�* mild mm seasonal norm of the mid-teens and niht fairl mild with the iiiflel seasonal norm of the mid-teens and niht fairl mild with the air night fairly mild with the air source coming off the atlantic. an unsettled weekend ahead, thanks very much. that's it for now. alice bhandukravi will have our late news tonight at 10.30 on bbc one. at that time joanne goode at that timejoanne goode will be on your local bbc radio station with a highly entertaining late show. whatever you're doing this evening, i wish you a very good evening, goodbye. so who is going to do it? which

movement will run gaza? there is no answer to it. and therefore, it is so dangerous because when you go to such a big operation without thinking about the day after, you have a major problem. ht thinking about the day after, you have a major problem. h is thinking about the day after, you have a major problem.— thinking about the day after, you have a major problem. have a ma'or problem. it is good to have a ma'or problem. it is good to have ou have a major problem. it is good to have you with _ have a major problem. it is good to have you with us _ have a major problem. it is good to have you with us tonight, _ have a major problem. it is good to have you with us tonight, gideon i have you with us tonight, gideon levy from haaretz, thank you so much. . ~ ,, levy from haaretz, thank you so much. . ~' ,, , levy from haaretz, thank you so much. . ~ ,, , . hello and welcome to your friday one show live on bbc one and iplayer, with gethinjones. and alex scott.

hello, welcome to the programme. major developments tonight in israel's military says it is stepping up its air and ground operations amid reports of heavy bombing of the gaza strip. internet and mobile phone services have been cut off, residents of gaza city have once again been urged to move south. a spokesman said that israel is prepared on all fronts to preserve israel's security and is committed to the task of returning the israeli and foreign hostages that are being held by hamas. as tension continues to rise across the region, the united states has carried out air strikes against targets in syria linked to iran's revolutionary guard. the us insists they are not related to the conflict between israel and hamas and said it was a

response to attacks on us forces in iraq and syria by iranian backed militia groups. and within the last few hours, a source familiar with negotiations that are ongoing between israel and hamas which qatar is mediating as told the bbc that they are accelerating. we will hear from our correspondent in the region, but we begin this hour with a report from our international editorjeremy bowen. we will speak to him and just a moment. and we can take your life now. jeremy is in jerusalem. and before we play your reports, let's talk about those events moving within the last half hour or so, a significant escalation right now in that ground and air offensive in gaza.— right now in that ground and air offensive in gaza. yes, indeed. the spokesperson _ offensive in gaza. yes, indeed. the spokesperson for — offensive in gaza. yes, indeed. the spokesperson for the _ offensive in gaza. yes, indeed. the spokesperson for the israeli - offensive in gaza. yes, indeed. the spokesperson for the israeli army, | spokesperson for the israeli army, the armed forces, stood up in a briefing and said they were expanding what they were doing. it

comes after a couple of nights of heavy raids. where they sent troops into the gaza strip. and now one big question is that after what they are doing tonight, are they going to stay on the grounds that they moved into or will they pull back again? i think the fact that he said extend their operations suggests they may well decide to stay there. with those reports coming out of qatar, with those negotiations about some kind of hostage release, possibly some kind of humanitarian pause, that those are going quite well, you have to ask why the israelis are doing this at this particular moment. i think it is a couple of possibilities. one of them is, sometimes leading up to a ceasefire in other wards they have been involved in that i've reported, in the hours before a ceasefire or a

break, a time to let diplomacy work, they sometimes hammer their enemies. or maybe those negotiations are not going as well as we have been led to believe and israel has decided to incrementally start moving into the gaza strip. i think things might be a lot clearer by the morning. right now, it is dark, it is late, i think a lot of people will be as underground as they can get in the gaza strip. and i think that another problem is the fact that communications have been cut, so we can't talk to our people who are there at the moment. i think we are feeling our way through this, through the dark.— feeling our way through this, through the dark. yes, and at this staue it's through the dark. yes, and at this stage it's really _ through the dark. yes, and at this stage it's really important - through the dark. yes, and at this stage it's really important to - through the dark. yes, and at this stage it's really important to be i stage it's really important to be clear on what we don't know as well as what we do right now. a line coming from the afp news agency saying what mike is calling on the

