live from london — this is bbc news. stepping up its war on hamas — israel hits a 150 targets overnight — releasing video 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. more destruction — as the air campaign continues. our correspondent on the ground says the north of gaza was hit on a scale we've never seen before. the first time ever they have seen this scale of explosion, huge, black — huge fire in the sky. this is the scene live in gaza, where internet and phone communications have been cut off. the families of some of the hostages, held by hamas, call for the israeli government

to do more, to bring them home. here in london — pro—palestinian demonstrators — turn out in force. these the live pictures. protests are also planned in other capital cities. fresh aid enters gaza — the un and other agencies say they're struggling to contact their teams on the ground and call for an immediate truce. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. the israeli military says, troops and tanks remain on the ground in gaza — after it intensified its operation against hamas, by land, air and sea. it said, air attacks, hit a 150 underground targets, and killed several senior hamas commanders. hamas�*s armed wing says it is engaging israeli troops.

as the attack unfolded, a bbc correspondent in gaza reported a huge bombardment in northern gaza which he said was on an unprecedented scale. he described scenes of panic and chaos, as communication lines were cut across the terrority. international aid agencies say, they are struggling to contact their teams inside gaza. the world health organization said, it could not reach its staff and health facilities and it appealed to anyone with authority, to press for a ceasefire, to act now. relatives of more than 200 israelis being held hostage in gaza, have expressed alarm at the intensification of the fighting. a forum representing hostages and missing families demanded an immediate meeting with prime minister benjamin netanyahu and his defence minister, to discuss their safety. the lack of communication means we don't yet, have numbers of those killed in the night—time operation. hamas, which is a proscribed terror organisation by the uk,

us and many other nations, says more than 7,700 people have been killed there, since the war began. about moo israelis were killed by the hamas attacks three weeks ago. there is lots we know — and lots we don't know — given the communications blackout. over the next few hours, we'll talk to our correspondents in the region, to military experts. to those with relatives in gaza, as we piece together a more complete picture. but first, let's start with this report is from tom bateman. wave upon wave of israeli air strikes have pounded gaza. the military calls these massive significant attacks as its ground troops entered the territory. palestinians report an unprecedented level of bombardment while virtually all communications for nearly 2,5 million people appear to be cut.

palestinian telecoms companies say the outage was caused by the air strikes. the israeli army hasn't commented on that. 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 has been said that it is on a scale never seen before. the israeli military says its forces entered the northern gaza strip, calling it an expansion of its ground operations to eliminate hamas. it said it has killed commanders overnight including one of the leaders of the october 7th massacre is against israel. hamas said it was fighting israeli forces on the ground. israel called these targeted attacks against specific hamas positions and its network of tunnels

below gaza city. translation: last night the ground forces entered and continued - expanding the ground force operations. the idf is continuing with its evaluation in an ongoing way, continuing massively with air strikes and also from the sea. meanwhile hamas continued to fire rockets toward southern israel this morning. and families are some of the more than 200 people being held hostage by a say they have spent the most terrible of all nights fearing the ground operation could endanger them. whether this amounts to the full scale land assault isn't clear, the israeli army is calling this a limited invasion. what they do now is the attacks are intense but with communications out in gaza, most palestinians can't tell the world what is happening to them. this war has entered a new phase.

three weeks on from the deadly attacks when hamas stormed israel and killed 1400 when hamas stormed israel and killed moo people, almost when hamas stormed israel and killed m00 people, almost 8000 palestinians have now been killed say doctors in gaza. the international calls for a ceasefire are going unheeded and the fighting only intensifies. live now to our correspondent wyre davies, injerusalem. saying it was hit in the north on a scale we had never seen before. what is the latest the israelis are saying? is the latest the israelis are sa in: ?, , is the latest the israelis are sa in: 7, , ., is the latest the israelis are sa inc? , ., ., is the latest the israelis are sa inc? , ., . saying? just on that point, it took awhile for the _ saying? just on that point, it took awhile for the information - saying? just on that point, it took awhile for the information to - saying? just on that point, it took awhile for the information to get l awhile for the information to get out of gaza because for about ten or 12 hours, we basically lost all communication with gaza and it was pretty clear, looking from outside in, the intensity of the strikes as the night sky lit up with the explosions hitting gaza city in

particular but israel is unrepentant and any criticism from within or without comment says it's part of its operation to completely crush and defeat hamas and this is quite deliberately the next stage in the israeli war against hamas and we saw more israeli feet on the ground last night, soldiers, tanks, other heavy armour going in, and we are led to understand some israeli soldiers remain in gaza. whether they are operating in advanced positions, preparing for the next phase of the operation is not clear, but israel, critically said this was not a blanket bombing operation, whatever it might seem look like. it said it was a targeted operation and they were going after 100 or so tunnels, which they say hamas uses as control centres and communication centres underneath gaza and they also say they succeeded in killing several hamas leaders including a man they identified as the leader of the

hamas airwing, in identified as the leader of the hamas air wing, in charge of drones and some other airborne vehicles used on the 7th of october to go into those israeli settlements, the kibbutz, and kill hundreds of israelis. quite specific oz —— objectives says israel, part of the campaign to crush hamas militarily. it's fair to say over recent days the pressure has been building on israel as the death toll has gone up, as people have been viewing the scenes, the pictures, so with communications cut, this is now being done with the world unable to see. , h, . y being done with the world unable to see. , h, ., , , see. only temporarily. there is ictures see. only temporarily. there is pictures coming _ see. only temporarily. there is pictures coming out _ see. only temporarily. there is pictures coming out of- see. only temporarily. there is pictures coming out of gaza - see. only temporarily. there is| pictures coming out of gaza and see. only temporarily. there is - pictures coming out of gaza and they will do as they have done every single day. we understand according to sources in the hamas run health ministry that around 8000 fatalities, 8000 people killed in the last three weeks since the israeli bombing campaign began and many of those, perhaps a half are

