this is the scene live in gaza as darkness falls. israel's prime minister says his country's response will "change the middle east". we're standing by in new york, where the united nations secretary general is soon expected to address the situation. this is the scene in gaza city. out of the corner of my eye i can see the united nations secretary general. �* , ., a, ., general. let's go live. more than 2500 injured- — general. let's go live. more than 2500 injured. sadly, _ general. let's go live. more than 2500 injured. sadly, these - general. let's go live. more than i 2500 injured. sadly, these numbers are expected to rise as the attacks

are expected to rise as the attacks are ongoing and many remain unaccounted for. in addition, over 100, possibly more, is really so and military have been reported captured by armed groups, including women, children and the elderly. some are being held hostage inside israel and many others have been taken inside the gaza strip. meanwhile, hamas and palestinian islamicjihad have launched thousands of rockets, which reach central israel. i recognise the legitimate grievances the palestinian people, but nothing can justify these acts of terror and the killing, maiming and abduction of civilians. i reiterate my call to immediately cease these attacks and release all hostages. in the face of these unprecedented attacks on israeli air strikes appointed gaza.

i'm deeply alarmed of reports of over 500 palestinians, including women and children, killed in gaza and over 3,000 injured. unfortunately, these numbers are rising by the minute as israeli operations continue. while i recognise israel because my legitimate security concerns and also remind x—trial that military operations must be carried out in strict accordance with international law. civilians must be protected at all times. civilian infrastructure must never be a target. we already have reports of israeli missile strike and health facilities inside gaza, as well as multi—story residential towers and a mosque. to all the schools —— schools sheltering people and gaza were also hit. the number sheltering is

increasing as the heavy shelling and air strikes continue. i am deeply distressed by the announcement today that israel will initiate a complete seizure of the gaza strip, nothing allowed in, no electricity, food or fuel. the humanitarian situation in gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities, now it will deteriorate exponentially. medical equipment, food and fuel and other humanitarian supplies are desperately needed, along with access for humanitarian personnel. relief and entry of essential supplies into gaza must be facilitated and the un will continue efforts to provide aid to respond to these needs. i urge all sides in the relevant parties to urge the united nations access to give assistance to palestinian civilians. i appeal to the international community to mobilise immediate humanitarian

support for these efforts. the un special coordinator and i are engaging with leaders in the region to express our concern, our outrage and to address efforts to avoid any spill over to the wider middle east. even in these worst of times, and perhaps especially in the most trying moments, it is vital to look to the long—term horizon irreversible action that would importer important extremists. this most recent violence does not come in a vacuum. the reality is that it grows out of a long—standing conflict with a 56 year long occupation and no political end in sight. it is time to end this vicious circle of bloodshed, hatred and polarisation. israel must see its needs for legitimate security,

and palestinian posse clear perspective for their own state realised. only a negotiated peace that fulfils the legitimate national aspirations of palestinians and israelis, together with their security aligned, the long held ambition of the two state in line with un resolutions, international law and previous agreements can bring long—term stability to the people of this land and the wider region. thank you. that people of this land and the wider region. thank you.— people of this land and the wider region. thank you. that is the un secretary general, _ region. thank you. that is the un secretary general, starting - region. thank you. that is the un secretary general, starting by - secretary general, starting by condemning the attacks over the weekend by hamas. we describe them as abhorrent, he gave an update in terms of numbers, over a country is really staid and more than 2500 injured. he said i reiterate my call to immediately cease these attacks and release all the hostages. he went on to say i'm deeply alarmed by

reports of over 500 palestinians including women and children killed including women and children killed in gaza and 3,000 injured. he said he is deeply distressed by the announcements today that israel will initiate and complete siege of the gaza strip. our correspondent is in jerusalem listening to that and can give us the latest of what is happening where he is. certainly great clarity there from the un secretary general, but predicting that those numbers that ijust secretary general, but predicting that those numbers that i just went through will rise through the coming hours and days. that through will rise through the coming hours and dim-— hours and days. that certainly is the case. hours and days. that certainly is the case- just — hours and days. that certainly is the case. just listening - hours and days. that certainly is the case. just listening to - hours and days. that certainly is i the case. just listening to antonio gutierrez there, he says now is the time to end this vicious cycle of bloodshed. the problem is, when you look at the images you have been showing in the past couple of hours it seems that the number of debt will only rise, and that is because

