live from london, this is bbc news. israel's prime minister warns the gaza action has onlyjust begun and it will use enormous force against hamas. the israeli army said it has recovered the bodies of 1,500 fighters. no food, water or electricity, the israeli authorities are urging people to get out of gaza and go to egypt to escape the bombardment. the and go to egypt to escape the bombardment.— and go to egypt to escape the bombardment. . , ~ bombardment. the heaviest i think ever air strike _ bombardment. the heaviest i think ever air strike i _ bombardment. the heaviest i think ever air strike i have _ bombardment. the heaviest i think ever air strike i have seen - bombardment. the heaviest i think ever air strike i have seen in - bombardment. the heaviest i think ever air strike i have seen in my . ever air strike i have seen in my life and in my 25 years of working as a journalist.— life and in my 25 years of working as a journalist. more details emerge

from a music— as a journalist. more details emerge from a music festival _ as a journalist. more details emerge from a music festival attacked - as a journalist. more details emerge from a music festival attacked by . from a music festival attacked by hamas, where 260 people died. imagine yourself using a rocket that is meant to fire on houses or tanks, fired on a group of civilians. this is the scene _ fired on a group of civilians. this is the scene in _ fired on a group of civilians. this is the scene in gaza. _ fired on a group of civilians. this is the scene in gaza. we will bring you the latest from the both sides of the border. hello and welcome to bbc news. the war between israel and gaza—based hamas is intensifying, as it enters its fourth day. it seems both sides are preparing for a long and deadly struggle. this footage was released by israel's military, showing their attacks on the gaza strip, where they claim to have hit 200 targets. israel has cut off water, food and

supplies from gaza, prompting calls for a humanitarian corridor to be set up. almost 190,000 people have been displaced and half a million are unable to get food rations. israel says it has recovered the bodies of 1,500 hamas militants. hamas continues to launch missiles from inside ga zer and has threatened to start killing israeli hostages. the numbers killed on both sides continue to rise. 900 people have died in israel since the surprise attack was launched. the us has offered israel its support, but said it doesn't want the conflict to spread. let's look at what is

happening in gaza. it is looking quieter. but we had huge plumes of smoke on the horizon. attacks have continued through the night in gaza. israel says it has struck 2,500 sites 5 linked to hamas. jeremy bowen sent this report. in gaza it looks as if palestinians are feeling the full force of israeli military power. israel says hamas is responsible for the suffering of gaza's civilians. and its retaliation for the hamas attacks has onlyjust begun. hamas has threatened to start killing its israeli hostages. the air strikes

rolled on, hour after hour. palestinian armed groups kept up their own barrage on israel. 0ur bbc team was in ashkelon in southern israel when a salvo came in. ashkelon is so close to gaza that there is no more than a 10—second warning. israel is moving in more fire power. the next stage of the offensive against hamas looks certain to be a ground offensive, much bigger than other incursions since hamas took over in gaza in 2007. lines of cars on the road to gaza were parked by reservists as they reported for duty. getting ready. saying their goodbyes. parents came to the base for a few

minutes with their sons. we parents came to the base for a few minutes with their sons.— minutes with their sons. we are ra inc. minutes with their sons. we are praying- and — minutes with their sons. we are praying- and hepe _ minutes with their sons. we are praying. and hope for— minutes with their sons. we are praying. and hope for the - minutes with their sons. we are praying. and hope for the best. | minutes with their sons. we are - praying. and hope for the best. and it's tough times now. and we are telling him to try and concentrate on his mission. without thinking too much about otherfriends on his mission. without thinking too much about other friends that got injured or killed.— injured or killed. israel's prime minister, binyamin _ injured or killed. israel's prime| minister, binyamin netanyahu, broadcast to his nation. he said hamas has made a mistake of historic proportions. he said, we will exact a price that will be remembered by them and israel's other enemies for decades. now israelis are waiting for their government and army to act. 0ne israeli town littered with the debris of war felt like the essence of israel's trauma. almost

deserted, except for security forces. hamas has rocketed before, but never stormed in. at the centre of the killing ground was the police station. they used it as a fire base to shoot civilians and soldiers. blood from israel's dead and wounded smears the walls. even here in what is always a front line town, this was not supposed to happen for israelis. they expected their military and intelligence services to protect them. the fact that didn't happen means recriminations about who might be responsible have started. but there is a strong sense of national unity about what happens next. in the places that hamas attacked, israeli military and the few civilians left are jumpy. still

shocked. a ground offensive didn't feel imminent. and in gaza, a few miles away, casualties come into the hospital, the first few hundred of many more. it will get worse. palestinians and israelis once more caught on the anvil of war in a conflict a century old that is as deadly as it's ever been. let's cross live to ashkelon, that town north of gaza where ana foster is. bring us up—to—date on what is happening? it bring us up-to-date on what is happening?— bring us up-to-date on what is haueninu? , , , happening? it has 'ust become very nois . in happening? it has 'ust become very noisy. m the— happening? it has 'ust become very noisy. m the sky — happening? it hasjust become very noisy. in the sky above. _ happening? it hasjust become very noisy. in the sky above. it - happening? it hasjust become very noisy. in the sky above. it has - noisy. in the sky above. it has been, there is no such thing as quiet here at the moment. but there have been fewer missile attacks, rocket attacks from gaza this morning as there were this time

