past office is in gaza. i've been past that hospital many, many times. all those 600,000 people have left the north of gaza and headed south after they were told to evacuate their home there are many people who have stayed put, in particular the injured, severely injured people in hospital and people say look, we simply can't move our families. if they are going to stay but they've got to find somewhere relatively safe to go. people have been going to un schools, other un facilities but they've also been going to hospitals. we've seen a hospital in gaza city, the biggest hospital in gaza, that has been swamped with people camping out on the ground. i not seen the situation at this particular hospital before this strike but certainly the pictures i've been seeing this evening suggest that there were many, many people not being treated there but

just trying to seek shelter. john. just trying to seek shelter. john, “ust just trying to seek shelter. john, 'ust to just trying to seek shelter. john, just to reiterate, _ just trying to seek shelter. john, just to reiterate, no _ just trying to seek shelter. john, just to reiterate, no comment i just trying to seek shelter. john, | just to reiterate, no comment yet from the israeli authorities of the government there. mat from the israeli authorities of the government there.— government there. not that i've seen. i government there. not that i've seen- i think — government there. not that i've seen. ithink israel— government there. not that i've seen. i think israel will - government there. not that i've seen. i think israel will say - government there. not that i've seen. i think israel will say it. government there. not that i've seen. i think israel will say it is| seen. i think israel will say it is investigating what happened. but we haven't had confirmation that they carried out this strike. we haven't had an explanation why they did it, if they did. what i would say is something you touched on earlier, it crossed the west bank. we're hearing that mosques are broadcasting from the minarets urging people to come out in the west bank and protest. we're beginning to see images of that happening. this could be a moment where really sparks this conflict, which is already inflamed really injuly. conflict, which is already inflamed really in july-— really in july. 0k, john. we will come back— really in july. 0k, john. we will come back to _ really in july. 0k, john. we will come back to you _ really in july. 0k, john. we will come back to you when - really in july. 0k, john. we will come back to you when there i really in july. 0k, john. we will l come back to you when there any really in july. 0k, john. we will - come back to you when there any new lines coming in. i want to make it

clear to our view is that the scene we're looking at is from a different hospital, the walnuts been hit in the past hour or so, this is gaza cities hospital which is what 1.5 km away from cities hospital which is what1.5 km away from the hospital which was struck earlier. confirmed reports that it struck earlier. confirmed reports thatitis struck earlier. confirmed reports that it is —— unconfirmed reports that it is —— unconfirmed reports that as a military, israeli military strike but the hamas health ministry saying up to 1000 people have been killed or injured in that strike. james, we'vejust killed or injured in that strike. james, we've just had killed or injured in that strike. james, we'vejust had comment in from the canadian prime minister justin trudeau who a short moment ago he said this strike on a hospital in gaza was horrific, absolutely unacceptable. not acceptable to hit a hospital. he also was asked to comment on whether or not this could be a war crime. he suggested that if it is proved to be

israel den it very much could be. what happens now diplomatically? we're waiting for confirmation of all the facts to come out. itjust happened. but what will happen diplomatically given president biden isjust hours away diplomatically given president biden is just hours away from me arriving in israel? in isjust hours away from me arriving in israel? , ., , ., ., _ isjust hours away from me arriving in israel? , ., , ., in israel? in terms of diplomacy can come at a worse — in israel? in terms of diplomacy can come at a worse time. _ in israel? in terms of diplomacy can come at a worse time. the - in israel? in terms of diplomacy can come at a worse time. the whole i in israel? in terms of diplomacy can i come at a worse time. the whole tone of the western intervention, united states, european leaders and others has been to say, we support israel's right to defend itself. but increasingly in all their statements they have made clear that every measurement must be taken to protect civilians. president biden himself and said at one point that israel must follow the rules of war. it doesn't matter about the rules of war but international laws say you don't target hospitals. for this to happen and as you say, we're still in the early stages, we don't know. but for this to happen just as mr

biden is arriving makes his trip hugely, hugely harder. because the message that american diplomats had got from the whole region was low, everything needs to be dialled down for the one—way of dialling this thing down is by getting humanitarian aid into gaza, about creating safe zones to protect civilians. earlier today mr blinken said that he had reach some agreement with the israelis to create areas where civilians, to use his phrase would be out of harm's way. well, a lot of civilians went to hospitals and schools to be out of harm's way. there were to un offices to be out of harm's way. it appears that civilians in this particular hospital had been directly and harms way. that makes things very difficult for mr biden. asjohn was saying there, the risk is this in flames tension and all those other part of the region where people have been looking nervously