here in israel more than 800 people have lost their lives, and gaza more than 560 people have been killed in the un secretary general talking about his deep distress at the prospect of a siege, because this is what the israeli defence minister has been talking about today, saying that fuel, food and other supplies reaching gaza will effectively be stopped. all the while this huge activity in the air with this intense assault on gaza, carried out by the israeli forces. also rockets coming back to the other way. today we were at the funeral of a british man killed on saturday morning he had been serving in the israeli forces. he was killed on the gaza border. more than a thousand people had tribute to him. the air raid siren went off, there were explosions in the air and more than a thousand people took cover. some people hid under trees, some were

ducking down beneath the gravestones. that was an indication of how quickly the situation has escalated. this isjerusalem, we are far from gaza escalated. this isjerusalem, we are farfrom gaza here. in escalated. this is jerusalem, we are far from gaza here.— escalated. this is jerusalem, we are far from gaza here. in terms of what the government _ far from gaza here. in terms of what the government have _ far from gaza here. in terms of what the government have been - far from gaza here. in terms of what the government have been saying i the government have been saying through the course ofjust today, in terms of options, what is being considered now?— considered now? interesting listeninu considered now? interesting listening to _ considered now? interesting listening to the _ considered now? interesting listening to the prime - considered now? interesting l listening to the prime minister considered now? interesting - listening to the prime minister of israel earlier, he was saying that this is only the beginning and that's an enormous force, to use his phrase, will be used, and he says the justification is that militants continue to come out of gaza and onto israeli soil, largely through the gaps in the fence created on saturday morning, and have not yet been sealed, even though the israeli say they are in control of the south of their country. it was the defence minister who was talking about the siege and spelling out what it would mean in the coming days and weeks.

interestingly, kattar said today it is willing to mediate, to try to find common ground, but at the moment when we see what is happening and the pictures coming out, any sort of short—term solution to this violence, that will be extremely difficult to find. in violence, that will be extremely difficult to find.— violence, that will be extremely difficult to find. in the south, on the border— difficult to find. in the south, on the border with _ difficult to find. in the south, on the border with the _ difficult to find. in the south, on the border with the gaza - difficult to find. in the south, on the border with the gaza strip, i difficult to find. in the south, on l the border with the gaza strip, we have seen a continued build—up of reservists and armoured equipment. that is right. the anticipation here is that there will be a large—scale ground offensive. certainly that is something that the public mood seems to be expecting. certainly on saturday morning, when people were talking about how the assault by hamas had taken people by surprise, particularly the intelligence services, huge questions for them in the days and weeks to come, but in light of this the israeli forces are putting together an operation, but

that will no doubt take time. as you say, those forces are amassing. we have heard about reservists being called up actually the movement is towards gaza as more israeli forces are brought together and some sort of plan is devised and ultimately enacted. we wait to see what the repercussions of that will be. we were listening to the un secretary general who talked about his concern at this total siege of gaza. what is the government saying in terms of just the practicalities of what it is actually imposing? the defence minister was _ is actually imposing? the defence minister was talking _ is actually imposing? the defence minister was talking about - is actually imposing? the defence minister was talking about how i is actually imposing? the defence. minister was talking about how this reaction, this response which he claimed was justified would change the middle east, would be our watermark, really, in relations, and in terms of what has been happening here. in terms of how that will work will wait and see, but he was talking about fuel, about food, the

basics for life. outside of israel that has caused huge concern, also among some israelis, about what that will mean for the people in gaza. lots of people are saying, where do we go, where are safe places if they leave gaza? people in gaza talking about a lack of tunnels and bomb shelters, a lot of people have been going to un school is hoping to seek shelter there, to be safe and discontinued attack. the scale of it today has been extraordinary. all the while there have been rockets coming from gaza. we heard them earlier. we went to a district earlier. we went to a district earlier that had been hit with reports of some injuries, there was damage on the street, but no deaths in a particular location. just damage on the street, but no deaths in a particular location.— in a particular location. just as ou in a particular location. just as you were _ in a particular location. just as you were speaking, _ in a particular location. just as you were speaking, the - in a particular location. just as you were speaking, the israelii you were speaking, the israeli foreign minister said the more than