yesterday. there have been regular israeli air strikes on gaza. but the sky became loud with israeli fighter jets ahead. we have had you know reports in the last few hours of, i don't know if you know, there is an alert system you can get on your mobile phone and what happens it is linked into the iron dome defence system and when the sensors pick up the rockets, it sends a message and you can have it switched on and it will give you a loud alert. that has been buzzing more in the last ten minutes than for the rest of this morning. i think at the moment there is the a sense that people are waiting to see what is israel will do next. the israeli defence forces in their defence briefing said they are secured the security fence and

blocked the holes that hamas used to infiltrate israel and carry out that massacre on sunday morning. the reason they say it is not secure, they say there is the possibility of tunnels between southern israel and gaza. but they're harderfor the military to detect. they possibly haven't closed every route. of course they say there is the possibility that there are still hamas militants in the area. they can't say for sure that they have cleared them all. but they are as certain as they can be that they have made the southern israeli communities secure for now. $1150 have made the southern israeli communities secure for now. also as the idf continue _ communities secure for now. also as the idf continue to _ communities secure for now. also as the idf continue to build _ the idf continue to build infrastructure and bring troops and arms to that area, what more do we know about their next move? i arms to that area, what more do we know about their next move?- know about their next move? i have been watching. _ know about their next move? i have been watching, because _ know about their next move? i have been watching, because the - know about their next move? i have been watching, because the field i

been watching, because the field across the road from here and you probably can't hear them, but can i hear the sound of these military vehicles that started to mass yesterday. i was watching them yesterday. i was watching them yesterday afternoon and a lot of hard ware and armoured vehicles and bringing in big containers of diesel that they would use to refuel them and lining everything up and i can see the smoke and the dust that is being kicked out from tr. from there. i can hear the noise as they start to move. it is hard to know whether that is there as a defensive position, whether they're starting to put things in place for a possible ground offensive. we have been talking of the idea of a ground offensive, because it would fit the idea of what binyamin netanyahu that you canned about as a response. he made a speech last night saying that israel's enemies, hamas, it would resonate for generations, the israeli response to this. but it

seems they're still considering how and when that response should be carried out. ground fighting is difficult. it brings the possibility, the strong possibility, the almost certainty i would say of civilian casualties. when you also consider there are israeli hostages still in gaza, it is something they have to consider carefully. we have been looking _ have to consider carefully. we have been looking at _ have to consider carefully. we have been looking at what _ have to consider carefully. we have been looking at what israel- have to consider carefully. we have been looking at what israel has - have to consider carefully. we have l been looking at what israel has been saying in terms of its plans and advice for people within gaza, we are hearing that border crossings are hearing that border crossings are closed and israel confirmed that one border crossing with egypt has been closed. so it seems those on the other side of the border in gaza have nowhere to go?— have nowhere to go? that's right. that is often _ have nowhere to go? that's right. that is often the _ have nowhere to go? that's right. that is often the case. _ have nowhere to go? that's right. that is often the case. it - have nowhere to go? that's right. that is often the case. it is - that is often the case. it is important to know that the perimeter around gaza is controlled fully by the israelis. they control who goes

in and out and what goes in and out. they control things like the electricity supply. so it has never been the case that people in gaza were able to move freely, certainly through the check point at the north between gaza and southern israel. what has been difficult, palestinians can get work permits, but it is also tightly controlled, the security at that check point i have been through there before and the security on the israeli side is enormously tight. so that exit would never have been an option for palestinians anyway. they talk about the southern one, the rafa crossing and the advice from the israelis, they were saying, leave and go into egypt. but they then corrected themselves and said that crossing is closed now. so civilians who are in

gaza, one of the main places they're sheltering is un schools, the un said there are around 130,000 people. they said it was 90% capacity, the schools where people are sheltering. it becomes difficult, particularly for the palestinian civilians who are trying to protect their families, palestinian civilians who are trying to protect theirfamilies, protect their children and the israelis, you know, they do things like drop leaflets and tell people where to go to get to safety. and they do things called roof knocks. if they're planning an air strike on a building, often they will drop something on it to let people know that maybe within five or ten minutes they're planning an air strike on that particular building, they have had information there might be a hamas control centre. but often these buildings are used by both civilians and militants. so a

huge part of what happens already and what happens next is actually trying to secure that area and make sure that whatever they do do, the potential ground operation or whatever, that civilians are protected as much as possible. anna foster thank— protected as much as possible. anna foster thank you. _ protected as much as possible. anna foster thank you. we _ protected as much as possible. anna foster thank you. we will _ protected as much as possible. anna foster thank you. we will get updated from anna throughout the day. this is the live scene in gaza. in the last few minutes there have been a number of explosions. huge explosions. look at that big plume of black smoke that has come up from the horizon. we are hearing the israeli military have hit a number of targets over night. the missile attacks on gaza haven't stopped, they have been continuing. we also know that the israeli ethe fence air force said it hit 200 targets overnight alone. the israeli military is advising people to leave

gaza. at one point they advised them to leave by one crossing controlled by egypt. but they said that crossing is now closed. in the last few minutes we have had some news from iran, iran's supreme leader denied involvement in the attack by hamas. the iranian foreign ministry also denied involvement in the attack. but their president congratulated hamas on the success of their attack. much talk has been made of iran's potential involvement in that attack. as you can see, the scene in gaza is one of missiles hitting the ground. we have a reporter on the ground in gaza and he sent us this report earlier. i’m

