the world health organization warns of a "catastrophic" situation at gaza's medical facilities. former first lady michelle obama rallies the crowd for kamala harris in michigan — as trump hits the other battleground state of pennsylvania. voting under way in japan voting under way injapan as the ruling party is under pressure and underfire. there are rising prices and stagnating wages are on their minds. hello, i'm azadeh moshiri. welcome to the programme. we begin with reaction to israel's air strikes on iran. it's an attack world leaders have been bracing themselves for. while iran is downplaying the scale of the strikes — saying they caused limited damage — its army said the raids killed four of its soldiers. israel, on the other hand, says three waves of fighter

jets targeted 20 military sites — with some reports saying that up to 100 aircraft were involved. israel says the attacks were in response to missiles that were fired by iran earlier this month. according to iranian officials, military sites in the capital tehran were hit, as well as bases in the provinces of ilam and khuzestan. iraq, qatar, and saudi arabia are among countries in the region that have condemned the israeli raids, while hezbollah — which is backed by iran and designated a terrorist organisation by the us and uk — has called this a dangerous escalation. but there's been a different message from here in the us. speaking in the last few hours as he boarded a plane, presidentjoe biden said he hoped this signalled an end to the direct attacks between the two countries. i was on with the intelligence community for the last half—hour. it looks like they didn't hit anything other than military targets. my hope is this is the end.

did you get a heads—up from israel on the iran strike? did you get any heads—up? yes — the office of israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu said israel chose its targets: "in accordance with its national interests, and not "according to american dictates". our north america correspondent rowan bridge has more on what us officials are saying on the strikes in iran. i think there will be a sense of relief within the white house as to the nature of the attacks that israel carried out, they were described by a senior official as precise and proportionate. i think there had been concerns, america had been pressuring the israelis publicly and privately not to go after iranian nuclear or oil facilities amid concerns that that could escalate the situation and they are clearly, from the language used, hoping to draw a line under this at this stage. they are warning — a senior american official said there would be consequences for iran, if they do decide to strike back.

echoing president biden, the uk, france and germany have called on all sides to show restraint. russia says it is concerned about the escalation in hostilities. the bbc�*sjeremy bowen has been getting reaction from jerusalem and sent us this report. israeli pilots set out for the long flight to strike iran. israel and the whole middle east has been waiting for this since iran attacked with around 180 ballistic missiles on the 1st of october. this was tehran in the early hours of the morning. israel said it hit military targets in the capital and the provinces. iran's leaders now face a hard choice. do nothing and risk looking weak, hit back and risk a bigger israeli attack. if the regime in iran were to make the mistake of beginning a new round of escalation, we will be

obligated to respond. 0ur message is clear. all those who threaten the state of israel and seek to drag the region into wider escalation will pay a heavy price. the israeli military released silent, blurred video from the war room. they agreed to president biden�*s request not to hit iran's nuclear, oil and gas facilities. if iran retaliates, they are likely to be the next targets. tel aviv this morning. most israelis believe war in gaza and lebanon as well as iran is justified and unavoidable. so i think it was a good action. but we need to keep it calm. we don't need to get an escalation going. the message is through and i hope things will be calm right now. we need to respond very hard, very quick and that they will understand that we are into it.

iran has played down the damage done by the raids, releasing very little video. for the citizens of tehran, it is still the first direct attack on their capital since war with iraq in the 1980s. he says, "we heard cannon fire and an explosion, "the sound echoed across the sky, it was terrible "and horrifying. "we are worried the war in the middle east is going "to affect us too. "why should we live without peace? "why can't we just be happy? "it's really worrying me." "war," she says, "is frightening." "everyone is worried about what a war might "do to us. "but i don't believe a terrible war will happen in iran." israel has released video of another huge strike on hezbollah positions in lebanon. the israelis have set the pace of escalation since early summer. it's hard to stop tit—for—tat strikes when both sides fear looking weak and deterred

if they don't respond, and that is how wars spin out of control. jeremy bowen, bbc news, jerusalem. for more i've been speaking to abbas milani, director of iranian studies at stanford university. we are talking about direct attacks between iran and israel. how grave is a situation in the middle east? after all the events, it is easy to get desensitised and think this is business as usual at this point. it think this is business as usual at this point.— at this point. it is not business _ at this point. it is not business as - at this point. it is not business as usual, i at this point. it is not. business as usual, you at this point. it is not - business as usual, you are right, this is the first time they have gone directly at each other�*s territory but it is not the first time they have gone at each other�*s military. israel has been inaudible iran and syria for the past few years and they have substantially weakened iran's forces, they have essentially on all accounts convinced syria