children, so the humanitarian crisis is immense and israelis coming under increasing international pressure, and even israel have suggested there should be the opening of a humanitarian corridor and israel doesn't want to countenance words like the cessation of hostilities, the israelis are prepared to engage and one more element that benjamin netanyahu has to take into account, there are that many hostages being held by hamas and we know thatjoe biden, the american president regards the hostages as a priority, as do other governments, and an increasingly large numbers of penalty and while hostage negotiations have been happening, to that end the protest in tel aviv in

the family is our calling for the government to do more to secure their release. we'll be talking to a family member in the next few minutes on the programme. thanks for takin: us minutes on the programme. thanks for taking us through _ minutes on the programme. thanks for taking us through some _ minutes on the programme. thanks for taking us through some of— minutes on the programme. thanks for taking us through some of the - taking us through some of the latest. as we were hearing, just the first few pictures emerging from inside gaza. we have had these in the last 45 minutes, so let's put them on screen because they show the damage local officials say has been caused by israeli bombing raids and air strikes caused by israeli bombing raids and airstrikes in caused by israeli bombing raids and air strikes in the refugee camp area of gaza city, and you can see several buildings have been destroyed. there is no information on what was in the or how many people might have been injured or killed, but worth saying these are the first pictures coming in from the first pictures coming in from the afp news agency into the bbc. our correspondent rushdi abu

alouf is in gaza — and used a satellite telephone to communicate with us. for about 13 hours they've been without a mobile signal. the palestinian health ministers issued a statement saying about 400 people were killed overnight in the israeli air strikes in the north and israel say they have expanded their operation, especially in gaza city and in the north here there were many air strikes overnight with about 20 people killed and about 15 targets in the area and around the campus. people are really worried since israel has cut communication and people cannot communicate with their relatives and friends in gaza city on the north and people are really in panic and i saw people in the streets today, less people than yesterday with people afraid of the next stage of the operation and they believe that cutting communication, this is the first time ever since hamas took over gaza and the four

walls before, we haven't seen israel cutting the communication with gaza, but the humanitarian situation is also getting worse and worse with israel not allowing food and medicine in and i've seen people struggling to find water here in the hospital, people struggling to find fuel to run generators and work in the hospital. the medical crews are struggling on the ambulance services shut down from the morning and they say we do not know where to go and communicate with the people and after an air strike they wait for any news from the people on the ground, and then they will move quickly to the scene and take back the casualties to the hospital, so it's a really catastrophic situation.— it's a really catastrophic situation. . �*, ., , . situation. that's our correspondence on the ground _ situation. that's our correspondence on the ground in _ situation. that's our correspondence on the ground in the _ situation. that's our correspondence on the ground in the south _ situation. that's our correspondence on the ground in the south of- situation. that's our correspondence on the ground in the south of the - on the ground in the south of the gaza strip, reflecting on what has

happened in the territory. the pictures you can see, you see the protesters, it's a pro—palestinian demonstration currently going on in istanbul, and huge numbers of turning out in the last few days and the turkish president, some very hard comments directed at israel and a huge turnout there with that particular processed. let's get more reaction because the general secretary of the palestinian jaffna —— national initiative condemned the attack earlier. the -- national initiative condemned the attack earlier-— attack earlier. the total amount of bombs and — attack earlier. the total amount of bombs and explosives _ attack earlier. the total amount of bombs and explosives thrown - attack earlier. the total amount of bombs and explosives thrown on l attack earlier. the total amount of. bombs and explosives thrown on gaza is very close to the amount of the bombing power used with the nuclear power in hiroshima injapan will stopjust to get power in hiroshima injapan will stop just to get an idea about what is going on. it's very dangerous to element and we'vejust is going on. it's very dangerous to element and we've just received alerts from the medical relief

society, from the red crescent and the world health organization, complaining that their medical work is paralysed because of the cut of all telecommunications and internet in gaza. i was showing you the pictures from turkey. let me show you some live pictures going on currently in london. becausejust like istanbul, london. because just like istanbul, a london. becausejust like istanbul, a large pro—palestinian demonstration on the streets of the capital. we've got some helicopter shots which we can show you in the next little while, but this at street level is another big turnout. we've seen that over the last two saturdays since the war began, so another large demonstration that we will keep track on during the course of the next few hours. let's try to get a better picture of what is actually happening inside gaza in the last 18 hours. live now to juliette touma, director of communications at unwra, who is in amman injordan.

how difficult is the last 18 hours for your staff, and how difficult is it for you to get in contact with them? , , , , . . them? yes, very, very difficult. we have only one _ them? yes, very, very difficult. we have only one line _ them? yes, very, very difficult. we have only one line and _ them? yes, very, very difficult. we have only one line and we - them? yes, very, very difficult. we have only one line and we have - them? yes, very, very difficult. wej have only one line and we have one line of communication open in the gaza strip but even that is patchy. we managed to get this live and we managed to re—establish with what we call area offices, teams are spread around the gaza strip, and that is good. and because of the telecommunications collapse, it has reduced some of our operations as of this morning. reduced some of our operations as of this morning-— this morning. lots of areas you touch on- _ this morning. lots of areas you touch on. just _ this morning. lots of areas you touch on. just in _ this morning. lots of areas you touch on. just in terms - this morning. lots of areas you touch on. just in terms of - this morning. lots of areas you touch on. just in terms of what j this morning. lots of areas you - touch on. just in terms of what the staff members have been telling you, what they have gone through and what it is like overnight and this

