this is bbc news. i'm david eades with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the un pleads for peace in the middle east conflict, but israel's prime minister says the military campaign on gaza will continue with full force. cheering civilian casualties continue to rise, with children and the elderly among those killed and injured. 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 is a difficult process. two people are killed

and scores are injured — as temporary seating collapses at a crowded synagogue north ofjerusalem. india faces a shocking truth — the death from coronavirus of up to 1,600 teachers instructed to help with last month's elections. and fears of a covid—i9 outbreak at a hotel in rotterdam force four teams to withdraw from the opening ceremony of the eurovision song contest. hello. thanks very much for the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, has brushed off international appeals for an immediate ceasefire in gaza, saying it will 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 but in gaza, health officials say 42 people were killed in the latest israeli bombardment — among them ten children. meanwhile, 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. we are trying to establish contact with someone in gaza to get the latest information there. we'll speak to him as soon as we can. we will one of the stories. we start in india. as many as 1,600 teachers have died from covid—19 after being drafted 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 another family 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. i want to bring us back to the situation in gaza. we have managed to make contact with refaat alareer, an author and journalist in gaza where he joins us. thank you very much indeed. we have a line to you. we have seen a lot of pictures, very graphic images of what is happening in gaza over the last 12-24 happening in gaza over the last 12—24 hours. can you give us the words that go with those big is? what is lifelike for you at the moment? i big is? what is lifelike for you at the moment? i thinkl have run _ you at the moment? i thinkl have run out _ you at the moment? ithinkl have run out of— you at the moment? i thinkl have run out of superlativesl you at the moment? i think i i have run out of superlatives to describe what evil, immoral, pernicious acts have been committed against the deceased, occupied, impoverished palestinians on the gaza strip. just an hour ago, before we started this programme, israel unleashed real hell upon the

head of palestinians, especially in the area where i am now, in the heart of gaza city... am now, in the heart of gaza ci , city... in practical terms, explain — city... in practicalterms, explain what _ city... in practicalterms, explain what that - city... in practicalterms, explain what that means. it means death, it means destruction for the israel targeted a whole block, destroying homes for people slept at night, massacring all families, 42 people were killed. some of them whole families. ten family members. most of them were children. and many of them were women. these are the people that israel is targeting. at the same time, and this could go sometimes unreported, israel has targeted the roads leading to the hospital, so the ambulances, in order to maximise the number of people killed, they are performing the... people killed, they are performing the. . .- people killed, they are performing the... that is something _ performing the... that is something we _ performing the... that is | something we can't verify performing the... that is i something we can't verify at this stage. we have asked you to explain what it is like and gives a picture of what is going on there. the message

from benjamin netanyahu, as you will know, as we will continue with full force, particularly as long as there are rockets still being fired out of gaza into israel. what do you think should happen now?- should happen now? first, netanyahu _ should happen now? first, netanyahu is _ should happen now? first, netanyahu is a _ should happen now? first, netanyahu is a white - netanyahu is a white nationalists racist. he is a war criminal and nationalists racist. he is a war criminaland he nationalists racist. he is a war criminal and he should be... ,, ,, �* be. . . crosstalk. whatever - be. . . crosstalk. whatever you - be... crosstalk. | whatever you think be... crosstalk. - whatever you think of him. be... crosstalk. _ whatever you think of him. what should be the next step? it should be the next step? it should be the next step? it should be said loud and clear. it what should happen is the whole international community should put pressure on to israel in order to enter these massacres, the problems, the ethnic cleansing of native palestinians in gaza, not only in gaza but injerusalem and hebron and others, this is a continuation for the palestinians that started in 1948 palestinians that started in 19118 and it has to stop. it has to stop now... 1948 and it has to stop. it has to stop now. . ._ to stop now... crosstalk. so how do _ to stop now... crosstalk. so how do you _ to stop now. .. crosstalk. so how do you feel- to stop now... crosstalk. so how do you feel about i to stop now... crosstalk. | so how do you feel about the level of international response

that you've seen so far? the united nations has had one thing to say, but the united states and perhaps has other things... states and perhaps has other thins... ,,,, �* things... crosstalk. what are _ things... crosstalk. - what are their concerns? we things... crosstalk. _ what are their concerns? we are being killed here. we are either destroyed, we are being killed, or we are being psychologically traumatised for ever and ever. the official stance has always been disappointing. no more than lip service from officials. but the popular uproar around the world, and i would like to thank the people around the world who rose, the took to the streets in order to protest the massacres against palestinians because the palestinian struggle as part of the global struggle as part of the global struggle forfreedom, struggle as part of the global struggle for freedom, for independence against racism, against colonialism, against apartheid, against ethnic cleansing. we call the international community to end this, who are responsible for creating israel, for destroying palestine, for trying to make palestinians pay the price for

