we neutralised and shot and tried in every possible way to let their people go. it seems as though the israeli military net around the heavily populated built up area of gaza city is beginning to tighten. the priority is to get aid into gaza. palestinians do not want to leave gaza. they want aid to come into gaza, and that should be the priority. gaza has become a graveyard for children. it is a living hell for everyone else. a huge explosion at the jabalia refugee camp in northern gaza is reported to have killed dozens of people. israel defence forces have confirmed they were behind the attack, claiming they have successfully taken out a key hamas commander

and a section of hamas�* underground tunnel network. we will keep you across developments. also tonight, we will speak to a former israeli general about the war aims as tanks and troops make their way deeper into gaza. we will hear from the charity save the children who say by their estimates there have been more children killed in this than 3000 children killed in this conflict, that in all the worlds conflicts of the past five years. and we will hear from senator mike lee, one of the growing number of republicans who want israel funding split good evening. at least 50 people are reported to have been killed — and many more injured — in a blast at the jabalia refugee camp in northern gaza. those figures have come from the hamas—run gaza health ministry. the french news agency afp say their reporter has been at the scene and the footage shows at least 47 bodies recovered from the rubble. those picture show people digging with their hands

in an enormous crater searching for survivors, and pulling bodies from the rubble. israel defence forces have confirmed they were behind the attack, claiming the strike killed a key hamas commander. israel says the strike is a part of its wider operation— with idf forces striking targets in all parts of gaza — with �*fierce battles�* being reported with hamas near gaza city. these pictures are from the israel defense forces — and they show the troops carrying out ground operations. the idf says, it has encountered anti—tank missiles and machine gun fire as they advance into gaza. we start our coverage tonight with this report from our international editorjeremy bowen. and a warning you may find it distressing. the attack onjabalia camp looks to be one of the biggest single palestinian losses of life so far in this war. jabalia is in the far north of gaza, where israel been pushing forward. israel ordered civilians

to leave this area. many did. many others did not. the un said some people even returned to their homes because conditions further south were so desperate. an unknown number of people are buried under the rubble. they were pulling out children. he says, "oh, god, my three children are gone, three kids. "i hope i can find one of them alive. i didn't bid them farewell." jabalia covers just over half a square mile. 116,000 refugees were registered here with the un before the war. he says, "it's a massacre, 30 to a0 homes blown to pieces. bodies everywhere, everyone is looking for their beloved ones."

dozens of bodies were taken to the nearest hospital. israel says it targets hamas and if civilians are killed it is because they are being used as human shields. hamas released these pictures of their men emerging from part of their extensive tunnel network. it is hard to work out with any precision what is happening in the ground war. both sides claiming to have killed their enemies. hamas will try to use hit and run guerilla tactics against the much more powerful army. israel released these pictures. it seems clear they are pressing forward. some reports say they are closer to gaza city without entering it yet. moving through relatively open villages is much less of a military lose challenge than advancing into the city. on their side of the gaza border, israel has plenty of force in reserve and it says

a long fight ahead. we don't have much detail about what the israelis are doing inside gaza. they are working very hard to control the information battlefield which is a big part of modern war. they are releasing some video and some generalised communiques about success, but they are minimising access. jabalia will fuel controversy about killing palestinian civilians. unintentional casualties, israel says, in a just war. america warned israel not to be blinded by rage and palestinians believe israel is inflicting another catastrophe on them. jeremy bowen, bbc news, southern israel. in the last couple of hours, a spokesman for the israeli army confirmed that this was an israeli strike. the target they said was a senior hamas commander. rear admiral daniel hagari said hamas continues to hide among the civilian population.

translation: you're talking about us facing an enemy. i this is the enemy. a murderous terrorist organisation that is an enemy. they are using their own citizens as human shields. we neutralised and shot and tried in every possible way to let them, let their people go, and to move to the south. 0ur diplomatic correspondent paul adams is injerusalem. he knows this place well, he is reported from there in the past. the british prime minister has spoken with benjamin netanyahu, again reiterating the uk's backing for israel, but emphasising the importance of taking all possible measures to minimise civilian casualties. it's these kind of

