we need help to bring the civilians back home. there — the civilians back home. is a huge there the civilians back home. is a hu-e barra-e overhea have there is a huge barrage overhead. we have taken_ there is a huge barrage overhead. we have taken cover. i recognise the legitimate grievances of the palestinian people. but nothing can justify these acts of terror and the killing, maiming, and abduction of civilians. the israeli prime minister has tonight warned his come to the fightback will not be quick or easy. 48 hours after hamas militants killed 900 israelis, today over 2,500 hamas targets were destroyed, double the number launched over the weekend. and there are reports in the last hour from reuters that hamas is now open to negotiating a truce.

a spokesperson for the armed wing of hamas has warned hostages will be executed and their murder broadcast if israel continues to target civilians in gaza. the european union is today reviewing all its palestinian aid funding. no confirmation tonight from the israeli government that an advance is imminent, but they are amassing heavy machinery of the border. good evening, welcome to the programme. israel describes it as their 9/ii moment — an attack that requires an unprecedented response. and today the defence minister yoav gallant ordered a "complete seige" of the gaza strip, while israeli tanks and howitzers begin to mass near gaza's northern border mr gallant said there would be no power, no food, no fuel, nothing until the military has rooted out those who would seek israel's destruction. on top of the blockade, the european commission today announced an immediate review of all aid to the palestinians.

military officials say israel struck more than 2,500 targets in gaza so far. more than 680 palestinians were reported dead. a hamas spokesman claimed that four israelis who'd been taken hostage had been killed in the air strikes, a claim we are yet to independantly verify. but hamas is still firing back. missiles are being launched atjerusalem, ben gurion airport near tel aviv, and ashkelon. israel's iron dome defence system is doing itsjob, intercepting many of those rockets. but some have got through. and all the while, the israelis are still counting and recovering the dead. at least 900 israelis were killed this weekend, including at least 260 at a music festival. and beyond that, 100 israelis are being held inside gaza. their fate is unknown. we have heard from the israeli feminist benjamin netanyahu in the last half hour, he won hamas that these strikes were just the

beginning of israel? retaliation. —— he warned her massjews that these strikes were just the beginning of israel's retaliation. we will have all the analysis tonight, reaction from the region, we will look at the failings of israeli intelligences and the alleged complacency from israel's allies in washington. but let's start our coverage in ashkelon at the end of a very busy day for our colleague anna foster, who has just got back to the hotel. what have you seen the value have been out and about? it what have you seen the value have been out and about?— what have you seen the value have been out and about? it might seem a little strange — been out and about? it might seem a little strange to _ been out and about? it might seem a little strange to see _ been out and about? it might seem a little strange to see me _ been out and about? it might seem a little strange to see me sort - been out and about? it might seem a little strange to see me sort of- little strange to see me sort of here in full helmet and body armour, but a lot of what we have seen that today has been an almost constant barrage of missiles coming across from gaza. last night the sound here was extraordinary, all night. today we have been in the bomb shelter twice while we have been just in the hotel. i say bomb shelter, often you're looking at a stairway, somewhere to get underground. this is happening notjust here, but in different communities, as you are

and heading towards israel, tel aviv, bengurion airport, but also we hear the continuing sound of the idf targeting gaza is welcome air strikes that again happened through the night and through the day, they say they have been targeting hamas command posts, they are saying they have also targeted a palestinian islamichhad command post. earlier in the day, this was around about lunchtime in ashkelon. sirens. explosions. a huge barrage going on at moment. we have taken cover. this is actually a memorial building, we are

all here, there is nick, he has a camera. yeah, we are going to move. get down. when the sirens started, i was talking to someone who had been at the music festival were more than 250 people were massacred as hamas launched its attack on saturday morning. shrapnel tore past his head. it was lucky to survive. the bullet went _ head. it was lucky to survive. the bullet went through here and out here _ bullet went through here and out here 50 — bullet went through here and out here. ., bullet went through here and out here, ., ., bullet went through here and out here. ., ., ., here. so it went in and out? yeah, ou can here. so it went in and out? yeah, you can see _ here. so it went in and out? yeah, you can see it- _ here. so it went in and out? yeah, you can see it. people _ here. so it went in and out? yeah, you can see it. people living - here. so it went in and out? yeah, you can see it. people living here i you can see it. people living here now these moments of fear where all —— know. they did not need words. we followed the smoke. we think this is where one of the missiles hit. 0h,

