as well, we have these and i, john as well, we have these discussions both professionally and personally a great deal of the time and from the palestinian perspective, again, many palestinians, they would fail i think if we described hamas as a terrorist group, they would feel that was a total read after them. they would say i think it is being flagged the us, that we are not being evenhanded if we took that stance. ,, , , , being evenhanded if we took that stance. ,, , , ., stance. sebastien, this is from france, marigold _ stance. sebastien, this is from france, marigold says - stance. sebastien, this is from france, marigold says the - stance. sebastien, this is from france, marigold says the us l stance. sebastien, this is from i france, marigold says the us and europe to ukraine, why are they not defending palestine?— defending palestine? there is more nuanced to that _ defending palestine? there is more nuanced to that question. _ defending palestine? there is more nuanced to that question. without i nuanced to that question. without getting deeply into ukraine, ukraine was a situation that suddenly erupted. john was talking about there is a situation between israel and palestine that has been going on for decades. it has shifted on its

balance time and time again. ukraine was at least at the start almost clearly from most perspectives and invasion by russia, that ukraine was resisting. i think that clarity at that moment to make it simpler for governments to respond in that way, whereas the issue between the palestinians and the israelis is one which is so embedded in so many different phases that it is harder for governments to come up with such a black—and—white position. you can't gainsay the fact that the european union, the uk, the us, all of these countries to provide financial support to the palestinians. the us has been, although it blows hot and cold, it has been one of the main supporters financially of the un aid agencies which keep the palestinians going, as much as that achieved both in gaza and in the occupied west bank. with all of these things, and it is

a very boring answer, but there is a great deal of nuance to this. we as journalists have to try to stay with that as much as possible, rather than just going with the main thrust of the story at one particular moment and try to stay as true to thatis moment and try to stay as true to that is possible, and try to make an audience care about that aspect of the story rather than just immediately go one side or the other. i don't know whatjohn thinks about that. it other. i don't know what john thinks about that. , , about that. it is interesting, i covered two _ about that. it is interesting, i covered two short _ about that. it is interesting, i covered two short words - about that. it is interesting, i covered two short words in i about that. it is interesting, i. covered two short words in gaza about that. it is interesting, i- covered two short words in gaza when i was _ covered two short words in gaza when i was based _ covered two short words in gaza when i was based there in 2012 and i came back in— i was based there in 2012 and i came back in 2014 — i was based there in 2012 and i came back in 2014. one of the things that struck— back in 2014. one of the things that struck me _ back in 2014. one of the things that struck me was, for example, the united _ struck me was, for example, the united states provides a lot of the military— united states provides a lot of the military support to israel that causes — military support to israel that causes so much of the destruction in gaza and. _ causes so much of the destruction in gaza and. at— causes so much of the destruction in gaza and, at the same time, a lot of the eu, _ gaza and, at the same time, a lot of the eu, britain, france etc, offera lot of— the eu, britain, france etc, offera lot of support to israel in dealing

with hamas in gaza, but it is also the same — with hamas in gaza, but it is also the same countries who support israet— the same countries who support israel who— the same countries who support israel who are then having to pay time _ israel who are then having to pay time and — israel who are then having to pay time and time again for the reconstruction in gaza. it was a really— reconstruction in gaza. it was a really depressing situation, i suppose, there was a sort of pattern of every _ suppose, there was a sort of pattern of every two — suppose, there was a sort of pattern of every two or three years there is another— of every two or three years there is another war— of every two or three years there is anotherwar in of every two or three years there is another war in gaza and things will -et another war in gaza and things will get rebuilt, then things will get destroyed again. what israel has said this — destroyed again. what israel has said this time, well, both sides actually, — said this time, well, both sides actually, hamas says they want an end to _ actually, hamas says they want an end to the — actually, hamas says they want an end to the status quo, they want to change _ end to the status quo, they want to change the — end to the status quo, they want to change the dynamic, and israel now in its _ change the dynamic, and israel now in its retaliation now feels it wants — in its retaliation now feels it wants to _ in its retaliation now feels it wants to do the same, change that status— wants to do the same, change that status quo — wants to do the same, change that status quo in its favour. we wants to do the same, change that status quo in its favour.— status quo in its favour. we have had another _ status quo in its favour. we have had another question _ status quo in its favour. we have had another question here - status quo in its favour. we have had another question here from | had another question here from damien armstrong in staffordshire, saying why is financing to military aid required by israel? it is

