greek orthodox clergy condemn a challenge to a church. and i'm live injerusalem where we are talking about why the aid into gaza is being held up and continuing disagreements between egypt and israel. hello, i'm sarah campbell. welcome to bbc news now. over the the next three hours we will be bringing you the very latest from israel and gaza — as well as looking at the political reaction to labour's two by—election wins and the damage which has resulted from storm babet. the united nations secretary general antonio guterres has called for immediate humanitarian access to the gaza strip, where supplies of essential food, water

and medicine are dwindling fast. speaking at the rafah crossing between egypt and the gaza strip, where more than a 100 trucks, including the initial convoy of 20, are waiting for the green light to drive into gaza, mr guterres pleaded for the trucks to be allowed to move to the other side. here's some of what he said. so these trucks are notjust trucks. they are a lifeline. they are the difference between life and death for so many people in gaza. and to see them stuck here makes me be very clear. what we need is to make them move. to make them move to the other side of this wall, to make them move as quickly as possible and as many as possible. recently it was announced by israel and by the united states that

humanitarian aid would be allowed to enter gaza. and i know that there is also an agreement between egypt and israel to make it possible. but these announcements were made with some conditions. this must be a sustained effort. we are not looking for a one convoy to come. we are looking for convoys to be authorised with a meaningful numbers of trucks to go every day. aid agencies have described the situation inside gaza as "beyond catastrophic". hospitals are running out of medicine and fuel for their generators, food supplies are very low, and some people have only dirty water to drink. more than a million civilians have been displaced.

some who had been unable to find shelter in the south are now returning to the devastated north. hamas health officials say 3,800 people have been killed in continuing bombing. egypt says it has opened its side of the crossing, but israel said the timing of the delivery was yet "to be determined". it's thought only 20 trucks will initially be permitted to cross. humanitarian workers say this is far short of what is needed, describing it as a drop in the ocean. overnight, a greek orthodox church sheltering hundreds of displaced palestinians in gaza city was hit. at least two people are said to have been killed and dozens more wounded. hamas has blamed an israeli strike. the israel defense forces told the afp news agency its fighterjets had hit a command and control centre involved in launching rockets and mortars toward israel, and as a result, "a wall of a church in the area was damaged".

the bbc has not been able to independently assess what happened but images from the scene show significant damage to church buildings. this is the scene at a hospital were injured adults and children were taken following the blast. it's worth noting that gaza's 2.3 million population comprises an estimated 1,000 christians, most of whom are greek orthodox. let's go live tojerusalem. i think the introduction goes to show the situation in gaza really is deteriorating. it situation in gaza really is deteriorating.— situation in gaza really is deterioratinu. , ., ., deteriorating. it is deteriorating but it is important _ deteriorating. it is deteriorating but it is important to _ deteriorating. it is deteriorating but it is important to barren - deteriorating. it is deteriorating i but it is important to barren mind that four civilians living in gaza, the situation was awful already. israel has had a blockade on the gaza strip since hamas took over into thousand and seven. that is

restricting supplies going in, but since hamas militants crossed into israel on the sum of october carrying out the massacre of moo people untaken with them over 200 hostages into the gaza strip has been a siege put in place. not only other aerial bombardment day and night, but no food, no fuel, no medicine, water has gotten, and this is a place where before this escalation, 80% of the population was dependent on aid. 30% of the population under the age of 18. that is why israel says it is aiming its bombardment at hamas and infrastructure, but in this overcrowded place described as one of the most overcrowded places in the world, the civilian casualties have been enormous and amongst them so many young people and children.

that is why you were showing antonio guterres, who has travelled all the way to that border crossing between egypt and gaza, and he sounded so passionate, almost desperate about the humanitarian situation, saying the humanitarian situation, saying the aid has to cross into the gaza strip. it is a desperate situation. joe biden was here earlier this week, and he said to israel, you have a right to defend yourself but you have to remember the international rules of war. thus a billion population of gods that needs to be protected and aid needs to get in. he broke an agreement where israel would not impede supplies and egypt would open its border crossing. what we are seeing is a complication between both sides about the situation. the un is

speaking to both sides, but egypt wants to know people delivering aid are safe from aerial bombardment and the people receiving aid will be safe. israel wants to know in those aid trucks coming in they won't include weapons or anything hamas can use. who will check the convoys for weapons that could be used in attacks? that is unclear. there are practical problems on the ground, and because of all the aerial bombardment, some of the roads into the gaza strip have been damaged. we have here today about bulldozers involved in trying to repair the road so lorries could come in. even then, even if this initial convoy of 20 trucks is allowed in, we are hearing from aid agencies it is nowhere near enough. even before this escalation of violence, between