morning, because you already lost so many staff on the ground in the last three weeks. give me a picture of what they are describing to you? you are riuht. what they are describing to you? gm. are right. unwra has lost 53 of our colleagues and they were killed inside the gaza strip, since the 7th of october, and the numbers are what we could confirm but they are likely to be much higher, especially amid the heavy bombardment and air strikes overnight and our staff, many of them, have been displaced themselves and many, however, continue to be there to respond to the needs in the shelters where unwra is hosting more than 600,000 people in 150 shelters. i unwra is hosting more than 600,000 people in 150 shelters.— people in 150 shelters. i know it's difficult, people in 150 shelters. i know it's difficult. but _ people in 150 shelters. i know it's difficult, but are _ people in 150 shelters. i know it's difficult, but are you _ people in 150 shelters. i know it's difficult, but are you hearing - difficult, but are you hearing anything about casualty numbers overnight? and what is the rough figure you have in your mind of how many people are still in the north,

the area coming under attack that the area coming under attack that the israelis have told people to leave? ., , ., the israelis have told people to leave? ., ,, .,, the israelis have told people to leave? ., , ., ., leave? for your last question, i do not have your _ leave? for your last question, i do not have your -- _ leave? for your last question, i do not have your -- this _ leave? for your last question, i do not have your -- this information, | not have your —— this information, unwra does not have this information, and on the casualty figures because of the telecommunications collapse, we were not even able to get an update on the number of casualties that are likely to be among our staff, so the number still stands as of yesterday at 53, but very likely that it's going to be much higher, i'm afraid. in terms of the conversation you've been having in the last two minutes, we were hearing reports of ambulance drivers being unable to communicate because communications are down, just driving around, heading towards large explosions, and it sounds beyond chaotic. is that the sense of what you are hearing is well on the ground? what you are hearing is well on the round? _, u, ., , ground? the telecommunications colla se ground? the telecommunications collapse was _ ground? the telecommunications collapse was the _ ground? the telecommunications collapse was the last _ ground? the telecommunications collapse was the last drop, - ground? the telecommunications collapse was the last drop, if - ground? the telecommunications collapse was the last drop, if you | collapse was the last drop, if you wish, because it came to further

complicate what is already a very complicated humanitarian operation that unwra leads on the ground. very, very complicated, and this came to add insult to injury. but we don't have much information and this is confiscating their movements. in terms of the aid effort, the idf said it would increase going into gaza today. tell me what you practically are able to do given what is happening around you? todd? what is happening around you? today we did not have _ what is happening around you? today we did not have the _ what is happening around you? today we did not have the daily _ what is happening around you? irr— we did not have the daily convoy of trucks, and that we can confirm. and the trucks, as you know, have been very, very small. overall, some 80 trucks came in and what is key is that no fuel has come on these

trucks, and honestly we've been following the story of the few will and that is running out, and obviously this will have more impact on our operations. {eager obviously this will have more impact on our operations.— on our operations. over the last few da s and on our operations. over the last few days and weeks. _ on our operations. over the last few days and weeks, when _ on our operations. over the last few days and weeks, when we _ on our operations. over the last few days and weeks, when we have - on our operations. over the last few - days and weeks, when we have spoken, you increasingly said that you were running out of actual language to describe what was happening on the ground. is that even more so on a day like today as we talk? yes. ground. is that even more so on a day like today as we talk? yes, yes, but we have — day like today as we talk? yes, yes, but we have to _ day like today as we talk? yes, yes, but we have to continue _ day like today as we talk? yes, yes, but we have to continue to - day like today as we talk? yes, yes, but we have to continue to be - day like today as we talk? yes, yes, but we have to continue to be the i but we have to continue to be the voice of people, and unwra staff continue to be impacted massively by the war, so we have to keep going and we have to keep going with the reporting and it is actually very good, but we have a little line of communication, and we will continue to be sure to provide credible information from what is happening to the people, to the civilians, the women and children and to all people who are trapped in this hell hole in

gaza. we will continue.— gaza. we will continue. thank you for talkin: gaza. we will continue. thank you for talking to _ gaza. we will continue. thank you for talking to us _ gaza. we will continue. thank you for talking to us on _ gaza. we will continue. thank you for talking to us on bbc _ gaza. we will continue. thank you for talking to us on bbc news. - gaza. we will continue. thank you i for talking to us on bbc news. let's get back to the region itself because anna foster is in southern israel, quite close to the border with gaza. let's bring in anna, and i've been watching you in the last few hours reporting, so give us a sense what is happening all around you? sense what is happening all around ou? ., , you? that bombardment you've been talkin: you? that bombardment you've been talking about. _ you? that bombardment you've been talking about, that _ you? that bombardment you've been talking about, that really _ talking about, that really intensified overnight and it's been continuing through the morning, and as you say, rightly, we are really close. this is garzo that you can see, foggy morning, and there's been a lot of smoke in the air as well but you can see the line of buildings in the background, that is gaza and we've seen regular plumes of smoke rising and you will hear as we are speaking the regular sounds of explosions, of artillery fire, gunfire and abuse in helicopters in the air as well and there is no

doubt that what we saw last night was a real intensification of that israeli campaign. we saw again as it happened the previous couple of nights we saw again israeli troops moving in on the north—east of the gaza strip with infantry troops and armoured vehicles with artillery as well and it was interesting that the idf said overnight that they had destroyed hundred and 50 what they called underground targets on the assumption is they are focusing on the network of tunnels that hamas uses underneath gaza, and you get the sense that this conflict is moving into a new phase. we can't say definitively that this is the ground operation that has been talked about so much and i think there is a good chance that that in itself will not be marked by a particular moment. perhaps a gradual intensification over a period of days, but israel is very, very clear that regardless of what we saw for example at the un general assembly

last night where a truce was called for, israel is very clear that it retains these three key objectives, to destroy hamas in gaza, to protect that and to negotiate the return of those more than 220 hostages who are still being held in gaza. the those more than 220 hostages who are still being held in gaza.— still being held in gaza. the very latest from _ still being held in gaza. the very latest from the _ still being held in gaza. the very latest from the reuters - still being held in gaza. the very latest from the reuters agency | still being held in gaza. the very i latest from the reuters agency say, as you are reporting, that the israeli military has reissued calls to gaza residents to re—evacuate northern gaza ahead of impending israeli operations, so a clear indicator that more is coming. i think so, matthew. and i think in the last few hours it's been a slight lull, and a lull does not mean the explosions are going away. you will still hear them sporadically as we talk, but there