where one of the missiles hit. oh, yeah, look, here in the ground. this building does not have a bomb shelter, so the family ahead in the stairwell. they told the children the explosions were thunder. we need to be strong for them, they told me, but he is going to take care of us? so difficult forfamilies but he is going to take care of us? so difficult for families on both sides who are trapped in the midst of this fighting. they say they have secured the border towns today, the israeli defence force, and out, but israeli defence force, and out, but i know there were pictures of more militants coming through that fence overnight. is there still a concern in that area that made hamas fighters are still in southern israel and could reappear? there is, eah, israel and could reappear? there is, yeah. there's _ israel and could reappear? there is, yeah. there's a _ israel and could reappear? there is, yeah, there's a big _ israel and could reappear? there is, yeah, there's a big concern. - yeah, there's a big concern. suddenly yesterday, when i was still in ashkelon, there's a point where

you can get to where the army have sealed the highway, they have it as a sealed off military zone beyond that, so you cannot go any further. but on the road, there was a body lying there, believed to have been a hamas militant who had been shot dead. when they were back there today, 2a hours later, that body was still lying on the road, onlyjust been recovered. and a lot of people here are concerned, there has been a report of something happening in this community, people have got as far asjerusalem, they this community, people have got as far as jerusalem, they talk about potential tunnels under here, some people are genuinely concerned, because this is something that they haven't seen here for such a long time, you're looking at the yom kippur war in 1973. they are used to missile strikes, they are used to missiles coming in from gaza, but what they are not used to is the sort of ground offensive that we saw, this infiltration by hamas militants coming through the fence and attacking people where they stood, attacking people in their homes. this magical resort the music festival, where more than 250 people

were killed, he was saying just how terrifying the situation was, and all of this taken together, you know, it gives you a sense of the population that has shocked, is stunned, is in some ways disbelieving that the israeli intelligence services did not spot this with their partners like the us, for example, israel's biggest and most important ally, that they did not spot this and did not prevent it, and it is one of the biggest things people are talking about right now. we biggest things people are talking about right now.— about right now. we have 'ust watched benjamin * about right now. we have just| watched benjamin netanyahu, about right now. we have just - watched benjamin netanyahu, no confirmation that there will be a ground offensive, but are you seeing down there the massing of heavy machinery, tanks, does it look to you like it is the preparation for a ground offensive? i you like it is the preparation for a ground offensive?— you like it is the preparation for a ground offensive? i saw that today, and i saw a — ground offensive? i saw that today, and i saw a lot _ ground offensive? i saw that today, and i saw a lot of— ground offensive? i saw that today, and i saw a lot of it. _ ground offensive? i saw that today, and i saw a lot of it. it _ ground offensive? i saw that today, and i saw a lot of it. it was - ground offensive? i saw that today, and i saw a lot of it. it was all- and i saw a lot of it. it was all together, the guns were trained on gaza, they look like they were parked in a formation ready to go. while i was there, we saw the

delivery of big tanks, big diesel tanks that were there to fuel the military vehicles. so from that point of view, yes, it did, it looked like they were putting a putting in place for a potential ground offensive, but of course it is really difficult, it is delicate for a few reasons. one is that we know there are at least 100 israeli hostages inside gaza. it is so densely populated, one of the most densely populated, one of the most densely populated, one of the most densely populated places on earth. any kind of ground offensive in that would have an enormous impact on the civilian communities, you're looking at palestinian civilians, women, children, who live there, who have nowhere to go, they cannot leave gaza because the area, the perimeter of gaza, it's controlled by the israelis. so there is nowhere that they can go if there is a ground offensive, but the prospect of civilian casualties will be high. but also the prospect of injury to the israeli hostages being taken to gaza as well. so while israel wants to show is on the show of force, and