at the west bank. we forget sense the hamas attack on the 7th of october 61 palestinians have died in the west bank of a knot in gaza but the west bank of a knot in gaza but the was painful to many more have been injured. the risk now is that becomes the next point of current flag ration. there's violence between israeli settlers and palestinians. he is a really scary thought, what has happened, what we're witnessing right now potentially becomes something that is used as a trigger by other bodies outside of israel, other countries, other militias, about armed groups and say actually, this is now the time to go all in and attack israel. and january two front is opened in this war. ., , and january two front is opened in this war. . , ., ., this war. that is the warning we had from iran in — this war. that is the warning we had from iran in the _ this war. that is the warning we had from iran in the past _ this war. that is the warning we had from iran in the past few _ this war. that is the warning we had from iran in the past few hours. i from iran in the past few hours. exactly. iranian spokesman, to varying degrees they dial it up and dial it down again but have been

speaking of being unable to control they called forces of resistance. by that they mean militant groups like his brother in lebanon and other pro—— hezbollah. around the region that they say look, if this carries on, this bombardment carries on day and they will be uncontrollable. they are quite controllable. iran has pretty good control over them. that doesn't mean that these groups won't use this as a pretext. that is an open possibility.— an open possibility. looking at ictures an open possibility. looking at pictures of— an open possibility. looking at pictures of the _ an open possibility. looking at pictures of the scene. - an open possibility. looking at pictures of the scene. i - an open possibility. looking at pictures of the scene. i think. an open possibility. looking at| pictures of the scene. i think is from the hospitaljust looking at those and the devastation. this is the hospital where they been taken following that attack. in the past few moments the spokesperson of mahmoud abbas said the israeli air strike, not confirmed yet certain by israel but that is what they're

calling it. the israeli air strike on the hospital is genocide. he's calling it at humanitarian catastrophe. already people out on the street of the bank. as you say from as soon as these attacks happen ljy from as soon as these attacks happen by hamas on is rich girl and they launch a retaliatory strikes on because of the west bank could become involved. —— israeli. we were talking a short time ago but whether or not president biden when he comes to the region to meet president netanyahu tomorrow, whether or not he would meet other leaders. i think we would probably agree that meeting president abbas now it would be at the top of his letters. he president abbas now it would be at the top of his letters.— the top of his letters. he is due to see mr abbas _ the top of his letters. he is due to see mr abbas in _ the top of his letters. he is due to see mr abbas in jordan _ the top of his letters. he is due to see mr abbas in jordan for - the top of his letters. he is due to see mr abbas in jordan for the i the top of his letters. he is due to | see mr abbas in jordan for the brief see mr abbas injordan for the brief trip. also the president of egypt as well as the king ofjordan. as i said, this incident makes all of

those meetings much, much harder because the bar has just got a lot higherfor an attempt at higher for an attempt at de—escalation, higherfor an attempt at de—escalation, and attempt to dial it down so there's a possibility of discussion. we've been talking in recent days about the possibility of negotiations over some of the hostages being held by hamas. we've been talking about may be a prisoner exchange. these kinds of things. well, that sort of thing becomes... seems far harder to talk about in this context. and far less likely for there to be any sense of ill we forget sometimes that arab nations, arab countries in the gulf have public opinion to deal with themselves. fora public opinion to deal with themselves. for a long time some of themselves. for a long time some of the elites have said let's do a deal with israel, let's normalise relations so we can benefit from trade and security cooperation. in the palestinian issue is put to 1's

