in an to bombard very heavily, in an unprecedented fashion, from the air. they've already announced that they've taken control over, or, that hamas no longer controls, has any military control, over the northern third of the gaza strip and i think their strategy is going to be to do everything they can from the air. the disturbing fact is the humanitarian situation because they have announced that they are not going to restore electricity and fuel until hamas�*s capacity is eradicated, until they can no longer govern and they announced today that they have a detailed list of every single individual involved in the massacre, in the planning, and that they will target each and every of them. so, in here for a long haul, and i do agree with the last speaker that it and i do agree with the last speaker thatitis and i do agree with the last speaker that it is not going to be resolved promptly. that it is not going to be resolved --romtl. �* ,., that it is not going to be resolved --romtl.�* ,., �* that it is not going to be resolved --romtl.�* �* ~ ”i promptly. alistair burt, antony bunken promptly. alistair burt, antony blinken having _ promptly. alistair burt, antony blinken having visited - promptly. alistair burt, antony blinken having visited and - promptly. alistair burt, antony| blinken having visited and done promptly. alistair burt, antony - blinken having visited and done that joint press conference today with prime minister netanyahu, is on his

way to meet the leader of the palestinian authority, mahmoud abbas, who has no impact over gaza, leading because it is essential, i think, for various governments to remain in contact with the palestinian authority. it is important _ palestinian authority. it is important to _ palestinian authority. it is important to separate - palestinian authority. it is important to separate the atrocity of what _ important to separate the atrocity of what happened at the weekend at the hands _ of what happened at the weekend at the hands of hamas from the perfectly legitimate aspiration of palestinian people for two states, which _ palestinian people for two states, which has — palestinian people for two states, which has been endorsed by our government, the united states covenant— government, the united states covenant and the un, and i think antony— covenant and the un, and i think antony blinken going to see the palestinian authority is to draw a distinction — palestinian authority is to draw a distinction away from the terror group _ distinction away from the terror group hamas and to try and give some authority— group hamas and to try and give some authority back to the palestinian authority, though it has been much weakened _ authority, though it has been much weakened in recent years. and authority, though it has been much weakened in recent years.— authority, though it has been much weakened in recent years. and if and when israeli — weakened in recent years. and if and when israeli troops _ weakened in recent years. and if and when israeli troops go _ weakened in recent years. and if and when israeli troops go into _ weakened in recent years. and if and when israeli troops go into gaza - weakened in recent years. and if and when israeli troops go into gaza for. when israeli troops go into gaza for two weeks, three weeks, four weeks, then what? two weeks, three weeks, four weeks, then what? is two weeks, three weeks, four weeks, then what? , ., ., , . then what? is on two things which can compound _ then what? is on two things which can compound the _ then what? is on two things which can compound the atrocity - then what? is on two things which can compound the atrocity of - then what? is on two things which can compound the atrocity of last|

can compound the atrocity of last weekend, — can compound the atrocity of last weekend, one is a situation in which innocent _ weekend, one is a situation in which innocent civilians are killed. and i have _ innocent civilians are killed. and i have to _ innocent civilians are killed. and i have to say— innocent civilians are killed. and i have to say i _ innocent civilians are killed. and i have to say i think hamas is looking for that, _ have to say i think hamas is looking for that, your correspondent earlier made _ for that, your correspondent earlier made it— for that, your correspondent earlier made it very — for that, your correspondent earlier made it very clear that what hamas wants _ made it very clear that what hamas wants is_ made it very clear that what hamas wants is more civilian casualties, it would — wants is more civilian casualties, it would be — wants is more civilian casualties, it would be making things so much worse _ it would be making things so much worse if— it would be making things so much worse if that was to be the case, and the — worse if that was to be the case, and the balance of political opinion might— and the balance of political opinion might turn. the second thing that would _ might turn. the second thing that would make things worse would have caused _ would make things worse would have caused be _ would make things worse would have caused be a — would make things worse would have caused be a spread of the war elsewhere. but viewers should be aware _ elsewhere. but viewers should be aware that governments are working incredibly— aware that governments are working incredibly hard now in the arab states, — incredibly hard now in the arab states, in— incredibly hard now in the arab states, in western capitals, to try and minimise that risk. the new middle east does not need a war, and many— middle east does not need a war, and many of— middle east does not need a war, and many of these states have been working — many of these states have been working with each other to de—scale tensions— working with each other to de—scale tensions with iran over the past year. _ tensions with iran over the past year. 18— tensions with iran over the past year, 18 months, they will not want another— year, 18 months, they will not want another conflict. so, much effort is being _ another conflict. so, much effort is being made — another conflict. so, much effort is being made to scale the conflict. i'm being made to scale the conflict. i'm sure — being made to scale the conflict. i'm sure that if it is also being made — i'm sure that if it is also being made to— i'm sure that if it is also being made to release hostages and if that can be _ made to release hostages and if that can be done, then maybe there is some _ can be done, then maybe there is

