where police are searching for a gunman who's killed at least 16 people. hello, i'm lucy hocking, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. the israeli military says it's carried out a significant incursion into the gaza strip to attack hamas positions. it released this video showing tanks and armoured bulldozers crossing the perimeter fence. an israeli defence forces spokesman told the bbc soldiers carried out the tactical raid towards central gaza to — in his words — "prepare the battlefield for future operations". the israeli military says the number of people confirmed to be held hostage in gaza has now risen to 224, and warns that number could rise. so far four hostages are known to have been released. meanwhile, un aid workers say they've begun to significantly scale

down their operations in gaza as fuel reserves have almost run out. israel says hamas is storing enough fuel to run hospitals and water pumps for many days, but is keeping it for its war fighting capabilities. we'll be talking to our chief international correspondent lyse doucet injerusalem, our world affairs editor john simpson in beirut, and a military analyst willjoin us to discuss the significance of the incursion. we'll also be live with the un injerusalem later in the programme. now let's turn to another big story coming out of the united states. us media is reporting at least 16 people have been killed and up to 60 are injured in a mass shooting. it happened in the city of lewiston in the state of maine, on the east coast of the us. police say the gunman targeted multiple locations and is still at large.

as a manhunt is under way, residents have been warned to stay at home. the local mayor said that everybody in the area is in a state of shock. at this point, a significant amount of shock: with people that were actually witnesses. when i was bringing people in, they were looking for their loved ones, there was fear and panic, looking for their loved ones, there was fearand panic, of looking for their loved ones, there was fear and panic, of course there is worry, understandable. but for people that were actually there tonight, this is what i didn't hear, it isjust shock tonight, this is what i didn't hear, it is just shock it's hard for me to explain. we know that gun violence is a part of everyday life in america and a very divisive issue. let's have a look at some of the numbers behind firearms in the us. there have been more than 560 mass shootings across the country so far this year, according to the gun violence archive. a mass shooting is defined as an incident in which four or more people are injured or killed. 48,830 people died from gun—related

injuries in the us during 2021. that's data from the us centers for disease control and prevention. live now to cbs news correspondent laura haefeli. she says the communities in a total state of shock. this she says the communities in a total state of shock.— state of shock. this is a complicated _ state of shock. this is a complicated and - state of shock. this is a complicated and an - state of shock. this is a - complicated and an ongoing situation. here's what we know so far, there were two separate shootings last night, one at a bar in lewiston and a second at a bowling alley, those two places only a few miles away from each other, and we now several victims from those two places are now being treated at central maine medical centre while law enforcement officials continue to search for a person of interest robert card for three can see there, law enforcement officials were heavily armed, stationed outside the medical centre, this is where the majority of those victims are being treated.

there's a lot of security. like i said, you can see these officials here but what you can't see is the heavy amount of security around the back of the hospital, completely surrounding the building, and it's notjust here but the town of lewiston, undera notjust here but the town of lewiston, under a shelter in place order while law enforcement officials continue to track down the person of interest, robert card, who we now is a military trained firearms instructor, an army reservist and he does have a reported history of mental illness. so there will be a lot of cautionary reward, there will be a lot of concerns as to how he got the firm to carry these fatal attacks. not confirming any injury number or injury count and again, the next update here is not until 10:30 in the morning our time, so they are being incredibly cautious about what information they put out to the

public and when, which presumably means they are doing everything they can to gather as much information as possible before they left us now and of course, priority number one is to track down robert card. find of course, priority number one is to track down robert card.— track down robert card. and there will be a police _ track down robert card. and there will be a police press _ track down robert card. and there will be a police press conference, l will be a police press conference, thatis will be a police press conference, that is 15:30 bst so we will be across that has this man hunt continues and we had been speaking —— speaking to people in lewiston where people are still being told to shelter, people are continuing their search for what they are calling on armed and very dangerous government. so robert card is the person of interest, ao—year—old florence instructor, we are watching events instructor, we are watching events in may and we will keep you updated. we can see the live pictures from gaza at the moment and the newly to bring you is that the hamas run health ministry in gaza says 7000 people have been killed since the