he sent us this report earlier. i'm in gaza city. _ he sent us this report earlier. i'm in gaza city. i— he sent us this report earlier. i'm in gaza city, i was _ he sent us this report earlier. i“n in gaza city, i was a witness of what happened last night, what is the heaviest i think ever air strike that i have ever seen in my life and in my 25 years of working as a journalist. i was in a residential building with about 20 families. the whole building was shaking all night, kids were screaming, people were calling, we were like for six orseven were calling, we were like for six or seven hours without electricity, without access to the internet and without access to the internet and without knowing what is going on outside. except like looking from the window of the flat and see flames, fire on the sky, flames, bill lows of smoke in the sky and the whole building was shaking all night. this morning, i managed to leave this area. i drive through, this was very... risky going out,

because too many debris in the street, building collapsed and an entire neighbourhood is flattened to the ground. government building, police stations, mosque, houses, cars damaged in the middle of the street. people are carrying their kids and leaving the area. 0thers kids and leaving the area. others are coming back to the area to check what happened to their properties, to their cars, cars in the street, like whole building is destroyed. 0ne like whole building is destroyed. one of them that well known building belonged to the telecommunication company and it was like completely destroyed by israeli air strike. thousands of air strikes the took place yesterday. we understand that some of the people who are trapped in a basement of one of the buildings close to the main hamas government office, about 30 families

were trapped for seven hours without access to food or water or anything for hours and hours. this morning a team from the civil defence managed to go and rescue them in the area. the area is completely destroyed. it is unbelievable, the scale of destruction is massive in this consider. this is the considered one of the most expensive and rich area in gaza city. some of the people call, like it to call it the champs—elysees of gaza. but now when people see the scale of destruction they will be shocked.— they will be shocked. around the world and across _ they will be shocked. around the world and across the _ they will be shocked. around the world and across the uk, - they will be shocked. around the world and across the uk, this - they will be shocked. around the world and across the uk, this is. they will be shocked. around the i world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's bring you some live pictures from gaza and the scene. we

are obviously trying to get as much information as we can about the situation on the ground in gaza. but we know that it is a difficult one. we know that many people, 2.2 million people live in that highly populated area and the bombardment has been continuing since saturday after that hamas attack. we are going to leave that scene right now and just bring you a bit of other news. moving from our main story, for viewers in the uk who would normally be watching the phone in, labour's gathering in liverpool is the last of the party conferences before an expected general election. nicky campbell has been hearing from the liberal democrat and conservative supporters. you can join the conversation on bbc five live from nine. you're living with

bbc news. for more on our top story, what does all of this mean for the middle east? for regional peace and for the other regional players in the area? i'm joined for the other regional players in the area? i'mjoined by for the other regional players in the area? i'm joined by a for the other regional players in the area? i'mjoined bya programme directorfor the area? i'mjoined bya programme director for the the area? i'mjoined bya programme directorfor the middle the area? i'mjoined bya programme director for the middle east at the international crisis group. thank you forjoining us, what is your analysis of where we stand now? you know we are — analysis of where we stand now? you know we are at _ analysis of where we stand now? 7m, know we are at the moment of fighting. israel is intent on, not just cutting the grass, which is what they used to call it in gaza in the previous rounds of war, six of them, since 2006, but to utterly destroy hamas's capacity to ever strike out at israel. in the process destroy gaza. that is the only way for israel to do it, because hamas is hidden well on the ground and it

is hidden well on the ground and it is throughout the whole enclave. so this is going to be a long and tough battle. it will take a while for the two sides to realise that there is no such thing as a total victory. we have seen this over and over again in the 75——year—old conflict, or 100 years, depending on how you look at it. then negotiations will have to start and the question is who in the international community can bring this about? talking to hamas, we can expect some of the arab states and turkey maybe to lean on them from and on the israeli side it is clear it is the western world. you know, it is the western world. you know, it is, from — it is the western world. you know, it is, from where _ it is the western world. you know, it is, from where we _ it is the western world. you know, it is, from where we are _ it is the western world. you know, it is, from where we are looking i it is the western world. you know, i it is, from where we are looking now it is, from where we are looking now it feels like any kind of peace process or talks seem a long way off. you talk about the israelis thinking about destroying gaza. can they literally destroy gaza. ianthem

thinking about destroying gaza. can they literally destroy gaza.- they literally destroy gaza. when i say stroishgs _ they literally destroy gaza. when i say stroishgs say _ they literally destroy gaza. when i say stroishgs say destroy, - they literally destroy gaza. when i say stroishgs say destroy, i - they literally destroy gaza. when i say stroishgs say destroy, i mean | say stroishgs say destroy, i mean the structures. your correspondent described it well, even upper middle class areas where our own researcher lives, i hope he lives, it is targeted for utter destruction. so thatis targeted for utter destruction. so that is what i mean. now, there is two million people there, many of them, i don't know most, but many have sought shelter in un schools, the un agency for refugees. they cannot house everyone. and people are not able to move, because of the destruction, because of the lack of fuel, and gasoline for their cars. and they have nowhere to go. where ever the bombs will fall, they may get hichlt hit. we have seen the death toll climbing, the latest

figure is close to 700, it is bound to get higher, specially if israel decides to launch a ground invasion, which it may have to if it wants to rescue the hostages in gaza. bare which it may have to if it wants to rescue the hostages in gaza. are the --eole in rescue the hostages in gaza. are the people in gaza _ rescue the hostages in gaza. are the people in gaza wanting _ rescue the hostages in gaza. are the people in gaza wanting to _ rescue the hostages in gaza. are the people in gaza wanting to talk - rescue the hostages in gaza. are the people in gaza wanting to talk of - people in gaza wanting to talk of peace. if people in gaza wanting to talk of eace. , . ~x people in gaza wanting to talk of eace. , ., ~' , , peace. if there will be talks, they will first be _ peace. if there will be talks, they will first be about _ peace. if there will be talks, they will first be about the _ peace. if there will be talks, they will first be about the hostages. i j will first be about the hostages. i could imagine a process, but at the moment i don't see it, but maybe after a few days we will, where some outside parties will convince hamas to relows some hostage —— release some hostages, meaning especially children and the elderly and maybe sick people. but the military

