both sides in the conflict blame each other for the blast. joe biden is on his way to israel, but the palestinian and egyptian presidents have cancelled planned talks with him in the wake of the blast. 17 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit — andrew malkinson speaks to us about his long fight forjustice. its all about numbers and targets, notiust_ its all about numbers and targets, not just out of his community gym in newcastle _ not just out of his community gym in newcastle this morning, but also when _ newcastle this morning, but also when it_ newcastle this morning, but also when it comes to inflation. we get ofthe when it comes to inflation. we get of the september _ when it comes to inflation. we get of the september figure _ when it comes to inflation. we get of the september figure today - when it comes to inflation. we get of the september figure today and j when it comes to inflation. we get l of the september figure today and i will explain why it is so important for pensions and benefits. in sport, england have qualified for next year's european championship. harry kane scores twice as his side beat italy 3—1 at wembley. good morning. storm babet is coming our way today, bringing heavy rain

in the south and west. for the rest of us it will be fairly cloudy with sunny spells. but the wind will strengthen widely throughout the day. details later in the programme. good morning. it's wednesday, 18th october. there's been international condemnation after an explosion at a hospital in gaza is reported to have killed at least 500 people. the blast has raised the diplomatic stakes for president biden, who's currently flying to israel to try to prevent the violence spreading elsewhere in the middle east. hamas — a group designated as a terror organisation by many western governments — says the al ahli hospital was hit by an israeli air strike. but israel has blamed the palestinian group, islamichhad, but it's denied any involvement, describing the accusations as lies. wyre davies has the latest. pictures from gaza last night showed scenes of utter chaos.

bloodied, wounded casualties from the partially destroyed al ahli arab hospital. videos — many too graphic to broadcast — showed the broken bodies of children and adults lying among the rubble and wrecked cars in the street. bomb blast allah! the hospital itself in flames. palestinian health officials said hundreds of people were killed in what they say was an israeli air strike. among the casualties, many who had already been forced to evacuate their homes and were sheltering in or around the hospital. israel later said that, according to its intelligence reports, a failed rocket launched by palestinian militants was to blame. we would not deliberately target a hospital. now, my information that i have just

received from the highest authority, because i asked about this, i knew you would ask me about this, is that all indications are that this was not israeli ordnance, but this was rather a hamas rocket that fell short. now, i want to explain this. from past conflicts with the terrorists in gaza, we know that on average, about 33% of the rockets that they shoot at us fall short and land in gaza. this is the dramatically deteriorating situation into which president biden is arriving, an american leader keen to show his personal support for israel, but well aware things are in danger of spiraling out of control. growing increasingly desperate are the relatives of the almost 200 hostages kidnapped by hamas during its murderous incursion into southern israel. evil, evil, evil persons. i don't think they are human beings. jennifer master is an american citizen whose boyfriend andrei is thought to be among the hostages.

she wants her president to press for their safe return. i appreciate the support of the usa and president biden. as an american citizen, i feel protected. ifeel that i'm seen, and i want to be seen also as an israeli citizen, because right now i don't feel safe, i don't feel seen. the israeli government has vowed to crush hamas. but many of these protesters in tel aviv last night fear what that might mean for their missing loved ones. clearly this is a fast—moving story. it will dominate the programme this morning. we are going to talk to our correspondents in the middle east and the uk to try to make sense of it for you. also, we look at the reaction in the region itself.

our correspondent john donnison has more. fury in the west bank. in ramallah, youths battled with palestinian security forces, who responded with tear gas and sound grenades. as reports of the hospital strike came in from gaza, thousands took to the streets in protest. there is anger directed at israel, but also at president mahmoud abbas and his palestinian authority, which many perceive as weak and lacking legitimacy. mr abbas announced he was cancelling a meeting with president biden injordan and was flying home. there were mass protests there this evening too, and clashes outside the israeli embassy in amman. translation: during | the foundation of israel when it occupied this area, they are breaching international humanitarian law. geneva agreement is obvious in this regard. medical centres or hospitals should not be touched. in turkey also, thousands rallied against israel. as the war in gaza escalates

it is a dangerous moment for the wider region. jon donnison bbc news. let's get the latest from our diplomatic correspondent paul adams, who is in jerusalem. i know it's a very complicated picture, but what more have we learned about this attack overnight? well, we're still in the business of claim and counterclaim. clearly, the palestinian authority and palestinian authority and palestinian sources in gaza believe this was an israeli air strike. the israelis were very quick last night to say that was not the case. as you just heard in your piece there, they are arguing this was a misfired palestinian rocket. fired by one of the palestinian factions in the gaza strip. they point to the fact this has happened in the past. certainly

some military analysts are looking at this from a distance are questioning whether this might indeed have been an israeli air strike, orsomething indeed have been an israeli air strike, or something else. indeed have been an israeli air strike, orsomething else. so indeed have been an israeli air strike, or something else. sol think the honest answer is we don't yet know. the israelis are promising to provide what they regard as hard evidence at a briefing just about now, so we may learn something in the coming hours. but as we have seen, both in this country, in gaza, in the west bank and around the region, this has caused absolute fury and is setting the worst possible stage forjoe biden�*s visit which is due to begin in a couple of hours. , , ~ hours. yes, president biden in the air as we speak. — hours. yes, president biden in the air as we speak, due _ hours. yes, president biden in the air as we speak, due to _ hours. yes, president biden in the air as we speak, due to land - hours. yes, president biden in the air as we speak, due to land on . hours. yes, president biden in the air as we speak, due to land on a i air as we speak, due to land on a couple of hours. even while he has been travelling from the united states his plans have changed, changes have been forced upon him. what challenges will he face when he lands today?

what challenges will he face when he lands toda ? , what challenges will he face when he lands today?— lands today? these are huge challenges- _ lands today? these are huge challenges. obviously, - lands today? these are huge challenges. obviously, the i lands today? these are huge - challenges. obviously, the principal objective is once again to provide an unambiguous expression of support for the state of israel as it goes about responding to the events of ten or ii about responding to the events of ten or 11 days ago. that was always going to be front and centre. joe biden is due to meet relatives of people killed in those communities attacked by hamas and obviously to meet israeli leaders. but he was also hoping to go tojordan to meet king hussein and the palestinian authority leader mahmoud abbas. as well as the egyptian president. that leg of the journey has been cancelled. president a bass last night was quick to say he was not going to go to thejordanian capital, amman, he would stay in ramallah, where he has his headquarters. half of president biden�*s trip has been pulled out from under his speak —— feet. the

point about that was to try to prevent this conflict from escalating into a wider regional conflict. obviously the americans acutely conscious of the fact there has been violence on israel's northern border involving the lebanese militia group hezbollah. any effort to address the regional dimension of this conflict is proving even more difficult than it was going to be already. paul adams, thank you. in a post on x, the foreign secretary, james cleverly, described the explosion as a devastating loss of human life, and said the uk and its allies will work to find out what caused the explosion. our chief political correspondent henry zeffman joins us now from downing street. suggestions on israel overnight that rishi sunak might also be heading out there in the coming days? it is certainly a — out there in the coming days? it 3 certainly a possibility. this is a very fast moving situation. the situation has moved a lot since

those reports first emerged yesterday evening. i think it's important to understand there is still a pretty clear political consensus between the leaders in both parties, labour and conservative here in the uk, over this situation. that is to say they strongly support israel's right to defend itself. but i think one slight shift that has happened in that consensus over the last few days, and particularly last night, is a particular emphasis on the importance of protecting civilian life while israel defines itself. you saw that in james life while israel defines itself. you saw that injames cleverly, the foreign secretary's response last night to the explosion at the hospital, and also, very similar language from keir starmer, the leader of the labour party in his response. now, just because there is a consensus between the leaders, the frontbenchers of the two parties, doesn't mean that consensus covers every mp in both parties. and i

think you are starting to see a bit more pressure on keir starmerfrom a handful of mps, generally on the left of the labour party, who think that he is not doing enough to emphasise the protection of civilian life. and in some cases they think is overall sense of how israel should respond is wrong, and they think he should be calling for a ceasefire. they are going to get more emphasis from both parties on the protection of civilian life. i don't think you will see either party leader calling for a ceasefire soon. but look, clearly the situation is fast—moving. there is the possibility rishi sunak could visit israel and perhaps other countries in the region potentially as soon as this week. that has not been confirmed by downing street. but it is certainly a possibility. a spokesman for the israeli government last night appeared to reference in passing the possibility of rishi sunak visiting. that wouldn't be anywhere near as significant, i am sure downing street would accept, as

joe biden's visit and the potential consequences of any agreements he might strike out there today. but it would be in line with visits, effectively solidarity visits, made by ursula von der leyen, the president of the european commission, and olaf scholz, the german chancellor, in recent days. we will update you as soon as we can on any more information we have and whether rishi sunak is visiting, and any change in the uk government's response to what is a rapidly changing situation. indeed, we will come back to you when there is news. we will also hear from our when there is news. we will also hearfrom our chief when there is news. we will also hear from our chief international correspondent lyse doucet, from our respondent in gaza, and laterfrom our world affairs editor at the bbc, john simpson. all of them willjoin us here on bbc breakfast. first, sally has more of the news. islamic state group has claimed responsibility for the brussels shooting that killed two swedish nationals on monday. in a statement via its telegram accounts, the group calling itself islamic state identified the gunman as a soldier of is.

the man was shot dead by police on tuesday following a manhunt. the government has agreed to meet the union representing hospital consultants in england, after it said it wouldn't call any more strikes for the time being. doctors belonging to the british medical association first walked out in july in a row about pay. ministers insist they've made their best and final wage offer, but haven't ruled out other incentives. stroke patients in england and wales should be offered three hours of rehabilitation, five days a week, rather than the current 45 minutes. that's according to new guidelines. experts have welcomed the advice from the national institute for health and care excellence but question how feasible it will be for a stretched nhs to deliver. laughing gas will become illegal in november, with dealers facing up to 14 years in prison. the ban is part of the government's anti—social behaviour action plan and will make nitrous oxide a controlled class c drug. it means possession of nitrous oxide

where a person intends to wrongfully inhale it will be an offence. those with a legitimate reason for having the drug will be exempt from the ban, the home office said. the government's independent adviser on infrastructure says ministers should pause the sale of land acquired for the northern leg of the hs2 rail project, which was scrapped earlier this month. sirjohn armitt said there was a real risk that plans for alternative projects could make rail travel between birmingham and manchester even more congested, because there was no longer a proper integrated plan. i think it's a sort of, what we often describe as assertive kneejerk, snap reaction. i think it is a mistake. i think the land should be kept for at least two or three years to give the opportunity for people to revisit that. electric vehicle prices could rise by more than £3,000 next year, unless post—brexit trade rules are delayed, according to an industry body. the society of motor manufacturers and traders

has called on the uk and eu to postpone rules that would add tariffs to ev batteries. the government said it was working with the european commission on a solution. here's carol with a look at this morning's weather. the storm is coming, isn't it? that's right. good morning. storm babet is going to be showing markets and today and for the next few days. the forecast for the rest of the week as heavy rain, torrential downpours for some, and strong winds. even severe gales at times. if we look at the rainfall accumulation chart, we have been showing you this for a while. it is worth showing you again. here is the key. there are a lot of blues on this chart, indicating between 30 and 50 millimetres of rainfall. you can see some whites in north—east scotland and north—east england. that means we will see rainfall in

excess of 100 millimetres. the met office has an amber weather warning out for these four parts of north—east scotland, were on high ground in particular, there will be as much as 200 millimetres. that is following an already saturated ground. it could cause flooding and destruction. today though, for many of us, it is a quiet start to the day. there is a lot of cloud around. we will see some breaks, hazy sunshine in parts of scotland and northern england. but heavy showers, persistent ones as well, coming in across southern and western parts of the country. it is a blustery starter for the winds will strengthen through the course of the day. temperatures ten to 19 degrees. north to south. through this evening and overnight all this rain moves northwards, still heavy and persistent. some showers behind. some of them will be heavy and also potentially thundery. but dreyer and claudia crossley for north of the country. it is not going to be a cold night but it is going to be a windy one, particularly across the north and the north east of

scotland. and then, it looks like it is going to be pretty wet and also windy. i will have is going to be pretty wet and also windy. i will have more is going to be pretty wet and also windy. i will have more on is going to be pretty wet and also windy. i will have more on that later in the programme. thank you. andrew malkinson spent 17 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. he was released injuly this year, after the court of appeal ruled he had been wrongly convicted of rape in 200a. andrew now lives abroad, but has returned to the uk for a few days. jayne mccubbin has filmed his only tv interview. this is previously unseen footage of the day andy malkinson was released from prison. the first thing he has to do was walk on the beach with his mum. he'd just served 17 years for a crime he didn't commit. he could have been out in just over six years if he'd made a false confession, something he was never willing to do. cheering it took another three years before judges finally agreed he was innocent. you leave the court a free man. i was welling up.

that's what i've wanted to hear for 20 years. dreadful, awful miscarriage of justice. it's right that the police apologise. it had taken a 20 year fight before the government admitted this had been an atrocious miscarriage ofjustice. but today, andrew malkinson is sitting down with the bbc to say that that fight is far from over. marking it. what does life look like right now? well, eh, the compensation will take, who knows how long? probably — i heard probably two years. i have nojob, i'm on benefits. you're living in a tent? i'm living in a tent. i'm basically homeless. yeah, that's true. i'm waiting forthem to do the right thing. i'm waiting for the authorities. they have the power to do the right thing, and they have the power to move instantly. they choose to take their time. in the summer of 2003, a security guard called andrew, who loved to travel and watch the stars, was about to have his life turned

upside down. here in salford in the early hours ofjuly 19th, a mother of two was raped, strangled and left for dead. at first, police said they were looking for a man who would have a long scratch down his face. andrew malkinson did not. in fact, there was not a shred of dna evidence against him. it would take his legal team almost two decades to get authorities to re—examine crucial evidence which finally pointed to another suspect, and andrew's acquittal. this horror will always be with me. how do you deal with that day to day? i don't know. i don't know if i have a formula, but ijust deal with it by using the mental resources i've used to survive in prison. kind of at war with the authorities. i've been that way since the day they kidnapped me. they lied. they distorted the truth. they hid exculpatory evidence. that, to me, is a war.

after the acquittal, andrew went to amsterdam to stay with an ex—girlfriend, karen, who'd never, ever doubted his innocence. today, though, this is the tent he lives in on a campsite in spain. he's only briefly returned to the uk to call for the inquiry into his detention to be made a statutory inquiry. 0h, absolutely, yeah, yeah. you want people to be compelled under oath to give evidence? yeah, lawfully compelled. because a non—statutory isn't going to cut it with the police. they've been everything but honest. they will not give it up. they're institutionally dishonest. you've lost faith in... i have no faith. ..in anybody in the uk, and that's why you've left? any british authority... ..higher than a traffic warden. yeah. i don't trust the british.

they can't... hillsborough, bloody sunday — they can't face the truth. and that's why you don't want to — you literally don't want to live here any more? no, no. this isn't my home. this isn't my home, where my friends... your friends don't kidnap you, do they? is there anybody that you were able to get close to in prison? yeah, and not necessarily those who i believed was innocent. i had friends who were guilty, too. in that kind of environment, you can'tjust shun people. that's how you get beaten up or shanked. it's not like here, where we're all civilised. it's not as simple as good and evil. you learn that when you speak to people. they're actually — there's a lot of good people in prison. there's a lot of very bad, dangerous people in prison as well. it sounds like it was important

for you to keep your humanity in prison... yeah, it was. ..and recognise humanity when you saw it? yeah, well, i could feel it slipping away from me in the early days. i was so enraged and angry at what they'd done to me. and then i realised, don't, don't, don't let them make you go that way. don't lose your humanity, rememberwho you are. last night, the ministry ofjustice again refused a statutory inquiry, adding, "the lord chancellor has been clear. andrew malkinson suffered an atrocious miscarriage ofjustice and he deserves thorough and honest answers as to how and why it took so long to uncover." the criminal cases review commission, crown prosecution service and greater manchester police have all pledged their full cooperation to the independent inquiry into the handling of his conviction and subsequent appeals. do you ever feel like life will be... ..normal? can life ever be normal? there will be a sense of normality at some point, yeah, but, eh...

