live from southern israel. this is bbc news. israel steps up its airstrikes on gaza — the army says it hit 150 hamas targets overnight. translation: the forces entered and continued expanding - the ground force operations. infantry, engineering and artillery are accompanied by heavy gunfire. this is the scene live in gaza. our correspondent, rushdi abualouf, says it's been total chaos. a state of panic, fear and chaos. very chaotic scenes in the street. i have been driving through the city of khan younis this morning. less people, but more panic. the un general assembly votes to adopt a resolution

put forward by arab countries calling for a humanitarian truce. hello, i'm anna foster. this is bbc news. we're live in southern israel, near the gaza broder, where there's been a significant intensification of israeli airstrikes over gaza, with bright flashes and huge explosions overnight lighting up the night sky above the territory. it comes after the israeli army said that it was expanding its ground operations there. a spokesman for the israeli government would not confirm it has been a significant escalation overnight. through the night, we saw bright flashes and loud explosions

lighting up the night sky over the territory and this can be heard all around southern israel and gaza. a spokesman for the israeli government would not confirm that this heralded the start of a much—anticipated ground offensive against hamas. the armed wing of hamas — which is a proscribed terror organisation by the uk and the usa — has said it is involved in violent confrontations with israeli forces in northern and central gaza. there has also been rocket fire from the territory into southern israel. this is the scene live in gaza. the united nations has warned of what it described as an "unprecedented avalanche" of human suffering there,

and the un general assembly called for an immediate humanitarian truce. these are some of the latest developments in the last few hours. the israeli military says it has hit 150 �*underground targets�* in the north of gaza overnight. that may refer to tunnels, although that has not been specified. israel hasn't said how it carried out the attacks, nor if there were any casualties. the israel defence force says it also carried out a targeted strike, which killed a senior hamas military leader. it claims asem abu rakaba took part in planning the attacks in israel on the 7th of october. hamas has not confirmed this.

hamas says its fighters have been clashing with israeli troops in two parts of gaza — beit hanoun, in the north—east, and al bureij in the central area. and the palestinian red crescent says israeli bombardments have led to phone and internet services being cut off overnight. our correspondent in gaza, rushdi abualouf, has described notjust for the not just for the civilian notjust for the civilian population there but we've heard from humanitarian organisations there as well. our correspondent in gaza, rushdi abualouf, has described the scene in total chaos, saying there's panic everywhere. we'll hear more from him in a moment. first, let's hearfrom our correspondent wyre davies, who has this report. the night sky over gaza lit up by what israel says

a relentless barrage from the air and according to hamas it was fighting israeli troops on the ground as well. israel says these are targeted attacks against specific hamas positions and its network of tunnels below gaza city. bombing that is undoubtedly causing widespread damage on the ground. but which israel says is a necessary part of its ultimate goal to eradicate hamas as a fighting force. translation: over the last few hours we have intensified - our bombing over gaza. the ground forces are also extending their operations this evening. from gaza, too, hamas continues to fire rockets towards israeli cities including tel aviv and ashkelon. most are intercepted by the iron dome missile defence system, but some still get through. the intensifying israeli offensive is making a dire humanitarian situation on the ground in gaza even worse. thousands of gazans are, in effect, trapped with nowhere to go.

according to aid agencies on the ground who say that nowhere in gaza is safe. in conditions like this it's hard to get even the most basic humanitarian aid to those who are in desperate need. there should be consideration made right now for humanitarian pauses. these are localised, temporary, specific pauses on the battlefield so that humanitarian assistance can get into people that need it or they, the people, can get out of that area in relative safety. that's what a humanitarian pause is and we think it's an idea worth exploring. in recent days, israel has publicly acknowledged several ground incursions into gaza by land and the sea, hitting specific hamas targets and preparing the ground for what may be to come next. there are more than 220 hostages still being held by hamas inside gaza — israelis and many foreign nationals. some relatives are worried that a full—scale israeli invasion may jeopardise their safety and want

israel to negotiate their release. others support their government's actions. we can't wait any more. if we want them back safe and sound we have to get in and make sure that hamas will be demolished and make sure that they will go down on their knees and beg us to stop. israel continues to enact its revenge and its avowed aim of crushing hamas three weeks of the deadly attacks of 7 october, when 1,400 people were killed by hamas gunmen streaming across the border fence. more than 7,000 palestinians are reported to have since been killed in gaza, many of them children. international calls for a ceasefire or a humanitarian pause are being drowned out by the intensity of the bombing. wyre davies, bbc news, jerusalem.