100 and 500 trucks would get in a day to bring in the basic supplies. so 20 would be welcome, but a drop in the ocean. israel's defence minister has told troops massed on the border that the order to enter gaza will come soon. he told them, "now you see gaza from afar — "soon you will see it from the inside." other cabinet ministers have been visiting the scenes of this month's massacre by hamas for the first time. the bbc was given exclusive access with one of them, nir barkat, who went to see kfar aza kibbutzjust three kilometres from the gaza border and where more than 50 israelis were killed — including women and children. our defence correspondent, jonathan beale, reports. rocket explosion hamas rockets are still being fired towards israel. here, while we were waiting at a checkpoint near the border. most intercepted

by israel's iron dome. intense air strikes haven't silenced hamas. wejoined an israeli cabinet minister on a visit to one of the scenes of this month's massacre. his pistol and armored van, just a precaution. nir barkat is one of the first ministers to come to see for himself the carnage and devastation. this is written with blood. kibbutz kfar aza was where more than 50 israelis were murdered, others taken hostage. these are the homes of families and young people. now, just reminders left, photos and belongings. you've had a look around here for the first time. what's your feelings?

i've been to war. this is not war, this is hell. i just can't think of what these people went through. the hell they went through. what's going to happen to hamas now? hamas will be wiped out from the from the face of the world. how? with force. so israeli troops will be going in there soon? with force, i said with force. can't, uh... do you understand why? do you understand why israel has to finish this war?

beyond the gates, which hamas broke through to bring their mayhem and murder is gaza, a few kilometres in the distance. israeli troops are nowjust awaiting the order to enter. jonathan beale, bbc news, kfar aza. live now to our chief international correpsondent, lyse doucet, in southern israel. a reminder of why we are where we are. what is the latest where you are. what is the latest where you are in terms of timetables, the ground offensive that seems to be drawing nearer? that ground offensive that seems to be drawing nearer?— drawing nearer? that is the big auestion drawing nearer? that is the big question everyone _ drawing nearer? that is the big question everyone is _ drawing nearer? that is the big question everyone is asking, i drawing nearer? that is the big i question everyone is asking, most drawing nearer? that is the big - question everyone is asking, most of all the people of the gaza strip. and the thousands of israeli troops on the border. they were visited by

benjamin netanyahu and by the defence minister yesterday. the defence chief said you can see gaza from where you are, especially in gaza city, you can see the horizon. he told them soon you will see it from the inside. there's been another briefing from the spokesperson for the israeli defence forces, who says the israeli air force is now striking at a rate that they haven't used for decades. in other words, this nonstop bombardment of the northern and southern part of the gaza strip we've been reporting on night and day. israel says they have struck hundreds of hamas targets, sometimes thousands. they are targeting infrastructure, communications networks, killing leaders and their families. of course, we have been reporting some of those air strikes also hit civilians as well, and the death toll in gaza rises steadily,

around 4000 now and more than 10,000 injured. that is the context in which this humanitarian crisis is deepening. today, the rafah crossing was supposed to open, but so far it isn't. the un says as soon as the roads are repaired and the misunderstandings between egypt and israel are cleared up, the trucks will come in.— israel are cleared up, the trucks will come in. lyse doucet, thank ou. will come in. lyse doucet, thank yom around _ will come in. lyse doucet, thank you. around the _ will come in. lyse doucet, thank you. around the world _ will come in. lyse doucet, thank you. around the world and - will come in. lyse doucet, thank| you. around the world and across will come in. lyse doucet, thank- you. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the conservatives suffer two heavy by—election defeats, with labour overturning huge majorities to take mid bedfordshire and tamworth. the party made history in mid bedfordshire, winning the seat for the first time. leader sir keir starmer said labour was "redrawing the political map", while tory party chairman greg hands said the results were "disappointing".

two people are confirmed to have been killed and some communities are inaccessible during a rare red weather warning in scotland. storm babet is bringing winds of up to 70 miles per hour, torrential rain and heavy flooding that could be a threat to life. we'll have more on both of those stories soon. elsewhere, government borrowing in september has been lower than most economists had expected. borrowing is the difference between spending and tax income, and the office for national statistics says that was £14.3 billion last month, over 1.5 billion less than a year earlier. economists had predicted that figure to be over 18 billion. you're live with bbc news. as we've been hearing, in his televised address, president biden said he would ask us congress for billions of dollars for israel and ukraine, his speech aimed to draw a link between the two conflicts. here's more from our north america correspondent, david willis. fresh from a whirlwind trip to israel, president biden sought

