israel steps up its offensives against hezbollah in lebanon and hamas in gaza, on the eve of the october 7th anniversary. this place was hit about 12 hours ago, and smokers are still coming out of the rubble. there is destruction all around including some building is far from here. thousands of people gather across the world to call for the return of the 101 hostages still being held in gaza todayis today is very hard. we are waiting _ today is very hard. we are waiting for people who are

still— waiting for people who are still being held hostage in gaza _ and new research on a revolutionary treatment aims to discover why immunotherapy fails to work for most cancer patients. hello. welcome to bbc news. israel has been stepping up its offensives against hamas in gaza and hezbollah in lebanon the eve of the first anniversary of the hamas attacks on israel that killed about 1,200 israelis and started the widening war. let's bring you the latest developments from the middle east this hour. the lebanese capital, beirut, experienced one of its most intense waves of israeli strikes yet, with large explosions reported across the southern part of the city last night. the strikes continued into the morning. fresh evacuation orders have been issued for residents of several areas in southern lebanon as israel pushes forward with its campaign

against hezbollah. in northern israel, rocket barrages from lebanon are continuing to trigger sirens and interception systems. 0vernight, the israel defense forces said it stopped around 30 rockets which had been fired into northern israel. israel's army encircled jabaliya in northern gaza where it says hamas has been trying to regroup. the hamas—run health ministry says 26 people have been killed in israeli air strikes on a mosque and school housing displaced palestinians. and in southern israel, a female israeli border police officer has been killed and ten people wounded in an attack by a gunman at a bus station in the town of beersheba.

0vernight attacks followed by more attacks in the morning. this video appears to capture secondary explosions, an indication of weapons being hit. we went to see the destruction caused by one of the overnight attacks. this place was hit about 12 hours ago, and there is still smoke coming out of the rubble. there is a heady smell in the air, and there is destruction all around, including some buildings farfrom here. i can count at least three underground floors. it is all destroyed. israel accuses hezbollah of hiding weapons amongst civilians, an accusation hezbollah denies. this building, residents told us, included a sweet shop. we

found a bag with the shop's name next to a tail fin found a bag with the shop's name next to a tailfin of a mortar and likely to be used by the israeli military in this attack. we could not stay long. a group of men arrived. they ordered us to leave. in gaza, israel's war against hamas continues, a war almost forgotten because of the one being fought here. israel bombed another school housing displaced residents where it said hamas had set up a control centre. it nearby mosque was also attacked. the two strikes killed at least 26 people according to the health ministry there. israel says hamas was operating inside the mosque. this morning, families gathered to mourn the dead.

translation: please god, defeat netanyahu. - please god, defeat israel. i hope god defeats you, america. you have made us cry over our children, grandchildren, and loved ones. my heart is breaking, my heart is breaking. backin back in lebanon, the missiles come, not only at night. israel was not backing down in its war against hezbollah. and in beirut, there is no respite. during a visit to beirut, during a visit to beirut, the un refugees chief, the un refugees chief, filippo grandi, warned filippo grandi, warned of violations of international of violations of international humanitarian law in the ongoing humanitarian law in the ongoing war in lebanon, and said war in lebanon, and said he was disheartened by he was disheartened by what he called the "paralysis what he called the "paralysis of political action" to help of political action" to help secure a ceasefire. secure a ceasefire. here, iwas here, iwas here, i wasjust briefed about here, i wasjust briefed about the egregious violation in the egregious violation in respect _ the egregious violation in respect of health facilities respect _ the egregious violation in respect of health facilities in

particular that have been impacted in various locations of lebanon. i would venture to say, _ of lebanon. i would venture to say, although these things require _ say, although these things require proper investigations and assessments, but on face value' _ and assessments, but on face value, when civilian houses are destroyed _ value, when civilian houses are destroyed and people have to flee. — destroyed and people have to flee, that is also affecting civilian _ flee, that is also affecting civilian infrastructure. so i would _ civilian infrastructure. so i would consider that that is not in tine — would consider that that is not in line with the rules of war. let's go live to beirut now and our middle east correspondent lina sinjab. what is the mood in the city after those big explosions last night?

