hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan. you're watching the context on bbc news. it's not a war. it's not a battlefield. you see the babies, the mother, the father's in their bedrooms and how the terrorists killed them. it's not a war. it's not a battlefield. it's a massacre. this is an act of sheer evil. more than 1,000 civilians slaughtered, slaughtered in israel. hamas said they would attack- ashkelon starting half an hour ago. they were punctual. this is about the fourth series of attacks. - i try not to imagine because it's just too difficult and these are times where i break,

and i don't want to break right now because i want to keep pushing for the release of my mum and the release of my brother. we're faced with an explosive powder keg situation. the imposition of sieges that endanger the lives of civilians by depriving them of goods essential for their survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law. israeli's and palestinians in gaza are spending a fourth night being bombarded by rockets and missiles as israeli defence forces and hamas militants continue fighting. we will have the latest from kafar aza kibbutz, where soldiers have been removing the bodies of residents killed by hamas including women, children and babies. and also an update from our correspondent who has spent his whole life living in gaza — he says the attacks have been

the worst he has ever seen. we will also talk to a hostage negotiator — about the difficult task of bringing both sides to the table to save as many lives as possible. and bring you a special interview with one ofjoe biden�*s top national security spokespersons and advisors —john kirby. all that and more tonight on the context. thick black smoke fills the air over gaza tonight following a further day of intense israeli air strikes. the palestinian militant group hamas has responded with barrages of rockets into southern israel. the number of dead on both sides continues to rise, with little prospect of a swift end to the violence. this was the scene in gaza today. un aid agencies have warned of the severe consequences of israel's siege on the territory. palestinian officials say more than 800 people have been killed by the strikes. the world health organization has called for a humanitarian corridor

to be opened into the area. the families of more than 100 israelis taken hostage have been speaking about their agony. the israeli army says, it's contacted the families of 50 soldiers seized by hamas. at least 123 israeli soldiers have been killed since saturday. at least 1,000 israelis are now known to have been killed, in the hamas attacks. earlier today israelis were sent fleeing again in the town of ashkelon — after hamas fired more missiles. our international editor jeremy bowen has been to kfar aza, where soldiers have been removing the bodies of people murdered by hamas, including babies and children. awarning... you may find some elements of his report distressing. the first few days of war at this small israeli community called kfar aza are a microcosm of israel's trauma and a glimpse

of what might come next. israeli troops only seized back full control of the kibbutz this morning. it's one of a series of small israeli villages along the gaza wire. when we arrived they were still firing on houses across on the gaza side. israeli combat soldiers only started their fight back here at around six o'clock on saturday evening, around 12 hours after hamas attacked. these men are experienced soldiers, combat reservists. they said fighting their way back in against a determined enemy was hard going. how difficult is the fighting? you cannot imagine. have you ever had to do anything like this before as a soldier?

no, not like this. what happens next, what do you do next, what does israel do next? i don't know. i do what they tell me to do. i will do. i hope that we will go inside. into gaza? yeah. that will be tough fighting. yeah, we will be ready for it. kfar aza was taken by surprise like everywhere else hamas attacked. the kibbutz guard, armed civilian volunteers, died fighting back. hamas stormed in, burning homes and killing families, according to the soldiers. as it took so long to secure the kibbutz the army couldn't recover all the civilian dead until this morning. these were the bodies of israelis. decomposing hamas gunmen are still lying where they were killed. the murder of israeli civilians here was without doubt a war crime, but what about the palestinian civilians israel is killing

in attacks on hamas? as you know, all armies have obligations under the laws of war to protect civilian life even in war zones. are you doing this, with this level of air strikes going on at the moment and any ground operation that might happen? i am sure that we fight for our value and our culture all our life. you fight with value and you keep your value in the same time. i know we will be very aggressive and very strong, but we keep our moral and our value. we are israeli, we arejewish, and you know, war, it's a very difficult theatre with a lot of problems, people are staying on the battlefield who will suffer a lot, you can see what is happening here, but we come to kill the enemy, not the civilians. but in only a few days israel has inflicted immense damage in gaza. they have cut off supplies of food,