world to act immediately to stop israeli bombardment. a line on the afp news agency. i wonder how this will be viewed by israel's allies and enemies right now. what is your assessment of how the international reaction will be? the assessment of how the international reaction will be?— reaction will be? the allies are led b the reaction will be? the allies are led by the us, — reaction will be? the allies are led by the us, and _ reaction will be? the allies are led by the us, and also _ reaction will be? the allies are led by the us, and also some - reaction will be? the allies are led by the us, and also some of - reaction will be? the allies are led by the us, and also some of the l by the us, and also some of the dignitaries who have been here, the british prime minister, the french president, leaders from germany and italy and so on. i think they won't change the tone of what they have been so young, which is quite consistently that israel has a right to defend itself. it was attacked, more than moo people were killed, mostly civilians. some were killed in the most brutal and awful ways. that they have the right, therefore, to defend themselves, and that is correct under the un charter. self defence is one of the reasons for a

legal war. and there is a big but, which is to respect international humanitarian law. the rules of war include the prevention of collective punishment of civilians. the siege, cutting medicine and water. under international humanitarian law, there are strictures about protecting civilians at all times as protected persons. israel claims they are being used as human shields. the palestinians, i would say, are saying that they are in fact victims of israel's desire for revenge at what happened to it. as for the second part of your question, the enemies of israel, i think, for some time now, of course, they have been expressing support, and one ally is the hezbollah

movement, militia, in lebanon, north of here. what might they do? that border has been heating up. there have been increasingly serious exchanges between israel and that lebanese group. will that heat up again? will they do something? what will they say? the americans have been targeting in terms of messaging and also air strikes assets related to iran. iran is the country that more than any other sponsors that group, hezbollah, and has a very tight relationship with it. so the americans, as you said, did an air strike against some iranian facilities, and the americans say it is nothing to do with what is going on here. i think that is being a little bit elastic with the truth, because the reason why american forces in iraq and syria have been

hit by iran backed militias there is certainly i think because of what is happening here. the americans are responding, sending that message, which they sent from the outset by deploying not one but does my carrier battle groups to the region, and that message, as president biden put it, if you are thinking of intervening, don't. that's what he said. to sum up, a long answer to a short question, it is a very volatile area, and the volatility will be driven by the tempo of war, of israel's military activities in the gaza strip, and also the degree to which palestinian civilians are killed, and that becomes then a big problem for some countries in particular. problem for some countries in particular-— problem for some countries in particular. jeremy, grateful for our particular. jeremy, grateful for your assessment _ particular. jeremy, grateful for your assessment of _ particular. jeremy, grateful for your assessment of that - particular. jeremy, grateful for your assessment of that and i particular. jeremy, grateful for. your assessment of that and your analysis of what is happening right now. our international editor, jeremy bowen. i want to play that

clip because, as i said, we heard about the develop months tonight from the israeli defence forces chief, talking about the expansion of ground operations in the last hour. translation:— of ground operations in the last hour. translation: u, ., . hour. translation: good evening and aood hour. translation: good evening and good sabbath- — hour. translation: good evening and good sabbath. over _ hour. translation: good evening and good sabbath. over the _ hour. translation: good evening and good sabbath. over the last _ hour. translation: good evening and good sabbath. over the last few - good sabbath. over the last few hours, we have intensified our air strikes in gaza. the iaf has extensively carried out raids to underground targets and terror infrastructure. as a conch —— is a continuation of our offensive strikes of the last few days, our ground forces are acting forcefully this evening in all dimensions to achieve the goals of the war. earlier today, we exposed to the world the hospital with the underground expanse, how they have converted to the hospital for terror activities. hamas's cynical usage of

the hospital, we revealed this to the hospital, we revealed this to the world and will continue to do so. we will continue attacking gaza and its surroundings. and again, south to the gaza river, there are better conditions. we have called upon them and reiterated the call to the people of gaza to move. this evening we were attacked in the north, and we of course return to this. we are continuing with his activities, trying to thwart all those attacks with terror cells, so many of them that have actually, that they were trying to carry out. anyone who dares intimidate us and threaten us will be immediately, this will be curbed immediately. we are following the regional developments very closely. this morning, the air force intercepted and our threat over the red sea. we

will continue working with the united states and others in order to ensure the security. we are working on all the readers in order to preserve the security interests of the state of israel. on the home front, i am calling upon you to truly adhere to all the information and all the directives of the home front command. these continue listening to all this information. it saves lives if you go into the shelters and the shielded places. there have been calls upon us that there have been complaints that there have been complaints that there are delays on our app, and we will continue trying to improve that app. i'm trying to explain that this is but one tool that update you about what is actually going on and warning you. there are additional tools in this tool box. please continue using all of them. up till

now, we have informed 310 idf fatalities, and 229 hostages. our hearts are with them, and we will continue feeling this and continue acting in their benefit, and we will try and bring them all home. this is the end of three weeks of war. hundreds, thousands, in fact, of our soldiers are deployed on all the borders, on the ground, in the air and on the sea in order to defend our country. they are deployed on all our borders. over the last day, we have seen more rocket attacks on israel — can you say anything more about that? our defence is