areas, and even though yesterday's attack, the israel defense forces gave warnings to people to evacuate, in fact three warnings, but the immense skill of these attacks, almost 30 strikes overnight and into the morning, made not only be people who are still residing in and around the area, but even on the outskirts, run for safety and flee on foot with their children, imagine the situation overnight. wherever you are in the city, you are sleepless because you are constantly hearing these bombardments, and if you look out of your window, you see the flames and smoke, and you feel you are looking at a scene from hell. this is the reality of what people are living through these days in beirut. meanwhile, residents and 25 towns and villages also being urged by the idf to leave their homes. ., ., . «a

urged by the idf to leave their homes. ., ., . ., homes. the attacks are continuous, _ homes. the attacks are continuous, nonstop i homes. the attacks are - continuous, nonstop especially also in the south. the israel defense forces continue its air strikes. it says it is targeting hezbollah members there, it says it wants to end hezbollah�*s power, but in fact civilians are the ones caught in this fire. we have also had reports of four hospitals yesterday out of service because of israeli air strikes, and threats of violence totalling 37 hospitals out of service, simply because we israelis are saying hezbollah is using hospitals and ambulances to traffic fighters and weapons, but in fact there is no one to verify that what israel is claiming is correct. we have also heard from the un refugee chief. i wonder if you can outline what the humanitarian situation is

currently, particularly in beirut. 0urshop currently, particularly in beirut. our shop is open for food? how many people are on the streets?— the streets? there are shops for food- _ the streets? there are shops for food. so _ the streets? there are shops for food. so far, _ the streets? there are shops for food. so far, there - the streets? there are shops for food. so far, there is - the streets? there are shops for food. so far, there is no i forfood. so far, there is no food scarcity. don't forget that lebanon is a country that is still living in the financial crisis, the valuation of the money, people's savings evaporated in the banks because of a big financial crisis here. and now almost 1.2 million had to flee their homes, their properties, their houses, their work destroyed, over 500,000 children are now out of school, the school year has been postponed, and those people are displaced, they are staying in 900 shelters, the need food and medicine and support, and we haven't even started talking about the mental health that these people are living. so the needin these people are living. so the need in this country is

immense, needs international support, it cannot stand on its own. the society is incredibly cooperative, everyone is doing whatever they can, but the need is beyond what civil society can do or what this government can do or what this government can provide. can do or what this government can provide-— can provide. thank you very much. these _ can provide. thank you very much. these are _ can provide. thank you very much. these are live - can provide. thank you very i much. these are live pictures of the lebanese capital beirut, it is just after of the lebanese capital beirut, it isjust after 8.00 in of the lebanese capital beirut, it is just after 8.00 in the evening there. we will keep an eye on that scale and because yesterday we did see those idf attacks on the city, so we will keep our eye across those over the coming hours. meanwhile, iran has announced a mass cancellation of flights tonight, amid warnings from israel it will retaliate for iran's missile attack earlier this week. with me is bbc persian senior reporter parham ghobadi.

what more do we know about these flight cancellations? iran hasjust iran has just announced that all the overnight flights have been cancelled tonight. this is not the first time this has happened in the past few days, when iran launched its missile attack on october one against israel, iran does the same thing, flights were cancelled temporarily. but this time, israel is the one that has promised revenge, so this has increased, people are thinking is the israeli attack retaliation of that imminent that iran has cancelled all the flights? that is yet to be seen. and also reports that an iranian quds force commander was in beirut strike on friday when israel carried out strikes, what more can you tell us? a massive explosion on friday

morning, israel said that the target was the new hezbollah leader. they later reported in israeli media that the commander was alongside him. this is the foreign branch, the overseas branch, of iran's revolutionary guard, the top commander of that. and today there was a ceremony that iran's aerospace and revolutionary guards commander was awarded by reigning supreme leader evicted a medal. in that ceremony, all the commanders were present except him, so iranians have been asking where he is? the last time he was seen was at the funeral of the hezbollah leader, and since then he has not been seen. iranians are saying he is safe and sound, which is very hard to believe. and sound, which is very hard to believe-— and sound, which is very hard to believe. the big question is what israel —