benjamin netanyahu has said that more than once, while they want to exact a price on hamas for doing this, there are a lot of very fine delicate things that need to be taken into account while they decide what they do want to do next. yeah. what they do want to do next. yeah, the prime minister _ what they do want to do next. yeah, the prime minister today _ what they do want to do next. yeah, the prime minister today naming - what they do want to do next. yeah, the prime minister today naming a l the prime minister today naming a ministerfor hostages the prime minister today naming a minister for hostages who will be shown back in charge of negotiating and planning that rescued from the gaza strip. anna, thank you very much, you stay safe. —— who will be in charge of negotiating. ibrahim jalal is nonresident scholar with the middle east institute's. how does this operation compare, do you think? i how does this operation compare, do ou think? ., how does this operation compare, do ou think? ~' ,.., ., ., ., you think? i think the escalation at the time when _ you think? i think the escalation at the time when the _ you think? i think the escalation at the time when the international. the time when the international response continues shows the scale of the crisis, a failure to break

the cycle of peace deadlock, obviously, systematic double standards that project violence. a change in the rules of engagement, and instead deepening multi—word grievances particularly of the palestinians. 0f grievances particularly of the palestinians. of course the loss of human lives, this latest escalation does not exist in a vacuum, it is part of the failure to reach the two state solution, and elitist triggers might have contributed, such as my once at the mosque during the holy month of ramadan, displacement of

palestinians, continuing siege of gaza, and potentially the eroding space of necessity and opportunities, and i think it is a state of war, it has been a state of war for so long. state of war, it has been a state of warfor so long. but state of war, it has been a state of war for so long. but there state of war, it has been a state of warfor so long. but there must state of war, it has been a state of war for so long. but there must be a change in the from those of peace and the dividends it brings. that is the only way forward. the cycle of conflict must be frozen, and that requires acknowledgement of some of the grievances, because the status quo, as we have seen in the past two decades or even the past seven, is not sustainable. that decades or even the past seven, is not sustainable.— not sustainable. that also requires a artner not sustainable. that also requires a partner for _ not sustainable. that also requires a partner for peace, _ not sustainable. that also requires a partner for peace, and _ not sustainable. that also requires a partner for peace, and one - not sustainable. that also requires a partner for peace, and one that i a partnerfor peace, and one that does not want the destruction of israel as a state, that is what hamas talks of. can i ask you about whether this actually stems from hamas' isolation? we have had the abraham accords, the bilateral agreements between israel and

morocco, bahrain, the uae, there was one in the offing with saudi arabia, which the saudi arabians were seemingly quite positive about. and the palestinians had got very little backin the palestinians had got very little back in terms of concessions. was this hamas trying to put the brakes on that, even if that might lead to the eventual destruction of the group? i the eventual destruction of the rrou - ? ., the eventual destruction of the r-rou? ~' , ., the eventual destruction of the r-rou? ., , group? i think you make a very important _ group? i think you make a very important point. _ group? i think you make a very important point. what - group? i think you make a very important point. what has - group? i think you make a very| important point. what has been attempted to be done here is the privacy of the palestinian core, what you rightly mentioned, the wave of mobilisation, which is but maybe less concessions for the palestinians, and that has been driven by overlooking the palestinians or even the actively engaged actors, including military ones, and that sense of isolation to the exclusion of stakeholders, but also the normalisation thinking that would be in the way forward. it

might have come to for the escalation we saw taking place. the other point you mentioned about potential partner for peace, i think there is a piece crisis across, from there is a piece crisis across, from the benjamin netanyahu team to stakeholders given the lack of vision, but what they actually want to see is a final product, and that is a lengthy process, but it requires constant engagement rather than the privatisation of normalisation way of thinking that the palestinian grievances and equally the peace for everyone is behind. i think that is a very big challenge, and part of it is the motive, as you actually mention. irate motive, as you actually mention. we have to leave it there. thank you very much for that. there has been an extraordinary level of deception here. hamas was somehow able to