..i can't even begin to get any sense of normality until these things are resolved. can you imagine at some point in the future having a relationship again? it's, it's — i dismissed it from my mind many years ago, because, think about it, the nature of, you know, the nature of what everything has been hanging over me. just because i've cleared my name, that still haunts me. there must have been ambitions that you had pre—2003. and i wonder what your ambitions are now? my ambitions are very, very, very, eh, sort of, erm, humble. i have some some kind of financial freedom to go and live elsewhere. and travel, because i've always liked traveling. 0r possibly i might go to university. that's possible. maths, astronomy? yeah, yeah. possibly astronomy. yeah, something like that. some science based thing. but even chemistry, i guess, something like that. but simple.

i'd be reasonably happy with that. yeah. that was andrew malkinson, speaking to breakfast�*s jayne mccubbin. let's take a look at today's papers. lots of them were printed last night before some of the details of that explosion came to light but they are leading with the explosion at the hospital in gaza. the daily express says hundreds of palestinians are feared to have been killed after a �*massive explosion tore through�* the building. the daily telegraph says president biden is due to arrive in israel at the war�*s �*most dangerous point�*. the us president is expected to arrive in a few hours' time to meet the israeli president benjamin netanyahu. the front page of the daily mirror says the middle east crisis is spiralling, with the headline �*this must end'. it also shares what it says is the last text message from a british mother confirmed

to have died in hamas's attack on southern israel. and another story from the times, which says the nhs is being urged to offer routine menopause mot checks for women after they turn a0 — something we'll be talking about this morning after half seven with journalist and chair of the menopause mandate, mariella frostrup. there is also some important economic data coming out of this morning, the latest inflation figures will tell us how much prices are rising. what will it mean for us and our money? ben is at a community centre in newcastle to find out. good morning. not working quite so hard as everybody else there, i can see! no, but it's early, let me off. they are working hard here as a community gem here of the blakelaw centre. thomas is leading the class that has

been busy since buying on six o'clock. if the gym is not your thing, they also have the post office. if you need any bits and pieces, any essentials. it is never too early for breakfast. that is being prepared here at the cafe. very excited to say we have mrs t with us, irene, as she is kindly let me introduce her. irene, tell me what happens at the blakelaw centre, it helps people with the cost of living? it helps people with the cost of livin: ? ~ . ., ., living? we have the fair trade delivery on — living? we have the fair trade delivery on a _ living? we have the fair trade delivery on a wednesday, - living? we have the fair trade . delivery on a wednesday, people living? we have the fair trade - delivery on a wednesday, people can come _ delivery on a wednesday, people can come in. _ delivery on a wednesday, people can come in, get their goods, very small price _ come in, get their goods, very small price. helping the community. the cost price. helping the community. the cosl of— price. helping the community. the cost of living now is horrendous. this _ cost of living now is horrendous. this delivery that comes on a wednesday helping everybody is amazing. absolutely amazing. i am sure they think _ amazing. absolutely amazing. i am sure they think you _ amazing. absolutely amazing. i am sure they think you are _ amazing. absolutely amazing. i —.n sure they think you are amazing too. we will let you finish your coffee. thank you for having us down here. what irene mentioned there about the cost of living is something that affects people all around the uk. today we get the september inflation figure. it

tells us how much the price of goods and services went up on average compared with a year earlier. now, in august at the rate of inflation slowed to 6.7%. remember that doesn't mean prices were falling. they were still going up, butjust not quite as quickly. the september figure we get of this morning is really important and here's why. the government uses it to calculate how much certain benefits go up in april next year. so in september last year, inflation was a 10.1%. and in april this year we saw benefits go up april this year we saw benefits go up ljy april this year we saw benefits go up by that same amount. under the law is certain benefits must go up at that same rate, things like disability benefit and carers' allowance. for others, like universal credit and jobseeker�*s allowance, the government has the discretion to decide how much they arise by. it hasn't said what it intends to do. the september figure is also important because of state

pensions. it is one of the figures used under the so—called triple lock. they are still going strong in the gym there. i am going to take a step into the post office and i am going to speak to hannah from citizens advice newcastle. the government doesn't have to put up universal credit and jobseeker�*s allowance by this september inflation figure. how much does it matter whether or not it does? 50. matter whether or not it does? so, this increase. _ matter whether or not it does? so, this increase, in _ matter whether or not it does? so, this increase, in terms of the uplift — this increase, in terms of the uplift lry— this increase, in terms of the uplift by the level of inflation, is so important. it would be devastating to millions of households. it would affect around 9 million _ households. it would affect around 9 million working age households up and down — million working age households up and down the country. it is absolutely huge. everybody has the ti l ht absolutely huge. everybody has the right to _ absolutely huge. everybody has the right to have a roof over their head. — right to have a roof over their head, access to water and food, and to be _ head, access to water and food, and to be able _ head, access to water and food, and to be able to — head, access to water and food, and to be able to heat their homes. millions — to be able to heat their homes. millions are currently not able to do so _ millions are currently not able to do so because they are in a negative budget _ do so because they are in a negative budaet. , ., ., , ~

budget. they have got debt. when we talk about inflation _ budget. they have got debt. when we talk about inflation slowing, _ budget. they have got debt. when we talk about inflation slowing, do - budget. they have got debt. when we talk about inflation slowing, do you i talk about inflation slowing, do you see that relieving any of the pressure on households from the people you speak to in newcastle? it must be made really clear that inflation — must be made really clear that inflation means prices are rising but less— inflation means prices are rising but less quickly. but it is still affecting _ but less quickly. but it is still affecting things like food. we have seen huge increases in rent, mortgage costs and the like. if i'm completely honest, then we are seeing — completely honest, then we are seeing destitution. that is why we are actually urging the government to increase the levels of benefits that they — to increase the levels of benefits that they are at the moment. and at a very— that they are at the moment. and at a very minimum we must ensure that local housing allowance that covers people _ local housing allowance that covers people pass housing costs, and also ensure _ people pass housing costs, and also ensure that — people pass housing costs, and also ensure that working age benefits like universal credit, where 40% of people _ like universal credit, where 40% of people are — like universal credit, where 40% of people are working households, it will affect — people are working households, it will affect all of those families too. ., ~ will affect all of those families too. . ~ , ., , will affect all of those families too. . ~ , ., will affect all of those families too. . , _ too. thank you. it is a busy community _ too. thank you. it is a busy community centre. - too. thank you. it is a busy community centre. we - too. thank you. it is a busy community centre. we will| too. thank you. it is a busy i community centre. we will be too. thank you. it is a busy - community centre. we will be here through the morning. they are getting the post office ready. i

will bring you the september inflation figure as soon as we get arejust a few inflation figure as soon as we get are just a few minutes after seven o'clock. ., ~' , ., are just a few minutes after seven o'clock. ., ~ , ., ,, , ., are just a few minutes after seven o'clock. ., ~ ,, o'clock. thank you. see you soon. it is a very busy _ o'clock. thank you. see you soon. it is a very busy community _ o'clock. thank you. see you soon. it is a very busy community centre. i is a very busy community centre. 6:30am in the morning. keep pumping iron. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. a very good morning from bbc london. i'm alice salfield. a father who believes his son would still be alive if he'd been able to get a second opinion from another doctor has set up a group to support others. he claims his son, 30—year—old balram patel from finchley, was given "unsuitable" treatment that had previously failed to work when he was discharged from st thomas's hospital. balram's lungs became fatally flooded and he died in august. jay patel has now founded patients lives matter. i can't bring balram back. but what i can do is try and help others that they don't go

through what we're going through, don't go through what he went through. because it's notjust jay patel talking because jay patel�*s experiences, it's the british public saying, what's going on? guy's and st thomas' nhs trust said: "we wish to extend our deepest sympathies to balram's family. balram had incredibly complex health needs. any concerns the family have will be fully investigated." food banks say they're bracing themselves for the worst winter yet expecting to deliver more than1 million emergency food parcels. the trussell trust forecasts more than 600,000 people will need the support of food banks between december and next february. mps will question those running the british museum about thefts from the institution's collection. in august it disclosed that items including gold jewellery, semi—precious stones and glass were missing, stolen or damaged. it was later revealed to be an estimated 2,000 artefacts. the culture, media and sport committee said it would "focus

on the reputational and financial implications for the museum". the mayor has written to the government saying he's considering a discount for low income londoners on future tolls for using the blackwall and silvertown tunnels. both tunnels in east london are due to be tolled from 2025. in the letter sadiq khan says cars could be charged around £5. he's asked that any discounts don't affect funding for transport for london. let's take a look at the tubes now. and there's a good service on all lines at the moment. now onto the weather with katerina christodoulou. hello there, good morning to you. it is going to feel rather autumnal out there today. the wind is picking up out there at the moment, a breezy start, and we are really going to feel the impact of storm babet as we head to the afternoon. heavy and persistent rain on the way accompanied by strong winds. a milder air mass to follow but the potential there for some heavy and thundery showers on thursday. this morning, it is quite breezy, there will be a few sunny spells around. one or two showers.

and longer spells of rain pushing in through the course of this afternoon and some of that rain could really fall quite heavy. accompanied by a strong easterly wind, we are high today wind, we are looking at highs today of around 16 celsius. and that rain will continue through this evening. we see the green indicating these heaviest bursts. eventually that rain will push northwards. it will be dry for a time but further showers will push in from the south, potentially heavy and thundery. temperatures will fall away potentially to around 15 celsius and it is going to stay quite breezy wherever you are. another breezy day on thursday, some heavy and thundery showers on the way with temperatures up to around 18 celsius. that's all for now. there's plenty more on our website or follow london on the bbc news app. back to sally and jon. let's return to our main story now and the situation in the middle east. there has been international condemnation after an explosion at a hospital in gaza that's feared

to have killed at least 500 people. it happened at the al ahli hospital in the north of the region late yesterday evening. pictures from the scene, many of which are too graphic to show, give a sense of the scale of destruction at the site, where it's reported that hundreds of people were already taking shelter after being displaced from their homes. hamas has blamed israel for the strike, which israeli officials say was caused by rockets misfired by a group called palestinian islamichhad. we are looking at exactly what happened. and it's being investigated. and let me be clear, the idf does not target hospitals. that's a sensitive site, it's a humanitarian site. we don't target hospitals.

it comes as us presidentjoe biden is due to arrive in israel this morning in a show of support for its ally, following an attack by hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organisation by governments including the us and the uk, that left 1,300 israelis dead. a planned summit with arab leaders injordan has been cancelled. last night, following the blast on the hospital in gaza, protests took place across the west bank, as well as many middle eastern countries, including jordan, lebanon and turkey. this is the scene in gaza this morning where there are ongoing efforts to get aid in for those many hundreds of thousands of displaced people. you can see some you can see some smoke across you can see some smoke across the skyline there. and just to remind you, at least 600,000 palestinians have fled the northern gaza strip for the south since those israeli

military warnings. israel has blocked essential supplies to gaza in retaliation for that attack on the 7th of october. let's speak now to bel trew, who's the international correspondent for the independent. good morning, bel. there seems to be complete confusion about who was responsible for this explosion at the hospital, may bejust responsible for this explosion at the hospital, may be just explain who is saying what at the moment. from the palestinian side they are very clear that it was an israeli strike. they immediately said, the gaza health ministry said that it was, it had to be an israeli strike because they were such a high death toll, such a huge explosion and that has been echoed by hamas's partners throughout the region, iran has also blamed israel but other regional countries also say that israel are responsible, condemnations from

qatar and turkey. the israelis at first when i was talking to the military as this happened, they say they were investigating, they sent me one statement and then contradicted it by saying they were not responsible, blaming the palestinian islamichhad, one of the groups in the region, they say it was a failed rocket launch, they have multiple videos they say is evidence for failed rocket launch. they sent us this morning satellite imagery of the area affected, saying there was not a crater which would be similar to one of their missiles. unless there is independent investigators on the ground who have an access to the video footage and satellite imagery, it is impossible to say who is correct and the most important thing is that hundreds of people who were mostly displaced, women and children, were killed. messages have come from doctors this morning saying they are running out of medical supplies, potentially even operating without anaesthetic on some because supplies are running

low. people who are impacted here are civilians. brute low. people who are impacted here are civilians.— are civilians. we are six pictures of protests _ are civilians. we are six pictures of protests in — are civilians. we are six pictures of protests in the _ are civilians. we are six pictures of protests in the west - are civilians. we are six pictures of protests in the west bank i are civilians. we are six pictures of protests in the west bank in l are civilians. we are six pictures i of protests in the west bank in the —— seeing pictures, in the hours after that explosion at the hospital. explain across the region why what happened last night is so potentially significant for those people on the ground.- potentially significant for those people on the ground. there has been many instances _ people on the ground. there has been many instances of _ people on the ground. there has been many instances of bombing _ people on the ground. there has been many instances of bombing of - people on the ground. there has been many instances of bombing of gaza, i many instances of bombing of gaza, whether the corded escalation, conflict, war, this is the fourth one i have personally covered but there has been fired since 2009. this is the single largest death toll from one strike as far as aware, since that first happened, the first war between hamas and israel in 2008. it's a huge loss of life. and it's also a hospital, and they are displaced people. people who are fleeing further northern parts of gaza, who don't know where to go and who have taken refuge in this hospital believing they were

safer. that's why there is so much anger because the death toll is so high and the death toll included so many women and children. i have seen very gruesome photos from the ground which show dead bodies of children. this has struck to the core of people here in the region and it is also very upsetting for people in gaza and it comes at a time where there is a massive humanitarian catastrophe in the gaza strip. humanitarian aid is not being allowed in. israel itself has declared a total siege on the tiny enclave. there are massive problems of medical supplies, water supplies, electricity, powerfor of medical supplies, water supplies, electricity, power for the generators, hospitals, there is a multiple of humanitarian crises on top of each other. band multiple of humanitarian crises on top of each other.— multiple of humanitarian crises on top of each other. and against that com - lex top of each other. and against that complex backdrop, _ top of each other. and against that complex backdrop, president i top of each other. and against that | complex backdrop, president biden right now is in a plane about to touch down in israel. how on earth does he deal with this situation? i think that is going to be the million dollar question today. he was supposed to be having a summit

as well injordan with arab leaders including the palestinian leadership, that has been cancelled. there has been a curious shuttle diplomacy from the us in the region, antony blinken has done an extraordinary tour in the last few days to try and at least work out a humanitarian corridor into gaza, to perhaps work out how best this situation on the ground can happen, some reports saying they want to rein in possible plans for a ground invasion of gaza. at the moment he is only going to be seeing people in israel. what can that achieve is the question. the situation in gaza has got to such a crisis point that there needs to be a taken in immediately. the un has repeatedly said that the water has running out, food is running out, electricity has stopped, fuel to generate in hospitals is basically finished. —— generators. so people are going to diejust notjust from generators. so people are going to die just notjust from air or die just not just from air or

whatever die just notjust from air or whatever but from waterborne diseases, thirst, die from their wounds. because they cannot be treated and this is happening right now in real time. there is an urgent need for some sort of humanitarian corridor and i don't know howjoe biden will be able to broker that if he is being turned away from the door by the regional actors here. thank you joining us this morning on bbc breakfast, bel trew, independent reporterfor bbc breakfast, bel trew, independent reporter for the independent. bbc breakfast, bel trew, independent reporterfor the independent. —— reporter for the independent. —— international reporterfor the independent. —— international reporter. you can get more news and analysis on the ongoing situation with a new bbc podcast. the conflict: israel—gaza is presented by our chief international correspondent lyse doucet, and is available now on the bbc sounds app, or wherever you get your podcasts. it is 6:42am, you are watching bbc breakfast. it was a big night in the euros qualification. yes, england have done theirjob, they are sorted and they will be in

germany for 2024 euros. the eighth major tournament in a row they have qualified for, 2008 was the last time, the umbrella and steve mcclaren? i time, the umbrella and steve mcclaren?— time, the umbrella and steve mcclaren? ., ., ., ., mcclaren? i had forgotten about that! they have _ mcclaren? i had forgotten about that! they have succeeded i mcclaren? i had forgotten about that! they have succeeded to i mcclaren? i had forgotten about| that! they have succeeded to the sensor that _ that! they have succeeded to the sensor that was _ that! they have succeeded to the sensor that was so _ that! they have succeeded to the sensor that was so seminal i that! they have succeeded to the sensor that was so seminal theyl sensor that was so seminal they didn't want to repeat that. those two people were the pivotal people. england confirmed their qualification for euro 2024 in germany next summer after coming from behind to beat italy 3—1 at wembley. the game's england goals came from kane and rashford butjude bellingham was its beating heart. our sports correspondent joe wilson reports. there was a reflective start at wembley as directed by uefa. silence to remember two swedish visitors killed in belgium when football could not go on. england versus italy was a celebration of football initiated by the italians. 15 minutes gone, english defence unpicked, 1—0, simple as that. england's response was driven byjude bellingham. first his run into the box, the contact and the penalty.