7th of october, so that is a new number that we are getting from them, 7000 people have been killed in gaza since the 7th of october. 0vernight we saw a targeted raid by the idf in northern gaza using tanks and we will be talking about this a little later in the programme. we haven't seen that expected ground invasion of gaza but it very much seems that this right overnight was in preparation for what is being called the next stage of combat. so back to israel shortly. let's turn to brussels — where eu leaders are meeting for a two day summit, where they are expected to back a pause in the israel—gaza war to facilitate the passage of crucial humanitarian aid into gaza. live now to our correspondent in brussels, sofia bettiza.

are we expecting eu leaders to be united in the message that they released today?— united in the message that they released today? well, lucy, the middle east _ released today? well, lucy, the middle east is going _ released today? well, lucy, the middle east is going to - released today? well, lucy, the middle east is going to be - released today? well, lucy, the middle east is going to be the l released today? well, lucy, the i middle east is going to be the first order of the day, and that shows how the conflict there is dominating the agenda here in brussels. just a couple of minutes ago, we heard from the president of the european council, who will be chairing the meeting, he was speaking to journalists and he said that the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in gaza is of great concern for the eu, but the problem is that in the last few weeks, the eu pots position in the middle east has been confusing. we have been hearing mixed messages and conflicting opinions on what should be done. so today, when leaders get here, they will be very keen to show a united front. as you mentioned, they are expected to call for

humanitarian causes in the fighting so that they can work with partners with people on the ground to get food, water, medical care and fuel to people in gaza. they also hope that humanitarian poses would create a situation that would facilitate the release of the more than 200 hostages, because a number of hostages, because a number of hostages held by hamas are europeans, they are from germany, france, austria, the netherlands. but the problem here is that there are still profound divisions within the eu, so when leaders get here and discuss the middle east, we expect a very long conversation, it might not be until much later in the day that we get any sort of statement. fix, be until much later in the day that we get any sort of statement. a long and robust discussion _ we get any sort of statement. a long and robust discussion i'm _ we get any sort of statement. a long and robust discussion i'm sure - we get any sort of statement. a long and robust discussion i'm sure to - and robust discussion i'm sure to follow up more to us of those divisions in the positions of different countries within the eu when it comes to this war. 50.

different countries within the eu when it comes to this war. so, the euro ean when it comes to this war. so, the european union _ when it comes to this war. so, the european union represents- when it comes to this war. so, the european union represents 27 - european union represents 27 countries and each of them has its own political view on the israeli—palestinian conflict. what we are seeing is that you have got some countries such as germany, austria, hungary and the czech republic that have taken quite a strong pro—israel stance, then other countries like spain, portugal and ireland and they seem to be more attuned with the palestinian cause. i think today is a really good example of those divisions, because for days to have been negotiations about whether to call for a humanitarian pause or pauses. we heard yesterday the spanish minister calling for a humanitarian pause but i was speaking to a diplomat here who told me that germany and other countries don't want that because they think it is too similar to a ceasefire and they are calling for pauses instead because they would want to see short intervals in the

fighting, just a few hours, to be able to get aid into gaza. so those divisions remain, but diplomats here in brussels today have said to me that the european union was created as a peace project, so there is confidence that at some point today, european leaders will be able to find some sort of agreement on the released. we find some sort of agreement on the released. ~ , . ~ , ., released. we will be back with you throu . hout released. we will be back with you throughout the _ released. we will be back with you throughout the day, _ released. we will be back with you throughout the day, thank - released. we will be back with you throughout the day, thank you. . here in the uk — the prime minister says addressing the risks of artificial intelligence should be a global priority. in a speech this morning, rishi sunak said the technology could be transformational — leading to newjobs, new opportunities for growth and help to develop cancer vaccines. next week, the uk will host a global summit at bletchley park to look at the risks posed by ai. rishi sunak says people shouldn't be losing sleep over it — but warned that the risks need to be taken seriously. by doing the right thing, not the easy thing, means being honest with people about the risks from these technologies.