saying why is financing to military aid required by israel?— aid required by israel? it is not siml aid required by israel? it is not simply against _ aid required by israel? it is not simply against the _ aid required by israel? it is not| simply against the palestinians, aid required by israel? it is not - simply against the palestinians, the military support given to israel is meant to defend it against all potential threats. we have heard from benjamin netanyahu for years and years that he sees the major threat as iran. that is the view thatis threat as iran. that is the view that is shared by a lot of arab countries. it is a valid question that has been raised within israel quite regularly. it is different voices and for different reasons, perhaps for their own political motivations, that bring up this why should israel be beholden, it is a rich country, a country that is extremely developed, why does it need $3.8 billion from the us, and does that makejust need $3.8 billion from the us, and does that make just a satellite of the us? i think that that is an issue that at the moment again would be put a bit because we are saying

the us offering more military support to israel in this particular situation, and they are bringing warships to the region. these issues which really need to be looked at very seriously, and with a long view, always get caught up in the frenzy of the moment and then decisions are made which affect the long—term future in terms of support for israel. there is lots of criticism within the us, why are we sending almost $4 billion to a country that is rich when we have huge problems in the us that need to be addressed? several billion dollars of that could surely be more usefully spent in the us? let’s dollars of that could surely be more usefully spent in the us?— usefully spent in the us? let's take ou both usefully spent in the us? let's take you both to — usefully spent in the us? let's take you both to live _ usefully spent in the us? let's take you both to live pictures _ usefully spent in the us? let's take you both to live pictures coming - you both to live pictures coming into us from gaza. we have had the israeli forces saying that they had targeted 236 macro targets overnight and that they are continuing to

target them throughout the day. a correspondent on the ground saying it is like an earthquake, the damage done by these bombs and missiles. this is the same live in gaza for those of you watching now. sebastien, let me ask you another question. this is an anonymous viewer. i like many others i'm worried about the war that hamas has engaged on israel. although hamas instigated this war on israel, could it be even a war crime that israel has stopped food and medicine getting into gaza? the has stopped food and medicine getting into gaza?— has stopped food and medicine getting into gaza? the un human riahts getting into gaza? the un human rights chief _ getting into gaza? the un human rights chief has _ getting into gaza? the un human rights chief has just _ getting into gaza? the un human rights chief has just issued - getting into gaza? the un human rights chief hasjust issued a - rights chief has just issued a statement in the last hour saying that to have a seizure like this on a civilian population is against international law. he hasn't quite

putted as a war crime, but saying very, very strongly that this is something that is not acceptable under international law. the rhetoric we are hearing from israel, john obviously is very much across that as well, is so much against that as well, is so much against that at the moment, it is so strong, you're here and pull from politicians and the people that there is an appetite for this total destruction of gaza, so in that context they sensed that a siege of gaza, this denial of food and water, and remember it has been under blockade for 17 years, i mean that the water situation is dire in gaza. the electricity situation are already sufficiently bad for gaza to be described as one of the poorest places in the world, one of the places in the world, one of the places where the conditions of life are pretty much at their worst.

israel is tightening that squeeze, rather than bringing a siege from nowhere. the way things are at the moment, the dynamic we are looking at, does not look like the sort of warnings from the international community are going to be heated by israel, certainly not now. there has been this recurring pattern where israel hits gaza hard, and then after several weeks, sometimes months, the international outrage over the numbers of civilians who are being killed which is such a point that israel feels that it has to end its operation. under these conditions after what has happened on saturday, i think we aren't necessarily expecting that to happen any time soon. john necessarily expecting that to happen any time soon-— necessarily expecting that to happen any time soon. john you spent a good amount of time _ any time soon. john you spent a good amount of time in _ any time soon. john you spent a good amount of time in gaza. _ any time soon. john you spent a good amount of time in gaza. what - any time soon. john you spent a good

amount of time in gaza. what impact| amount of time in gaza. what impact does this total blockade having? just adding to what sebastien said there. _ just adding to what sebastien said there, this is on a completely different— there, this is on a completely different magnitude of the wards, the escalations in violence we have seen _ the escalations in violence we have seen in _ the escalations in violence we have seen in the — the escalations in violence we have seen in the past. in 2009 there were 13 israelis— seen in the past. in 2009 there were 13 israelis killed in that short war — 13 israelis killed in that short war in— 13 israelis killed in that short war. in 2012 i think it was six israelis~ _ war. in 2012 i think it was six israelis. here we are talking more than 900. — israelis. here we are talking more than 900, and potentially up to 150 hostages _ than 900, and potentially up to 150 hostages taken. israel is feeling it has the right frankly to do whatever it once, _ has the right frankly to do whatever it once, and — has the right frankly to do whatever it once, and i don't think it is going — it once, and i don't think it is going to _ it once, and i don't think it is going to listen to the un human rights _ going to listen to the un human rights chief, or unicef, i feel it will have — rights chief, or unicef, i feel it will have the backing of its public to do _ will have the backing of its public to do everything at once. you go to the blockade, which sebastien says has been _ the blockade, which sebastien says has been in place in some form from israel— has been in place in some form from israel and _ has been in place in some form from israel and also each of to the south