when harry kane has these opportunities, you know what's coming next. nearly always. 1-1. second half bellingham again, breaking forwards. energy, creativity. marcus rashford could take it from there and he really took it from there. now, that was impressive. the third goal was everything you'd like to see in a centre forward as displayed by harry kane. strength, determination, balance and the finish. now, that's the way to qualify. well, how italy would love to boast england's attacking resources, same could be said for any of england's european rivals. that surely now why gareth southgate's team must look ahead with qualification and with real excitement. joe wilson, bbc news at wembley. elsewhere, northern ireland's dismal campaign continued as they lost 1—0 to slovenia at windsor park and had a player sent off. it was a sixth defeat in their last seven games.

scotland have been celebrating their qualification after it was confirmed on sunday evening but their first game since showed perhaps how the stakes will be raised in germany next summer. they were beaten 4—1 by france in a friendly. things started brightly for billy gilmour. france's eduardo camavinga inexplicably set up the brighton midfielder to score his first senior international goal. that was as good as it got for what was a much—changed scotland side in lille as france came back to win comfortably. kingsley coman here providing the fourth. chelsea's fran kirby is back in the england squad for the women's nations league matches later this month. both she and barcelona midfielder keira walsh have returned from injury. no place though for beth mead who missed the world cup. she came back from her acl injury for arsenal in sunday's women's super league victory over aston villa but hasn't been selected. to be honest, she was not close. she's at a good place now. she's been out for nine months. she had herfirst minutes,

which was very nice to see. and she was really happy, the crowd was really happy, so gave a lot of energy too. but i think she first has to build at club, show performance at club, and get that consistency back. new rangers manager phillipe clement says he has no magic wand to wave as he takes over a team already seven points behind scottish premiership leaders celtic. but he's won a couple of titles in his native belgium and insists their challenge this season is farfrom over. we are going to work really hard to get as fast as possible silverware. and to make this story step—by—step bigger and bigger. how fast it comes, you never know, you don't have this crystal ball. i don't have, i'm not a magician also that suddenly can totally change players. but i know if we can work a long time with players that we can make them better. and another shock at the cricket world cup. after afghanistan beat england, now south africa's100% record has been ended by the netherlands.

south africa had a good start in dharamsala winning the toss then reducing their opponents to 82 for five at one stage. but captain scott edwards helped steady the netherlands ship with an unbeaten 78. chasing 246, south africa slipped to 44—4 and were eventually bowled out in the last over 38 runs short. afghanistan beating england, they play the other team that have beaten england in india so far in the tournament, new zealand, later today, that is the game in the cricket world cup today. jude bellingham — cricket world cup today. jude bellingham is _ cricket world cup today. jude bellingham is quite _ cricket world cup today. iice: bellingham is quite good, isn't cricket world cup today. iic9: bellingham is quite good, isn't he? he has apparently, quite good! thank you. for many women, symptoms of the menopause can often be debilitating and have a significant impact on everyday life. now, a group of mps and peers is calling for more support for those who are going through it. the manifesto for menopause is calling for nhs healthchecks for every woman when they turn 40, as well as more funding and better support from gps.

fiona lamdin reports. congratulations, how are you feeling? at 43, sheetal was a vlogger in bristol who held down threejobs. i would just host live breakfast shows and then go straight to my dayjob. it was constant, but it never felt like a drag. ijust really enjoyed the fast pace. but after a thyroid operation at the end of last year, she began to struggle with what she now believes are menopause symptoms. no sleep, myjoints would hurt, crying uncontrollably. i would just cry all day, all night. i would cry in myjob, on my 12 hour shift. a constant bereavement. it's like being in a tunnel of darkness and not being able to escape. i couldn't even do myjob any more. i stopped walking, i started to use buses more, whereas people know i walk everywhere. i'm very motivated. so i'd lost all my motivation.

not knowing what was happening to her, she thought about taking her own life. her mum finally got her to the gp. when you went to the doctor, did they ever mention menopause? was that ever brought up? it wasn't, no. they gave me antidepressants and then they gave me... first of all, they gave me something for my sleep, which i didn't take. in south asian culture, is menopause discussed? i'm from that generation where, you know, unless life is great, people talk about the successes, they don't talk about when things are not going well. no—one spoke about the other dark side of what goes on. hi, good morning, are you ok? i'm all right, how are you today? yeah, i'm good. but after meeting marva, a menopause coach recently, sheetal says everything has begun to make sense. and how's the anxiety going? it's, it's better. four years ago, marva struggled, too.

she now helps hundreds of women. my driving force is that i don't want any woman to go through what i went through. i want them to basically get the help they need as soon as possible. i've had so many husbands say to me, "you've saved my marriage. she just gets angry for no reason." and when you explain it's to do with the estrogen and progesterone levels, i call it like that eureka moment, like they suddenly think, "ah—ha, that's what's actually going on." and now they're both desperate that the all party menopause manifesto, led by mp carolyn harris, actually changes legislation. so tell me your story then. mine was, it felt like a breakdown. by the time you reach 40 you haven't had that conversation, _ then a doctor needs to have that conversation to be able to say i to you, "these are the symptoms, i are you experiencing any of them?" i'm really nodding because it feels like it's coming along. they believe had they seen their gps

at 40 for a menopause health check, it would have saved them months of pain and confusion. i'm excited at the idea that doctors will challenge and ask questions early on, women in theirforties. to me, thatjust sounds perfect. we should have a flag. definitely. well, i'm post—menopausal and i'm very, very happy. i really wanted to share myjourney because it has been absolutely horrendous. and six months on, how are you now? much better. if i hadn't reached out to marva, i wouldn't have been here. i wouldn't be talking to you right now. it would have been another stat. you know, our lives are so precious and when you're in that state, you're not thinking straight. don't deal with it on your own because you're not on your own. enjoy your week, if you need me, you know where i am. thank you so much. fiona lamdin, bbc news. late in the programme will be talking to mariella frostrup about that menopause manifesto. and there

is potential checks for women over 40 want to see their gp. bind is potential checks for women over 40 want to see their gp. and where the money — 40 want to see their gp. and where the money is _ 40 want to see their gp. and where the money is going _ 40 want to see their gp. and where the money is going to _ 40 want to see their gp. and where the money is going to come - 40 want to see their gp. and where the money is going to come from i 40 want to see their gp. and where the money is going to come from to fund that. we need to talk to carol because there are some strong weather warnings, this storm babet, how close is it? very close, coming into the south today. it is bringing in notjust heavy rain but strong winds, and not just today but much of the rest of the week. i keep showing you this chart but it is a good illustration of the amount of rainfall we are expecting right the way up until the weekend. here is the key, in the top of the charts, you can see we have got some white in there, that indicates rainfall amounts in excess of 100 millimetres. the met office has an amber weather warning out for parts of north—east scotland, it runs from thursday to friday with up to 200 millimetres of rainfall falling especially on higher ground.

there is the risk of some disruption and some localised flooding. today it is not as cold as that of the day in the north as it was yesterday, a very mild start across the board. heavy showers coming in across the south and west, starting off on a blustery note but the wind is going to strengthen through the course of the day. away from the south and west it will be largely dry, fairly cloudy with the odd bit of hazy sunshine appearing in southern scotland and northern england. temperature is ten to 19 degrees. through this evening and overnight the main moves north, heavy and persistent, getting into northern england, through northern ireland and into southern scotland with heavy showers coming in behind. you might even hear the odd rumble of thunder through the course of the night as well. wind will strengthen across the north and north—east of scotland and as a result it will not be cold. this is storm babet in the north of the country through the course of tomorrow, producing heavy

rain. an area of low pressure tracks in from the atlantic, more on that in from the atlantic, more on that in a jiffy. tomorrow we could see some really large rainfall totals across north—east scotland and for a time north—east england as well. it's also going to be very windy tomorrow with gales and severe gales in the north and north—east. push further south, in the north and north—east. push furthersouth, it in the north and north—east. push further south, it will be blustery, drier, and we will have some sunshine and showers. these are the temperatures, ten in the north to 18 in the south. it's friday there is some uncertainty about the forecast. remember that no pressure coming in from the atlantic? it is looking like it is coming into the near continent, but it could be bringing some heavy rain into the south—east of the country. on the other side there will be showers which will be heavy but the rain will ease across scotland. it will still be a windy day during the course of friday, once again we are looking at gales or severe gales across the north of scotland and along the north sea

coastline. as we head into the weekend it does turn drier. it also turns chilly and the winds will ease. thank you. the head of m15 has said the security service is monitoring for increased risks to the uk as the israel—gaza war continues. ken mccallum was speaking at his first everjoint appearance with counterparts from the so—called five eyes intelligence group. our security correspondent gordon corera has the latest. seen in public for the first time together, what are known as the five eyes. these are the security chiefs of five allies, the us, uk, australia, canada and new zealand, appearing together in california to warn of the threat of secrets being stolen. but speaking in the shadow of violence in the middle east. this is the first time after all those years that we've ever chosen to come together in public. here from the uk is the head of m15, ken mccallum. before the event i spoke to him about the threats he sees,

including those resulting from hamas's attack on israel. the scale and the monstrous nature of that attack is a shock. and what does it mean for the uk and for security in the uk? is there a risk of that conflict spilling over onto the streets of the uk? we've seen radicalisation being fuelled by various conflicts across the world over the last generation and clearly one of the things that concerns me most right now is to understand quite what the shape of uk impact will be coming from the recent and ongoing unfolding events in the middle east. the meetings focus was not the middle east but china. it was held at stanford university because it's at the heart of silicon valley, home of technological innovation. the message was that companies need to understand the risks of their work being stolen. if you're working today at the cutting edge of technology, then geopolitics is interested in you, even if you're not interested in geopolitics. but at the individual company

level, what it can mean is that the precious assets that you have worked so hard to develop through your research, through your innovation, through your perspiration, those assets can be stolen from you pretty quickly by ruthless actors backed by states on the other side of the world. the challenge for m15 is dealing with competing threats. how do you balance the ability to track a teenage would—be terrorist consuming extreme right wing hate filled material in his bedroom and potentially considering buying a bladed weapon with the longer term risks posed by theft of precious cutting edge research from one of our universities? they both matter to our national security. but trying to find the best available way of responding to these competing risks is one of the most challenging parts of our role. and so after this brief appearance for the public, the five eyes will go back to watching. gordon corera, bbc news, california.

time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. good morning. i'm alice salfield. a father has told bbc london he believes his son would still be alive if he'd been able to get a second opinion from another doctor. jay patel claims his son, 30—year—old balram patel from finchley, was given unsuitable treatment that had previously failed to work, when he was discharged from st thomas' hospital. balram's lungs became fatally flooded and he died in august. his father has now set up a group, patients lives matter to help others. i can't bring balram back. but what i can do is try and help others that they don't go through what we're going through, don't go through what he went through. because it's notjust jay patel talking because of jay patel�*s experiences, it's the british public

saying, what's going on? guy's and st thomas' nhs trust said: "we wish to extend our deepest sympathies to balram's family. any concerns the family have will be fully investigated." food banks say they're bracing themselves for the worst winter yet, expecting to deliver more than one million emergency food parcels. the trussell trust predicts more than 600,000 people will need the support of food banks between december and next february. mps will question bosses at the british museum about thefts from the institution's collection. in august it disclosed that items, including gold jewellery, semi—precious stones and glass, were missing, stolen or damaged. it was later revealed to be an estimated 2,000 artefacts. the committe said it would focus on the reputational and financial implications for the museum. the mayor has written to the government saying he's considering a discount for low income londoners on future tolls for using the blackwall and silvertown tunnels.

both tunnels in east london are due to be tolled from 2025. in the letter, sadiq khan says cars could be charged around £5. he's asked that any discounts don't affect funding for transport for london. let's take a quick look at the tubes now. now onto the weather with katerina christodoulou. hello there, good morning to you. it is going to feel rather autumnal out there today. the wind is picking up out there at the moment, a breezy start, and we are really going to feel the impact of storm babet as we head to the afternoon. heavy and persistent rain on the way accompanied by strong winds. a milder air mass to follow but the potential there for some heavy and thundery showers on thursday. this morning, it is quite breezy, there will be a few sunny spells around. one or two showers. and longer spells of rain pushing in through the course of this afternoon and some of that rain could really fall quite heavy. accompanied by a strong easterly

wind, we are high today of around 16 celsius. and that rain will continue through this evening. we see the green indicating these heaviest bursts. eventually that rain will push northwards. it will be dry for a time but further showers will push in from the south, potentially heavy and thundery. temperatures will fall away potentially to around 15 celsius and it is going to stay quite breezy wherever you are. another breezy day on thursday, some heavy and thundery showers on the way with temperatures up to around 18 celsius. good morning, welcome to breakfast with sally nugent. our headlines today. at least 500 people are feared dead after in an explosion at a hospital in gaza. both sides in the conflict blame the other for the blast.

let me be clear, the idf does not target hospitals. it's a sensitive side, it is a humanitarian site. we do not target hospitals. joe biden is on his way to israel, but the palestinian and egyptian presidents have cancelled planned talks with him in the wake of the blast. the blast has brought you international greg mcbride international greg mcbride international condemnation. we'll bring you the latest with our correspondents around the region throughout the programme. in other news, a manifesto for the menopause — a group of mps calls for more support for women, including making it part of a regular health check for the over 40s. it is all about the numbers. and inflation in september remained at 6.7%, the same as it was in august. i a good reaction at this community post office in newcastle. —— i will get reaction. in sport, england have qualified for next year's european championship.

harry kane scores twice as his side beat italy 3—1 at wembley. good morning. storm babet is coming our way today bringing heavy and persistent rain into the south and west. for many it will be a dry day but cloudy. for all, the wind will strengthen. details later. good morning. it's wednesday, 18th october. there's been international condemnation after an explosion at a hospital in gaza is feared to have killed at least 500 people. the blast has raised the diplomatic stakes for president biden, who's currently flying to israel to try to prevent the violence spreading elsewhere in the middle east. hamas — a group designated as a terror organisation by many western governments including the uk — says the al ahli hospital was hit by an israeli air strike. but israel has blamed a palestinian group, islamichhad, which has denied any involvement, describing the accusations as lies. wyre davies has the latest.

pictures from gaza last night showed scenes of utter chaos. bloodied, wounded casualties from the partially destroyed al ahli arab hospital. videos — many too graphic to broadcast — showed the broken bodies of children and adults lying among the rubble, and wrecked cars in the street. bomb blast allah! the hospital itself in flames. palestinian health officials said hundreds of people were killed in what they say was an israeli air strike. among the casualties, many who had already been forced to evacuate their homes and were sheltering in or around the hospital. israel later said that, according to its intelligence

reports, a failed rocket launched by palestinian militants was to blame. we are looking at exactly what happened. it is being investigated. let me be clear, the idf does not target hospitals. it is a sensitive side, it is a humanitarian site. we do not target hospitals. this side, it is a humanitarian site. we do not target hospitals.— side, it is a humanitarian site. we do not target hospitals. this is the dramatically _ do not target hospitals. this is the dramatically deteriorating - do not target hospitals. this is the | dramatically deteriorating situation into which president biden is arriving, an american leader keen to show his personal support for israel but one where things are in danger of spiralling out of control. growing increasingly desperate are the relatives of the almost 200 hostages kidnapped by hamas during its murderous incursion into southern israel. evil, evil, evil persons. i don't think they are human beings. jennifer master is an american citizen whose boyfriend andrei is thought to be among the hostages. she wants her president to press for their safe return. i appreciate the support of the usa

and president biden. as an american citizen, i feel protected. ifeel that i'm seen, and i want to be seen also as an israeli citizen, because right now i don't feel safe, i don't feel seen. the israeli government has vowed to crush hamas. but many of these protesters in tel aviv last night fear what that might mean for their missing loved ones. wyre davies, bbc news. so what about reaction across the region? our correspondent john donnison has more. fury in the west bank. in ramallah, youths battled with palestinian security forces, who responded with tear gas and sound grenades. as reports of the hospital strike came in from gaza, thousands took to the streets in protest. there is anger directed at israel, but also at president mahmoud abbas and his palestinian authority, which many perceive as weak and lacking legitimacy.