excellent, various layers of it. we are trying our best to hold time to contend with various kinds of attacks and assaults. it is not hermetically sealed of course, but we are doing our utmost. we are asking people, calling upon them to continue adhering to our instructions, and we will try to intercept all those threats. again, it is not hermetically sealed. does the idf continue _ it is not hermetically sealed. does the idf continue acting, _ it is not hermetically sealed. does the idf continue acting, intending to act? _ the idf continue acting, intending to act? we — the idf continue acting, intending to act? we have heard that there is discussion— to act? we have heard that there is discussion about a truce or a ceasefiro _ discussion about a truce or a ceasefire-— discussion about a truce or a ceasefire. , ., ~ ., ceasefire. first, iwould like to talk about— ceasefire. first, iwould like to talk about the _ ceasefire. first, iwould like to talk about the hospital. - ceasefire. first, iwould like to talk about the hospital. we - ceasefire. first, iwould like to| talk about the hospital. we will continue publicising various things about prisoners who have actually spoken about that. we will bring more information. how they are using

civilian and humanitarian facilities, not only the hospital. we will reveal and expose this to the world, how this venus organisation is using and exploiting these facilities. —— this heinous organisation. we will not allow any attacks on israel through the infrastructure under hospital. this is something the state of israel will not allow or enable. when you speak about the rumours that you have heard that have been spread about various agreements, i suggest do not listen to rumours. we are talking about terror, talking about psychological terror process and a kind of cynical use, a psychological war against the people of israel. we

will continue informing all the families, first and foremost, and of course we will update the public afterwards. any information, but we will not give in to any kind of hamas cynical manipulations. here in tel aviv, the — hamas cynical manipulations. here in tel aviv, the mayor _ hamas cynical manipulations. here in tel aviv, the mayor said _ hamas cynical manipulations. here in tel aviv, the mayor said that - hamas cynical manipulations. here in tel aviv, the mayor said that he - tel aviv, the mayor said that he will not — tel aviv, the mayor said that he will not actually open up the schools _ will not actually open up the schools unless the instructions change — schools unless the instructions change. you said at some point that they could _ change. you said at some point that they could open it up — was that a little _ they could open it up — was that a little bit _ they could open it up — was that a little bit too early? they could open it up - was that a little bit too early?— they could open it up - was that a little bit too early? listen, we are t in: to little bit too early? listen, we are trying to actually _ little bit too early? listen, we are trying to actually manage - little bit too early? listen, we are trying to actually manage routine| little bit too early? listen, we are i trying to actually manage routine in times of war, and we are doing so with full accountability and of course in coordination with all the municipalities, local authorities, the big towns, and we will continue evaluating and assessing the situation. wherever we can enable that kind of routine, we will continue doing so. of course, we

have to ensure that there are shielded areas, shelters. we do so with tremendous vacillation and tremendous sense of responsibility, and every single day, the home front command will publish what the possibilities are and what the intentions are.— possibilities are and what the intentions are. that's the press conference _ intentions are. that's the press conference that _ intentions are. that's the press conference that we _ intentions are. that's the press conference that we heard - intentions are. that's the press conference that we heard a - intentions are. that's the pressl conference that we heard a little earlier, just to reiterate those lines from the israel defence force, saying that they are asking gaza city residents to move south for their safety. they are expanding operations tonight and we have seen the evidence of that, large explosions across the gaza skyline. our bbc team in southern israel say the bombardment tonight does appear to be heavier than usual. we also know that internet and mobile phone services are not currently operating. we don't know whether they have been switched off or damaged and therefore could perhaps be a precursor to a more significant

ground assault. let's get the very latest and get the thoughts of kenneth katzman, seniorfellow at latest and get the thoughts of kenneth katzman, senior fellow at an independent organisation that offers analysis on global security challenges. what is your assessment right now of what we are seeing? we know there have been renewed air strikes, a significant escalation in the air strikes, but also an expansion of ground operations. we should be clear, we don't know if this is the much discussed ground invasion, but nonetheless, there has been significant movement tonight. what is your assessment of what is going on? what is your assessment of what is auoin on? .