mislead israel for months, what is extraordinary is that this attack, timed to coincide with thejewish sabbath and in religious holiday, was a secret even within gaza. we are told many hamas leaders, and even around 1000 fighters deployed in the assault, had no info on what they were being trained for. on the day came, the opposition divided into four parts. the first of that was the balance of 3000 rockets fired from gaza. that coincided with these incursions by fighters who flew in on hang gliders, motorised paragliders, overthe flew in on hang gliders, motorised paragliders, over the border. they used explosives to breach the barriers and then spread across on motorbikes. bulldozers widening the gaps, four—wheeled vehicles entering afterwards, and jamming the army headquarters. do not underestimate how this will be playing within israel. the onejob how this will be playing within israel. the one job the israeli government has is to protect its people. how did they not see this

coming? let's speak to someone else now. you served with the idf, and of course you have advised the israeli government in the past, so you are well placed to tell us how this came about, how it was there such an intelligence failure on the part of the israelis?— intelligence failure on the part of the israelis? before we talk about the israelis? before we talk about the intelligence _ the israelis? before we talk about the intelligence failure, _ the israelis? before we talk about the intelligence failure, i - the israelis? before we talk about the intelligence failure, i think- the intelligence failure, i think you need to understand the situation that israel was with regarding hamas just up until a week ago. the modus operandi for the last two or three years has been a misconception that hamas was actually interested in governance, they were interested in improving the lives, the economy and the lives, of people in gaza, and therefore israel was in an indirect dialogue, mostly facilitated by egypt, but on the agenda up until a week ago it was the idea of expanding work permits, all of this

idea that even though hamas has an agenda, that they have some pragmatism to it, and that has kind of blown up in israel's face, they thought there was a dialogue but that it completely fails. this will go to an inquiry after the event, there was also an operational failure, as you mentioned just now in your opening, the sophistication of your attack, the fact they sent in a drone to target the camera surveillance and the antenna responsible for the commission system, they were able to enter the base and then to open the gates that allow the vehicles to come in, it was a very sophisticated complicated attack. the level of israeli forces was not nearly enough to reflect the potential of this.—

potential of this. having worked in gaza, that tells _ potential of this. having worked in gaza, that tells me _ potential of this. having worked in gaza, that tells me that _ potential of this. having worked in gaza, that tells me that there - potential of this. having worked in gaza, that tells me that there is l gaza, that tells me that there is still an awful lot of us coming through the tunnels under the border. did they know... i through the tunnels under the border. did they know... i think a lot of it took _ border. did they know... i think a lot of it took israel _ border. did they know... i think a lot of it took israel by _ border. did they know... i think a lot of it took israel by surprise, . lot of it took israel by surprise, gaza also has a border with egypt, so that is where the main smuggling, there is also the sea route and a third route, they take advantage of the humanitarian corridor that is constantly supplies through the crossing between israel, egypt, and the gaza strip. so it is quite possible that some of this

technology and equipment and the drones, for example, could have been smuggled in through a ostensible good there to help service the civilian populace, and hamas is used at lupo to gain access to such technology. a, at lupo to gain access to such technology-— at lupo to gain access to such technolor . �* , , , ., technology. a very densely populated area, gaza, technology. a very densely populated area. gaza. tight— technology. a very densely populated area, gaza, tight narrow _ technology. a very densely populated area, gaza, tight narrow streets, - area, gaza, tight narrow streets, young men and women who are now massed on the northern border, you have served in a mechanised brigade, you know what will be going through their minds, what will be going through the minds of some of those young israelis tonight in what they might be facing? i young israelis tonight in what they might be facing?— might be facing? i will tell you from my own _ might be facing? i will tell you from my own experience - might be facing? i will tell you from my own experience in - might be facing? i will tell you| from my own experience in the israeli military, but when it comes to active combat, i would describe it as controlled aggression. every body knows theirjob, there is a set protocol of commands that people have been drilled through, so people will be ready for this, there were