was an intensive period in the last few hours where there was are very clear about what they want to do. and it was interesting in the days before the intensification there were questions about the israeli people and where they stood on it and where they saw the operation into gaza and the suggestion that may be support for that was not as strong as previously. but if you look at things today, it's exactly three weeks since those awful attacks that weeks since those awful attacks that we saw here in southern israel with communities in israel —— and devastated and much seared into the consciousness. even though its three weeks that has passed, it is a tiny amount of time for a population dealing with one of its darkest moments and they

are looking towards their government and their military and they are wanting to see, really, what steps israel is taking to try to provide and protect their future security. just to explain for viewers watching as you are speaking, we have shots alongside you of what into gaza,. those bombardments continuing, like we saw overnight with the intensified campaign. i know you are not quite in the same area, but is it possible to ascertain roughly, broadly where the israeli forces have gone into, and how much of the gaza strip that area contains? , ., ~ ., ., contains? if you think of the gaza strip running north to south, and| strip running north to south, and as you are saying from reuters and people have been told to move from north to south. that is the advice

being given to the population. and if you think of it as of the strip that goes along the sea, where they went in last night the operation was carried outjust below the main crossing between gaza and israel, the one destroyed in those attacks on the 7th of october. so that is no longer functional. on the 7th of october. so that is no longerfunctional. but on the 7th of october. so that is no longer functional. but this on the 7th of october. so that is no longerfunctional. but this is one of the first towns in the north—east of the first towns in the north—east of the first towns in the north—east of the gaza strip as you get in, and that gives the sense that they are going to move or try to move from north to south. and eradicate the hamas operatives as they go. they've told the civilian population to move south and we heard from our correspondence in khan younis, but the concern is there is no way for them to go or how to leave, so those tactics and strategies will be watched closely in the coming hours and days. watched closely in the coming hours and da s. �* . ., watched closely in the coming hours and da s. �* ., ~ ., ~ watched closely in the coming hours andda s. �* ., ,, and days. anak, thank you. i will close this — and days. anak, thank you. i will close this half _ and days. anak, thank you. i will close this half hour— and days. anak, thank you. i will close this half hour by _ and days. anak, thank you. i will close this half hour by taking - and days. anak, thank you. i will close this half hour by taking you back to turkey and showing you the pictures there of the big turnout

for the protest there, just like here in london and we here in london and for the protest there, just like here in london and we will you can see any blue sky overhead, bear in mind it might not last because rain continues to feature in the forecast for the rest of the weekend, and for some, quite a lot of rain. on our earlier satellite image you can see clumps of shower clouds circulating around an area of low pressure and then this stripe of bright white cloud pushes in from the south, bringing a band of heavy, thundery rain, squally, gusty of wales. it will be blustery through the english channel and also windy in the north and east of scotland with outbreaks of rain here, and quite a few showers across parts of northern ireland. still some spells of sunshine and temperatures, if anything, a touch above average for the time of year,

between 11 and 16 degrees. tonight the band of heavy rain drives its way north and there will be plenty of showers elsewhere stop northern ireland looks like it will turn wet for a time. some clear spells as well and it stays quite blustery on the wind really picks up across north—eastern scotland, and low pressure remains in charge through tomorrow with showers circulating below and this weather front here becoming very slow moving across parts of scotland, so through tomorrow and across england and wales and northern ireland we will see some sunny spells, quite a few showers, heavy, thundery ones across the south—east of england, but for scotland for eastern scotland particularly we are expecting heavy and persistent rain with some places seeing an excess of hundred millimetres of rain, so that could well give with strong winds gusting, 60 mph, they could bring big waves and coastal flooding along the

eastern coast. temperatures again generally between ten and 15, may be “p generally between ten and 15, may be up to 16 degrees. things turned just a little bit quieter but it's only a subtle difference into the start of the new week and then later in the week we are keeping a very close eye on developments and don't take developments to literally at this stage but we could see a very deep area of low pressure developing which could bring some stormy conditions in places, but whichever way you slice it, as we move out of october into the start of november, it remains very unsettled.

this is bbc news. the headlines: stepping up its war on hamas — israel hits 150 targets overnight, releasing video 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. our correspondent on the ground says the north of gaza was hit on a scale the territory had never seen before. the first time ever they have seen this scale of explosion. a huge black, huge fire on the sky. this is the scene live in gaza, where some internet and phone communications have been cut off. the families of some

of the hostages held by hamas call for the israeli government to do more, to bring them home. here in london — pro—palestinian demonstrators turn out in force. these are the live pictures. protests are also planned in other capital cities. fresh aid enters gaza — and, in the last few minutes, juliette touma from the un told us they had managed to re—establish some contact with their teams on the ground. let me return to live pictures because, as we were seeing their indie headlines, we have seen pro—palestinian demonstrations on the streets. 31st of all, because these are the scenes in istanbul. look at that, a huge turnout there in support of palestinians. of course we have seen growing anger in

turkey over the last few days, with the president of turkey saying some very blunt words aimed at israel. as a result, a huge number of people there are out on the streets in support. let me show you the pictures in the london. for the third saturday in a row, large protests here, as well. there you see big ben in the background, is again thousands of people joined those protests. they have onlyjust started, so we will keep an eye on both those scenes, in istanbul and in turkey over the next few hours. let's speak to melanie ward, the chief executive of medical aid for palestinians. the organisation has been working with palestinian communities to deliver locally—led health and medical care. she's concerned for her staff inside gaza. thank you so much for being here with us. i wonder if you can start by telling me how many staff you have on the ground and whether you have on the ground and whether you have been able to make contact with them. we