mr abbas announced he was cancelling a meeting with president biden injordan and was flying home. there were mass protests there this evening too, and clashes outside the israeli embassy in amman. translation: during | the foundation of israel when it occupied this area, they are breaching international humanitarian law. geneva agreement is obvious in this regard. medical centres or hospitals should not be touched. in turkey also, thousands rallied against israel. as the war in gaza escalates it is a dangerous moment for the wider region. jon donnison bbc news. let's get the latest from our chief international correspondent lyse

doucet, who is in southern israel. claim and counterclaim about the attack on the hospital last night. usually distressing images we have seenin usually distressing images we have seen in recent hours. what is the latest you can tell us about the attack? , :, , " latest you can tell us about the attack? , " attack? during the last 11 days, since this crisis _ attack? during the last 11 days, since this crisis first _ attack? during the last 11 days, since this crisis first erupted i attack? during the last 11 days, j since this crisis first erupted on attack? during the last 11 days, l since this crisis first erupted on a scale and of a size never seen before in a region sadly all too familiar with war, the word unprecedented has often been used. this morning we are hearing a new word from the health officials in gaza, who are saying that at the scene at this hospital, the al ahli hospital, is unparalleled and indescribable. they are the grisly list of images, hard to look at. hard to make just about now the israeli defence forces are about to

start a briefing in which they say they will provide solid proof that this was not the result of an israeli air strike, but the result of a missile, israeli air strike, but the result ofa missile, a israeli air strike, but the result of a missile, a misfired missile launched by islamicjihad, another group that operates in the gaza strip. but everyone on all sides of this conflict have already made up their minds. they are, as you say, locked in a vicious and volatile cycle of claim and counterclaim. and in every war there is always the war that unfolds on the ground, the facts of what can be established, and there is the perception of what has happened on the ground. and almost always it is the perception of what happened that fuels the conflict. and this is what we are seeing this morning, what we saw long into the night. this has

ignited fires, realfires long into the night. this has ignited fires, real fires and passions boiling over in capitals across the middle east. huge protests outside the israeli embassy in thejordanian capital amman. huge protests outside the american embassy in beirut. protests too outside the british and french embassies in thai iran. and one after another arab leaders using the words, even greater denunciations of israel than they have been using so far. the palestinian president, mahmoud avast, who hurried back to ramallah from amman, where he was to be meeting president biden, said israel has now crossed all red lines. —— maxsmooth bass. he came home to face protest on the street, not just against israel's home to face protest on the street, notjust against israel's actions but against his own role. this is what was widely feared. in every war there is a moment where there is an accident, a mistake, a mass casualty, and it has the potential

to change the course of the war. everyone now is watching closely. and it made of that chaotic picture joe biden, as you mentioned, flying in, due to land in the next few hours, what can he do today? you can imaaine hours, what can he do today? you can imagine the — hours, what can he do today? you can imagine the deliberations _ hours, what can he do today? you can imagine the deliberations in _ imagine the deliberations in washington yesterday. should he cancel the trip? should he come to israel? he then had what is, it has to be said, it's not before the us president, was told by arab leaders, don't come tojordan, it was described as a mutual decision, but arab leaders, including the jordanian king, the head of the palestinian authority, they are worried about the huge combustible conflict between israel and gaza, but they are also worried about their fermented but they are also worried about theirfermented home. yetjoe biden will come to israel. he will land

sometime this morning. he will have meetings with israeli officials. the us president, the us commander—in—chief, he believes in his own personal power, he is very —— is very strong relationship with his rock, his strong support to israel over many decades can make a difference in this conflict bite speaking face to face to the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, to israeli commanders, to say to them, we have your back, but you also have to do everything possible to get aid into gaza and to protect civilians. but now, when there is a deafening sound of explosions, and we are hearing tank fire, heavy machine—gun fire, we are hearing tank fire, heavy machine—gunfire, bombardments we are hearing tank fire, heavy machine—gun fire, bombardments into gaza, black plumes of smoke have been rising, will they listen to the voice of the american president? israel's staunchest ally also wants to be seen as an honest broker to arab states as well, to find a way

out of this fast escalating crisis. lyse doucet, our chief international correspondent. asking their what the american president can achieve. what should the uk government be doing? in a post on x the foreign secretary, james cleverly, described the explosion as a devastating loss of human life, and said the uk and its allies will work to find out what caused the explosion. our chief political correspondent henry zeffmanjoins us now from westminster. henry, there is speculation that rishi sunak himself might go to israel later in the week?- rishi sunak himself might go to israel later in the week? yeah, it is worth noting — israel later in the week? yeah, it is worth noting that _ israel later in the week? yeah, it is worth noting that that - is worth noting that that speculation first emerged from westminster last nightjust before westminster last night just before this westminster last nightjust before this explosion at the hospital became known about. so, i wonder whether the calculation is being slightly reassessed this morning. i think it is very plausible that it

is. downing street absolutely not commenting on the possibility that rishi sunak might be visiting israel or the region. but you can see that it would be in line with what a lot of the uk's allies have done. olaf scholz, the chancellor of germany, was there yesterday. ursula von der leyen, the president of the european commission, was there last week. a visit would allow rishi sunak to stress the government's two main arguments, one, that israel absolutely has the right to defend itself after the attacks from hamas, and two, that israel should be doing as much as possible to allow humanitarian aid into gaza and protect civilian life. i think that latter point, we are, after the events in the hospital yesterday, go to hear a lot more emphasis on in the house of commons today. i would imagine like a monday you will hear a common position from rishi sunak and keir starmer. but within that common position i think much more emphasis on protection of civilian

life, and much more wariness about how the situation in gaza might deteriorate.— how the situation in gaza might deteriorate. , :, ,, , :, :, deteriorate. henry, thank you for that update- _ deteriorate. henry, thank you for that update. clearly _ deteriorate. henry, thank you for that update. clearly events i deteriorate. henry, thank you for that update. clearly events in i deteriorate. henry, thank you forj that update. clearly events in the middle east dominating the news this morning. we are going to hearfrom our correspondent in gaza, who is trapped there with his family as well as working, and we will hear from john simpson in the next hour as well. but there are some of the big stories we need to tell you about. sally has this. yes, jon, it is a busy morning. we've just had the latest uk inflation figures this morning. the number is the same as september. ben's in newcastle to tell us more. morning. good morning. i am in the community — morning. good morning. i am in the community post _ morning. good morning. i am in the community post office. _ morning. good morning. i am in the community post office. rather- community post office. rather handily, they have some candles here that can help me illustrate the figure for you. 6.7% was the inflation figure for september. that means that if you spend £100 on a range of goods and services in

september last year, typically those same things would now cost you £106 and 70 p. it is on average, so some things would have gone up in price more sharply than that. food being one example. the rate of food inflation almost double that of things generally in the economy. the september inflation figure is really important, because the government usesit important, because the government uses it to calculate how much certain benefits will go up in april next year. under the law, some benefits, like disability benefits and carers' allowance and a few others, must go up by the same amount. so, they will go up by 6.7% in april. other benefits such as universal credit and jobseeker�*s allowance, well, that's out of the government's discretion. it doesn't have to put them up by the same as the september inflation figure, and the september inflation figure, and the government has not yet indicated

what it intends to do. this is also a figure that is looked at by the bank of england. inflation still way above the target of 2%. it will consider that when it makes its next decision on interest rates, the cost of borrowing for you and me, when it decides that at the beginning of next month. decides that at the beginning of next month-— a british tourist is among three people killed in uganda in what police are calling a "cowardly terrorist" attack. uganda's police said they were killed, and their vehicle burned, in the queen elizabeth national park. the attackers are believed to be islamist rebels from the allied democratic forces group. islamic state group has claimed responsibility for the brussels shooting that killed two swedish nationals on monday. the man was shot dead by police on tuesday following a manhunt. sofia bettiza is in brussels. sofia, what more do we know about the gunman? in the last few hours we have been

learning a bit more about the attacker. he was a 45—year—old man from tunisia. and apparently his wife learned about what was going on on monday from social media. she got really scared that he would come home. so she spent the night at the police station in brussels. we also learned that the gunmen arrived to the italian island of lampedusa in 2011, and when he was in italy he was identified by police as a radicalised subject. he then moved to sweden, but he was expelled from the country, and so he eventually moved to belgium, applied for asylum, but that application was rejected. so, the question is, how was he allowed to live in belgium for years, legally, with three european countries involved? critics say this is a big security failure. something similar happened in france when last week a man stabbed to death a teacher. it emerged that he

had been living in france illegally. so what critics are saying is that this points to shortcomings from the european union tracking people within its borders, because, of course, when moving from european country to european country, there aren't really any major border checks. at the swedish prime minister has been saying is, he has been urging the eu to tighten its border controls so that people, dangerous people like the gunmen who killed two swedish nationals on monday, are not allowed to live in europe legally. monday, are not allowed to live in europe legally-— monday, are not allowed to live in europe legally. thank you very much indeed. the government has agreed to meet the union representing hospital consultants in england, after it said it wouldn't call any more strikes for the time being. doctors belonging to the british medical association first walked out in july in a row about pay. ministers insist they've made their best and final wage offer, but haven't ruled out other incentives. stroke patients in england and wales should be offered three hours of rehabilitation, five days a week, rather than the current 45 minutes, according to new guidelines.

experts have welcomed the advice from the national institute for health and care excellence but question how feasible it will be for a stretched nhs to deliver. laughing gas will become illegal in november, with dealers facing up to 14 years in prison. the ban is part of the government's anti—social behaviour action plan and will make nitrous oxide a controlled class c drug. it means possession of nitrous oxide where a person intends to wrongfully inhale it will be an offence. those with a legitimate reason for having the drug will be exempt from the ban, the home office said. electric vehicle prices could rise by more than £3,000 next year, unless post—brexit trade rules are delayed, according to an industry body. the society of motor manufacturers and traders has called on the uk and eu to postpone rules that would add tariffs to ev batteries. the government said it was working with the european commission on a solution.

here's carol with a look at this morning's weather. good morning. storm babet is coming our way today. it —— you can see the calm before the storm from one of our weather watchers pictures. the next few days, heavy rain and strong winds, gales, even severe gales for some. this shows the amount of rainfall. the key is at the top of the screen. every time we get to the end of the weak parts of north—east scotland and north—east england should have an excess of 100 millimetres of rain. in fact, the met office has a amber whether running out for parts of north—east scotland for that very thing. we could have as much is 200 millimetres of rain falling on already saturated ground, which could lead to flooding and disruption. it is not as cold start to the day in the noise today as it was yesterday. a lot of dry weather around. some showers this morning. some heavy and persistent rain

across the south and west moving in through the day. a lot of us will have a dry day. it will be fairly cloudy. any sunshine will be hazy. the wind will strengthen. temperatures ten to 19 degrees north to south. through this evening these heavy and persistent rain migrates north. it will stay dry on the far north. it will stay dry on the far north. furthershowers, heavy infantry, will moving across the south. it will also be windy, particularly across the north and north—east of scotland. tomorrow, heavy and persistent rain for a time in north—east england and north—east scotland. a lot of dry weather to the south of that. but once again it is going to be windy with games across the north and also the north east. this gives you an idea of the wind strength. —— gales. here are the temperatures. ten to 18 degrees. the weather from today going downhill. thank you, carol. we are notjust looking at the forecast for the weather, we are thinking longer term

as well this morning. we are asking, how do we prepare the uk for the future? that is a big question. energy and transport improvements are key to making britain greener, and today there are calls for the government to act now to make upgrades. among the recommendations, the government's official advisor says there needs to be big subsidies for the installation of heat pumps in homes to cut the cost for consumers. our economic editor faisal islam has more. in slough, gas boiler engineers are being retrained to install and maintain a new generation of home heating from electric heat pumps. it's almost hand tight. you don't need to give it much at all. it is a transformation of a network that's kept britain warm since the army helped connect our homes with north sea gas in the 1970s. the government's own advisers on long term infrastructure now say that era, and that pipe network, is over. we have to get off gas. we have to get off gas really by 2035. our advice is that the future is electrification, and that means heat pumps. and that decision needs to be made now. and we should make the decision

now that hydrogen is not an option. under their proposals, every household would get at least £7,000 in subsidy for a heat pump, and millions of households would get the full cost covered. that though requires the electricity powering the pump to be green. but energy companies, with billions of pounds to invest in wind farms, for example, face incredibly long waiting times to connect to britain's grid. most of our projects have got ten to 15 year queue that they're waiting for. and in theory, you could get that providing electricity, green electricity, within a year or two? within a year, we can build a wind farm in a year. but you have to wait a decade or more? yes. heat pumps, wind farms and eventually a need to charge for car use in major city centres. this new report calls for a variety of long term decisions that have been politically contentious. but after the government's decision to scrap the second phase of high speed rail, there have been widespread questions about whether the uk really

can do these big projects. the government has now admitted that because this line is now ending at birmingham, the wider economic benefits are significantly below the tens of billions of pounds spent on the line. but that's not the only thing. the government appears in a hurry to sell the land north of birmingham on the now cancelled phase two. its own infrastructure advisers say that that would be a mistake. i am disappointed, because i think it's the sort of what we often describe as a sort of kneejerk snap reaction. i think it's a mistake. i think that the the land should be kept for at least two or three years to give the opportunity for people to revisit that. a series of long term decisions on infrastructure needs to be made rather quickly for the economy to grow and for the jobs of the future. the government's top adviser says they need a plan, and they need to stick to it. the government itself has promised to respond in due course.

faisal islam, bbc news. faisaljoins us now. this is something that so many people have been talking about after the hsz people have been talking about after the hs2 decision last week. it is the hs2 decision last week. it is the uk up to it, can we build into the uk up to it, can we build into the future like other countries seem to be able to?— the future like other countries seem to be able to? good morning. i think it is a really — to be able to? good morning. i think it is a really interesting _ to be able to? good morning. i think it is a really interesting question. i it is a really interesting question. we talk a lot about the short term in the news, politicians talk a lot about the next few months, maybe a couple of years. but this report from the national interest of the commission is about that long term. there may be a sense that a lot of things aren't working right now. i mentioned transport, i mentioned green energy. this report also talks about why we have not built new rez awards in 30 years, although long—term infrastructure. —— reservoirs. you can see the disappointment of the chair of the infrastructure commission because governments may change their mind

from month to month, year to year, on any issue. this hs2 project there was a cross—party, 15 year consensus, a consensus that the prime minister thought was wrong. but this extra decision on top to sell the land that had been set aside for that phase two of hsz, you can see that he is really disappointed about that. the opposition have said this is what they call sabotage. the alternative projects promised whilst we work out if that is an integrated project that will deliver similar or better benefits, he has suggested a pause of two to three years on selling this land. when i go round the world, and i think another people go round the world, they do wonder why spain, france, even morocco, has high—speed lines, that go 200 mph plus.

high-speed lines, that go 200 mph lus. ~ , :, , , high-speed lines, that go 200 mph lus.~ , :, , , :, high-speed lines, that go 200 mph lus. , :, , , :, plus. why does it seem so -- to take so lona plus. why does it seem so -- to take so long for— plus. why does it seem so -- to take so long for the _ plus. why does it seem so -- to take so long for the uk _ plus. why does it seem so -- to take so long for the uk to _ plus. why does it seem so -- to take so long for the uk to make _ plus. why does it seem so -- to take so long for the uk to make decisions| so long for the uk to make decisions on big infrastructure projects? it can take decades, can't it? it really can. i think you heard a clip from one of the energy companies. an extraordinary story. they are ready with billions of pounds for investors to build wind farms that would provide us cheaper, greener energy, to lower our reliance on foreign imported gas, but they literally can't get the connection into the grid, notjust for a couple of years, which is what you might expect, but 15 or 16 years for some of these big projects becausejust like waiting at a bus stop, they operate a cue for this system. if you haven't got first place, you can't get to the front of it. the government is looking at it. the opposition said they would look at it if they won the election. that is one type of example of some of the regulations and some of the planning rules that prevent us doing these big projects in a way where these

barriers are cleared more easily in other countries.— barriers are cleared more easily in other countries. thank you. coming u . other countries. thank you. coming u- to other countries. thank you. coming up to have — other countries. thank you. coming up to have past _ other countries. thank you. coming up to have past seven. _ other countries. thank you. coming up to have past seven. we - other countries. thank you. coming up to have past seven. we are i other countries. thank you. coming | up to have past seven. we are going to bring you up—to—date with the latest from the middle east in a moment. we are going to speak to mariella frostrup as shejoins we are going to speak to mariella frostrup as she joins calls for support for more women going through the menopause, including an nhs health check when they turn 40. first, the news, travel and weather where you are. a very good morning, i'm alice salfield. a father has told bbc london he believes his son would still be alive if he'd been able to get a second opinion from another doctor. jay patel claims his son, 30—year—old balram patel from finchley, was given "unsuitable" treatment that had previously failed to work when he was discharged from st thomas's hospital. balram's lungs became fatally flooded and he died in august. his father has now set up a group, patients lives

matter, to help others. i can't bring balram back. but what i can do is try and help others that they don't go through what we're going through, don't go through what he went through. because it's notjust jay patel talking because of jay patel�*s experiences, it's the british public saying, what's going on? guy's and st thomas' nhs trust says it extends its deepest sympathies to balram's family. it says it plans to investigate mr patel�*s claims but that it's currently limited as to what it can say until a coroner's investigation is complete. mps will question bosses at the british museum about thefts from the institution's collection. in august it disclosed that items including gold jewellery, semi—precious stones and glass were missing, stolen or damaged. it was later revealed to be an estimated 2,000 artefacts. the committee said it would "focus on the reputational and financial implications for the museum".

