through. this is the scene live at rafah. one agency says that the first foreigners have crossed into egypt. we are waiting to hear if that is the case. our correspondent in gaza confirms all local mobile and internet services have gone down again. it comes as israel's military says its jets carried out an attack near a refugee camp in northern gaza. i'm catherine byaruhanga in london. ukrainian children forced to leave their homes near the front line begin to arrive in safer parts of the country. wednesday is the final day for over a million afghans living in pakistan to leave the country or risk deportation.

hello. this is bbc news. i'm anna foster live in southern israel. there are suggestions that the first foreign passport holders will be able to leave gaza through the rafah crossing, along with some badly injured people. let me show you these pictures you can see on your screen now. we know that the call went out just a few screen now. we know that the call went outjust a few hours ago that people were likely to be able to leave, and we are seeing, you can see the cameras in those pictures, the crowds of people in that internal area at the crossing point. potentially 500 or so foreign passport holders will be able to passport holders will be able to pass through. the afp news agency says that that has already happened. if you just look at these pictures and imagine this crossing point which has several stages, and what it is hard to tell right now is our people moving internally on the gaza

side and whether or not they have actually crossed through to egypt. it will only be when we see people stepping foot onto egyptian soil that we know that those first crossings have finally happened. so far of course we've only seen a very small number of hostages leave gaza since the war began on october the 7th. but we believe now that foreign passport holders on a preapproved list which has been published for several days now may be able to cross out along with people who have been badly injured. we are also hearing from our correspondent in gaza that once again communications and internet services inside gaza have been cut. this will be the second time in a week it has happened, and it causes huge problems for the civilian population in gaza who cannot contact from friends and family and loved ones to say they are safe, and it also creates problems for humanitarian organisations working within gaza as

well, it means they can't contact their staff or do simple things on their staff or do simple things on the ground like author ambulances or medical aid after strikes. i have also got some pictures to show you as well. take a look at the israel defence force pictures which have been sent through as well. these are the latest pictures from the israel defence forces of their military operation in the north of the gaza strip. you can see there this is a strike from yesterday afternoon and evening in the jabalia area. you can see this is one of the things that israel has been working on, and in fact you can hear in the background, when you hear those explosions in the background where i am in southern israel, that is the ongoing israeli military operation. but you can see that on your screen the pictures of israeli tanks and troops doing their work very much in the north of gaza. there were two large

strikes yesterday that israeli forces said had killed a senior hamas commander, but also civilian casualties as well. let's go live first of all to cairo in egypt. aid organisations are poised to try to bring more humanitarian aid into gaza. we can talk to one of them, global empowerment mission. they've been active in delivering aid in ukraine, during the morocco earthquake and hawaii fires. theirfounder michael capponi joins me now. michael, i know you are waiting at the moment with aid. tell me a bit more about what you have got there and what you have ready to take into gaza when you get the chance. thank ou for gaza when you get the chance. thank you for having — gaza when you get the chance. thank you for having me. _ gaza when you get the chance. thank you for having me. so _ gaza when you get the chance. thank you for having me. so we _ gaza when you get the chance. thank you for having me. so we got - gaza when you get the chance. t�*ia'ia; you for having me. so we got here about three weeks ago and began setting up infrastructure while we are waiting simultaneously on getting trucks through the rafah gate. so we have set up a warehouse like we do all over the world, and we have been purchasing a lot of local aid, food and water, and we

have now five trucks that are basically ready, and we are waiting for a clearance. right now the people are coming out from the gaza side, and we are waiting to be able to go in. we are confident now based on all our meetings with the un, with the three governments, with everybody, that by early next week, or earlier, there will be a very big inflow of aid that will be able to get inside, and we have a really good local partners inside gaza that have been working there for more than a decade, that are very trusted. and basically our role here is to collect supplies from the whole world like we do and amass it, sort it, prepare it and ship it through the rafah gate and into our partners�* hands, and there they distribute at the shelters. they are housing a lot of children, a lot of women right now, and to give support. the other missing link that