also say a word about the senior commanders, because there's a lot of speculation right now about whether we are on the cusp of a land invasion as well. i think at the moment they have rated the 48 hours since the initial operation, i believe that cooler heads will prevail, that they will only once that operation if it has a very achievable military targets of incapacitating hamas, after militarising and destroying military leadership. flan militarising and destroying military leadershi -. ., , , leadership. can i 'ust “ump in there? newh leadership. can i 'ust “ump in there? how do i leadership. can ijust “ump in there? how do you _ leadership. can ijustjump in there? how do you do - leadership. can ijustjump in there? how do you do that? l leadership. can ijustjump in i there? how do you do that? we leadership. can ijustjump in - there? how do you do that? we are going to talk to the family of one of the hostages in a minute. how do you do that while reassuring the family that you are doing everything you can to protect the hostages? or, you can to protect the hostages? good question, the same question we are asking as well. one hopes that the combination of intelligence planning as an idea, these hostages already being spread out and proliferated across the gaza strip, it is quite likely they are being used as human shields protecting

precious strategic strong points for hamas. so this is going to be a very difficult and very computed operation, which is also why i do not think israel will rush into it. the other aspect is that israel is a threat on multiple fronts, we have already seen minimal engagement this morning in the north from lebanon. that will also need to be monitored very carefully in the days ahead. richard, good to get your own site. thank you for coming on the programme. thank you for coming on the programme-— thank you for coming on the l programme._ what thank you for coming on the - programme._ what about thank you for coming on the _ programme._ what about the programme. thank you. what about the hosta . es? programme. thank you. what about the hostages? word — programme. thank you. what about the hostages? word tonight _ programme. thank you. what about the hostages? word tonight from _ programme. thank you. what about the hostages? word tonight from hamas . hostages? word tonight from hamas that they will begin to kill hostages and still it if the killing of palestinians continues. this is footage posted on telegram — 25—year—old noa argamani, kidnapped by fighters on a motorbike, screaming for help

as she is taken away. argamani's boyfriend, avinatan 0r, whose arms are pinned behind his back. amit parpara is a friend of avinatan and noa. do you have any news about where they could be now? have the israeli government tells you what their plans are and how they might attempt to rescue your friends? ila they might attempt to rescue your friends? ., .,' . ., they might attempt to rescue your friends? ., friends? no official contact, the thin . friends? no official contact, the thin is friends? no official contact, the thing is you _ friends? no official contact, the thing is you need _ friends? no official contact, the thing is you need to _ friends? no official contact, the thing is you need to understandj friends? no official contact, the - thing is you need to understand the government has a lot of issues on their mind, and i'm pretty sure if they have any plans of rescuing or issuing any negotiation, it is not something that civilians would and should know. ithink something that civilians would and should know. i think confidentiality is very important here about these measurements. they have their ways. the only things we can do is try to

get support for saving them. you know them _ get support for saving them. you know them very _ get support for saving them. you know them very well. how will the process this? how will they deal with an immensely pressured situation?— with an immensely pressured situation? , ., , situation? they are strong people. the are situation? they are strong people. they are strong. _ situation? they are strong people. they are strong. we _ situation? they are strong people. they are strong. we are _ situation? they are strong people. they are strong. we are now- situation? they are strong people. | they are strong. we are now suffer situation? they are strong people. i they are strong. we are now suffer a lot, it is not the first war any of us have been through. of course this is the largest event i can remember, it is something that has not happened, i think, it is something that has not happened, ithink, ever it is something that has not happened, i think, ever in israel, in the history of israel, and this is pretty horrifying, but we are strong people, we see and feel things about stuff that happened, and i'm pretty sure they will handle it well. they know us and they know

that we will do everything to get them back. that we will do everything to get them back-— that we will do everything to get them back. ., ._ , ., ., them back. you may 'ust have had from richard h them back. you may 'ust have had from richard that — them back. you mayjust have had from richard that there _ them back. you mayjust have had from richard that there is - them back. you mayjust have had from richard that there is a - them back. you mayjust have had from richard that there is a bristly pressure on the zuma government —— eight pressure on the israeli government, what is your message to the israeli government in terms of how they plot this, how they carry out this operation, in a way that might preserve the lives of the hostages? i might preserve the lives of the hosta . es? might preserve the lives of the hostages?— might preserve the lives of the hostares? ,, ., ., hostages? i will say it again, the thin . hostages? i will say it again, the thin is hostages? i will say it again, the thing is that _ hostages? i will say it again, the thing is that the _ hostages? i will say it again, the thing is that the government - hostages? i will say it again, the j thing is that the government has more information about everything that we can even consider. i don't think there should be any civilian thoughts about this, because we cannot really know the full picture of what happens. i'm pretty sure they don't want anyone to be killed,