so i won't hide them from you. that's why today for the first time we had taken the highly unusual step of publishing our analysis on the risks of ai, including an assessment by the uk intelligence communities. these reports provide a stark warning. get this wrong and ai could make it easier to build chemical or biological weapons, terrorist groups could use ai to spread fear and destruction on an even greater scale, criminals could exploit ai for cyber attacks, disinformation, fraud or even child sexual abuse. and in the most unlikely but extreme cases, there is even the risk that humanity could lose control of ai completely through the kind of ai sometimes referred to as super intelligence. indeed, to quote the statement made earlier this year by hundreds of the world's leading ai experts, mitigating the risks of extinction by ai should be a global priority, alongside other societal

scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war. the bbc�*s technology editor zoe kleinman was watching that speech and this was her assessment. what we've seen rishi sunak deliver here today is a really difficult message where, on the one hand, he is talking about the absolute worst threats posed by artificial intelligence, this incredibly powerful and rapidly evolving technology. he talked about bio—terrorism, which is truly terrifying, but i think for lots of people there is a much more immediate threat that's a lot closer to home, and that is the disruption to jobs. we are already seeing ai tools start to take over lots of administrative based tasks that have traditionally been done by humans. now, the prime minister says the solution to this is in education, and he is also hoping that the uk will be able to keep people safe from the bigger threats by creating a safety institute. the question is whether he can bring either of those things in in time.

we will be live in the middle east shortly with our chief international correspondent lyse doucet for the latest on the conflict. let's look at some other stories making the news. accommodation costs are using up all the average maintenance loan by students in england. the average students in england. the average student in the last two years has gone up by more than 14%. maintenance loans have risen by 5.2%. the government could face a judicial review after excluding some health workers from a one—off bonus. it wasn't —— it was intended to work —— recognise work carried out since the pandemic. dozens of outsourced staff and community nurses and physiotherapists will not receive it. for the first time in years, the

remembrance poppy has undergone a change. the flowers for the royal british legion�*s annual appeal are now entirely plastic free and they can also be recycled. a picture there of the new poppy. more can be found on the website as well. your life with bbc news. let's take you straight tojerusalem. i can hand over to my colleague lyse doucet. thanks, lucy. welcome back to jerusalem, welcome back tojerusalem, we are following all developments in the israel gaza war, day 20, and the israel gaza war, day 20, and the israel military has been reporting it carried out what it called a significant incursion into the gaza strip overnight to attack hamas officials. an israeli defence forces spokesman told the bbc soldiers carried out the tactical raid towards central

gaza to "prepare the battlefield for future operations". leiutenant colonel peter lerner told me last night's operation was "substa ntial". take a listen. we conducted a sweep and clear operation with the most... it's the largest operation we have conducted on the palestinian side of the fence since the beginning of the war. and indeed the intention and the goal of this operation was to engage anti—tank squads that hamas have deployed. we did engage and we did kill the enemy. and also, seek out lookout positions that hamas are still holding in the area, potentially evacuating and clearing mines and explosive devices. so we are on a mission in order to make our operations safer for our forces, but most clearly give us an operational advantage

as this moves forward. and he did say that they were trying to minimise civilian casualties, but the casualty title continues to rise in the gaza strip. in the past hour we heard from health officials in gaza that the death toll now is now more than 7000. of course we cannot verify those figures independently. at the health officials in gaza have been providing daily updates into the numbers of injured and killed. and we do get the images from the aftermath of the air strikes. let's discuss all these new details that we've been hearing about the military strategy of the israeli defence forces. joining me now is patrick bury, a senior lecturer in security at the university of bath. he is also a former british army

captain and nato analyst. welcome to bbc news. as you know, there was a lot of discussion that there was a lot of discussion that there will at some point be a ground attack. benjamin netanyahu made that clear. these limited ground raids must be given the israeli defence forces a better understanding of what they are likely to face on that terrain must they do go in and a much bigger way?— terrain must they do go in and a much bigger way? exactly, that's the oint of much bigger way? exactly, that's the point of them. _ much bigger way? exactly, that's the point of them. i _ much bigger way? exactly, that's the point of them, i think. _ much bigger way? exactly, that's the point of them, i think. as _ much bigger way? exactly, that's the point of them, i think. as paddy - point of them, i think. as paddy lieutenant colonel say, it looked to me like a company level, scored a level that we saw images of at least, so you're talking about it, 12, 16 tanks at most going in there. probably the biggest concern is actually, can we drive these tanks, bearing in mind there are ied is everywhere. what is the anti—tank capability like of hamas? it seems to be from the evidence we now so