events, paul, mass casualty events, that will increase pressure on western leaders? it that will increase pressure on western leaders?— that will increase pressure on western leaders? it tests israel's ara ument western leaders? it tests israel's argument to _ western leaders? it tests israel's argument to the _ western leaders? it tests israel's argument to the limit, _ western leaders? it tests israel's argument to the limit, doesn't i western leaders? it tests israel's argument to the limit, doesn't a l argument to the limit, doesn't a christian? israel is put out a very long and detailed statement tonight, in which they said that they were targeting this hamas leader, and that they have killed a number of his men. they talked about the underground facilities, the commander control part of hamas' network that they were targeting. and they said in the course of their strikes, some buildings had collapsed. this begs the question, does the target merit the apparently very considerable civilian death toll? now the israelis will argue that they have been warning people for days and days and days to move south, to get out of harms way. but they know perfectly well that large numbers of people have decided not

to obey that instruction, have decided for one reason or another, they are going to stay—at—home and stick it out. maybe because they've heard, asjeremy mentioned in his report, that the conditions in the south were no better. so they decided to wait. i was in touch with a family injabalia and i was very much their view, they were going to stay there. i subsequently lost touch with them, i don't know what's happened to them at all. but tonight, judging by what we are saying, israel has killed a large number of civilians in pursuit of its war aims. and that is going to be a challenge that israel's friends around the world, including the united states and britain, will have to ponder. united states and britain, will have to onder. �* ., ., to ponder. before the war, there were, to ponder. before the war, there were. what. _ to ponder. before the war, there were, what, 110,000 _ to ponder. before the war, there were, what, 110,000 people - to ponder. before the war, there - were, what, 110,000 people crammed into a space, about a kilometre and a half in size, if you drop ordinance of this size in an area

like that, given what you just said that many people will not have left, you should expect this number of casualties, shouldn't you?- you should expect this number of casualties, shouldn't you? look, as this war goes _ casualties, shouldn't you? look, as this war goes on, _ casualties, shouldn't you? look, as this war goes on, and _ casualties, shouldn't you? look, as this war goes on, and particularly i this war goes on, and particularly as it starts to focus on heavily built up areas like jabalia and the ajc —— adjacent gaza city. israelis know they will encounter many gaza citizens who have not obeyed their instructions. what did they do, do they try to work around them, or do they regard them as an inevitable consequence of the pursuit of their aims? the sense of steely determination that israel, the israeli government, the israeli military has, to pay back, to punish hamas for what it did to israel and to the jewish hamas for what it did to israel and to thejewish people on the 7th of october, is incredibly powerful. it

is driving them to do things which even i think some of israel's friends will regard as potentially mistaken, and potentially against the law. and it can only become more acute the longer this goes on. paul. acute the longer this goes on. paul, we'll talk to — acute the longer this goes on. paul, we'll talk to you _ acute the longer this goes on. paul, we'll talk to you plenty _ acute the longer this goes on. paul, we'll talk to you plenty throughout the course of the programme, thank you very much indeed for that and we will get some is reaction from the israeli side to this enormous blast injabalia, around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. xl bully dogs will be formally banned in the uk by the new year. ministers announced the dog will be added to the list of banned breeds, under the dangerous dogs act. xl bully owners have untiljanuary to apply for an exemption to keep their pet; if it's granted they'll have to keep the dog muzzled and on a lead when it's in public. the english ice hockey association says from next year it will be

mandatory for players to wear neck guards. the announcement was made following the death of american ice hockey player adam johnson. his neck was cut by a skate blade during a game in sheffield on saturday. police are investigating. assisted dying on the isle of man could move a step closer — as draught legislation is debated in parliament. the plans would see residents with a terminal illness — and no more than six months to live — given the right to end their lives with help. you're live with bbc news. as israel steps up its offensive, it is continuing to target those underground tunnels and bunkers in gaza controlled by hamas. 0ur security correspondent gordon corera takes a closer look now at that underground network and why it's so important to israel to destroy it. massive air strikes targeting gaza's

tunnels, pictures released by israel as it stepped up ground operations at the end of last week, all part of an attempt to damage hamas's key defence. so what do we know about them? back in 2015, the bbc was shown these tunnels in the south of gaza run by a group allied to hamas. back then they were being used to hide mortars which could be fired into israel. in the years since, the tunnel network has grown enormously, as we can see from this footage, released by hamas. you can see here the size of the tunnels, with reinforced concrete to protect them. they have lighting and electricity and even what appears to be communications systems. images like this — issued by israeli forces but said to be from hamas footage — give a sense of the scale. for years, hamas used the tunnels to emerge out of gaza and to carry out attacks in israel. when israel built a fence around gaza, this even extended underground, with concrete barriers to block tunnels.