is important is that because of no gas inside gaza right now, even our partners, like you said, they cannot communicate amongst each other because of the communications, they also have no gas to be able to even bring this to other areas other than close to the rafah gate, so that will be needed soon too. we have been talking _ will be needed soon too. we have been talking so _ will be needed soon too. we have been talking so much _ will be needed soon too. we have been talking so much about - will be needed soon too. we have been talking so much about the l been talking so much about the complexity of the political situation here, because in other areas around the world you would be able to move all of that aid in very quickly. what have you been told about how long it might take to transport all of that across into gaza? ~ ., �* ~ ., , gaza? well, time we don't know, but what we have — gaza? well, time we don't know, but what we have been _ gaza? well, time we don't know, but what we have been given _ gaza? well, time we don't know, but what we have been given now, - gaza? well, time we don't know, but what we have been given now, how l gaza? well, time we don't know, but i what we have been given now, how big the powers that be, what should be prioritised, and after the supplies go through the rafah gate, they go

to another area to be checked to make sure that it is not weapons, just basics necessity is that i needed. it is a logistic process. there are 700 trucks in line at the border right now from all different countries like the middle east, and that needs to be cleared first before it goes in, so those are the procedures. before it goes in, so those are the procedures-_ before it goes in, so those are the procedures. michael, thank you for “oininu us, procedures. michael, thank you for joining us. really — procedures. michael, thank you for joining us, really appreciate - procedures. michael, thank you for joining us, really appreciate your. joining us, really appreciate your time today here on bbc news. just one of the organisations there that has got, a lot of that aid is waiting to go, it is ready in egypt, you just needs permission to come through the rafah crossing, and we will keep showing you those pictures of the rafah crossing currently, because we know that hundreds of foreign passport holders are now waiting to come through. we are keeping you right up to date with that. our bbc team on the ground right now says that people are waiting to cross, but it doesn�*t appear yet that anybody has actually fully made it through to the

egyptian side, so we are continuing to follow that strand of the story for you here on bbc news. also the ongoing israeli military operation as well, and of course every day the israel defence forces update us on the latest on that. let�*s hear from their spokesperson, the latest on that. let�*s hear from theirspokesperson, daniel the latest on that. let�*s hear from their spokesperson, daniel hagari. translation: continuing to go and ush translation: continuing to go and push deeper— translation: continuing to go and push deeper into — translation: continuing to go and push deeper into the _ translation: continuing to go and push deeper into the gaza _ translation: continuing to go and push deeper into the gaza strip, - translation: continuing to go and j push deeper into the gaza strip, but on the _ push deeper into the gaza strip, but on the ground in the north of the gaza _ on the ground in the north of the gaza strip, — on the ground in the north of the gaza strip, overnight there were fierce _ gaza strip, overnight there were fierce gunfights, bitter fighting. one was— fierce gunfights, bitter fighting. one was on a structured building in jahalia. _ one was on a structured building in jahalia. and — one was on a structured building in jabalia, and the terrorists shot and fought— jabalia, and the terrorists shot and fought against our troops, and they are using _ fought against our troops, and they are using these civilian places as a kind of— are using these civilian places as a kind of area — are using these civilian places as a kind of area that they can shelter in and _ kind of area that they can shelter in and barricade themselves in that

was a _ in and barricade themselves in that was a medical centre. there were government offices there. and so our air force _ government offices there. and so our air force eliminated and killed those — air force eliminated and killed those terrorists. yesterday we killed — those terrorists. yesterday we killed ibrahim bihari, the leader of the group — killed ibrahim bihari, the leader of the group there. they were the most significant _ the group there. they were the most significant group fighting in the northern— significant group fighting in the northern part of the gaza strip, and we killed _ northern part of the gaza strip, and we killed him. and this death was while _ we killed him. and this death was while he — we killed him. and this death was while he was in the actual refugee camp— while he was in the actual refugee camp in_ while he was in the actual refugee camp injabalia, and there is a headquarters there and an underground infrastructure headquarters which is in the civilian— headquarters which is in the civilian refugee camp, and that brought— civilian refugee camp, and that brought about, when he was shooting

