welcome to bbc news, i'm david eades. our top stories: 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. 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. 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—19 outbreak at a hotel in rotterdam force four teams to withdraw from the opening ceremony of the eurovision song contest. 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. in the past few hours israeli warplanes have launched 80 air strikes in several areas of gaza city, shortly after hamas militants fired a barrage of rockets at southern israel. 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 10 children. meanwhile israel says hamas has launched 3,000 rockets in the last week, killing 10 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. a hugely challenging situation they are. well, earlier i spoke to refaat alareer who's an author and journalist in gaza. i asked him to describe the current situation in theh city. i think ithinki i think i have run out of superlatives to describe these acts being committed, against these occupied, impoverished civilians in the gaza strip.

just an hour ago before we started this programme, they unleashed a real hell upon the heads of palestinians, especially in the area where i am now, in the heart of gaza city quite in practical terms, explain what that means? it means death, destruction. they targeted a whole block, destroying homes while people slept at night. massacring whole families. 42 people were killed and some of them, whole families, ten family members, most of them were children, many of them were women, and at the same time, and this could go sometimes unreported, they targeted the roads leading to the hospitals, so they could delay the rescue, the ambulances to maximise the number of people killed. that

is something _ number of people killed. that is something we _ number of people killed. that is something we can't - number of people killed. that is something we can't verify at this stage but we have asked you to explain what it's like and have us a picture of what's going on there. the message from benjamin netanyahu, as you will know is, we will continue with full force, particularly as long as there are rocket being fired out of gaza into israel. what do you think should happen now? at israel. what do you think should happen now? at first, benjamin _ should happen now? at first, benjamin netanyahu - should happen now? at first, benjamin netanyahu is - should happen now? at first, benjamin netanyahu is a - should happen now? at first, i benjamin netanyahu is a white nationalist racist. b5 benjamin netanyahu is a white nationalist racist.— nationalist racist. as a war criminal... _ nationalist racist. as a war criminal... whatever - nationalist racist. as a war criminal... whatever you | nationalist racist. as a war - criminal... whatever you think of him, what do you think should be the next step? it should be the next step? it should be the next step? it should be said loud and clear. watch it happen is the whole international community should put pressure on israel in order to end these massacres. it is ethnic cleansing of native palestinians and gaza, not only in gaza but also injerusalem, all over palestine. this is a continuation of what started in

1948 and it has to stop, it has i948 and it has to stop, it has to stop now. 50 1948 and it has to stop, it has to step nova— 1948 and it has to stop, it has to stop now. so how do you feel about the _ to stop now. so how do you feel about the level _ to stop now. so how do you feel about the level of _ about the level of international response that you have seen so far? the united nations has had one thing to say but of course the united states is other things. bre states is other things. are they concerned? - states is other things. are they concerned? we - states is other things. fife: they concerned? we are being killed, psychologically terrorised for ever and ever. the stance has always been disappointing, no more than lip service from officials but the popular uproar around the world, people who took to the streets in order to protest the massacres against palestinians, because they are part of the global struggle for freedom, independence, against global struggle forfreedom, independence, against racism, colonialism, apartheid and ethnic cleansing.

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 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. myanmar�*s military has entered a small town in the west of the country, after local residents took up arms against them three weeks ago. activists from the volunteer chinland defence force say they have retreated from the town of mindat to spare it further bombardment. the group also said that six of its members were killed in clashes with the military, and several more were injured. security forces are reported to have deployed live ammunition against civilians, many of whom have fled to the surrounding mountains.

manny maung is the asia researcher for human rights watch. shejoins me now from sydney. thanks forjoining us. i actuallyjust want to thanks forjoining us. i actually just want to start by playing a little bit of video that we've got, if you might have a listen to this as well. 0k, have a listen to this as well. ok, the pictures don't tell us a huge amount but that rapid gunfire tells us some thing. what do you understand has gone on their? a, , what do you understand has gone ontheir? , . on their? basically, since february _ on their? basically, since february one _ on their? basically, since february one and - on their? basically, since february one and the - on their? basically, since. february one and the coup that took place, the situation is fast escalating. it doesn't appear that either side wants to back down or can back down in terms of the civilians but the armed resistance from people has grown so it is very clear that we are really looking at a civil war situation that is rapidly escalating right now. but what we can hear there is artillery

fire and rapid shelling of a village, the town of mindat, we are really concerned that over the weekend crimes against humanity and civilians have happened. the military are using military grade weapons to attack civilians who are basically defending themselves with home—made weapons, and they really don't have anywhere to escape because again as you mentioned, this area is very remote, it is surrounded by mountains and forests and there's very little help that can get there either. right, message — can get there either. right, message we're _ can get there either. right, message we're getting - can get there either. right, | message we're getting from can get there either. right, - message we're getting from the channel and national front ——