but on october 7th, hamas did notjust tunnel out — it also blew holes in the fences. and now israel faces a major challenge, because the tunnels are notjust a way to get out, but also a hiding place. so how big is this network? no one knows for sure. this map, from israeli sources, shows why they call it the gaza metro. the best guess is there may be 300 miles of tunnels right under the civilian population. israel even claims underneath a hospital. that means destroying tunnels almost certainly means civilian casualties. so what does this mean for any invasion? tunnels pose a real challenge for israeli forces. hamas can use them to retreat, hide weapons and stockpile supplies, plan operations and emerge behind attacking soldiers. those who have fought in tunnels say it is incredibly challenging. normal night vision goggles don't work, communication is almost impossible, you lose a sense of direction.

israeli forces have been training to fight underground. specialist robots and ground penetrating senses may help. sponge bombs can expand to close up tunnels. but fighting hamas on its home terrain, where it has been preparing for years and laying traps, would be deeply challenging and israel may try to avoid it. another issue is the more than 200 hostages who may be held underground. one who was released described walking for miles in what she called a damp, humid spider's web of tunnels. the presence of hostages makes some tactics — like blowing up or flooding tunnels — more problematic. if israel really is determined to dismantle hamas, it will have to destroy its hiding place, but that will not be easy and it may be costly for israeli forces and the people of gaza. we are joined now by retired major general giora ayland — former head of the israeli national security council. general, good to have you read this on the programme. can we start with

a word on that strike on the jabalia camp? the pentagon said tonight that israel is not deliberately targeting civilians, and that is the moral distinction in the israeli prime minister often makes, but you will of heard paul adams in that earlier segment saying that in their zeal to go after the hamas leadership, they may see this and this civilian casualties as an inevitable consequent of what they're doing. it's a very fine balance that benjamin netanyahu has to walk. i totally agree. your reporter described in a very accurate way the complexity of the tunnels that, actually the main infrastructure of hamas. it's about 50 metres below the ground, its well protected, and they have all their ammunition, command control systems, other abilities to manoeuvre them and to move, and to hide, and we have to reach these places and unfortunately

all these places are where civilians live or used to live. so it is a challenge that is by far much higher, much more complex then what the americans or the british troops faced in iraq, afghanistan, or elsewhere. it is maybe the most complex and difficult challenge for enemy military. this is one israeli problem. the second thing is, we have the mission that we can't give up. everyone understands if we lose this war, if we agree to a cease—fire today, it means that we actually lost the war and to lose this war it means that we will never be able to convince the israeli people who live or used to live around gaza to return to their home, after hundreds of their families were murdered by hamas. now it also is a look at many other possible implications, even if we now focus

on gaza, we are daily attacked by hezbollah, we are daily attacked by militias from syria, we are attacked from yemen, so everyone is looking at israel and we've we lose this war in gaza, it is important to notice that point because when we use the word proportionality it means only one thing. you have to compare between the importance of the mission and the collateral damage that you can afford. and the higher is the him importance of the mission, the more collateral damage is acceptable. we have to fight against those hamas people and unfortunately still there are about 100, 200,000 people unfortunately still there are about 100,200,000 people in gaza that we tried to persuade for the past three orfour tried to persuade for the past three or four weeks, tried to persuade for the past three orfourweeks, every tried to persuade for the past three or four weeks, every day every day.

leave this area, and those who decided to stay there, we are not looking to target them but they might be the victims of the evil of hamas that prevents them from moving themselves. i hamas that prevents them from moving themselves. ., ., , ., themselves. i want to explore something — themselves. i want to explore something academically - themselves. i want to explore something academically with l themselves. i want to explore - something academically with you, i don't need to remind you that back in 1982, israel invaded lebanon to destroy the headquarters and infrastructure of the plo. they invaded beirut, and the prime minister promised there would be 110 years of peace. there was no real plan for the next stage. then there was the massacre of the palestinians by the militia, and out of that came hezbollah come out of that came the iranian proxy of hezbollah supported by syria. does the events today make

that circumstance and the vacuum the israelis leave behind in gaza, do they risk the repeat of the history that we've already seen north of the border? i that we've already seen north of the border? ., , ., border? i hope that we will remember from the lessons _ border? i hope that we will remember from the lessons of that _ border? i hope that we will remember from the lessons of that war and - from the lessons of that war and remember that very well. i was lieutenant commander at the time in beirut so i know exactly what you're talking about. i think we understand it very well and the intent is not to stay in gaza, it's very clear that we said after we accomplish our mission on the israeli troops will be brought from gaza and more than that. i am saying semi—officially, that. i am saying semi—officially, that the israeli government is happy today to begin discussion with any possible perspective party of the world to speak about the future of gaza after this war, but it doesn't mean that we can stop in the middle, unless again, hamas leadership will decided to surrender, something that i cannot for see by the way, if we

