live from washington, this is bbc news. israel's military build—up gathers pace, ahead of an expected ground invasion of gaza. new satellite images of a gaza neighbourhood show the before—and—after impact of the israeli air strikes. and, the us secretary of state is en route to the region, as president biden speaks about efforts to bring us hostages home. hello, i'm caitriona perry. you're very welcome. there have been growing calls for a humanitarian corridor into gaza, as the un says over 300,000 people in the territory have been forced to leave their homes. 0vernight, we've seen flashes over the skies of gaza, as israel continues to carry out air strikes, saying it is targeting hamas fighters,

not civilians. but air strikes have hit civilians , the palestinian health ministry says at least 51 people were killed on wednesday night. the world food programme has distributed some aid, but the un has warned that israel is in breach of international law by denying civilians access to essential supplies of food, fuel and water. ii of its own staff there have been killed since saturday. bbc verify is continuing to monitor the impact of the strikes in gaza. one was on the islamic university of gaza, targeted between tuesday and wednesday. several videos, released by the israel defense forces have shown their attacks. meanwhile, hamas fighters continue to fire rockets into israel. many have been intercepted by the country's iron dome defence system, but a few have broken through. the death toll in israel since hamas�*s attack on saturday has reached 1,200. more than 1,100 have died in gaza in israeli airstrikes. israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu has formed a unity government

with some of his most formidable opponents, but he continues to face questions over whether he was warned as hamas prepared for its �*surprise�* attack. the us secretary of state antony blinken is currently on his way to israel and will meet the prime minister to discuss negotiating the release of hostages, and working with neighbouring egypt to allow aid into gaza. an egyptian official says urgent discussions are also taking place to secure a humanitarian truce. and we're keeping an eye on the skies over gaza, as people brace for a possible land invasion by israeli troops. first, let's go to southern israel where international editorjeremy bowen has been reporting on israel troops amassing there. in the fields and farms on the border wire, israel's combat soldiers are creating jumping—off points to invade gaza. late this afternoon at kibbutz be�*eri,

regular units, and some of more than 300,000 mobilised reservists, were preparing for the order to move in that most israelis believe will come. the build—up that we're seeing here is certainly the clearest evidence that i've witnessed that israel is preparing for a ground operation in gaza. and if you add this to the formation of a war cabinet, you can see the direction they must be going in. israel's allies are gathering. antony blinken, the us secretary of state, is flying in overnight from washington. american support includes weapons, and moving an aircraft carrier battle group closer, to deter iran's allies in lebanon from joining the war. the united states has israel's back. we have the back of the israeli people. we have their back today. we'll have it tomorrow. we will have it every day. james cleverly, britain's foreign secretary, was already here in israel, at a frontline town near gaza.

i'm not going to speculate on what support we might want to give. you're not ruling it out though? i'm here to find out. bring it out. i'm here to find out what practical support we can give to israel. the foreign secretary was hustled into a shelter when the sirens went. israel has the full square support of its allies, after the massacres perpetrated by hamas. in the safe rooms, millions of israelis are praying, waiting, often frightened now that assumptions they had about their safety have crumbled. their government says what it's doing in gaza is defending them, but only a few miles from this family in ashkelon, israel's onslaught raises questions about whether it's breaking the laws of war. in gaza, israel has caused immense damage in only five days. international humanitarian law obliges belligerents to protect civilian lives.

israel says all this is legitimate self defence against hamas. but it's also cut off supplies of water, food, fuel and power to more than two million people and killed hundreds of civilians. outside the main hospital in gaza city, alaa al—khafaji sits with the bodies of his entire close family. they'd moved twice to escape the air strikes until one hit their borrowed apartment at four this morning. translation: i've lost my father, my brother, | my uncle, two cousins, two otherfamily members and my pregnant wife. i'm the only survivor. he said, "we've done nothing." israel insists hamas is to blame for the suffering of palestinians. but accusations that israel is answering the war crimes of hamas with ones of its own have started.

back in israel, videos are still emerging from the hamas attack last saturday. security cameras showed two women trying to escape a hamas gunman. somehow, he misses them. armed israelis arrive, and the man who wanted to murder them either retreats or is killed. and at a hospital near tel aviv, signs of the tension in israel. a visiting government minister gets a furious reception. a nurse yells, they've been helped by every kind of civilian, but the government has given them nothing. the military build—up might steady israeli nerves, and the defense minister said tonight we will wipe hamas off the face of the earth. jeremy bowen, bbc news in southern israel.

moving now to the situation in gaza, and palestinian media say the only power plant serving the gaza strip has run out of fuel, as israel continues its bombardment. this was the rimal area, in the centre of gaza city, before the strikes. this is a satellite image of the same neighbourhood after the strikes, located by our colleagues at bbc verify. in khan younis in southern gaza, palestinian officials say many people are trapped under rubble and may be impossible to rescue. 0ur correspondent, rushdi abu alouf is in gaza. he sent this update. yeah, i was in this neighbourhood that night when the israelis hit 25 targets in the area, within 250 air strikes in the place. i was among families who live in this residential building. it was chaos all night. kids screaming. today, it's 08:00. well, usually israel is starting the night time, like, night wave of air strikes.