have been able to make contact with them. ~ ., :: , ., , have been able to make contact with them. ~ ., i: , ., , ., have been able to make contact with them. . ., :: , ., , ., ., have been able to make contact with them. ~ ., :: , ., ., them. we have 20 staff who are based on gaza. them. we have 20 staff who are based on gaza- 0ne — them. we have 20 staff who are based on gaza- one of— them. we have 20 staff who are based on gaza. one of those _ them. we have 20 staff who are based on gaza. one of those is _ them. we have 20 staff who are based on gaza. one of those is already - them. we have 20 staff who are based on gaza. one of those is already a - on gaza. one of those is already a refugee in egypt because she was out of gaza when this started. so we have 19 staff there now. we have been unable to communicate with anybody since by pm yesterday. the last message i exchange was with my colleague in the north of gaza. i texted him at three o'clock to see how he was doing, he came back at four o'clock and said he was doing 0k. after that, we have been unable to contact anyone. i tried phoning people, the funds do not connect, messages are not delivered through whatsapp. we are very concerned and fighting for our colleagues in gaza right now. i fighting for our colleagues in gaza riaht now. ., , ., ., ., ., right now. i heard you on the radio readin: right now. i heard you on the radio reading out. _ right now. i heard you on the radio reading out, quoting _ right now. i heard you on the radio reading out, quoting the _ right now. i heard you on the radio reading out, quoting the last - reading out, quoting the last message from the colleague you spoke about there. you talked about being scared. i wonder if you could tell our viewers what he had said to you. he told us at the start of all of this, three weeks ago, that what he

was really scared of was that gaza would go dark and they would all be killed in the dark. obviously what we are now seeing is a war without witnesses. we do not know what is happening in gaza, we can only see the horrific pictures. it is awful to think of my friends and colleagues in fear and in pain, not knowing what is happening to them there. mac mood is one of about 400,000 people who remain in the first of gaza. he is a civilian, an aid worker. what we have been really frightened about is when israel moves into this phase of its operations, it will treat people there as though they are not civilians. in fact, israel itself dropped leaflets over the north of gaza earlier this week saying it would treat anyone who remain there as an accomplice to terrorists. that is against international law. international law is very clear that civilians must always be treated as civilians. mahmoud in recent weeks has shared with us some horrifying conversation that he has had with his wife. as parents, these are the real conversations that parents and

gaza have been having over the last few weeks. his wife said to him, maybe we should write the names of our children on their backs so that, if we are killed, they will know who they are and they can bury us together. macklin said that what his wife did not know is that children across gaza have been writing their names on their hands for the very same reason. so that when the account children can be buried together with their families. i think that is a horrifying indictment of where we are. we have seen those pictures _ indictment of where we are. we have seen those pictures over _ indictment of where we are. we have seen those pictures over recent - seen those pictures over recent days. in terms of those people you were talking to, mahmoud included, why aren't they moving? even in the last five minutes, we have had the israeli military reassuring calls to gaza residents to evacuate the northern part of the territory ahead of what they say is impending israeli operations. i of what they say is impending israeli operations.— israeli operations. i think it is important _ israeli operations. i think it is important to _ israeli operations. i think it is important to be _ israeli operations. i think it is important to be really - israeli operations. i think it is important to be really clear i israeli operations. i think it is i important to be really clear that there is no right where an army like

this occupying another place can tell people that they have two mood. everyone who is left is somehow fair game. mahmoud was very clear that he would not be part of a second forced displacement of palestinians from their homes and from their land. however, many of the palestinians who are in gaza who did initially flee from the north to the south found that the conditions in the south were so terrible, so horrific, with continuous bombardments in the south, with no real aid operation because aid has not been coming in, with shelters vastly, vastly oversubscribed, insanitary conditions, people sleeping in the streets, lots of people return home to the north because they thought they might have a better chance of surviving there. the they might have a better chance of surviving there.— surviving there. the israelis continue — surviving there. the israelis continue to _ surviving there. the israelis continue to insist _ surviving there. the israelis continue to insist that - surviving there. the israelis continue to insist that they | surviving there. the israelis i continue to insist that they are telling people to move for their own safety. you talked at the start about the communications going down, which makes it so difficult for you to contact your staff. but on the

ground there, as well, people cannot communicate with each other, candy? that is causing huge amounts of practical difficulties for any emergency teams, as well, isn't it? just on yourfirst emergency teams, as well, isn't it? just on your first point, i think it is important to be clear that the bombing that the israelis have conducted and are conducting is indiscriminate, all across gaza. it is in the south as well as the north. the statistics tell their own story, two thirds of those killed so far are women and children. over 3000 children are dead. over 900 missing, believed to be dead or dying under the rubble. you're right that the total breakdown in communications means notjust that we cannot contact our staff, it means notjust that we cannot contact our staff, it means not just that the we cannot contact our staff, it means notjust that the aid, which is a small tiny amounts that we have got and cannot be distributed because you cannot vote each other to organise it, never mind the lack of fuel that there has been. it also means that people cannot phone an ambulance, people can phone civil defence, which is the group that helps to dig people out of the

rubble when their homes are bombed. these are not targeted operations. israel is levelling entire neighbourhoods. now there is nobody left for anyone to call for help. melanie ward, we have to leave it there. thank you for taking the time to speak to us on our programme. but see a little more about what israel is saying they are doing overnight in the operations we have seen. israel says troops that entered gaza on friday are still on the ground inside the territory. during the night, the military says jets struck 150 underground targets and killed several hamas figures. phone and internet services have been cut for several hours, meaning information from within gaza is limited. a spokesman for the israel defence forces, daniel hagari, told reporters that israel's troops were "continuing the war" in gaza. translation: in gaza, we are continuing with l 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. that from the briefing earlier from the idf. let me add a couple of extra line from the same spokesman. i was telling you about that renewed warning for people to move away from the north. just a few more lines coming in from our correspondent who was listening to daniel hagari, who issue that warning, saying, your window to act is closing. he said in another video statement, move south for your own safety, move south. he said it was a temporary measure, and said it was a temporary measure, and said that moving back northwards into gaza would be possible once the intense hostilities and. just a couple of extra lines. i suppose they want to latch onto is that one where he says your window to act is

