international law and the level of suffering in gaza is hard to fathom. i'm gareth barlow in london. also to come on the programme: a labour mp has resigned as a shadow minister after keir starmer refused to call for a ceasefire in the war between israel and hamas. and a pro—palestinian march in london this weekend will go ahead — after the commissioner of the metropolitan police stated that he would not impose a ban. welcome to bbc news. we are bringing this live to you from southern israel just close to this live to you from southern israeljust close to the gaza strip, about three kilometres, a mile or so, away from gaza where the israeli military offensive is intensifying. there has been a very intense night again of israeli shelling and

israeli air strikes in gaza and focusing on gaza city where israel's defence minister now says that the israeli troops are operating in the heart of gaza city which the minister claims is the heart of terrorism. the area is the one of the most densely populated parts of the territory, and has frequently been hit by the israeli military in the last month — it says it is targeting hamas, which israel, along with many other countries, considers to be a terrorist organisation. in this bulletin we will bring you the developments from right across this region, from here in israel, inside gaza and from lebanon as well. but we will start this hour with the latest developments from our middle east correspondent yolande knell. flares hanging in gaza's night sky are ominous warnings of incoming israeli fire. but, increasingly, the israeli prime minister's being pressed for a pause in fighting. i did ask him for a pause yesterday. this is a key moment.

israeli troops are now said to be in the heart of gaza city, closing in on the stronghold of hamas, ministers say. the destruction in gaza is already immense, with entire neighbourhoods flattened. the civilian death toll is rapidly mounting. the world health organisation says an average of 160 children are killed here every day. nothing justifies the horror being endured by the civilians in gaza. people in gaza are dying in their thousands and those alive are suffering from trauma, disease, lack of food and water. the level of death and suffering is hard to fathom. dozens were reportedly killed by israeli air strikes yesterday in the southern gazan towns of khan younis, rafah and deir al—balah. in khan younis, this doctor at nasser hospital was on duty in the emergency room

when he was told that his two children aged five and seven, his mother, his brothers, their wives and their children were killed in a strike. translation: what did | these children do wrong? what crime did they commit to deserve tons of bombs on their heads, tons of explosives on their heads? israel says that it does what it can to avoid civilian deaths in gaza and that it's acting to eliminate hamas. it says it's destroying dozens of tunnel shafts used by its fighters. the israeli prime minister continues to reject international calls for a ceasefire, but now says he'll consider tactical little pauses in hostilities. he added that israel would have overall security responsibility indefinitely, after the war is over. yesterday marked exactly one month since the deadliest day in israel's history.

vigils took place for those killed in hamas�*s surprise cross—border attacks and some 240 women, men and children still being held hostage. translation: i'm waiting - and demanding they do whatever it takes to bring everyone home safely. this is the time to do things that have not been done before to ensure their safe return. there is huge pain and anguish on both sides in this war and there are many more difficult days ahead. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. it's been a busy morning in this military offensive that is more than a month old now. let's look at some of the most recent developments. president biden said he asked the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu for a pause in the fighting, potentially for three days

in order for progress on the hostages. mr netanyahu has said there would be no ceasefire but he did raise the possibility of what he called tactical little pauses in hostilities. israel's ministerfor strategic affairs has said his country has no plans to govern gaza but will ensure it remains demilitarised after the conflict. the number of deaths in gaza since the outbreak of hostilities has risen to over 10,000, according to the health ministry there that is controlled by hamas with more than 2700 missing. the world health organization says that among the 0rganization says that among the casualties, 160 children on average are being killed each day in the war in gaza. while the military offensive grandson of the humanitarian suffering intensifies, foreign ministers from the g7, the group of most industrialised nations in the world, have been meeting in japan. they have issued a joint

communique and the us secretary of state antony blinken has also been speaking in the last few minutes. let's listen to what he has had to say. 0ur our first focus 0urfirst focus in our first focus in tokyo was the crisis in the middle east. yesterday i had an opportunity to brief my colleagues on my travel through the region as well as extensive engagements by present biden and our entire national security team. g7 ministers reaffirmed our staunch support for israel's right and obligation to defend itself and seek to ensure the attacks of october seven can never happen again in accordance with international humanitarian law. we had in—depth discussions about the steps that we are taking to address urgent needs on the ground. we all agreed that humanitarian pauses would advance key objectives to protect palestinian civilians, to increase the sustained flow of humanitarian assistance, to allow our citizens and foreign nationals to exit, and to facilitate the release of hostages. i briefed my colleagues about my conversations with israeli

