to leave their homes, so israeli forces can go in and clear out hamas. the response from the palestinian ambassador to the un, that this amounts to ethnic cleansing. a view shared in gaza. translation: our enemies are evil, our enemies are cowards, killing - children without any humanity. we have the remarkable story of the israeli woman, shot six times by hamas, but saved by her father. her message — all civilians, are the same. i want they be safe. i don't think they need to die, like i don't need to die. they're like me. and we're hearing that the israel defense forces are carrying localised raids into gaza, "gathering evidence", to help locate hostages.

and the other main stories on tonight's programme... as the violence in the middle east triggers protests in the uk, a senior official warns of the language used at some pro—palestinian rallies. was it carriejohnson in charge during covid? the inquiry into the pandemic hears the country's top civil servant worried about her influence. 120. and following his accident on top gear, freddie flintoff reaches a multi—million pound settlement with bbc studios. and the newsnight at 10:30, we will go deeper behind over millia decide whether to heed an israeli warning and move south while in london, will be asking how communities are feeling.

good evening. we're live injerusalem, where it's just after midnight local time, with the end of the 24—hour period israel has set for people living in northern gaza to evacuate the area fast approaching. more than a million people have been warned to move south, after several days in which the israeli defense forces have been massing on the border, ahead of an expected ground offensive into gaza. this in response to last weekend's attacks by members of hamas, a group designated as a terror organisation by many western governments, including the uk. more than 1,300 people died in those attacks, and over 100 hostages were taken. there have already been several days of air strikes on gaza, which officials say have left around 1,900 palestinians dead, including 600 children, and now the evacuation order states residents in the territory should

move to the area south of wadi gaza. hamas, however, says the order should be ignored, claiming it's propaganda. the palestinian ambassador to the united nations said tonight it amounts to ethnic cleansing. the un secretary—general has reminded both sides that even war has rules. we'll get the very latest from across the region. we'll look at the situation inside gaza and hear from anna foster on the israel—lebanon border. but first, here's jeremy bowen. to win a war, a country has to break the will of its enemy to fight. history suggests air strikes alone won't do that, even ones as heavy as israel's in gaza. so israel will have to send troops into the rubble, if as it says it wants to destroy hamas. telling civilians to get out is part of preparing the battlefield. leaflets, a non—lethal airdrop but full of menace, told more than a million people

to move south. "it happened to our grandfathers," said this man, "now it's happening to us! it raises the ghosts of the past." many gazans trying to escape israel's anger are descendants of almost one million palestinians who fled or were forced out of their homes at gunpoint in israel's independence war in 19a8. palestinians call it "the catastrophe". hamas sent their answer — more rockets, and told people to stay put. at the un, the secretary—general told both sides to protect civilians. even wars have rules. international humanitarian law and human rights law must be respected and upheld. civilians must be protected and also

never used as shields. refrigerated containers hold bodies awaiting identification, some of more than 1,300 israelis and foreigners killed by hamas. but israel says hamas will feel its revenge — not civilians. palestinians protested in the west bank. 1a had been shot dead by the israeli army by the evening. almost all the violence between israelis and palestinians before last week's hamas assault was in the west bank. it is very tense and could get much worse. jerusalem was quiet, but not calm. only older palestinians were allowed to pray at al—aqsa mosque by israeli security forces. younger men were banned as potential security risks. the mood injerusalem was grim, full of foreboding. the holy city is at

the epicentre of the conflict. palestinians said they feared that israel's anger at the hamas attack could be directed at them. it feels as if this crisis is going up a gear. extreme pressure on civilians in gaza, tension here injerusalem. no—one knows where this is going, but it's certain this is a dangerous moment — the worst middle east crisis in a generation. until last weekend, israel believed the long conflict with the palestinians could be contained. that illusion has gone. jeremy bowen, bbc news, jerusalem. tonight, the palestinian united nations envoy appealed to the un, to do more to stop a "crime against humanity", as israel prepares for a possible ground assault into gaza. fuel, food and water supplies are running

out in the territory, but israel says it won't lift its blockade until hamas frees all the hostages it seized last saturday. jon donnison, ourformer correspondent in gaza, looks now at life there under siege. and a warning, his report does contain some distressing images. israel has now been pounding gaza, targeting hamas, it says, for almost a week. only when the dust settles does the devastation become clear. "our enemies are evil. "they're cowards killing children," says this man amid the wreckage of his home. "they have no humanity," he goes on. fewjobs are more challenging here than that of a first responder. under all this, somebody is alive... ..for now.