water and power and killed hundreds of civilians. palestinian suffering, israel says, is the responsibility of hamas. israel has already been accused of breaking the laws of war and that will get louder as more palestinian civilians are wounded and killed. at kfar aza israeli troops are thinking of what is next, perhaps a ground invasion of gaza. it was tough enough for the israelis to come in to recapture this area, these small border communities. it is a different order of military challenge to cross the wire, to get into gaza, potentially to fight house to house at a time when hamas will have made its plans and will be waiting. some of these men are moving north in case war starts with hezbollah, the powerful lebanese militia backed by iran. what happened here is why israel is shaken to its core,

why it insists it must break hamas and it points to the danger and uncertainty ahead. jeremy bowen gave us the latest on those claims the latest on those claims there. a few moments ago we saw an explosion there across the sky live now in gaza. now the aftermath of the smoke hanging in the air and of course we will be keeping across the scene from gaza throughout the show. as i have been mentioning there we have been seeing regular intervals, flashes missiles exploding across the skyline. my hundred people have been killed including 260 children and 230 women along with a600 wounded in the gaza strip since saturday. the speakers have come to

us from the health ministry there. and they have come to us in the last three minutes. some other breaking news that has come into the newsroom in the last few moments and that is from america where we are hearing that the us secretary of state antony blinken will travel to israel in the coming days. let's go back to our international editorjeremy. earlier he gives the latest on the claims from the israeli military that what happened was a massacre with women and children and babies killed by hamas. it seems pretty clear there was a massacre because, as i said in the piece, the army didn't get in there, the israeli army didn't even start to try to regain the area for 12 hours after hamas got in there, so basically they were able to rampage around. senior officers there told me the kibbutz civilian guard, which was composed of people with military experience, that they fought, they tried

to fight back, but there were not many of them and they were killed and their bodies were among those recovered today. outside, as you saw in the piece, there was a woman who was under a purple sleeping bag. one of the soldiers said to me that, an officer said to me that she had been beheaded. i did not move the covering to see if he was telling the truth, but she was undoubtedly killed in the front garden of her own house, so i think the word massacre is appropriate to what happened there. what struck me in kfar aza is that it really does sum up all the reasons why israelis are so shocked, traumatised, why they are so angry, why they want not just revenge, but the government wants to change the strategic equation in gaza so hamas can't do anything like this again. but this is the middle east,

it is a volatile area, and the way ahead is not smooth for anybody. as israeli's mourn — gaza is also reeling from relentless missile attacks. palestinian health officials say the number of people killed by rocket attacks in gaza has risen to 900. the united nations has told israel that its siege of the territory is illegal — with food, water and power all cut off. the bbc has a rare insight into the gaza strip through our correspondent, rushdi abu alouf. he's lived there his entire life and has reported on the conflict for decades. as i'm sure you will understand — the situation there is extremely dangerous — so much so that it's not possible for him to report live for us this evening — but he has sent us this update from gaza. we can see the scale of destruction

in this neighbourhood. it's called rimal neighbourhood. it's an economic hub for gaza that has been completely targeted yesterday. many buildings were destroyed, behind me an ii—storey building was knocked down two days ago but the destruction in this area has been targeted last night. israel has carried out 200 air strikes targeting hamas infrastructure. they hit many buildings, government buildings belonging to the hamas—run authority. but look at the scale of destruction in the area and how civilian homes were completely affected and some of them were completely destroyed. this gentleman just told us we have to leave the area because it seems the israelis are warning residents of the area they should leave, they are going to target another building in the area. but look at the scale

of destruction. this is happening, with israelis targeting housing, shops, ministries and mosques, everything. the whole neighbourhood was levelled to zero. this is one of the most important economic hubs for gaza. as you can see, most of the shops were damaged, houses were damaged, the infrastructure, the street. this is the street that leads to the southern part of the city and it is completely blocked. to discuss this all further i'm joined now by... colin p clarke, director of research at the soufan group, where his research focuses on domestic and transnational terrorism, international security, and geopolitics. plus, robin wright, from the new yorker. robin is an american foreign affairs analyst, author and journalist who has covered wars, revolutions and uprisings around the world. inc. you forjoining us this