from it. _ brought about, when he was shooting from it. it _ brought about, when he was shooting from it, it destroyed a lot of the infrastructure there, and it once again— infrastructure there, and it once again talks _ infrastructure there, and it once again talks of innocent bystanders being _ again talks of innocent bystanders being used as human shields, and the terrorists_ being used as human shields, and the terrorists are trying to create a picture — terrorists are trying to create a picture of _ terrorists are trying to create a picture of a destroyed gaza and blame — picture of a destroyed gaza and blame israel and the idf. they won't be able _ blame israel and the idf. they won't be able to— blame israel and the idf. they won't be able to hide who the real people to blame _ be able to hide who the real people to blame are. they themselves have brought— to blame are. they themselves have brought about this destruction of gaza _ brought about this destruction of gaza 0ur— brought about this destruction of gaza. ourtroops brought about this destruction of gaza. our troops are fighting in the depths— gaza. our troops are fighting in the depths of— gaza. our troops are fighting in the depths of gaza, hand—to—hand battles relentlessly, and they will succeed. today— relentlessly, and they will succeed. today we _ relentlessly, and they will succeed. today we notified the families of more _ today we notified the families of more soldiers who fell in these battles, — more soldiers who fell in these battles, and we have notified the families— battles, and we have notified the families about that and we will continue — families about that and we will continue accompanying them throughout this period. in the

north, — throughout this period. in the north, we _ throughout this period. in the north, we are trying to give the best— north, we are trying to give the best possible strong defence against any kind _ best possible strong defence against any kind of attempt, the best kind of defence, and this is what we have been _ of defence, and this is what we have been doing _ of defence, and this is what we have been doing throughout the time. any terrorist _ been doing throughout the time. any terrorist cell who tries to penetrate and infiltrate into our area _ penetrate and infiltrate into our area and — penetrate and infiltrate into our area and territory, we immediately eliminate _ area and territory, we immediately eliminate these cells with the help of the _ eliminate these cells with the help of the air— eliminate these cells with the help of the air force, who are deployed and ready. — of the air force, who are deployed and ready, and the intel who is looking — and ready, and the intel who is looking at— and ready, and the intel who is looking at every possible threat and scenario _ looking at every possible threat and scenario that might possibly take place _ scenario that might possibly take place in — scenario that might possibly take place. in the red sea arena, it was identified — place. in the red sea arena, it was identified that there was a launch very distant, and there was actually no threat _ very distant, and there was actually no threat posed to us, and no infiltration, but we will immediately return for that kind of thing _ immediately return for that kind of thing we — immediately return for that kind of thing. we have deployed additional missile _ thing. we have deployed additional missile boats and other ships and will be _ missile boats and other ships and will be able to respond in

accordance, and don't forget that our air— accordance, and don't forget that our air force accordance, and don't forget that ourairforce is accordance, and don't forget that our air force is built in a multitiered manner, so as we are deployed — multitiered manner, so as we are deployed everywhere else in defence, but we _ deployed everywhere else in defence, but we also know how to be on the offensive. — but we also know how to be on the offensive, and we will do so when the state — offensive, and we will do so when the state of israel is threatened. on the _ the state of israel is threatened. on the home front, the fact that all the civilians — on the home front, the fact that all the civilians are adhering to the instructions, and we are calling upon _ instructions, and we are calling upon you. _ instructions, and we are calling upon you, urging you, to really adhere — upon you, urging you, to really adhere to— upon you, urging you, to really adhere to all these instructions, and we — adhere to all these instructions, and we are _ adhere to all these instructions, and we are trying to enable the ministry— and we are trying to enable the ministry of education to open up schools— ministry of education to open up schools and kindergartens gradually so that _ schools and kindergartens gradually so that routine will rain during this time _ so that routine will rain during this time of war, but we will not compromise on the security of our civilians _ compromise on the security of our civilians up — compromise on the security of our civilians. up to now, we have notified — civilians. up to now, we have notified 240 families of hostages, and we _ notified 240 families of hostages, and we are of course committed to this top— and we are of course committed to

this top priority objective to bring those _ this top priority objective to bring those hostages home, we have also notified _ those hostages home, we have also notified 326 of our soldiers who have _ notified 326 of our soldiers who have fallen. those who fell have contributed significantly to the defence of the state of israel, and thanks— defence of the state of israel, and thanks to — defence of the state of israel, and thanks to them we will win. it will be a victory, — thanks to them we will win. it will be a victory, but our hearts are with _ be a victory, but our hearts are with the — be a victory, but our hearts are with the injured and those who have fallen, _ with the injured and those who have fallen, and — with the injured and those who have fallen, and we wish a speedy recovery— fallen, and we wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured. but please, — recovery to those who were injured. but please, as i said yesterday, i am urging — but please, as i said yesterday, i am urging all our citizens to stop spreading — am urging all our citizens to stop spreading any rumours about hostages or any— spreading any rumours about hostages or any other— spreading any rumours about hostages or any other subject, because this is for— or any other subject, because this is for the — or any other subject, because this is for the sake of the security of our troops — is for the sake of the security of our troops that are in the depths of gaza, _ our troops that are in the depths of gaza, and — our troops that are in the depths of gaza, and we commit to informing you about— gaza, and we commit to informing you about everything in the moment something has been verified and credible — something has been verified and credible information, we will pass

