litres expressing israel's litres expressing solidarity but also urging humanitarian support for gaza. the palestinian humanitarian support for gaza. he: palestinian people are victims of hamas it too so that is why welcome the decision you took yesterday to ensure that routes into gaza would be opened for humanitarian aid. the situation is also tense on israel's northern border where troops have exchanged fire with hezbollah. i am at least doucet in southern israel, rockets have been fired into this area from gaza in the past few hours and as israel continues its air strikes and artillery fire into the gaza strip. welcome to the programme. it has been a day of fast moving developments so we cross live

to our chief international correspondent lyse doucet who is in southern israel. you join us as we are getting a new footage from inside the gaza strip, from the south are not part, where hundreds of thousands of palestinians have been sheltering or trying to shelter but these images show why are palestinian officials say was a air strike on a home near a hospital in khan yunis. these are distressing images were about to show come out about showing children and united nations aid workers are being taken to hospital after an air strike. you can see on the left smoke billowing and after the blast, hospital workers and palestinian residents are trying to bring children to the

hospital. as ambulances rushed to the scene. are clearly marked un car is also seen to be bringing people wearing un uniforms into the medical facility. this situation, this developing situation in khan yunis now in the gaza strip. more distressing scenes of suffering and casualties, the results, a local officials say, of an air strike in the area. hospitals again overwhelmed and what the united nations has described as a humanitarian catastrophe in the gaza strip, which has been under a complete israeli siege since almost the beginning of this crisis on october the 7th. this is the situation that... rockets are

coming! studio: we leave that there and we will make sure that lyse doucet is able to get to a place of safety. people get the very latest from our team is on the ground. they are heading to an area of apparent safety no snow but that underlines the danger that journalists, civilians and those in that part of the territory are facing right now. we will keep a close eye on that but it does look as though lyse doucet is a place of safety at now. we will take you back there if we can. this has been a big day of diplomatic developments, particularly when it comes to getting aid through the crossing in the south of gaza.

hot on the heels of yesterday's visit byjoe biden, rishi sunak came today. on the well travelled road to jerusalem, mr sunak�*s trip is a symbolic show of solidarity after one of the worst events in modern israeli history. rishi sunak�*s visit todayis israeli history. rishi sunak�*s visit today is to show israel that its allies have its back. there may well be allies have its back. there may well he calls for restraint but what happens next is perhaps inevitable and they won't try to persuade israel otherwise. the military build—up on the border with gaza continues. when they go in remains to be decided but with the avowed intention of completely destroying hamas come out about those who have seen this before so this time will be different. the seen this before so this time will be different-— be different. the two previous round be different. the two previous ground campaigns _

be different. the two previous ground campaigns both - be different. the two previous ground campaigns both lasted be different. the two previous . ground campaigns both lasted for about 18 days and that the israeli forces left. this time, it's going to be a lot longer than 18 days and nobody is going to be able to say whether it will be weeks, months or even years before israel has reached that objective of eradicating the hamas leadership and military capabilities in gaza. that really is the main difference now. for now, israel continues _ the main difference now. for now, israel continues to _ the main difference now. for now, israel continues to hit _ the main difference now. for now, israel continues to hit targets - the main difference now. for now, israel continues to hit targets in i israel continues to hit targets in gaza from the air. palestinian officials say there have also been numerous civilian casualties, many of them are children. gaza's humanitarian situation is dire and rishi sunak impressed on israeli leaders the importance of allowing limited aid into gaza through the border with egypt, something israel has agreed to and should begin by