the mayor has written to the government saying he's considering a discount for low income londoners on future tolls for using the blackwall and silvertown tunnels. both tunnels in east london will have tolls from 2025. although no specific charge has been decided, in the letter sadiq khan said cars could be tolled around £5. he asked that any discounts don't affect funding for transport for london. let's take a quick look at the tubes now. just a part suspension on the piccadilly line at the moment. also known as delays on the metropolitan line. now onto the weather with katerina christodoulou. hello there, good morning to you. it is going to feel rather autumnal out there today. the wind is picking up out there at the moment, a breezy start, and we are really going to feel the impact of storm babet as we head to the afternoon. heavy and persistent rain on the way

accompanied by strong winds. a milder air mass to follow but the potential there for some heavy and thundery showers on thursday. this morning, it is quite breezy, there will be a few sunny spells around. one or two showers. and longer spells of rain pushing in through the course of this afternoon and some of that rain could really fall quite heavy. accompanied by a strong easterly wind, we are looking at highs today of around 16 celsius. and that rain will continue through this evening. we see the green indicating these heaviest bursts. eventually that rain will push northwards. it will be dry for a time but further showers will push in from the south, potentially heavy and thundery. temperatures will fall away potentially to around 15 celsius and it is going to stay quite breezy wherever you are. another breezy day on thursday, some heavy and thundery showers on the way with temperatures up to around 18 celsius. that's all for now. hello, this is breakfast withjon kay and sally nugent. let's return to our main story

now and the situation in the middle east. there has been international condemnation after an explosion at a hospital in gaza that's feared to have killed at least 500 people. it happened at the al ahli hospital in the north of the gaza late yesterday evening. pictures from the scene, many of which are too graphic to show, give a sense of the scale of destruction at the site, where it's reported that hundreds of people were already taking shelter after being displaced from their homes. hamas has blamed israel for the strike, but israeli officials say it was caused by rockets misfired by a group called palestinian islamichhad. we are looking at exactly what happened. and it's being investigated. and let me be clear, the idf does not target hospitals. that's a sensitive site,

it's a humanitarian site. we don't target hospitals. it comes as us presidentjoe biden, seen here leaving the states yesterday evening, is due to arrive in israel this morning in a show of support for its ally, following an attack by hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organisation by government's, organisation by governments, including the us and the uk, that left 1,300 israelis dead. a planned summit with arab leaders injordan, has been cancelled. last night, following the blast at the hospital in gaza, protests took place across the west bank, as well as many middle eastern countries, including jordan, lebanon and turkey. this is the scene in gaza this morning where there are ongoing efforts to get aid in for those many hundreds of thousands of displaced people. as you can see from this particular

shot, the sky looks clear, we did see some smoke about an hour ago. clear skies over gaza. still you can see clearly the devastation throughout gaza city there. we will be hearing from our correspondents inside gaza, you might have seen him on the bbc over the last few days, he is trapped inside with his family, supporting them and working and telling us what is going on. and we will speak to the world affairs editorjohn simpson. we can speak now to our diplomatic correspondent james landale. morning, james. can you give us some context and tell us what effect will last night's explosion, that devastating explosion, have an wider attempts on wider diplomacy in the middle east?— attempts on wider diplomacy in the middle east? sadly, good morning. it's ve middle east? sadly, good morning. it's very clear _ middle east? sadly, good morning. it's very clear the _ middle east? sadly, good morning. it's very clear the explosion - middle east? sadly, good morning. it's very clear the explosion will i it's very clear the explosion will make things much harder. if you think about it in recent days there has been a huge flurry of diplomacy

and it's been very little effect. no protection for civilians, no movement on opening up a humanitarian corridor from egypt into gaza, no release of any of those hostages which there hasn't been much discussion about. the whole point was that president biden was going to arrive to try and shower the israelis would support and solidarity but at the same time say, in return, you have got to get humanitarian aid in, create safe areas for civilians, and the hope was that would create some kind of trust. that has all gone completely because if you think about it, all of those arab neighbours and other countries in the region who might have had a bit of flexibility before, they now have angry demonstrations on their streets, they have had to come out very quickly and condemn on what they have mostly blamed as an israeli strike on this hospital, they haven't said wait and see, they have blamed israel. as a result of that,

mr biden has much less room for manoeuvre. and everything is much harder. , :, , :, ., manoeuvre. and everything is much harder. . :, , :, :, :, harder. james, where are we now, at 7:36am, i imagine _ harder. james, where are we now, at 7:36am, i imagine the _ harder. james, where are we now, at 7:36am, i imagine the president's i 7:36am, i imagine the president's plane is to arrive in the next few hours in israel. i imagine they are trying to frantically work out what they might be able to achieve right now and what is top of that list, do you think? the now and what is top of that list, do ou think? , , :, you think? the first thing they have to do which — you think? the first thing they have to do which is _ you think? the first thing they have to do which is the _ you think? the first thing they have to do which is the basic _ you think? the first thing they have to do which is the basic purpose i you think? the first thing they have to do which is the basic purpose of| to do which is the basic purpose of the visit is show solidarity with israel. as you mentioned in the introduction, this was all caused by the brutal murder of 1300, 1400 israelis, and the purpose of the trip was simply to show us solidarity and get a little bit back from the israelis in return. we will see that show of support. then the prime minister doctor, the president's spokesperson said they would be asking tough questions of the israelis, they want to know what

happened at the hospital on what they are doing to ensure humanitarian aid gets in. is it possible there will be a pause, humanitarian pause? that will be debated and voted on potentially at the united nations later on today. mr biden will meet prime minister netanyahu and the war cabinet, he will meet families of those who have lost people, some of the first responders in israel. but crucially, it is a short trip on his way back to washington we are told he will be talking to palestinian leaders and the president of egypt. the diplomacy does go on even if large chunks of it, there was a summit planned injordan which is out of the window, even if that isn't happening, the talking will continue. :, ~ happening, the talking will continue-— happening, the talking will continue. :, ~' , : happening, the talking will continue. :, , : , continue. thank you very much, james landale. you can get more news and analysis on the ongoing situation with a new bbc podcast. the conflict: israel—gaza is presented by our chief international correspondent lyse doucet, and is available now on the bbc sounds app, or wherever you get your podcasts.

well worth a listen. it is at 7:38am. — well worth a listen. it is at 7:38am, let's _ well worth a listen. it is at 7:38am, let's take - well worth a listen. it is at 7:38am, let's take a i well worth a listen. it is at 7:38am, let's take a break! well worth a listen. it is at i 7:38am, let's take a break from well worth a listen. it is at - 7:38am, let's take a break from that for a moment and talk about the sport last night. england have qualified for euro 2024. it seems like only moments _ qualified for euro 2024. it seems like only moments since - qualified for euro 2024. it seems like only moments since the i qualified for euro 2024. it seems like only moments since the last| like only moments since the last one! yes, remember that? losing one! yes, rememberthat? losing to one! yes, remember that? losing to italy in the final, they beat italy last night, harry kane with the goals and jude bellingham with everything else, i would say they were on the same wavelength but one of them is going for a high ten and the other one going for a fist bump so may not true! a lot of talk in the england camp about beating big teams and they did that during this qualification twice. it euro 2024 will be england's eighth major tournament in a row after they qualified with games to spare last night. they only needed a point against italy but came from behind

to win 3—1 at wembley. he wasn't on the scoresheet butjude bellingham won a penalty converted by harry kane for his 60th international goal as england equalised before the break. then bellingham helped his team break loose in the second half. the assist and then decoy run creating space for marcus rashford to put england ahead. then kane raced clear to get his second and take england to the finals where they'll attempt to go one better than at the last european championship. over the last couple of years we spoke about beating big nations and doing it on a consistent basis. so to beat italy home and away i think shows where we have come. but ultimately it comes down to doing it in the major tournament. so we can enjoy this, we deserve to, you know, have a good camp next camp, being qualified already. but ultimately we are preparing for a major tournament in the summer. we showed real composure with the ball in the moments where we conceded, and took control of the game again in the second half

when our back players, our goalkeeper, that was the big step, the big evolution for us, i think. we played past the press, through the press, and showed really good composure to build the game. and keep possession of the ball. elsewhere northern ireland's dismal campaign continued as they lost 1—0 to slovenia at windsor park and had a player sent off. it was a sixth defeat in their last seven games. scotland have been celebrating their qualification after it was confirmed on sunday evening but their first game since showed perhaps how the stakes will be raised in germany next summer. they were beaten 4—1 by france in a friendly. things started brightly for billy gilmour. france's eduardo camavinga inexplicably set up the brighton midfielder to score his first senior international goal. that was as good as it got for what was a much—changed scotland side in lille as france came back to win comfortably, kingsley coman providing the fourth. chelsea's fran kirby is back in the england squad

for the women's nations league matches later this month. both she and barcelona midfielder keira walsh have returned from injury. no place though for beth mead who missed the world cup. she came back from her acl injury for arsenal in sunday's women's super league victory over aston villa but hasn't been selected. and another shock at the cricket world cup. more than 90% of women going through the menopause feel their quality of life has suffered as a result of their symptoms. that's according to a survey conducted by the campaign group menopause mandate. now, a cross—party group of mps has launched the menopause manifesto which they say will tackle the lack of understanding amongst policymakers, the public and employers. it's made up of seven pledges, including... that menopause be included in the nhs health check for the over forties. that all companies with more than 250 employees should have

specific menopause policies. incentives for gps to diagnose and treat menopause. and more funding for research. let's speak now to journalist and autor mariella frostrup, and author mariella frostrup, chair of the group menopause mandate. we have spoken to her on this programme is many times about this. welcome again. what you think of the policies that sally was running to just then, that these mps have come up just then, that these mps have come up with? to just then, that these mps have come u- with? :, , :, , up with? to be quite honest, we think they _ up with? to be quite honest, we think they are — up with? to be quite honest, we think they are no-brainers. i up with? to be quite honest, we think they are no-brainers. the | up with? to be quite honest, we i think they are no-brainers. the fact think they are no—brainers. the fact that we are having to ask for gps to be better educated on menopause in this day and age seems to me to be pretty tragic in itself. the one point on the mp's list that we are supporting and is really our main campaign now is that the 40 plus

health check should include information and information on support for women going through menopause. it seems utterly ludicrous that you go to this health check as a woman in your early 40s, which is exactly when perimenopause starts for most women, and the one thing you don't find out about is the one thing that you will absolutely 100% be experiencing over the subsequent decade. so we feel that it's really important, it can make a huge difference to so many lives, women's lives, just to know what they are going through. because if you listen to women, which we have done with our survey of over 2500 women, one of the main thing is that they talk about is this absence of knowledge. the fact that they are self diagnosing, 96% of our correspondents in the survey had self diagnose menopause. only 12% to found out about it from health professionals, the same amount who

found out about it from their friends, surely not good enough for the 21st—century. abs, friends, surely not good enough for the 21st-century._ the 21st-century. a list requests from mps- -- _ the 21st-century. a list requests from mps. .. we _ the 21st-century. a list requests from mps. .. we like _ the 21st-century. a list requests from mps. .. we like to - the 21st-century. a list requests from mps. .. we like to think- the 21st-century. a list requests from mps. .. we like to think of| the 21st-century. a list requests i from mps. .. we like to think of them as demands! — from mps. .. we like to think of them as demands! how— from mps. .. we like to think of them as demands! how likely _ from mps. .. we like to think of them as demands! how likely do _ from mps. .. we like to think of them as demands! how likely do you i from mps. .. we like to think of them as demands! how likely do you think| as demands! how likely do you think the are as demands! how likely do you think they are going _ as demands! how likely do you think they are going to _ as demands! how likely do you think they are going to be _ as demands! how likely do you think they are going to be a _ as demands! how likely do you think they are going to be a reality, i as demands! how likely do you think they are going to be a reality, do i they are going to be a reality, do you think it will be seen in practice across the country? i think it's very likely _ practice across the country? i think it's very likely that _ practice across the country? i think it's very likely that all _ practice across the country? i think it's very likely that all of _ practice across the country? i think it's very likely that all of them i it's very likely that all of them will become a reality because most of them are deeply embedded and grounded in reality. the fact that we need a nationalformula, which means that when there are shortages of hrt, that you can access other product, a total no—brainer. the fact that we need specific testosterone for women, when i first started using testosterone it came in tiny tube which stank of aftershave because it was made specifically for men and i had to guess what a 5p coin, anyone remember that? what size that was so i knew how much to give myself because it was dosed around men. the fact that we need businesses over

250 employees to have a menopause policy in place, one in ten women leave the workplace because of menopause symptoms that they feel unable to get support on, or to deal with in the workplace. we can't afford that. we are in an economic crisis. we need everyone to be able to perform to their full capacity. but i think the seven points that the appg have raised are all incredibly easy to sell. just a little focus on understanding of this liminal period of women's lives after which we flourish and carry on. after which we flourish and carry on, �* :, :, " :, after which we flourish and carry on. :, ~ :, :, :, on. mariella, i know that, i hear exactly what _ on. mariella, i know that, i hear exactly what you _ on. mariella, i know that, i hear exactly what you are _ on. mariella, i know that, i hear exactly what you are saying i on. mariella, i know that, i hear exactly what you are saying that j exactly what you are saying that some of these things are very basic and should just be sorted immediately. but can you look back a little bit and think, my goodness, a lot of progress has been made in the last couple of years? i lot of progress has been made in the last couple of years?— last couple of years? i think you'll find that a lot _ last couple of years? i think you'll find that a lot of _ last couple of years? i think you'll find that a lot of noise _ last couple of years? i think you'll find that a lot of noise has - last couple of years? i think you'll find that a lot of noise has been i find that a lot of noise has been made in the last two or three years, but actually, not a lot of tangible progress. we are delighted that we

have managed to save women over £200 per year in terms of when they are taking hrt, the fact that we now have a one—off annual prescription charge, and that is our great success. but i think that you will find that in huge swathes of the country and certainly in a more diverse communities, there is still not the knowledge, support, and the basic understanding of what is happening to women during that period of life. but ijust think that the idea that we have achieved things, we certainly have made a lot of noise and we continue to carry on doing so, until basic human rights for women are respected when it comes to health care. there has been a total lack of investment in women's health care. women have been misdiagnosed for centuries because we have presumed to bejust misdiagnosed for centuries because we have presumed to be just lesser bodies to men. and that's got to stop. we are absolutely active

economically in the workplace, and in our lives, in daily lives, and we need to have parity with men when it comes to how our health is dealt with. ~ :, :, comes to how our health is dealt with. :, ., ,, comes to how our health is dealt with. :, :, «i i. comes to how our health is dealt with. :, :, «i : with. mariella, thank you so much for talkin: with. mariella, thank you so much for talking to _ with. mariella, thank you so much for talking to us _ with. mariella, thank you so much for talking to us this _ with. mariella, thank you so much for talking to us this morning, i for talking to us this morning, really fascinating to talk to you, thank you very much, mariella frostrup. here's carol with a look at this morning's weather. she isjoined by a special guest this morning cold storm babet! good morning! yes, storm babet coming with us today and it will bring heavy rain and strong winds today and for the rest of the week, gales and severe gales across parts of the north and east at times. this is showing the amount of rainfall which is expected over the next few days, lots of blue in the chart. here is the key, so between 30 and 50 millimetres of rainfall. but also some white, and that represents total is in excess of 100

millimetres. so the met office unsurprisingly it has an amber weather out for north—east scotland, just for that, 200 millimetres of rainfall particularly on the higher ground is expected. that could lead to some disruption and localised flooding. for many of us it is a dry day, cloudy, ifany flooding. for many of us it is a dry day, cloudy, if any such and appears it will be hazy. having a persistent rain coming in across the west. —— if any sunshine appears it will be hazy. heavy and persistent rain coming in across the west. through this evening and overnight that drifts north, ahead of it it will remain dry but cloudy, behind it we will see heavy showers coming into southern england and south wales, some could be thundery. the wind is strengthening further across the north and north—east of scotland, so it will not be a cold night. tomorrow this is storm babet, still reducing heavy rain across northern england for a time and then stalling

across northern scotland. this area of low pressure is going to track over the near continent. on thursday you can see the heavy rain pushing out into northern england, remaining across scotland especially where we have the weather warning, and for northern ireland, england and wales it is a day of sunshine and showers, but some showers could be heavy or potentially often having some thunder or lightning in them. this is the strength of the wind, 63 miles an hour across the north of scotland during the course of thursday. we are looking at gales or severe gales at times in the north and north—east. these are the temperatures, ten to 18 degrees. it might not feel like that in the rain. on friday, rememberthe might not feel like that in the rain. on friday, remember the low pressure in the atlantic? it will drift along the near continent but it could take a swipe at south—eastern england, ringing in some heavy rain. to the north of that, there will be some showers,