there's going to this massive invasion, that's an assumption everybody has made. it may not unfold that way. the israelis are proceeding very carefully. they want to minimise civilian casualties. they want to gather information so they don't get ambushed and surprised by tunnels and passageways and urban warfare. places to hide. so they are proceeding very deliberately.— so they are proceeding very deliberately. what will be the strate: ? deliberately. what will be the strategy? and _ deliberately. what will be the strategy? and we _ deliberately. what will be the strategy? and we are - deliberately. what will be the | strategy? and we are certainly seeing that perhaps the air strikes are designed to damage hamas infrastructure to then facilitate ground forces being able to make those incursions to whatever extent. it may not be that full ground invasion, as you have discussed. is that a textbook way of doing this? is that how this will play out? there really is no textbook. each urban environment is different. the

united states used door—to—door approach in afghanistan. the israelis may not use that approach. it may also be ground incursions to set up for air it may also be ground incursions to set upforairstrikes, it may also be ground incursions to set up for air strikes, not necessarily the other way around. the issue, though, is that eventually we will need to see some progress on who is going to govern this territory, who is going to replace hamas, and that is a very difficult question. the israelis need to figure out what the arab states don't like the united states needs to work with the arab states how palestinians are going to want things and run things after the hamas military and governance structure has been removed. we've been talking _ structure has been removed. we've been talking tonight _ structure has been removed. we've been talking tonight about - structure has been removed. we've been talking tonight about what - structure has been removed. we've been talking tonight about what the possible outcomes there could be. there is a real danger that israel

is successful in eliminating hamas infrastructure and its ability to wage war on israel. that is its stated intention. very few answers right now about who or what would replace hamas. right now about who or what would replace hamas-_ right now about who or what would relace hamas. . . , , replace hamas. there are few answers because hamas. _ replace hamas. there are few answers because hamas, the _ replace hamas. there are few answers because hamas, the ideology- replace hamas. there are few answers because hamas, the ideology is - replace hamas. there are few answers because hamas, the ideology is not i because hamas, the ideology is not going to go away. anyone who steps up going to go away. anyone who steps up and wants to help govern the gaza strip after hamas is going to be potentially attacked by hamas remnants, hamas supporters, offshoots of hamas that might develop, so i think it's going to be harder to find willing palestinians who are willing to step up and govern the territory. what the international community and even the israelis don't want is to have a wasteland of a failed territory that

is just continuously subjected to insurgency and fighting all the time. .. insurgency and fighting all the time. ., . , , . insurgency and fighting all the time. ., . ,, . , . time. one would assume that poses a creater risk time. one would assume that poses a greater risk of — time. one would assume that poses a greater risk of regional _ time. one would assume that poses a greater risk of regional security - greater risk of regional security than perhaps what is there right now? ~ , .. ., .. than perhaps what is there right now? ~ , ., ~ ., , than perhaps what is there right now? ~ ~ ., , ., now? well, you know, there is no alternative _ now? well, you know, there is no alternative or _ now? well, you know, there is no alternative or successive - now? well, you know, there is no . alternative or successive government structure set up, then hamas offshoots and supporters and remnants can just keep operating, and they can keep building new rockets and launch new rockets, and they can build new tunnels. you need a governance and security structure to prevent hamas from reconstituting that capability. fine to prevent hamas from reconstituting that capability-— that capability. one assumes that israel's allies _ that capability. one assumes that israel's allies are _ that capability. one assumes that israel's allies are looking - that capability. one assumes that israel's allies are looking at - israel's allies are looking at tonight's events very closely, given what they have been discussing about the need for a humanitarian pause, which seems to be the word of the moment. not a ceasefire but i humanitarian pause to allow a dinner and perhaps some people to leave. there will also be concern for the fate of those hostages that we

assume are still being held in gaza. i also wonder how israel's enemies will be looking at this, at those countries, particularly iran, right now, particularly organisations like hezbollah, that will be closely monitoring events of tonight and deciding what their next move will be. ~ , .. deciding what their next move will be. . , ., 4' ., �* ., deciding what their next move will be. ~ ~ ., �* ., .. be. well, you know, i've told other networks this _ be. well, you know, i've told other networks this week _ be. well, you know, i've told other networks this week and _ be. well, you know, i've told other networks this week and last, - networks this week and last, hezbollah and iran don't have that many moves, they don't have that many moves, they don't have that many options when you come down to it. the united states, i think the biden administration has made very clear that it's going to act against either hezbollah or a run itself if they get involved in a big way. some artillery exchanges are not going to bring the united states into this equation, but if iran launches medium range ballistic missiles at israel, if iran start seizing ships in the gulf again, as it does