this is the scene in just now. and we can actually see smoke starting to rise. you can see some of the damage as well. even as i'm talking to you, you will hear these continuing explosions across the perimeter there in gaza. we've got some life pictures now. this is the scene outside the hospital here. live pictures now. there was no internet reception, communications were cut off. this morning, we've received this report. within the last hour, our gaza correspondent rushdi abualouf was able to send us this update from khan younis. we've no communication here for the last ten hours, as israel cut internet lines, fibre lines, also the two main mobile carriers were stopped,

so people unable to communicate with each other. a state of panic here and chaos. a state of panic, fear and chaos. very chaotic scenes in the street. i've been driving through the city of khan younis this morning. less people, but more panic. and people, they don't know what to do in these circumstances. they can't establish communication with their friends, with theirfamilies. even here in nasser hospital in khan younis, the ambulance services are facing a very difficult situation dealing with the continuous israeli air strikes around khan younis here. most important, it's gaza city and the north, where most of the israeli operations are taking place now. very little information from some local registration that's still functioning is talking about huge explosions in the north—west of gaza city and north—west of the beit lahia, north—east of beit hanoun and the north. so four different areas where israel has been hitting

hard since last night. people have been telling the local registration is that this is something that they have never, ever heard of, the scale of explosions, the intensity of the air strikes in the area, people said they have never seen before. we lost all connection with the local authority here, also with the hospitals, so no updated figure about the number of people killed, but it is close to 8,000 people, according to the director of this hospital, nasser, in khan younis. people are extremely worried about what is going to be happening next and if the israeli tanks will start to advance into some parts of gaza strip. very difficult situation. people are really worried about the next stage.

humanitarian situation is getting worse and worse, with the very few trucks were allowed through egypt in the last couple of days. but as the local authority here describes it and the un, it's a drop in the ocean that can't be enough to feed i million displaced persons in the southern part of gaza. that's our correspondent in gaza. just talking about intensification overnight. let's hear now from the israel defense forces, whose spokesperson daniel hagari has been talking to the media. translation: in gaza, we are l continuing with the objectives of the war. last night, the ground forces entered and continued expanding the ground force operations.

infantry, engineering and artillery are accompanied by heavy gunfire. they're all participating. this serves the objectives of the war. the idf is continuing with its evaluation in an ongoing way. continuing massively with air strikes and also the sea. during the night, our general security services and the idf targeted killing various senior members of hamas, including one who was a serious, senior official who was responsible for the preparation of the massacre and we have continued killing various brigade officers and others. they are literally the spearhead of the hamas operatives.

and we see this as good progress for what we are aiming for against a much more weakened enemy. the forces are still in the field, in the arena and continue. he's been talking about the operational work that has been going on overnight. you'll be able to hear these regular sounds of explosions and if you look at the gaza skyline behind me, you will see these new plumes of smoke which are now coming up plumes of smoke which are now coming up on the horizon. we are showing you continuing live pictures. each one of these is a hit somewhere inside gaza. live now to our correspondent wyre davies, injerusalem.

can you bring us up—to—date on the latest from the israeli military because we have been talking about this ground offensive but it is unclear if this is actually in it, isn't it? , . unclear if this is actually in it, isn'tit? , ., ., isn't it? its a good question and earlier in the _ isn't it? its a good question and earlier in the week, _ isn't it? its a good question and earlier in the week, the - isn't it? its a good question and earlier in the week, the israelis | earlier in the week, the israelis had come carried out limited incursions. then they withdrew. we saw last night more intensive, not just from the air, the night sky in gaza was completely lit up by shelling and bombing. on the ground, a significant military operation there. there were two points from that briefing we've just heard which would indicate where we are at. the troops are in the field continuing the war, does that mean there's israeli troops within gaza continuing mopping up operations or advancing through gaza and will the

israeli military be able to put in. if they go into gaza then at some point they will have to go into those built up area if these are their objectives. they said they've killed several hamas commanders, not just one but several say whether this is the start of an invasion, limited invasion, that semantics but that a clear increase and step up in what they were doing last night and we assume they will continue to do that over the weekend and four days to come. �* ., , ., to come. alongside that, the humanitarian _ to come. alongside that, the humanitarian concerns - to come. alongside that, the - humanitarian concerns continue. what we know about these in the strip right now? we we know about these in the strip right now?— we know about these in the strip riaht now? ~ ., , ., right now? we are getting news out of gaza are. — right now? we are getting news out of gaza are, overnight _ right now? we are getting news out of gaza are, overnight it _ right now? we are getting news out of gaza are, overnight it was - of gaza are, overnight it was difficult to get an indication of the damage that huge bombardment. but we have heard from several people. in the southern part of gaza