commander of hamas made clear in his initial speech on saturday when the campaign, the hamas afak started —— attack started that palestinian prisoners in israel bowled soon find their freedom. prisoners in israel bowled soon find theirfreedom. he was prisoners in israel bowled soon find their freedom. he was obviously thinking of a prisoner exchange. i thinking of a prisoner exchange. i think the whole objective was for hamas to take hostages, civilian and soldiers, and to exchange them for palestinians in israeli prisons. so that would be the first sort of step in any kind of serious negotiations, if you can build on that and towards peace, i dream, if you can build on that and towards peace, idream, but if you can build on that and towards peace, i dream, but that would be the way to go. peace, i dream, but that would be the way to go— the way to go. looking ahead at otential the way to go. looking ahead at potential peace _ the way to go. looking ahead at potential peace negotiations, i the way to go. looking ahead at i potential peace negotiations, what do you think the role of big regional players will be? well, so, i think regional players will be? well, so, i think when _ regional players will be? well, so, i think when it _ regional players will be? well, so, i think when it comes _ regional players will be? well, so, i think when it comes to _

regional players will be? well, so, i think when it comes to hamas, i regional players will be? well, so, i i think when it comes to hamas, they don't trust anything europe or the united states say or do. they see them as behind israel, as partisan and not as credible mediators in the conflict so who can they rely on for help in mediation? well i would say egypt, although egypt is not close to hamas, but it is close to the border. so it is doing it now. and turkey and qatar.— border. so it is doing it now. and turkey and qatar. thank you for your anal sis on turkey and qatar. thank you for your analysis on what _ turkey and qatar. thank you for your analysis on what the _ turkey and qatar. thank you for your analysis on what the situation - turkey and qatar. thank you for your analysis on what the situation is. i i analysis on what the situation is. i hope we can speak again soon. just a very quick look at those live pictures in gaza. i think we will leave you with these pictures. there have been continued missile strikes. you can see another couple of hits

in the distance. stay with here on bbc news. plenty more to come. hello again, although some of us will have a dry, sunny and warm day, others have rain, exacerbating the flooding risk, particularly where the ground is already saturated and there is a weather warning in western scotland for the rain. rain move intoing ing into northern ireland and wales. but away from that sunny weather. the english channel will hang on to some mist and murk. temperatures up to 25 in south—east england. tonight this band of rain moves south. it is a weakening feature, but as it crosses

england and wales, it will rejuvenate and it is a chilly night in shelter glens. temperatures down to four or six. tomorrow a band of rain sinking south. 0n the other side of it, sunshine and showers. fresher conditions will follow and temperatures 10 to 17 degrees. the south will cling on to warmer conditions at this stage. wednesday into thursday, our front lingers conditions at this stage. wednesday into thursday, ourfront lingers in the south. but it will develop a wave and rejuvenate later in the day. to start with in southern england cloudy with some drizzle. later heavier rain will come in. to the north some sunshine. some outbreaks of rain in the far north of scotland. temperatures 10 in the

north to perhaps 20 or 22 in the far south—east. then for friday, we have a front that will push north once again from the south and south wards from the north. so basically that means it is going to be wet at times, especially in england and wales. but that may change. there will still be blustery showers in northern scotland, between sunshine, feeling cooler and that leads us into a cooler weekend.

this is bbc news. these are the latest headlines. israel's said that the action in gaza has onlyjust begun and that it will use enormous force against hamas. the israeli army warns hamas militants there was nowhere to hide. it says it has recovered the wadis of 1500 fighters and secured the barrier between israel and gaza. —— the bodies. no food, water or electricity with the crossing to italy closed. there are calls for a humanitarian corridor. the air strikes, it is the worst i have seen in my life. in my 25 years of working as a journalist.—

of working as a “ournalist. more details emerge i of working as a journalist. more details emerge from _ of working as a journalist. more details emerge from the - of working as a journalist. more details emerge from the musicl details emerge from the music festival attacked by hamas, where 260 people died.— 260 people died. imagine yourself usin: a 260 people died. imagine yourself using a rocket _ 260 people died. imagine yourself using a rocket that _ 260 people died. imagine yourself using a rocket that is _ 260 people died. imagine yourself using a rocket that is meant i 260 people died. imagine yourself using a rocket that is meant to i 260 people died. imagine yourselfj using a rocket that is meant to fire on houses or tanks, fired on a group of 20 civilians. this on houses or tanks, fired on a group of 20 civilians.— of 20 civilians. this is the seen live in gaza _ of 20 civilians. this is the seen live in gaza and _ of 20 civilians. this is the seen live in gaza and we _ of 20 civilians. this is the seen live in gaza and we will - of 20 civilians. this is the seen live in gaza and we will bring i of 20 civilians. this is the seen l live in gaza and we will bring you the latest from both sides of the border. israel spent most of monday trying to regain control of parts of the south of the country. much of the activities are centred around the border with gaza, at ashkelon. isa is a huge barrage goes on overhead at the moment, we have taken cover.

