i'm lewis vaughan jones, i'm lewis vaughanjones, you're watching the context on bbc news. the ground forces are expanding their operations this evening, acting forcefully to achieve the goals of the war. translation: ~ ., u, goals of the war. translation: ~ ., ., translation: we renew our call to all arties translation: we renew our call to all parties for _ translation: we renew our call to all parties for deescalation - translation: we renew our call to all parties for deescalation and - all parties for deescalation and ultimately working for the full ceasefire and the immediate release of all listeners and the delivery of humanity— of all listeners and the delivery of humanity renege to the gaza strip. as israel_ humanity renege to the gaza strip. as israel exercises its right and indeed — as israel exercises its right and indeed its — as israel exercises its right and indeed its responsibility- as israel exercises its right and indeed its responsibility to - as israel exercises its right and i indeed its responsibility to defend its people — indeed its responsibility to defend its people against _ indeed its responsibility to defend its people against a _ indeed its responsibility to defend its people against a terrorist - its people against a terrorist group, — its people against a terrorist grour), it— its people against a terrorist group, it must_ its people against a terrorist group, it must do— its people against a terrorist group, it must do so- its people against a terrorist group, it must do so in- its people against a terrorist group, it must do so in linel its people against a terrorist - group, it must do so in line with the rules— group, it must do so in line with the rules of— group, it must do so in line with the rules of war. _

welcome to the programme, i'm lewis vaughanjones. you join us as significant development have been taking place, in the last hour or so, we heard from the idf, a spokesperson, saying background forces are expanding their operations tonight. and we have seen an intensification of airstrikes on gaza. first thing we are going to do is show you the live pictures we have, these are the feeds coming in, this is gaza which over the last few has reported increasing bombardment and an intensification of airstrikes. the other thing to tell you about gaza tonight is that communications have been cut, the internet seems to be down, telecommunications down, potentially as a result there was airstrikes but we do not know for certain why. but we do not know for certain why. but we have now got numerous reports

that the communications within gaza are down. we also have another live feed from gaza to show you as well. we are keeping across these two live feeds for you as the airstrikes from israel into gaza continue tonight. now, i want to show you some of the pictures of the strikes from a little earlier on. take a look at this. so, you can see the darkness there because fuel and power is in such short supply in gaza. the flashes of orange tell the story of the intensification of the strikes in the gaza strip tonight. specifically again we heard from the spokesperson of the idf, the as well defence forces, again asking people to move from the north of gaza to the south.

let's just take a listen to that statement from the idfjust a little earlier. translation: ., , translation: over the last few hours, we have _ translation: over the last few hours, we have intensified - translation: over the last few hours, we have intensified our. hours, we have intensified our airstrikes in gaza. the iaf has extensively carried outrage to underground targets and terror infrastructure in a substantial manner. as a continuation of our offensive strikes over the last few days the ground forces are expanding their operations this evening, acting forcefully in all dimensions to achieve the goals of the war. earlier on today we are exposed to the world the shifa hospital with the world the shifa hospital with the underground expanse and how they have converted to hospital for terror activities. we revealed this to the world, hamas's cynical use of the hospital, and we 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 called upon them and reiterated the call to the people of gaza to move. stick let's go to our correspondent lucy williamson in southern israel. lucy, just talk us through what has been happening there. well, there has been a much heavier bombardment here than we have seen in recent days, big explosions to and heard from towns along the gaza border, including ashkelon which is around ten, has also from the border. we have also heard what appear to be artillery strikes as well and there have been regular sirens warning of rockets coming in, most of those seem to have been intercepted by israel, their defence system. but earlier on today, there were a couple of rockets that hit a residential area here in ashkelon, and also rockets that hit in tel aviv as well. but and lucy, we heard

ofjust aviv as well. but and lucy, we heard of just a little aviv as well. but and lucy, we heard ofjust a little bit there aviv as well. but and lucy, we heard of just a little bit there from that statement from the idf, what do you make of it? well, as you were saying there as we head, they were talking about widely attacking terrorist infrastructure and underground targets by the air. some of those big explosions that we have seen tonight. but he also talked about expanding ground operations. israel has been waiting, preparing, fearing a ground invasion into gaza for many days now. it is not clear if this is actually what is happening, if this is what the spokesman meant or whether it is simply expanding what we have seen in recent days, which is much smaller scale incursions into gaza to gather information, they say, to try and locate the hostages that are there. sometimes with tanks. we have seen those expanded, small incursions, have been expanded in recent days and so it is not clear whether the spokesperson is talking about these