evening. let's start with you, collin, where do you see things standing right now in regards to this ongoing conflict?— standing right now in regards to this ongoing conflict? thank you for havin: this ongoing conflict? thank you for having me- — this ongoing conflict? thank you for having me- it _ this ongoing conflict? thank you for having me. it seems _ this ongoing conflict? thank you for having me. it seems like _ this ongoing conflict? thank you for having me. it seems like the - having me. it seems like the israelis are trying to decide whether or not they will launch a full—scale ground invasion of gaza. with that comes its own set of complications. this is a densely populated area. we know that there is a subterranean network of tunnels moreover, all my previous complexes is further complicated by the presence of large numbers of hostages. the israelis are going to invade and potentially occupy the israel defense forces, idf have their hands full.— their hands full. you have been re ”ortin their hands full. you have been reporting from _ their hands full. you have been reporting from the _ their hands full. you have been reporting from the region - their hands full. you have been reporting from the region for. their hands full. you have been - reporting from the region for many, many years, robin. when do you think there may be a lance incursion from israel? i there may be a lance incursion from israel? ~ , , ., , , israel? i think it is probably imminent- _ israel? i think it is probably imminent. the _ israel? i think it is probably imminent. the question - israel? i think it is probably i imminent. the question really israel? i think it is probably -

imminent. the question really is, can israel— imminent. the question really is, can israel actually defeat hamas. can't _ can israel actually defeat hamas. can't it_ can israel actually defeat hamas. can't it eliminate it to the point where — can't it eliminate it to the point where it— can't it eliminate it to the point where it is— can't it eliminate it to the point where it is no longer a major political or military challenge. there — political or military challenge. there are _ political or military challenge. there are real questions, short term isreel— there are real questions, short term israei has _ there are real questions, short term israel has the might and the will to impose _ israel has the might and the will to impose severe damage to command posts, _ impose severe damage to command posts, arsenal, leadership, infrastructure of hamas, but what happens _ infrastructure of hamas, but what happens then. who rules gaza? how do you make _ happens then. who rules gaza? how do you make sure gaza is not a threat to israel_ you make sure gaza is not a threat to israel down the road whether it is from _ to israel down the road whether it is from hamas or others. of course the bigger— is from hamas or others. of course the bigger picture is, as the ground assaults _ the bigger picture is, as the ground assaults begins, what might other parties _ assaults begins, what might other parties in — assaults begins, what might other parties in the middle east do. the united _ parties in the middle east do. the united states is scrambling now to help israel with military equipment and deploy its own forces around the region. _ and deploy its own forces around the region. not— and deploy its own forces around the region, not in israel. as a sign, a warning _ region, not in israel. as a sign, a warning to — region, not in israel. as a sign, a warning to other parties to not get involved~ — warning to other parties to not get involved. the real danger is the threat _ involved. the real danger is the threat from particularly hamas on

israei's _ threat from particularly hamas on israel's northern border because it, at some _ israel's northern border because it, at some point, engaged, not because he wanted _ at some point, engaged, not because he wanted to, but now because it feels _ he wanted to, but now because it feels it— he wanted to, but now because it feels it is— he wanted to, but now because it feels it is obliged to help another proxy— feels it is obliged to help another proxy aliv— feels it is obliged to help another proxy ally under the uranian axis of resistance — proxy ally under the uranian axis of resistance that there is a lot of questions _ resistance that there is a lot of questions on the road and we will all know— questions on the road and we will all know what will happen next and we all _ all know what will happen next and we all know israel will probably prevail— we all know israel will probably prevail but the bigger issues are what _ prevail but the bigger issues are what happens long—term and strategy and how _ what happens long—term and strategy and how do— what happens long—term and strategy and how do you counter the potential for other— and how do you counter the potential for other threats in a wider confrontation.— for other threats in a wider confrontation. let's look at the military capabilities _ confrontation. let's look at the military capabilities of - confrontation. let's look at the military capabilities of both - confrontation. let's look at the i military capabilities of both israel and hamas. iwas military capabilities of both israel and hamas. i was looking at some of the numbers according to the international institute of strategic studies that says the israeli armed forces have close to 170,000 people including 126,000 in the land army. a00,000 reservists on call up is to hamas that has around 20,000 in