far, they haven't lost any tanks so it seems to have been relatively successful and they have managed to penetrate some distance into northern gaza and then retreat out. so it will have been information gathering. we also have to remember that the israeli defence forces have got a high number of reservists who will not have had the much professional training and also need to increase their skills and this is a good way to in some respects get them into the mindset and get them further ready by doing these builds —— build—ups and capability. i think there is a symbolic element in terms of netanyahu must be seen to be doing something. we have a say had a huge intelligence failure in israel, but this is the next phase, there have been some questions recently about why this was being delayed, and there are numerous factors behind it, ithink, international and military. but this is the next phase and i would expect to see potentially more of these. find

phase and i would expect to see potentially more of these. and the other main — potentially more of these. and the other main focus _ potentially more of these. and the other main focus of— potentially more of these. and the other main focus of this _ potentially more of these. and the other main focus of this phase - potentially more of these. and the other main focus of this phase of l other main focus of this phase of the military operation, those air strikes and they take place night and day nonstop bombardment is what we have our own correspondence in gaza. but the military often says you cannot win a war from the air, they will have no choice but to go in on the ground if they say they want to come in their words, destroy hamas's infrastructure yellow so they do have a choice, everyone does. hamas has a choice about whether they want to stand and fight. whether they want to stand and fiuht. , ., , , whether they want to stand and fiuht. , ., _ , fight. obviously they have constraints _ fight. obviously they have constraints about - fight. obviously they have constraints about political| fight. obviously they have - constraints about political opinion in gaza. if they didn't, if they tried to mutter wipers about the stated aim of israel is to destroy hamas. and therefore on the one hand if you are thinking this through, why do i stand and fight with my because you are going to destroy me, overpower me in terms of firepower and resources. so there is that calculus. israelalso and resources. so there is that calculus. israel also have the calculus. israel also have the calculus of, do we really need to go

in and do this in a ground war which will be heavily urbanised, there will be heavily urbanised, there will be heavily urbanised, there will be casualties on each side, major disruption and civilians caught in the middle. so one does have a choice, there are also constrained by what they do but personally, i don't think you can completely destroy hamas as an organisation to military power alone. i think you can degrade them massively, you can probably remove them as the de facto government of at least that part of gaza. but i don't think having the maximum absolutist goal could be achievable. evenif absolutist goal could be achievable. even if there was a ground offensive and it is ultimately successful, there will still be a rubber organisation which needs to be managed. == organisation which needs to be manaaed. ., , ., ., ., managed. -- romp organisation. western leaders _ managed. -- romp organisation. western leaders have _ managed. -- romp organisation. western leaders have been - managed. -- romp organisation. | western leaders have been saying they stand by israel's right to defend itself but there is growing discomfort about the very high price

being paid by civilians in such a densely populated area. israel continues to say it is just targeting hamas infrastructure and hamas leaders, but there are always civilians that are in harm's way. yes, and this has been the thing and as you rightly said, you have to take into account this is hamas —controlled health ministry, so we cannot verify the number of civilians that have been killed. but what seems to be clear is that it is quite high and —— a high amount and it has certainly bypassed the number of israelis lost in the horrific attack by hamas on the of october. unfortunately the way that this is, in terms of a stand of capability, the advantage israel have in terms of the air force and being able to bombard hamas positions, their tactics they play to their strengths, therefore that's what

they do. it is low risk to them at they do. it is low risk to them at the moment to be dropping bombs on gaza generally, apart from the rocket attacks hamas doing their force —— in response. we see this in all conventional war is pretty much, if you have air superiority, you degrade and destroy enemy through firepower and then send in your ground forces when conditions are more favourable. it is just what conventional warfare is. it is terrible for the civilians stuck in the middle. you can argue as well that the strain is shown by lower than in other wars. but the actual aerial bombardment faced... as we have seen previously in iraq. patrick, thank you forjoining us with your analysis of this changing situation on the ground, as israel