sorts of operations being expanded or something much, sorts of operations being expanded orsomething much, much sorts of operations being expanded or something much, much wider. find or something much, much wider. and lu , the or something much, much wider. and lucy, the statement from the idf, could you just put it in some context for us about how the communications work from the idf, these statements to the television cameras, whether it is part of a regular updating process, put it in a bit of context for us?— regular updating process, put it in a bit of context for us? well, there are regular — a bit of context for us? well, there are regular daily — a bit of context for us? well, there are regular daily briefings - a bit of context for us? well, there are regular daily briefings from - are regular daily briefings from the idf updating on their operations inside the gaza strip but there is a lot of other context around this as well. there were widespread reports today that there was some sort of deal that may have been close to being struck between the two sides, perhaps in exchange for some kind of ceasefire, in exchange for the release of a large number of hostages. now, tonight the idf said, don't listen to rumours, seemed to dismiss those reports. there are also signs that israeli public

opinion is shifting, perhaps because we have seen four hostages released over the past week or so from gaza, a week ago, one poll suggested that a week ago, one poll suggested that a week ago some two thirds of israelis were in support of a ground offensive in gaza, that seems to have dropped to around less than a third according to this one newspaper poll. so, there is a lot of different context playing out around what is happening here tonight. but we are still not entirely clear exactly what this heavier bombardment signifies. lucy. heavier bombardment signifies. lucy, thank ou heavier bombardment signifies. lucy, thank you very _ heavier bombardment signifies. lucy, thank you very much _ heavier bombardment signifies. lucy, thank you very much for _ heavier bombardment signifies. lucy, thank you very much for that - heavier bombardment signifies. lucy, thank you very much for that update. just to explain as lucy was talking and as i am talking now you can see the right—hand side of the page, we are keeping these live pictures up. this is ashkelon. so, we are going to keep these live pictures going on the screen at the same time as we analyse exactly what has been happening. let's take a look now at some of the developments throughout the day today. the israel defence

forces released this footage, they say it is of targeted raids overnight in the central area of the gaza strip. they claim to have killed hamas's head of intelligence. next, the world health organization has confirmed the numbers that have been released by hamas in the gaza strip. the number of people killed, more than 7000 now. moo people were killed in israel. also you can see pictures of the devastation here, we are getting updates on the aid just as we lose those pictures just for a moment. aid agencies warning that something like ten trucks only came in today, normally of course it would be hundreds of trucks, crumbs of aid, according to one aid agency, as they described it. we heard lucy talk a little bit about hostages,

there has been an update throughout there has been an update throughout the day on that, the bbc has been told that talks accelerated on hostage exchange deal but so far we haven't had any more updates on that. we will explore that a little later. the number updated from the israelis, 229 now is their number. and more broadly, any talk of a ceasefire has been rejected by israel thus far. qatar is still acting as mediators here. had no official statements or updates on the hostages but we will be analysing what is going on there a little later. someone who is familiar with negotiations between israel and hamas, the exchange of hostages, has told the bbc they are accelerating. the key to hostage negotiations as i mentioned has been qatar. joining me now to discuss the country's mediating role is a former military attaching to the us and a

member of the ruling family. speaking to us in a personal capacity. thank you for coming on the programme. capacity. thank you for coming on the programme-— capacity. thank you for coming on the programme. thank you for having me. can the programme. thank you for having me- can you — the programme. thank you for having me. can you explain _ the programme. thank you for having me. can you explain the _ the programme. thank you for having me. can you explain the role - the programme. thank you for having me. can you explain the role of - me. can you explain the role of qatar? well, _ me. can you explain the role of qatar? well, i— me. can you explain the role of qatar? well, i think— me. can you explain the role of qatar? well, | think it- me. can you explain the role of qatar? well, i think it is- me. can you explain the role of qatar? well, i think it is said i me. can you explain the role of i qatar? well, i think it is said best b the qatar? well, i think it is said best by the foreign _ qatar? well, i think it is said best by the foreign minister— qatar? well, i think it is said best by the foreign minister and - qatar? well, i think it is said best. by the foreign minister and minister of foreign affairs mediation, trying to find a solution towards peace. and do you think the events that we are seeing in the last couple of hours, this intensification of airstrikes, this expanding of ground forces tonight, do you think that makes any difference?— forces tonight, do you think that makes any difference? well, actually it doesn't help- _ makes any difference? well, actually it doesn't help. i _ makes any difference? well, actually it doesn't help. i think _ makes any difference? well, actually it doesn't help. i think in _ makes any difference? well, actually it doesn't help. i think in the - makes any difference? well, actually it doesn't help. i think in the same i it doesn't help. i think in the same statement made by the foreign minister a couple of days ago, calling for a cessation of hostilities, so, these things go hand in glove and if one is not met, it makes the other negotiation very