"for three days," he says, "i didn't go home, but it never stops." for some, it's all too much, and these paramedics are working while under fire. he says he's just heard a colleague was killed while trying to save others. it's the fourth that day. but they can't stop working. and for gaza's doctors, the stream of casualties is relentless. inside the hospital in the town of rafah, "i want my daddy," she cries. more than 85 persons with injuries are men, women and children. and when i say children, i mean children. we are dealing with so sophisticated kinds of trauma which we

couldn't see ever before. and for many, the injuries are too severe. "it's a massacre," says this father, leaving the hospital with his five—year—old daughter dead in his arms. john donnison, bbc news. there's a constant fear a new front could open up in the war, if the islamist group hezbollah decides to attack israel in support of hamas. hezbollah�*s deputy leader told a rally in lebanon that it was "fully prepared" to join the fight, "when the time comes". and tonight it's been confirmed that a lebanese journalist has been killed, the first civilian death in that area. anna foster has more, from the israel—lebanon border. loaded and ready, these winding roads are now home to thousands of soldiers.

they've been sent north to reinforce the border. further escalation in the north was huge, but we know what to do. now, if we start a war with lebanon, ultimately we still think it was a fire. each time shots are exchanged at the border, tensions rise. this reserve unit tell me they are on high alert. there are people from right across the country, people who work in the tech industry, there are tour guides, there's even a fitness instructor. they dropped everything to come here and face this huge threat on the northern border. in vulnerable communities like this, most families have left town. this is one of the few who staved. there is one of the few who staved. there is no one here. _ is one of the few who staved. there is no one here, my— is one of the few who staved. there is no one here, my grandpa - is one of the few who staved. there is no one here, my grandpa lives i is no one here, my grandpa lives here in the place i take you. the houseis here in the place i take you. the house is empty. it’s here in the place i take you. the house is empty-— here in the place i take you. the house is empty. it's soon clear why eo - le house is empty. it's soon clear why people have _ house is empty. it's soon clear why people have fled. _ house is empty. it's soon clear why people have fled. the _ house is empty. it's soon clear why people have fled. the bombs - house is empty. it's soon clear why people have fled. the bombs is - people have fled. the bombs is cominu people have fled. the bombs is coming and _ people have fled. the bombs is coming and i'm _

people have fled. the bombs is coming and i'm thinking... - people have fled. the bombs is coming and i'm thinking... you | people have fled. the bombs is - coming and i'm thinking... you hear that? you need to run, ok? i'm scared. now, to go to any place in israel. even with many of my friends. i am scared.- israel. even with many of my friends. i am scared. there are diplomatic— friends. i am scared. there are diplomatic efforts _ friends. i am scared. there are diplomatic efforts to _ friends. i am scared. there are diplomatic efforts to try - friends. i am scared. there are diplomatic efforts to try and i friends. i am scared. there are l diplomatic efforts to try and hold off an escalation here, but in this underground shelter the hope of peace feels far away. anna foster, bbc news. the deepening concerns this conflict could spread. almost a week on since the hamas attacks, more details are still emerging of the atrocities committed last saturday injewish communities in southern israel. we're going to hear two stories now — that of one woman and her partner, saved by her father as gunmen attacked her home. but first, to the women in the be'eri kibbutz, whose whatsapp group followed every terrifying moment when their

community came under fire. alice cuddy reports. be'eri kibbutz in southern israel. a week ago this was a community of around 1000 men, women and children. living normal lives. here a whatsapp group. last saturday as the hamas gun men came in, this, there whatsapp group's first message warning of the unfolding horror. some of the women and their families ran to their safe rooms, fortified areas in their homes. moments later we have a terrorist on the stairs, call someone. there's an attack all across the kibbutz. one woman writes, they are shooting at her. another says, writes, they are shooting at her. anothersays, please, help me.