are, this is the area where israelis have ordered overi million palestinians to flee. so around these areas, this is where palestinians should have felt relatively safe. but the un says that nowhere in gaza is safe. there was a statement towards the end of that briefing in which they said they may be open to allowing more humanitarian aid in. that certainly won't be the fuel that will allow the water deceleration plant to work, for hospitals to have running water,, they have called the 20 trucks coming in per day a drop in the ocean because they will need

hundreds to help the girls on population. now we've goti million internally displaced people heading towards the south. some of them so desperate they are heading back north again. the situation there is incredibly difficult. of course, there are 229 hostages still being held in gaza and their families are worried and concerned that this military operation willjeopardise the situation of the hostages as well. . �* , the situation of the hostages as well. ., �* , ., the situation of the hostages as well. ., �*, ., well. that's our correspondent in jerusalem- _ well. that's our correspondent in jerusalem- we — well. that's our correspondent in jerusalem. we also _ well. that's our correspondent in jerusalem. we also brought - well. that's our correspondent in jerusalem. we also brought you | well. that's our correspondent in - jerusalem. we also brought you what the israeli defence forces had to say about that operation overnight. the general—secretary of the palestinian national initiative, mustafa barghouti, gave his reaction to what israel has called an expansion of its operations in gaza. the total amount of bombs and explosives that have been thrown

on gaza is very close to the amount of the bomb power that was used with the nuclear power, nuclear bomb on hiroshima injapan. just to get an idea of what's going on. it's a very dangerous development and we've just received alert from medical relief societies, from red crescent complaining medical work is paralysed because the cut—off of telecommunications in gaza. we are hearing from the un agency who deals with palestinian refugees, their spokesman has said they've lost contact with most of the taming gaza overnight. they have a limited line of communication with the director of the agency in gaza. they

have said they are assessing the impact on their operations as they work to re—establishing contact with the teams in gaza including those who are being cared for in shelters. we want to show you the situation on the northern border of israel, as well, where i have been for the last few days because we are seeing regular exchanges across the northern border between israel and his brother. israel says it has —— his brother. israel says it has —— his brother. israel says it has —— his brother. we are seeing them regularly attacking along the border

and many tens of thousands of civilians have said this conflict could grow and a new front could open. a lot of diplomatic work is being done in various quarters particularly by the us. thank you the us. live now to lord kim darroch, the former british ambassador to the united states. wa nt to want to continue to talk about america's position on this because they are a staunch ally of israel and are doing a lot of diplomatic work behind—the—scenes, aren't they? you will notice that there are a few countries who voted against the un general assembly resolution calling for a ceasefire last night. we and germany and australia and canada abstained on it and that was a signal of their continuing public

complete support for what israel is doing. but, in private, ithink they will be pressing the israelis to minimise civilian casualties in this operation in gaza, to get it over as quickly as possible because the longer it goes on, the greater the escalation and more public support will fall away. they will be passing messages to the back channel to iran to say do not encourage this war to intensify these clashes with the border of israel and they will be messaging and other parts of the world to try and stop any escalation. remember last week,

there was an interception of three missiles fired from the south of the gulf, probably on their way to israel so the state of escalation is ever present. israel so the state of escalation is ever present-— israel so the state of escalation is ever present. how difficult do you think the job _ ever present. how difficult do you think the job the _ ever present. how difficult do you think the job the us _ ever present. how difficult do you think the job the us are _ ever present. how difficult do you think the job the us are doing - think the job the us are doing diplomatically is because you've got an israeli government who's been going through a difficult time domestically. now people are saying those divisions have been put to one side for now but nevertheless, you have an israeli government who is trying to appeal to its domestic public who want to see some sort of reaction to what has happened here in israel three weeks ago. how delicate do you think the job the us is doing balancing that is? it’s a is doing balancing that is? it's a very delicate — is doing balancing that is? it's a very delicate balancing - is doing balancing that is? it's a very delicate balancing act. - is doing balancing that is? it's a very delicate balancing act. as i is doing balancing that is? it�*s —. very delicate balancing act. as you say, the israeli public are traumatised by what is the largest killing of israeli citizens on a single day since the foundation of israel. so, this is israel's 9/11.