leaders on pauses and on concrete steps to minimise harm to palestinian civilians in gaza and to stop extremist violence in the west bank. ,, ,, . ., , ., ,, ., bank. the us secretary of state s-ueakin bank. the us secretary of state speaking there. _ well, the uk's foreign secretary, james cleverly, was asked about his reaction to the current death toll in gaza, and to what extent he believed that the reaction from israel was proportionate. israel was on the receiving end of a brutal terrorist attack, and they have every right, indeed, a responsibility to the people of israel to ensure that they are able to protect themselves. and we speak about this military operation, we get clear assurances from israel that they are acting in accordance with humanitarian law in order to protect themselves from attack. what we of course want to see is ultimately a peaceful two—state solution, and we of course always make clear that any actions that israel takes should be in pursuit of that ultimate aim, and they should avoid doing anything which

undermines that. that will remain the uk government's position. james cleverly they�* re james cleverly they're referring to the two—state solution that many will believe is even more distant and perhaps even dead after this military offensive. it's long been seen to be an unachievable goal. adders see whether this current conflict reinvigorate the idea of a long—term political settlement of a two—state solution, israel and palestinian state. as well as the g7 ministers who are there in tokyo, our own shaimaa khalil is in tokyo, rba de maeght bbc correspondent there covering the summit and she joins us from there. tell us about thejoint communique joins us from there. tell us about the joint communique that has been issued at what has come out in the last few minutes from the g7

meeting. last few minutes from the g7 meetinu. , ., , , meeting. the g7 foreign ministers wanted to present _ meeting. the g7 foreign ministers wanted to present a _ meeting. the g7 foreign ministers wanted to present a united - meeting. the g7 foreign ministers wanted to present a united front, | wanted to present a united front, not only on the middle east conflict which overshadowed events which was at the heart and centre of the discussions today, but also on the ongoing war in ukraine and security concerns in the indo—pacific, specifically china, economic coercion, the tension between china and taiwan, and of course russia's relationship with pyongyang, and pyongyang's nuclear arsenal ambitions. remember this is a very different landscape that the foreign ministers are dealing with than the g7 leaders were dealing with when they met in hiroshima in may. right now their ultimate message is, yes, the conflict in the middle east is overshadowing events but we continue a message for russia, really, that they say they continue to be committed to sanctions on russia and four ukraine's right to defend itself. 0n the middle east, again, i think because there were background differences in the ceasefire, other proposals for a ceasefire by some g7

countries, antony blinken was quite clear that they are now united on a no ceasefire, essentially, still supporting israel for no ceasefire but calling for humanitarian pauses. i was actually speaking to the british foreign secretary james cleverly earlier. and he said that essentially they are pushing for these humanitarian pauses to ensure these humanitarian pauses to ensure the safety of hostages, to ensure the safety of hostages, to ensure the safety of multinationals in gaza and to get aid to those who need it the most. what we don't have from the most. what we don't have from the g7 foreign ministers communique is detailed. it is really lacking in detail on how these pauses are going to be conducted, when they will be conducted, especially as he reported not very far from where you are the bombardment continues and the israeli strikes continue on gaza. i put it to james cleverly as well, benjamin netanyahu's remarks about

israel continuing or taking security responsibility in gaza and how they could be reinterpreted as re—occupying gaza, he said he agreed with antony blinken they're saying this is a transition period, it is inevitable that the forces on the ground will take charge of security in gaza. but ultimately what they are calling for his palestinian leadership, palestinian governance, and as antony blinken put it a few moments ago a joint palestinian governance in gaza and ultimately in the west bank.— the west bank. shaimaa khalil in to 0, the west bank. shaimaa khalil in tokyo. thank— the west bank. shaimaa khalil in tokyo. thank you _ the west bank. shaimaa khalil in tokyo, thank you very _ the west bank. shaimaa khalil in tokyo, thank you very much - the west bank. shaimaa khalil in i tokyo, thank you very much indeed, watching the g7 meeting in tokyo that may also be talking about what comes next in the future of gaza if and when hamas is eliminated as israel aims. the other part of this region where there is increasing concern is northern israel and lebanon, the board there between the