to believe. the big question is what israel does _ to believe. the big question is what israel does next, - to believe. the big question is what israel does next, and - what israel does next, and israel's defence minister has been talking about iran today. yes, he recently said... well, he first denied all the allegations because iran has been claiming victory. they said that the 90% of our missiles landed in israel. they were saying that their fighter jets did not even take a scratch so everything is perfectly fine. he also said that if iran tries to harm us, they had better look at what has happened in gaza and lebanon. so he was kind of implying that they would apply the same strategy that they have in gas and whether non—, and they have proven that they are capable of retaliating, and thatis are capable of retaliating, and that is what many people are worried about, that this war of words will turn into a massive full—blown full—scale war between the two countries. thank you very much indeed.

israel is on a state of high alert ahead of the first anniversary of the hamas attacks that claimed more than 1,200 lives. rockets have been fired into southern israel from gaza, while hezbollah has continued its cross—border attacks from lebanon. a female israeli border police officer was killed and ten people wounded in an attack by a gunman in the southern town of beersheba. 0ur chief international correspondent lyse doucet has been visiting kibbutz nir oz, one of the kibbutzes targeted by hamas on october 7. jordan zilberman was born and raised in kibbutz nir oz. she's been speaking to lyse about her experience that day and the harrowing phone call she received from her father. a whole day of feeling terrified and helpless, trying to guide him through the phone, knowing everything that is happening in the kibbutz and feeling helpless.

and coming back here today, i know there has been a commemoration today for one of the families. what is their mood today? we gather here for two of our members that were murdered here, that they tried to defend theirfamilies and the community. the feelings today are very, very hard because we are still waiting. we are waiting for bodies, we are waiting for people that are still being held hostage in gaza and it has been one year. of course, such a close knit community, you lost people very dear to you. that is true, and losing people who have died is one thing, but losing people who are still alive and their souls are restless is another thing. and losing a place that has been a home for so many families that are now living in completely different

conditions than they are used it as something very hard to handle, daily. for everyone, of course, burdened by the pain of the past. we can feel it here, it is raw. many of them were peace activists, working with people across the border in gaza. how do you see the future? it is really hard to think about the future when we are not done with bringing people back. none of us can think of the future. we are hoping to rebuild something here but we don't know for who. we are hoping to rebuild it because it is our home, but we do not know who would like to be here and who would come back from there. gatherings and marches have been held in cities around the world on the eve of the anniversary of the hamas attacks — to call for the return of the 101 hostages.

let me show you some of the pictures we've had in. first to france and this vigil was held in paris. pictures of some of the hostages were held up. next to glasgow in scotland, here you can see israeli flags and small red heart balloons held by the people who took part in the vigil to remember the victims of the hamas attacks. in germany hundreds of people ralled in the capital berlin under the slogan "united against the crimes of hamas against israelis and palestinians". the protest began at the famous brandenburg gate and made its way to the site of the first nazi book burnings in 1933. and here in the uk, thousands of people gathered in london's hyde park. one of the hostages taken on october 7th is 28—year—old emily damari. speaking at the memorial event, her mother revealed the nightmare she's faced since her only daughter was kidnapped almost a year ago.

our special correspondent lucy manning reports. emily damari is a spurs fan. when she visits the uk, she loves going to the pub, shopping in primark, and going to ed sheerhan concerts. but emily, a british israeli citizen, has been held hostage by hamas for 364 days. she was kidnapped by hamas gunmen from her home. they shot her in the hand and killed her dog. speaking in london for the first time, her british mother mandy believes she has been forgotten. imagine for a moment if emily was your daughter, try to picture what she is going through. since the 7th of october last year, she has been held hostage by hamas terrorists in the gazan terror tunnels 20 metres or more underground. kept in captivity, tortured, isolated, unable to eat, speak, or even move without someone else's permission. stripped of every human right.

