live from washington, this is bbc news. israel presses forward with its ground operation in gaza as it intensifies its assault. four people in gaza, ——, people in gaza, blackouts there and some areas are now catastrophic. fix, areas are now catastrophic. week ago, the hospital was out of service because it was evacuated but the main building of the hospital today was destroyed. thousands of pro—palestinian protesters marched through london and cities across europe. plus the death toll from storm otis climbs to 39 as mexico cleans up and searches for those still missing.

i'm carl nasman. we begin with the latest from gaza where the hamas run health ministry says the death toll in the territory has now passed 8000 people. israel has been bombing gaza since the october seven hamas attack that killed some moo people. you see now some of the latest images coming in of the air strikes currently across the gaza strip. hundreds more during that attack on israel were taken as hostages. israeli defense forces have said its latest nighttime attacks and strokes some key figures within hamas which is designated as a terror group by the uk, us and many other western nations. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu said the ground operation in gaza has entered the second phase with israeli troops in gaza's north and the south. he is also warned the war with hamas will be long and difficult speaking at a news conference with his

defence minister gallant and emergency war membo benny gantz, mr netanyahu describes the conflict as israel's second war of independence. he declared israel would win the war and make every effort to bring the hostages back home. also on saturday in his first comments since the war began three weeks ago, i must�*s leader in the gaza strip has offered to release all israeli hostages held in gaza in return for the freeing of all, as prisoners in israeli jails agree one in a statement, now, danny dunant is member of israel's knesset who sits on the israeli foreign affairs and defence committee and he shared with the bbc his reaction to hamas calling for the prisoner swap. it is not the first time

that hamas is conducting psychological warfare. they are trying to confuse everybody. there were few serious negotiators in the last few days. we are trying to broker a deal between israel and hamas and it didn't go anywhere. they were playing games with the negotiators and we realised that they're not serious about it. i think that now, when we started to apply more pressure against hamas and we are killing more terrorists, maybe that will create the atmosphere for serious negotiations. we are determined. we are determined to bring all hostages back to israel and to eliminate hamas. they are not going to escape from the atrocity they committed three weeks ago. we have teams reporting across the region and we start with jeremy bowen, reports from stir up jeremy bowen, reports from stir up in southern israel. —— sderot. heavy artillery is

pounding gaza constantly. the israelis say they're making the earth shake. and as residents of one of gaza city's refugee camps inspected what had happened in the night, that was how it felt. "it's like an earthquake," said al—ahmadi. "no—one�*s paying us attention. "it's an execution." many palestinians believe israel wants to force them out of gaza and they interpret it as a threat, not a warning, when israel's army tells them again to move south, from places like this. as for the israeli people, prime minister benjamin netanyahu issued a solemn warning. translation: the war - inside the gaza strip will be difficult and long and we are prepared for it. this is our second war of independence. we will fight for the defence of the homeland. in sderot, the israeli town closest to gaza, the streets where hamas killed civilians and soldiers three weeks ago today are deserted.

the danger didn't stop zila cohen and her son driving down here to bring a picnic to her daughters, who are doing their military service. they sat down in a car park not farfrom the border wire. the war, they said, was about survival — hamas had shown it wanted to force them out. you can hear the war. aren't you scared? i'm scared but if my daughter here, so i go — i go where she is. and you bring lunch? yes, to all the soldiers. you know, when you are live side by side with people and you come to understand that you cannot trust them... so, what...? what do you do? what is the answer for that? what any other nation would have done. much more that we are doing right now and, i'm assuring

you, much more than we will ever do. the new phase of israel's assault started last night with dozens of air strikes. israel believes overwhelming military strength can pacify gaza. but military power alone has never brought lasting quiet, let alone peace, in this conflict's long history. israel claimed one of its strikes killed a senior hamas commander. israeli tanks and soldiers moved forward into the north of the gaza strip. gaza's visible from a hill in sderot. israel will resist pressure for a ceasefire. and there's another factor. the more palestinians that israel kills, especially civilians, the greater the levels of anger and outrage elsewhere in the middle east among israel's friends, as well as its enemies. now, that doesn't guarantee that the war would spread but it does increase levels of anger and volatility in a part of the world

that is already very fragile. israel's ground war has started. containing it here is now the biggest political and diplomatic challenge in the world. jeremy bowen, bbc news, in southern israel. our diplomatic correspondent paul adams is injerusalem and he spoke with my colleague helena humphrey earlier. benjamin netanyahu has has said this is the second phase of the war so what does that look like? we already know what it looks like because the israeli forces had already been in the gaza strip and with some support conducting operations in certain areas in the northern part of the gaza strip. northern part of the gaza stri -. , . , northern part of the gaza stri . _ , ., , ., northern part of the gaza strip. the israelis are saying they have — strip. the israelis are saying they have killed _ strip. the israelis are saying they have killed more - strip. the israelis are saying | they have killed more hamas

commanders, they are obviously looking to establish some kind of a foothold in the northern gaza strip from which they are likely to expand their operations in the coming days. i think perhaps we've all gotten used to the idea that maybe we would see some huge invasion, kind of dj style invasion, kind of dj style invasion, in which all the israeli forces would go in in in one go. i think that's perhaps less likely, we are more likely to see these sorts of operations but they are likely to get bigger in scope and likely to be longer in duration —— d—day—style. i think that is very much the way this is evolving.— this is evolving. paul, you've been reporting _ this is evolving. paul, you've been reporting that - this is evolving. paul, you've been reporting that the - this is evolving. paul, you've. been reporting that the leader of hamas in the gaza strip has offered to release israeli hostages in return for hamas prisoners. what more can you tell us about that?— tell us about that? this was the first public— tell us about that? this was the first public statement i tell us about that? this was j the first public statement at all from yahya sinwar, the head of hamas in gaza, since the whole crisis began just over three weeks ago. and so, is quite significant that he chose this moment to make that offer.