two countries where there has been increased cross—border fire in recent days. 16 rockets were said to have been filed against israel in recent days and israel responded militarily with heavy strikes and israel's prime minister has said that hezbollah is starting to take part in this war but they will be making the mistake of a lifetime if they did so. the deputy chief of hezbollah, the powerful shia islamist militant group in lebanon, has said there is a real risk of a wider war in the middle east. he says that's due to israel's bombing and killing of civilians in gaza. sheikh naim qassem told the bbc that "the region cannot bear much more of this." in a rare interview, sheikh qassem spoke to our senior international correspondent 0rla guerin in beirut. she began by asking him —

about the likelihood of a bigger regional conflict. translation: if the aggression increases and continues at this | pace, very dangerous and very serious developments could occur in the region. no—one would be able to stop the repercussions. for sure, there is a danger of a wider regional war breaking out. how realistic do you think is that danger now? how close is that danger? translation: the danger is real, because israel is increasing - its aggression against civilians and killing more women and children. is it possible for this to continue and increase without bringing real danger to the region? i think not. we know that hezbollah has weapons that can reach deep inside israel. but if you were to use them, israel can respond with air power and it has promised a response of unimaginable magnitude and many lebanese could die. are you willing to risk that?

translation: it's normal and natural, and we are i ready to pay the price. but the question is, can israel pay the price? this is a question for israel. with the cross—border attacks that you have been carrying out over the past month, isn't there a risk of dragging lebanon into war, even unintentionally, a war that lebanon can't afford and for which there appears to be absolutely no support here? translation: it's the right of any lebanese to be afraid of a war. - this is normal. nobody likes war. but who is responsible for this war? did we start it or did israel? what's most important is that the israelis were the one who started this aggression against gaza in this hideous way. with respect, hamas started by attacking israel on the 7th

of october and killing more than 1,400 israelis — most of whom were civilians, women and children. so this round of warfare began with hamas, not with israel. translation: what should | the palestinians do to regain their freedom and their land? this operation was inevitable and it was an act of resistance and of defence. some would say that the attacks on october 7th have been a disaster for the palestinian cause because the result has been massive destruction in gaza, the killing of thousands of civilians, including more than 4,000 children. haven't the attacks actually backfired? translation: i think what happened was a great achievement _ for the palestinian resistance. now the massacres committed by israel are mobilising the palestinians more and more to cling to their land. and they know there is no solution

except continued resistance. but you say you consider the attack a great success, but 10,000 palestinians have been killed since this attack, and who knows how many more will die? translation: who killed the palestinians? - it was the crazy israelis. would you intervene more militarily? would there be a stronger military reaction from hezbollah if hamas is in danger of being beaten in gaza? translation: this is| a matter for the future and what happens in the battle. it's something we do not talk about in the media. but we have our plans for more confrontation and resistance, depending on what the circumstances require.

o rla 0rla guerin speaking to the deputy leader of hezbollah about the real risk of a wider regional war. (pres)we'll have more on the war between israel and hamas. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. a murder investigation�*s been launched after a 15—year—old boy was stabbed near a school in leeds. emergency services were called to town street in horsforth — near st margaret's primary school. the boy — a former student at nearby horsforth school — died in hospital. police say two teenage boys have been arrested in connection with the incident. possession of nitrous oxide has become a criminal offence in the uk. now classed as a class c drug — possession of laughing gas for its "psychoactive effects" will carry a sentence of up to two years in prison. the government says the ban will combat anti—social behaviour and reduce damage to users' health. the prince of wales has visited singapore to hand out awards in the earthshot prize.