the end of the week. compared to its reliance on the united states for support and military aid, israel's relationship with the uk is much less important but at times of such crisis come out about these moments are significant. t’m crisis come out about these moments are significant-— are significant. i'm proud to stand here with you _ are significant. i'm proud to stand here with you in _ are significant. i'm proud to stand here with you in israel's _ are significant. i'm proud to stand here with you in israel's darkest l here with you in israel's darkest hour as your friend, we want you to win. , , , win. this is the better the entire civilised world, _ win. this is the better the entire civilised world, not _ win. this is the better the entire civilised world, not just - win. this is the better the entire civilised world, notjust ours. . win. this is the better the entire l civilised world, notjust ours. this is the _ civilised world, notjust ours. this is the battle of israel, the moderate arab countries, western civilisation. — moderate arab countries, western civilisation, the free world, the battle — civilisation, the free world, the battle for — civilisation, the free world, the battle for the future.— civilisation, the free world, the battle for the future. israel says it cannot allow _ battle for the future. israel says it cannot allow its _ battle for the future. israel says it cannot allow its friends - battle for the future. israel says i it cannot allow its friends although i do want to forget what happened on october the 7th, when 1300 people were murdered. on the day of rishi sunak�*s visits, this was the latest victim to be identified, murdered in

the attack on kibbutz be'eri, the lifelong man united vine leaves behind two children. if you are with us a moment ago you will surmise that lyse doucet had to rush off to take cover. we go back there now live and we saw you having to get to some sort of safety. tell us what went on? you are safe and able to keep broadcasting but explain what happened there? we are in southern israel, _ explain what happened there? we are in southern israel, less _ explain what happened there? we are in southern israel, less than - explain what happened there? we are in southern israel, less than a - explain what happened there? we are in southern israel, less than a mile i in southern israel, less than a mile from the gaza strip you can see the outlines of gaza city behind us on a clear day. when we hear the air raid sirens here, you have to take them seriously. a number of rockets landed in this area throughout the day and this one, we are looking into a community here along israel's southern border with the gaza strip.

you can see journalists gathered here in flakjackets because the rockets hunting here. this error is largely deserted, israel ordered the residents to leave and seek shelter, some were very reluctant to leave saying that they did not have the resources to leave and did not want to. but with every day that passes, more and more israelis to evacuate this area. hamas have warned that in the same without israel are displacing huge numbers of palestinian in the gaza strip with its aerial and artillery fire that we can see and hear from here, that it will also displace israeli residents living here in southern israel. this is the scene on the 13th day of war, the british prime minister rishi sunak has landed in this, following us presidentjoe boutin and the german chancellor

scholz kamara notjust wanting to stand with israel, all of them, but wanting to be seen to do so. in this environment is, what kind of british prime minister achieve? we go now to jerusalem and speak to our diplomatic correspondence. we know that prime minister sunak like presidentjoe biden made it absolutely clear that he has come to israel to show what side he is standing on and he has other priorities on his agenda. what would be the next party for him in the short visit to israel and then to arab capitals?— arab capitals? let's first up it clear that _ arab capitals? let's first up it clear that rishi _ arab capitals? let's first up it clear that rishi sunak's - arab capitals? let's first up it. clear that rishi sunak's influence on events— clear that rishi sunak's influence on events here in the middle east is marginal— on events here in the middle east is marginal at— on events here in the middle east is marginal at best and certainly nothing — marginal at best and certainly nothing compared to the role played byjoe _ nothing compared to the role played byjoe biden who was here just yesterday. but it is part of an international effort to try and

shore — international effort to try and shore up _ international effort to try and shore up what little that can be achieved — shore up what little that can be achieved following joe biden's visits, — achieved following joe biden's visits, to _ achieved following joe biden's visits, to try and make sure the crisis _ visits, to try and make sure the crisis does _ visits, to try and make sure the crisis does not escalate to be borders— crisis does not escalate to be borders of gaza. we have obviously seen _ borders of gaza. we have obviously seen the _ borders of gaza. we have obviously seen the danger of that along the northern— seen the danger of that along the northern border with skirmishes with hezbollah _ northern border with skirmishes with hezbollah and also violence in the west _ hezbollah and also violence in the west bank. also to make sure that every _ west bank. also to make sure that every effort is made to try and secure — every effort is made to try and secure the _ every effort is made to try and secure the release of western hostages who are among those hostages who are among those hostages being held in the gaza strip— hostages being held in the gaza strip at— hostages being held in the gaza strip at the moment. joe boutin refer— strip at the moment. joe boutin refer to — strip at the moment. joe boutin refer to this yesterday, saying there — refer to this yesterday, saying there was— refer to this yesterday, saying there was no higher priority for him than the _ there was no higher priority for him than the fate of us citizens held in gaza _ than the fate of us citizens held in gaza rishi — than the fate of us citizens held in gaza. rishi sunak is anxious to see what _ gaza. rishi sunak is anxious to see what if— gaza. rishi sunak is anxious to see what if any— gaza. rishi sunak is anxious to see what if any prospects are for securing _ what if any prospects are for securing their release before israel decides _ securing their release before israel decides to— securing their release before israel decides to launch its ground invasion _ decides to launch its ground invasion. and also to try and capitalise _ invasion. and also to try and capitalise on this tiny, tiny window of opportunity to try and get humanitarian aid into gaza from