some sort— can be done, then maybe there is some sort of future that will come out of— some sort of future that will come out of this— some sort of future that will come out of this terrible atrocity, but it would — out of this terrible atrocity, but it would be a tragedy if the opportunities for real peace and a resolutioh— opportunities for real peace and a resolution of conflict between israel— resolution of conflict between israel and the palestinians was lost because _ israel and the palestinians was lost because of— israel and the palestinians was lost because of the atrocities which hamas— because of the atrocities which hamas committed over the weekend. nomi, _ hamas committed over the weekend. nomi, we _ hamas committed over the weekend. nomi, we have very little time left, i'm afraid, how do you see this ending? i'm afraid, how do you see this endin: ? ., ., ~' ending? long-term, iwould think it would end with _ ending? long-term, iwould think it would end with a _ ending? long-term, iwould think it would end with a comprehensive - ending? long-term, i would think it i would end with a comprehensive peace agreement, a democratic palestinian government, it has to be, it is the only way. the problem is what is going to happen between now and that process, and as alistair said, i agree with him, antony blinken, joe biden, everybody is working very, very hard with the key arab states in the region to de—escalate tensions, and i think as you can see hezbollah is sitting very carefully on the fence, yes, there are rockets going into the north but it is

relatively minor, it is just saying, we are here. so, there is the potential for escalation, we are here. so, there is the potentialfor escalation, but we are here. so, there is the potential for escalation, but it depends very much on the extent of the damage in gaza, and whether an agreement will be reached on the release of all the hostages. thank ou both release of all the hostages. thank you both very _ release of all the hostages. thank you both very much. _ that's all from us tonight. mark and sima are here tomorrow. good night. this is bbc news. you never want to become the story, yet in my city, i feel helpless as the dead were given no dignity

and the injured are left in pain. (tx vt) around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. all residents of learning disabilities or autism, it's not easy to recruit because retail and nhs jobs generally pay more. easy to recruit because retail and nhsjobs generally pay more. it worries me is going to happen to them and i were going to make sure that we can keep recruiting and keep supporting them. is that we can keep recruiting and keep supporting them-— supporting them. £4 billion in social care — supporting them. £4 billion in social care and _ supporting them. £4 billion in social care and the _ supporting them. £4 billion in social care and the increase i supporting them. £4 billion in social care and the increase in inflation. i5 social care and the increase in inflation. , . , social care and the increase in inflation. , , ,, social care and the increase in inflation. ,, ,, ., inflation. is a very big issue and the local government _ inflation. is a very big issue and i the local government association have levied hard on and to make the change _ have levied hard on and to make the change is _ have levied hard on and to make the change is difficult. it needs

funding _ change is difficult. it needs funding to increase and he needs to increase _ funding to increase and he needs to increase and a weight that gets through— increase and a weight that gets through to the care worker pay. with better wages — through to the care worker pay. with better wages will _ through to the care worker pay. tn better wages will solve everything but care organisations say that staff reported for they do, they would be more personalised help to go around. head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. as we heard earlier, us secretary of state antony blinken has visited israel, assuring the country of washington's unwavering support. this is his meeting with survivors of the music festival attack, which happened in southern israel on saturday. on tuesday, the first shipment of us weapons arrived in israel, after president biden pledged to �*have israel's back�* in its war with gaza. the us has also deployed uss gerald r. ford carrier strike group

to the eastern mediterranean. let's focus in on this, live to bradley bowman. he is a senior director at the centre on military and political power, at the foundation for defence of democracies. as israel carries out air strikes and gets ready for what looks like an imminent ground invasion — what is the biggest support that idf would need from the us? thank you for the opportunity and it's at on saturday, two things is here with me from the us are precision guided notions and there is hope of israel hit the more precisely while minimising things in replenishment for israel air defence system called interceptors in the united states is already acting to

send a position of ammunition to israel and that's already an israeli hands and moments ago, there are any reports that some interceptors have already provided to israel for the random system with more to come. the us has committed the gerald ford strike group to the eastern mediterranean. apart from sending a message, what kind of assistance can this group provide for israel? the carrier strike group is showing clinical support and demonstration suggesting that america is the muscle to back it up and bring incredible strict capabilities and intelligence collection capabilities and the real intended audience here, frankly is tehran and warning them not to unlock a northern front in israel and the goal is to provide israel and the goal is to provide israel with the time, space and means to respond to what is the most significant attack on jewish

means to respond to what is the most significant attack onjewish people since the holocaust. haifa significant attack on jewish people since the holocaust.— since the holocaust. how realistic is the possibility _ since the holocaust. how realistic is the possibility from _ since the holocaust. how realistic is the possibility from the - since the holocaust. how realistic is the possibility from the strike l is the possibility from the strike group to play a role in these operations? i group to play a role in these operations?— group to play a role in these oerations? ., �* ~ ., �* , operations? i don't think that's the intent riaht operations? i don't think that's the intent right now _ operations? i don't think that's the intent right now and _ operations? i don't think that's the intent right now and they - operations? i don't think that's the intent right now and they looked i intent right now and they looked into the camera and said do not. they are talking to tehran and his brother, and i think that is the primary audience here. his hezbolla. it will be difficult to get these hostages back there multiple locations and they are consistent with the radical ideology and threatening to assassinate them. thank you for your time and perspective on the show.