in the earthshot prize. five environmental innovations have each won awards worth £1 million. speaking at the ceremony, the prince warned that the climate speaking at the ceremony in singapore, the prince warned that the climate crisis cannot be ignored and he said all the finalists showed the ability to inspire change. more online at bbc news. welcome back to bbc news broadcasting live from southern israel where a country which is still grieving the loss of some 11t00 civilians killed in that hamas attack more than a month ago, and grieving of course for the 240 hostages that are still being held under hamas captivity in that surprise attack on the 7th of october. well, one of those who is being held is the grandmother of adva adar who we can speak to now

live here on bbc news. thank you forjoining us. , we understand your grandmother was taken from her kibbutz close to the border with gaza on the 7th of october. can i ask how you found out first of all that your grandmother had taken by hamas? first first of all that your grandmother had taken by hamas?— first of all that your grandmother had taken by hamas? first of all, thank ou had taken by hamas? first of all, thank you for— had taken by hamas? first of all, thank you for listening. _ had taken by hamas? first of all, thank you for listening. my - thank you for listening. my grandmother was taken from her house in a kibbutz two kilometres from gaza and we found out by video that hamas posted of them kidnapping her, you can c4 armed terrorists around her on a golf cart taking her on the streets of gaza with lots of people around celebrating, clapping their hands and acting like she is kind of a trophy.

hands and acting like she is kind of a troh . ., , �* , a trophy. that must've been incredibly — a trophy. that must've been incredibly distressing - a trophy. that must've been incredibly distressing for - a trophy. that must've been| incredibly distressing for you a trophy. that must've been - incredibly distressing for you have seen those images. you have not had any contact with her since that happened. there is talk of potentially the red cross going in to speak to the hostages. if that were to happen, potentially that can be exchanged for humanitarian pause in israel's fighting. that is one idea that is being raised. can i ask, what are you particularly worried about in terms of medical supplies she always depends —— also depends on medical supplies. except for her age. — depends on medical supplies. except for her age. my _ depends on medical supplies. except for her age, my grandmother- depends on medical supplies. except for her age, my grandmother is - depends on medical supplies. except for her age, my grandmother is ill i for her age, my grandmother is ill and suffers from heart failure and a lot of other health problems. she depends on her medication. she's also suffering from a lot pain from

her spine and it is torture for her having to spend so much time without medication, without proper help and proper medical attention, and they do hope that the red cross willjoin these efforts and get access to the hostages, to check their medical condition and give them their medication. that's the least of the human rights they deserve. shaded cani can i ask whether you support the military offensive, even though he your grandmother and other hostages are at risk from the military strikes. is israel pursuing the right strategy the moment? i’m

strikes. is israel pursuing the right strategy the moment? i'm not a military exnert- _ right strategy the moment? i'm not a military expert. i'm _ right strategy the moment? i'm not a military expert. i'm just _ right strategy the moment? i'm not a military expert. i'm just a _ military expert. i'm just a grandchild that really wants her grandma to be back home. but i can tell you that as a family we need to have hope that our loved ones will come back home and we need to believe that right now whoever makes the decision i have to hope they have the best interests of the hostages in their minds and i have to believe if they chose these military actions they are doing this because they believe it can help bring the hostages back home. i understand also that your cousin is missing. can you tell us a little more about that? yeah my cousin is 38 years old, a father of two young children that he left in the shelter with his wife and went to try to protect the community. there was no

one else at the kibbutz to fight the terrorists. and he was kidnapped this morning. we lost contact with him around 8am. so we know nothing about him. we don't know his medical condition, we don't know if he's alive. we have no sign of life from him. it is hard to put into words at the moment, i would it is hard to put into words at the moment, iwould imagine, but the mood of your widerfamily moment, iwould imagine, but the mood of your wider family at the moment, do you still have hope for your grandmother? are you increasingly fearful about her fate and what might happen as a military offensive intensifies? i and what might happen as a military offensive intensifies?— offensive intensifies? i think we are t in: offensive intensifies? i think we are trying to _ offensive intensifies? i think we are trying to stay _ offensive intensifies? i think we are trying to stay positive, - offensive intensifies? i think we are trying to stay positive, but l offensive intensifies? i think we i are trying to stay positive, but i'm worried about the time running out

for her without the medication more than the military actions and i'm worried about her physical and mental condition, and i'm worried that in her age and in her medical status every minute is a minute that i don't know if i will ever be able to see her again. so we are very concerned and we really are trying to shout to the world and ask everyone to understand that she has no time. the hostages have no time. there are babies and elders that need to come back home now. we really need to pressure the arab countries' leadership to understand there is no other option but to bring the hostages back home now. adva adar, thank you very much indeed for talking to us. our very best wishes to you and your family as you try and hope for your