periodically, if hezbollah starts firing volleys and volleys of their large rocket arsenal, that is going to bring the us into the equation, and iran and hezbollah would very much come to regret that, in my analysis. much come to regret that, in my anal sis. �* , . . ., analysis. and there is a certain contrast tonight, _ analysis. and there is a certain contrast tonight, isn't - analysis. and there is a certain contrast tonight, isn't there, i analysis. and there is a certain i contrast tonight, isn't there, that all the while we are discussing this, we are looking at what's happening on the ground in gaza, and in the un they are discussing that resolution calling for that humanitarian pause, and the two seem very at odds with each other tonight. a lot of talk and rhetoric about what the un may be able to do, even though it is not a binding agreement, even if it gets voted through, and the reality on the ground in gaza tonight.- through, and the reality on the ground in gaza tonight. well, it's a very difficult _ ground in gaza tonight. well, it's a very difficult situation. _ ground in gaza tonight. well, it's a very difficult situation. it _ ground in gaza tonight. well, it's a very difficult situation. it has - very difficult situation. it has been difficult making the arrangements, but there have been humanitarian goods getting in. it's

not as much as the international community wants, not as much as anybody wants. there has been aid getting in. ithink anybody wants. there has been aid getting in. i think there have been some people getting out. obviously not as much as is desired, but there are efforts to minimise the civilian losses and the severe humanitarian crisis. there have been efforts to minimise that.— crisis. there have been efforts to minimise that. .. . , .. minimise that. good to have you with us. thank minimise that. good to have you with us- thank you — minimise that. good to have you with us. thank you for _ minimise that. good to have you with us. thank you for your _ minimise that. good to have you with us. thank you for your assessment. l minimise that. good to have you with us. thank you for your assessment. i | us. thank you for your assessment. i want to bring you a couple of lines we are getting from the palestinian red crescent. we talked to you about phone and internet services that have been cut in gaza. from the red crescent, they say that means they have lost the ability to communicate with gaza's operations room because of the complete cut—off of telecommunications and the internet. they say that will affect the ability of crews to continue with their ambulance services tonight,

given that we have seen that escalation of rates. we will have the latest headlines in a moment. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. good evening. the unsettled conditions will continue as we head through this weekend and into next week. it won't be raining all the time but, of course, the ground pretty saturated in many areas, particularly here in central and eastern areas of scotland. for the next few days, heavy, thundery downpours across quite a wide area of the uk again. blustery winds, too. and if we just take a look at the rainfall accumulation chart for the next few days, you can see just how extensive that wet weather is likely to be. drier, though, for western scotland, but where we see those bright colours again for eastern scotland over the high ground, there could be another 50 to 100 millimetres of rain. why is it happening? well, low pressure is centred out to the west of ireland, sending bands of showers spiralling around it. brisk south—easterly winds again overnight tonight, just pushing these showers on—shore into central eastern areas of scotland. a constant stream of showers here. clearer spells further south, and the winds will start to pick up,

with another rash of showers approaching the south coast of england by the end of the night. overnight lows of around seven to 11 degrees celsius. another mild start to saturday morning. there could be a bit of mist perhaps over the pennines tomorrow morning and for north—eastern areas of england, but the mist and fog won't be as extensive as it was earlier on this morning. that's simply because it's a lot windier. so some more showers feeding into eastern scotland through the day tomorrow. showers further south. heavy, persistent rain moving into south—west england and south wales by the time we get to the end of the afternoon. some squally gusts of wind, too, developing east of the isle of wight, across the kent and sussex coasts. there could be some gusts of 50—60 mph along with some very wet weather on saturday evening. that rain pushing further northwards as we head through saturday night and into sunday morning. so it's a wet start to the day on sunday for northern ireland, northern england and southern scotland. some more rain, as you can see, across eastern areas of scotland. a cold northerly wind.

very blustery conditions for northern scotland. sunshine and showers again for much of england and wales throughout the day. temperatures here, 11 to 15 degrees celsius. they're not due to move very much. now, low pressure stays close by as we head into the start of next week, so more bands of showers spiralling around, certainly a lot more wet weather. here's the outlook for our capital cities as we head through the week — possibly stormy conditions again on wednesday into thursday.

welcome back, this is bbc news, these are the headlines. explosions light at the sky over gaza is the israeli military says it is ramping up israeli military says it is ramping up its air and ground operations. the ground forces are expanding their operations this evening, acting forcefully in all dimensions to achieve the goals of the war. internet and mobile phone services have been cut off in gaza, residents of gaza city are again urged to move south. the escalation comes as the un general assembly prepares to vote on ajordanian un general assembly prepares to vote on a jordanian resolution for an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce. so let's bring you up—to—date with the latest developments in what is a

fast—moving situation tonight. israel's military says