do not underestimate that impact. benjamin netanyahu promised he would keep israelis say. that policy has —— safe. and that policy has blown up. i think the americans on the one hand have to show continuing total public support for israel. but privately, they will be putting a some tough messages, including, critically, pressing them on what the political strategy is for gaza when this military operation is done. we said a couple of days ago done. we said a couple of days ago do not make the mistakes we made after 9/11. that was a reference to the failure of political strategies

in afghanistan and in iraqi. i can't believe they wanted to run gaza themselves —— want to run gaza themselves, so they will be a vacuum and what will go into this.— and what will go into this. thank ou for and what will go into this. thank you forjoining — and what will go into this. thank you forjoining us. _ and what will go into this. thank you forjoining us. british - you forjoining us. british ambassadorfor the us, reflecting on the diplomatic work going on in the background, notjust by the us but by countries in the region as well. we heard as recently as yesterday that qatar have significant diplomatic sway here and want to try and secure a larger hostage release. we've only seen the release of four out of the 200 israeli hostages being held in gaza. you can see the military operation going on here, considering there are more than 200

israeli hostages there. it's very much at the forefront of the minds of people carrying out this operation. the qataris thought they might be close with hostage release but it doesn't look like it's the case at the moment. this was what was being talked about 24—hour was a guy but it seems there's been talks of humanitarian pauses but from what you can hear and what you can see as we show you these live shots from israel, the idea of a humanitarian pause looks and sounds a very long way away from what we're seeing on the ground here at the moment. to remind you, we are keeping you right up remind you, we are keeping you right up to date with our correspondence across israel and if you want to keep up—to—date with everything that is happening, can look at our live

page and the latest information on this ongoing war between southern israel and hamas. you are live with bbc news. hello. it's a story we've heard many times before this october, but the unsettled theme is set to continue. yes, we are likely to see showers and longer spells of rain and it will be quite blustery at times. let's take a look at the culprit. still low—pressure out to the west with more of an organised frontal system pushing into the south—west later on and that will bring some heavy, persistent rain and some gale force gusts of wind on the south coast. the brighter colours note the intensity of the rainfall as it moves through parts of wales, as it moves through parts towards dorset and the capital by the end of the afternoon. sunny spells, scattered showers, some of those bales intense

in eastern northern ireland and into eastern scotland. a blustery afternoon for many, gusts of wind up to 30, possibly a0 mph at times. that easterly wind continuing to feed in the rain off the east coast of scotland. top temperatures 10—16 c. through the night tonight, that rain in the south—west will continue to drive its way steadily northwards. a blanket of cloud with it, so temperatures going up in northern ireland but grinding to a halt in southern scotland. we will see this relentless conveyor belt of wet weather pushing in off the north sea. sunny spells, scattered showers, breezing into northern ireland and south and west facing coast. another blustery day. gusts of winds up to 40—50 mph in the north west of scotland.

temperatures just where they should be at this time of year temperatures just above where they should be at this time of year but with showers and rain around, fairly academic. as we move into next week, a little bit of a breather for that beginning of the week but more wet weather allows the floodgates to open again with low pressure waiting in the wings. pretty unsettled as we close out october and we start the new month of november. take care.

this is bbc news. live from southern israel. israel steps up its air strikes on gaza — the army says it hit 150 hamas targets overnight, releasing video that it says shows its tanks in gaza. translation: the ground forces entered and continued expanding| the ground force operations. infantry, engineering and artillery are accompanied by heavy gunfire. this is the scene live in gaza. our correspondent, rushdi abualouf, says it's been total chaos. a state of panic, fear and chaos. very chaotic scenes in the street. i've been driving through the city of khan younis this morning. less people, but more panic.

international aid agencies say they are struggling to contact their teams inside gaza, after most communication networks were cut overnight. welcome to southern israel, i am anna foster, you can see the scene in gaza this morning. we have heard repeated sands of artillery, mortars and regular bombardments going on above gaza overnight and this follows an evening where we have seen real intensification of the israeli military campaign in gaza. even as i am talking to you this morning, you will be able to hear the loud explosions, the rolling bangs going on and have been not just for the last several hours, but overnight. the israeli military says it struck more than 150 targets in gaza overnight, in what it described

as an intensification of its ground operation. we saw explosions lighting up the night sky in what has been the most intensive bombardment so far. hamas has said its fighters had been battling israeli soldiers in the north and centre of the gaza strip, they said. and also we heard internet and phone services were cut overnight, it was a real communications blackout for everybody in gaza, notjust the civilian population, but also as we have been hearing this morning from humanitarian organisations as well, many of whom have lost contact with their staff on the ground and are unable to know really what level of need there is in gaza after that night bombardment. the israeli defense forces have released this video let me show you these pictures from the israel defense forces this morning. this is showing the operation that started yesterday, showing what appears to be an armoured column. you can see them, of tanks and armoured vehicles