to more stories out of gaza. islam hejazi is a local resident there, and a coordinatorfor the palestine children's relief fund, a charity offering medical care to palestinian children in the area. she has told the bbc, she fled her home after a warning from the israel defense forces. this is what she filmed when she returned. we escape from our homes and all the houses in the village and we went this morning to our village and we saw everything destroyed. all the homes are destroyed and we cannot get anything from our homes and we did not have enough clothes for me, my kids, my brothers, my family and enough food and we couldn't get anything from our houses and things are horrible here. we ask god that

we can rebuild everything but we do not know if we'll stay alive or not. if you're still alive, without injuries, it is very difficult to see my kids injured or to lose one of them. that is what i feel in these days. and my kids are screaming, crying every single minute and we hear bombings every single moment. i couldn't sleep the last six days and the situation is very bad. no one, we don't know what will happen in the next hours. islam hejazi also gave bbc permission to show you this video of her children, as they heard the sound of bombing overhead, in gaza.

what's that? the israeli army says it is preparing for a ground assault on hamas in the gaza strip but the newly formed unity government is yet to authorise them for such an operation. so far, tens of thousands of troops have been deployed to the border with gaza. but if there is a ground offensive, what will be the challenges ahead for the israeli army? our defence correspondent jonathan beale has this report. initially caught off—guard, but israel has long been preparing for the next phase of this war. their troops call it mini gaza — a multi—million dollar urban warfare centre to train for a potential ground assault. it even includes a labyrinth of tunnels. hamas is believed to have built more than 1,000. the tightly packed streets of gaza favours the defender.

buildings to hide in. intense israeli air strikes, which have already reduced many to rubble, form barriers to any invading force. even israel's overwhelming air power will not be able to destroy an army underground. hamas is very well prepared, they've prepared the underground booby—traps all around, but professionally i don't see how the goal which was written by the cabinet to destroy the military force of the hamas can be done without going with ground forces into the gaza strip. it wouldn't be the first time israel's defence force has entered gaza. but operations like this, the most recent in 2014, were short and limited.

veterans say this time it could prove more costly if israel is to achieve its objective of crushing hamas. that time the decision was to have containment, to deter them, to weaken them. it's not like today. today, we are facing on facing unprecedented threat to israel itself. if we tolerate what has been done this would be our dramatic mistake. more than 100 israeli hostages snatched by hamas, now held in gaza, will make any assault more difficult. the expectation is now for action. hundreds of thousands of reservists have dropped everything to join units camped near gaza's border and they're ready to fight. when i heard about it, the exact second, i took myself

israel has been massing its forces on the border here with gaza. if israel is to achieve its objective of destroying hamas, it will involve a land assault. but recent history shows invasions don't always go according to plan. from vietnam to iraq and afghanistan, even the world's most advanced militaries and get bogged down. jonathan beale, bbc news, southern israel. a glimpse of what gaza is looking like at the moment and reported on air strikes there in the current situation as many have said on the ground at stier with food and water is running out along with electricity as is evident on those pictures in the health and infrastructure also crumbling. the story will continue to be tracked and stay with us on bbc news.

hello. the outlook for the next few days as we look towards the weekend will bring quite a lot of sunshine, but, with that, a decidedly chilly feel — some chilly days and some cold nights. some places will see their first frosts of the season. there will be a few showers around. some of those could be wintry over high ground in the north. during today, southern parts have seen cloud and some outbreaks of rain. that was how it looked in hastings. and some really heavy rain is on the way for friday in association with this area of low pressure, this frontal system, pushing up from the south. turning really wet overnight across parts of england and wales. there could be enough rain in places for some flooding. but some mild air will be pushing up with this weather system, so overnight lows across the southern half of the uk in double digits. further north a little bit chillier, but not as cold as it was last night

because it will be quite breezy, and there will be this little weather front bringing some cloud and some splashes of rain. so, for tomorrow, outbreaks of rain particularly across parts of england and wales, although there will be some sunny gaps. turning really quite windy across central and southern parts and also very windy up to the north. sunny spells and showers for scotland and for northern ireland. here, getting into some chilly air, 10—13 celsius. some mild or even warm conditions further south — it could get to 20 celsius in london, but that will not last into the weekend. now, we will see gales during friday night across northern parts of scotland, but it's the wind direction that brings the real change in the feel of things. these north—westerly winds bringing colder weather southwards across all parts of the country. now, that said, there will be quite a lot of sunshine around on saturday, but showers in areas exposed to that north—westerly wind and those showers turning wintry over high ground in scotland. temperatures of 7 celsius in stornoway, 14 celsius in london and in plymouth. on saturday night, there will still be a few showers.

we could see snow down to say 200 or 300 meters above sea level across parts of scotland. under largely clear skies with the winds easing, it's going to be a cold night. many places getting close to freezing, some places getting below freezing. a touch of frost for quite a few locations, i think, on sunday morning. but a mostly fine and sunny day, not as many showers. the winds will be lighter, but it will still feel rather chilly. temperatures for most between 8—13 celsius.

you're watching bbc news. the latest news and headlines are at the top of the hour, after hardtalk. 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.

more than 1,000 palestinians, including many children,