to flee by car or on foot. the un's aid agency tells the bbc that gaza is "being pushed into an abyss". president biden speaks to the israeli and palestinian leaders — as the us steps up efforts to contain the escalating conflict. and britain's foreign office tells british nationals in gaza to be ready to leave , in case the rafah border crossing into egypt is opened. hello. you are watching bbc news. people in the northern half of gaza are continuing to flee the area ahead of an expected israeli incursion. thousands of troops are already massed on the border with gaza. air strikes have continued; the israelis say over a hundred military targets were hit overnight; among those killed are a senior

commander involved in the attacks in israel last week. hamas is continuing to fire rockets into israel, towards tel aviv and other areas in the south. the world health organization has has again called on israeli to rescind its evacuation order; the decision they said to forcing hospital patients to relocate would be "a death sentence". president biden has spoken with the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, and urged him to provide a human corridor south a humanitarian corridor south for those civilians seeking to escape the bombardment. a diplomatic push is continuing to try to prevent the violence from spreading. the us secretary of state, antony blinken has arrived in cairo. he's expected to press egyptian officials to open the rafah crossing to get aid into gaza. it is still tense on the northern border with lebanon, with further exchanges of fire today. the israelis have set up a four mile buffer zone on the border. the us is sending a second aircraft carrier to

the eastern mediterranean. the uss eisenhower willjoin the gerald ford group that is already in the region as they seek to put pressure on iran and its proxy hezbollah. we start the hour with this report from nick beake. (vt gaza is bleeding. its hospitals already full, deluged with more patients. these some of the youngest victims in this latest chapter of an ancient conflict that's now erupted so violently. israeli air strikes continue to kill civilians in gaza, bringing more searches amid the rubble, often in vain. translation: dozens - of families were massacred. we're beyond capacity. we're treating people in the corridors and on floors. this is a very dangerous situation. israel says this is self—defense to ensure its survival and that this aerial bombardment is a proportionate response

to the atrocities hamas committed a week ago from outside gaza. a glimpse of the aftermath of the israeli raids. all day we heard militaryjets heading towards their targets. israel says its assault on gaza is onlyjust the beginning and that it will be followed by a major offensive by air, land and sea. united nations agencies say that gaza is being pushed into an abyss and that by forcing the evacuation of more than a million palestinians, it is, for the most vulnerable, a death sentence. israel reinforced its ultimatum that civilians in the north of gaza must move to the south. it said it opened another supposedly safe corridor for 3 hours today. it accused hamas of blocking routes and that no residents of gaza city.

translation: residents of gaza city, i call on you again. _ hamas is trying to prevent your evacuation. translation: residents of gaza city, i call on you again. hamas is trying to prevent your evacuation. we will allow it. get out of gaza city and the surrounding areas for your own safety. many gazans who have tried to seek shelter at schools run by the united nations say getting out is impossible. they said leave towards the south, but there is no transportation. some cars got bombed by air strikes during the night. translation: the children hug me and scream, save us, save us. - gaza's border to the south i with egypt has been closed, so leaving that way has not been an option. _ there are trucks full of aid waiting to go into gaza, but for now they're going nowhere. a population of more than 2 million trapped as israeli forces say they're on their way in.

wife now this is the view looking from sderot towards gaza city. he will see agricultural land before you reach the built—up areas. it would seem that this morning, israeli defense forces have been trying to soften up hamas forward positions. could it be that? they have been doing that in the areas before the built—up areas, there are events and explosions ahead of the expected ground invasion. live now tojerusalem and our middle east correspondent tom bateman. a lot of activity in the last few hours. i know that the war cabinet has been meeting this morning. what can you tell is about the preparations being made? well, that ve bi preparations being made? well, that very his force — preparations being made? well, that very big force build-up _ preparations being made? well, that very big force build-up continues, i very big force build—up continues, you've mentioned what you can see on the premise line there between the israeli forces and the rest of the gaza strip. it is hard to tell if a piece of activity is connected to a