but the rain is easing across the north—east of scotland. still very windy, potentially heavy gales in the north sea coastline. into the weekend, it starts to gradually become drier, less windy, but also chillier. thank you. when humza yousaf gave his big leader's speech at the snp party conference yesterday he made announcements about freezing council tax in scotland and tackling nhs waiting lists but he also spoke about something much more personal. the first minister's mother—in—law and her husband are currently trapped in gaza after travelling there to visit a sick relative and mr yousaf began his speech by calling on the uk government to create a refugee resettlement scheme. hejoins us now from dundee. humza yousaf, good morning, thank you forjoining us on breakfast. it must be tough balancing your dayjob as a politician and thinking about your family at the same time. can i

start by asking if you have managed to get any news from your relatives in gaza overnight? just to get any news from your relatives in gaza overnight?— in gaza overnight? just a few minutes before _ in gaza overnight? just a few minutes before coming i in gaza overnight? just a few minutes before coming on i in gaza overnight? just a few. minutes before coming on air, in gaza overnight? just a few- minutes before coming on air, my mother—in—law gave me a call, we always wait for that call in the morning because the night is the most difficult with the rockets falling, missiles being fired, drones overhead. thankfully everybody is safe, as safe as they can be for now. but we are just torn apart as you can imagine because their supplies are low. this is a house that usually has ten people in it, it now has 100 people in it because many of the family from north gaza have made their way south on the orders of the israeli government. they are running out of supplies. yesterday, a missile, israeli missile hit a house across the road from my mother—in—law and father—in—law�*s house and it shattered every window in their house, broke all of the mirrors,

gave them a real fright and so my mother—in—law told me she didn't sleep a week last night with worry. but that is just my story, there are 2.2 million innocent men, women and children in gaza, the vast majority have nothing to do with the atrocities, the terror, the barbaric actions of hamas. they are innocent so well over a week now i have been calling for the opening of a humanitarian corridor to let supplies in, let people out, and that needs a ceasefire. my goodness, especially after the sickening scenes that we saw last night of the destruction of the al ahli hospital in gaza, which i think by anybody�*s measure, you can see that that is a contravention of international law and a terrible, terrible human tragedy. and a terrible, terrible human traced . :, and a terrible, terrible human traced. :, ,:_ and a terrible, terrible human traced. :, , and a terrible, terrible human traued. :, ,:,y , :, :, tragedy. that story is dominating the news around _ tragedy. that story is dominating the news around the _ tragedy. that story is dominating the news around the world i tragedy. that story is dominating the news around the world this i the news around the world this morning. as president biden heads to

israel, what are your concerns about how that attack, whatever caused it, whoever caused it, happening at the hospital, might now change the whole dynamic in the middle east? weill. dynamic in the middle east? well, first of all. — dynamic in the middle east? well, first of all. i— dynamic in the middle east? well, first of all, i think _ dynamic in the middle east? well, first of all, i think everybody i dynamic in the middle east? -ii first of all, i think everybody has a responsibility to condemn it. and condemn it in the strongest possible way. let's call it what it is, a complete breach of international law, the targeting of a hospital. there should be an independent investigation to find those responsible for it. you have been watching the seeds and covering the scenes on the bbc overnight, people are rightly outraged in the region, and red cross the world. and just a complete and other —— and across the world. a complete and utter human tragedy. the violence has to stop, there has to be a ceasefire. stepping back from the issue and

looking at this crisis, the only way we will stop the perpetual cycle of violence we see flare up year after year is by addressing the root cause, and the root cause continues to be that while we have an israeli state that was a promise that was made, we don't have the palestinian state yet, as per the 1967 border. that two state solution that many of us have talked about for decades, has just never materialised. until there is a concerted effort, until there is a concerted effort, until there is a concerted effort, until there is an honest broker to help broker that solution, we are going to unfortunately i fear see those perpetual cycles of violence continue for many years to come. president biden about to arrive in israel in the next few minutes possibly. there has been talk about rishi sunak heading from the uk, to talk in israel later this week, that is unconfirmed. do you think he should go, would you urge him to go? what i would urge rishi sunak to do is everything in his power to demand a ceasefire, to demand that

humanitarian corridors are opened up, to allow the allow people out. and to condemn without equivocation the collective punishment of 2.2 million people. every right minded person, myself very much included in that, unequivocally condemn the actions we saw a week past saturday, the barbaric terror attacks from hamas. it's also right for all of us, the prime minister included, to be unequivocal in his condemnation of 2.2 million people being denied electricity, food, fuel, supplies, that collective punishment cannot be allowed and is only going to harm many, many innocent people who have nothing to do with the atrocities that were committed by hamas. you are callin: that were committed by hamas. you are calling on _ that were committed by hamas. you are calling on the uk government to create a refugee resettlement programme. what sort of scale of programme. what sort of scale of programme are you talking about? do

you have an idea in terms of how many refugees we should be thinking about taking? i many refugees we should be thinking about taking?— about taking? i didn't put a number on it for a couple _ about taking? i didn't put a number on it for a couple of— about taking? i didn't put a number on it for a couple of reasons. i about taking? i didn't put a number on it for a couple of reasons. first | on it for a couple of reasons. first of all, i called for a worldwide refugee resettlement scheme. i should say that the people of gaza and palestine, my wife is a scottish palestinian, they are very proud people and right to be proud. they are proud of their culture, their country, their land. many of them don't want to lead and neither should they have to. but for the people who have been displaced in this conflict, for those who want to leave there should be a worldwide refugee scheme because of the numbers, they should be involved in the world, asia, the middle east, europe and the uk. right across the uk, many people in scotland, wales, northern ireland, they will open their hearts and their homes to refugees from ukraine and syria. we are a generous country, lets show that generosity of spirit again, for

those who need to leave, we don't have a home. let's say that the uk, scotland will be a place century for them, as we have shown that compassion for others, let us show it once again for the people of gaza. and scotland will be the first country in the uk to take those refugees are. country in the uk to take those refugees are-— refugees are. you talk to your conference — refugees are. you talk to your conference speech _ refugees are. you talk to your conference speech yesterday l refugees are. you talk to your- conference speech yesterday about a council tax freeze for everybody in scotland, you talked about that yesterday. at a time when local councils are struggling to pay for basic services and say they need money more than ever, how is it right that somebody who lives in a castle and might have plenty of money doesn't pay more council tax? i say a couple of things. festival it is a fully funded council tax freeze. we will make sure that the councils are funded for that phrase by the government. let's be frank with each other. we are living in a cost of living crisis. in my constituency surgeries i see people who are on above average salaries

coming to my constituency offices, and ask for financial help. people who are nurses, police officers, teachers. and therefore it's right that in this cost of living crisis we try to help them with bills that are rising and rising and rising, one bill we are able to help them with is the council tax. in terms of your point about those who earn the most, we asked them in scotland to pay more, we have a progressive tax system, those who are the wealthiest in scotland pay more than they do in england because we ask them to pay more. as a result of paying more we have are things like free university education which is not available in england. free prescriptions which is not available in england. those are the lowest incomes, to tackle poverty, will get £25 per week per child which is the scottish tax payment, so we have a progressive tax system which we the people who

own the most pay the most. fin own the most pay the most. on independence, nicola sturgeon your predecessor said that you would be seeking independence if the snp got more than 50% of the vote at the general election, you have now said 50% of seats at the general election, which looks like you have moved the goalposts and lowering expectations for the snp. i’m moved the goalposts and lowering expectations for the snp.— expectations for the snp. i'm not movin: expectations for the snp. i'm not moving the _ expectations for the snp. i'm not moving the goal— expectations for the snp. i'm not moving the goal posts _ expectations for the snp. i'm not moving the goal posts and i expectations for the snp. i'm not| moving the goal posts and neither have nicola sturgeon it is first and foremost our planet has always been to have a referendum about independence. particularly since scotland has been dragged out of europe against our will and that has been denied and denied particularly after we have one election after election. you have covered many general elections over the years, the rule is pretty simple. the party that wins the most seats wins the general election so we win the

general election so we win the general election so we win the general election with a majority of seats, we will say that the vote for the snp is a vote for scotland to become independent so that is our clear manifesto. that allows us to have negotiations about how we get that democratic effect, it could be a referendum, it could be transferring powers for us in the scottish parliament so we could hold a referendum. and there could be negotiations, that is unlikely but it gives us the power —— but then, given the power to hold a referendum. if i had the power i would hold it tomorrow because i'm pretty sure that we would win. humza yousaf, pretty sure that we would win. humza yousaf. thank — pretty sure that we would win. humza yousaf, thank you _ pretty sure that we would win. humza yousaf, thank you for _ pretty sure that we would win. humza yousaf, thank you forjoining - pretty sure that we would win. humza yousaf, thank you forjoining us i yousaf, thank you forjoining us this morning, especially when you are dealing with so much with your family. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. good morning from bbc london. i'm alice salfield. a father has told bbc london he believes his son would still be alive if he'd been able to get a second opinion from another doctor.

jay patel says his son, 30—year—old balram patel, was given unsuitable treatment. when he was discharged from st thomas' hospital. the nhs trust says it plans to investigate the family's claims. jay patel has now set up a group, patients lives matter to help others. i can't bring balram back. but what i can do is try and help others that they don't go through what we're going through, don't go through what he went through. because it's notjust jay patel talking because of jay patel�*s experiences, it's the british public saying, what's going on? foodbanks say they're bracing themselves for the worst winter yet, expecting to hand out more than a million emergency food parcels. one of the uk's main foodbank providers, the trussell trust, predicts more than 600,000 people will need their support between december and next february. let's take a quick look at the tubes now.

today's weather — starting off dry and cloudy. but heavy rain will move in from the south later in the afternoon, along with stronger winds. a top temperature of 16 degrees celsius. that's all for now — there's plenty more on our website, orfollow london on the bbc news app. back to sally and jon. bye—bye. good morning, welcome to breakfast withjon kay and sally nugent. our headlines today. at least 500 people are feared dead after in an explosion at a hospital in gaza. both sides in the conflict blame the other for the blast. let me be clear, the idf does not target hospitals. it's a sensitive site, it is a humanitarian site. we do not target hospitals. joe biden is on his way to israel, but the palestinian and egyptian presidents have

cancelled planned talks with him in the wake of the blast. the blast has brought international condemnation. president biden due to land in arrears —— in israel in the next hour. we will bring that to your life. we'll bring you the latest with our correspondents around the region throughout the programme. also, 17 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, andrew malkinson speaks about his long fight for justice. good morning, weight being lifted here at this gym in newcastle but prices are rising in the economy. inflation 6.7% in september. i will expand what that number is so important for anyone on benefits. in sport, england have qualified for next year's european championship. harry kane scores twice as his side beat italy 3—1 at wembley. good morning. storm babet is coming our way

today bringing heavy and persistent rain into the south and west. for many it will be a dry day but cloudy. for all, the wind will strengthen. details later. good morning. it's wednesday, 18th october. there's been international condemnation after an explosion at a hospital in gaza is feared to have killed at least 500 people. the blast has raised the diplomatic stakes for president biden, who's currently flying to israel to try to prevent the violence spreading elsewhere in the middle east. hamas — a group designated as a terror organisation by many western governments including the uk — says the al ahli hospital was hit by an israeli air strike. but israel has blamed a palestinian group, islamichhad, which has denied any involvement, describing the accusations as lies. wyre davies has the latest. pictures from gaza last night

showed scenes of utter chaos. bloodied, wounded casualties from the partially destroyed al ahli arab hospital. videos — many too graphic to broadcast — showed the broken bodies of children and adults lying among the rubble, and wrecked cars in the street. bomb blast allah! the hospital itself in flames. palestinian health officials said hundreds of people were killed in what they say was an israeli air strike. among the casualties, many who had already been forced to evacuate their homes and were sheltering in or around the hospital. israel later said that, according to its intelligence reports, a failed rocket launched by palestinian militants was to blame. we are looking at exactly what happened. it is being investigated.

let me be clear, the idf does not target hospitals. it is a sensitive site, it is a humanitarian site. we do not target hospitals. this is the dramatically deteriorating situation into which president biden is arriving, an american leader keen to show his personal support for israel, but well aware things are in danger of spiraling out of control. growing increasingly desperate are the relatives of the almost 200 hostages kidnapped by hamas during its murderous incursion into southern israel. evil, evil, evil persons. i don't think they are human beings. jennifer master is an american citizen whose boyfriend andrei is thought to be among the hostages. she wants her president to press for their safe return. i appreciate the support of the usa and president biden. as an american citizen, i feel protected. ifeel that i'm seen, and i want to be seen also as an israeli citizen, because right now i don't feel safe, i don't feel seen.

the israeli government has vowed to crush hamas. but many of these protesters in tel aviv last night fear what that might mean for their missing loved ones. wyre davies, bbc news. in the last few minutes the israeli defence force has given this update. this is what took place on tuesday, october 17. at 6:15pm, a barrage of rockets was fired by hamas into israel. then, at 6:59pm, a barrage of around ten rockets was fired by islamicjihad from a nearby cemetery. it was at that time when there were reports of an explosion

at the al ahli hospital in gaza city. according to our intelligence, hamas checked the reports, understand —— understood it was an islamicjihad rocket that had misfired and decided to launch a global media campaign to hide what really happened. they went as far as inflating the numbers of casualties. they understood, with absolute certainty, that it was a rocket misfired by islamicjihad. that damaged the hospital. analysis of our aerialfootage damaged the hospital. analysis of our aerial footage confirms that there was no direct hit to the hospital itself. the only location damage outside the hospital in the parking lot, where we can see signs of burning, which i will show later, no cratering and no structural damage to nearby buildings. as

opposed to the damage caused by any aerial new nation which would have been of different nature. we would have seen craters and structural damage to the buildings, both of which haven't been identified in this incident. the size of the damage we see here is due to the size of the damage we see here is due to the warhead of the islamicjihad rocket, but most of the rocket�*s propellant is still evident due to the short flight of the rocket because the launch failed. it is claim and _ because the launch failed. it is claim and counterclaim from all sides trying to work out what happened. israel saying they are that they are not responsible for what happened, blaming a group they call palestinianjihad what happened, blaming a group they call palestinian jihad for mis—firing a rocket, saying they don't believe there was a direct hit on the hospital, questioning the casualty figures. this morning

antonio guterres, the secretary general of the un, has been giving his reaction. i am horrified by the hundreds of people _ i am horrified by the hundreds of people killed at al ahli hospital this same day in gaza by a strike that i_ this same day in gaza by a strike that i strongly condemned earlier today _ that i strongly condemned earlier today~ i_ that i strongly condemned earlier today. i call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to provide sufficient — humanitarian ceasefire to provide sufficient time and space to help realise~~~ — sufficient time and space to help realise... and to ease the epic human— realise... and to ease the epic human suffering we are seeing. too many— human suffering we are seeing. too many lives, — human suffering we are seeing. too many lives, and the fate of the entire — many lives, and the fate of the entire region, hang in the balance. let's _ entire region, hang in the balance. let's get _ entire region, hang in the balance. let's get the very latest picture from least to set in southern israel. —— lyse doucet. claim and counterclaim. really simple question, how do we know who believe this morning?— this morning? people have already made u- this morning? people have already made op their— this morning? people have already made up their minds. _

this morning? people have already made up their minds. israel i this morning? people have already made up their minds. israel is i this morning? people have already made up their minds. israel is now! made up their minds. israel is now presenting what it says is a credible analysis of all of the information at its disposal, saying that all of its security agencies worked for five hours to look at the scene of that attack, and attacked being described by palestinian officials in gaza as unparalleled and indescribable, and as you have just been hearing in that bit from the press briefing by the israeli defence force spokesperson, they are categorically saying this was not an air strike. they say there is nothing in terms of where it hit, what it hit, saying the hospital wasn't hit, it was the parking lot, it was the misfiring of a missile, there were propellants in the area, in other words, a weapons dump, and that exploded, causing what appeared to be hundreds of casualties. palestinian leaders, hamas, arab

leaders across this region, iranians leaders, are all denouncing an israeli war crime. the palestinian president, his party is in control of some part of the west bank, say israel as a rust red lines. the palestinians will try to make a case, a credible case, to show it was an israeli air strike. this atrocity happens in a land of deep distrust. one of the questions asked was, why should we believe you? there have been attacks before and you have denied any responsibility, including the killing earlier this year of a palestinian journalist.