writes, they are shooting at her. another says, please, help me. they are trying to break the safe room door, they are going to killers in a minute. this person watched the stream of messages in silent terror as she tried to comfort her young children. it as she tried to comfort her young children. ., , ., , ., , children. it was horrible. people are running. _ children. it was horrible. people are running, they _ children. it was horrible. people are running, they need - children. it was horrible. people are running, they need help, - children. it was horrible. people i are running, they need help, they are running, they need help, they are burning my house, on my stairs, opening the handle of their safe room. theyjust threw opening the handle of their safe room. they just threw a opening the handle of their safe room. theyjust threw a grenade in the house and this is how they make people go out. in a the house and this is how they make people go out-— people go out. in a separate family chat, she people go out. in a separate family chat. she got _ people go out. in a separate family chat, she got real— people go out. in a separate family chat, she got real time _ people go out. in a separate family chat, she got real time updates - people go out. in a separate family chat, she got real time updates as| chat, she got real time updates as her mum and dad were killed with bullets and grenades. this person was hiding with her daughters, aged five and eight, reading the messages. one mother said her baby was dead. she messages. one mother said her baby was dead. ,, , . , ., , was dead. she is crying for help, her baby daughter _ was dead. she is crying for help, her baby daughter is _ was dead. she is crying for help, her baby daughter is dead, - was dead. she is crying for help, her baby daughter is dead, and l was dead. she is crying for help, | her baby daughter is dead, and no one came stop another one, she saw

her mother getting killed. this person and her— her mother getting killed. this person and her children survived the attack and are now safe but their homes and many of their neighbours are gone, some held hostage in gaza. alice cuddy, bbc news, jerusalem. we go now to the village of kfar aza that was the scene of another massacre by hamas. nick beake has been speaking to one of the survivors. and a warning, his report does contain details some of you may find distressing. they are the survivors. 22—year—old neta and her boyfriend, santiago, escaped from hamas's massacre in their village. she was shot six times in the legs. we start to hear gunshots for all the, they start...

one apartment, one apartment, one apartment, start to break the windows, break the doors, and start to shoot. you hear sounds, people screaming. the killers filmed themselves on the loose, murdering dozens in thejewish community of kfar aza. with no israeli army to be seen, neta realised the only person who could save her was her dad, who she hadn't spoken to in six years. she managed to message him. "they are close," she wrote. "lock the doors," her dad replies. "please, answer, please. " but the gunmen found them. they started to shoot like... like we're nothing. i fell down on the ground and santiago scream at me, "neta, please, stand up, start to run. "if you don't stand up,

we're going to die." hiding under a pile of rubbish, she texted her dad again. "dad, they shot me. help." "i'm coming," he replies. my heart stops, and my brain start to work. you know, i was mad. when shimon, a plainclothes policeman, arrived at the village, he came under attack. i took my gun, and they start to shoot at me. i shot at them. and four people get from their houses over there and, with ak—47s, start to shoot me. eventually, shimon found neta near their burnt—out home and took them to safety. neta says israel must now respond in the strongest possible way. i don't want the hamas any more in my life. they need destroy them, one by one. have you been thinking about what may happen to civilians

in gaza if there is a big ground operation by the israeli military there? my country didn't want to hurt the civilians. i want they be safe. i don't think they need to die, like i don't need to die. they are like me. but civilians are being killed in this war, in ever—increasing numbers. nick beake, bbc news, tel aviv. time for a final word from jeremy. this time last week, the world, including, interestingly, the israeli security services, could never have conceived what was going to happenjust never have conceived what was going to happen just a few hours later. yes. a week ago, those hamas gunmen were loading their weapons and getting ready for what they went in to do. since then really, everything has changed. notjust in this conflict, but really in the region.

the potential knock—on effects of this are really profound. there was a certain status quo in the region are not satisfactory to a lot of people, but people thought they knew more or less what was happening. it turns out they were completely wrong. things have changed. and the big question now is where this goes. the israelis do their military operation, what happens the day after they leave? aha, operation, what happens the day after they leave?— after they leave? a new world. indeed. jeremy _ after they leave? a new world. indeed. jeremy bowen, - after they leave? a new world. indeed. jeremy bowen, our - indeed. jeremy bowen, our international editor. now the world watches and waits for israel's next move, with the people of gaza the most anxious about what tomorrow may bring. that's it from the team here injerusalem. now it's back to you, reeta, in the studio in london. thank you, clive, and to everyone on the team. the attack on israel, and the response in gaza, has had a huge impact on britons in the region and on people in the uk with family there. david barr was born in leeds