i could hear the israeli f—16s buzzing over overhead and maybe ready for carrying out more air strikes. today, the power authority decided to stop the only power station, because the fuel is running out, and that would affect essential services, such as hospital, as the palestinian health ministry said that they are going to stick, to stick only to essential, lifesaving treatment. here in the us, the biden administration says 22 americans have been killed in the assault on israel, and 17 remain unaccounted for. we want to make it real clear, we are working on every aspect of the hostage situation, and the press are going to shout to me, and many of you are, what are you doing to get these folks home? if i told you, i wouldn't be able to get them home.

folks, there is a lot we are doing, a lot we are doing. i have not given up hope of bringing these folks home. for more on the us response to the israel—gaza war, i spoke to our north america correspondent, anthony zurcher.

what they want is to slaughter human beings and prevents peace. this is the response to initiatives that we should

redouble, or like—minded nations to push for peace, saudi and israeli normalisation and ensure the winners in the long run. congressmen dean phillips, we will leave it there and thanks forjoining us. there and thanks for “oining us. . ~' there and thanks for “oining us. . ~ , ., there and thanks forjoining us._ around - there and thanks forjoining us._ around a i there and thanks forjoiningi us._ around a lot us. thank you. around a lot across the _ us. thank you. around a lot across the uk, _ us. thank you. around a lot across the uk, this - us. thank you. around a lot across the uk, this is - us. thank you. around a lot across the uk, this is bbc l across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at other stories making the news. in a closed door by republicans in the us house of representatives have nominated louis and steve scalise to be the chamberposmac next speaker after thailand republicans. and historically. steve scalise has a tough redhead with needing support of the majority of the gop controlled health that has been divided by party infighting. the pentagon has announced a new $200,000,000 aid package for ukraine including our defensive styles, drone, documentation and other equipment. it's has ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky

tot amelia velardo defence minister is in brussels his forces need more security assistance to get through another winter. shares in birkenstock are followed sharply in the trading debut on the new york stock exchange. the company stock and that about 30% lower than initial public offering. it was established in the 18th century and a german village. it was a family business for 6 generations. you alive with bbc let's return to the israel—gaza war and violence expanded to the israeli border with lebanon. israel says it's reinforced it's not an area with thousands of troops after the armed lebanese group has vilified an israeli posts in retaliation for the death of 3 members in skirmishes this week. anna foster has the latest near the israel and lebanon border. in the last several days there is real anxiety and concern here on the

border over another group but is like hamas has been declared a terrorist organisation by the uk, us and others and that is hezbollah, even this morning it had hit and miss up was fired across the border at israeli fighterjets responded by fighter jets responded by targeting fighterjets responded by targeting hamas infrastructure in the benign. the last few hours we spent time in a shelter as iran's note along the border. there was a suggestion that had been a new aerial infiltration from hezbollah across into israel. perhaps drones, perhaps gliders, but met with a real sense of nervousness and fear. the problem as if a new front opens up in this war here in the north of israel it risks beating those fishes, deep fissures that exist in the region. hezbollah is backed by iran and some minutes at a spread in the east would ultimately reverberate around the world. anna foster. to put the world. anna foster. to put the war in contact my colleague

sumi somaskanda has spoken to a palestinian historian. thanks for joining palestinian historian. thanks forjoining us on bbc news. 0therness or you said we are witnessing a new era in the conflict between israelis and palestinians. i want to ask about the situation on the ground where we are seeing the israeli military sake hundreds of thousands of troops are gathering near gaza, ready to quote execute a missionary been given. that could mean a grand occasion. what you think we will see?— will see? we are seeing the palestinian _ will see? we are seeing the palestinian casualty - will see? we are seeing the palestinian casualty toll - will see? we are seeing the palestinian casualty toll is l palestinian casualty toll is rising above the very high israeli casualty toll. israel mentioned 1200 people killed and i think the gaza death toll just about roast available today. so we will see carpet bombing of gaza and the destruction of neighbourhoods and attacks on all kinds of facilities, most of which have nothing to do with hamas or the

resistance. will we see a ground attack crosstalk. the israeli government has said we want to root out hamas and we want to root out hamas and we will and hamas as it is. it is not possible to do? politically, no. even militarily i question the extent to which israel will be able to degrade hamas plasma capabilities. the important thing is that they will kill hundreds and hundreds maybe thousands of innocent civilians in doing whatever it is they claim they are doing. they may or may not degrade hamas's military but as an israeli former director of military intelligence so this morning on national public radio, hamas has much broader reach tojust its military way, it is political, religious, and cultural and they can't do that without killing like a portion of the 2.4 million people. would you say is how israel should respond? if}