side and many of the population have gone along with that. well all of thatis gone along with that. well all of that is out of the window now. the palestinian issue is now back front and center. this incident at this hospital makes it very, very hard for any government in the gulf, in the middle east to have much room for manoeuvre when it comes to doing deals with the israelis over trying to resolve things in gaza. i5 deals with the israelis over trying to resolve things in gaza.- to resolve things in gaza. is that in our to resolve things in gaza. is that in your view _ to resolve things in gaza. is that in your view what _ to resolve things in gaza. is that in your view what hamas - to resolve things in gaza. is thatj in your view what hamas wanted to resolve things in gaza. is that i in your view what hamas wanted at its iran wanted? to put this issue of the public two palestinians front and centre in the middle east? fine and centre in the middle east? one ofthe and centre in the middle east? one of the reasons. _ and centre in the middle east? que: of the reasons. hamas and centre in the middle east? ole: of the reasons. hamas is and centre in the middle east? (me: of the reasons. hamas is ever and centre in the middle east? (he: of the reasons. hamas is ever felt that its case was being ignored by the arab spring, as it's known. iran was keen to drive a wedge between israel and all its new potential sunni arab allies in the region. it's all the abraham accords agreed in countries like the iraqis and

others started doing deals with israel and there had been before this hamas attack conversations between the salaries for normalising relations. in the face of this, all of that is in the past now. james, thank yom _ of that is in the past now. james, thank you. the _ of that is in the past now. james, thank you. the british _ thank you. the british palestinian surgeon currently working in gaza spoke to the bbc shortly after the missile strike. a plastic and reconstructive surgeon from london said it hit while he was operating. he described the scene moments afterwards. he described the scene moments afterwards-— afterwards. parts of the hospital are on fire- _ afterwards. parts of the hospital are on fire. i _ afterwards. parts of the hospital are on fire. i don't _ afterwards. parts of the hospital are on fire. i don't know - afterwards. parts of the hospital are on fire. i don't know if i afterwards. parts of the hospital are on fire. i don't know if it's i are on fire. i don't know if it's the emergency department. part of the emergency department. part of the roof has fallen in. this broken glass everywhere. there are a lot of people taking refuge in the hospital now. ., .., ., people taking refuge in the hospital now. ., ., . ., , now. you can hear the panic there as that situation —

now. you can hear the panic there as that situation developed _ now. you can hear the panic there as that situation developed from - now. you can hear the panic there as that situation developed from the i that situation developed from the professor. robert platt asher is in washington. as we've been talking, this strike, if it is confirmed to be an israeli strike in which it looks like many hundreds of palestinians have been killed just hours before that visit by president biden for them and while the us secretary of state antony blinken is in the country and actually was due to hold a news conference with mahmoud abbas to shortly. horrible thin to mahmoud abbas to shortly. horrible thing to happen- _ mahmoud abbas to shortly. horrible thing to happen. as _ mahmoud abbas to shortly. horrible thing to happen. as you _ mahmoud abbas to shortly. horrible thing to happen. as you said, i mahmoud abbas to shortly. horrible thing to happen. as you said, it i thing to happen. as you said, it needs to be confirmed that it was an israeli airstrike. but the number of casualties as reporting are a norm is and could grow. it was a hospital, a place where there are people who are sick but also a place where people were sheltering, which is the neck they have been doing a hospitals thinking that would be a safe zone, they would not be hit that way. it is really one of the worst things that could've happened

before president bidens trip and will obviously complicate mr blinken said efforts as well. because it is going to throw the spotlight on the humanitarian crisis and the civilian casualties and the operation in gaza against hamas in how civilians are being endangered because of it. that is something that the americans have been addressing more and more. they continue to say they support the israeli right and duty and so on to eliminate hamas, to strike a forceful blow against it but very much wanted that to be done with his little civilian harm as possible and that built up strip. this is going to add to the pressures around those efforts. also, there's always been a gamble with mr biden deciding to go to israel at this time. while the israeli air strikes are going on in

the humanitarian situation is already bad with the thought that it could get worse if they do this ground invasion, that he is going to basically very publicly be standing with israel at this time and be identified with the bloodshed in gaza. he also been stressing very much, officials stressing their working overtime to try to deal with the humanitarian mr blinken is meeting with palestinian authority mahmoud abbas and mr biden will meet with him and others as well. they haven't very much emphasising the need to deal with this. —— they have emphasised. putting it very much in focus and complicate the trip. ihlo focus and complicate the trip. no doubt he's going to be asked for a response, president biden for that the canadian prime ministerjustin trudeau has already been asked to comment. he's going to have to say something before he arrives there, isn't he? ~ �* ., something before he arrives there, isn't he? ~ �* . ~ isn't he? we've asked the white house for. _ isn't he? we've asked the white house for, and _ isn't he? we've asked the white house for, and haven't - isn't he? we've asked the white house for, and haven't received| isn't he? we've asked the white i