advancing into gaza. the military spokesperson says they are also continuing with what they describe as very significant attacks from the air and the as very significant attacks from the airand the sea. as very significant attacks from the air and the sea. they also added, and this is important, it is something we have been reflecting on regularly, they added that they are expanding their humanitarian effort for gaza as well, promising to bring in more supplies of food and water and medicine today as well. no mention of fuel, which is something that has been a subject of great debate. humanitarian organisations say fuel is running out and they are unable to continue their operations without more fuel. israel for its part says there is fuel in the gaza strip and it is just hamas keeping it to use for its own military backlash against israel are not giving it to the humanitarian organisations that need it. we have seen really only a very small number of tracks that have actually passed through the border from of tracks that have actually passed through the borderfrom egypt through the borderfrom egypt through the borderfrom egypt through the rafah crossing, through

the perimeter, taking that much—needed humanitarian aid for the civilian population into gaza. i spoke more on that topic earlier. i spoke to samah hadid, head of advocacy at the norwegian refugee council, middle east. we have lost contact with our staff on the ground in gaza. communication lines are still down across gaza and we are incredibly terrified about the situation, especially after the heavy bombardment that was reported last night in gaza. and it's been said that it's on a scale never seen before. as this communication blackout took place in gaza, the israeli bombardmentjust intensified and people couldn't call for help or reach frontline responders to receive emergency support. so it's incredibly worrying. and now that the israeli ground

operation expands further into gaza, we're really, really concerned about the further widespread civilian bloodshed. what are the main areas of work that your staff are doing at the moment? as you say, there is a lot to do. so what are their immediate priorities right now? well, our staff are terrified. they�* re under constant israeli bombardment, and it's too dangerous for them to move. they�* re protecting their families. they're trying to access water and food. they've had to ration water and food because aid supplies going into gaza are incredibly low. i mean, the aid going into gaza at the moment is severely inadequate. and this is why we're calling on israel to lift the siege on gaza, to allow all crossings to be open, so that urgent water, food, medicine, but also fuel

can enter into gaza. now, with this israeli military ground operation, we really fear about the intensification of the fighting and the conflict. we fear that it will lead to just further destruction of civilian infrastructure and the loss of civilian life. so this is why we urgently call for a ceasefire. we need allies of the israeli government, like the uk, like the us, to push urgently, urgently for a ceasefire to take place so that we can get aid in, so that civilians can be protected and lives can be saved. the israeli military have said this morning that they are expecting more aid to enter today. they were talking specifically about food and water and medicines. just give us a sense of what is getting in there at the moment. we know it's a very small amount. what is getting in there at the moment compared to what normally passes

in in a normal day or a normal week? well, the aid that is getting in is severely inadequate. we understand that food and water, medicine is reaching people in southern gaza, but not northern gaza. before the conflict, we saw at least 100 aid trucks a day into gaza. and now, with the constant bombardment, with the destruction of civilian infrastructure and the widespread needs, we need that to be urgently scaled up. and we also need fuel. fuel is crucial to keep hospitals running, to keep bakeries running, to provide crucial bread and food for people, and to ensure water pumps can be operated. so the situation on the ground is just worsening by the day. and we really do urge the international community to step up, and step up fast.

from the norwegian refugee council, the head of advocacy in the middle east. we saw yesterday in the un general assembly passing a vote, a resolution calling for a ceasefire. this was put forward by arab countries. they wanted a humanitarian truce in gaza. it is not binding, but it really steps up the pressure. and it's important to say that that was strongly criticised here in israel, israel's foreign minister eli cohen and the israeli ambassador to the un criticise that and said that israel needed to defend itself against as they said, they harkens back to the operations about isis and said this was the same, so they were very angry about the vote passed by the un general assembly last night. our correspondent, nada tawfik, reports. 120 nations from every corner of the globe adding their weight to the increasingly desperate pleas

of the un and palestinians, after the un security council failed to act, and only 1a countries voting against it. while the resolution is not binding, the palestinian ambassador, riyad mansour, celebrated the outcome. today, the general assembly declared that a call — stop the war and stop it now, send humanitarian assistance now, at scale, and also stop the ethnic cleansing and the killing and protect the palestinians, protect the civilians. the resolution has divided western nations. the us, israel's staunchest ally, voted against it. and canada, the uk and several european nations abstained, wanting a direct condemnation of hamas in the text. but other europeans supported it, such as ireland, spain, france and belgium. the israeli ambassador, gilad erdan, claimed in the chamber