their braids. how do both armies, as it were, match up to each other? —— it were, match up to each other? —— it brigades. it it were, match up to each other? -- it brigades— it brigades. it is david and goliath- — it brigades. it is david and goliath. it _ it brigades. it is david and goliath. it is _ it brigades. it is david and goliath. it is an _ it brigades. it is david and | goliath. it is an asymmetric conflict. but with the help of iran and other alleys like his brother mac hamas is prepared to fight this asymmetric conflict to win hearts and minds in international opinion and minds in international opinion and belief they are fighting on their own turf. ijust mentioned subterranean network of tunnels. they are going to go to ground and wage guerrilla tactics and likely are going to have to continue to penetrate israel shooting rockets. what we saw over the weekend was really a combined arms manoeuvre that we have not seen from hamas in previous conflicts. think about it. operation cast lead 2008—2009. live defence 2012 protective in 201a israel have attempted to wipe out hamas millions of times and i don't

see anything now that proves to me that they will be up to follow through and finish of the job this time. through and finish of the 'ob this time. , , ., ., ., through and finish of the 'ob this time. , i. ., ., ., time. let me bring you one on that oint as time. let me bring you one on that point as well- _ time. let me bring you one on that point as well. we _ time. let me bring you one on that point as well. we heard _ time. let me bring you one on that point as well. we heard there - time. let me bring you one on that point as well. we heard there he . point as well. we heard there he does not think they will be able to follow through on that. i cover the 1973 war a — follow through on that. i cover the 1973 war a half-century _ follow through on that. i cover the 1973 war a half-century ago - follow through on that. i cover the 1973 war a half-century ago and i follow through on that. i cover the l 1973 war a half-century ago and that 1973 war a half—century ago and that was a _ 1973 war a half—century ago and that was a far— 1973 war a half—century ago and that was a far easier equation. this was state _ was a far easier equation. this was state versus — was a far easier equation. this was state versus state. israel knew the actress _ state versus state. israel knew the actress of— state versus state. israel knew the actress of its enemy enemy. he knew what that _ actress of its enemy enemy. he knew what that diplomatic options were. an army— what that diplomatic options were. an army to — what that diplomatic options were. an army to army. ever since the 1973 war, an army to army. ever since the 1973 war. israei's— an army to army. ever since the 1973 war, israel's main rivals have been non-state — war, israel's main rivals have been non—state actors. malicious. and as israei— non—state actors. malicious. and as israel discovered in lebanon during the war— israel discovered in lebanon during the war with his brother it is very hard _ the war with his brother it is very hard to— the war with his brother it is very hard to he — the war with his brother it is very hard to be in a militia. they learn that lesson — hard to be in a militia. they learn that lesson in afghanistan in parliament and iraq rockets isis and israei— parliament and iraq rockets isis and israei in _ parliament and iraq rockets isis and israel in 2000 and ended up

withdrawing unilaterally from lebanon because it knew it could not defeat _ lebanon because it knew it could not defeat in _ lebanon because it knew it could not defeat in the conventional sense a militia _ defeat in the conventional sense a militia. that is the challenge that israei— militia. that is the challenge that israel faces today. even though it is far— israel faces today. even though it is far better armed and trained and equipped — is far better armed and trained and equipped. in confronting a much smaller— equipped. in confronting a much smaller and in some ways ragtag militia _ smaller and in some ways ragtag militia. ., ., smaller and in some ways ragtag militia. ., ~' , ., , smaller and in some ways ragtag militia. ., ,, , ., , . smaller and in some ways ragtag militia. ., ,, , . ., militia. thank you very much for brinuain militia. thank you very much for bringing us _ militia. thank you very much for bringing us your _ militia. thank you very much for bringing us your insight - militia. thank you very much for bringing us your insight on - militia. thank you very much for bringing us your insight on the l bringing us your insight on the story. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. on let's look at some other stories making news across the uk. the international monetary found says the uk faces another five years of high interest rates to stem rising prices. the organisation expects the uk to have the highest inflation and slowest growth next year of any g7 economy, including the us, france, germany, canada, italy and japan. holly willoughby has told itv she will not return to this morning, adding it had been an "honour