difficult. �* , ., , ., , difficult. and in terms of status, clearl , difficult. and in terms of status, clearly. we _ difficult. and in terms of status, clearly, we find _ difficult. and in terms of status, clearly, we find out, _ difficult. and in terms of status, clearly, we find out, the - difficult. and in terms of status, clearly, we find out, the last - difficult. and in terms of status, | clearly, we find out, the last four hostages to have been released, the process of finding out what has happened has been a social media statement released by hamas, then some verification from an intermediary, someone independent working to actually physically move the hostages out and then confirmation from the israeli side or some other government. is that how you would expect any future hostage situation to unfold? weill. hostage situation to unfold? well, the nature of— hostage situation to unfold? well, the nature of negotiation - hostage situation to unfold? well, the nature of negotiation and - the nature of negotiation and mediation has to be its ability to do it in a cool and calm and in some cases stealthy manner to secure the safe return of hostages. unfortunately, with the escalation of attacks, especially tonight,

which seems to be a prelude to groundwater, or ground invasion, these things tend to be a bit more sticky, much more difficult, moving forward. now the israelis have a choice to believe in the qatari approach of mediation and see the actual, tangible results of have already been achieved as a way forward or they can choose the path that they are on right now, and unfortunately it seems that they are choosing to go the latter, rather than the former.— than the former. commerce is described _ than the former. commerce is described as _ than the former. commerce is described as a _ than the former. commerce is described as a terrorist - described as a terrorist organisation by the us, by the uk, by many others, how does that influence negotiations and specifically the role of qatar? well, hamas is obviously viewed by the international community, by the united nations, as not a terror organisation. semantics really can't

play a role in mediation. the question of how you get mediation to succeed is the vital question, i think, and part of that is having a cessation of violence, otherwise it's very difficult for any mediator, qatar orany it's very difficult for any mediator, qatar or any abound else, and there are other partners obviously, to actually have success as they have had in the past. and as they have had in the past. and are ou as they have had in the past. and are you confident of success? as they have had in the past. and i are you confident of success? well, i mean are you confident of success? well, i mean qatar _ are you confident of success? well, i mean qatar has _ are you confident of success? well, i mean qatar has had _ are you confident of success? well, i mean qatar has had two _ are you confident of success? -ii i mean qatar has had two decades of successes. so, there is no reason to believe that qatar won't be successful in the future. but other estimates see that for success to happen, the israelis have to cooperate. the israelis have to show seriousness in their attempts to save the lives of those hostages, and unfortunately we haven't seen that yet. in fact some of the rhetoric was absolutely the other

way against stopping any escalation, evenif way against stopping any escalation, even if it guaranteed hostages would be released, which is unfortunate. we have to leave it there but thank you very much for coming on the programme. just to explain, of course we're keeping the pictures up on the right—hand side of the screen, these are live feeds that we are getting in from a couple of different locations just to keep you across exactly what is happening. significant developments this evening. in the last couple of hours we heard from the idea, israel defence forces, spokesperson, with a significant military update, saying first double that the ground forces are expanding their operations tonight. secondly, bombardment is increasing in intensity in gaza. we've got airstrikes have been witnessed by our teams in southern israel. and they have been talking about increasing vacancy in here.

and we heard from the idf that the strikes are focusing on underground hamas targets and terrorist infrastructure. but we are continuing to get reaction to that statement and to the intensification of those airstrikes. i think we can take a look at a social media post now. so, this is antonio guterres, who is of course secretary—general of the united nations. he says...