it on to _ credible information, we will pass it on to you — credible information, we will pass it on to you. it is our responsibility, so please just listen — responsibility, so please just listen to— responsibility, so please just listen to what we tell you, and we have _ listen to what we tell you, and we have expanded all our platforms. questions. 12 names of soldiers who were killed during _ 12 names of soldiers who were killed during the _ 12 names of soldiers who were killed during the fighting. can you tell me a little _ during the fighting. can you tell me a little bit _ during the fighting. can you tell me a little bit more about that? that is daniel hagari who speaks for the israel defence forces, and you can see live pictures of the scene behind me here in southern israel. another very large strike, and you can see that column of black smoke again into the air as daniel hagari was saying there, but the idf operation continues apace inside gaza. we will keep you up—to—date with the story of course. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

thank you, anna. let�*s look at some other stories making news in the uk. tens of thousands of children in the west of scotland will be off school today because of a strike by support staff. the walk—out by members of unison is part of a long—running dispute about pay. the strike affects schools in a number of areas including glasgow. the county councils network says one in ten county councils in england are facing effective bankruptcy, putting vital services at risk. the group, which represents some of england�*s largest local authorities, has called for emergency funding to help with rising costs. there�*s been focus on local authorities�* finances since birmingham city council said it was, in effect, bankrupt in september. the abbreviation of artificial intelligence, ai, has been named by dictionary writers at collins as word of the year for 2023.

i�*m anna foster live in southern israel. you are watching bbc news, and we are following those developments that the rafah crossing may be about to open to allow crossing from gaza into egypt. our correspondent rushdi abualouf sent this report. foreign passport holders and the injured are arriving at the rafah crossing. it is still not clear, but we understand that serious cases from the icy you are brought by ambulance here, and the process seems to be working so far. everything seems to be working to allow passage from gaza into egypt,

but we are still waiting for confirmation that people are coming out on the egyptian side, so we will keep you up—to—date with that on bbc news. let�*s continue to watch those pictures of the crossing as well. i�*m joined now by dr mustafa barghouti, president of the palestine national initiative. thank you forjoining us here on bbc news. i wonder if you could just reflect first of all on what we are seeing at rafah this morning. we are talking about several hundred people with foreign passports, may be 80 or so injured people, but of course the vast majority of people living in gaza, this is not an opportunity for them to leave, is it? it is gaza, this is not an opportunity for them to leave, is it?— them to leave, is it? it is not, and we are talking _ them to leave, is it? it is not, and we are talking about _ them to leave, is it? it is not, and we are talking about 2.3 _ them to leave, is it? it is not, and we are talking about 2.3 million i we are talking about 2.3 million people who are now subjected to total collective punishment by the israeli side who were subjected to acts of ethnic cleansing, force many of them to leave their homes, and practically they are subject to bombardment, which leads to genocide. i have two revoke what the

israeli spokesperson just said about jabalia. it is a refugee camp with about 100,000 people living there, and israel yesterday did not bombard it once, they bombarded it with six huge rockets, each of which is 1000 kg, and they destroyed a whole neighbourhood, claiming they were after one hamas leader. they actually destroyed a whole neighbourhood, killing and injuring more than 400 people, including no less than 200 children. the massacre is a total disproportionate use of force, and so far the total amount of explosives that have been thrown on this population of gaza is more than 24,000 kg of tnt. that is more than 24,000 kg of tnt. that is more than the power of the nuclear bomb that was thrown on hiroshima during the second world war. it is unacceptable, and we are losing people around the clock. more than