i have a technical question. what is the rationale for the zone... to what _ the rationale for the zone... to what extent? what is the difference? and number three. you what extent? what is the difference? and numberthree. you are what extent? what is the difference? and number three. you are absolutely i’ilht and number three. you are absolutely right that _ and number three. you are absolutely right that money has been funnelled to some _ right that money has been funnelled to some organisations. but is israel's — to some organisations. but is

israel's goal... inaudible. how expensive — israel's goal... inaudible. how expensive is that,... i israel's goal... inaudible. how expensive is that, . . .— expensive is that, . .. i will start with the last — expensive is that, . .. i will start with the last one, _ expensive is that, . .. i will start with the last one, the - expensive is that, . .. i will start with the last one, the most i with the last one, the most important one. it is completely different between gazans, different between gaza ns, palestinians, different between gazans, palestinians, and hamas. it wasn't like that for years, everybody knows that. it's a completely different thing. most of the guards and the palestinians are not hamas, politically military, but we must take the government down. you asked in the beginning about the intelligence, we understand there is a cemetery near the hospital, the al alhi hospital, they probably failed —— fired from the cemetery. they are

using this as propaganda against israel. can you remind me of the other question? the israel. can you remind me of the other question?— other question? the logic of considering... _ other question? the logic of considering... you - other question? the logic of considering... you are i other question? the logic of considering... you are right | other question? the logic of i considering... you are right that hamas considering. .. you are right that hamas is all— considering... you are right that hamas is all along _ considering... you are right that hamas is all along gaza - considering... you are right that hamas is all along gaza but i considering... you are right that| hamas is all along gaza but most considering... you are right that i hamas is all along gaza but most of its military governing infrastructure is in gaza city and this area. this is why we are asking to go south to wadi gaza, ok? until we finish what we need to finish in this area, from this area of gaza city, to israel, but yes, we will attack in all gaza by intelligence and by international law, and it will be based on intelligence and we will be based on intelligence and we will try always to minimise casualties of civilians.-

will try always to minimise casualties of civilians. this is a very serious — casualties of civilians. this is a very serious incident, - casualties of civilians. this is a very serious incident, this i very serious incident, this hospital. _ very serious incident, this hospital, do you think it could delay— hospital, do you think it could delay the _ hospital, do you think it could delay the grant operation? this hospital, do you think it could delay the grant operation? this is a very serious — delay the grant operation? this is a very serious incident _ delay the grant operation? this is a very serious incident because i very serious incident because civilians were casualties, that is why we take it seriously. we took our time to be credible. this is why we took our time to be credible and we took our time to be credible and we didn'tjump into statements. so we didn'tjump into statements. so we take it very seriously. we think the world should hold up islamic jihad, that is 100% funded by iran. their rockets are funding it, it funds hamas and it funds 100% islamichhad. they caused the casualties in the hospital, the al ahli hospital. the campus national

colleague —— the casualties are caused by iran, they cause this death. this is a press conference under way injerusalem by the spokesperson of the israel defence forces. this is following an attack, an explosion, at a hospital in gaza city. hundreds of people are believed to have died during the attack. this is a press conference by the defence forces, putting forward its case as to why it was not responsible for this attack at the hospital overnight in gaza. just a recap, some of the key points from jerusalem, he held up photos of the blast site, pictures, plates and recordings as well to put forward israel's case. he said first

of all that the structure of the hospital was not damaged. he says the impact and damage of the explosion in gaza city was on a car park in the hospital grounds. he says this is the reason why israel was not behind the attack because he said if this was a weapon fired by israel, they would have been far more damage at the hospital, for example, there would have been images of a crater. he says israel's radar system had been tracking rockets from gaza and he reiterated the point that it was islamichhad, a militant group in garzo that fired a militant group in garzo that fired a rocket, which then misfired. he says it then hit the hospital. but to put forward and reiterate the point from palestinian authorities and hamas, they blame israel for the strike that hit a hospital in gaza city. for more on this and developments in israel and gaza, we

can head tojerusalem. can head to jerusalem. thank can head tojerusalem. thank you so much. yes, as you say, we have been hearing from the israel defence forces, saying that israel was not behind an attack, an explosion, at that overcrowded hospital in gaza yesterday evening, in which hundreds of civilians have died. joining me now is paul adams, our middle east correspondent. we had heard long argumentation from israel, evidence, it says to prove it definitely was not behind the explosion, even though the palestinian authorities are insisting that was a missile attack. of course, we have had raids over gaza incessantly says that massacre by hamas inside israel ten days ago. how convinced do you think the arab world will be? hot how convinced do you think the arab world will be?— world will be? not at all. that is the short answer. _

world will be? not at all. that is the short answer. at _ world will be? not at all. that is the short answer. at a _ world will be? not at all. that is the short answer. at a time i world will be? not at all. that is| the short answer. at a time when israel is launching relentless air strikes along the gaza strip, the immediate assumption by everybody watching that was that this was the result of that. the israelis were very quick last night to say no, this was not ours, we had no record of an air this was not ours, we had no record ofan airstrike. this was not ours, we had no record of an air strike. and they thought this was a misfired palestinian rocket. what we had just heard from the rear admiral in that very long and detailed briefing is essentially and detailed briefing is essentially a number of points, one, look at the damage, no sign of a crater or major structural damage, the kinds of things that you would assume you would see in the event of a large israeli air strike. fight! would see in the event of a large israeli air strike.— would see in the event of a large israeli air strike. and that we had been seeing _ israeli air strike. and that we had been seeing elsewhere _ israeli air strike. and that we had been seeing elsewhere in - israeli air strike. and that we had been seeing elsewhere in gaza i been seeing elsewhere in gaza repeatedly. been seeing elsewhere in gaza repeatedly-— been seeing elsewhere in gaza reeatedl . �* , :, :, repeatedly. buildings tone down, hue repeatedly. buildings tone down, huge craters _ repeatedly. buildings tone down, huge craters in _ repeatedly. buildings tone down, huge craters in the _ repeatedly. buildings tone down, huge craters in the street. i repeatedly. buildings tone down, huge craters in the street. and i repeatedly. buildings tone down, huge craters in the street. and of that. what we are seeing is evidence of a very substantial fire because, the israelis say, by the fuel, the propellant that was in that rocket that would onlyjust have been fired

from somewhere nearby and crashed with most of that fuel still on board, causing a fireball, which we actually saw nvidia last night. the other thing they are saying and this is important is that hamas knew that immediately last night i decided to blame israel anyway and inflated the casualty figures for propaganda value. at any natural is the israeli argument this morning.— value. at any natural is the israeli argument this morning. israel says the have argument this morning. israel says they have recordings _ argument this morning. israel says they have recordings saying - argument this morning. israel says they have recordings saying that i they have recordings saying that hamas knew. the they have recordings saying that hamas knew— they have recordings saying that hamas knew. , :, , :, , ., hamas knew. the israelis as we have observed and — hamas knew. the israelis as we have observed and has _ hamas knew. the israelis as we have observed and has been _ hamas knew. the israelis as we have observed and has been said - hamas knew. the israelis as we have observed and has been said over- hamas knew. the israelis as we have observed and has been said over and| observed and has been said over and over, their intelligent systems seemed to have broken down when the hamas attacks were launched, they are monitoring all the traffic in gaza, all the mobile phone communications, everything that they can possibly listen to or see, they are observing. they say, and we only have their word for it, but they say they have monitored those communications, proving that hamas

knew exactly and immediately what had happened in gaza.— had happened in gaza. paul, this is -- there is — had happened in gaza. paul, this is -- there is this _ had happened in gaza. paul, this is -- there is this unfortunate - had happened in gaza. paul, this is -- there is this unfortunate phrase| —— there is this unfortunate phrase thatis —— there is this unfortunate phrase that is used, cycles of violence in this region, and in the past we have seen similar cases like this with lehman counterclaims, for example following aerial bombardment in gaza. —— claim and counterclaim. in some cases, it has been proved to be israel at the end of the day. what about the court of public opinion, in this case? we cannot over emphasise enough how much emotions are heightened in this region, in israel, in palestinian areas and across the middle east at the moment. it across the middle east at the moment. , :, , :, :, , across the middle east at the moment. , :, :, , , :, , moment. it is a profoundly serious moment. it is a profoundly serious moment already, _ moment. it is a profoundly serious moment already, even _ moment. it is a profoundly serious moment already, even before i moment. it is a profoundly serious moment already, even before the | moment already, even before the events at al ahli hospital last night. what we saw there regardless of who was responsible, was one of the largest single losses of

palestinian life in the entire history this contract, so from psychologically this is an enormous moment and an enormous blow. it is not surprisingly palestinian leader immediately concluded that israel was responsible and called off at meeting that was supposed to happen tomorrow in thejordanian capital with him and joe biden and the king ofjordan and the egyptian president, addressing the monetary and issue in gaza but also trying to contain this regionally. it will be interesting to see what reactionaries from the lebanese militia, just north of the border, where there has been a lot of tit—for—tat violence across the border in the last week but also crucially from iran because iran has been warning that if the situation in gaza deteriorates further, iran may be forced to get involved. if the iranians are convinced by what they are hearing this morning, that this was indeed a misfired

palestinian rocket, that might stay iran's hand. palestinian rocket, that might stay lran's hand-— palestinian rocket, that might stay iran's hand. ~ :, «i :, iran's hand. when we talk about the temperature — iran's hand. when we talk about the temperature and _ iran's hand. when we talk about the temperature and the _ iran's hand. when we talk about the temperature and the emotions i iran's hand. when we talk about the | temperature and the emotions here, we saw demonstrations across the arab world last night when news was coming out, devastating pictures coming out, devastating pictures coming out, devastating pictures coming out of that hospital, the bodies of women, men, children, killed in this attack. could you say... some analysts are calling this a turning point. it say. .. some analysts are calling this a turning point.— this a turning point. it feels like it because _ this a turning point. it feels like it because of — this a turning point. it feels like it because of the _ this a turning point. it feels like it because of the raw— this a turning point. it feels like it because of the raw emotion. l this a turning point. it feels like i it because of the raw emotion. but if you think about it, the israelis have already concluded that hamas was responsible for putting this cycle of violence, to use the phrase, and saying they are trying to use this moment cynically to galvanise opinion. as far as the americans are concerned and joe biden i believe is already here, he should have landed in the last few minutes, that is not going to change his calculations. the americans have

already bought the israeli argument that hamas brought this whole situation upon us. and so in some senses, it is not going to change how america is approaching this. i think the streets are on fire, they have been demonstrations in libya, lebanon, jordan, iran, all of that feels extremely perilous, but everyone, every government official, military analyst, is going to be staring at evidence the israelis are presenting and whatever the public rhetoric coming from all sorts of places, will be drawing quiet conclusions about exactly what happened and if they believe this was an accident, then that could haveis was an accident, then that could have is not a calming effect that at least it is not going to escalate things further.— least it is not going to escalate things further. finally, you have mentioned _ things further. finally, you have mentioned joe _ things further. finally, you have mentioned joe biden _ things further. finally, you have mentioned joe biden couple i things further. finally, you have mentioned joe biden couple of i things further. finally, you have i mentioned joe biden couple of times. almost in passing because of the enormity of what happened in gaza last night. it is huge, isn't it? a us president arriving in the middle of a fast paced war that threatens to spread further into this region,

it also always a diplomatic gamble, what he could achieve, hoping to meet the israelis today and all that summit with arab leaders injordan, that now being cancelled after all of those deaths at the hospital, surely this has complicated things a lot more for him into what he can achieve because of the humanitarian concerns the us as, what is going on in gaza and also the of tax today? this was always a huge gamble and essentially pulls the rug under from half of his mission. he is going to be here talking to the israeli government and meeting relatives of people who were killed or abducted in those hamas attacks. that is hugely important. the americans are making no bones of their desire to show israel it is absolutely standing steadfastly behind israel. that is still in place and that is

very important. the other part, the old man meeting, was designed in part to address the humanitarian situation because they need the egyptians on board to try and get that crossing open, to get humanitarian aid in. they are saying that humanitarian aid will be available. how? wejust don't that humanitarian aid will be available. how? we just don't know. the americans are trying very hard to try and make that a reality. but also the regional dimension, talking to the egyptians, thejordanian and palestinian leaders about how to try and stop it getting any works. absolutely, pauladams, and stop it getting any works. absolutely, paul adams, thank you so much whenjoining us. absolutely, paul adams, thank you so much when joining us. just a reminder, we are broadcasting to you live from jerusalem in this region which is inflamed by pain and by death. last night, massive loss of palestinian civilian life in a hospital after an explosion in

central gaza, hundreds of people died, is —— protest across the arab world following that, and israel and both sides blaming each other. israel saying it was not part of its aerial bombing it has launched in the last ten days since hamas militants from gaza massacred 1400 israelis inside israel. they say this was the result of a misfiring from a rocket aimed at israel by the islamichhad armed movement inside gaza. emotions are absolutely inflamed, just as the us president joe biden arrives in israel the talks. for more on that, we are now joined by our chief international correspondence. how isjoe how is joe biden how isjoe biden going to be dealing with this today? it was as he stepped onto his plane that we

started hearing about that explosion at the hospital, but he decided to come here nonetheless. yes. at the hospital, but he decided to come here nonetheless.— at the hospital, but he decided to come here nonetheless. yes, we are now closer — come here nonetheless. yes, we are now closer to — come here nonetheless. yes, we are now closer to the _ come here nonetheless. yes, we are now closer to the gaza _ come here nonetheless. yes, we are now closer to the gaza border. - come here nonetheless. yes, we are now closer to the gaza border. we i now closer to the gaza border. we are less than a mile away. we can see on the horizon gaza city. that is where that carnage and chaos at the al ahli hospital took place late last night, the scene described by palestinian health officials as unparalleled and indescribable comedy scene of holding a press conference at that hospital in the midst of mounds of body bags, so many that the palestinian say they have run out of body bags this is the worst possible situation in which an american president is landing, in the midst of an escalating war, he comes here as a us president to say that he has israel's back, he has a long

history, decades, of showing that he does support the jewish state. history, decades, of showing that he does support thejewish state. he is always ready to support it and there is no bigger hour of need now for israel. he will want to have a look at the evidence, what the idf spokesperson said was an incredible case, not an israeli air strike, but yet he knows that the buyers that are burning across the region, including in the occupied west bank —— the fires. the head of the proscenium authority was meant to meet the american leader is saying that this has crossed all lines —— palestinian authority. jordan, egypt, the gulf states, they are also condemning israel's war crimes. what will they make of israel's case? we are waiting for the palestinians to show their evidence. but everyone has made their mind up. it is as we have been reporting yet another descent into a vicious and

volatile cycle of claim and counterclaim and wards are always fought on two levels, what happens on the ground that you can establish the facts, to close to establish what happened and then there is the level of perceptions as to what happened and time and again, it is the perceptions of what happened is what fuels this conflict. and the overwhelming view among palestinians, across the arab world, this was an israeli air strike and thatis this was an israeli air strike and that is igniting otherfires this was an israeli air strike and that is igniting other fires across this region. joe biden had come, hoping that he could do something to try to contain this escalation and violence. he will at the very least want to easily than agreement from his that aid will go into... the people suffering in gaza, epic suffering is the phrase being used by the un secretary—general, and that at least the dual passport holders can leave gaza, and then

what are the some 2 million palestinians who have nowhere to go and everywhere they go that they are told is safe is not safe at all. how likel is told is safe is not safe at all. how likely is it — told is safe is not safe at all. how likely is it that _ told is safe is not safe at all. how likely is it that joe _ told is safe is not safe at all. how likely is it thatjoe biden told is safe is not safe at all. how likely is it that joe biden will be likely is it thatjoe biden will be able to leave israel today with that commitment of a humanitarian corridor, at least into the gaza strip, for this much needed supplies question mark you were talking about claims and counterclaims that are often traded between the palestinians and israelis, following this terrible explosion, for example, and loss of life at the hospital. often what is forgotten in those trading of claims is the civilian impacts and desperate situation on the ground, which we are focusing on the hospital but it is for the wider gaza strip, lack of water, no medicine coming in, lack of full, people made homeless, israel told palestinians living in the central gaza strip to go to the

south. it is a desperate situation. we had the us secretary of state who has just been here and speaking to the israeli authorities after eight hours of talks, he did not have a cast—iron commitment that aid would be allowed into the gaza strip, so what you think... how likely is it that we will see that humanitarian aid able to enter afterjoe biden has visited today? so much has changed in the last 24—hour is. so much has changed in the last 24-hour is-_ 24-hour is. passions have been innited, 24-hour is. passions have been ignited. anger— 24-hour is. passions have been ignited, anger has _ 24-hour is. passions have been ignited, anger has flared - 24-hour is. passions have been ignited, anger has flared again. antony blinken, when he announced joe biden would make a high—profile, high risk visit to this region, he said the united states and israel were in his words developing a plan to get aid into gaza. it is hard to imagine us president would have come unless he felt something was in the