what was also interesting is that shortly before that his press conference, the prime minister benjamin netanyahu was asked would you be prepared to release palestinian prisoners in return for the release of the hostages? and he did not rule it out. but he said it would be unwise to talk about it publicly. now, we have no way to know at the moment whether such a deal is on the cards. there are some former senior israeli officials, thank it will be a good idea to do, it will be a good idea to do, it will be a good idea to do, it will be a good idea did release hundreds if not thousands of palestinian prisoners in release of the hostages and there are certainly people in the region, including countries like qatar, who are trying very, very hard to engineerjust such a thing but to emphasise, we cannot see any sign of it unfolding at the moment. ., ., .. ., , ., , moment. paul, communications as we know are _ moment. paul, communications as we know are down _ moment. paul, communications as we know are down in _ moment. paul, communications as we know are down in the _ moment. paul, communications as we know are down in the gaza - we know are down in the gaza strip right now but i do understand that you have been receiving some voice messages from people inside the strip. what have they been telling

you? what have they been telling ou? �* , , ., . ., what have they been telling ou? a ., ., you? as you can imagine, now reporting _ you? as you can imagine, now reporting an — you? as you can imagine, now reporting an chaotic _ you? as you can imagine, now reporting an chaotic situation. | reporting an chaotic situation. the messages we are getting are a little fragmentary. sometimes they are voice recordings. you can hear the sounds of explosions in the background. they talk about families desperately trying to locate missing family members of ambulances that raced towards explosions but not knowing exactly where they are going or what they are expecting to find when they get there. life is incredibly difficult for the aid agencies that are on the ground, the un telling me they have about ten satellite phones which some of their key members are trying to use to co—ordinate their activities at a time when they, the un, are looking after the interests of 600,000 people sheltering in theirfacilities. it's an their facilities. it's an incredibly theirfacilities. it's an incredibly chaotic situation under sustained gunfire and the un, they would argue utterly is unsustainable unless more aid gets in and unless there's some

kind of pause to allow the aid to get to it's needed. rsour to get to it's needed. our diplomatic— to get to it's needed. our diplomatic correspondent paul adams. paul, thank you for your reporting. even as communication with people inside gaza remains difficult, phone and intimate connections are still down, our correspondent there rushdi abualouf has been able to get through to us and sent us this report a short time ago. you know, communication is very, very difficult in gaza since 2a hours, as israel cut all of the communication. mobile carriers — the two main mobile carriers are not functioning. the internet lines are not functioning everywhere. and getting information is really hard and difficult. very few people who are still having international sim cards, and they can do roaming using israeli mobile services, people who are close to the border, they still can communicate and, between time to time, they post on social media.

they also — some of the local radio stations are still functioning and they were able to talk to their correspondent in the north, who described what happened last night as the biggest ever air strike that targeted this area. he said that it was like an earthquake. we understand that the indonesian hospital was struck with an air strike yesterday. the hospital was out of service for quite a long time. like, a week ago, the hospital was out of service because of no fuel and it was evacuated. but today, the main building of the hospital was destroyed. also around shifa hospital in gaza city, there was a lot of air strikes —10—15 air strikes, according to people around shifa hospital. they are cutting most of the roads towards that hospital. communication, as i said, is extremely difficult. we are unable to verify a lot of reports about the number of people dead or injured. but, as far as the health ministry was doing a press conference this afternoon,

they said about 400 people were killed overnight but they said hundreds of others are missing under the collapsed building in the north. rushdi abualouf reporting from southern gaza so let's get more now on the situation in israel and in gaza, i'mjoined in studio situation in israel and in gaza, i'm joined in studio by barbara starr, usc annenberg senior fellow barbara starr, usc annenberg seniorfellow and barbara starr, usc annenberg senior fellow and long—time pentagon correspondent and we also havejoining us laura blummenfelt, middle east analyst atjohns hopkins school of advanced international studies. laura, to start with you, i'd love to get your reaction on what we've been seeing play out over these last couple of hours from israel and what they are calling now a second phase of the war. right, it's almost _ second phase of the war. right, it's almost a _ second phase of the war. right, it's almost a non- _ second phase of the war. right, it's almost a non- invasion - it's almost a non— invasion invasion. they are moving into the next phase but the last thing they want to do is trigger a second front on the northern border. i think that's why you see them, you know,

it's a sort of a toe in the cold water, just bit by bit, and that is sort of how israel tends to succeed when they have targeted strikes, not a broad fist with a pointed finger, and i think the united states is encouraging that as well because they are trying to limit the scope of the conflict.— limit the scope of the conflict. barbara, your reaction? _ conflict. barbara, your reaction? a _ conflict. barbara, your reaction? a toe - conflict. barbara, your reaction? a toe in - conflict. barbara, your reaction? a toe in the | conflict. barbara, your- reaction? a toe in the water, potentially maybe some caution given, some of the clashes we've been seeing on the border with lebanon?— with lebanon? well, i think that's right. _ with lebanon? well, i think that's right, laura - with lebanon? well, i think that's right, laura is - with lebanon? well, i think| that's right, laura is exactly on point _ that's right, laura is exactly on point. the us, the allies and — on point. the us, the allies and even _ on point. the us, the allies and even israel, they do not want — and even israel, they do not want to— and even israel, they do not want to open up a second front. i don't _ want to open up a second front. i don't want _ want to open up a second front. i don't want hezbollah to jump in and — i don't want hezbollah to jump in and start attacking from southern lebanon and syria into lsraeh _ southern lebanon and syria into lsraeh we — southern lebanon and syria into israel. we are seeing plenty of strikes — israel. we are seeing plenty of strikes across the border already— strikes across the border already but they want to keep it under— already but they want to keep it under control. and so, thrat's— it under control. and so, that's one priority, even as they— that's one priority, even as they continue to move forward in gaza — they continue to move forward in gaza and i think that's why there's— in gaza and i think that's why there's a _ in gaza and i think that's why there's a lot of effort on the part— there's a lot of effort on the part of— there's a lot of effort on the part of the us to encourage