intensifies its operations and indeed this is an operation which could be months long. there was a very early warning in this crisis by the defence minister that this could take as long as three months. and of course, this war is being followed closely across israel and the gaza strip, in many capitals beyond but most of all in the arab world where anger has spilled onto the streets, to see the images of palestinians suffering in the gaza strip. our world affairs editor john simpson is in beirut. john, we're being told it isjust a of time before israel launches a more significant ground invasion into gaza and it would seem that it is then just a matter of time before there is more anger on the streets of many capitals including where you are? ., , of many capitals including where you are? . , ., are? that is true. there are differences, _ are? that is true. there are

differences, though, - are? that is true. there are differences, though, here. | are? that is true. there are i differences, though, here. for instance, the 2006 incursion by israel into lebanon. people here do not feel that it is their own lives and their own country for which is on the line in the way that they did backin on the line in the way that they did back in 2006. this is about hamas, this is about gaza. and to be honest, you find plenty of people who don't want to sacrifice themselves over this country for gaza. i suppose it'sjust themselves over this country for gaza. i suppose it's just a themselves over this country for gaza. i suppose it'sjust a natural human response will stop i was just in a cafe round the corner, talking to some people about this. everybody here that i spoke to was really nervous that lebanon would get dragged into it, that some at least

of benjamin netanyahu's threats against the lebanese state would come true. there is a sense of real gloom about it, but not necessarily a sense that people want to get involved in the war at all on the side of hamas. it involved in the war at all on the side of hamas.— involved in the war at all on the side of hamas. ._ ., , , , side of hamas. it may not 'ust be up to lebanon. — side of hamas. it may not 'ust be up to lebanon. so * side of hamas. it may not 'ust be up to lebanon, so iran _ side of hamas. it may not 'ust be up to lebanon, so iran will_ side of hamas. it may notjust be up to lebanon, so iran will be - side of hamas. it may notjust be up to lebanon, so iran will be a - side of hamas. it may notjust be up to lebanon, so iran will be a key - to lebanon, so iran will be a key decision maker in this, notjust for lebanon but for iraq, syria, yemen. briefly, john, wjohn chris hill absolutely. iran pulls the strings for all these groups but there is a strong argument also that iran itself, with really difficult politics at home, may not want to launch an all—out war. john simpson,

thank you very much forjoining us from beirut, as we continue our special coverage of the israel gaza war. you're watching bbc news in the united kingdom and around the world. thank you forjoining us from jerusalem. it's been a better cover, especially circus eating areas of england and particularly eastern scotland. low pressure out of the west of the uk on thursday, not really moving anywhere for the next few days so again, sting settled for the end of october, heavy showers and longer 0ctober, heavy showers and longer spells of rain. particularly wet for easter in fact, still weather warnings in place for eastern scotland valid until sunday. the rain totals are likely to stack up here on the rain for accumulation chart and that wayne will be falling on an already very saturated ground. this is the pressure in

aberdeenshire today. the rain feeding through on a south—easterly wind but not raining everywhere. there is some an iran, best out to the south and west but expect some heavy showers, and possibly one or two across the isle of wight, again, falling on saturated ground but it's drier than yesterday. the heaviest the rain across eastern areas of england this afternoon. temperatures once again between 11 or 15. slightly above the sea average. tonight, we will still see some outbreaks of rain across north—eastern areas of england, this one very slow moving, the rain into eastern scotland. elsewhere some clear spells and a few showers, we could see some mist and fog patches, temperatures down to between 7 and 9 saw the first free starter friday when again, not a lot is set to change, still low pressure at which the west, the showers spiralling around, some of them could be heavy and thundery. again, this south—easterly wind eating the

showers through to eastern scotland. more showers moving in from the south—west but also some sunny intervals as well. temperatures once again between 10 and 15 celsius for most of us. things could start to change as we head into saturday, still plenty of wet weather with some heavy showers towards the south, turning to more persistent rain, just pushing into the south of england has be go through the afternoon, especially to the evening so there are localised weather warnings in force. that heavy rain is likely to be further north as we have through saturday night and into sunday so staying pretty unsettled.

let's return our focus to the middle east, because the israeli military says it's carried out a significant incursion into the gaza strip to attack hamas positions. a major manhunt is under way in the us state of maine for a gunman who has killed at least 16 people.