european anti—semitism in the 19305 european anti—semitism in the 1930s and 1940s. european anti-semitism in the 1930s and 1940s.— european anti-semitism in the 1930s and 1940s. obviously you have a very _ 1930s and 1940s. obviously you have a very strong _ 1930s and 1940s. obviously you have a very strong argument. 1930s and 1940s. obviously you have a very strong argument to| have a very strong argument to put forward as a palestinian. as a man living... crosstalk. no, yeah, let's recognise that. as an individual, as a father, i think, as well, living as an individual, as a father, ithink, as well, living in gaza, there must be part of you that thinks if we just bring this to a halt, so no more rockets means no more air strikes, we have at least a chance. . , strikes, we have at least a chance-— strikes, we have at least a chance. . , . , chance. excuse me, excuse me. if you struck this story from - if you struck this story from second, people will corlis the victims. you started with the rocket, the rocket the 10/15 result. this is the israeli occupation. this is a continuation to the european colonialism around the world, with the stilted —— palestinians. at the same time we need to end the occupation because it is not only in gaza, we are being bombarded, the

kids are being killed. a friend of mine was telling me just now that if we come out of this alive, sadly, it is going to be the worst case scenario, because now death seems to be a better choice for us, for our children. what are you going to do to these children when they grow up in bombarded, being terrorised and traumatised 24/7, supported by the uk, by france, and by america? 24”, supported by the uk, by france, and by america? refaat alareer, thank _ france, and by america? refaat alareer, thank you _ france, and by america? refaat alareer, thank you very - france, and by america? refaat alareer, thank you very much i alareer, thank you very much indeed. thanks forjoining us here on bbc world news. thank ou for here on bbc world news. thank you for having — here on bbc world news. thank you for having me. _ temporary seating has collapsed at a crowded synagogue in an israeli settlement in the occupied west bank, killing two people and injuring nearly 170 others. gareth barlow reports. what began as a service to mark a jewish holiday became a scramble to rescue the injured. this is the moment the

temporary seating collapsed. around 650 ultraorthodox worshippers were in the synagogue, which the police described as being partially constructed. people had been warned the building was not safe and the event took place despite a lack of permits. benjamin netanyahu said he was praying for the injured. police promised arrests. the incident comes just weeks after 45 people were killed in a crash at an ultra orthodox festival. two celebrations that rapidly turned into tragedies in little over two weeks. gareth barlow, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: why four teams competing at the eurovision song contest in rotterdam have withdrawn from the opening ceremony.

this morning, an indian air force plane carrying mr gandhi's body landed in delhi. the president of india walked to the plane to solemnly witness mr gandhi's final return from the political battlefield. ireland has voted overwhelmingly in favour of gay marriage. in doing so, it's become the first country in the world to approve the change in the national referendum. it was a remarkable climax to what was surely the most extraordinary funeral ever given to a pop singer. it's been a peacefulfuneral demonstration so far. but suddenly, the police are tear—gassing the crowd, we don't yet know why. the prelaunch ritual is well—established here. helen was said to be in good spirits, but just a little apprehensive. in the last hour, east timor has become the world's newest nation. it was a bloody birth for a poor country, and the challenges ahead are daunting. but for now, at least, it is time to celebrate.

this is bbc news, the latest headlines: the un pleads for peace in the middle east conflict but israel's prime minister says the military campaign on gaza will continue with full force. two people are killed and scores are injured as temporary seating collapses at a crowded synagogue north ofjerusalem. the us special envoy for climate change, john kerry, has defended america's record on reducing carbon emissions, saying president biden is leading the charge to get to net zero. but he's been criticised by scientists for telling the bbc that 50% of carbon reductions will have to come from technologies that don't yet exist. you that don't yet exist. don't have to give up the quality you don't have to give up the quality of life to achieve some of the things we know we have to achieve, that is of the

brilliance of some of the things we know how to do and will do. i am told by scientists, not by anybody in politics, but by scientists at 50% of the reductions we have to make to get to net zero by 2050, 2045, as soon as we can, 50% of those reductions are going to come from technologies that we don't yet have. a couple of categorical statements from john kerry. joining me now to discuss is michael mann, author of the new climate war and director of the earth system science center at pennsylvania state university. a battle scar campaigner. let me pick up on greta thunberg's response tojohn kerry...