going — part of the us to encourage going a _ part of the us to encourage going a little slow, picking your— going a little slow, picking your targets, going a little slow, picking yourtargets, knowing going a little slow, picking your targets, knowing what youre _ your targets, knowing what you're going after, trying, trying _ you're going after, trying, trying to— you're going after, trying, trying to limit those civilian casualties amongst the palestinian population. of course the latest casualty number that we are getting around 8000 people coming from the hamas authority there that have been killed already in gaza. now, laura, just coming back to you, i know you served as a senior policy adviser on the us israel palestine negotiating team. interestingly, we now have this message, this offer coming from the leader of hamas in gaza, to free these hostages in exchange for all of the palestinian prisoners being held in israel. in your mind, is that something that israel might have to consider?— that israel might have to consider? ~ ., consider? well, looks, from haouas's — consider? well, looks, from haouas's point _ consider? well, looks, from haouas's point of— consider? well, looks, from haouas's point of view, - consider? well, looks, fromj haouas's point of view, they achieve their strategic and military goals already, to pivot now to work on their world image. for israelis, it

is exactly the opposite, but everything they have accomplished has been through a projection of strength and yet they were caught off—guard. netanyahu's slogan has been peace through strength, and now he has more through weakness. so i think the israelis are yes going to go for a hostage deal but only after they have a good pounding and pummelling of hamas militarily, that's the only way they can restore deterrence. don't forget that benjamin netanyahu rose to fame through a hostage crisis in 1976. his brother was a commander and paid with his life. the first time, he publicly was crying at his brother's funeral, so it is not only military committee is personal for only military committee is personalfor him, the hostage crisis. personal for him, the hostage crisis. , :: :: ., personal for him, the hostage crisis. , 11:1 ., crisis. these 200 or so hostages. _ crisis. these 200 or so hostages, barbara, - crisis. these 200 or so | hostages, barbara, how crisis. these 200 or so - hostages, barbara, how much crisis. these 200 or so _ hostages, barbara, how much are they looming not only over the military response but potentially a political response also? i think netanyahu _ response also? i think

netanyahu put - response also? i think netanyahu put them l response also? i think| netanyahu put them as response also? i think i netanyahu put them as a response also? i think _ netanyahu put them as a second priority. — netanyahu put them as a second priority, if you will, earlier todax _ priority, if you will, earlier today. military destruction of hamas— today. military destruction of hamas item number one on the agenda, — hamas item number one on the agenda, but i'm not sure how long — agenda, but i'm not sure how long that _ agenda, but i'm not sure how long that will be able to last. the families of these people are under tremendous strain inside — are under tremendous strain inside israel. they want their loved — inside israel. they want their loved ones back, and you know, it is not— loved ones back, and you know, it is notiust _ loved ones back, and you know, it is notjust the hostages. we have _ it is notjust the hostages. we have a — it is notjust the hostages. we have a number of american citizens— have a number of american citizens and non—israeli, non—palestinian citizens still in gaza _ non—palestinian citizens still in gaza trying to get out. they have _ in gaza trying to get out. they have not— in gaza trying to get out. they have not been able to do that. there — have not been able to do that. there are _ have not been able to do that. there are an awful lot of peopie _ there are an awful lot of people who want to see the hostages and those civilians able — hostages and those civilians able to _ hostages and those civilians able to get out of gaza. we saw that pressure, _ able to get out of gaza. we saw that pressure, didn't _ able to get out of gaza. we saw that pressure, didn't we, - that pressure, didn't we, coming directly from the families.— coming directly from the families. ~ ., , families. we did. the families i think i made _ families. we did. the families i think i made it _ families. we did. the families i think i made it clear- families. we did. the families i think i made it clear they - i think i made it clear they want — i think i made it clear they want their loved ones back at the cost _ want their loved ones back at the cost of releasing the palestinian prisoners, which doesn't _ palestinian prisoners, which doesn't exactly fit in with netanyahu's objective for the military— netanyahu's objective for the military defeat of hamas. so

the pressure is likely to only build — the pressure is likely to only build over the coming days, i think — build over the coming days, i think. . ., build over the coming days, i think. . . , , ., ~ ., think. laura, speaking of pressure. _ think. laura, speaking of pressure, we _ think. laura, speaking of pressure, we have - think. laura, speaking of pressure, we have heard| think. laura, speaking of- pressure, we have heard now several calls for a ceasefire. we saw just yesterday the united nations passing a nonbinding resolution calling for the release of hostages, ceasefire, humanitarian considerations. how much is the pressure mounting on israel, how should israel respond to many calls from around the globe to come and allow aid at least into gaza?— least into gaza? there is clearly an _ least into gaza? there is clearly an inverse - least into gaza? there is - clearly an inverse relationship between humanitarian suffering in gaza and support for israel. that said, if you talk to the israelis, he is their mindset, israelis, he is their mindset, i would rather be hated and alive than loved and death. when netanyahu said this is like a second war of independence, what he meant was independence, what he meant was in 1948 we were fighting for our physical borders, now we are fighting for the very idea of israel. whether safe haven of israel. whether safe haven of the jewish people of israel. whether safe haven of thejewish people has been turned into a slaughterhouse.

so yes, they hear the cry for a ceasefire but for them it really is a fight to the death. the former prime minister once said to me, when it comes to hamas, all they want to do is tell us. this isn't an eye for an icon it is and i don't of course — an icon it is and i don't of course we _ an icon it is and i don't of course we are not just talking course we are notjust talking about how massey, we are talking about innocent civilians, people living in gaza and that is where we hear the calls even from the head of the calls even from the head of the united nations, saying aid does need to be delivered to avoid even more casualties among people who don't play any role in this conflict. absolutely, and i think that is on israel, and that is why you have president biden saying we have president biden saying we have your back but whispering very loudly in their heirs, don't forget your humanity. how you fight this matter is, how you fight this matter is, how you fight this and how you frame this will make a difference in the long run for your long—term survival, absolutely. that's again why the united states is so important here in framing this as a clash. this isn't israelis versus arabs, this is civilisation versus savagery.