100 people have been taken captive by hamas. that is going to be central to their thinking when they are looking at the various options in front of them tactically here. there is a huge consideration. any ground offensive may well have got under way in response to what happened on saturday morning, but thatis happened on saturday morning, but that is a huge factor, the fact that 100 israeli lives are in peril. whether this is a special forces operation which is being put together at the moment, he would imagine that the military elite would be called in to preserve life at this particular moment, but undoubtedly that is something which is front and centre of the thinking of the intelligence services and crucially the special forces and the other military generals who are trying to put together a plan to rescue those israelis who have been held hostage. rescue those israelis who have been held hostage-— rescue those israelis who have been held hostage. thank you very much. let me take —

held hostage. thank you very much. let me take you _ held hostage. thank you very much. let me take you through _ held hostage. thank you very much. let me take you through a _ held hostage. thank you very much. let me take you through a couple i held hostage. thank you very much. let me take you through a couple ofi let me take you through a couple of the latest lines coming in. house spoke throughout the weekend to regional partners. they say they are working with regional partners to help... there is a lot of concern that lebanon might get involved. of course today on the borders with lebanon we have seen various exchanges and shelling, so another warning there from jake sullivan from the white house in the last little while. on that other area we have seen develop in the last couple of hours on this programme, the move to suspend aid payments to palestinians, that move from the eu. very interesting that spain has just said they disagreed with that move from the eu to suspend palestinian

aids payments, so division there in of that announcement. that brings us to that area, because as we were reporting the biggest donor to palestine, they have suspended all aids. austria and germany have also suspended their aid. brute aids. austria and germany have also suspended their aid.— suspended their aid. we heard a short while _ suspended their aid. we heard a short while ago _ suspended their aid. we heard a short while ago from _ suspended their aid. we heard a short while ago from the - suspended their aid. we heard a l short while ago from the european commissionerfor short while ago from the european commissioner for neighbourhood and enlargement. he said the scale of terror and brutality against israel and its people is a turning point. there can be no business as usual. it then goes on to say as the biggest donor of the palestinians, the european commission is putting its full development portfolio under review with a total of 691 million

euros. that means that according to the eu commission all payments will be immediately suspended, all projects will be put under review and all key budget proposals will be postponed until further notice. and all key budget proposals will be postponed untilfurther notice. the commissioner goes on to say on twitter, incitement to hatred, violence and qualification of terror have poisoned the minds of too many. we need action and we need it now. matthew, these are quite strong words from the european commission, which normally tries to use more diplomatic language. we are also seeing other countries in europe, like austria and germany, they have said today that they are suspending aid worth a lot to the palestinians.

what about the push back saying it was hamas that carried out this attack, not the palestinians, so this is not aimed at the right people? that this is not aimed at the right --eole? �* ., this is not aimed at the right ”eole?�* ., , ,, this is not aimed at the right --eole?�* ., ,,, this is not aimed at the right ”eole?�* .,, ,,, ., ., people? at a press briefing today a spokesperson _ people? at a press briefing today a spokesperson for _ people? at a press briefing today a spokesperson for the _ people? at a press briefing today a spokesperson for the european i spokesperson for the european commission was asked out repeatedly and what they said, their main line is, israel has the right to self defence in response to the appalling attacks by hamas, but they also stress that that should be done in line with international law. the eu is taking what is happening in the middle east extremely seriously. in fact, they have said today that they will convene an emergency meeting of foreign ministers tomorrow. that will be chaired in oman. that will be used to discuss the current situation in the middle east and foreign ministers are likely to come up foreign ministers are likely to come up with a joint statement, and they will consider their response and