after the vote that there was no humanitarian crisis in gaza and attacked the un's legitimacy. this organisation was founded in the wake of the holocaust for the purpose of preventing atrocities, yet the spectacle we just saw proves beyond a doubt that the un is committed, sadly, tragically, not to preventing, but ensuring further atrocities. whether action here in the general assembly changes anything is debatable. still, just blocks away from the un, hundreds of protesters wanting a ceasefire shut down grand central terminal. another indication that calls for an end to the war are growing, as are fears that it could spread further into the region. nada tawfik, bbc news, at the united nations in new york. well, that is what has been happening in new york. i want to

show you some of the protests happening around the world. protesters showing solidarity with palestinians and also protests happening, and it is worth saying you will be able to hear these continuing explosions around me as we talk this morning. just very close to where we are with the border of gaza, in case you can hear those sounds of explosions, it is the continuing bombardment by israeli forces that is going on behind me in gaza. but let me show you some of the pictures that have been happening around the world. you saw in that report some of the protesters in new york, they were demanding a ceasefire in gaza, filling a grand central station on friday night. forcing the temporary closure of what is one of the busiest train stations in the us. jewish voice for peace, a group that advocates for palestinians organise that process, filling the station, wearing t—shirts calling for a ceasefire, they described it as an emergency sit in. police say more

than 200 people were arrested there. in the west bank, the occupied west bank, palestinians were protesting against the israeli expansion of its military operation in gaza. you can see the pictures, the palestinian flag is being flown and the chanting in the west bank. and in berlin, these are pictures from berlin, this is an apple macro table laid with 220 empty chairs to represent the number of israeli hostages held in gaza —— a shabbat table. and we saw similar things at the beginning of shabbat in israel in tel aviv. the organisers said, we want to show the hostages berlin is thinking about them and not forgetting them. and i want to show you live pictures from tel aviv at the moment. this is a group made up of the families and friends and loved ones of hostages being held in gaza at the moment.

they have joined together many of them and they are speaking very loudly this morning to the israeli government. in particular, they say the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu and the israeli defence minister yoav gallant have yet to have a face—to—face meeting with them. that is something they are calling for, they say they want to sit down and discuss the best way to achieve the release of those more than 200 hostages still being held inside gaza. they have only been four hostages released so far in the last three weeks. and we can hear now from the daughter of one of them. sure owner macro. her papa to them. sure owner macro. her papa to the husband of yocheved is still in captivity. my colleague spoke to

sharone who is still in tel aviv. well, i don't know how to feel at the moment, we are in the middle of the moment, we are in the middle of the situation, we have 228, so the number is still rising of hostages. and it seems that there is a lot of wish to divert media attention towards the story of my mum and the story of the place. but really, we are not ready to do anything else, we can't even properly mourn our dead or start believing that we can go to the next stage while there are 228 people held hostage. my mum is back, she knew about 25. she now knows that there are 228. she knows that conditions there were not as atrocious as we have imagined, but they are very, very tough. she does not believe many of them would last very long this morning, is, what to say, and she said that she is here, but her heart is there with the rest

of the people. and we have to break to her the news about more and more people she knows that are held hostage. so, yes. yes, this is where we are. we are in the midst of this horrific situation, it is not over. and your father is being held hostage as well. do you have any information about him and his condition? we information about him and his condition?— information about him and his condition? ~ ., ., , ., , condition? we have no news of my father whatsoever. _ condition? we have no news of my father whatsoever. no _ condition? we have no news of my father whatsoever. no news. - condition? we have no news of my father whatsoever. no news. we l condition? we have no news of my - father whatsoever. no news. we know for my mum —— from my mum that he was injured. we know that his body was injured. we know that his body was not found. we know that he is elderly and frail, as many other people he is a civilian court in this horrendous situation. many other members there, they are babies and children and very elderly people, they have now been underground in a really, really difficult situation for a long, long