we are pitching a peace sign, are you in or are you out, and israel, you need to be with us on the right side of morality. barbara, now we have heard from several high—ranking members of israel's government, including the prime minister himself saying, essentially, israel brace yourself. this could be a conflict that may not be quick, it may go on for a long period of time. what you expect going forward, how long could this go? forward, how long could this 0? ., forward, how long could this .02 ., ~ forward, how long could this .o? ., ~ ,, forward, how long could this go? haka i think the us perhaps as the military _ go? haka i think the us perhaps as the military history _ go? haka i think the us perhaps as the military history of- go? haka i think the us perhaps as the military history of the - as the military history of the last as the military history of the test 22— as the military history of the last 22 years or so in its back pocket — last 22 years or so in its back pocket. look at what the us military. _ pocket. look at what the us military, the us administrations over the years went— administrations over the years went through in fighting in afghanistan, in iraq, in syria, across— afghanistan, in iraq, in syria, across africa, against terror organisations. i think the message here is you may think you are — message here is you may think you are going into destroy hamas. _ you are going into destroy hamas, but how exactly do you do that. — hamas, but how exactly do you do that, with around again supporting hamas so strongly,

with another generation of youth _ with another generation of youth coming up in the region, oranti-us. _ youth coming up in the region, or anti—us, anti—israel, and even — or anti—us, anti—israel, and even if— or anti—us, anti—israel, and even if you _ or anti—us, anti—israel, and even if you killed every single person — even if you killed every single person that had the label "hamas— person that had the label "hamas supporter", there will be "hamas supporter", there will he more _ "hamas supporter", there will be more. you cannot kill your way— be more. you cannot kill your way out — be more. you cannot kill your way out of— be more. you cannot kill your way out of a war. any us military— way out of a war. any us military commander will tell you was— military commander will tell you was our result at the negotiating table.- negotiating table. laura blumenfeldt, _ negotiating table. laura blumenfeldt, we - negotiating table. laura blumenfeldt, we have l negotiating table. laura - blumenfeldt, we have about a minute left, just want to give you the last word here is someone who has dealt with these sorts of issues. is there something that has a military end, orwill something that has a military end, or will both sides, hamas may be even looking towards the west bank and israel, need to come to the negotiating table at some point?— at some point? yes, we have that from _ at some point? yes, we have that from secretary _ at some point? yes, we have that from secretary blinken l that from secretary blinken this week when he said we can't go back to the status quo. i think there will be negotiations on our future. when i worked for the state department under president obama, we focused on tangible

issues, right? there is borders, security, jerusalem refugees. i think there's one thing is certain going forward for the next round of negotiations, we will also have to pay attention to the intangibles, things like narrative. the two societies of italy have clashing narratives, and we need to address that, and we need to address that, and trauma. this is not a world war but the world is at war, at least psychologically, given the use of images, just horrifying, the live streaming of homicide and the suffering. so i think we're going to have to pay attention to that, going into the next round of negotiations. intangibles matter. . . �* matter. laura blumenfeldt, staff writer _ matter. laura blumenfeldt, staff writer at _ matter. laura blumenfeldt, staff writer at the _ matter. laura blumenfeldt, l staff writer at the washington post, middle east analyst at john hopkins school of advanced studies, barbara starr here in the studio, a long—time pentagon correspondent, thank you very much to you both. israel says at least 229 hostages are still being held ljy hostages are still being held by hamas inside gaza. our reporter lucy williamson from tel aviv are no concerns about their safety amid israel's latest attacks.

there are those in israel watching the bombing of a people and seeing only one single face — their child, parent, spouse, sibling. in tel aviv, they've laid a place for each of them at a shabbat table — more than 200 hostages held by hamas in gaza. theirfamilies today demanded to speak to israel's prime minister about his escalation of the war. jonathan was one of the hostages taken from the nova festival site. what would you say to prime minister netanyahu if he comes here today? you've asked him to come here. what happens? we want him to come here, to look to my eyes and tell me, "you should trust me." to tell me, "listen, the kidnap is in first priority. "after that, we will get all the support of all the country "to kill all the hamas. " but now, first of all,

our kidnapped. meeting representatives of the families tonight, mr netanyahu suggested that the heavy bombing could help bring the hostages home. the family said they'd consider releasing all israel's palestinian prisoners as a price worth paying to get their relatives back. 2a hours ago, hope was beginning to sprout here. four hostages had been released, negotiations were ongoing and there was talk of a deal to release many more. now, 2a hours later, the mood here is different. a member of the kibbutz, yaffa, she was one of the founders of the kibbutz. one of the freed hostages told lior peri that she'd seen his father, haim, alive and well in gaza. the first news of him since he was taken captive from kibbutz nir oz. now, it puts me in a very delicate spot, because now i have something to lose. and that's the worst thing, because i know that hamas

didn't kill my father yet. 0k? and i know that now the ball is in the israeli court. air-raid siren wails. as benjamin netanyahu met families this evening, sirens cleared the memorial site. more rockets sent from gaza intercepted in the skies above tel aviv. israel says destroying hamas is about protecting its people. "protecting which people?", families here ask. "bring their relatives home", they say. "everything else can wait." lucy williamson, bbc news, tel aviv. as lucy was just reporting there, among the hostages there are believed to be these three israeli children and their mother. theirfather israeli children and their mother. their father has travelled to washington, dc to

petition us lawmakers to help secure their release and that of other children being held hostage in gaza by hamas. on friday we spoke with him. thank you so much forjoining us here on bbc news, and i can imagine it must be an incredibly difficult time, so we really appreciate you coming into the studio today. i understand it is probably difficult to talk about what happened to your wife near three young when they were taken hostage on your kibbutz, but if you are able, can you tell me a little bit about what happened? yeah sure. that's what i'm here for, and thanks for having me.— for having me. you know, on that day. _ for having me. you know, on that day. on _ for having me. you know, on that day, on october- for having me. you know, on that day, on october seven, | for having me. you know, on i that day, on october seven, we live in a kibbutzjust right by the border with the gaza strip. my the border with the gaza strip. my house is the first one on the fence, so it's the closest to gaza. you know, i open my bedroom window and i see the gaza strip. i have to say, we