next steps from the eu on the situation in the middle east. so many times and we are talking to people he can hear over the live pictures to the sounds of explosions. they have been relentless of the day. that is exactly the detail that israeli defence for have been talking about, in terms ofjust the numbers of attacks on hamas positions. these are the live pictures as we look at gaza sitting at the moment. let's continue with the theme we were listening to, events on the ground. we can talk to the director of communications from the united nations relief agency. she gave us her assessment. brute nations relief agency. she gave us her assessment.— her assessment. we are currently sa in: her assessment. we are currently saying playing _ her assessment. we are currently saying playing out _ her assessment. we are currently saying playing out a _ her assessment. we are currently saying playing out a very - her assessment. we are currently saying playing out a very large i saying playing out a very large displacement of people in gaza. for

some background, the un operates a network of schools, health centres and other basic services in buildings across the gaza strip. in times of conflict, and sadly the gaza strip witnesses conflict regularly, this is the secular seven conflict since 2008, in these times it makes a school is available as shelters for people who want to search for safety for themselves and their families. search for safety for themselves and theirfamilies. as of search for safety for themselves and their families. as of this afternoon my colleagues and gaza told me that “p my colleagues and gaza told me that up to 137,000 people are housed in 83 schools. for background, school can be turned into a shelter if it is prepared to receive people with the availability of desalinated water and mobile toilets and showers, and the availability of

food and essential items, such as blankets or mattresses. tell food and essential items, such as blankets or mattresses.— food and essential items, such as blankets or mattresses. tell me the practicalities — blankets or mattresses. tell me the practicalities of _ blankets or mattresses. tell me the practicalities of how _ blankets or mattresses. tell me the practicalities of how this _ blankets or mattresses. tell me the practicalities of how this works i blankets or mattresses. tell me the practicalities of how this works on . practicalities of how this works on the ground for someone like yourself. is there any communication with the israelis to identify where the school actually are? there was a report earlier in the day that the school had been hit. tell me more about that and more about how you try to relay information so there are not schools that have these civilians inside that end up becoming a target. like any un agency in a context where there is a war, conflict, communicates the gps of its installations to the warring parties. of its installations to the warring arties. . , , ., ., parties. precisely to reiterate these are _ parties. precisely to reiterate these are protected - parties. precisely to reiterate i these are protected installations. the blue flag is what civilians look forfor

the blue flag is what civilians look for for protection, the blue flag is what civilians look forfor protection, and the blue flag is what civilians look for for protection, and this the blue flag is what civilians look forfor protection, and this is the blue flag is what civilians look for for protection, and this is why in situations of conflict like the ones now in gaza, people to come into our schools because they feared that where they live in their apartment blocks there might be under attack. apartment blocks there might be underattack. sadly, apartment blocks there might be under attack. sadly, ia of our buildings and assets have already sustained damage, including one of our schools yesterday. fortunately, no one was killed in these attacks. however, three children, boys did go to schools in gaza, tragically have lost their lives already and one of my colleagues who works in the design and construction department in gaza also lost his life yesterday when a building near his house collapsed on his own house. his family is injured and in hospital. the situation can touch anyone. we are in constant contact with their colleagues in gaza, we worry about them, but the most important thing

now is to make sure installations are safe and i can provide a safe haven to those who are seeking refuge and safety. i want to take you now to our live page on the bbc and the story that is currently running. it is a horrific story. a snapshot of what was going on over the weekend. ido dan has put up the messages from his family's whatsapp group. his family were updating him from within an air raid shelter. a member of his family said she could hear gunmen

charting in arabic. she said she could hear the screaming of other tributes members. she says it is like a holocaust here, they are killing everyone. at nine amg got disconnected, her battery ran out. apparently his cousin did manage to survive by wedging close the door. two of her children, her ex—husband, herfather as well as her two of her children, her ex—husband, her father as well as her niece and eight—year—old mother all missing. nature add video service on social media that appeared to show hadas because my 12—year—old son being taken by gunmen into gaza. a final line, there is hope to believe they are alive, but he is deeply, deeply fearful of what might happen next.