it is actually a memorial building. you can see we are all here. there is nick, he has the camera. we are going to move. get down, get down. we had them all around us, they didn't know we were there. in a siren started, _ didn't know we were there. in a siren started, i— didn't know we were there. in a siren started, i was _ didn't know we were there. in a siren started, i was talking to gilad. it been at the music festival where 260 people were massacred as hamas started its attack. shrapnel tore past his head and he was lucky tore past his head and he was lucky to survive. abs, tore past his head and he was lucky to survive. �* , ., to survive. a bullet went through here and out _ to survive. a bullet went through here and out here. _ to survive. a bullet went through here and out here. yes, - to survive. a bullet went through here and out here. yes, you i to survive. a bullet went through here and out here. yes, you can| to survive. a bullet went through i here and out here. yes, you can see, it went in and — here and out here. yes, you can see, it went in and out. _ here and out here. yes, you can see, it went in and out. you _ here and out here. yes, you can see, it went in and out. you have - here and out here. yes, you can see, it went in and out. you have a - here and out here. yes, you can see, it went in and out. you have a fight i it went in and out. you have a fight or fliuht it went in and out. you have a fight or flight situation. _ it went in and out. you have a fight or flight situation. you _ it went in and out. you have a fight or flight situation. you need - it went in and out. you have a fight or flight situation. you need to i or flight situation. you need to react very fast or it mean certain death. it is no wonder 250 people, 260 people died. even more, i still don't know the body count.

people living here know these moments of fear well. gilad and his mother didn't need words. we followed the smoke. we think this is where one of the missiles hit. yes, look, here, in the ground. in this poorer part of ashkelon, there aren't bomb shelters in most buildings. thin walls and windows don't stop missiles. so they hid theirfamily in a windows don't stop missiles. so they hid their family in a stairwell. they told the children the explosions were thunder. we need to be strong for them, she told me. but he was going to take care of us? —— who is going to take care of us. new

line look go the armed wing of hamas has threatened to start killing the hostages it is holding in gaza if israel bombs what hamas says our civilian houses there without any prior warning. civilian houses there without any priorwarning. israel civilian houses there without any prior warning. israel has said it is only targeting hamas and warnings are being sent to the civilian population. many of the hostages were taken from the music festival which was attacked by hamas on saturday. as many as 260 people are thought to have been killed there. this video appears to show members of hamas capturing people at gunpoint. hamas claims a hundred soldiers and civilians have been taken. the fate of those captives is not known — but hamas says that israeli air strikes — you can see the aftermath of one here — have led to the deaths of some of them. let's hear now from an isreali soldier who witness to the attack on that music festival. when we saw the terrorists, the panic started. we understanding that

we were in a situation that is much bigger than we thought. and a situation where somebody is 20 or ten metres away with guns, trying to kill you. we saw cars driving with dead people in the car. in this situation, we understand that we need to escape and do anything we do. there were a couple of guns i saw with my eyes. the first one was an ak, a kalashnikov, they were shooting the gun with an automatic stage. i didn't see the snipers, but i heard the snipers 100%. i was a sniper commander and i know what it sounds like. rpg, imagine yourself using a rocket that is meant to fire on houses or tanks, fired on a group of 20 civilians. and machine guns, i saw machine guns on vehicles. there were people parachuting from the sky. there were rockets that came on

us. this is what i saw. it sky. there were rockets that came on us. this is what i saw.— us. this is what i saw. it wasn't 'ust us. this is what i saw. it wasn't just people _ us. this is what i saw. it wasn't just people of _ us. this is what i saw. it wasn't just people of the _ us. this is what i saw. it wasn't just people of the festival- us. this is what i saw. it wasn't just people of the festival that l just people of the festival that were taken by militants. a kibbutz, close to the border with gaza, was also attacked. this footage was posted on social media — and it shows yaffar adva, an 85 year old woman who lived there, being taken into gaza. her granddaughter spoke to us about the kidnapping. she sent us a message, writing that there is a terrorist shooting and shouting in our street. and that is the last message that we got. we have the family in the area, we heard from them from the terrible things are going on here, terrorists are to houses, burning their houses while they were sitting there, taking them hostage. we couldn't

reach my grandmother. we tried to find some videos. we heard some terrorists from gaza posted videos of people they kidnapped. we found a video of her being taken away to gaza, with four armed men around here. it's heartbreaking, it hurts in every part of our body. we are crazy worried about her. my grandmother is ill, and she takes medicine every day. and we don't know how long she can survive without her medicine. we do know that every day without her medicine, she suffers from a lot of pain. we arejust praying she suffers from a lot of pain. we are just praying that she will be

back home with us. the are just praying that she will be back home with us. . ., back home with us. the granddaughter of motema, kidnapped _ back home with us. the granddaughter of motema, kidnapped by _ back home with us. the granddaughter of motema, kidnapped by hamas i of motema, kidnapped by hamas militants and has been taken to gaza, we believe. —— the grand let's get more on the way the conflict has unfolded so far and go live now to patrick bury — a defence and security expert at the university of bath. iam sure i am sure you have watched closely, what is your view on the hamas militants under way on which they infiltrated israel, and the israeli response? infiltrated israel, and the israeli resonse? , ., , infiltrated israel, and the israeli response?_ infiltrated israel, and the israeli resonse? , ., _ , response? yes, it has obviously been a very deadly — response? yes, it has obviously been a very deadly attack, _ response? yes, it has obviously been a very deadly attack, and _ response? yes, it has obviously been a very deadly attack, and a _ response? yes, it has obviously been a very deadly attack, and a huge i a very deadly attack, and a huge human cost, from a military standpoint it is quite interesting to see how they've managed to do it. if you think about the security wall around garzo, it's an ecosystem, it has the wire, the sensors, automated guns, it has mind control points,