neverfelt gaza strip. i have to say, we never felt threatened or anything by anything, actually. we have a beautiful kibbutz, and we have a good, peaceful life, and where peaceful people. on that day, october seven, there were very large bombings and rockets coming our way. it was something very unusual, because we are used to things like that, but not that intensive. well, it took a few minutes, and a girl came running to our house, my wife took her in, she was the neighbour's girl, we later learned that her parents were killed, so she came running away from the shootings. my wife took her into the shelter

in our house, we have a safe so we were heading over there. for a half hours. i wasn't home. around 11, you know, i kept texting my wife, the lines were down, so we could only text, and around 11 i got the last message. it was "they are coming in". that's the last message i got. and that's it. you know, i kept texting and getting no message back. i was sure that they were dead, so can you know, everybody else knew where my family was and if they were safe, and i told them, "they're dead. you know, i'm just alone in this world". but then, a day later, i had news from somebody in the kibbutz that they were seen walking out alive, being led by someone, and heading over to the gaza strip. now a new show

times, this is terrible news, but that time when i thought they were dead, it was the best news that i ever got, so i felt like i got my family back, and, you know, i'm still living on this same news, because i have no real new news since then. so it's been three weeks, and, you know, i have no information, nothing at all about my family, and this other girl, abigail. so it is my wife, our three kids, and my friend's daughter. tell me about your family. what are they like and how do you think they're holding up? well, ou think they're holding up? well, you know. _ think they're holding up? well, you know. i— think they're holding up? well, you know, i live _ think they're holding up? well, you know, i live on _ think they're holding up? well, you know, i live on hope - think they're holding up? well, you know, i live on hope right i you know, i live on hope right now, that's why i am here, and my wife, my wife and i, we've been together for 22 years, so she is everything to me, and

she is everything to me, and she does everything at home and everything for me, so i know she's a strong. if i could pick anyone in this world to be with my kids, obviously it would be my kids, obviously it would be my wife. i believe in hair, and i know she's doing everything she can —— i believe in her. wherever they are, i hope they are together. my little one, my youngest, he is four and a half years old. he's really great. he makes a lot of mess around the house. but i really miss him. i wish he could make mess, a big mess right now. you know, usually and really angry at him, but now i guess i'lljust let him do whatever he wants. usage said you were living on hope right now but i wonder how you are doing personally and i understand you sustained injuries in the attack as well. how are you? well, you know,

i'm doing good. i came all the way over here to washington to try to persuade the world to listen to me and to do the obvious thing, which is, you know, let the families be together, my children, you know, innocent. iwife is innocent. you know, is such an obvious thing. everyone knows it. i come here and i got so much support from people over here in washington, be it congressmen and senators and just people, you know, they come, some of them recognise me and give me big hugs. a lady came today to the hotel and she prayed for us so we all prayed together. so i think everybody knows this very basic thing about innocent children that they should be with their dad

and that my wife, you know, should be at home with me, you know. i sleep alone right now. i should be with my wife and my kids nearby, playing. so... i am doing well, you know? i'm alive and well, you know, physically. but inside, i'm in iraq. physically. but inside, i'm in iran. , physically. but inside, i'm in iraq-_ just - physically. but inside, i'm in iraq-_just a- physically. but inside, i'm in| iraq._ just a wreck. iraq. of course. just a wreck. iraq. of course. just a wreck. i can imagine. _ iraq. of course. just a wreck. i can imagine. you _ iraq. of course. just a wreck. i can imagine. you were - i can imagine. you were mentioned about meeting with lawmakers here on capitol hill, a range of them including senator chuck schumer. what kind of messages have they been giving you? what kind of support?— giving you? what kind of suuort?. , ., giving you? what kind of su--ort?~ . ., ~ ., support? we 'ust got, you know, brilliant support? wejust got, you know, brilliant support _ support? wejust got, you know, brilliant support from _ brilliant support from everyone. i think this issue is just an issue in humanity, it's not even you know an issue of conflict it's just, we've got so much support and everybody

said they would do everything they can for us, you know, trying to move things around. this is america. they can do a lot, we know that, and i think they can do the maximum they can but we need to move around, you know, the israeli government, you know, my government, you know, my government, we have to make them do the right thing and i'm us i think also have the same beliefs as us about keeping women and children out of the conflict. so i really don't know why it has been three weeks and nothing has been done with the children, with my kids and my wife. but we still keep the fight going on. returning to our top story in gaza, hamas officials saying the death toll has now surpassed 8000 people and israel public prime minister

benjamin netanyahu saying the war in gaza has entered a second phase, warning it will be long and difficult.- be long and difficult. esther netanyahu _ be long and difficult. esther netanyahu described - be long and difficult. esther netanyahu described the i neta nyahu described the conflict netanyahu described the conflict as israel's second war of independence and declared israel would win the war and make every effort to bring the hostages home. the israeli prime minister has met with families of those hostages being held by himars who have expressed concern about the intensifying attack we are seeing in gaza over the past hours —— held by hamas. promised to do everything possible to bring them home. speaking to the bbc the senior advisor to the israeli prime minister mark redgrave said he believes he must would not release those hostages unless they were under pressure. == they were under pressure. -- mark regev- _ they were under pressure. » mark regev. it was an emotional meeting and a long meeting and the prime minister heard each and every one of them, heard them out, and said what needed to be said and without going into what was said in the meeting i can tell you what the position of the government is, precisely because hamas are not