emily's mother is pleading with britain and other countries to do more to secure the release of her daughter and other hostages. why isn't the whole world, especially britain, fighting every moment to secure her release? she is one of their own. many people at this memorial event are faced with the twin realities, that the hostages have still not been released, and here they have faced increasing anti—semitism. the chief rabbi recited thejewish prayer for the dead, as a mother prays her daughter and all the hostages will return home. lucy manning, bbc news. some live pictures now from tel aviv in israel. some singers at an event that is ongoing, they have joined the hostage families and

havejoined the hostage families and some of the victims of the october seven attacks. they of course are participating in this event thatis participating in this event that is in tel aviv. they have been showing videos and singing songs, and they are going to hearfrom some of songs, and they are going to hear from some of the people who have deeply personal and harrowing experiences from that day, october seven last year, including one of the people he was taken captive and released as part of that deal. you remember there was a deal about 55 days into the original conflict after october seven when a number of hostages were released. you can see that this event currently taking place in tel aviv. don't forget that we have a special live page running online would the very latest from our correspondence in both israel and lebanon, along with analysis from our

team of experts. you will find the latest there on the bbc news website and app. the prime minister's top adviser sue gray has resigned from her position as downing street chief of staff. she said she was standing down because it had become clear that intense commentary around her position risked becoming a distraction to the government's vital work of change. it had recently been revealed she earned more than the pm. in a written statement, sir keir starmer thanked her for all the support she had given him, both in opposition and in government. our political correspondent iain watson has the latest. this is how close sue gray was to the prime minister, meeting president biden alongside keir starmer just last month. the sue gray report into government lockdown parties has just been published. she is probably best known as the senior civil servant who drew up the partygate report, which hastened borisjohnson�*s departure from number ten.

the conservatives were outraged when she traded her whitehall job for an influential role with labour. since last september, she was keir starmer�*s chief of staff in opposition and then at number ten. herjob was to prepare labour for government, but now in government, labour look somewhat unprepared. they faced political heat for taking winter fuel payments away from most pensioners, alongside stories about keir starmer and other ministers taking donations for clothing and free tickets for big events. last month, the bbc revealed that sue gray was paid more than the prime minister. the fact that her salary was leaked was a clear indication of trouble behind the scenes at number ten. when questions about a government official drown out announcements of government policy, there's a sense that something has to change. i acknowledge that briefings to you are not helpful to the government. my focus is on what we need to do as a government to change the country for the better. clearly there are people

who are very unhappy within your team and i am wondering whether you've got a grip on that and whether you're the one in control here. i'm completely in control, i'm focused and every day the message from me to the team is exactly the same. today, sue gray explained her move to a new role, liaising with the uk's nations and regions. she said, "in recent weeks, it's become clear to me that intense commentary around my position risked becoming a distraction to the government's vital work of change." the prime minister thanked sue gray for her support and said, "sue has played a vital role in strengthening our relations with the regions and nations and i'm delighted she will continue to support that work." taking overfrom her is the man credited with masterminding labour's label election win, morgan mcsweeney. this was welcomed by a former adviser to the last labour government. it's really hard to drive party politics from the centre of a government if you've not come up through party politics. i've worked with sue, i rate sue but i think you see now the need for the political professionals to be a driving force in the columns, in the policy and everything that's done.

but the chief of staff to this beleaguered prime minister delivered a warning to the current prime minister. this is now a crucial moment for the prime minister. he's got to get this second iteration of his number ten operation right if he's going to recover some of the political ground he's lost over the last couple of months. afterjust three months in government, the prime minister's reshuffle of his top staff has also placed his own politicaljudgment under renewed scrutiny. and iain is with me now. why has she gone now and not before? she said she risked becoming a distraction that she has been a distraction for a couple of weeks.— has been a distraction for a couple of weeks. she has, but i think the reason _ couple of weeks. she has, but i think the reason for— couple of weeks. she has, but i think the reason for going - couple of weeks. she has, but i think the reason for going at. think the reason for going at this particular point is that parliament resumes after the party conference season, and a crucial budget at the end of the month. if this does not land well, then the difficult star that labour has had on government over the last few months, that will be extended.