to just be part of its story", but that she had to make this decision for her and her family. a 36—year—old man was last week charged over an alleged plot to kidnap and murder willoughby. she had presented the programme for 1a years. the home office says it's begun notifying asylum seekers they will be sent back to a migrant barge off england's south coast, after the vessel completed all necessary tests. 39 men were moved on to the vessel in august, but they were removed when the legionella bacteria was found onboard. you're live with bbc news. let's take a look now at how one of israel's closest allies, the us has been reacting. presidentjoe biden and his team have met in the situation room to discuss next steps. you can see the president here — also among those in the room — vice president kamala harris and

secretary of state anthony blinken. who we have just heard is going to be travelling to israel in the coming days. president biden said the team connected directly with israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu to discuss coordination to support israel, deter hostile actors, and protect innocent people. and in the last hour the president has been speaking to the american people. he confirmed americans are among the dead and those being held hostage by hamas. he also called the attacks from hamas an "act of sheer evil" and that the us is ready to send additional assets to israel to give it any support needed to respond to hamas. in this moment we must be crystal clear we stand with israel. taste in this moment we must be crystal clear we stand with israel. we stand with israel- — clear we stand with israel. we stand with israel. and _ clear we stand with israel. we stand with israel. and we _ clear we stand with israel. we stand with israel. and we will _ clear we stand with israel. we stand with israel. and we will make - clear we stand with israel. we stand with israel. and we will make sure l with israel. and we will make sure it will have the means it needs to

take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack. there is no justification itself and respond to this attack. there is nojustification for terrorism. there is no excuse. hamas does not stand for the palestinian right for dignity and self—determination. live now tojoel rubin — a democratic strategist and a former us deputy assistant secretary of state, in the obama administration. good to have you with us here on the context on bbc news. let me first start with getting your reaction to that address to the nation that president bidenjust that address to the nation that president biden just delivered. thank you. this really was a powerful statement it was brief, succinct into the point. president biden his view which is embedded in historical narrative of thejewish historical narrative of the jewish people and thejewish people's

suffering. but also in his personal direct experience with israel. he recalled his meeting 50 years ago where she told him that the israelis had nowhere to go but there, to paraphrase. so they would stay and fight. so i think his mission was to provide heart as well as hardware. he accomplished that in his speech. we just heard that the secretary of state antony blinken is going to be visiting israel. the adults who went exactly but they say in the coming days. what will that trip likely achieve? it days. what will that trip likely achieve? , ., , , days. what will that trip likely achieve? , , , ., achieve? it will probably be a combination _ achieve? it will probably be a combination of _ achieve? it will probably be a combination of heart - achieve? it will probably be a combination of heart and - achieve? it will probably be a - combination of heart and hardware bro secretary blink and who is jewish and i am confident he will be there to mourn the deaths in accordance with jewish there to mourn the deaths in accordance withjewish tradition i am jewish as well and that is a period of mourning and israel will be in mourning for a number of days going forward and then he will get

strategic and talk brass tacks and hopefully there will be a unity government in israel that he can work with that will span the whole spectrum of israeli politics and my bet is he will try to co—ordinate with israel and also play out some parameters of potentially what could be an american position about how israel should go about conducting its likely war and potential invasion into gaza. figs its likely war and potential invasion into gaza.- its likely war and potential invasion into gaza. �* , ., , invasion into gaza. as we have been re ”ortin invasion into gaza. as we have been reporting in — invasion into gaza. as we have been reporting in the _ invasion into gaza. as we have been reporting in the last _ invasion into gaza. as we have been reporting in the last few _ invasion into gaza. as we have been reporting in the last few days, - invasion into gaza. as we have been reporting in the last few days, this | reporting in the last few days, this was unprecedented. we have not seen anything like this in decades. in anything like this in decades. in any way does it change the course of us foreign policy on this ongoing issue in the middle east? haste us foreign policy on this ongoing issue in the middle east? have been talkin: to a issue in the middle east? have been talking to a lot _ issue in the middle east? have been talking to a lot of— issue in the middle east? have been talking to a lot of people _ issue in the middle east? have been talking to a lot of people in - talking to a lot of people in washington about this and the term that comes to mind most frequently used is, this is an inflection point. we are now in a new moment on israel — palestine. washington has woken up to a new reality on the ground. it is different today than it was a few days ago. what that