humanitarian, will only get a people released if they are under very strong pressure and only if they feel that that pressure is constantly pressure is co nsta ntly escalating pressure is constantly escalating against them and we believe the best way to get the hostages out is to keep that pressure up, keep the pressure on hamas, keep impressing the pressure on hamas. that's the way to get the hostages out. earlier helena humphrey spoke to bbc arabic reporter mohamed taha from our newsroom in london about the situation currently unfolding in the region. rockets from gaza are hitting some israeli towns in southern israel. we understand rockets have been launched towards stood, lovely in southern tel aviv and in return

the missiles and raids on gaza is still intensified, it's unprecedented as benjamin netanyahu said, this war will be long, will be difficult and as we can see in these pictures on the screens, this is the gaza strip, it is pitch black and there is no communication, no electricity and the raids from yesterday are unprecedented, they are intensifying, the idf is getting, is doing frequent incursions inside the gaza strip and maybe going back. the massive ground attack did not start yet. he must released a video where they said they attacked one armoured vehicle from the type of cancer and

they said they destroyed it. we do not have any independent source to confirm that or not, the humanitarian situation in gazais the humanitarian situation in gaza is getting worse and worse and as you said previously, theyin and as you said previously, they in order to make this morning from a real humanitarian crisis in the strip and those more aid coming to the strip. i strip and those more aid coming to the strip-— to the strip. i want to ask you more about — to the strip. i want to ask you more about that _ to the strip. i want to ask you more about that because - to the strip. i want to ask you more about that because on | to the strip. i want to ask you i more about that because on the point of the humanitarian situation, we've also been hearing from our bbc colleague rushdi abualouf in southern garzo but only life—saving interventions will be taking place in the south right now. mike reports southern gaza. tells more about catastrophic circumstances we are seeing when it comes to the humanitarian situation and what people need inside gaza. yes. people need inside gaza. yes, ima . ine people need inside gaza. yes, imagine the — people need inside gaza. yes, imagine the israeli _

people need inside gaza. yes, imagine the israeli army - people need inside gaza. yes, imagine the israeli army still. imagine the israeli army still issuing that warning to the residence in northern gaza and eastern gaza where the raids are continuing to leave their homes, these people should join other people who are in the streets, in the schools, in hospitals are seeking refuge from this continuous raid on gaza. answering your question about the hospitals, hospitals, without proper medical equipment without electricity, without hospital —— communication, without medical teams on the ground, they would be able to work so unless this aid are coming from rougher crossing with egypt and unless

the communications would be re—established again and unless they have electricity to see what they are doing in the hospitals if they want to have, to do operations and so on and so forth —— rafah crossing. how injured people and patient would be treated. hamas are talking about 7600 casualties so far, so far from the israeli rate. we also, we don't have independent source to confirm that as many governments in the west are maybe disputing that —— israeli raid. must issued a list yesterday of more than 7000 people who died to confirm that this is the correct total of casualties.— that this is the correct total of casualties. one thing i want to ask you _ of casualties. one thing i want to ask you about _ of casualties. one thing i want to ask you about is _ of casualties. one thing i want to ask you about is we've - of casualties. one thing i want to ask you about is we've also| to ask you about is we've also been hearing from benjamin netanyahu today, saying that troops are moving south. we

know of course that the warning has been from the idf and also civilians in gaza to move south so that troops were going to the north. so, what does that mean for civilians right now? how confused are they when they've had one message to move from one part of the gaza strip and now, we understand troops i going into another part? this confusion _ going into another part? this confusion is _ going into another part? this confusion is from _ going into another part? this confusion is from the - going into another part? this confusion is from the start of this war, helena as the idf was issuing this warning for the residents in north gaza to move towards south and while they were moving, they faced the raids on their way to find safety and also the massive confusion happened when an explosion happened in the mamad adani hospital and now the israeli forces are talking about the leadership of hamas are hiding under the ground,

under the shifa hospital, this is a massive warning that this hospital could be a target so the confusion around where the residents can go or stay or seek refuge in a school or a hospital or to stay south or stay north, i guess there is no safe place in the entire strip of gaza at the moment because the idf are saying every time the idf are saying every time the hamas fighters militants are using civilians as human shields, they are hiding under hospitals, under schools so we cannot— this confusion is still going on and it is a very, very tiny piece of land, it's called a stripper for a

tiny piece of land, it's called a stripperfor a reason, a stripper for a reason, because a stripperfor a reason, because it is a tiny piece of land —— a strip. these intensified raids on the strip cannot make anywhere safe in the strip at the moment. mohammed, thank you. inaudible 2 million people living there in gaza and also some 200,000 british citizens -- 200. some 200,000 british citizens —— 200. zaynab is a palestinian and went there to attend a wedding just days before the attack, travelling there with 11 members of herfamily attack, travelling there with 11 members of her family from the uk, including a 13—year old. we've been speaking to miller about her daughter's ordeal. hello, my name is zaynab, i am a british national. me and my family came here two days before the war started and been unable to

get out ever since. zaynab, a schoolteacher in greater manchester, had gone to gaza for a wedding and is now trapped near the rafah crossing. is this in — is this here? in manchester? yes, that's manchester. her mother lalah, is hoping that she'll be home soon. how does it feel for you, being here and sort of watching what's happening from afar? i feel powerless. ifeel as much as i can do, it's not enough, and it's a very painful experience to have to go through to see people go through so much suffering and not be able to do anything. thousands of bombs have landed... zaynab posted this video on instagram two days ago. pleading for help. we have contacted the british embassy to, at the very least, get out its own citizens but with no luck. the fcdo says it has been keeping in close contact with british nationals in gaza

and will update them on the status of the southern border. the death toll is rising every day. every day, we wait to hear from zaynab in the morning or in the afternoon — whenever she gets a signal — just to see if, you know, whether she made it through the night. this was the last message lalah had from zaynab letting her mother know she was alive. but she hasn't heard anything since last night, when communications from gaza were cut off. the last few weeks have been really quite harrowing. just to watch the images on tv and to see such high numbers of deaths of innocent women and children, and civilians. it's been very painful. and it kind of feels like a nightmare, to be honest, at the moment.