closing, with indications that there are more operations to follow. let's talk about the military situation that we have seen and are still likely to see. justin crump, military analyst and ceo of strategic advisory firm sibylline. thank you for being with us. interesting whatever international editor will sing a little earlier, do not get hung up on definitions because this is clearly a limited invasion, butjust how far we still have to see. what is your take of what we have seen over the last 18 hours? ~ ., ., , ., what we have seen over the last 18 hours? . ., ., , ., ., , hours? what we have seen not only over the last _ hours? what we have seen not only over the last 18 _ hours? what we have seen not only over the last 18 hours _ hours? what we have seen not only over the last 18 hours but _ hours? what we have seen not only over the last 18 hours but over - hours? what we have seen not only over the last 18 hours but over the l over the last 18 hours but over the last few days as a steady escalation in operations by the israeli defense force full stop obviously this is the first time i think we have seen them hold territory inside gaza. they have raided into gaza, most of led operations, what we call shaping

operations, to see how halas —— hamas was reacting. going after where they might have done where the hostages were being capped or particularly high value leadership, such as hamas leadership. it is an escalation, but a slow and steady one foot up a lot of commentators were perhaps expecting almost a chequered flag to drop and the entire israeli defense force to go charging into gaza. of course, that is pretty unwise militarily, extremely difficult logistically. israel is adopting a slow and steady approach to put pressure on hamas, increasing that bombardment from the air, as we have seen, genge relative targets from hamas, and start shaping the ground operations. in iraq, it was nine months to clear the city of mosul, with many fewer fighters than mac and its allies have in gaza. that gives you some idea of how long something like this could take, how deliberate it has to be. especially if the idf want to

minimise casualties to their own soldiers. , . ., minimise casualties to their own soldiers. , ., ,, ., ':: :: soldiers. they talk about 100 fi . hter soldiers. they talk about 100 fighterjets — soldiers. they talk about 100 fighterjets being _ soldiers. they talk about 100 fighterjets being used, - soldiers. they talk about 100 fighterjets being used, a - soldiers. they talk about 100 i fighterjets being used, a tunnel complex, 150 of those hit. just on that, for those people who are not that, for those people who are not that clear about the tunnel complex that clear about the tunnel complex that exists there in gaza, underneath what is on top. just describe what we are actually talking about here. it is describe what we are actually talking about here.— talking about here. it is so extensive _ talking about here. it is so extensive that _ talking about here. it is so extensive that with - talking about here. it is so extensive that with some l talking about here. it is so - extensive that with some black humour it is called in some circles the gaza metro system. it really is very large, very well—built, very impressive. you can see videos online, hamas are very proud of it, it is not a secret. they show footage of the tunnels, the rooms and debunkers that they used to conduct their operations. with gaza being as dense as it is, certainly in the urban areas of gaza, it is inevitably under that terrain. of course, hamas somewhat cynically, not being obliged to follow any rules of armed conflict whatsoever,

built large parts of that network under civilian housing, under targets that they know will arouse moral condemnation if israel were to strike them. that is something that, again, it's pretty publicly known. the whole extent of that tunnel system, i'm not sure most people in hamas even understand that layout. it is incredibly complex and a very challenging target for the israeli defense forces.— challenging target for the israeli defense forces. one final question about the tunnels. _ defense forces. one final question about the tunnels. one _ defense forces. one final question about the tunnels. one of - defense forces. one final question about the tunnels. one of the - defense forces. one final question about the tunnels. one of the four| about the tunnels. one of the four hostages released referenced the spiders web of tunnels. you have narrow tunnels, then opening up into bigger holes, big areas. but when it comes to fighting or attacking a tunnel in any way, i mean, how is it going to be possible to also save hostages at the same time if that is indeed where they are being held or a large numberare indeed where they are being held or a large number are being held? oi a large numberare being held? of course, a large numberare being held? oi course, hamas a large numberare being held? i>i course, hamas could hold them anywhere. they could hold him above

ground or move them around to make life as difficult as possible for the israelis. of course, hostages are effectively a high—value human shield, as indeed as for hamas the entire civilian population of gaza. it is a very difficult environment. traditionally, israel has, rather than fighting through tunnels, sought a collapse and with explosives. and as we are seeing, target them from the air with bunker busting devices. that is why the damage was so extreme overnight because they have started really going after these locations for hamas. you do not really want to be fighting through those environments. it is hard. the bigger tunnels are very impressive as tunnels go, but you are two abreast at best. you do not want to be the first person from the israeli defense forces starting to go down those tunnels. it is horrendous fighting. it will be using the intelligence means at its disposable to try to develop the location of the hostages and go after them as best as they can.

knowing where hostages are not allows them more freedom to manoeuvre in those areas and they can take less risk. you can see from all of us just how slow, deliberate and steady it is going to be with the israeli defense forces to actually clear into this area and achieve not only the rescue of the hostages, which they have said is a high priority, but the destruction of hamas, which is a political objective at the highest level. thank you for that analysis. we will perhaps come back to you in the coming hours as we watch those operations on the ground from the israeli military. let's turn to talk for the next few minutes about the hostage situation. a group in israel today on the streets trying to urge the government to talk to them. they want to see the prime minister, they want to see the prime minister, they want to see the prime minister, they want to see the defence minister, after talking about great anxiety overnightjust after talking about great anxiety overnight just watching after talking about great anxiety overnightjust watching events. but speak now to udi goren. his cousin towell was among those

kidnapped by hamas three weeks ago. thank you for taking time to speak to us. i know this is likely to be very difficult for you. as you watched overnight, just describe to me what you were going through. first of all, thank you for having me and having this voice heard, as well. overnight i think was probably the first time when i couldn't really, you know, hold it in. i have been trying through interviews i have given, when i express myself online, and social media, to be very... level minded with the situation. last night was the first time that i just situation. last night was the first time that ijust couldn't help myself. everyone in this government,