and strong points. 0bviously guns, it has mind control points, and strong points. obviously the wall, but also the israeli signal intelligence capability supporting it, and their network of informers. what is striking is the level of surprise that hamas were able to conduct this with, they have really caught the israelis off guard. blindsided that ecosystem, it appears, pretty much. and then the reaction, in terms of how they were able to use drones to drop explosives on the sensors to disable those initially, and then of course the barrages of rockets. they have used, quite ingeniously in some ways, using powered parachutes to just fly over in other places, fly over the wall. to me, it indicates, and i know the ayatollah hasjust come out and said, you know, he kisses the hands of hamas carried this out, but stressed he has no close links, or has no hand in the

actual operation, i would think that is quite dubious. i'd be more surprised than not if there wasn't quite a strong uranium, and especially the islamic revolutionary guard council, influence on this. let's talk a little bit about the israeli counter dogma go all the attacks on gaza. we are expecting potentially to be some ground movement. this how do you see the spaniard? the movement. this how do you see the saniard? , , spaniard? the first thing is the israeli emotions _ spaniard? the first thing is the israeli emotions will _ spaniard? the first thing is the israeli emotions will be - spaniard? the first thing is the israeli emotions will be very i spaniard? the first thing is the i israeli emotions will be very high, similar to 9/11, that idea, it's not been a very cohesive society recently and this has cohere to them. the emotions will be up. they will be looking for a response. in some respects, this is their 9/11, they have lost at a higher proportion of the population than americans did in 9/11. they will

look to secure the state. the lesson that 9/11 teaches us is to not take strategical decisions when you are emotionally compromised. what i think we will see as the air bombardment is going on for a time, and then a ground invasion, essentially. there is a desire among the israeli leaders to settle the hamas question once and for all, maybe drive them out. they probably have the political backing and cohesion to do that. i'm not sure if it is the best decision for israel in the long run, because if this is backed by iran, they will be looking, why did they do this, they are looking to provoke something. israel's worst case scenario militarily would be to have to fight hezbollah and hamas. ii militarily would be to have to fight hezbollah and hamas.— militarily would be to have to fight hezbollah and hamas. if they do push into gaza as — hezbollah and hamas. if they do push into gaza as you _ hezbollah and hamas. if they do push into gaza as you are _ hezbollah and hamas. if they do push into gaza as you are describing, i

hezbollah and hamas. if they do push into gaza as you are describing, and i into gaza as you are describing, and try to push hamas out, how likely is that? it's not the first time they have tried to do that. many a time they have tried to do this. hamas just don't seem to go away for the israelis? , ., , just don't seem to go away for the israelis? , . , ., ., , , , , israelis? usually what happens is there is an _ israelis? usually what happens is there is an attack, _ israelis? usually what happens is there is an attack, the _ israelis? usually what happens is there is an attack, the israelis i there is an attack, the israelis respond, they go in fairly hard but they understand they have only got a limited amount of time because of global public opinion, that will turn on them. and that is basically how this has panned out over the last 15 years. this time, they may be calculating it is different, global public opinion will allow them to go a little bit longer, a bit further. indeed, their own population's support means that they don't have to rely so much on global popular opinion. there is a very interesting element in terms of how we understand in the media, and the media is important on this, how we understand what is going on in the battlefield. it is called the discursive element, above the events going on. the israelis will be looking for international support,

to dissolve this once and for all. the palestinians will be looking for international support to stop it and slow it down. that is where the narrative will be played out. making reference to the israeli 9/11 is part of that, give us the leeway to respond. 50 part of that, give us the leeway to resond. ., ., part of that, give us the leeway to resond. ., i. respond. so good to get your analysis- _ respond. so good to get your analysis. thank _ respond. so good to get your analysis. thank you - respond. so good to get your analysis. thank you for i respond. so good to get your analysis. thank you for your | respond. so good to get your- analysis. thank you for your time. these are live pictures of gaza. as we always do, we are keeping an eye on them. we are trying to see when these missile attacks happen. they are happening very, very often indeed. you can see a couple of missiles have struck buildings in the background. more on this story throughout the day on bbc news. but for now, you are watching bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. joe biden has been questioned as part of an investigation into the handling of classified documents found at his home

and former private office, dating from his time as vice president. the white house said the interview was voluntary and conducted over two days, concluding on monday. president biden has not been charged with any crime. a study by scientists in britain has found that nearly half of the world's known flowering plants could face extinction, mainly through habitat—loss, linked to deforestation or the building of dams. the report states orchids, pineapples and grain crops are under threat. hollywood writers have overwhelmingly voted to approve a new deal with studios, after one of the industry's longest strikes. last month, after 148 days on strike, their union reached agreement with the likes of netflix and disney, giving members better pay and more protections against the use of artificial intelligence. you're live with bbc news.