to draw a link between two separate conflicts on two separate continents, which he said could have profound implications for the united states. hamas and putin represent different threats, but they share this in common. they both want to completely annihilate neighbouring democracy, completely annihilate it. hamas's stated purpose for existing is a destruction of the state of israel and the murder ofjewish people. more than a million people having already fled to the south of gaza in anticipation of an israeli ground offensive, president biden also stressed the need for israel to adhere to the terms of international law. but it is israel, along with ukraine, that will benefit from a new us military aid package thought to be worth around $100 billion. if we walk away from ukraine, if we turn our backs on israel, it's just not worth it. that's why tomorrow i'm going to send to congress an urgent budget request to fund america's national security needs,

to support our critical partners, including israel and ukraine. it's a smart investment that's going to pay dividends for american security for generations. with convoys carrying desperately needed supplies lined up on the border with egypt and waiting to cross into gaza, president biden said the world couldn't give up on peace or the possibility of a two—state solution. with anger rising around the world sparked by hamas's deadly attacks nearly two weeks ago, peace seems a distinctly distant possibility right now. david willis, bbc news, washington. let's go to our bbc arabic reporter. we have seen antonio guterres on the border at the rafah crossing. take

as throu . h border at the rafah crossing. take as through what _ border at the rafah crossing. take as through what he _ border at the rafah crossing. take as through what he said and what the latest is from the crossing. hope has faded- _ latest is from the crossing. hope has faded. despite _ latest is from the crossing. hope has faded. despite the _ latest is from the crossing. hope has faded. despite the remark i latest is from the crossing. hme has faded. despite the remark the crossing should have been opening friday, with the coming of antonio guterres to rafah, hopes faded after he said in front of the gates of the crossing that there are still some conditions which hinder the free passage of the aid into gaza. but he didn't elaborate, he didn't say what exactly are these conditions. but expectedly, he later said there should have been a humanitarian ceasefire, something vital in order to help those staff going to accompany the trucks and drivers and

the un staff. just even the people receiving these aid, the process is going on. seemingly these conditions are not met, and we have been following investigations. even what is reported previously about a partial ceasefire was also not clear. there were no israeli stance about it. this is one of the main conditions. the condition of not having hamas involved, which means the aid shouldn't go to hamas. observers said who can decide who is hamas and who is not? i think as antonio guterres said, but some obstacles. hopefully this should be

overcome in the coming few hours. what role is egypt's president able to play in this? it what role is egypt's president able to play in this?— to play in this? it has been amassing _ to play in this? it has been amassing the _ to play in this? it has been amassing the internationalj amassing the international cooperation, large number of trucks carrying aid into the strip. it repaired the road between the two gates, between the rafah gate and the egyptian side was it has been the egyptian side was it has been the paired —— repaired earlier. it has allowed a smooth passage for supplies into gaza. it promised it will work hard with others and rishi sunak, hopefully they could come out

with anything which might help push towards having the aid accumulating for more than ten days. or at least to try to talk to the israelis and americans to help. all parties have said ok, but practically nothing has been taking place.— been taking place. thank you. the situation at _ been taking place. thank you. the situation at the _ been taking place. thank you. the situation at the rafah _ been taking place. thank you. the situation at the rafah crossing - situation at the rafah crossing getting desperate, as you saw from the pictures. live now to fikr shalltoot who is the gaza director of programmes at medical aid for palestinians. thank you so much forjoining us. what do you make of what you have seen at the rafah crossing? all those lorries piled up, antonio torres calling for them to be called

in, but nothing moving —— antonio guterres. it in, but nothing moving -- antonio guterres. , , ., ., guterres. it is sad, the situation at the crossing, _ guterres. it is sad, the situation at the crossing, there _ guterres. it is sad, the situation at the crossing, there is - guterres. it is sad, the situation at the crossing, there is more i guterres. it is sad, the situation i at the crossing, there is more than 1 million people. they were forced to leave their houses and they have become displays. all these people are in desperate need for water and food items. on the top of that, our hospitals in gaza are receiving more than 12,000 injuries, and all the hospitals are lacking the essential medical supplies and medication. and even fuel to run the hospitals. honestly, is a humanitarian aid worker i was hoping it would start coming. 20 trucks, it is a drop in an ocean. taking into consideration the number of people who have been displaced. the restrictions, the

foreclosure of the gaza strip. we are talking about 2.2 million people, half of them are currently displaced and staying in shelters, including some of my colleagues who are humanitarian workers, and staying in places. they don't have access to any items. the situation is really difficult for everyone in gaza. we'retalking about civilian people, hundreds and thousands of people, hundreds and thousands of people who so far have died, children and women, pregnant women who don't have proper access to water at hospitals. it is really important for this aid to come. we are trying to...