bringing us to this point, and not, at least on the outside, not doing everything they can to solve the situation. as far as i'm concerned, as far as we as concern, as far as the hostage families are concerned, it is unfathomable that this is not israel's top priority will stop that there are ministers and the government that say we should sacrifice these people for going after hamas, that there are people... i am only referring to government officials. people can say whatever they want, but referring to the fact that this is not israel's top priority is just unimaginable. i'm sorry, go ahead. you top priority isjust unimaginable. i'm sorry, go ahead.— i'm sorry, go ahead. you really thinkthat _ i'm sorry, go ahead. you really think that it — i'm sorry, go ahead. you really think that it is _ i'm sorry, go ahead. you really think that it is not _ i'm sorry, go ahead. you really think that it is not the - i'm sorry, go ahead. you really think that it is not the top - think that it is not the top priority? i was listening to the idf

and the prime minister's spokesman, both today talking about targeting hamas but constantly saying that the release of the hostages was their priority. by listening to you, you do not believe that. do i priority. by listening to you, you do not believe that.— priority. by listening to you, you do not believe that. do i need to tell ou do not believe that. do i need to tell you that _ do not believe that. do i need to tell you that politicians - do not believe that. do i need to tell you that politicians do - do not believe that. do i need to tell you that politicians do not i tell you that politicians do not always do what they say they will? i don't want to see them talk about this, i want to see them do something concrete about it. you know, there have been... published all over foreign know, there have been... published all overforeign media, not in israel, that there is a qatari author on the table and israel refuses to call for a ceasefire. can we trust qatar, can we trust hamas? i don't know. but when israel strikes gaza from the air — justin has just told you in detail how intricate the underground city and gaza is, and we know that at least some of the hostages are kept over

there, and when they are shelling us from the air with the definite intention of destroying these tunnels, how do they know that they are not bombing my cousin, that they did not kill my cousin last night? how do they know this? there is no way they know what is happening in the underground tunnels? ilirui’heh way they know what is happening in the underground tunnels? when they sa the hit the underground tunnels? when they say they hit 150 _ the underground tunnels? when they say they hit 150 underground - say they hit 150 underground tunnels, give an exact what of the side of the potential of your cousin being held within them, that be absolutely excruciating to listen to, to endure. {lii absolutely excruciating to listen to, to endure.— absolutely excruciating to listen to,toendure. . ., �* to, to endure. of course. we haven't heard anything _ to, to endure. of course. we haven't heard anything about _ to, to endure. of course. we haven't heard anything about his _ heard anything about his whereabouts, about his condition. i am speaking about my cousin because thatis am speaking about my cousin because that is who i really care about, first and foremost, but there are over 100 people held there. babies, children, demented old people. i mean, how are they supposed to survive this? israel has endured

about 1400 deaths so far. there are 200 more lives on the line. as we speak of the time. the only time to get them back safely and to get all of them without saying that some of them are dispensable is to stop the war and get humanitarian ceasefire and make sure they are back. if we do that and then hamas does not stick to their word or qatar doesn't stick to their word or qatar doesn't stick to their word, 0k, fine, i have got nothing to say, then we have got nothing to say, then we have got nothing to say, then we have got to go after them as hard as we can. but right now we have the upper hand, we are not on the defensive, we are on the offensive, we have the situation contained, and we have the situation contained, and we can call the shots. right now we are striking from the air every single day when we do not know where my cousin is, when we do not know where over 200 hostages are, and we do not know if any of our bombs is

killing them. do not know if any of our bombs is killing them-— killing them. briefly, because i'm nearl out killing them. briefly, because i'm nearly out of _ killing them. briefly, because i'm nearly out of time, _ killing them. briefly, because i'm nearly out of time, you _ killing them. briefly, because i'm nearly out of time, you think- killing them. briefly, because i'mj nearly out of time, you think they should not have started this ground incursion, they should have given more space for whatever negotiations were going on, is that what you are saying? were going on, is that what you are sa in: ? ~ , ,., , were going on, is that what you are sam?m:, , ., , saying? absolutely. i mean, they kee - saying? absolutely. i mean, they keep saying _ saying? absolutely. i mean, they keep saying this _ saying? absolutely. i mean, they keep saying this is _ saying? absolutely. i mean, they keep saying this is going - saying? absolutely. i mean, they keep saying this is going to - saying? absolutely. i mean, they keep saying this is going to be i saying? absolutely. i mean, they keep saying this is going to be a l keep saying this is going to be a long—term work, we have to take down hamas, we have to do... if we are going to take down hamas, this is going to take down hamas, this is going to take down hamas, this is going to be a new regional status quo, this is not going to happen within a week, within a month, within a week, within a month, within six months, this is something that needs all the major powers in the area to be involved. that is why we could halt for now, stop the fighting, stop the war, get our hostages out at any cost, and then take care of hamas. then when we do not have a knife to our throats, we can do whatever we need to keep ourselves safe. right now, we cannot afford ourselves, as a western democracy, that holds human lives above all, we cannot... we have to

uphold the value of human lives as a priority. uphold the value of human lives as a riori . ~' ., uphold the value of human lives as a riori . ~ ., ., , uphold the value of human lives as a riori . ~ ., .,, , priority. udi, i know it has been very difficult — priority. udi, i know it has been very difficult for _ priority. udi, i know it has been very difficult for you _ priority. udi, i know it has been very difficult for you to - priority. udi, i know it has been very difficult for you to speak i priority. udi, i know it has been very difficult for you to speak to us given what you said right in your first answer, but i am glad you have. thank you very much and good luck in the coming hours. i'm joined by sir richard dalton, a former british ambassador to libya and iran, who has worn many hats in the middle east. he was also consul general injerusalem, and is an associate fellow of the middle east and north africa programme at chatham house. thank you so much for being with us. here we are, three weeks into this war. what is your assessment of where we are now?— war. what is your assessment of where we are now? facing a long war. we had an important _ where we are now? facing a long war. we had an important moment - where we are now? facing a long war. we had an important moment last - we had an important moment last night when the international community voted on what the un secretary—general and the regional arab powers are calling for, namely e humanitarian ceasefire or pause.