2000 people it is estimated have been killed. sorry, more than 2000 children have been killed at of almost 10,000 people killed... mange almost 10,000 people killed... many --eole, as almost 10,000 people killed... many people. as you _ almost 10,000 people killed... many people. as you say. _ almost 10,000 people killed... many people, as you say, many, _ almost 10,000 people killed... many people, as you say, many, many civilians have been killed in gaza so far, and the us we sawjust a couple of days ago has reiterated to israel that it needs to work within humanitarian law, but what i think we need to address as well, the israeli point on this, which is that hamas are very cynically putting their senior commanders, putting their senior commanders, putting their operatives and putting their people in civilian areas, and by doing that, hamas is using palestinian civilians as human shields. they could work away from the civilian areas. what would you say to that? i the civilian areas. what would you say to that?— say to that? i say this is a big lie to 'usti say to that? i say this is a big lie to justify killing _ say to that? i say this is a big lie to justify killing civilians. - say to that? i say this is a big lie to justify killing civilians. and . tojustify killing civilians. and remember, they took civilians as hostages. we don�*tjust go and kill

all the hostages. and that is not true. this is what they say as justification of the bombardment thatis justification of the bombardment that is happening in gaza. timer;r justification of the bombardment that is happening in gaza. they did, thou~h, that is happening in gaza. they did, though. they _ that is happening in gaza. they did, though. they did — that is happening in gaza. they did, though, they did kill _ that is happening in gaza. they did, though, they did kill a _ that is happening in gaza. they did, though, they did kill a senior- that is happening in gaza. they did, | though, they did kill a senior hamas operative, though, who was in a civilian area.— operative, though, who was in a civilian area. hamas denied that. i don't know — civilian area. hamas denied that. i don't know exactly _ civilian area. hamas denied that. i don't know exactly what _ civilian area. hamas denied that. i don't know exactly what is - civilian area. hamas denied that. i don't know exactly what is the - don�*t know exactly what is the truth. but even if they killed a hamas leader, that doesn�*tjustify the killing of 400 people including 200 children. is that a standard that should be followed? the point i'mt in: that should be followed? the point i'm trying to _ that should be followed? the point i'm trying to make, _ that should be followed? the point i'm trying to make, though, - that should be followed? the point i'm trying to make, though, is - that should be followed? the point i'm trying to make, though, is thatj i�*m trying to make, though, is that hamas are putting their infrastructure and their people inside. you can, but this point is important to say.— inside. you can, but this point is important to say. that is an israeli live. important to say. that is an israeli live- hamas _ important to say. that is an israeli live. hamas are _ important to say. that is an israeli live. hamas are putting _ important to say. that is an israeli live. hamas are putting their - live. hamas are putting their infrastructure _ live. hamas are putting their infrastructure and _ live. hamas are putting their infrastructure and their - live. hamas are putting their - infrastructure and their operatives inside civilian areas. it is infrastructure and their operatives inside civilian areas.— inside civilian areas. it is not true, inside civilian areas. it is not true. and — inside civilian areas. it is not true. and i — inside civilian areas. it is not true, and i don't _ inside civilian areas. it is not true, and i don't agree - inside civilian areas. it is not true, and i don't agree with l inside civilian areas. it is not - true, and i don't agree with that, true, and i don�*t agree with that, and you have to remember that gaza is a very small area which is only

140 square miles, 25 of which is prohibited for palestinians because israel already declared it as a security zone, and there are 2.4 million people there. the big question that is why this should continue, why children should continue, why children should continue to die. you think that one day on child, who was killed in the bombardment, and his death certificate was issued before his birth certificate. the palestinian children, look at the scenes. palestinian children are killed everywhere. you use six rockets, each of which is 1000 kg, to bombard a whole neighbourhood, the jabalia camp full of refugees, to justify killing one person of hamas? that is unacceptable. killing one person of hamas? that is unacceptable-— unacceptable. thank you for 'oining us. i don't want i unacceptable. thank you for 'oining us. i don't want to h unacceptable. thank you for 'oining us. i don't want to cut * unacceptable. thank you for 'oining us. i don't want to cut you b unacceptable. thank you forjoining us. i don't want to cut you off- unacceptable. thank you forjoining us. i don't want to cut you off in - us. i don�*t want to cut you off in your prime, doctor mustafa barghouti. thank you forjoining us,