means in terms of policy is still to be determined. both audi .com doubt, the status quo of both the diplomatic spectre of and the military perspective, that no longer exists. , , military perspective, that no longer exists. , ., ., ., ., ., exists. just over a year away from a us presidential— exists. just over a year away from a us presidential election. _ exists. just over a year away from a us presidential election. how- exists. just over a year away from a | us presidential election. how much, if at all, does this play into this. and you are running as well cracked? yes running for congress. it has been a disheartening few days to watch republicans take cheap shots at president biden. before we even its full extent of the attacks. republicans were attacking president biden and blaming him for somehow appeasing terrorists and getting money into israel from the hostage deal conducted recently with chiron. a falsehood of itself and a provable one. —— iran. now the house of representatives is dysfunctional thought of a leader and speaker and the republicans need to get their

house in order insert standing with the united states on foreign policy and hopefully we will see that in the coming days. just and hopefully we will see that in the coming days.— and hopefully we will see that in the coming days. just coming to the end of this power. _ the coming days. just coming to the end of this power. thank _ the coming days. just coming to the end of this power. thank you for - end of this power. thank you for joining us stay with us. hello. for the fourth consecutive day temperatures climbed above 25 celsius — the highest values in parts of eastern and south—eastern england. but it wasn't like that everywhere. further north and west, we had cloud. we had outbreaks of rain across parts of scotland, a bit of rain for northern ireland and northern england too. you can see a couple of different weather features here on our earlier satellite picture. it's this one that becomes the main weather—maker as it pushes southwards overnight — a band of rain, that rain actually pepping up again from the west. but to the south of it, we stay in the warm air. so overnight lows of 1a, 15, 16 degrees. to the north of our weather front, well, some parts of the highlands will get quite close to freezing. as we head into tomorrow this weather front continues to act as a dividing line, bringing some outbreaks of quite heavy rain across some central parts of the uk.

that rain moving out of northern england into wales, the midlands, parts of east anglia through the afternoon. to the north of that, sunny spells and scattered showers, quite a brisk wind. in fact, gales in the far north of scotland. to the south of our weather front, some sunny spells, just the odd shower and another warm day, temperatures again into the 20s, whereas further north it is going to feel quite a lot colder, although only really feeling as we'd expect it to at this time of year. as we head through wednesday night into thursday, this weather front lingers across parts of southern england, south wales into the midlands, so some clouds, some splashes of rain at times here. further north, sunny spells a few showers in the far north—west and most of us into something cooler by this stage, but 19, 20, 21 for south—west england and the channel islands. friday looks set to start with some pretty wet weather across parts of england and wales. that then tending to pull away southwards through the day, but a brief resurgence of warmth into the south—east corner at 20 degrees, but further north and west 12 for aberdeen and for glasgow, 13 for belfast.

it's that that is a sign of things to come for the weekend because this weather system in the south finally pulls away southwards. in its wake, it leaves us with this north—westerly wind and some much colder air sinking its way southwards across all parts of the uk. we're looking at daytime temperatures between 9—1a degrees at best. a lot of dry weather, a few showers and at night there could be some frosts.

hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan. you're watching the context on bbc news. gaza continues to be bombed, and hamas says it'll kill hostages if air strikes are launched without warning, and refuse to negotiate about their release. more than 100 isrealis are thought to be being held captive. and coming up — we'll hearfrom white house national security spokesman, john kirby on how the us will response to hamas' attacks on israel. let's ta ke let's take a priest during that brief break from the news. let's go to the sportscenter. hello from the bbc sport centre.

let's start with football, as it's been confirmed today that