is that of you you share? is this nonsense in your view? to an this nonsense in your view? trr an extent it is an aggressor has a real skill in getting to the heart of the matter. —— and greta. john kerry, thus far has done a really greatjob on climate. they have put forward a bold agenda, re—establish leadership, the us is one of the leaders when addressing the climate crisis on the world stage and it is to be lauded. it is good. but, here, it is a misleading statement he has made. we have the technology now, in the form of existing renewable energy and efficiency measures we can put in place. we have the

technology to d capitalise out climate. we do not need a miracle or new technology. i think whatjohn kerry is saying, and i wonder if it is the 50% yet to be discovered or the 50% yet to be discovered or the fact he sang, look, you do not have to change your way of life. ——he is saying. there will be new technologies developed in the course of the next 5—25 years which are extraordinary probably and make huge leaps forward?— huge leaps forward? absolutely. that is absolutely _ huge leaps forward? absolutely. that is absolutely the _ huge leaps forward? absolutely. that is absolutely the case - huge leaps forward? absolutely. that is absolutely the case but i that is absolutely the case but what is also the case is we can achieve 80% of our projected energy demand by the end of 2030 from renewable energy, existing renewable energy and 100% by 2015 and that is a conclusion of several independent teams of scientists. it is not the case that 50% of reductions have to come from new, as yet

unverified or demonstrated technology. we have the technology. we have the technology now. when it comes to lifestyle changes, shall, we need to put in place incentives to make more climate friendly choices. —— akamai. but do not need a draconian change. we need a draconian change. we need policy and change, put a price on carbon, provide subsidies forfossils, subsidies for fossils, renewable subsidies forfossils, renewable energy, things subsidies for fossils, renewable energy, things that people as individuals cannot do themselves. d0 people as individuals cannot do themselves.— themselves. do you thinkjohn kerry has _ themselves. do you thinkjohn kerry has just _ themselves. do you thinkjohn kerry hasjust had _ themselves. do you thinkjohn kerry hasjust had a _ themselves. do you thinkjohn kerry hasjust had a bad - themselves. do you thinkjohn kerry hasjust had a bad day i kerry has just had a bad day here? you welcome his return to the fray, as it were, and he has a good record as a climate activist. you have a big problem with in activists, this feels like what an activist comment. i feels like what an activist comment-— feels like what an activist comment. ., ~' ., ~' comment. i would like to think this isjust _ comment. i would like to think this isjust an _ comment. i would like to think this isjust an off _ comment. i would like to think this isjust an off day. - comment. i would like to think this isjust an off day. much i this is just an off day. much of what the administration has

done and said thus far is commendable and they are taking us in the right direction and i hopejohn kerry will get some of this feedback and will recognise that perhaps he slipped up a bit in his comments today because we have the elegy now to solve this problem. we do not need a miracle. we do not need brand—new technology. what we need is a political need to scale up renewable energy now. can ijust scale up renewable energy now. can i just ask you though, there will be technological breakthroughs that perhaps make this a less onerous task than it feels like right now. i am thinking about of the top of my head, seaweed as the best food for livestock in due course which saves deforestation and the like. the black soldier offering huge opportunities. thanks out of that can transform the way we live. absolutely and we have to recognise there are going to be

economies of scale is and what we call learning by doing. 0nce we call learning by doing. once you start to implement, you start to deploy renewable energy technology, you learn how you can do it more efficiently and so, as we begin to deploy the existing ology, there will be new efficiencies that make the task even easier but the point is, we cannot kick the can down the road and say, look, we will pull carbon out of the atmosphere a decade or two from that which allows polluters and a crutch for them to say, we need carbon emissions today. to say, we need carbon emissions toda . ~ . . ., ~ emissions today. michael, 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 the 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 test and self—isolate. wave to the people over there! these two cases have occurred despite the strict covid measures in place. every country is 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, 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:

you are watching bbc news. hello. it may come as a shock to those of you who sat under sunny skies on sunday, 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 north—westerly 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, but it will be frost—free, temperatures around 5—8 degrees celsius. best of the brightness will be in the west, and 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, it's 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 one or two around, particularly for coastal areas as we go through the night and into tuesday morning. and with some clear skies around, perhaps cooler through the night into tuesday morning. an isolated chance of a 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 breezy are 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, south—west england. wales, south—west 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. 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 the potential 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.

this is bbc news. the headlines: palestinian officials in gaza say it's been the deadliest day since the fighting with israel began nearly a week ago, but israel's prime minister says the military campaign the united nations secretary general has appealed for an immediate end to the fighting. at least two people have been killed and scores injured as temporary seating collapsed at a crowded synagogue north ofjerusalem. police say about 650 ultra—0rthodox worshippers were inside. local officials allege the synagogue was partially constructed and the event had taken place despite a lack of permits. india is facing international criticism after the death from coronavirus of up to 1,600 teachers ordered to help with last month's elections. the indian teachers union says many begged to be released from election duty, fearing for their health, as india's ferocious second wave took hold.

now on bbc news — global questions.