and we support the government to make the right decisions for them and for us. ., ., make the right decisions for them and for us— make the right decisions for them and for us. ., ,, i. ., , and for us. thank you for being with us. we and for us. thank you for being with us- we will— and for us. thank you for being with us. we will take _ and for us. thank you for being with us. we will take a _ and for us. thank you for being with us. we will take a short _ and for us. thank you for being with us. we will take a short break- and for us. thank you for being with us. we will take a short break and l us. we will take a short break and we will be right back. hello. it's been another warm day in the south, but a drier day, notably, for scotland. however, still we've had numerous flood warnings in for severe flood warnings as well across parts of scotland. the sepa, which is the scottish environment protection agency, has got more on those flood warnings and also on the weather website. there's another warning in force actually, because although it's been drier today, this weather front still draped across from scotland to northern england will start to pop up again. so another pulse of heavy rain is due in during tonight and tomorrow. for the meantime, the weather front that we do have is pushing back northwards. that will bring some rain across the northern isles, but it trails back in across

the west and invigorates overnight. so we are talking another 15—25mm to come from that, possibly 40—50mm over the hills through the course of tuesday. so it's going to be mild because the breeze picks up. it's going to be mild in the south because it will fill in with mist and low cloud and some fog under this ridge of high pressure, which will mean quite light winds first thing, so that fog's with us through the rush hour. stronger winds, though, picking up with this rain further north. the rain, though, the main story because it's falling on saturated ground into rivers that are still full and still coming, the rain still coming down from the mountains as well, so we are anticipating further issues with flooding. now, further south, we will see some of that rain into northern ireland, so not quite as warm here as today, but it will feel warmer further south. there could be some showers, actually, northern england, north—west. and there's a brisk wind, as you can see tomorrow. now, that brisk wind turns to the northwest as we get through tomorrow night and into wednesday, just pushing our weather front further south. so for some parts, wednesday

into thursday, we'll see the first rain that we've seen all 0ctober. not altogether dry further north, but a fresh start. a brighter start and a scattering of showers on that brisk wind, quite a dip in temperatures, still warm even with the rain further south, which hangs around, that rain, albeit rather a weak affair on thursday, this weather front here, but then it starts to pep up again on friday with low pressure driving in from the south. another weather front driving in from the north. so we've got low pressure in charge by the end of the week, which for one reason or another does look as if we'll see some unsettled weather and we'll see some rain, perhaps the first this month for some towns and cities further south. as ever, you can keep up to date on the warnings and the flood warnings online.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. israel says it will use "enormous force" against hamas, that yellow orders air strikes are just the beginning. that yellow orders air strikes are just the beginning. ordering tanks to the border for what it calls a "complete siege" of the gaza strip. the number of israelis killed in attacks has passed 900. the gaza strip is now coming under an intense aerial bombardment, with more than 600 people dead. a couple of diplomatic lines to bring you on the last few minutes

while we've been on air. the white house intelligence chief says iran is complicit in this attack but there is no direct evidence that they know of at this moment, tying it to attacks put up a report in wall streetjournal reporting there wall street journal reporting there was wall streetjournal reporting there was a meeting between hamas and iran security officials from iran last week. at the moment the white house a no direct link. the other interesting line is crown prince mohammed bin solomont have spoken calling for a voice of reason to prevail in the on going to war. we will get to both of those issues over the course of the next 20 minutes. let's get a little bit more on today's fighting. this is the scene now live in gaza. we have intermittently seen missiles lighting up the night sky tonight. all quiet at the moment. we will keep on eye on that throughout the program. here's the latest from the

ground.