compare 241 years ago. if the leadership of hamas will agree to be evacuated to some third party this is good enough for us. we are look not looking for revenge, we are looking at the need to create new circumstances... looking at the need to create new circumstances. . ._ looking at the need to create new circumstances... that does depend on hearts and minds, _ circumstances... that does depend on hearts and minds, doesn't _ circumstances... that does depend on hearts and minds, doesn't it _ hearts and minds, doesn't it general? you need the support of the massive population of palestinians who are not involved in this fight directly, you need them on side, and you can't obliterate where they live and then expect them to come up with part of the solution for the israeli government. i’m part of the solution for the israeli government-— part of the solution for the israeli government. �* ., , . government. i'm not expecting them to c00perate — government. i'm not expecting them to cooperate with _ government. i'm not expecting them to cooperate with us. _ government. i'm not expecting them to cooperate with us. that's - government. i'm not expecting them to cooperate with us. that's what - to cooperate with us. that's what i'm speaking about, possible third party. by the way, again, you british, you tend to compare prices to hamas. that's true in regard to the level of atrocities, but it is very different situation. isis came

from, they took over a huge area of other places so there were foreigners who forced himself on the existing population. hamas is different, hamas emerged from the population. it is staunchly supported by the people of gaza. they were even elected by the people of gaza, so it will be very hard to remove them. more than that, the administered income of the civilian administration of gaza is actually civilian administration of hamas, it is very similar to nazi germany with the military on one hand and the administration of the nazi party on the other. this is exactly the situation in gaza. nevertheless we are not looking to take revenge on all of them, we are looking only for the security situation and as far as we are concerned today, hamas is the worst possible solution, so probably any other solution would be better. we'd love to talk more about it general, but we are out of time,

thank you very much for coming on the programme. the white house has given its resolute support to israel, but it is struggling at this point to secure extra funding for the war effort. and notjust israel — ukraine support is also in the balance. we have heard testimony in the us senate from secretary of state antony blinken and defence secretary loyd austin in support of the funding request joe biden has sent to congress. the administration has asked for $10.6 billion for israel — a further $44 billion for ukraine. funding that some hardline republicans are refusing to give. but it wasn't only the robust questioning of the senate committee members — they had to contend with. at one point the session was disrupted by pro—palestinian protesters calling for an immediate ceasefire. which secretary blinken reacted to take a listen while there is stalemate on the funding — in the past hour there has been a breakthrough in the senate. which has voted to confirm jack lew as ambassador to israel. he is a former treasury secretary and former white house chief of staff. the post has been vacant sincejuly. jon b alterman is a senior vice president, holds the zbigniew brzezinski chair

in global security and geostrategy, and is director of the middle east programme at csis. thank you very much for coming on the programme. just your reaction to the programme. just your reaction to the naming of the new israeli ambassador. before this war, the united states didn't have an ambassador in egypt, kuwait, 0man, the uae, jordan, and israel, it now does at least have an ambassador in israel. �* ., ., ., ., ., israel. and we are moving forward on a lot of them. — israel. and we are moving forward on a lot ofthem. i _ israel. and we are moving forward on a lot of them, i totally _ israel. and we are moving forward on a lot of them, i totally agree - israel. and we are moving forward on a lot of them, i totally agree with - a lot of them, i totally agree with you, a lot of my friends are the people who are waiting to move in. a lot of countries in the middle east interpret this as being a white house decision. it's actually about the dysfunction of the us senate, but i agree, it has profound impacts on us policy in the region. our current georgia injerusalem is excellent, but it doesn't have the same gravity and connection to the president that secretary and

ambassador lew will now have. particularly in the republican party about how the funding is put together, whether it's split, with a vote on first, and indeed how the israeli money is paid for. where do you think that leaves funding for israel? ., , , �*, ., you think that leaves funding for israel? ., _ �*, ., , you think that leaves funding for israel? ., , , �*, ., israel? honestly, it's not 'ust a row in the i israel? honestly, it's not 'ust a row in the republican h israel? honestly, it's notjust a row in the republican party, - israel? honestly, it's notjust aj row in the republican party, it's israel? honestly, it's notjust a l row in the republican party, it's a row in the republican party, it's a row in the house of representatives, and the republican party and the house of representatives differing from the senate. i don't know how this comes out but the house of representatives has been baffling to i think a lot of people, including republicans. there is a battle between people who want to follow donald trump, people who think there was a traditional republican way forward. how this all sorts out as a total mystery to everybody involved. i think including the new speaker of the house. my guess is that the money to israel will go, what happens to your current funding exactly when i think is anybody�*s guess. exactly when i think is anybody's cuess. , , exactly when i think is anybody's cuess. , .