potential start of a ground invasion. you can see artillery fire, for example, even by the middle of last week, we have seen activity with localised incursions over the last three days. the israelis have tried to attack rocket launching squads. in one of those, two or three days ago, they found, they said information that could lead them to more information or knowledge about the hostages that are being held in gaza. there is a lot going on. it doesn't always mean it is significant, when it comes to the significant timing of the ground invasion. clearly, it is going to happen. we knew that from the very detailed statement from the israeli military last night, that this huge operational logistics, to supply a front line when it begins, has been amassing. the israeli military were saying this morning that it is now a political decision about when it

begins, that would signify if they are ready and waiting for a green light. i are ready and waiting for a green liuht. ., are ready and waiting for a green liuht. . , ., ., ,., are ready and waiting for a green liuht. . , ., ., ., light. i have been following some of the interviews _ light. i have been following some of the interviews this _ light. i have been following some of the interviews this morning - light. i have been following some of the interviews this morning with - the interviews this morning with british officials here, tom. the numbers missing keep changing. i know that the numbers of dead and missing keep changing. can you explain a bit of that? why are the numbers fluctuating so much? are they still uncertain of who is in gaza city, and who is dead? and bodies which are not yet found? it is exactly that. i mean, it has been the task of identifying the remains as they found them. a lot of that area around the gaza strip was in utter chaos, and it was not until, in some of the places affected by the heaviest fighting, it wasn't until well into one week that the israeli forces were funny gaining control. even then, you are getting sporadic reports of potential conmen

on the loose or in hiding. so, it was chaotic, and in terms of the number of fatalities, a large number of bodies have been taken to a military base, where they have been going for the task of identifying remains. that has taken a long time, it is still going on. so, in terms of them understanding who is missing that has died, as opposed to who is being held in the gaza strip, you know, they have not known. this has been one of the key issues. many of the relatives feel they have had a void of information. that building up void of information. that building up to protests outside the minister of defence in tel aviv yesterday. families were extremely angry, they felt that they had suffered not only from the initial security failure, this unprecedented fairly insecurely by the israeli state, but then, they were not getting information. there has been a very, very difficult and

emotional atmosphere around all of that. last night, for example, there were protests outside the home of another israeli official, some confrontations between israeli police and some of the relatives there who has gone a protest about this. this is leading into a pretty desperate and confrontational situation. remember, that comes after almost one year of the most unprecedented processing in israel over benjamin netanyahu's government. i think that there is a state of absolute shock at the appalling nature of what happened last week, but there is also this undercurrent of anger among many of the relatives of those who have died, and are missing. and, at the same time, these huge military build—ups, we have this absolutely catastrophic humanitarian situation thatis catastrophic humanitarian situation that is evolving. in catastrophic humanitarian situation that is evolving.— that is evolving. in respect so that an . er, that is evolving. in respect so that anger. tom. _ that is evolving. in respect so that anger. tom. do — that is evolving. in respect so that anger, tom, do you _ that is evolving. in respect so that anger, tom, do you think - that is evolving. in respect so that anger, tom, do you think that - anger, tom, do you think that politically, benjamin netanyahu is trying to shore up support? is he

under immense pressure, such he is trying to convince a country he can run this operation?— run this operation? well, i do not know how — run this operation? well, i do not know how advanced _ run this operation? well, i do not know how advanced the _ run this operation? well, i do not know how advanced the political i know how advanced the political calculation is, because, what the israeli government is trying to do on that front, i think, is, they have been in place an emergency government which has brought in key figures from the opposition, including the former chief of staff of the idf. they have brought in experienced people into this emergency war cabinet, which i think, for the moment, has diffused some criticism about the make—up of the government. the fact is, this was already the most ultranationalist far right ultra nationalist far right government ultranationalist far right government in israeli history under benjamin netanyahu. i think we are seeing some of that... i was talking yesterday to one of the relatives who was at the protest yesterday, both his parents are missing, his elderly parents. he does not know if they are being held in the gaza strip or if they have died. he spoke of a lot of anger that he felt