egypt _ humanitarian aid into gaza from egypt. that was ideal brokered by the americans and announced byjoe biden— the americans and announced byjoe biden yesterday. it's very, very tentative. — biden yesterday. it's very, very tentative, probably no more than 20 trucks _ tentative, probably no more than 20 trucks going in tomorrow, perhaps, carrving _ trucks going in tomorrow, perhaps, carrying food, medicine and water. a tiny drop _ carrying food, medicine and water. a tiny drop in _ carrying food, medicine and water. a tiny drop in the pockets compared to what is _ tiny drop in the pockets compared to what is actually required on the ground — what is actually required on the ground in— what is actually required on the ground in gaza at the moment. crucially. — ground in gaza at the moment. crucially, not including a fuel, which — crucially, not including a fuel, which is — crucially, not including a fuel, which is needed to power generators in hospitals, to make sure water can be pumped, — in hospitals, to make sure water can be pumped, desalination plants can be pumped, desalination plants can be operated. israel is refusing to allow— be operated. israel is refusing to allow fuel— be operated. israel is refusing to allow fuel into gaza and so that aspect— allow fuel into gaza and so that aspect is— allow fuel into gaza and so that aspect is something which is causing great _ aspect is something which is causing great concern at the un and other agencies — great concern at the un and other agencies operating on the ground. so there is— agencies operating on the ground. so there is a _ agencies operating on the ground. so there is a great deal for all these international players to try and work _ international players to try and work on — international players to try and work on. rishi sunak and his foreign secretary— work on. rishi sunak and his foreign secretaryjames cleverly work on. rishi sunak and his foreign secretary james cleverly are travelling around the region, two

beculled, — travelling around the region, two beculled, turkey, egypt, to try to use the _ beculled, turkey, egypt, to try to use the good offices of all those players — use the good offices of all those players to help with any hostage negotiations. and all the while, we are sitting — negotiations. and all the while, we are sitting waiting, wondering when israel— are sitting waiting, wondering when israel will— are sitting waiting, wondering when israel will finally be ready to launch— israel will finally be ready to launch what everyone assumes will be the largest— launch what everyone assumes will be the largest military operation conducted by israel in the gaza strip— conducted by israel in the gaza strip in— conducted by israel in the gaza strip in decades.— strip in decades. thank you for 'oinin: strip in decades. thank you for joining us _ strip in decades. thank you for joining us from _ strip in decades. thank you for joining us from a _ strip in decades. thank you for joining us from a jerusalem. i strip in decades. thank you for l joining us from a jerusalem. for now, all eyes are on that second back crossing in the south of the gaza strip wherejoe brightened merchant earlier today there will be merchant earlier today there will he broke and going on. the roads are potholed to be had to be fixed to allow the lorries to enter the gaza strip. from the crossing in egypt, the rafah crossing. but the news we are getting this afternoon, those terrible images from what is reported to be another israeli air