so, let's go announ to a spokesperson for the idf, i talked a little about what he said, it was a statement delivered straight down the barrel of the camera, just a couple of hours ago, and many interpreting it as a significant shift in this war. take a listen. translation:— shift in this war. take a listen. translation: _, ., ., ., shift in this war. take a listen. translation: ., ., translation: good evening and a good sabbath. translation: good evening and a good sabbath- over — translation: good evening and a good sabbath. over the _ translation: good evening and a good sabbath. over the last _ translation: good evening and a good sabbath. over the last few _ translation: good evening and a good sabbath. over the last few hours, - translation: good evening and a good sabbath. over the last few hours, we - sabbath. over the last few hours, we have intensified our airstrikes in gaza. the iaf has extensively carried out raids to underground targets and terror infrastructure in this essential manner. as a continuation of our offensive strikes over the last few days, the ground forces are expanding their operations this evening, acting

forcefully in all dimensions to achieve the goals of the war. earlier on today we exposed to the world the shifa hospital with the underground expanse, how they have converted the hospital for terror activities. hamas's cynical usage of the hospital, we released this to the hospital, we released this to the world and we will continue to do so, we will continue attack on 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 to move. this evening we were attacked in the direction in the north. and we have course returned this. we are continuing with these activities, trying to thwart all those attacks with terror cells, so many of them, that have been actually 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 auf was intercepted an air threat over the red sea. israel will continue working with the united states and others in order to ensure their security. we are working in all the arenas in order to preserve the security interests of the state of israel, in the home front and calling upon you to truly adhere to all the information and all the directives of the home command. please continue listening to all this information, it saves lives if you go into the shelters and the shielded places. there have been calls, there have been complaints that there are delays on our app, and complaints that there are delays on ourapp, and we complaints that there are delays on our app, and we will continue trying to improve that app and trying to

explain that this is just but one tool that updates you about what is actually going on and warning you. there are additional tools in this toolbox, please continue using all of them. 50 toolbox, please continue using all of them. ., .,, ., toolbox, please continue using all ofthem. ., ., , ,, of them. so that was a spokesperson for the idf of them. so that was a spokesperson for the idfjust _ of them. so that was a spokesperson for the idfjust a _ of them. so that was a spokesperson for the idfjust a couple _ of them. so that was a spokesperson for the idfjust a couple of _ of them. so that was a spokesperson for the idfjust a couple of hours - for the idfjust a couple of hours ago. let's get some reaction now from the ground, we can speak to the palestinian red present media officer. thank you for coming on the programme. —— —— palestinian red crescent. can i festival ask you about communications with people on the ground... about communications with people on the ground- - -— the ground... communications have been completely — the ground... communications have been completely cut _ the ground... communications have been completely cut off, _ the ground... communications have been completely cut off, the - been completely cut off, the palestine red crescent, we have lost communication with our operation room in gaza as well as all of our colleagues who are operating there. up colleagues who are operating there. up to now we don't have any communication with them due to the cut of all landline, cellular communications as well as intranet communication. we are extreme you

worried about our colleagues there who are operating, working on the ground, in this continuous bombardment that is taking place all of the gaza strip also we are worried regarding the work of the emergency medical services there. as you know, due to the heart of the communication, absolutely our colleagues now are facing great challenges to arrive the wounded people in a timely manner, due to this cut of communication. sol assume they are now implemented their humanitarian role based on the traditional way, just hearing the sound of the bombardments and then follow the sound to find the wounded people and transfer them to the hospitals. people and transfer them to the hos - itals. . people and transfer them to the hositals. . , . people and transfer them to the hositals. ., , ., ., ., ., , hospitals. that is an extraordinary detail, thank— hospitals. that is an extraordinary detail, thank you _ hospitals. that is an extraordinary detail, thank you for _ hospitals. that is an extraordinary detail, thank you for adding - hospitals. that is an extraordinary detail, thank you for adding that. l detail, thank you for adding that. can i ask you about fuel? there have been repeated calls for more fuel to get in, what is the situation with your colleagues on the ground? the

situation is. — your colleagues on the ground? tie: situation is, our your colleagues on the ground? tte: situation is, our expectations, lasting we have heard from our colleagues in gaza, is that we will be running out of fuel in the upcoming hours. so, basically, at this point we will be unable to continue providing our ems services in gaza, ambulances will not have fuel to operate and reach the wounded people, as well as we have two hospitals in gaza, we have patience in those two hospitals, approximately 600 patience in both hospitals, we have patients in intensive care, so we are extremely worried about the safety of our patients as well, because those who are connected to life—support machines and oxygen will absolutely lose their life to the complete cut of electricity and this is the situation that we are expecting to happen in the upcoming hours. we