house for, and haven't received one yet. i think they are waiting to get more details about what exactly has happened to the extent that they can. the palestinian health ministry, the gaza health ministry has said it was an israeli air strike for the palestinian authority has a call for three days of mourning. israelis have said they don't have details about what happened and they're looking into it. i expect the americans are also waiting to see more details about what caused this explosion. i think from people watching the israeli counter offensive, especially palestinians and especially those on the ground it is too damn obvious that it was an israeli airstrike. we will have to see. i think the americans will come out with some sort of response at some point but they are trying to get more details, probably. they are trying to get more details, robabl . ., . ., ,., ., probably. how much more important because his — probably. how much more important because his visit _ probably. how much more important because his visit now _ probably. how much more important because his visit now become - probably. how much more important because his visit now become by i because his visit now become by president biden tomorrow? i think, as i said before, _

president biden tomorrow? i think, as i said before, it _ president biden tomorrow? i think, as i said before, it heightens i president biden tomorrow? i think, as i said before, it heightens the i as i said before, it heightens the focus on the humanitarian and protection of civilians side of things. 0bviously, what we've seen from the american so far as we've been reporting is that they very much stood beside israel right to a forceful response. they said hamas should not be seen to be winning this war. they have adopted language that the israelis use about annihilating hamas and saying it was annihilating hamas and saying it was an ice is like attack and this is something different that we see before and so on. —— isis attack. a lot of capital into that position and backed israel up solidly with military support and diplomatic support for the partly a large part of that is deterrence. with israel wanting to make sure that other parties don't get involved in the fight. they have been stressing the importance of protecting civilians, increasingly especially as mr blinken went on his tour of arab nations and authorities heard, they

are concerned about humanitarian crisis and civilians. he called president biden yesterday and told him that that was what he had been hearing and mr biden said well, work out a way with the israelis to get a border crossing at humanitarian aid. they tried to do that and after nine hours they still haven't reach a framework agreement with israelis but they had limited progress to report. that's a small thing. there's just explosive whole conversation about civilians in a new way and will probably dominate. yes. if it is confirmed to have been the result of an israeli air strike and we're reporting now that 500 people have been killed in this incident at this hospital. what is it going to mean in terms of accusations of possible war crimes?

already the palestinian authority has said or the hamas i should say said it is a war crime. i think palestinian officials have also said that. more widely what you have been hearing in terms of criticism from international organisations for example, the un human rights reporter, they been saying already that some of the israeli actions are violating international humanitarian law like cutting off water and food and supplies to gaza. it's suggesting perhaps even that the order for housing suggesting perhaps even that the orderfor housing is suggesting perhaps even that the order for housing is to leave gaza and head south could be seen as force displacement. this talk about different elements of the israeli campaign that could be violating international law. i'm sure this will become part of that. again, the israelis and the americans have very clearly said that hamas committed war crimes in its attack on israel. but i think you are going to see

those kinds of claims increase about israel because of this and possibly also as they go on with their military operation.— also as they go on with their military operation. barbara, thank ou. military operation. barbara, thank you- remind _ military operation. barbara, thank you. remind our— military operation. barbara, thank you. remind our viewers - military operation. barbara, thank you. remind our viewers we're i you. remind our viewers we're looking at pictures of victims of that attack on the hospital being taken to another hospital, or out one half kilometres away. it's dark because there is very little power, as we know in gaza right now. it is only hospitals that have much fuel for the generators to create generators. there does seem to be some light as the surrounding building for the people in gaza reporting running out of basics and this is the live shot of the

hospital, that al—shifa hospital where people have been taken is been reported by the gazan ministry, the ministry of health that 500 palestinians were killed in what they are saying is in is really air strike on the hospital there. my colleagues reporter is following all the developments for hours. take us through the timeline of events that have unfolded in the past hour or so. ~ , ., ., , so. when we started hearing reports at first from — so. when we started hearing reports at first from hamas _ so. when we started hearing reports at first from hamas themselves i so. when we started hearing reports at first from hamas themselves that j at first from hamas themselves that there was a strike on the baptist hospital in central gaza. it time ticked on we started hearing not only injured but hundreds killed so that we now has the gaza health ministry that say 500 people have been killed in this hospital. it's important to remind everyone, this isn'tjust a hospital