for 17 _ israel and also each of to the south for 17 years — israel and also each of to the south for 17 years. certainly when i was there. _ for 17 years. certainly when i was there. and — for 17 years. certainly when i was there, and the last time i was regularly— there, and the last time i was regularly going into gaza was in 2013. _ regularly going into gaza was in 2013, it — regularly going into gaza was in 2013, it was bad. there were periods when _ 2013, it was bad. there were periods when i _ 2013, it was bad. there were periods when i was _ 2013, it was bad. there were periods when i was living there when virtually _ when i was living there when virtually half the food you were getting — virtually half the food you were getting was coming from tunnels. you would _ getting was coming from tunnels. you would open _ getting was coming from tunnels. you would open it can of coke and it was covered _ would open it can of coke and it was covered in— would open it can of coke and it was covered in dust coming from tunnels from egypt — covered in dust coming from tunnels from egypt. over time restrictions have eased and they have let more stuff in. _ have eased and they have let more stuff in, more exports out. the big thing _ stuff in, more exports out. the big thing that— stuff in, more exports out. the big thing that i— stuff in, more exports out. the big thing that i think is important is about— thing that i think is important is about half— thing that i think is important is about half of gaza's population is under— about half of gaza's population is under 18~ — about half of gaza's population is under18. it is about half of gaza's population is under 18. it is a very young population and there are many, many people _ population and there are many, many people in— population and there are many, many people in gaza who have never left. they have _ people in gaza who have never left. they have never met an israeli. there _ they have never met an israeli. there is— they have never met an israeli. there is no— they have never met an israeli. there is no interaction between the two sides — there is no interaction between the two sides. no understanding of the other— two sides. no understanding of the other perspective. i think that is what _ other perspective. i think that is what is — other perspective. i think that is what is really, really difficult to overcome.

what is really, really difficult to overcome-— what is really, really difficult to overcome. , ., ,, , ., ~ , ., overcome. john, sebastien, thank you both for answering _ overcome. john, sebastien, thank you both for answering our _ overcome. john, sebastien, thank you both for answering our questions - both for answering our questions today. and thank you, the viewer, for sending these questions to us. we will leave you with these live pictures of gaza city. hello again. although some of us will have a dry, sunny and warm day, for others, we've got weather fronts coming in from the northwest, introducing rain, exacerbating the flooding risk, particularly so where the ground is already saturated. and the met office has a yellow weather warning out for western scotland for this rain. we've showery rain moving out of northern ireland into northern england and north wales. but south of that, a lot of dry and sunny weather away from the coasts. the irish sea coast and the english channel coast prone to hang onto some mist and murk through the day. top temperatures up to 24 or 25 somewhere in south east england. as we head through the evening, and overnight, this band of rain moves south as a weakening feature.

but as it crosses england and also wales it's going to rejuvenate. some patchy fog ahead of it, blustery showers behind it. and under clear skies we're looking at a chilly night in sheltered glens with temperatures falling away to four or six but mild across england, wales and northern ireland. through tomorrow, our band of rain slowly sinks southwards. won't get into the far south till after dark. on the other side of it, we're looking at sunshine, blustery showers. still windy across the far north of scotland, but fresher conditions will be following behind that weather front. so temperatures 10 to about 17 degrees for most of us. it's the south that's still clinging on to the warmer conditions at this stage. so wednesday into thursday, our front lingers in the south as a weak feature, but then it will develop a wave in it, so it will rejuvenate later in the day. so to start with, across southern england it will be cloudy, there'll be some drizzle around. it's later heavier rain will come in. pushing north of that, a lot of dry weather. there'll be some sunshine around, some outbreaks of rain and windy conditions across the far

north of scotland. temperature—wise, we're looking at ten in the north to perhaps 20, maybe 22 in the far south east. then for friday, what we've got are weather fronts which are going to be pushing northwards once again from the south, and southwards from the north. so basically what that means is it's going to be wet at times, especially across england and wales. but this could change, the position could change and the timing. it may clear away a bit faster than this chart shows. and there will still be blustery showers across northern scotland in between some sunshine feeling cooler. that leads us into a cooler weekend.

live from london. this is bbc news. benjamin netanyahu warns the gaza action has onlyjust begun — and israel will use �*enormous force' against hamas. the israeli army tells hamas there is �*nowhere to hide'. it says it's recovered the bodies of 1500 hamas fighters and secured the barrier with gaza. these are the latest pictures from gaza. our correspondent there is staggered at the scale of the destruction. the heaviest, i think, ever air strikes that i have ever seen in my life and in my 25 years of working as a journalist. access to food, water and electricity is being cut, and the crossing to egypt closed. the un says the gaza siege is a violation of international law.