time. this is getting more and more desperate every day.— time. this is getting more and more desperate every day. sharone, when ou see desperate every day. sharone, when you see what — desperate every day. sharone, when you see what is _ desperate every day. sharone, when you see what is happening _ desperate every day. sharone, when you see what is happening this - you see what is happening this morning, which... that is sharone lifschitz talking to my colleague. and as we continue to watch those pictures from tel aviv of the families and friends of those people, more than 220 who are still being held hostage in gaza, the us, the uk's foreign secretaryjames cleverly has also been talking about the british government's position on that, particularly as israel expanded its military campaign against hamas in gaza last night. he said the uk's top priority in his words remained the safety of british nationals in gaza. he reiterated britain supported israel's right to self—defence, but he also said that had to be done in line with humanitarian law. ~ .., ., humanitarian law. welcome of the israeli government, _ humanitarian law. welcome of the israeli government, the _ humanitarian law. welcome of the israeli government, the israeli - israeli government, the israeli defense forces have said for some time that they intend to pursue a

ground operation into gaza. we have been focused throughout on ensuring the safety where possible of the british hostages and the british nationals in gaza. we have also been speaking to try and secure their release, but also to have the humanitarian aid get into gaza. we will continue to pursue those aims. and the conversations that i've had with the israeli government, we have reiterated our support for their right to defend themselves, but also that they do so in accordance with international law. that that they do so in accordance with international law.— international law. that is the uk forei . n international law. that is the uk foreign secretary _ international law. that is the uk foreign secretary james - international law. that is the uk | foreign secretary james cleverly. you can still see those pictures in tel aviv at the moment. there has been a really strong grouping that has come together friends and family members of the hostages. of course, their loved ones were taken three weeks ago today and many of them are

keen to keep the stories of their loved ones fresh in people's mines, but they are also very keen as well to make sure as much as possible is being done to secure their release —— in the minds of people. there was a lot of talk about a potential breakthrough and a potential loss —— large hostage release qatar was said to be negotiating along with the us, but as happened several times before, nothing came of that and instead, we saw this increasing israeli bombardment of gaza. you can also see this picture behind me, the scene of gaza. this is what is happening live in gaza at the moment. after that night of increased bombardment. what has been described as an intensification by the israeli military of their operation in gaza, where infantry troops, tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery were sent into two places in gaza to really step up, they said their operation to eradicate hamas from the gaza strip. that is the latest here in southern israel. we

will keep you up of course with the story throughout the day here on bbc news, but for now, some of the day other news. thank you very much indeed. you're watching bbc news. a man suspected of killing 18 people in a shooting in the us state of maine, has been found dead after a three—day manhunt. police say robert card, who was 40, was found dead, from an apparently self—inflicted gunshot wound. nomia iqbal reports from maine. for days, the killer of 18 people gunned down while on a night out was untraceable. ao—year—old army reservist robert card was being hunted by police. they searched by air, land, and sea for the man described as "armed and dangerous". last night, his fate was confirmed. like many people, i'm breathing a sigh of relief tonight, knowing that

robert card is no longer a threat to anyone. i know there are some people, many people who share that sentiment, but i also know that his death may not bring solace to many. but now is a time to heal. he's said to have died from a self—inflicted gun wound. ourwork, again, is not done here. i was very elated tonight when i got the word from commissioner sauschuck advising me of the revelation of what took place and that mr card is deceased and no longer a threat to our community or any other community. this city, and the towns around it, have been in lockdown since wednesday nights. when news came through that the suspected gunman had been found dead, one man here shouted "finally" and you could see this —— the sense of relief on his face. he said the community could now rest easy. but card's actions leave behind a city destroyed and families with never—ending grief. arthur strout was murdered while playing pool in a bar. his wife is struggling

to explain what happened to their 13—year—old daughter. maine has loose gun—control laws. she wants that changed. we're not doing better if things like this keep happening. we need, as a community, to think about these things and think about how we need to change them, so the families that are going through this, nobody else has to go through it again. another shooting now scars america, and in a state that was considered one of the safer places in the country. president biden has once again called on congress to get tougher and stricter on guns. nomia iqbal, bbc news, maine. our correspondent shinghai nyoka, is in lewiston — and she described the sense of relief for residents, now that the manhunt was over. you could tell just you could telljust the atmosphere in that city hall briefing was so

different from what it has been over the last couple of days. there were smiles. officials were hugging each other. and then that announcement, a very stark announcement by janet mills, maine's governor. in her opening statement, she said maine police located robert card and he is dead. it is what many people here were hoping for after these two days, 48 hours where the city was essentially in a partial lockdown. many people were behind closed doors in their homes, businesses were shuttered and municipal buildings and a lot of the services were closed as hundreds of police officers, some of them from across state lines, launched this massive manhunt. there were helicopters, there were drones in the air. there were boots on the ground. and earlier on, there were divers in the river trying to search for robert card. and so there really was this collective sigh of relief when the