important to remind everyone, this isn't just a hospital that was having difficulty operating to treat people it was also sheltering people in gaza, them as raids, air strikes were continuing at a ground offensive was potentially approaching. in this attack, alleged attack itself has happened only in our after the united nations has said there was an attack on the un run a school wherefore thousand people were sheltering with at least six people killed. —— 4000. that's what's difficult and distressing about the reports and images that we're saying. it's that these are places that people were sheltering in, places that they were seeking refuge in him very difficult conditions. instead they've become places where more danger could potentially await. 0f places where more danger could potentially await. of course the bbc is trying to verify the details of

these incidents. the israeli military themselves have said that they don't have specific comments or information but they are looking into these events themselves. they are going to be extremely concerning to the international community. we talked about presidentjoe biden is visit, which is approaching, he's meant to be visiting tomorrow. and we're notjust going to be looking at the reaction from the west, we're also going to be looking at the regional reaction as well because this of course comes between only a day after the iranian foreign minister warned that what it calls the resistant front could be taken preemptive action, given what is on in gaza. that resistance front that it is talking about referrers in the region because we have been talking about iran's connection to hamas, the fact that it has been providing

training, financing, even weapons to hamas across the years, it's also backing and old islamist militant group this time in lebanon, hezbollah. that is of great concern here. part of the reason president biden is visiting tomorrow, to make sure this doesn't escalate into a wider conflict in the middle east. thank you for that let me update our viewers on that regional reaction that you mentioned. turkeys president said the hospital is the latest example of israel's attacks devoid of the most basic human values. we've also had reaction from qatar strongly denouncing the strike on the gaza hospital for that we must reiterate that hasn't been confirmed, that is just speculation at the moment, israel itself has not commented and said it is looking into the incident at the moment. jordan's foreign ministry issued a statement strongly condemning, accusing israel of an attack on the

hospital, which we know now has killed, reported by the gazan hamas health ministry 500 people. my colleague is following developments from israel and has more. this colleague is following developments from israel and has more.— from israel and has more. this is one of our— from israel and has more. this is one of our team _ from israel and has more. this is one of our team in _ from israel and has more. this is one of our team in london i from israel and has more. this is one of our team in london spoke j from israel and has more. this is i one of our team in london spoke to, a doctor working there. he was saying there was some 4000 people sheltering at this hospital as well as all the people being treated there. he has told us that 80% of there. he has told us that 80% of the hospital has been destroyed. he gave the number of 1000 people killed. i would reiterate what sebastian was saying, it is extremely difficult to know about numbers at this stage. but it does seem to be the most deadly strike of this conflict so far. i was looking at video that is not been verified yet of which is supposedly shown the moment of the strike. it's on a mobile phone and you see a huge

explosion and a fireball ripping through the sky. i know they've been showing those pictures at the scene, showing those pictures at the scene, showing buildings burning for a pie been watching very graphic footage, which looks like the hospital grounds, just showing bodies littered across the floor. many children. many people would have been camped out on the grounds because hospitals in the north of gaza, this is in the middle of gaza city, this would've been regarded as one of the few safe places to go and clearly wasn't. one of the few safe places to go and clearly wasn't-— clearly wasn't. john, were starting to net clearly wasn't. john, were starting to get international _ clearly wasn't. john, were starting to get international reaction i clearly wasn't. john, were starting to get international reaction end. | to get international reaction end. the canadian presidentjust entered just intro has been asked and said it's devastating, it's horrible. —— justin trudeau. he said attacking a hospital is a legal, of course we don't have any independent confirmation yet, any verification

that this was an israeli airstrike. we've also seen egypt announce in strongest terms would happen if it is indeed that for them asking the international community to urgently intervene and stop further violations in the statement. looking at those statements of the west bank coming out in protest. if this is verified, this is really significant, isn't it? this verified, this is really sianificant, isn't it? a ,, ., significant, isn't it? as sebastian said, it's significant, isn't it? as sebastian said. it's a _ significant, isn't it? as sebastian said, it's a game _ significant, isn't it? as sebastian said, it's a game changer. it's i significant, isn't it? as sebastian said, it's a game changer. it's on the eve of president reagan's visit. we don't know if he's going to be taking questions tomorrow but if he is he going to be asked about it because the —— president biden. the american saying they are fully behind israel. israel was strongest ally. they've also been saying you've got to minimise the number of casualties ifjoe biden arrives here with the confirmation of people killed in a hospital in their thousands that is going to be