chinland defence force, looking for shelter anywhere they can find it, it seems. it for shelter anywhere they can find it, it seems.— find it, it seems. it is really disturbing _ find it, it seems. it is really disturbing because - find it, it seems. it is really disturbing because it - find it, it seems. it is really| disturbing because it seems find it, it seems. it is really i disturbing because it seems a lot of the men have left the town and essentially they were trying to flee because they were worried that they would be part of these arbitrary roundups and sweeps of arrests that have been conducted, so although the men left, that left a lot of women and children in the towns and now we are hearing very worrying allegations of sexual violence and rape against the women there. these are tactics that are commonly seen and enacted by the military. we have documented at thoroughly and other parts of the country including against the rohingya. these are worrying but they are coming up very quickly. we've also heard allegations of human shields being used. people were fleeing because the military was arresting people, up to 18-20 was arresting people, up to 18—20 people who they then used

as human shields before attacking the village. it is clear, attacking the village. it is clear. sorry _ attacking the village. it is clear, sorry to _ attacking the village. it is clear, sorry to interrupt l attacking the village. it is clear, sorry to interrupt you there, it is clear it is a pretty desperate situation and difficult to get immediate information, but it is filtering through. thank you very much indeed forjoining us. and thank you for being with us here on 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 peaceful funeral 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, butjust 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 main story this hour: 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'. 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 thejewish holiday of shavout became a scramble to rescue the injured. this the moment the temporary seating collapsed, sending people plummeting to the ground. around 650 ultra—0rthodox worshippers were in the synagogue, which police describe as being "partially constructed". officials said organizers had been warned the building was unsafe and the event had taken place despite a lack of permits. the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, said he was praying for the injured. while a local police chief blamed negligence and promised arrests. the incident comes just weeks after 45 people were killed in a crush at an ultra—0rthodox festival in northern israel. two celebrations that rapidly turned into tragedies in little over two weeks. gareth barlow, bbc news.

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 don't have to give up a quality of life to achieve some of the things we know we have to achieve — that is the brilliance of some of the things that we know how to do and will do. i am told by scientists — not by anybody in politics — but by scientists that 50% of the reductions we have to make to get to net zero by 2050 or 2045, as soon as we can, 50% of those reductions are going to come from technologies that we don't yet have. a that we don't yet have. couple of bold statements

from a couple of bold statements from john kerry there. earlier i spoke to michael mann, author of the new climate war and director of the earth system science center at pennsylvania state university. he told me why he was disappointed byjohn kerry's comments. and it is unfortunate framing on the part ofjohn kerry. the biden administration, john kerry as the special envoy on climate, thus far have really done a greatjob on climate. they've put forward a very bold agenda, we've re—established leadership — the united states is one of the leaders when it comes to addressing the climate crisis on the world stage — all that is to be lauded. it is good. but, here, that is a very misleading statement that he has made. we have the technology now, in the form of existing renewable energy and storage, and efficiency measures that we can put in place. right... ..we have the technology now to de—carbonise our climate. we do not need a miracle as bill gates has claimed

or new tech asjohn kerry is saying here. no but i think what he is saying — and i wonder if it is that point about the 50% yet to be discovered technology or the fact that he's saying, look, you do not have to change your way of life to reach these figures because it is true, isn't it, michael, there will be new technologies developed in the course of the next 5, 10, 13, 20 25 years which are extraordinary, probably, and make huge leaps forward? absolutely. that is certainly the case but what is also the case is that we can actually achieve 80% of our projected energy demand by the end of this decade, by 2030, from renewable energy, from existing renewable energy, and 100% by 2050 and that is the conclusion of several independent teams of scientists who have looked at this. and so it is not the case that 50% of those reductions have to come from new, as yet unverified or demonstrated technology. we have the technology now. now, when it comes to lifestyle changes, sure, we need to put in place incentives that lead people to to make more climate—friendly choices,

but do not need a draconian change in lifestyle to accomplish these reductions. what we need are incentives, we need policy, we need leadership — you know, put a price on carbon, provide subsidies for renewable energy, and to block new fossil fuel infrastructure. things that people as individuals can't do themselves. sure, do you think that john kerry has just had because you certainly welcomed his return to the fray, as it were, and he has got a good record as a climate activist. you have a big problem with inactivists, if you like, this feels like quite an inactivist sort of comment to make. i would like to think this is just an off day, because much of what the administration has done and said thus far is, once again, is commendable. they are taking us in the right direction and so i hope thatjohn kerry will get some of this feedback

and will recognise that perhaps he was inartful, he slipped up a bit in his comments today, because, look, we have the technology now to solve this problem. we do not need a miracle. we do not need brand—new technology. what we need is the political need to scale up existing renewable energy now. four teams competing at the eurovision song contest have withdrawn from sunday's opening ceremony, as a precaution against coronavirus. 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 backup 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's 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.

it's may not be immune but the show goes on. you're watching bbc news. 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 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, 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, its eastern parts of scotland, eastern england where we are most likely to see some severe thunderstorms, hail 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. 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 will continue with full force. 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.

now on bbc news, dateline london.