city officials announced that his body had been found at about 7:45pm local time in a neighbouring town of lisbon near a river. so we have noticed that some of the businesses have started to open up again and the vehicles on the road. and people are just really relieved that this has come to an end. but i think there was also an acknowledgement that the city can now move forward, but that the community is still in but that the community is still in but now that the shelter in place has been lifted, the community can start to meet and console each other in this collective grief. the? start to meet and console each other in this collective grief.— in this collective grief. they also said that the _ in this collective grief. they also said that the family _ in this collective grief. they also said that the family of— in this collective grief. they also said that the family of the - in this collective grief. they also i said that the family of the gunmen actually helped the police in their search. , ,., . actually helped the police in their search. , . . search. yes. the police officer said that even before _ search. yes. the police officer said that even before they _ search. yes. the police officer said that even before they made - search. yes. the police officer said that even before they made the . that even before they made the announcement that robert card's body had been announced, they called the president to inform him —— police officers. they also called the families of the victims, but they

said robert card's family was also called. there is a reminder they are also going through their own loss and trauma. this is a really small community, a0 also, a0,000 people, many people knew robert card. they said that he could be seen in this town —— a0,000 people. he could be seen as he came back from hunting smoking his cigarette. everybody here almost knew somebody that was linked to this tragedy. and this briefing was really an acknowledgement of that. state media in iran say a 16—year—old girl who fell into a coma almost a month ago, after an alleged encounter with the country's morality police, has died. armita garawand, who was of kurdish background, spent almost a month in intensive care.

human rights groups say she was injured when she was confronted by morality police officers, who accused her of not covering her hair, while on the subway. officials deny there was any physical or verbal altercation. armita's death is just over a year after the death of mahsa amini, another young iranian kurd, who was arrested for breaching iran's dress code. her death triggered six months of widespread, mass protests. at least 21 people are now known to have been killed in a fire at a coal mine in kazakhstan — the latest in a series of deadly accidents. more than 20 others are missing, while about 200 have been rescued. the fire is believed to have been caused by a methane gas explosion. the mine is operated by a local unit of the luxembourg—based steelmaker arcelormittal. an investigation has been launched into possible safety violations. just before we go, all the latest on the conflict in israel with gaza can be found on the bbc news website.

that is the live page with all the information. stay with us on bbc news. hello. it is a story we have heard many at times before this october, but the unsettled theme is set to continue. yes, we are likely to see showers or longer spells of rain as we move through the weekend and it will be quite blustery at times. let's take a look at the culprit. still low pressure anchored out to the west, with more of an organised frontal system pushing into the south west later on today and that will bring heavy, persistent rain and gale force winds on exposed coasts. so the brighter colours, notice the intensity of the rainfall as it moves into south wales and dorset into the south midlands and towards the capital by the end of the afternoon. elsewhere, sunny spells and scattered showers, some of those showers quite persistent to the east of northern ireland and once again into eastern scotland.

blustery afternoon as well for many of us with gusts up to 30, possibly a0 mph at times this afternoon. that easterly winds continuing to feed in the rain off the east coast of scotland. top ten pictures, ten to 16 degrees at the very best. through the night to night, the rain in the south west continues to drive steadily northwards, a blanket of cloud with it as well so the temperatures are going to hold up, but they will be persistent rain moving through northern isles, northern england, grinding to a halt across southern scotland for a time. so on sunday, the next area of concern once again will be across eastern scotland as we continue to see this relentless conveyor belt of wet weather pushing in off the north sea. behind it, a case of sunny spells and scattered showers, most frequent showers into northern ireland and south and west facing coasts. another blustery day, gusts once again to around a0, possibly 50 mph in the far north—west of

scotland. temperatures just where they should be for the time of year, but with the showers of rain around, fairly academic. as we move into next week, a little bit of a breather for the beginning next week, a little bit of a breatherfor the beginning of the week before yet more wet weather moves in on wednesday. and then that just allows the floodgates to open once again with areas of low pressure waiting in the winds. so it is going to stay pretty unsettled as we close out october and we start the new month of november. take care.

live from southern israel, this is bbc news. israel steps up its air strikes on gaza, the army says it hit 150 hamas targets overnight, releasing video that it says shows its tanks entering gaza. translation: the ground forces entered and continued expanding| the ground force operations. infantry, engineering and artillery are accompanied by heavy gunfire. this is the scene live in gaza. our correspondent there, rushdi abualouf says it's been total chaos. a state of panic, fear and chaos. very chaotic scenes in the street. i have been driving through the city of khan younis this morning. less people, but more panic.