forces had been moved from the south of israel to the occupied west bank to protect the settlers, and particularly the s extremist settlers, over the last year. as a policy of this hard—line government. so, a lot of anger about that. live now to our correspondent anna foster who is near the israel — lebanon border.) the concern at the moment a civil war will spread to the north there has been some conflict there. there has been some conflict there. there has been some conflict there. there has been pretty _ has been some conflict there. there has been pretty conflict _ has been some conflict there. there has been pretty conflict drew - has been pretty conflict drew constant firing here. it has been very loud. between the two sides, we have had a lot of it overhead. we have had a lot of it overhead. we have also heard sirens and some of the nearby communities. the rocket attack sirens that go off regularly. most of it seems to be coming from the israeli side across to the

lebanese. they have confirmed that i think, for the fifth time today, the israeli defense forces say that there has been fire across from lebanon. each time, they respond to that. this, iwould lebanon. each time, they respond to that. this, i would say, just from what we are hearing, we are in a position of cover here, we have come away from the border a little bit. we are in a position that is quite well protected. it is more about what we can hear right now rather than what we can see. what we have been hearing is this intense barrage of fire overhead. i am not sure that there has been an exchange that has lasted as long as one hour. i was telling you earlier, every day this week, there has been something, some sort of exchange, some sort of engagement across the border from northern israel and lebanon, but, engagement across the border from northern israeland lebanon, but, i am not sure it has been as sustained as this since all of this began on saturday last week. we as this since all of this began on saturday last week.— as this since all of this began on saturday last week. we should remind our audience. — saturday last week. we should remind our audience, we _ saturday last week. we should remind our audience, we talk _ saturday last week. we should remind our audience, we talk about _ saturday last week. we should remind our audience, we talk about the - our audience, we talk about the tunnel system hamas has in gaza, but there is a sophisticated tunnel

system in lebanon as well, south of the river. hezbollah use that to a huge effect in 2007. does it feel like that? does it feel like hezbollah is just popping like that? does it feel like hezbollah isjust popping up and firing at these observation posts, and then the israelis are trying to pinpoint where they are? i and then the israelis are trying to pinpoint where they are?- and then the israelis are trying to pinpoint where they are? i know a lot of work — pinpoint where they are? i know a lot of work was _ pinpoint where they are? i know a lot of work was done _ pinpoint where they are? i know a lot of work was done to _ pinpoint where they are? i know a lot of work was done to try - pinpoint where they are? i know a lot of work was done to try to - pinpoint where they are? i know a lot of work was done to try to get | lot of work was done to try to get rid of those channels, as you say, in the wake of the last war between the two. what it seems like, at the moment, it feels very opportunistic at this stage. it feels like hezbollah are doing what they can and firing across when they can, and then israel are, obviously, responding in kind. there is a huge amount of concern about what is going on on this northern border. whether or not hezbollah want to get involved, that is a huge part of this. they are backed by iran and they are a powerful military and political group in lebanon. they are

a prescribed terrorism organisation by various countries around the world. the iranian foreign minister was in beirut this week. while he was in beirut this week. while he was in beirut this week. while he was in lebanon, he met the leader of hezbollah, dame talked about hezbollah, dame talked about hezbollah being ready tojoin hezbollah, dame talked about hezbollah being ready to join this conflict at the appropriate moment. they were signalling that they would get involved. and only knows what the appropriate moment might be considered to be. some say that if israel launches had much talked about ground invasion into gaza, that may be the point at which hezbollah decide to get involved and support is's ally, hamas. it is really hard to tell. from the point of view of israel, what they do not want is to be fighting a war on two fronts, because if you think about what is happening in gaza, at the moment, and you consider the size of the length of the border between israel and lebanon. we have been tracking between it and the last few days, that is why we have seen such a military build—up here, such a

large military presence. we have seen armoured vehicles, troops on the ground, we know that all those 300,000 reservists who were called up 300,000 reservists who were called up by 300,000 reservists who were called up by israel in the wake of those attacks one week ago, we know many of them have been are sent to shore up of them have been are sent to shore up this border. we know that there is a claim on behind the scenes as well, particularly from the us. and every once in seat engines inflame on the northern border, that risks of drawing in other parts of the middle east. it risks making this conflict a whole lot larger than it already is. that would be seriously problematic. that is why you are already seeing so much going on to try to tamp down things on the northern border. judging by what we have heard and seen over the last hour or so, this is another worrying escalation that will be looked at not only in israel, but i think further afield as well, and they will already be looking to see what they can do to try to minimise and bring this back to bring the