and lives in israel with his family. his sister—in—law was murdered and his home attacked. ali alaqad is a chef in london, who has lost contact with his wife and son in gaza. our correspondent lucy manning reports. david barr and his sister—in—law, naomi, flying the flag of the team where he grew up. naomi, she was loved by herfamily and she'll be missed by all of us. that's just one story out of 1,300. we're all finding it hard to just mourn for our own because we're mourning for everybody. gunfire and rockets piercing the tranquillity of the agricultural kibbutz alumim, near gaza. they slaughtered the 16 foreign workers. it was just shooting, missiles, shooting. as we left the gates, just bodies, cars, riddled with bullets.

bodies everywhere. i said to my wife, "don't look. just don't look!" we've lost friends. we've lost families. do you fear for your kids' future? actually, i have one who's in london, and he phoned me, he said, "abba, daddy, i'm coming home." i said to him, "don't come, not now." yet he feels for ordinary palestinians. we have friends, we had workers from gaza, from the gaza region, palestinians. my heart goes out for them as well. they're hostages, like we are. as we spoke, the sirens sounded. we've got an air raid. you have to go, yeah. i've got to move. in london, palestinian chef ali alaqad feels helpless, not knowing if his wife mona and 19—month—old son hamed are alive in gaza.

because there is no electric, no battery, nothing. from the morning, i called my wife. she doesn't answer. why attack all the people? the children, people, why? why? — my wife, hamas, my son, two years old, hamas, i want my wife and my son. families feeling the despair, the worry, everything so bleak. lucy manning, bbc news. among those affected here is scotland's first minister, humza yousaf, who says that israel is going too far in gaza. his wife's parents — from dundee — are both trapped, after travelling to gaza last week to visit their son and grandchildren. mr yousaf says he and his wife feel powerless. he is also preparing for his first scottish national party conference as leader. it gets under way on sunday. he has been talking to our political editor, chris mason. hello, first minister.

nice to see you. a man up against it politically, confronting too a family crisis. humza yousaf shows me the latest text message from his mother—in—law, shortly after she'd sent him this video. where's people's hearts in the world, to let this happen in this day and age? may god help us. goodbye. there is a sense of helplessness and distress, and every day that goes on, you fear the situation... ijust had a message from my mother—in—law to say there's now bombing in their neighbourhood. nobody has said that israel does not have the right to protect itself from terror. all of us have said that, myself included. but they are going too far, are they? but collective punishment cannot be justified. yes, they are going too far. collective punishment cannot be justified. back home in scotland, humza yousaf faces the most tricky of political challenges.

his predecessor, nicola sturgeon, was arrested, as was her husband, the snp's former chief executive, peter murrell, and the party's former treasurer. all were released without charge, as part of an ongoing investigation into the party's finances. last week, you lost a by—election to labour. this week, you've lost an mp to the conservatives. are the snp in freefall? no. no, we were widely expected to lose the rutherglen by—election. and of course, no party wants to lose an mp. i think, by anybody�*s objective measure, the last six months have been some of the most difficult six months the party has faced in its modern history. the government at westminster has refused to grant another independence referendum, despite there being majority support for one in the scottish parliament. but polls suggest the snp has failed to secure a clear and sustained majority of support for independence across scotland when, arguably, there were favourable conditions for those making that case.

you've had a conservative government, or a series of conservative governments, that scotland didn't vote for. you've had brexit that scotland didn't vote for, and not been able to assemble that clear and consistent majority. in terms of your actual question, i think it's bang on the money, actually. you get to the nub of the issue. that we can point out westminster�*s failings, because there are many failings. the point is, you have also got to give people a reason to vote for independence. this is a nation split down the middle on its constitutional future, but where the biggest party making the case for independence, the snp, is encountering turbulence, and lots of it. chris mason, bbc news, in glasgow. the metropolitan police say there's been a "massive" increase in anti—semitic incidents in the uk following the violence in the middle east. rishi sunak has called the rise "disgusting", and said extra funding has been given to protect jewish institutions. the government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation has expressed concern that speeches at pro—palestinian rallies in the uk might have glorified terrorism.