would you say is how israel should respond? w56-year-old °ccupati°"- _ should respond? w56-year-old occupation. it _ should respond? w56-year-old occupation. it is _ should respond? w56-year-old occupation. it is not _ should respond? w56-year-old occupation. it is not timed - should respond? w56-year-old occupation. it is not timed and i occupation. it is not timed and the occupation, i don't know when would be. ——if it is not. it is a 70 year blockade of gaza long before rockets were fired from gaza. if it is not timed at a 17 year blockade, i don't know when it will be. this situation has lasted 75 years. people of gaza are the original in population of southern israel, the subcommittees were the seeds of these battles and some cases horrible massacres in the past few days. that's a deeper problem. if you don't address that level of problem, and the problem of no palestinian state, no palestinian self—determination, occupation 56 years, you're not addressing it and israel refuses to address annie of this. senator bernie sanders _ address annie of this. senator bernie sanders from - address annie of this. senator bernie sanders from the - address annie of this. senator bernie sanders from the us, l address annie of this. senatorj bernie sanders from the us, a democrat, released a statement saying that the major setback for peace and justice for palestinian and i want to read

you a quote misstatement. he said fierce people of goodwill throughout the world including some brave israelis have struggled against the blockade of gaza, telecommunications, occupational westpac and horrendously conditions faced by 70 palestinians. he goes on to say hamas's terrorism will make it much more difficult to address the tragic reality and address the tragic reality and a extremists on both sides continuing the cycle of violence. what's your thought on that? ., ._ violence. what's your thought on that? . ., violence. what's your thought onthat? . ., ., violence. what's your thought onthat? . ., , on that? that may or may not be true. i on that? that may or may not be true- i think _ on that? that may or may not be true. i think it— on that? that may or may not be true. i think it may _ on that? that may or may not be true. i think it may be _ on that? that may or may not be true. i think it may be true. - on that? that may or may not be true. i think it may be true. i - true. i think it may be true. i think some of the terrible civilian casualties are going to be a terrible burden of advocates for palestine to bear but i would retort to the senator. i believe him when he says he and many other people of goodwill have done their best to and occupation and end the siege. the best was not enough. the us government is the sponsor of this occupation, the sponsor of this occupation, the us government finances

weapons killing palestinians. we are a party to the conflict at it's our responsibility as americans and another senator has tried it and many honourable members of congress have tried to do tried to do this. american support for human rights violations, stop american support for continued occupation, but we have not done enough. whatever has been done enough. whatever has been done until now, 56 is occupation roles on unhindered, 16 years of blockade and siege: unhindered so he is right, this may be a hindrance to that struggle but he had other people have unfortunately been insufficient to change the course of american policy which is fully behind these problems which are the root of what we are facing. which are the root of what we are facing-— are facing. thank you for sharing your _ are facing. thank you for sharing your insights - are facing. thank you for i sharing your insights today. you are very welcome. that's all from us here _ you are very welcome. that's all from us here in _ you are very welcome. that's l all from us here in washington. i am caitriona perry and we leave you with these pictures of london as we hand off to our colleagues there. thank you very much watching. stay with us on bbc news.

hello. fresh autumn weather on the way. surely some of us in northern parts of uk but certainly nothing out of the ordinary. it's been so mild across many parts of the country so far this month so we're back to really where we should be this time of the year. this is what's happening on thursday, the emmas, the temperature and atmosphere, still warmth humidity across the south. temporarily thursday to friday will see a resident agent of that warmth as the wind direction changes temporarily from south—west but then comes saturday and sunday, anomaly and that autumn chill arrives. touch of frost across by night, even a bit of winter innis across the scottish hills. let's look at the forecast through the early

hours, quite cloudy and wet across southern parts of the uk but to the north of that it is generally clear and chilly. then the glens of scotland temperature is barely above freezing that most of the northern towns and cities around three to four celsius in the south and south coast, still really quite mild. remnants of that warmth and leftover but a lot of cloud during the day, little dribs and drabs the rain and across much of yorkshire and northern ireland are bank of scotland and bright, if not sunny day, scattered clouds, 13, 14, 18 in the south. come evening, widespread heavy rain sweeps into many parts of england and wales, i really worth thursday night into friday, really complicated weather map on the one hand and a weather front coming in, low pressure from the south and a cold front from the south and a cold front from the north which you can see here, so for a time wet in the morning on friday, temporarily that warmth literally clips of the southeast with temperatures

up the southeast with temperatures up to 20 in london, 19 in norwich but the colder autumn air arrives norwich but the colder autumn airarrives in norwich but the colder autumn air arrives in scotland, northern ireland and northern england as well. it's an temporarily northerly but then enter next week high pressure built and we are right in the middle in the centre of this area high—pressure so that means that winds will be generally light, a lot of sunshine around the muscala few very pleasant indeed i think, a lot of crisp autumn sunshine on the way. that's it from me. bye—bye.

this is bbc news. we will have the headlines for you at the top of the hour which is straight after this program. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. the scale and brutality of hamas's assault on israel has stirred the country to its core. more than 1,200 israeli men, women and children were killed. around 150 are now hostages. there is anguish and grief and there is fury — a determination that this time hamas, which has ruled gaza for 16 years, must be destroyed. already, neighbourhoods in gaza

have been reduced to rubble.