strike in an area in southern gaza strip. un workers seem to be at the scene and that will be heightened concern again with that in order for the united nations to deliver a desperately needed aid when it finally arrives in gaza, it will have to do so in safety. that has been egypt's concern too, its hesitation about opening at the porter. the next 2a hours will be absolutely crucial most of all for the more than 2 million gazans in the more than 2 million gazans in the gaza strip are desperate for some life—saving aid. i hand back to you in the studio for now. some life-saving aid. i hand back to you in the studio for now.— you in the studio for now. thank ou. you in the studio for now. thank you- thank _ you in the studio for now. thank you- thank you _ you in the studio for now. thank you. thank you to _ you in the studio for now. thank you. thank you to you _ you in the studio for now. thank you. thank you to you and - you in the studio for now. thank you. thank you to you and your| you in the studio for now. thank - you. thank you to you and your team for that reporting in what has been unpredictable circumstances. lyse doucet there, our chief international correspondent. rishi sunak met the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu as well as the president herzog in a visit to the country. here he is after speaking

at that meeting this morning. lpiglet? at that meeting this morning. web and consistently _ at that meeting this morning. an and consistently clear it is important are you to close since a casa. earlierthis important are you to close since a casa. earlier this week i announced an increase in aid the uk is providing and we are working closely with country's, particular egypt, to make sure that aid can get so close people as quickly as possible. i welcomed the decision from president netanyahu to welcomed the decision from president neta nyahu to allow welcomed the decision from president netanyahu to allow food and water supplies into gaza and we need to make sure that happens as quickly as practically possible. i been consistently clear that hamas has perpetrated an appalling act of terror which is taking the lives of so many and caused untold israel has every right given that to defend itself in line with humanitarian law to try and make sure it can recover hostages and ensure the security of its people notjust for today but also the long—term. president herzog has said that israel will take every

precaution to avoid harming civilians but we have to remember that it civilians but we have to remember thatitis civilians but we have to remember that it is hamas, the terrorist organisation, that embeds itself in the civilian population and they should be held accountable for that. getting more on his visit to the middle east we speak to them in chromatic as in westminster. we were told this is a two date visit and way now and massey will travel to saudi arabia? haste way now and massey will travel to saudi arabia?— saudi arabia? we also potentially know he will _ saudi arabia? we also potentially know he will go _ saudi arabia? we also potentially know he will go on _ saudi arabia? we also potentially know he will go on to _ saudi arabia? we also potentially know he will go on to other- saudi arabia? we also potentially i know he will go on to other places, no details on that yet, those prices could be announced but at the moment is, you have this visit in israel where you see the symbolism right to the four. importantly for israel you see the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu trying to situate this in the narrative that he wants which is that this is the battle of

the free world is against an axis of evil. he said it was led by iran and he would need support for a long war. rishi sunak, standing there saying he was proud to stand with israel in its darkest hour. so, sending that signal and then are talking about the importance of our youth are getting in in two gaza. —— importance of aid getting in in. he was in the process of normalising ties with israel, tattersall stopped because what was happening so rishi sunak will be keen to talk to one of the other big players in the region it to see a sense of how the other regional powers see this and efforts to try to prevent the conflict from escalating or spreading at all. one thing that is interesting is how you are getting a sense that this is coordinated because we also see the german chancellor was there a couple of days ago. german foreign minister

hasjust announced is of days ago. german foreign minister has just announced is going to israel, jordan is well and she has put out a statement of very similar about israel's right to defend itself, talking about hamas and that she said the fed job israel had to because hamas embeds itself in the civilian population. interestingly, the germans are putting more emphasis on getting help into gaza. i can give you sense that we stand in unwavering solidarity with israel but far too many men, women and children have died, the purpose is to fight hamas at, dot the civilian population, they are suffering tremendously. the humanitarian situation in because its disastrous. so, really pushing hard to try to get more supplies in. at the moment is, the only thing we have is this a very small convoy of aid which might make it in the next few hours or a