grandmother to return. the israeli military offensive continues to push into gaza city meanwhile with the israeli defence minister saying israeli defence minister saying israeli troops are now operating in the heart of the city, what he calls the heart of the city, what he calls the heart of terrorism. we wait to hear about the military offensive pushing in and we will continue to bring you all the latest from this region but for now, you have been watching bbc news. stay with us for continued coverage on the israeli gaza conflict. we started the week on a pretty decent note but it has been quite wet this morning on a frontal system, low pressure moving through and the rain is quite heavy and quite blustery conditions, too, but a bright afternoon for many with sunny spells but scattered showers affecting northern and western areas. here is the frontal system which has been crossing the country

through the morning. mostly clearing out into the north sea as we head into the afternoon, a bit of a hang back of cloud, some rain free standing in the south—east, could take awhile for the skies to brighten and similar in the northern isles but elsewhere sunny in the afternoon, showers and rattling into and western scotland and a few heavy ones in south—west england, may be thundery here. temperature —wise, 9-13, thundery here. temperature —wise, 9—13, may be found here. temperature wise, 9—13, maybe 14 degrees in some spots in the south—east. as we head through the evening and overnight, low—pressure sticks close by for the north—west of the uk and we will see clear spells, showers, most showers in the north and west, quite a chilly night particularly across northern in between the showers and clear skies. thursday and friday look pretty similar. low—pressure is nearby so it is going to be one of sunshine and blustery showers. we will tap into some slightly cooler

air around will tap into some slightly cooler airaround this area will tap into some slightly cooler air around this area of low pressure. you can see the blue tinge across the uk. so on thursday it will start off chilly, they will be some sunshine and showers will get going across northern and western areas, a few heavy ones across the west, may be thundery in places. and the wind is more of a feature across the wind is more of a feature across the south—west, too. temperature is a bit low on thursday, single figures in the north, 9—11 further south. ourarea figures in the north, 9—11 further south. our area of low pressure still with us for friday, weakening as it pushes into the north sea. we will start picking up a more north, north—westerly wind across the country as the low pressure pulls away. it will be won again of sunshine and showers, someplace is staying dry altogether through sheltered areas of the north—westerly wind. but it will be quite cool, temperatures in single figures for most, 10—11 in the south. the weekend looks like it

will start quite promising thanks to a range of high pressure, chilly with sunny spells but there will be rain i think in part two of the weekend. not a bad day on saturday, chilly with brightness around, and you will start to see rain pushing in on tuesday, particularly across southern areas. stay tuned to the forecast.

this is bbc news. the headlines: fighting continues for another night in gaza, with israel's defence minister saying its troops are in the heart of gaza city. the g7 foreign ministers have called for humanitarian pauses and the creation of safe corridors in gaza. irate humanitarian pauses and the creation of safe corridors in gaza.— of safe corridors in gaza. we all atree of safe corridors in gaza. we all agree that _ of safe corridors in gaza. we all agree that humanitarian - of safe corridors in gaza. we all| agree that humanitarian policies would advance key objectives, to protect palestinian civilians, to increase the sustain flow of

humanitarian assistance, to allow our foreign humanitarian assistance, to allow ourforeign nationals humanitarian assistance, to allow our foreign nationals and humanitarian assistance, to allow ourforeign nationals and citizens to accept and facilitate the release of hostages. the to accept and facilitate the release of hostages-_ of hostages. the labour mp has resiuned of hostages. the labour mp has resigned as _ of hostages. the labour mp has resigned as shadow— of hostages. the labour mp has resigned as shadow minister - of hostages. the labour mp has l resigned as shadow minister after keir starmer refused to call for a ceasefire between the war between israel and hamas. hello i'm gareth barlow. you are watching bbc news. a labour mp has resigned as a shadow minister over sir keir starmer�*s position on the war between israel and gaza, saying that the party should be calling for a ceasefire. imran hussain is the first member of the front bench to step down over the issue. he said he remained committed to labour's agenda, but that he wants to be a "strong advocate" for a ceasefire in gaza. the shadow education secretary bridget phillipson explained why labour was calling for a humanitarian pause and not a ceasefire. as keir starmer set out in his speech at chatham house, it would freeze the conflict. in time, it risks allowing hamas to regroup and to perpetuate further

terrible atrocities that they've said they want the opportunity to do.