let's go back to our top story, the conflict in israel and gaza. leaders of the us, britain france, germany and italy have condemned hamas for its attack on israel — earlier today the us secretary of state antony blinken discussed support for israel with the country's foreign minister. foreign nationals from several countries including the us, are confirmed to have been killed. live now to our diplomatic correspondent paul adams. the usual supporters and people who are behind israel coming out and showing theirfull are behind israel coming out and showing their full support? thea;r are behind israel coming out and showing their full support? they are indeed. showing their full support? they are indeed- this — showing their full support? they are indeed. this is _ showing their full support? they are indeed. this is a _ showing their full support? they are indeed. this is a moment _ showing their full support? they are indeed. this is a moment similar i showing their full support? they are indeed. this is a moment similar to | indeed. this is a moment similar to ones we have seen before, where gaza is the focus, israel feels the need to act. but, of course, the events of saturday made this so much bigger, so much more significant. of course, for the supporters of israel, the ones you mentioned in your introduction, it is also a much more complex situation because most

of those countries have nationals among the hostages being held inside gaza. that number of hostages is anywhere between 100 and 150. the fact that at the moment we still don't know exactly how many is an indication of the complexity of the situation of the israeli government is facing right now, the complexity of those foreign governments who know their nationals are being held and must be deeply apprehensive that the events that are likely to unfold in the coming days, with a widely expected israeli ground invasion, could seal the fate, frankly, of those people who are undoubtedly being held in hamas buildings and facilities throughout the gaza strip. facilities throughout the gaza stri. �* ., , facilities throughout the gaza stri.�* ., , �* ~' facilities throughout the gaza stri. ., ,�* ~ ,. ,, strip. antony blinken has discussed su ort strip. antony blinken has discussed su- ort for strip. antony blinken has discussed support for israel _ strip. antony blinken has discussed support for israel with _ strip. antony blinken has discussed support for israel with the - strip. antony blinken has discussed support for israel with the foreign l support for israel with the foreign minister, eli cohen. that support from the us, we are not sure what form it might take, how are the other allies of israel offering

support? what are they saying they are going to do, other than the verbal support so far? i are going to do, other than the verbal support so far?- are going to do, other than the verbal support so far? i think it is mostly that- _ verbal support so far? i think it is mostly that. take _ verbal support so far? i think it is mostly that. take a _ verbal support so far? i think it is mostly that. take a country i verbal support so far? i think it is mostly that. take a country like l verbal support so far? i think it is i mostly that. take a country like the uk, there have been lots of expressions of solidarity and support, offers of assistance of various kinds. but it is ultimately the united states that really matters here. it's the only country the israelis will really take much notice of. of course, they will be pleased, relieved to see such heartfelt expression of support around the world, with the israeli flag eliminating capital cities around the west. it is american support that is crucial. we have heard the americans are sending their fifth fleet to the eastern mediterranean. i think that is an indication, perhaps a warning, to the hezbollah group, in lebanon, that they should not get involved, and that american might could play a

role, should hostilities broaden. and also, offers of supplies of ammunition. we are not being given much in the way of detail, but israel is about to expend a vast quantity of ammunition and is already doing it with these hundreds and hundreds of air strikes over gaza. the united states, not surprisingly, saying we are with you here, and you can have pretty much anything you need. flit here, and you can have pretty much anything you need-— anything you need. of course, the bombardment _ anything you need. of course, the bombardment there _ anything you need. of course, the bombardment there are _ anything you need. of course, the bombardment there are missiles i bombardment there are missiles falling all the time. there is a siege, no food and water going in, no humanitarian corridor. the united nations and the who have all urged for a humanitarian corridor. how likely is if that is going to be heeded and the israelis will listen? i would say at the moment there is zero chance of that happening. i mean, look up the confusion

surrounding the instructions to palestinian civilians to leave. 0ne palestinian civilians to leave. one moment, the israelis say they should head down to the crossing and try to cross into egypt, a short time later saying, no, the crossing is closed. the palestinians in gaza, 2.4 million people are being told to be on the move, but they have absolutely no idea where they can go thatis absolutely no idea where they can go that is safe. this has happened before. i watched in gaza years ago, when one of the israeli incursions was taking place and gradually people moved further and further away from the front lines, particularly once israeli ground troops started to come in. if it is an overcrowded place, there is nowhere to go. the humanitarian situation can only deteriorate. this is a blockade, a sealing off, the likes of which we have not seen to this extent before, the cutting off of electricity, water, food supplies, it is a collective punishment against an entire

civilian population in an attempt to deal with the threat posed by hamas and what happened on saturday. it's going to be grim. for the time being, israel will enjoy a wide degree of western support. the longer it goes on, and the more civilian casualties mount, the more we will start to hear calls for restraint. we will start to hear calls for restraint-— we will start to hear calls for restraint. ., ~ , ., , . restraint. thank you very much. these are _ restraint. thank you very much. these are live _ restraint. thank you very much. these are live pictures - restraint. thank you very much. these are live pictures from i restraint. thank you very much. i these are live pictures from gaza. if you lines from the last minute plural ago. the un children's agency has said hundreds of israeli imposed and in children have been killed and injured in the last 72 hours. they say the alarming measures to cut water, fuel and food from gaza will add another layer of suffering. that is from the un children's agency in the last few minutes. this is the scene, as you can see, the missiles continue to fall. israel has said it has targeted around 200 hamas

targets over the last 12 or so hours. we will be following the story from gaza and israel throughout the day on bbc news. i want to talk about what is happening in the united states. the us defense department has described the weekend's actions by hamas as, quote, "isis—level savagery". in a briefing to reporters, a senior defense 0fficial added that the us is working to working to expedite israel's requests for more munitions and air defense. the oficial added that planes have already taken off to deliver some of the support requested. additionally, the uss ford strike group is expected to arrive in the area very soon, with capabilities ranging from intelligence gathering to long—range strikes. it includes the carrier, and accompanying cruisers and destroyers. the defense department is also working with israel and other partners to contain the conflict to gaza. us officials also say they have not seen corroboration