and i think we have made that point, and i think we have made that point, and you have made your point very strongly. ijust want and you have made your point very strongly. i just want to before the programme ends, just move on. we are nowjoined by shashankjoshi, who�*s the defence editor at the economist. thank you forjoining us here on bbc news, and let�*s pick up on the point that mustafa barghouti made. is it correct that hamas have command and control centres within civilian areas in gaza?— control centres within civilian areas in gaza? , , ., areas in gaza? yes, it is. you can take a variety _ areas in gaza? yes, it is. you can take a variety of— areas in gaza? yes, it is. you can take a variety of views _ areas in gaza? yes, it is. you can take a variety of views on - areas in gaza? yes, it is. you can take a variety of views on the - take a variety of views on the proportionality of any given israeli strike. _ proportionality of any given israeli strike. and — proportionality of any given israeli strike, and that is a complex legal and ethical— strike, and that is a complex legal and ethicaljudgment, but what isn't in dispute _ and ethicaljudgment, but what isn't in dispute according to journalists, researchers, academics, is that hamas— researchers, academics, is that hamas does use the civilian infrastructure of gaza for its military— infrastructure of gaza for its military operations to a very considerable degree, and indeed many insurgent— considerable degree, and indeed many insurgent groups, many militant groups— insurgent groups, many militant groups like isis have done that in

the past, — groups like isis have done that in the past, but hamas has had about 16 years— the past, but hamas has had about 16 years running gaza, and so it has been _ years running gaza, and so it has been able — years running gaza, and so it has been able to embed itself in that civilian— been able to embed itself in that civilian infrastructure to a very unusual— civilian infrastructure to a very unusual degree.— civilian infrastructure to a very unusual degree. and 'ust tell me a little more — unusual degree. and 'ust tell me a little more about — unusual degree. and 'ust tell me a little more about the — unusual degree. and just tell me a little more about the israeli - little more about the israeli military operation as it is going on now. we know that they are deep inside gaza and they are working in areas like jabalia. hamas has said at the last few moments that some of the hostages were killed in those underground areas that seem to have collapsed as a result of the strike. it makes the military operation they�*re extremely difficult, doesn�*t it? it they're extremely difficult, doesn't it? ., , ., , , , they're extremely difficult, doesn't it? ,, it? it does, and this is why israel has chosen _ it? it does, and this is why israel has chosen to _ it? it does, and this is why israel has chosen to focus _ it? it does, and this is why israel has chosen to focus on _ it? it does, and this is why israel has chosen to focus on the - it? it does, and this is why israel. has chosen to focus on the northern half of— has chosen to focus on the northern half of the _ has chosen to focus on the northern half of the gaza strip, because they know _ half of the gaza strip, because they know that _ half of the gaza strip, because they know that an operation that spanned the entire _ know that an operation that spanned the entire strip which is around 50 kilometres— the entire strip which is around 50 kilometres in length would be extremely taxing from a military perspective. they know that this is not going — perspective. they know that this is not going to be a quick two—week operation — not going to be a quick two—week operation on the ground as the last major— operation on the ground as the last major campaigns in gaza have been. this is— major campaigns in gaza have been. this is going — major campaigns in gaza have been. this is going to be a potentially

much _ this is going to be a potentially much longer campaign, and therefore what we _ much longer campaign, and therefore what we are _ much longer campaign, and therefore what we are seeing is a tactic that relies _ what we are seeing is a tactic that relies on — what we are seeing is a tactic that relies on a — what we are seeing is a tactic that relies on a more slow, methodical movement— relies on a more slow, methodical movement on the ground, but of course _ movement on the ground, but of course it— movement on the ground, but of course it must be said slow and methodical does not mean clinical, and we _ methodical does not mean clinical, and we are — methodical does not mean clinical, and we are still going to see extremely heavy destruction of the urban— extremely heavy destruction of the urban infrastructure, and that will cause _ urban infrastructure, and that will cause considerable civilian harm, undoubtedly so. we cause considerable civilian harm, undoubtedly so.— undoubtedly so. we have seen israel's main _ undoubtedly so. we have seen israel's main diplomatic- undoubtedly so. we have seen israel's main diplomatic and i israel�*s main diplomatic and military ally, the us, reminding israel of its responsibility to carry out this military campaign within humanitarian law. just briefly, is that something that you think is happening? it is briefly, is that something that you think is happening?— think is happening? it is too difficult to _ think is happening? it is too difficult to answer _ think is happening? it is too difficult to answer briefly, i think is happening? it is too i difficult to answer briefly, but i think— difficult to answer briefly, but i think the — difficult to answer briefly, but i think the nature of the israeli siege — think the nature of the israeli siege was initially skirting the edge — siege was initially skirting the edge of— siege was initially skirting the edge of the law. it may have constituted, violated the bar on civilians. — constituted, violated the bar on civilians, and i think individual israeli — civilians, and i think individual israeli targeting decisions may also be illegal. — israeli targeting decisions may also be illegal, but we do need more facts _ be illegal, but we do need more facts to— be illegal, but we do need more facts to understand that. we cannot make _