demonstrations have taken place in cities around the world, calling for a ceasefire and for aid to be allowed into gaza. this right here was paris where a propeller skinny and demonstration went ahead, despite a ban. french court said it could risk disturbing public order, given the rise of anti—semitic acts in france since the beginning of the hostilities. this year, stockholm in sweden, where thousands marched through the swedish capital to show their support for palestinians and in london, thousands of people marching, urging an end to israel's attacks in gaza. more now from tom symons in london. chanting: stop bombing gaza! stop bombing gaza! a protest, the organisers said, of more than 300,000 people. at one point, it stretched a mile and a half through the streets of london. there have been many personal

responses to this month's horrifying events in israel and gaza. here today, there was one central demand. chanting: what do we want? ceasefire! when do we want it? now! you know, when you kill- an innocent person with a bomb, ora gun, ora knife, it- doesn't matter who's doing it. it's the same terrorism. in the last week, the metropolitan police has been put under pressure by the home secretary, suella braverman, to take a tough line on any protesters who might say — or in the case of banners, write — anything which breaches terrorism laws. as far as we can tell, protesters have generally not done that today, and the policing has been light. ordinary people, from towns and cities across the uk, have had to prove that they are not here supporting terrorism, that they are here supporting human rights. but they are coming, despite that pressure, despite the outrageous statements from our government, they are coming in their hundreds of thousands and they are raising the flag of palestine high and proudly. chanting: we want boycotts! there were shouts of, "from the river to the sea, palestine will be free,"

regarded byjewish groups and israel as a threat to its existence, and by the home secretary, suella braverman, as anti—semitic. supporters of palestine say it is a call for freedom from repression, and not a threat. no action was taken today by police, who were mainly holding back in side streets. the met said there had been two arrests, linked to an assault on a police officer, and racist remarks. here in cardiff and in glasgow, belfast and other cities. organisers of the main demonstration say there are more to come. tom symonds, bbc news, central london. have some developing political news right here in the us was top 2020 for public in —— republican presidential candidate former vice president mike pence has announced he is withdrawing from the race. he made that announcement to a crowd in las vegas, saying that he had no regrets.

with everything in our country is facing, ijust with everything in our country is facing, i just couldn't sit this one out. but the bible tells us that there is a time for every purpose under heaven, and travelling over the country over the past six months, i came here to say it's become clear to me this is not... more now on the 2024 race and that breaking news, we can bring in cbs news chief election and campaign correspondent. thank you for joining us. as we had, mike pence dropping out on saturday, saying, hey, this is not my time, but given the polling numbers, given the low fundraising numbers, how much of a surprise is this decision? the decision was not a surprise, but it is significant in the republican party, because former vice president mike pence is the first of the major candidates who have been contesting former president donald trump's grip on the

party's base and their voters to drop out of the race, to suspend his campaign, the question for months on the mind of so many major donors and party leaders i have spoken with in the course of my reporting is when will this field to be called, when will it shrink to a point where someone singular could emerge as the leading alternative to tramp? and as long as everyone is in the race, the view is in the republican party that they are all splitting that non—tramp vote if they are not tramp themselves. non-tramp vote if they are not tramp themselves.— non-tramp vote if they are not tramp themselves. how does this de arture tramp themselves. how does this departure then — tramp themselves. how does this departure then affect _ tramp themselves. how does this departure then affect the - tramp themselves. how does this departure then affect the rest - departure then affect the rest of the republican field, and because we have at next republican debate looming down in miami, don't we? ads, republican debate looming down in miami, don't we?— in miami, don't we? a realtest will be whether— in miami, don't we? a realtest will be whether people - in miami, don't we? a realtest will be whether people make i will be whether people make that debate in miami. the republican national committee has not yet announced who is going to make that stage and make it in terms of meeting the polling thresholds and the fund threshold is necessary to earn a spot on that stage. but even if you make the stage in miami on november eight, it is not a

guarantee of any kind of traction or political attention or money because trump has decided to sit out the debate entirely, and for many of these candidates, they have spent years, if not a lifetime, thinking about the presidency, so it is hard to back away, but ultimately money and not being on the debate stage could push some of them to think about doing what tense did today, suspend his campaign. == doing what tense did today, suspend his campaign. -- what mike pence _ suspend his campaign. -- what mike pence did _ suspend his campaign. -- what mike pence did today. - suspend his campaign. -- what mike pence did today. you - mike pence did today. you alluded to this earlier but looking at this with a bird's eye view, mike pence was one of those republican voices that more family at least spoke out against the events of january six. he condemned some of the actions of former president donald trump at that time. what is mike pence's lack of success say about the current state of the republican party? it is say about the current state of the republican party?- the republican party? it is an examle the republican party? it is an example of— the republican party? it is an example of how _ the republican party? it is an example of how the - the republican party? it is an i example of how the republican party has not yet had a reckoning about what happened on january

reckoning about what happened onjanuary six, reckoning about what happened on january six, 2021 forced many democrats see it as a seismic moment in american democratic history. republicans, however, are still mostly embracing tramp, even though he had a role in spearheading so much of the effort to overturn the 2020 election. pence's decision, and i've covered it extensively, to reject tramp's decision, and i've covered it extensively, to reject trumpism overtures, to block the occasion of president biden's election, it enraged tramp and many of its voters. pence has insisted he did the right thing and follow the rule of but i think he has paid a political price. i was with him in iowa when temp one double he announced his campaign. —— when he announced his campaign. as much as he is popular on social issues and economic issues, that searing experience of january six did alienate him by many tramp supporters who wanted him to repeat tramp's false claim that he won the