day or so, who nose beyond that. around the world and across the uk, you're watching bbc news. let's look at some of the other stories making headlines. people and parts of scotland are being urged to stay at home because storm babet is expected to bring severe flooding and disruption. the storm was already hitting ireland and the army has been deployed to a town there were more than 100 properties have been flooded. more on that and the weather update a little later. asylum seekers have returned to an accommodation barge that was abandoned in august after legionella bacteria was found in the water supply. a coach carrying the migrants are right at the bibby stockholm, also, this afternoon and was met by protests at the gates. the home office says that the vessel is now safe and secure. people are voting in two by—elections today to

decide site replaces the site replaces nadine dorries in mid bedfordshire and chris pincher in tamworth after the conservative mps. polling stations opened on saturday at will close at 10pm with results expected early on friday morning. there will be full coverage of this by—elections on the bbc news website. you're let affect bbc news. to the united states where the veteran state department official josh poole resigned because of president biden's handling of the israel/gaza war. our correspondence is in washington. what is going on here? mr is in washington. what is going on here? ~ ., ., ., here? mr paul works in a department that refuse military _ here? mr paul works in a department that refuse military sales _ here? mr paul works in a department that refuse military sales to - here? mr paul works in a department that refuse military sales to make i that refuse military sales to make sure they comply with international law and then recommend the congress whether they should go ahead and then congress makes a decision. mr paul says that israel is cutting off

supplies to gaza violates provisions in us law that are meant to keep military sales and weapons out of the hands of human rights abusers. he said that he had many times in his 11 years working there seen the government approved military sales to countries in the middle east that he felt not meet those requirements but said at least in those cases he expected congress to push back to either put a halt on this weapon or grill officials and we did see that quite a lot with weapon sales to saudi arabia. said that in this case, he didn't expect any resistance in congress so he felt he had to resign. he said it was wrong for the us to have blind support for one side and it was unjust and destructive, it was against the us security interests for israel to kill one generation of enemies only to see another generation arise. he said he had received quite a lot of support from colleagues in the state

department and congressional aides who were struggling with president biden's policy. who were struggling with president biden's policy-— biden's policy. thank you. we now could return _ biden's policy. thank you. we now could return to _ biden's policy. thank you. we now could return to a _ biden's policy. thank you. we now could return to a story _ biden's policy. thank you. we now could return to a story where - biden's policy. thank you. we now could return to a story where been following closely, breaking news within the last hour or so that palestinian media are reporting the heads of hamas' security forces have been killed in an air strike. family members are reported to also have died in that attack. how significant is this if it is confirmed? hat died in that attack. how significant is this if it is confirmed?— is this if it is confirmed? not a name known _ is this if it is confirmed? not a name known widely _ is this if it is confirmed? not a name known widely to - is this if it is confirmed? not a name known widely to the - is this if it is confirmed? not a - name known widely to the general public, he was on a target list by the itf and they will accepted, hamas, when they launched their attack that israel's retaliation was from the going to take some of the number. i think they would have been prepared for this. the problem with

taking out and targeting leaders in built—up areas, it's extremely difficult to do without major civilian casualties. it's very different from the sort of things the us was doing on the wilder parts of iraq in northern syria, where they were able to target certain isis leaders with not nearly as much collateral damage, and i hate that word come out civilians being killed alongside that. if you remember the isis beatles litre, they talked him for some time but had to wait for some time from to be away from civilian. the israelis do not appear to be doing that is, and this is going to be a major problem for them. the person they are really after was one of those released as part of the hostage release deal,

whereby hamas had kidnapped an israeli soldier back in 2006 and it took five years of waiting in negotiations but eventually, israel got him back in exchange for 1000 palace prisoners, one of those was yahya sinwar, he is the one they really want. the sad fact is this, at the number of hamas military leaders who are legitimate military targets for israel is minuscule compared to the number of civilian casualties in this war.— casualties in this war. thank you for that assessment _ casualties in this war. thank you for that assessment is, - casualties in this war. thank you for that assessment is, good - casualties in this war. thank you for that assessment is, good to | casualties in this war. thank you - for that assessment is, good to have you with us. i want to take you to tel aviv, this is a news conference being held by the families of some