facts to understand that. we cannot make these judgments easilyjust make these judgments easily just from make these judgments easilyjust from public images and just from the claims _ from public images and just from the claims of— from public images and just from the claims of all sides. it is a really complex— claims of all sides. it is a really complexjudgment to claims of all sides. it is a really complex judgment to make. claims of all sides. it is a really complexjudgment to make. i�*m complex 'udgment to make. i'm crateful complexjudgment to make. i'm grateful for _ complexjudgment to make. i�*m grateful for your time, thank you for joining gratefulfor your time, thank you forjoining us this morning, here on bbc news. just showing you once again those pictures from our position here in southern israel. as you can see, the smoke rising from another large strike inside gaza, and of course we are also keeping across those developments in the south of gaza. still waiting to hear conclusively whether or not anybody has been able to leave. we know that some injured people are there. we know that several hundred foreign passport holders are there at the rafah crossing. you can see the live pictures there. we are waiting to see if any of them have yet made it through to egypt, but of course we are continuing to follow those pictures and that story live here on bbc news.

hello. after what was a very wet october for many places, the beginning of november promises more rain, particularly through wednesday night into thursday, thanks to storm ciaran, named by the met office. in the south of the uk and the channel islands, there is the threat of damaging winds as well as the rain. on our satellite image you can see that storm just beginning to develop, this hook appearing in the cloud, that is an area of low pressure that is deepening and will continue to deepen as it pushes in our direction. in the short term, this frontal system pushing its way north—eastward through wednesday, north—eastwa rd through wednesday, that north—eastward through wednesday, that will bring some outbreaks are pretty heavy rain, some gusty winds across the south—west corner first thing. a band of heavy rain pushing out of northern ireland and northern england and then up across scotland, briefly some snow over high ground

in northern scotland then turning back to rain. windy in the north and in the west of scotland. sunshine and showers developing for northern ireland, england and wales. temperatures of 7—14 in most places, and then as we head into the evening and then as we head into the evening and overnight, this is where storm ciaran starts to make its move. very heavy rain swinging its way across the south of the uk, and some really strong winds. you can see the isobars here on our pressure chart really squeezing together. there are met office amber warning is issued for parts of south—west wales, especially south—west england and along the english channel coast and “p along the english channel coast and up into parts of east anglia. inland gusts of around 70 mph, coastal parts likely to see gusts of up to 80 mph, and not covered by met office weather warnings, but the channel islands could see the weather, gusts here could well touch 90 mph. with those in strong winds, some very heavy rain across many parts of finland, wales, southern

and eastern scotland, perhaps fringing into northern ireland as we go through the day on thursday, and temperature —wise, ten, 11, i2 temperature —wise, ten, 11, 12 degrees. so that rain could cause some issues with flooding, the strong winds bringing the risk of damage and disruption, and our area of low pressure will still be with us as we move on into friday, weakening as it goes, so the winds should ease just a little, weakening as it goes, so the winds should easejust a little, but weakening as it goes, so the winds should ease just a little, but it does remain very unsettled, with more rain as we head into the weekend. this is bbc news. the headlines... gates at the rafah crossing

from gaza into egypt appear to open. this is the scene live at the rafah crossing. the afp news agency reports that the first foreigners have crossed into egypt. our correspondent in gaza confirms all local mobile and internet services have gone down again. the uk covid inquiry hears more evidence from government officials today. and we�*re live at bletchley park as the uk hosts the world�*s first artificial intelligence safety summit. ukrainian children forced to leave their homes near the front line have begun to arrive in safer parts of the country. the authorities ordered families to move away from more than 30 towns and villages last week as shelling and fighting intensified in parts of the donetsk and kherson regions.