situation under control. i'd like to thank you very much, anna foster on the northern border. i am hearing from writers that the sirens blaring at the moment across northern israel. you heard the explosion behind and as she was talking to us. with me isjustin crump, military analyst and ceo, sibylline. we are hearing that there is an attempt to secure bipartisan support for ukraine and israel by the united states in exchange for more money being spent in the southern border of the united states on the border with mexico. it is also being said he cannot rule out that iran will choose to get involved in this, they have real concerns about the proxy force hezbollah on the northern border. ibis force hezbollah on the northern border. �* , ., , border. as we are seeing, the activity on _ border. as we are seeing, the activity on the _ border. as we are seeing, the activity on the northern - border. as we are seeing, the | activity on the northern border remains comparatively low in comparison to what is happening in the south, but it is mounting steadily. there is not yet that surge that search at vr expecting, maybe we are talking too soon, but

we have not yet seen that surge of activity from hezbollah that is widely expected if theyjoin the fight officially. that brings us one step closer towards a direct connection with iran. and of course, whether or not israel or iran want to push that level of confrontation remains to be seen. that is a very strong concern for the us. there is a feeling of the world, at the moment, it has mounted in the last few years, that the united states is not in a position any more to exercise a level of power and control that it did. i think the political disarray, the failures in afghanistan, and of course, at the moment, no speak in—house, and budget disarray, only narrowly averted to get as far as we have. the campaign in ukraine and israel are looking like the funding might be a problem. i'm sure it will not, if you speak of us military, they do not think that this will be dropped, but, it is clearly a political bargaining tool that will be posted to the wire. america's adversaries, and the uk's adversaries by

extension, they are aware of this weakness, they are looking at it, seeing it as weakness and opportunity. so, for the many scores that are unsettled on the world stage, there are people looking, saying, when is a better time to do something that we want to do than right now? i think is russia in ukraine. the eye is slightly off ukraine. the eye is slightly off ukraine at the moment. sammy said to me: this is a good week for russia to hide bad news. they can reorient the front, they could do more aggressive things on the basis that we are not paying attention any more, we are covering israel. that is not the only conflict in the world, either. ithink is not the only conflict in the world, either. i think those fears are very well grounded at the moment. the reason america sent to strike groups to the mediterranean is very much to say that they are ready for things. if you want to escalate, believe me, we are here, we do have resolve, we do have force, and will, if necessary, use it. they are obviously hoping not happy. it. they are obviously hoping not ha - . �* ., , it. they are obviously hoping not ha.--�* ., , it. they are obviously hoping not ha.--~ ., , ., happy. another big explosion on the gaza - israel— happy. another big explosion on the gaza - israel border _ happy. another big explosion on the gaza - israel borderjust _ happy. another big explosion on the gaza - israel borderjust south - happy. another big explosion on the gaza - israel borderjust south of. gaza — israel borderjust south of sderot. we are watching these

pictures as we have all morning, a lot of activity in the foreground here. just before the built—up areas of gaza city, not far from the camera position that we are looking at, is that build—up, a huge build—up, of israeli troops. 300,000 reservists mobilise. the israeli defence minister said in the last few minutes in response to what we have been talking about on the northern border that israeli defence ministry has no interest in waging a war with hezbollah. just in terms of iran and, you talked about russia, a good week to bury bad news. there is a very close alliance between russia and iran. iran are most certainly playing a role in the background here. we saw the iranian foreign minister in qatar last night talking to the political leader of hamas. so, other russians in the background playing a role here? it is so, other russians in the background playing a role here?— playing a role here? it is a question _ playing a role here? it is a question people _ playing a role here? it is a