for two purposes, to allow negotiations over hostages and also to get supplies into gaza to avert the imminent total disaster which faces the people of gaza, as the un have made clear repeatedly. but at that point, the atlantic community, with the us in the lead, chose to give priority to israeli war aims. but without at all being clear with their own citizens, certainly in the case of the uk, what war aims we are supposed to be supporting. so, yes, it is going to be much worse over the coming period than it has been even over the last couple of weeks. israel has clearly laid out its intention. the key player, obviously as you have referenced, as the united states. how do you see the art of this going over the next few

weeks? i art of this going over the next few weeks? ,, ., ,�* weeks? i find the united states' h ocris weeks? i find the united states' hypocrisy about _ weeks? i find the united states' hypocrisy about civilian - weeks? i find the united states' hypocrisy about civilian lives - hypocrisy about civilian lives utterly sickening. we hear them in voting about palestinian lives, but at the same time failing to endorse the kind of action which might bring them relief. on the one hand, they say to israel, here is the money, here is the weapon is, do what you want. and on the other, they seek to promote an idea of a humanitarian pause, but they can't even vote for a resolution calling for that thing. the excuse is that they and our own country gave for not supporting the international community's call for a ceasefire was that it did not contain adequate language on self defence or on condemning hamas. well, no it didn't, but the way to deal with that problem in this current emergency is to vote for the resolution, to proceed resolutely with the diplomacy. but to say after

you have voted for it that it is an inadequate text. i think that is what france did. it is regrettable that britain did not go along with france. ~ . , that britain did not go along with france. ~ ., , ., , _, , france. waverley got 45 seconds left, france. waverley got 45 seconds left. apologies — france. waverley got 45 seconds left, apologies for _ france. waverley got 45 seconds left, apologies for that, - france. waverley got 45 seconds left, apologies for that, but - france. waverley got 45 seconds left, apologies for that, but the l left, apologies for that, but the worry has always been that the conflict will widen. given what we have seen in the last 18 hours, is that risk greater now?— that risk greater now? yes, it is creater. that risk greater now? yes, it is greater- if— that risk greater now? yes, it is greater. if there _ that risk greater now? yes, it is greater. if there is _ that risk greater now? yes, it is greater. if there is a _ that risk greater now? yes, it is greater. if there is a serious - greater. if there is a serious prospect of hamas losing power, then the pressure is on iran to back—up its threats with action. at the moment, however, ithink its threats with action. at the moment, however, i think iran and hezbollah wish to preserve the ultimate deterrent represented by hezbollah muscle arsenal —— missile arsenal. i think at the moment it is two to one against a wider regional conflagration, but that is still a

serious risk.— conflagration, but that is still a serious risk. , ., . serious risk. sorry to cut you off, we are out _ serious risk. sorry to cut you off, we are out of— serious risk. sorry to cut you off, we are out of time. _ serious risk. sorry to cut you off, we are out of time. we _ serious risk. sorry to cut you off, we are out of time. we are - serious risk. sorry to cut you off, we are out of time. we are back| serious risk. sorry to cut you off, - we are out of time. we are back with more injust a moment we are out of time. we are back with more in just a moment or two. if you can see any blue sky, it may not last. rain continues to feature for the rest of the weekend. for some, quite a lot of rain. earlier satellite image, you can see clumps of shower circulating around an area of shower circulating around an area of low pressure. this stripe of white cloud pushing in from the south, bringing a band of heavy thundery rain, squalid gusty winds. a lot of rain in a short space of time across southern counties of england, up into parts of wales. it will be quite blustery particularly through the english channel. also windy in the north and east of scotland. quite a few shoppers across parts of northern ireland. still some spells of sunshine and temperatures, if anything, a touch above the average for the time of year. 11—16. tonight, this band of heavy rain that drives its way

northwards, there will be plenty of shoppers elsewhere. northern ireland looks like turning quite white for a time. some clear spells, looks like turning quite white for a time. some clearspells, it looks like turning quite white for a time. some clear spells, it says quite blustery, they wind really picks up across north—eastern parts of scotland. low pressure remains firmly in charge through tomorrow. shower circulating around. this way frontier becoming very slow moving across parts of scotland. through tomorrow, across england and wales, northern ireland, we will see some sunny spells, quite a few showers, heavy once down towards the south—east of england, but for scotland, but eastern parts of scotland, but eastern parts of scotland particularly, we are expecting heavy and persistent rain. some places could see an excess of 100 millimetres of rain, especially on higher ground, so that could well give rise to some further flooding. combined with very strong winds gusting to 50—60 mph. those ones could bring big waves and some coastal flooding along that east coast. temperatures again generally between 10—15, may be up to 16.

things turnjust a between 10—15, may be up to 16. things turn just a little bit quieter, only a subtle difference, into the start of the new week. later in the week, we are keeping a very close eye on developments. do not take the detail is too literally at this stage. we could see a very deep area of low pressure developing that could bring some stormy conditions in places. whichever way you slice it, as we move out of october into the start of november, it remains very unsettled.

live from london, this is bbc news. stepping up its war on hamas, israel hits 150 targets overnight, releasing video it says shows its tanks entering gaza. the ground forces entered and continued expanding the ground force operations. infantry, engineering and artillery are accompanied by heavy gunfire. our correspondent on the ground says the north of gaza was hit on a scale the territory has never seen before. for the first time ever they have seen this scale of explosion, huge black, huge fire in the sky. this is the scene live in gaza where, in the last half an hour, the israeli army reissued its call for civilians to move south.

the families of some of the hostages held by hamas