exactly when i think is anybody's uuess.�* , ., ." ., exactly when i think is anybody's cuess. , ., ., �* ., exactly when i think is anybody's cuess. , . ., �* ., ,~,:: guess. just a quick one, i've got 30 seconds left- _ guess. just a quick one, i've got 30 seconds left. but _ guess. just a quick one, i've got 30 seconds left. but ukraine _ guess. just a quick one, i've got 30 seconds left. but ukraine funding, | seconds left. but ukraine funding, just pick that up for me. if it is split from israel does it get harder to get across the line? i5 split from israel does it get harder to get across the line?— split from israel does it get harder to get across the line? is harder to net across to get across the line? is harder to get across the _ to get across the line? is harder to get across the line _ to get across the line? is harder to get across the line because - to get across the line? is harder to get across the line because there l get across the line because there are some republicans who absolutely subject to any money going to ukraine, and those republicans seem to have a stranglehold on what the speaker will do, the speaker is very sceptical of funding for you were ukraine and whether other republicans can move him forward, certainly democrats want to do the funding but the republicans say we won't do anything that requires democratic votes, and that sort of leaves you with a much more reduced freedom of action in the house. i’m freedom of action in the house. i'm sor to freedom of action in the house. i'm sorry to squeeze you this evening, it's very good if you to come on the programme. we will get some reaction to that on the other side of the break, we'll hearfrom senator mike lee as one of those who is opposed to ukraine funding, stay with us.

hello there. the rain in northern ireland has eased, but in 24 hours in counting down there was three inches of rain which led to the flooding. there may not be too much rain in northern ireland from storm ciaran as it arrives into thursday. but wet weather elsewhere. saturated ground brings the threat of flooding and the damaging winds are more likely in the far south where we've got an amber wind warning from the met office. more on that in a moment. still some uncertainty, though, because the storm hasn't developed yet. it's going to grow out of this area of cloud streaming in from the other side of the atlantic. ahead of that this area of cloud is arriving in the southwest this evening, bringing some wet weather for trick or treaters. the rain easing in northern ireland and northern england, but still on the cloudy side. and through this evening and overnight, we'll see that rain in the southwest moving back northwards again across the uk. heavy rain for a while perhaps, and then some squally perhaps. thundery downpours sweeping into wales and the southwest driving eastwards early on wednesday morning. chilly start to wednesday across northern scotland. as the rain moves in here we could see briefly some snow over the scottish mountains. away from that rain now,

it's going to be a day of sunshine and showers on wednesday. the winds will be a bit stronger. some of the showers could be heavy and temperatures may be a bit higher than today in northern ireland, northern england and also southern scotland. but overnight and particularly into thursday, this is when we get the impacts from storm ciaran. there's the centre of the low, the storm tracking eastwards across england and wales. strongest winds are on the southern flank of the storm. so this is where at the moment we've got the amber wind warnings from the met office with stronger winds through the english channel, very large waves, dangerous winds, disruption both to travel but potentially to power as well. other parts of the uk will be windy, notably where we've got this swirl of rain around the storm. in the centre of the storm it's not quite so windy, where we'll see some showers, and it may not be so wet across northwest scotland, together with northern ireland, temperatures ten to 12 degrees. the winds start to ease down later in the day in the southwest as the storm drifts away and weakens heading up into the north sea in time for friday.

so things are not looking quite so bad on friday. it's not going to be as windy, it's not going to be as wet. there'll be some sunshine and some showers, maybe some wetter, windier weather returning to eastern parts of scotland and later into the north—east of england.

hello. i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news.

president biden is trying to push a $105 billion aid spending package through congress, which would give more assistance to ukraine and israel. we speak to a republican senator about why he's against it. sport, and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's marc edwards. thanks. starting with football. saudi arabia is set to host the men's 2034 world cup, after australia opted against mounting a rival bid. the decision was confirmed only hours before fifa's deadline for declarations of interest on tuesday. saudi arabia was the only other country to put their name forward to host the tournament, so they are effectively the sole bidder — something that might shock many, but was expected, as dan roan reports. it's no real surprise, not when you look at the billions

of pounds that saudi arabia has been investing in sport