climbing everest? well, i think a lot of us are wondering - climbing everest? well, i think a lot of us are wondering about. climbing everest? well, i think a| lot of us are wondering about the decision that the nepal government made to conduct the current season, you know, under the situation that we have with covid. you know, at the time when they made the decision, which was obviously a while ago,

nepal was doing very well as far as covid, and they were just as recently as april having zero deaths per day. but now, you know, they are seeing a huge surge, and we see what's happening in everest base camp, we see a situation which some people are describing is out of control. and i think in hindsight, it seems that maybe it was a mistake for them to open up this year. it’s for them to open up this year. it's interesting, isn't it, because many people talk about the pressures it puts on your body to climb everest. and you have spoken about how similar the symptoms are — just talk us through that. similar the symptoms are - 'ust talk us through that.�* us through that. well, you know, there is a lot _ us through that. well, you know, there is a lot of _ us through that. well, you know, there is a lot of covid _ us through that. well, you know, there is a lot of covid right - us through that. well, you know, there is a lot of covid right now l us through that. well, you know, | there is a lot of covid right now in base camp, and it's been described to me as an epicentre and

potentially a place where they have the highest rate of covid in all of nepal. i believe that nepal currently has more covid than india, and potentially more covid per capita then potentially anywhere else in the world. so i'm trying to dig into this myself right now, but i think it's possible there might be more covid in everest base camp then there is anywhere else. it was today or maybe yesterday that one of the main outfitters pulled the plug on his expedition because he felt like he couldn't take the chance that his team members would get covid in base camp, and then head up the mountain while they were still asymptomatic, and then potentially develop symptoms while they were up at camp three or camp for up in the death zone — you can imagine how tough that would be on the human body if you suddenly got sick with covid at that elevation.—

you suddenly got sick with covid at that elevation. a, ~ ., , ., ~ ., that elevation. mark, would you know the symptoms? _ that elevation. mark, would you know the symptoms? would _ that elevation. mark, would you know the symptoms? would you _ that elevation. mark, would you know the symptoms? would you be - that elevation. mark, would you know the symptoms? would you be able i that elevation. mark, would you know the symptoms? would you be able to| the symptoms? would you be able to recognise them? i the symptoms? would you be able to recognise them?— recognise them? i think that's the thin that recognise them? i think that's the thing that so _ recognise them? i think that's the thing that so scary, _ recognise them? i think that's the thing that so scary, is _ recognise them? i think that's the thing that so scary, is that - recognise them? i think that's the thing that so scary, is that as - recognise them? i think that's the thing that so scary, is that as far i thing that so scary, is that as far as i can tell, i haven't had covid, but from what i hear, the symptoms could very easily be confused with different high—altitude illnesses, specifically high—altitude pulmonary oedema, which is fluid in your lungs, shortness of breath, coughing, you know, there is a thing that we call the cobo cough where your lungs get fried from being in the cold air — so people who feel crummy from the altitude, they have shortness of breath and a cough, so i think it would potentially be hard. and i think if i was there, i would be afraid, you know, that i might come down with it when i was up might come down with it when i was up on that mountain.— up on that mountain. gosh, sounds treacherous- _ up on that mountain. gosh, sounds treacherous. mark, _ up on that mountain. gosh, sounds treacherous. mark, thank- up on that mountain. gosh, sounds treacherous. mark, thank you -

up on that mountain. gosh, sounds treacherous. mark, thank you very | treacherous. mark, thank you very much for sharing your experience and what it means to be on everest facing covid—19. thank you very much, indeed. facing covid-19. thank you very much, indeed.— facing covid-19. thank you very much, indeed. four teams competing at the eurovision song contest have withdrawn from sunday's opening ceremony, as a precaution against coronavirus. the delegations from malta — one of the favourites to win — and romania have been staying at the same hotel in the dutch port of rotterdam as those from poland and iceland, which have both had a member test positive. anna holligan reports from the hague. holding a singing contest in the midst of a global pandemic was always going to be risky. iceland's quirky 10 years is one of the favourites to win. after a routine test, one of their team was found to have contracted the virus. the result came a day after a member of the polish delegation also tested positive. this was rafal rehearsing

poland's entry, the ride, on stage inside the rotterdam ahoy last thursday, at which point they were all in possession of a negative test. malta, another one of the bookie's favourites, and romania are staying at the same hotel. as a precautionary measure, they will have the more stringent pcr tests and self—isolate. wave to the people over there! these two cases have occurred, despite the strict covid measures in place. every country was told to remain in a bubble, as the uk's james newman, who is staying in a different hotel, explains. we have to isolate and then when we get there we go straight to the hotel and we get tested constantly, obviously, and it is all covid—safe, with social distancing and everything, and we are not allowed to leave the hotel at all, unless we go into the arena and then we get picked up and we are not allowed to travel with anyone else and we get separately taken there. and then, you know, in the arena