the situation at the crossing and the same message, it is disappointing for everyone. especially the items in the gaza strip. it is diminishing. we have been able to get what we can in the market, but we can't find anything to procure. market, but we can't find anything to procure-— to procure. what is the immediate need in terms _ to procure. what is the immediate need in terms of _ to procure. what is the immediate need in terms of what _ to procure. what is the immediate need in terms of what is _ to procure. what is the immediate need in terms of what is running l to procure. what is the immediate l need in terms of what is running out most quickly? i need in terms of what is running out most quickly?— need in terms of what is running out most quickly? i mean, number one is fuel because — most quickly? i mean, number one is fuel because without _ most quickly? i mean, number one is fuel because without it, _ most quickly? i mean, number one is fuel because without it, you - most quickly? i mean, number one is fuel because without it, you can't - fuel because without it, you can't do anything. even if the aid comes in, you can't deliver it because there is no fuel to run cars, for people actually to cook, to use

flour, for example. how will they do it without fuel? there is no fuel, no water. i mean, everything around the fuel, but there is severe shortages of medication, of water, non—food items. mattresses, blankets, clothing. people were leaving their houses, they were forced to leave. they've got nothing with them, nothing. they don't have access... even the ones with money can't access banks. there is nothing in the shops to buy from the local market. everything is needed. the basic needs, water, food items, clothing, medication, medical supplies to treat people. but on the

top of that we need the fuel and electricity. they run everything within gaza.— within gaza. support people to survive. within gaza. support people to survive- i _ within gaza. support people to survive. i know _ within gaza. support people to survive. i know you _ within gaza. support people to survive. i know you have - within gaza. support people to survive. i know you have a - within gaza. support people to survive. i know you have a lotl within gaza. support people to l survive. i know you have a lot of things you need to do and people to help, so we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us on bbc news. thank you. do stay with those on bbc news. hello. weather conditions for some will get worse before they get better this weekend. let's focus on where the warnings are at the moment. still that met office red warning across parts of eastern scotland and it may lapse at midday, but rivers could continue to rise for a while after that. and there's more rain to come tomorrow. notjust here we'll see flooding. a wider amber warning remains in force across other parts of eastern scotland with that flooding risk again, though, the rain will be easing.

and further south, an amber warning comes into force this afternoon across parts of south east scotland, eastern half of the pennines, peak district and in across parts of north west england. here, rainfall totals will tot up, that rainfall becoming more and more persistent around those eastern side of the pennines through into the afternoon, aided and abetted by some pretty strong winds, wet conditions towards east anglia as well. the heaviest rain we've seen through the midlands and wales will ease to showers, same too in northern ireland and brighter, drier conditions for the northern half of scotland this afternoon thankfully. but it stays windy here and winds could be gusting 50, 60 miles an hour, whipping up some pretty rough and dangerous seas towards the east coast. a big difference in temperature north to south, the south warm where winds are light and there's onlyjust one or two showers, plenty of sunshine. tonight, you can see how that rain sits in place across the eastern side of the pennines for a while. but it also then edges northwards and returns into northern and eastern scotland for tomorrow morning. temperatures holding up for many, staying windy across the north. so, a look at the chart

for saturday, low pressure is still with us. some strong winds and potentially some longer spells of rain close to the english channel for saturday. but there's that zone of wetter weather which returns to eastern scotland. again, adding things up as far as rivers are concerned, the winds remain strong, although not as strong as they have been. away from that, the sunshine will break through the clouds in northern ireland, england and wales at times, be a few showers, but potential for longer spells of heavy thundery rain and pretty strong winds through the english channel later in the day. it will feel cooler here than it has done through today. now, is there any respite on the way? well, the good news is by sunday there should be, but we've still got low pressure broadly in charge. so a few showers dotted around here and there. but by and large, the showers will be fewer across scotland. longer spells of dry weather. some of you stay dry all day long with some sunshine and temperatures close to where we should be for this stage in october. take care.

this is bbc news. the headlines. 100 aid trucks are backed up at the rafah crossing, waiting for permission to enter gaza and help ease the humanitarian situation. to make them move to the other side of this wall. to make them move as quickly as possible, and as many as

and — greek orthodox clergy havecondemned an explosion at an ancient church in gaza. the israeli military says it was damaged when a hamas clashes continue with the iranian backed hezbollah across the border with lebanon. the city has a population of about 20,000, though many have already left because of the hezbollah rocket and missile attacks, one question hangs over lebanon. will it be at war, again? this will depend on one group, hezbollah, the shia islamist movement that's dominant here and described as a terrorist organisation by the uk and other countries.

this hezbollah protest in beirut was held in solidarity