difficult for the americans not to come out and condemn what israel has done. as you say, we don't know the details at the moment. we're still trying to build up a picture but it does look like this was an israeli air strike on people, civilians sheltering, hundreds killed. israel in the pastor said look, it's going after hamas command centres, individual senior leaders within but if it turns out they were going after an individual who within this hospital or a command center, does itjustify killing hundreds of people? itjustify killing hundreds of --eole?, ., itjustify killing hundreds of mole-7�*s itjustify killing hundreds of neale? ., .,, ., itjustify killing hundreds of people? john, as we look at pictures ofthe people? john, as we look at pictures of the injured _ people? john, as we look at pictures of the injured being _ people? john, as we look at pictures of the injured being taken _ people? john, as we look at pictures of the injured being taken to - of the injured being taken to another hospital, just explain the geography, explain where this hospital is in terms of central

gaza, in terms of people being told to move from northern gaza into southern gaza. it’s to move from northern gaza into southern gaza.— southern gaza. it's right in the centre of gaza _ southern gaza. it's right in the centre of gaza city. _ southern gaza. it's right in the centre of gaza city. a - southern gaza. it's right in the i centre of gaza city. a big square in the centre of gaza city and that's where it is. it's actually a hospital run by the baptist church was up there aren't that many christians in gaza but this hospital was run by them. it's actually not far from where the bbc�*s office is in gaza. i've been past the hospital many, many times. and although 600,000 people have left north of gaza and headed south after they were told to evacuate their homes there are many people who stayed put. in particular the injured, the severely injured, people in hospitals and people who say look, we simply can't move our families. if they are going to stay put they've got to find somewhere relatively safe to go. people have been going to un schools, other un

facilities but also to hospitals. we've seen al—shifa hospital hospital, the biggest city two hospital, the biggest city two hospital in gaza, that has been swamped with people camping out on the grounds. as i say, i've not seen the situation at this particular hospital before their strike for that certainly the pictures i've been seeing this evening suggest that there were many, many people not being treated there butjust trying to seek shelter. just not being treated there but 'ust trying to seek shelter.i trying to seek shelter. just to reiterate. _ trying to seek shelter. just to reiterate, no _ trying to seek shelter. just to reiterate, no comment i trying to seek shelter. just to reiterate, no comment yet i trying to seek shelter. just to i reiterate, no comment yet from the israeli authorities or the government there? hot israeli authorities or the government there? israeli authorities or the covernment there? ., ., �* government there? not that i've seen. i government there? not that i've seen- i think _ government there? not that i've seen. ithink israel— government there? not that i've seen. i think israel will - government there? not that i've seen. i think israel will say i government there? not that i've seen. i think israel will say it i government there? not that i've seen. i think israel will say it is i seen. i think israel will say it is investigating what happened. but we haven't had confirmation that they carried out the strike and we haven't had in explanation why they did it, if they did. whati haven't had in explanation why they did it, if they did. what i would say is something you touched on earlier, across the west bank were

hearing that mosques are broadcasting from the minarets, urging people to come out in the west bank and protest and we're beginning to see images of that happening. this could be a moment where really sparks this conflict, which is already inflamed really into life. we will stay with this breaking news story in gaza city. do stay with us. hello, i'm christian fraser. this is the context. some 4,000 people are sheltering at this hospital, as well as all of the people being treated there, and he has told us that 80%

of the hospital has been destroyed. international law says that you don't target hospitals. so, for this to happenjust as mr biden is arriving makes his trip hugely, hugely harder. just as the world united to defeat the nazis, i |just as the world united to defeat| isis, the world has to stand united behind israel to defeat hamas. at least 300 people have been killed in an israeli air strike on a hospital in gaza ciry. officials say that there may be hundreds of victims in the rubble. the israeli army has not yet commented. after days of heavy israeli bombardment, 3,000 palestinians are dead. the un says a bigger catastrophe is upon us. there is barely five days

of food and water left for two million palestinians, and the hospitals are