of those taken hostage by hamas at two weeks ago. we know the current total is 200 people kidnapped on the 7th of october. we understand this man is the on—call of young children all under the age of five. —— he is the uncle of young children who have been taken hostage. ads, the uncle of young children who have been taken hostage.— been taken hostage. a day after, we not in been taken hostage. a day after, we got in touch — been taken hostage. a day after, we got in touch with _ been taken hostage. a day after, we got in touch with one _ been taken hostage. a day after, we got in touch with one of— been taken hostage. a day after, we got in touch with one of the - got in touch with one of the survivors, who mentioned that during her kidnap escape, she met david and one of the twins on a truck and david said he was sure that he got out with two babies. and he got into

the truck with only one in his hands. and so that was last monday. on friday, we got an official notice that all six are confirmed to be kidnapped and that's what we should see today as well. i'm joining the other families see today as well. i'm joining the otherfamilies in see today as well. i'm joining the other families in saying that the conception that these are freedom fighters, this is not freedom. of these are fighters, these are terrorists and they are grabbing children, mothers, unarmed men and they are doing god knows what to them at the moment. they need to get out of there now. don't negotiate anything, theyjust need to release

them because otherwise, there are lower than animals. thank you. that is the uncle — lower than animals. thank you. that is the uncle of _ lower than animals. thank you. that is the uncle of several _ lower than animals. thank you. that is the uncle of several young children who have been taken hostage in those hamas attacks nearly two weeks ago now. we will monitor events at that media conference and we will keep you up—to—date, there is harrowing stories that put a human angle and all of this conflict that we have been reporting. it has been a day of international diplomacy, at the uk prime minister beginning his tour of the region, he has been in israel at, meeting with the prime minister benjamin netanyahu calling for a neta nyahu calling for a de—escalation netanyahu calling for a de—escalation in this crisis but particularly a focus on getting aid to the people in gaza who need it right now. there is a lot of international focus on the crossing international focus on the crossing in the south of gaza that is the

crucial crossing between egypt and gaza were about 100 trucks are currently mounted on the egyptian side of the boards are, designed to get that much—needed aid to the people mark a particularly foods, water and medicine. people mark a particularly foods, waterand medicine. fuel people mark a particularly foods, water and medicine. fuel is not included in that aid package right now. the deal was done yesterday when joe now. the deal was done yesterday whenjoe biden met benjamin netanyahu to talk about getting that our utah through. we have been hearing from officials who talk about the need to get it out through but the logistics and need to be put in place not least to repair the road. stay with us on bbc news. storm per bet is going to be bringing extreme rainfall to the uk over the next couple of days. a rare, top—level red met office when warning has been issued for the northeast of scotland. this is here

will see the largest rainfall total but over the next few days will see the rain heavy enough to cause problems across eastern areas of england. it is the accumulation of rain that will be the important factor. and it is notjust rain, also strong winds for eastern scotland with gusts up to 70mph. those winds are strong enough to blow down trees are in themselves could cause disruption. the rain turning heavier through the rest of the typing to bring northern ireland and wales, sunny spells and showers at today. in scotland is, we have amber weather warnings for heavy rain out in these areas were likely to see flooding but at this more concentrated red with warning is on the area where we are expecting some of the largest accumulations of rain come in the hills, are likely to lead to even bigger impacts come out about some communities could get completely cut off due to the flooding that is expected. overnight and into the first part of friday,

that rain really coming down very heavily throughout the night and into the first part of friday morning, and that accumulation of rain causes the problem is. flooding will likely get worse at this stage. the rain getting heavier through the night into northern england and on friday an improvement in the weather, slowly across northern scotland, although even as the rain eases here the water will be pouring into better catchments and the flooding will be likely to get worse even after the rain has stopped falling. then there is the focus of the rainfall shifting further south towards the borders where, through friday and into saturday will also see a large rainfall accumulations, over 100mm which will cause flooding issues as well. storm babet is likely to bring widespread areas of flooding and destruction is

expected.