question people have - playing a role here? it is a| question people have been playing a role here? it is a - question people have been looking at. i think that the five dimensional chess view is always a bit overstated if you look at the actual track record, it has been more prudent than that. it is certainly an image that the russian like to betray: they are very sophisticated and are moving by the scenes. often they are not. i think it is overstated at this point to see a trailer come out of the way back to moscow. that this is a moscow inspired plot by iran as an ally to put on pressure and open a front against israel, allowing them to complete their operations in ukraine. however, that is the outcome, even if it is not the driver and the approximate cause. that is certainly something that everyone is looking for at the moment, how far back as it is going? i say again, if this had been a more concocted plot, rather than perhaps awareness amongst hamas's supporters that something was planned. israel may have thought something was planned, they didn't know it is, they didn't know now. hamas's supporters were probably not aware. the time to operate was probably at

the start. waiting now, they can potentially justify the escalation of the guys as being a trigger, it may be an organic sugar, that they just think this is something they cannot let go without attacking israel. that remains to be seen. it was really a plot, that would have been seen at the start. very much less chance now.— been seen at the start. very much less chance now. thank you for your exertise less chance now. thank you for your expertise alongside _ less chance now. thank you for your expertise alongside us _ less chance now. thank you for your expertise alongside us this - expertise alongside us this afternoon. we have been getting a lot of pictures in from across gaza. we wanted to show you some now from gaza's biggest hospital the al shifa. we should warn you that you may find some of these images distressing. the hospital has continued to receive a steady flow of injured gazans. on sunday the palestinian health ministry said that 300 people, mostly children and women had been killed in 2a hours, with more than 800 more injured including — as you can see — a number of young children, including this little boy.

40% of the population of gaza are under 15. outside the hospital a freelance cameraman witnesses distressed locals many waiting or looking for loved ones. the local medical centres and morgues have been overwhelmed with no room for the dead so body bags are lined up on the streets. local people help to carry them onto the road, as distraught loved ones wait. distressing pictures. some of the explosions filmed today from inside northern gaza city. israel has been continuing to bomb from the air — and says that it's killed senior hamas militants in some of its latest strikes including one responsible for leading a unit that carried out brutal attacks on two israeli villages that were overrun in the south. lets talk to our middle east correspondent, now. i'm really focused on this meeting between the secretary of state, antony blinken, and the egyptian president this afternoon. it is so crucial to what

we are talking about within gaza city. we are talking about within gaza ci . , ., ,., , . ., city. yes, there are reports coming from cairo — city. yes, there are reports coming from cairo indicating _ city. yes, there are reports coming from cairo indicating there - city. yes, there are reports coming from cairo indicating there has - city. yes, there are reports comingl from cairo indicating there has been approvalfrom from cairo indicating there has been approval from the egyptian authorities to allow foreigners to go through the rafah crossing. only foreigners, not palestinians. but, palestinians who have dual citizenship, us or european citizenship, us or european citizenship who have been trapped in the gaza strip, they will be allowed to leave through the rafah crossing. the other piece of news which came out of egypt is that secretary blinken will be returning to israel tomorrow for further talks with israeli officials after his tour took him to qatar, saudi arabia, the uae, uae, and before thatjordan. do you think that they are looking to get humanitarian aid in? in you think that they are looking to get humanitarian aid in?- get humanitarian aid in? in arab media, it get humanitarian aid in? in arab media. it is _ get humanitarian aid in? in arab media, it is being _ get humanitarian aid in? in arab media, it is being reported - get humanitarian aid in? in arab media, it is being reported that| media, it is being reported that arab states have rejected the idea

of pushing gazans from the gaza strip across the rafah crossing to egypt. that has been one of the things that, according to arab media, we cannot confirm, secretary blinken is trying to urge arab countries to try and help out in finding a way out of this stalemate. however, it has been reported that the arab states have rejected such things and have insisted on a humanitarian corridor to transfer aid to people trapped in the gaza strip. aid to people trapped in the gaza stri -. ., , , aid to people trapped in the gaza stri. , . aid to people trapped in the gaza strip. has been so much progress in the diplomatic— strip. has been so much progress in the diplomatic sphere _ strip. has been so much progress in the diplomatic sphere in _ strip. has been so much progress in the diplomatic sphere in recent - the diplomatic sphere in recent years viz a viz israel and the arab states and the north african states. are you concerned that this could lead to regional realignment? are we a where the arab governments are going to going to have to reconsider their positions?— their positions? yes, i am afraid that the arab _ their positions? yes, i am afraid that the arab governments - their positions? yes, i am afraid that the arab governments are l their positions? yes, i am afraid - that the arab governments are under huge pressure from public opinion, who are overwhelmingly supportive of the palestinians. the arab states