i think also during the party conference season as well, a huge amount of speculation about sue gray's future. if at that time people did not believe she was a distraction, by the end of the labour conference they knew that she definitely was. why she was a distraction becomes interesting as well, because is that we that be busy week of her salary, that could not have happened without side —— without people inside government telling people outside of government what was going on. there was clearly a bit of an operation to try to undermine her. that does not mean that she was necessarily politically the best person to do that job, politically the best person to do thatjob, the linchpin of number ten, which has to be a highly politicaljob as well as an administrativejob, and now she moves on to something precious perhaps more experienced but less high profile. experienced but less high rofile. . ~ experienced but less high rofile. ., ~' , experienced but less high rofile. ., ,, , . profile. thank you very much indeed. more _ profile. thank you very much indeed. more on _ profile. thank you very much indeed. more on that - profile. thank you very much indeed. more on that story i profile. thank you very much l indeed. more on that story and the rest of the day's news on the rest of the day's news on the bbc news website and app. stay with us here on bbc news.

hello there. good evening. a very messy and unsettled picture weather—wise as we head through the next few days. but it was a pretty start earlier on this morning. lots of red skies as captured by our weather watchers. and of course, the heaviest downpours today were out towards the west, some of the showers pushing further eastwards at times. not as much sunshine as we saw yesterday, but still the chance of some more bright and sunny spells as we go through the next few days, accompanied by some rather blustery showers. brisk southerly winds so the air is mild, warm for the time of year, even. and it's unsettled because low pressure is the dominant force. it's out towards the west of ireland. of course, all of these bands of rain showers swirling around it that sets the scene. for the rest of tonight there will be further bands of rain just gradually pushing northwards and eastwards, but some long clear spells across northern areas of england and through the southern half

of the uk as we head towards dawn tomorrow. here, temperatures could potentially drop back into high single figures. otherwise a mild start, double figures pretty much across the board. now, tomorrow, the low pressure remains out towards the west. again, there will be furthershowers, longer spells of rain at times. it's quite a cloudy picture across scotland, for example, and there will be rain on and off here throughout the day. the early rain clears away from northern ireland, moves into north—west england, and there could be some heavy, possibly thundery, downpours across south—west england into southern wales as we head through the afternoon. but you could catch a shower almost anywhere. a little less frequent out towards the east. some sunny spells and the best of the sunshine. temperatures will peak temperatures will peak 16 to 19 celsius. that's above 16 to 19 celsius. that's above the seasonal average. the seasonal average. now, the low pressure sinks now, the low pressure sinks a little further southwards a little further southwards as we head through tuesday, as we head through tuesday, so some of the focus so some of the focus of the heaviest downpours of the heaviest downpours could be across the could be across the southern half of the uk. southern half of the uk. there'll be quite frequent there'll be quite frequent showers here, but again showers here, but again some bright and some warm for the time of year. some bright and some sunny spells in between. sunny spells in between. another band of rain another band of rain just pushes northwards just pushes northwards into scotland. into scotland. again, there will be quite again, there will be quite a lot of cloud here, a lot of cloud here, but once again in the best but once again in the best of the sunshine, of the sunshine,

it will feel it will feel warm for the time of year. temperatures generally 1a to 18 celsius. now, wednesday's weather needs watching. this deep area of low pressure contains the remnants of hurricane kirk, and at the moment, we think that the worst of the weather will be across northern france, moving into the low countries, heavy rain and strong winds. but some of that rain could move into kent, perhaps. we're likely to see some very blustery winds down the north sea facing coasts as that low pulls away, and then it turns a lot colder.

this is bbc news, the headlines... explosions. israel steps up its offensives against hezbollah in lebanon and hamas in gaza, on the eve of the october 7th anniversary. fresh evacuation orders for around 25 villages in southern lebanon have been issued, as israel continues with its ground invasion. thousands of people gather across the world to call for the return of the 101 hostages still being held in gaza. events have been held in paris, london and glasgow, among others. israel is on a state of high alert with a female israeli border police officer killed on sunday and ten people wounded — in an attack by a gunman in the southern town of beersheba. the prime minister's chief of staff quit her role — sue gray said she "risked becoming a distraction". she had been caught in rows over pay, after it was revealed

her salary was higher than sir keir starmer�*s