will shut down two hospitals in gaza that we are currently running, this could be the case for other hospitals in gaza who are facing the same challenge which is running out of fuel. we are managing coordination is in order to get the aid into gaza, the palestine red crescent among others. however at this moment, you will has failed to get into gaza since the beginning of the escalation no fuel has been allowed to get into gaza. today we managed to get ten trucks, four of them for the palestine red crescent, we got it from the egyptian red crescent, the other six was for the icrc, but all the trucks have only water, food and medical supplies, none of them have fuel. can water, food and medical supplies, none of them have fuel.— none of them have fuel. can i ask ou none of them have fuel. can i ask you about — none of them have fuel. can i ask you about medical—

none of them have fuel. can i ask you about medical supplies? - none of them have fuel. can i ask- you about medical supplies? because clearly a lot of medical supplies run out pretty quickly, they need to be kept in certain conditions, without the fuel to keep them in the right state, and i presume there isn't enough of them in the first place as well?— isn't enough of them in the first place as well? absolutely. as you know, place as well? absolutely. as you know. already _ place as well? absolutely. as you know, already 12 _ place as well? absolutely. as you know, already 12 hospitals - place as well? absolutely. as you know, already 12 hospitals went l place as well? absolutely. as you l know, already 12 hospitals went out of service in gaza strip, either due to the bombardment or because running out of fuel. now all hospitals in gaza are witnessing a collapse, they are literally collapsing due to extreme shortages of medical supplies and medicines, as well as now the major challenge now is fuel. a couple of trucks were able to get into gaza, supported some hospitals to have some medical supplies, but as you know, those trucks are not even enough, they are literally a drop in the ocean because all hospitals in gaza now are witnessing extreme shortages in

medical supplies and medicines as well. for example painkiller is not even available now.— even available now. desperate situations- _ even available now. desperate situations. i— even available now. desperate situations. ijust _ even available now. desperate situations. ijust have - even available now. desperate situations. ijust have to - even available now. desperate situations. ijust have to ask i even available now. desperate i situations. ijust have to ask you about one thing because the israel defence forces spoke about it earlier, saying the shifa hospital was being used for terrorist activities. hamas effectively staying there. is that anything you recognise? 50. staying there. is that anything you recoanise? ., , staying there. is that anything you recoanise? .,, i. staying there. is that anything you recoanise? ~' ., recognise? so, as you know the palestine red _ recognise? so, as you know the palestine red crescent - recognise? so, as you know the palestine red crescent is - recognise? so, as you know the palestine red crescent is part i recognise? so, as you know the| palestine red crescent is part of the red cross and red crescent movement, we believe in the same principles, humanity, neutrality and impartiality, and we already run two hospitals in gaza, and by the way our hospital received serious threats from israeli occupation forces to be bombarded at any second and we have received evacuation order, we have repeatedly announced that we don't have the means to evacuate our hospital, we have

around 500 patients, some of them are in the intensive care unit connected to life—support, so evacuation would mean literally risking the lives of our patients. a total of 25 hospitals have received evacuation orders from israeli forces, to evacuate them although the who has also announced that evacuation of those hospitals are impossible to implement.- evacuation of those hospitals are impossible to implement. thank you ve much impossible to implement. thank you very much for— impossible to implement. thank you very much for coming _ impossible to implement. thank you very much for coming on _ impossible to implement. thank you very much for coming on the - very much for coming on the programme. very much for coming on the programme-— very much for coming on the rouramme. ., ~ i. ., ., programme. thank you for having me. i want to programme. thank you for having me. i want to quickly _ programme. thank you for having me. i want to quickly take _ programme. thank you for having me. i want to quickly take you _ programme. thank you for having me. i want to quickly take you to _ programme. thank you for having me. i want to quickly take you to new- i want to quickly take you to new york to tell you what is coming up, the united nations general assembly will soon be voting on a resolution regarding a immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce. for the latest of elements, stay here, i am lewis vaughanjones, this is bbc

news. good evening, the unsettled conditions will continue this weekend and into next week. it will not be running all the time but the ground is pretty saturated, particularly in central and eastern areas of scotland for for the next few days, heavy, thundery downpours across quite for 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.

explosions light up the sky over gaza, as the israeli military says it's ramping up its air and ground operations. ground forces are expanding their operations this evening, acting forcefully in all dimensions to achieve the goals of the war. welcome to the programme and will have the very latest. let's go live tojerusalem and our middle east correpondent, the town and the south and so many

people have been asked to move