ed thomas has more. from the rivers to the sea! palestine will be free! bradford, wednesday night. free, free... palestine! i like many rallies across the uk this week, support for palestinians. palestine will be free! when people, or evenjewish people in the uk watch this march, in the uk watch this march, they might think, "well, hang on, this is support for hamas, what happened?" what would you say to them? i feel that's wrong. we're not supporting hamas, we're supporting the palestinian people. that includes palestinian christians, that includes thejews that live in palestine as well. but emotions are running high. palestine will be free! are you horrified? they're fighting back for the land, that's all i can say. hang on, they didn't fight off the land, they slaughtered young people at a music festival and they stole children, kidnapped them and took them back to gaza.

no comment. so when does free speech cross the line? we take direct action... this is richard barnard, the co—founder of palestine action. he finishes this speech with these words. this was just the start for you here. - when we hear the resistance, - the al—aqsa flood, we must turn that flood into a tsunami i over the whole world! the al—aqsa flood is the hamas name for its operation in israel. and jonathan hall kc is the uk's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation. so what's your reaction to what you've just heard? when i hear people referring by name to a hamas terrorist operation — which we know involved acts of terrorism — and invite people to do something similar, then i know that you're in the territory of encouraging terrorism. and would you expect police to take action? yes.

when you go home, ask yourself, what can you sacrifice for palestine... - we caught up with richard barnard in bradford. he claimed his speeches were to direct action against uk industry that helps israel. but why use the language of hamas? that is a metaphor. what we've got to look at now... no, it's not a metaphor. - this is real, these are real. these words matter. and in your speech, you said, "the al—aqsa flood, we must turn that flood into a tsunami of the whole world". does that not... there seems to be a typical... does that not worry you? what worries me... what worries me is i what's happening now... using the language of prescribed terrorists, in speeches like this! ..for over 75 years, what worries me is the british complicity of that. i as pressure builds across gaza and israel, and with more protests planned here, the hope will be for calm and peace. ed thomas, bbc news. the top gear presenter and former cricketer freddie flintoff has reached a financial settlement

with the commercial wing all of the bbc, bbc studios, reported to be £9 million, after he was involved in a high—speed crash during filming last december and rushed to hospital. frances read is here. this news hasjust broken. what do we know? this financial agreement has been announced this evening. it this financial agreement has been announced this evening.— this financial agreement has been announced this evening. it was back in december— announced this evening. it was back in december that _ announced this evening. it was back in december that the _ announced this evening. it was back in december that the accident i in december that the accident happened, but few details were known about it at that time or revealed. we know that freddie flintoff was it a test track at dunstable park aerodrome in surrey and was taken to hospital afterwards. aerodrome in surrey and was taken to hospitalafterwards. he aerodrome in surrey and was taken to hospital afterwards. he then wasn't seen for many months. then in september, he was seen with scarring while helping out the england team. the bbc suspended its latest series of top gear after the accident and said at the time there would be a full and independent health and safety review of the show. the health and safety executive which regulates workplace safety said, no further investigation is needed, although bbc studios also conducted

its own investigation. this evening, bbc studios said it had reached an agreement with andrew flintoff that it believes supports his continued rehabilitation and return to work and future plans. it says, we have severely —— sincerely apologise to freddie and will continue to support him with his recovery. what could that agreement be? the sun reports £9 million, but neither freddie flintoff or the bbc have confirmed that. we should mention bbc studios is a commercial company so whatever that figure is, it does not come from the bbc licence fee. as for the future of top gear, the bbc has not commented, although it previously said a decision would be made in due course. . ~' said a decision would be made in due course. . ~ ,, y . said a decision would be made in due course. . ~ i. , . ., . , course. thank you very much, francis read. france has been put on its highest state of counter—terrorism alert, after a teacher in france was stabbed to death at a school in arras, in the north of the country. two other people were seriously injured. the 20—year—old attacker — of chechen origin — has been arrested. he was a former pupil at the school

and was known to the french security services for his involvement with radical islam. the metropolitan police have issued 2a fixed penalty notices for potential breaches of covid regulations at a party in the conservative party headquarters in westminster in december 2020. the force reopened an investigation earlier this year, after video footage emerged of what was described as a "jingle and mingle" party. the covid inquiry has been shown whatsapp messages between some of borisjohnson�*s senior advisors in downing street our political correspondent damian grammaticas reports. it's time for politics to deliver, folks! borisjohnson�*s downfall. the covid inquiry heard today his government was "dysfunctional".