works and all it would take was his personal intervention, speaking fa ce—to —fa ce personal intervention, speaking face—to—face with the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu and the israeli high command, to try to convince them it was in israel plus my interest and in the interest of innocent civilians in gaza that they had to do everything possible to minimise human suffering. there had been a report earlier, in a few days ago, during a phone call between president biden and prime minister benjamin netanyahu that there was an agreement to allow water into the southern gaza strip, the area where israel had ordered palestinians in the north to move to. it turned out the north to move to. it turned out the taps were only turned on a short period. what we hear now is water is all but run out. to bury the dead with dignity they have to wash the bodies. they are running out of body bags and all but water and fuel. we

do not know what will happen behind closed doors. there will be tense meetings but it is a joe biden visit where he believes the power of his word, the power of the united states, the important military aid, financial and moral support to the united states has offered israel during this to use the word unprecedented crisis, can make a difference. but i think it is too unpredictable to say now what will be the result of this visit, which is a huge gamble. president biden seems to feel he has no other choice but to be seen to be here. it was already a huge — but to be seen to be here. it was already a huge gamble _ but to be seen to be here. it was already a huge gamble when - but to be seen to be here. it was already a huge gamble when joe | but to be seen to be here. it was already a huge gamble whenjoe biden was expecting first to come here to a great us ally, israel, and then to go on to amman and jordan to hold a

summit with arab leaders including the president of the palestinian authority mahmoud a bass. that summit has been cancelled and we are told joe biden will speak to the president of egypt —— mahmoud abbas. the optics are not there. he will not be standing next to arab leaders on this visit. telephone conversation is not the same as face—to—face and suspicion is already across the middle east that the united states is not an honest broker in this conflict. that is definitely the suspicion. maybe at this moment _ definitely the suspicion. maybe at this moment of _ definitely the suspicion. maybe at this moment of crisis _ definitely the suspicion. maybe at this moment of crisis what - definitely the suspicion. maybe at this moment of crisis what is - definitely the suspicion. maybe at. this moment of crisis what is needed is private conversations between the american president and arab leaders who are saying publicly that this was an israeli air strike, more than that an israeli war crime. president biden will see for himself notjust what the israelis have assessed

based on existing intelligence but what americans are also telling them. their assessment of what happened in those fateful moments at that hospital in gaza city. he will be able to convey to arab leaders what his own assessment is, whether arab leaders will be willing to make the difficult decision, dangerous decision to say what they think, if they are reassessing the situation. they will need to know what the facts tell. have you verified, is there enough data, enough intelligence, enough imagery to show us what could have caused that amount of, that large human hold? possibly the largest in the five wars gaza and israel have fought at times of heightened tension since 2008. at this moment, the arab

leaders are reading the mood on the street. the streets do not want to see them standing shoulder to shoulder with the american president, who is here to be seen to be standing shoulder to shoulder with israel. it is not the right time. it might not have been the right time before the current crisis escalated. they are worried about tensions on the borders in this region. they are even more worried about what is happening on the streets. king abdullah said yesterday that there will not be a single palestinian refugee coming to jordan going into egypt, in other words, they do not want to see gazans pushed out of the territory, a depopulation of the gaza strip, which has happened time and again from one war to the next in the region. they have many concerns they will want to put to the american

president directly, even if it is not face—to—face this time. president directly, even if it is not face-to-face this time. because that is another _ not face-to-face this time. because that is another pressure. _ not face-to-face this time. because that is another pressure. we - not face-to-face this time. because that is another pressure. we are - that is another pressure. we are looking at the dire humanitarian situation in gaza, international pressure on israel to allow suppliers in the. egypt said it had allowed humanitarian aid, supplies, medicine, food and water to mass on its border with gaza. a reminder, israel is at the north of gaza, and egypt is at the south. there is also a closure of the border with the guys “ a closure of the border with the guys —— the gaza strip. even though jordan says no palestinian refugees will enterjordan or egypt from the gaza strip, united states, france for example, dual nationals. they

have passport holders who were taken ljy have passport holders who were taken by militants when they entered israel and are now being held hostage. 200 hostages inside gaza. they want hostages to be released. that is something israel is pushing for and they want gazans with passports to be allowed out through egypt. what pressure canjoe biden bring to bear? aha, egypt. what pressure can joe biden bring to bear?— bring to bear? a lot of what you described are _ bring to bear? a lot of what you described are things _ bring to bear? a lot of what you described are things that - bring to bear? a lot of what you described are things that israel| bring to bear? a lot of what you i described are things that israel has to sort. the reason egypt says it is not opening the rafah crossing is because israel continues to attack it. there have been at these four air strikes in that area in the past 11 days. it does not want its own staff to be injured. there has been damage to infrastructure at the crossing. egypt needs reassurances.

for the first time, israel is making a specific reference to a zone in the southern gaza strip along the coast where it is telling palestinians to go to, saying international aid will be delivered there. we have not heard back from there. we have not heard back from the united nations. gazans tragically have heard reassurances from israel before, when they were told days ago to leave their homes within 2a hours in the north of the gaza strip, including gaza city, go south, where they could find safety and protection and aid. the situation in the south, it seems, the reports we are getting, even from our reporter, that area is at breaking point. the un pointed out the bombardment of the south is continuing. there is not enough food, water, fuel. so much so that

we heard on the bbc laments of palestinians saying if we are going to die, we prefer to go back to the north to die in our own homes. president biden will ask the israelis directly what kind of zone they are setting up, how will ade getin? they are setting up, how will ade get in? israel publicly now is saying they do not want aid to go in because it will be diverted by hamas and islamicjihad. they are tough talks to be had today in israel. it is a tough, tough nightmarish situation on the ground for gazans, not knowing if there is any way out of the crisis, not knowing if they are to survive, a kind of pressure they have never had to live through before which is saying a lot for gazans. . ~ before which is saying a lot for gazans. ., ,, , ., before which is saying a lot for gazans. . ~' , . before which is saying a lot for gazans. ., ,, , . ., gazans. thank you so very much. that was our international _ gazans. thank you so very much. that was our international correspondent . was our international correspondent in southern israel right by the

border with gaza. in this fast paced situation, a reminder thatjoe biden is in israel, coming to israel today for talks with the israeli government, with the prime minister benjamin netanyahu. he had hoped to go to amman for a summit with arab leaders after but that has been cancelled after yesterday's devastating explosion at a hospital in gaza in which hundreds of civilians were killed with israelis and palestinians accusing each other of being responsible for that explosion and the resulting bloodshed. life now to our security correspondent frank gardner. hello. we heard from the israeli defence forces this morning a lengthy press conference in which they presented

evidence they said that israel was categorically not behind that loss of life, that explosion at that pact gaza hospital. the palestinian authority is insisting that is not the case. israel has been bombarding the case. israel has been bombarding the gaza strip for the last ten days after militants from gaza crossed into israel and massacred moo israelis into israel and massacred m00 israelis and took 200 hostages with them into the gaza strip. israel said it was not them. what do you make of the press conference and the evidence they presented today? essen; evidence they presented today? every war has a defining _ evidence they presented today? e- war has a defining moment, evidence they presented today? er war has a defining moment, its most shocking incident. this war began with one, triggered by what happened in southern israel but since the conflict involved gaza and the air

strikes, this is without question the most shocking incident. the region has already made up its mind. whatever evidence was produced in the press conference and subsequently, i do not think people in the region, certainly not the populations, if not the governments, will believe the israeli version. palestine and islamicjihad, accused of a rocket misfiring said israel is lying. we are in the 2ist—century. it ought to be possible, with weapons experts, to examine the evidence such as there is, to be able to try to pin it down rather in the way that there is the confusion ten years ago over who had caused a nerve gas attack in syria, with the syrian government denying they were responsible, saying it was the rebels and the rebel saying it was the government. eventually the evidence concluded it was the syrian

government. i do not think that will change minds. just as our reporters were saying, it is a volatile moment. president biden is flying into a region that already considers that the us and israel are partners in war crimes, quite frankly, that is what they believed. regardless of the horrors that took place on the morning of october the 7th in southern israel.— morning of october the 7th in southern israel. israel says it is not guilty _ southern israel. israel says it is not guilty of — southern israel. israel says it is not guilty of war _ southern israel. israel says it is not guilty of war crimes - southern israel. israel says it is not guilty of war crimes and - southern israel. israel says it is| not guilty of war crimes and said southern israel. israel says it is i not guilty of war crimes and said it never goes out to target hospitals, which is forbidden under international law. joe biden coming into this volatile situation. we have looked at what is happening in gaza. what about in the north? north of israel? there has been exchanges of israel? there has been exchanges of fire between israel and militants

of fire between israel and militants of hezbollah, the lebanese militia backed by iran. so far, and exchange of islands, but it is sort of contain. threats by hezbollah that if things change dramatically, the bloodshed increases in gaza, that is it, as unarmed and powerful militia, it, as unarmed and powerful militia, it could launch its force against israel. where are we on that today following the explosion at the gaza hospital? the following the explosion at the gaza hosital? ~' , ., , ., hospital? the keyword is iran. in the ast hospital? the keyword is iran. in the past 48 _ hospital? the keyword is iran. in the past 48 hours _ hospital? the keyword is iran. in the past 48 hours there - hospital? the keyword is iran. in the past 48 hours there have - hospital? the keyword is iran. in i the past 48 hours there have been two threatening statements coming from iran from the foreign minister and then the supreme leader. essentially saying iran cannot stand idly by while palestinians are killed in gaza. iran does not

necessarily entirely control, but directs funds, arms, trains a number of militia in the region. hezbollah is the most powerful. they have an arsenal of close to 150,000 rockets and missiles, many of which are advanced, long—range, precision guided, they can take out individual buildings in tel aviv if they choose to make war with israel with israel then would be fighting a war on two fronts. on the east of israel, the west bank is angry at the moment. it was angry already because of clashes between palestinians and the police and separatists. but more angry now about what happened in gaza. potentially, israel could fight a conflict on the north, south and east. iran knows that if it gets involved in this, it will quite

possibly face, it's militia, its allies, will face the firepower of the us navy, which has not one but two aircraft carrier strike groups in the eastern mediterranean, essentially two mobile air forces within easy striking distance of hezbollah positions which is meant to be a deterrent. when america says they have israel's back, that is what they mean. i think president biden will have tough words with benjamin netanyahu. the israeli cabinet, at least the one before... just to interrupt you. i am sorry. as you are speaking aboutjoe biden, we can see he is about to touch down in israel on air force one. with so much on his mind as he lands. when he got onto his plane yesterday,

that was the moment that news and devastating pictures started coming out after the explosion at that overcrowded gaza hospital in which hundreds of men, women and children have died as a result of that, his planned summit with arab leaders following the visit to israel has been cancelled. the palestinian authority president mahmoud abbas declared three days of mourning. he pulled out of the summit as a result of which it is not taking place. briefly to have a look at the security of the us president. we spoke about the threats of israel having to fight a war potentially if the situation escalates on multiple fronts but this is a us president flying into a volatile situation. the security concerns are huge. timer;r the security concerns are huge. they

are. i am watching _ the security concerns are huge. they are. i am watching his _ the security concerns are huge. tue: are. i am watching his plane landing. in normaltimes, the are. i am watching his plane landing. in normal times, the secret service would go and scout out every inch, metre that the president would travel down. they would have sniffer dogs and do advance preparation. this will be a security nightmare for them because tel aviv where he has landed is a city that has had rocket fire coming in from gaza. should hezbollah decide to take part, tojoin the should hezbollah decide to take part, to join the fight, tel aviv would be in firing range. this is the last thing the us presidential security detail once. i think they want him out of the region quickly now that the summit is cancelled. how is his security going to be contained while he is here? we have

just seen air force one landing in tel aviv. he will be going to meet israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu, the israeli war cabinet. he will meet families of people killed in the massacre in the south of israel ten days ago, when militants from gaza came in and killed men, women and children and took 200 people including the elderly and very young children, babies, into gaza. how will this mean, he will have to travel by road to meet israel's government. it looks like a calm seen as the plane taxis to a stop but behind—the—scenes there must be frantic security activity going on. israeli security has taken a knock

in terms of its prestige after what happened on october the 7th because they were caught napping in that attack. the president normally travels with something called the beast. the great big armoured vehicle that can withstand gunshots, even allegedly grenades and other weapons. security i think will be tight. the israelis will have liaised with white house secret service staff. they will be having armed men and women around him. they will limit who he sees. he will only see a tight group. the security cabinet of israel. he will meet survivors of the attack. he will meet prime minister benjamin netanyahu. but he will not be doing a walk around in a public area. ibellman

a walk around in a public area. when ou travel a walk around in a public area. when you travel around _ a walk around in a public area. when you travel around israel— a walk around in a public area. when you travel around israel at _ a walk around in a public area. when you travel around israel at the - you travel around israel at the moment, israel does have bomb shelters widely across the country, but signs pointing people to where the bomb shelter is, they are very prominent at the moment. we have seen a number of international visitors to israel in recent days since israel started the aerial bombardment of gaza following those attacks and murders of israeli civilians inside gaza. having to scramble for cover. for example, germany's chancellor. that will also be on people's mines. it germany's chancellor. that will also be on people's mines.— be on people's mines. it will and photographers — be on people's mines. it will and photographers will _ be on people's mines. it will and photographers will be _ be on people's mines. it will and photographers will be poised - be on people's mines. it will and photographers will be poised to l photographers will be poised to catch that picture of the us president having to dash for cover if that is what happens. the us has two concerns, the us president does.

one is to dampen down and urge restraint from the israelis, even before this horror happened in the hospital. that will still be a blame game over the next days i think with both sides blaming each other. before that happened, the us was concerned at the high number of palestinian dead and wounded caused by the israeli air strikes and artillery strikes in gaza while at the same time saying israel has the right to defend itself. the us is unhappy about these, is of course the rest of the region is, livid at the rest of the region is, livid at the number of casualties caused in gaza. it's big concern is whether it will escalate and draw in other nations, particularly iran via its proxies, hezbollah. this puts the leaders of the region in a difficult position. the rulers of egypt and

jordan and the gulf states, apart from qatar, they do not like hamas but they have enormous sympathy for palestinian people suffering. their populations are furious. there is a risk to rulers in the region that if they do not appear tough on israel and do things like pulling out of this summit, their people could start to demonstrate against them which is what we have seen in the west bank last night, where there were angry clashes between west bank palestinians and security forces not of israel but the palestinian authority. they are angry that mahmoud abbas has not done more to confront israel and also to resolve the situation. this confront israel and also to resolve the situation.— the situation. as well as the humanitarian _ the situation. as well as the humanitarian disaster - the situation. as well as the humanitarian disaster we i the situation. as well as the | humanitarian disaster we are the situation. as well as the - humanitarian disaster we are seeing unfolding in gaza and the trauma in israel following the attacks and

murders ten days ago, the taking of 200 hostages, as well, there are domestic politics at play inside the region. also inside the us. when president biden holds what are expected to be frank discussions with israel's prime minister behind closed doors today, that will also be on president biden's mind, next year's election in the us and the fact he will be reluctant to be called into an escalating situation in the middle east. he called into an escalating situation in the middle east.— in the middle east. he certainly will. the in the middle east. he certainly will- the us — in the middle east. he certainly will. the us has _ in the middle east. he certainly will. the us has tried _ in the middle east. he certainly will. the us has tried to - in the middle east. he certainly . will. the us has tried to disengage from the middle east. it has shown less interest in the region, it is no longer depending on the golf for oil in the way it used to. it is a

producer of oil itself. i think the focus in the coming us presidential elections in terms of foreign conflicts was going to be further to the east, would be the south china sea. and then ukraine. all the attention has been taken off that now. that is still a full—scale war where the us is helping it to defend itself. . .. where the us is helping it to defend itself. . ~ , . , itself. frank gardner, security correspondent, _ itself. frank gardner, security correspondent, thank - itself. frank gardner, security correspondent, thank you. - itself. frank gardner, security| correspondent, thank you. we itself. frank gardner, security - correspondent, thank you. we will be joining you again later this morning. thank you forjoining us. hello, and welcome to our viewers around the world and those in the uk who have just joined us. i'm katya adler, and we're

broadcasting live from jerusalem. this is bbc news. the pictures we are now looking at is a false one. biden, the us president has landed in israel while the tensions are so high across the region, particularly as his plane took up from the united states yesterday, when news and devastating pictures were appearing of the loss of life, hundreds of gaza civilians inside an overcrowded hospital, following an explosion. since then, we have had israelis and palestinians blaming one anotherfor that explosion. israel presenting evidence, it said, today that it was not behind the explosion, but rather a malfunctioning rocket by islamic jihad. we see here president biden

coming down the