thatjust fearful of what might happen next. that just one story fearful of what might happen next. thatjust one story emerging there on ppc's live page. head there as there are so many updates, a lot of video to go through, but really distressing detail that account from just one family. well, let's go back in terms of what is happening from new york. wejust in terms of what is happening from new york. we just heard from the un secretary general giving us an update on numbers, but also his reflection in terms of what has been happening over the last three days in the middle east. our correspondence is there for us. by, correspondence is there for us. clearly distressed secretary—general as he was giving those comments. that's right. quite a lengthy statement. he talked about how he had just convened an extraordinary meeting of senior un leaders and that he along with his middle east coordinator were engaging metres in the region. he said really to prevent spill over, that is

obviously the key concern right now, along with four piercing already on the ground, this getting worse. to give you a sense of the conversations happening, we heard from the secretary general�*s spokesperson said that the secretary general has already spoken to the israeli president, the king of jordan, he expects to speak later today with the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, joe mahmoud abbas, the president of the chip and the prime minister of lebanon. he will be continuing conversations as the day goes on. we heard him there expressing a number of concerns saying he understands the legitimate concerns of the palestinian people, but nothing can justify these acts of terror. on the israeli side saying he is deeply distressed by the announcements today of the procedures of gaza, and reiterating israel has to follow international

law. ., ~' , ., , israel has to follow international law. ., ~ , . law. thank you very much. i will leave you _ law. thank you very much. i will leave you with _ law. thank you very much. i will leave you with these _ law. thank you very much. i will leave you with these pictures i law. thank you very much. i will leave you with these pictures of| leave you with these pictures of gaza city. continuing coverage here on the bbc, but thanks for watching. it has been a warm day in the south, but a drier day in scotland. but we have had severe flood warnings in scotland. there is another warning in force, because although it has been drier today this weather front still draped across from scotland to northern england will start to pep up northern england will start to pep up again, so another pulse of heavy rain is jane tonight and tomorrow. for the meantime the weather front that we do have is pushing back northwards, bringing rain across the northern isles trail is back and across the west and invigorates

overnight, so we are talking over 15-25 overnight, so we are talking over 15—25 millimetres to come from that, possibly a0—50 over the hills over the course of tuesday. it will be mild in the south. some fog under this ridge of high pressure, which will mean light whence first thing. stronger winds picking up with this rain further north. the rain is the main story because it is falling on saturated ground into rivers that are still full and the rain are still coming down from the mountains, as well. we are anticipating further issues with flooding. not quite as warm in northern ireland yesterday. that could be some showers and northern england and the north—west. the brisk wind turn should the north—west as we get through tomorrow night and into wednesday, just pushing a weather from further south. wednesday to thursday we will see the first memory raved in october. not altogether dry further

not put a fresher, drier start. quite a dip in temperatures. still warm even with the rain further south. the rain hangs around, albeit a rather weaker affair. then it starts to pep up again on friday, with low pressure driving in from the south, another weather from driving in from the north. we have low pressure and charged by the end of the week, which for one reason or another means we will see some unsettled weather, and perhaps some rain for the first time this month for some towns and cities further south. you can keep up—to—date with the rain and flood warnings online.

tonight at six: we're injerusalem, as the israeli government orders the �*complete siege' of gaza. as israel says it's hit 2,a00 hamas targets, we report from inside the gaza strip. i have been covering many wars between hamas and israel, but this time — and this day, especially — i think it's the biggest ever israeli air strike that targeted gaza. the israeli government now cuts food, water and electricity

to the palestinians living in gaza. the israeli army calls up 300,000 reservists and amasses tanks close to the gaza strip, in preparation for a land incursion. this road is littered with the bodies of hamas fighters and burnt—out, smashed—up vehicles like this that they were using when they infiltrated across the border. you can hear gunfire still going on here. they are still clearing the area, the israeli forces. here in the uk, ten britons are feared dead or missing. there is growing concern. we speak to relatives in frantic with worry about loved ones. and desperate for news. and in other news... labour's shadow chancellor, rachel reeves, pledges to �*get britain building' if the party wins the general election. coming up in sports on bbc news... mitchell santner is in the wickets for new zealand as the netherlands struggled to keep pace with their opponents

at the cricket world cup in india.