it is all totally kept separate. every one of the 39 acts competing has a back—up recording in case they are unable to perform on the night. the organisers pointed out the event is taking place with the support of the dutch government and in a statement said, but across this host nation, there is a growing concern about the wisdom or otherwise of putting on the world's biggest televised singing competition, designed to unite a continent on one stage, in a time of covid—19. and when there are now approximately 5,000 new infections recorded every day here in the netherlands. and this second positive test is evidence eurovision is not immune. anna holligan, bbc

news, in the hague. you're watching bbc news. here, four men have been arrested by police investigating anti semitic abuse in london. footage on social media appeared to show people in a convoy of cars draped in palestinian flags making threats of violence and rape. the prime minister described it as shameful racism. the parents of george hinds — the two—year old who died following a suspected gas explosion in lancashire — have paid tribute to theirson, calling him a beautiful little angel. at least two houses in heysham were destroyed in the blast in the early hours of this morning — and several others were badly damaged. paul murphy has the latest. from above, the incredible force of this explosion is apparent. two homes were destroyed,

many more have been damaged. debris is scattered across the neighbourhood. residents described the blast atjust after 2:30am this morning as something that felt like an earthquake. it sounded like a bomb going off this morning just after 2am, and it literally shook the whole bed. we felt like we were going through the floor and then we jumped out of bed and we just ran, just to see what was going on. it's just awful. this evening, the child who died has been named as two—year—old george hinds. his parents were both injured, but not seriously. another man and a woman are critically ill in hospital. around 30 residents were evacuated overnight to a nearby leisure centre. some of them must now wait while their damaged homes are safety checked. many residents are still in their houses or have gone to friends, so it is quite a small number of people who are actually at the evacuation centre at the moment,

but it is there if people needed. as fire investigators begin their work, george hinds' parents said they were devastated at the loss of their beautiful and precious son and had no words to describe how they were feeling. paul murphy, bbc news, heysham. now it's time for a look at the weather. hello. it may come as a shock to those of you who sat under sunny skies on sunday, but elsewhere, there was some severe storms, some flash flooding and also this was sent into us from one of our weather watchers. a funnel cloud, the early stages of a tornado on the west coast of somerset. and the turbulent atmosphere which brought those conditions still with us through the next few days. more thundery downpours to come, nice in the sunshine where you've got it, but overall, rather cool and then potential for something much wetter and windier later in the week. now, out there into the start of monday, the area of low pressure that was with us on sunday moves a bit further eastwards. that allows a bit more of a northwesterly flow across the country and a subtle

shift in where we will see some of the heaviest of the showers. now, some of the showers will continue through the night into the morning. a fair bit of cloud around to start your monday, but it will be frost free — temperatures around 5—8 celsius. best of the brightness will be in the west, in fact, in western areas, it will be a drier day overall. one or two showers though in the west to begin with, but notice how they are tracking their way eastwards, and as we go into the afternoon, as temperatures rise, its eastern parts of scotland, eastern england, where we are most likely to see some severe thunderstorms, hail and potentially some gusty winds with the risk of flash flooding in one or two spots. western areas, though, as i said, always that bit drier compared with yesterday. nice enough in the sunshine, it will be cooler where the showers occur. the showers will last into the evening, gradually fading away for the vast majority. there will be 1—2 around, particularly for coastal areas as we go through the night and into tuesday morning. and with some clearer skies around, perhaps cooler through the night into tuesday morning, an isolated chance of frost for southern scotland, northern ireland, but most places will be frost—free. the details for tuesday, then, we'll begin with some sunshine, a few early mist and fog patches.

cloudier and breezier to the north of scotland, where it will be a rather cool day. a greater chance of showers in northern scotland. showers return, though, to northern ireland, wales and southwest england. this is where the heaviest will be. fewer showers in southern scotland, northern and eastern england compared with monday. nice in the sunshine, cool out of it. that showery story continues into wednesday. the shower risk pushes a bit further north, then through thursday into friday, it all depends on how quickly an area of low pressure will start to push its way in. there is potential that thursday could be dry, but this deepening area of low pressure will push in with some extensive rain and some strong winds with gales possible in many areas. stay tuned to the forecast to keep up—to—date with that. bye for now.

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