of iran being directly involved in the planning of saturday's attack. the iranian supreme leader in the last hour or so has said that iran did not have involvement in the attack, but that he kissed the hands of those who did. but how did israeli intelligence services seemingly fail to detect saturday's attack by hamas? retired us army lieutenant general mark schwartz served as the us security coordinator for israel and the palestinian authority until 2021. he spoke to us about the serious failure of intelligence. i think what the assessment is now, after 72 hours, post—attack, the level of discipline that hamas exercised in staying off of technical communications, to plan this operation, this raid, they actually conducted the incursion

into israel under the terrorist acts that followed, i think that was the key. they are an enemy and a terrorist organisation that loans not only from other terrorist organisations in the region, but also their own experiences. they knew that by communicating and planning using any type of technical means, the operation would be compromised. in my assessment, based on what i have heard, and open source reporting, that is the most likely way they were able to successfully pull this off. that was a former army _ successfully pull this off. that was a former army officer _ successfully pull this off. that was a former army officer talking i successfully pull this off. that was a former army officer talking to i successfully pull this off. that was j a former army officer talking to us about what intelligence failures whereby the israelis. let's take a moment to recap the number of people known to have lost their lives on saturday. around 900 people have been killed in israel — with almost 700 people killed in gaza. many of the dead are civilians. here, in gaza, a funeral was held

on monday for several members of the same family, including children. 0ne relative said his family had no links with hamas militants. weinberger translate monroe the entire weinberger translate monroe iie: entire family weinberger translate monroe tie: entire family has weinberger translate monroe ti2 entire family has been wiped out, 14 people, all under the rubble. we got 12 people out, the rest are still under there. we can cut them out. they hit the building without warning. they didn't ask us to evacuate, they didn't say anything. we suddenly heard the air strike and ran to the building and found out it had completely collapsed. israel has also been burying its dead — among them, a 20 year old british man who was serving in the israeli military. nathanel young was killed during the attack on the border with gaza. 0ur correspondent nick beake was invited to report from the funeral service. nathanel young's coffin was carried to mount herzl, israel's national cemetery, where they grieved a londoner who'd become one of their own. his family said it had always been his dream to be a frontline israeli soldier.

more than 1,000 mourners turned out. despite pleas to stay away, so the funeral itself would not be a target. nathanel young's sister started to pay tribute to him. throughout the last 20 precious years, i've watched nathanel grow up from a cheeky little boy to a strong, brave, kind national hero. but then, as she continued... air raid siren. the solemnity was shattered. they took cover between gravestones and under trees, as explosions rang out. some began reciting prayers... ..before the alarm fell silent. we made our way to where one rocket seemed to have got through israel's powerful air defences. this, an ultraorthodox settlement

in an occupied palestinian area. this attack on a community nearjerusalem is a vivid illustration of how the situation has escalated so rapidly. we are far from gaza here, and as we speak there are more explosions that we can hear in the distance. one of many communities, both here and in gaza on the front line of this deepening conflict. nick beake, bbc news, nearjerusalem. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. although some of us will have a dry, sunny and warm day, for others we have weather fronts coming from the north—west, introducing rain, exacerbating the flooding risk, particularly so where the ground is already saturated. the met office has a yellow weather warning out for western scotland for this rain. shari rain, moving out of northern ireland into northern

england and north wales. south of that, a lot of dry and sunny weather, away from the coast, the irish sea coast, and the irish sea coast is prone to hang on to mist and murk through the day. top temperatures up to 24. this band of rain south as a weakening future. as it crosses england and also a weakening future. as it crosses england and also wales, it is going to rejuvenate. some patchy fog ahead of it. lustre showers skies, we are looking at a chilly night in sheltered glens, with temperatures falling away to four or six. mild across england, wales and northern ireland. tomorrow, a band of rain slowly sinks southwards. it won't get into the far south until after dark. 0n the other side, we are looking at sunshine, blustery showers. still windy across the far north of scotland, pressure conditions will be following behind that weather front. temperatures ten or 17 degrees. for most of us, the southis or 17 degrees. for most of us, the south is still playing onto the warmer conditions at this stage.

wednesday into thursday, the front lingers in the south is a weak feature and then it will develop a wave in it. it will rejuvenate later in the day. to start with across southern england it will be cloudy, some drizzle around. later, heavier rain will come in. push north of that, a lot of dry weather. some sunshine around. some outbreaks of rain and windy conditions across the far north of scotland. temperature—wise, ten in the north or perhaps 20, may be 22 in the far south. friday what we have is weather fronts that are going to be pushing northwards once again from the south, and southwards from the north. basically, what that means is that it's going to be wet at times, especially across england and wales. this could change. the position could change and the timing. it may clear away faster than this chart shows. there will still be blustery showers across northern scotland, in between from sunshine. that leaves us into a cooler weekend.

live from london. this is bbc news. israel's prime minister warns the gaza action has onlyjust begun, and it will use "enormous force" against hamas. the israeli army warns hamas militants there is "nowhere to hide". it says it has recovered the bodies of 1,500 fighters and secured the barrier between israel and gaza. no food, water or electricity. with the crossing to egypt closed, calls for a humanitarian corridor. 0ur correspondent is in gaza. the biggest, i think, ever air strikes that i have ever seen in my life and in my 25 years of working as a journalist. more details emerge from the music festival attacked by hamas where 260 people died. imagine yourself using a rocket that is meant to fire on houses

or tanks fired on a group of 20 civilians.