feel that they are sort of like sandwiched in the middle between their obligations according to the diplomatic agreements that they have with israel, countries who recently, like the uae and bahrain, sudan, with israel now, they find themselves in an awkward position stop and most importantly, saudi arabia, until last week, we were hearing reports about saudi arabia and israel being about to start relations. now it is being said that this has been put on hold by the saudi arabians. we do not know if thatis saudi arabians. we do not know if that is temporary or permanent. irate that is temporary or permanent. we have to go to a short break, but it is good to get your expertise. let me just leave you, as we go to a break with the live pictures from the guards border. this is a garden border. we have been looking from sderot. about

three miles from the built—up areas, there has been heavy bombardment today. that would be the area you will presume that the israeli army woodcarver as it moved towards a gaza city. certainly, they have been softening that up this afternoon with a huge number of explosions. we will cover the events in the south and on the northern border after the break. you're watching bbc news. hello there. for the vast majority of the uk, we are looking at a fine and sunny afternoon. mind you, it was a cold start to the day. in cumbria, shap, we had temperatures down at “4 earlier this morning but plenty of sunshine across the board now. on the satellite picture you can see that, really. the only exception is across parts of scotland where showers will continue to affect western areas and we have this weather front bringing a zone of more persistent rain just across the north of mainland scotland so it will be quite wet here through the course of the afternoon. there will be some showers for the northern isles where it will continue to be quite windy

but not as windy as it was yesterday and temperatures across the board continuing to be below average for the time of year, about 11 or 12 celsius. it feels ok in the sunshine. overnight tonight, we will keep the clear spells for a good part of the night and that will allow temperatures again to dip down just below freezing in the countryside, whereas many towns and cities will see temperatures just a degree or two above freezing. tomorrow morning, they could be the odd patch of mist first thing tomorrow morning, there could be the odd patch of mist first thing but that should clear out of the way. there will be quite a bit of high cloud in the sky across western areas, making any sunshine rather hazy in the west but i think for most parts of the uk it is looking like another fine and dry day with some sunny spells coming through pretty widely and temperatures about 11—13 , so similar what we have got this afternoon. onto tuesday's forecast, probably a few more mist and fog patches to start the day. most of the uk again having a dry day with sunshine but we will start to see a band of rain working into south—west england, perhaps reaching southern

wales late in the day. that rain is tied in with an area of low pressure to our south and as we go through wednesday and thursday, that low pressure will bring wet and some windy weather northwards across the uk. it will also bring some pretty large rainfall totals. midweek, we could see around 20—40 millimetres of rain, the wettest weather across england and wales then moving its way northwards into scotland and northern ireland by thursday. but the focus is on the heavy rain affecting england and wales on wednesday, the winds picking up across scotland, probably bringing quite a lot of cloud to eastern coastal areas, maybe a few patches of drizzle there and temperatures just coming up a few degrees, a bit closer to average, 12—15. but then we have that heavy rain pushing northwards into northern ireland and scotland on thursday and another area of low pressure to end the week will bring rain pretty widely.

this is bbc news, the headlines: israel is massing troops near gaza — as it prepares for the next

phase of its military operation against hamas. the operation is in response to hamas' attacks on israeli communities last saturday. thousands of people continue to flee north gaza, following israeli evacuation orders. the un estimates nearly a million palestinians there have now been displaced. the world health organization has condemned israel's order for the evacuation of 22 hospitals in northern gaza, ahead of an expected ground offensive. they said forcing more than 2,000 patients, including those in intensive care and new—borns in incubators, to relocate to southern gaza is like a death sentence. the uk's foreign office is telling british nationals in gaza to be ready to leave in case the rafah border crossing into egypt is opened. now on bbc news, click.