2022 -- false claim that he won the 2022 —— when he den philip says he is going to run against a sitting president, president biden, on the democratic side. how serious a challenge might this be? that serious a challenge might this be? �* . serious a challenge might this be? �* , ., , ., ., be? at this moment it is not a uuote be? at this moment it is not a quote serious _ be? at this moment it is not a quote serious challenge. - be? at this moment it is not a quote serious challenge. he i quote serious challenge. he follows enormous hurdles running against a sitting president, think about the logistical challenges he faces in the weeks and months ahead. that said, i did spend time with congressman phillips at a home he owns in virginia, he made the announcement on cbs news and then ijoined him on the campaign trail to cover his first day in new hampshire. he believes because president biden has decided not to be on the ballot in new hampshire, he could have a lane they are to build some support. now if phillips one new hampshire next year he would not win delegates because of the democrats party

rules, but dean could get a jolt of momentum should he do well in new hampshire next year but what is intriguing about congressmen phillips and to think about, he is actively encouraging other democrats to get in the race. so his campaign is notjust about electing dean phillips president, that he would like to see that happen, he would like to see some major democrats get in and force competition inside the democratic party do not make it as he described it repeatedly in his remarks "combination" of president biden for the democratic nomination. robert costa, democratic nomination. robert costa. thank — democratic nomination. robert costa, thank you _ democratic nomination. robert costa, thank you so _ democratic nomination. robert costa, thank you so much - democratic nomination. robert costa, thank you so much as i costa, thank you so much as always. two thank you. quite another story we are closely following, thousands of members of mexico's armed forces have joined recovery and clean—up efforts in acapulco where a category five storm hit.

the devastation is clear to see. acapulco has never recorded a category five hurricane, and this one has wreaked havoc along the coastline. the world meteorological organization has described the storm as one of the most rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones on record. only one other, patricia, in 2015, has exceeded it. the speed at which otis intensified took the government and weather forecasters by surprise. there was precious little time to issue warnings and prepare residents and tourists for its arrival. it's like a movie. it's like the apocalypse. it really is like the apocalypse. but i hope, i hope acapulco can recover as quickly as possible because it seems it seems like, it seems like 90% of the buildings have been damaged. there are reports supermarkets have been looted. the authorities say a security force of 17,000 personnel has been deployed across

the area to maintain order. furthermore, the mexican army and navy have established an air bridge, says the government, to accelerate the distribution of humanitarian aid. acapulco is home to 800,000 people. 200,000 homes have been damaged. many are destroyed. initial estimates suggest the cost may run to $15 billion. those repairs will have to wait. translation: we are asking for food and water. _ we have no electricity. the electricity poles are down. we need food. that's what we are basically asking for. many locals are also struggling to communicate with friends and family, with cell networks out of action. but the immediate concern is to eat and drink. with supply chains under pressure, thousands of litres of water and food supplies are being distributed. it's a monumental challenge. david waddell, bbc news political. stay with us for more, right here on bbc news.

hello, there. it's been a very wet night across parts of england and wales, with heavy, thundery rain spreading its way northwards, that rain becoming confined to the far north of england and scotland, throughout sunday. elsewhere, we'll see sunshine and showers and winds for many, it will be blustery, especially eastern scotland. so here it is, this troublesome area of low pressure, which has brought the showers and longer spells of rain, the weather front that brought the heavy, thundery rain across southern areas, lying across scotland. we'll see some heavy rain across the far north of england, south east scotland through sunday morning. some torrential downpours here could see some localised flooding, strong, gusty east north—easterly winds, with huge waves crashing up onto north sea coast. we could see some coastal inundation, as well. the rain clears away from northern ireland, scattered showers and bright spells here. england and wales, a blustery day to come, with sunny spells, scattered showers, most of these showers

across southern and western areas. those temperatures range from around ten to 14 or 15 degrees across the country, from north to south. sunday evening, and overnight, it stays wet again across large parts of scotland, particularly eastern scotland. with those strong and gusty winds continuing, you could see further flooding issues there. northern ireland, the far south of scotland, england and wales will see a clearer night, and lengthy clear spells, in fact, variable cloud, a few showers, particularly across southern and western coasts, and temperatures generally seven to ten celsius. so, monday, we start the new week off on an unsettled note. again, heavy, persistent rain for northern and eastern scotland, with strong, gusty winds. southern scotland, northern ireland, england, wales, actually a better day, i think, more sunshine around, but there will be further showers in southern and western areas, again, the odd heavy and thundery one, and temperatures ten to 15 degrees. now if we run the pressure chart on through the new week we see a brief spell of fine weather for tuesday, and then an area of low pressure brings wet, windy weather on wednesday,

and there's a potential of a very deep area of low pressure hurtling in on thursday, which could bring some disruption, a chance of some gales or severe gales, so stay tuned. tuesday, at this point, doesn't look too bad. there will be further showers around, especially across southern and western areas, maybe some more persistent rain for eastern scotland, but quite a bit of dry weather around, with some sunshine, slightly lighter winds, too, temperatures of ten to 15 degrees, but it turns more unsettled, wednesday. thursday, like i showed you, we could see a spell of some stormy weather, so stay tuned to the forecast. take care.

live from washington, this is bbc news. israel's the minister says the war in gaza will be hard and will take time but his priority is to defeat hamas. translation:— priority is to defeat hamas. translation: ., , translation: the war inside the gaza strip will _ translation: the war inside the gaza strip will be _ translation: the war inside the gaza strip will be difficult - gaza strip will be difficult and long but we are ready for it. this is our second war effort. ., .. ., it. this is our second war effort. ., ., , effort. communication blackout. the situation _ effort. communication blackout. the situation in _ effort. communication blackout. the situation in some _ effort. communication blackout. the situation in some areas - the situation in some areas considered to be catastrophic. a week ago, the hospital was out of service because it was being evacuated but today, the main area of the hospital was destroyed. main area of the hospital was destroyed-— destroyed. and if the death toll from — destroyed. and if the death toll from storm _ destroyed. and if the death toll from storm otis - destroyed. and if the death | toll from storm otis climbed destroyed. and if the death i toll from storm otis climbed to 39 as mexico cleans up and searches for those missing.