to stay out of this, there are reports in a running unit media inaudible andrew has below, not to get syria involved. iran has 100,000 missiles that they have keptin 100,000 missiles that they have kept in asiri as a form of deterrence. they have lost that rotarians, i think in lebanon as well, they have lost virtually all of them. they determine how they had in gaza. israel has paid a very heavy price. inaudible because of the images coming out of gaza are a sign of weakness and iran knows that. militarily they realise they are in a very weak position. they are in a very weak position-— they are in a very weak position. they are in a very weak osition. �* ., ., , position. at the heart of this especially — position. at the heart of this especially when _ position. at the heart of this especially when it _ position. at the heart of this especially when it comes - position. at the heart of this especially when it comes to | especially when it comes to this attack, people, how do you believe iranians would have reacted in the past 2a hours to

these events and what do we know about how they feel about israel and the war in the middle east?— middle east? there is a surprising _ middle east? there is a surprising amount - middle east? there is a surprising amount of. middle east? there is a - surprising amount of public display, of anger at these policies. many people inside iran and people outside iran see a war with israel is not in their national interest. it is not wise, they do not understand why they have brought this country under virtual war. brought this country under virtualwar. iranians virtual war. iranians increasingly and virtualwar. iranians increasingly and there are some holes, there is anecdotal evidence, do not think and do not support the policy of spending billions of dollars creating proxies in lebanon, in yemen, in iraq, in gaza. 0nly yemen, in iraq, in gaza. only to act asa yemen, in iraq, in gaza. only to act as a deterrence, leaving

the economy in shambles, and a sum of 50% of iranians live below the poverty line. that to me indicates the regime is pursuing a policy that has very little public support. well, meanwhile in gaza, the united nations says it's had reports that nearly all of the male staff at a hospital have been detained by israeli forces. israeli troops have now left the kamal adwan hospital in jabalia after a raid yesterday. hundreds of patients and displaced people were sheltering there at the time. the bbc and otherforeign media organisations are prevented by israel from entering gaza to report independently, but our special correspondent fergal keane sent this report from jerusalem. you may find some scenes in it distressing. this is the story of a doctor... allahu akbar. ..who became a grieving father. hossam abu saifa worked to save the lives of others.

allahu akbar. but today, mourned his son. ibraham was killed in the hospital grounds, shot by the israeli army, his father says. since the renewed offensive onjabalia, the doctor has made repeated appeals for help. translation: we are talking about collective punishment l for the health system in the gaza strip. consequently, we urge the world to intervene and impose their humanity over the israeli army. the army raided yesterday. dr abu safiyyah, with his staff, waiting. then the people forced out. fear holds them. they are made to line up.

men separated from the women. translation: we moved patients to the reception area. _ then they said to dr hussam, then they said to dr hussam, the director of the hospital, the director of the hospital, to evacuate patients to evacuate patients who could walk. who could walk. among those with catheters among those with catheters and those with central lines, and those with central lines, some could not walk long distances some could not walk long distances because of internal injuries. because of internal injuries. however, they insisted however, they insisted on them exiting on foot. on them exiting on foot. the damaged hospital the damaged hospital compound this afternoon. compound this afternoon. the israelis say the israelis say they were seeking terrorists and their they were seeking terrorists and their infrastructure. infrastructure. wrecked ambulances. three soldiers were killed three soldiers were killed in jabalia yesterday. in jabalia yesterday. hamas published these images hamas published these images of a stricken israeli tank. of a stricken israeli tank. dr abu safiyyah dr abu safiyyah mourned his son. mourned his son. he was comforted by the small he was comforted by the small group of men still left group of men still left

around the hospital. around the hospital. as soon as at this moment but as soon as

we do we will bring that to you on the bbc news channel. here in the us, it's here in the us, it's only ten days to go only ten days to go until the presidential election until the presidential election and the campaigns are rolling and the campaigns are rolling on full force as millions on full force as millions of americans have already of americans have already cast their ballots in cast their ballots in the early voting process. the early voting process. donald trump hasjust donald trump hasjust finished his campaign event finished his campaign event at a pennsylvania university at a pennsylvania university after campaigning in michigan after campaigning in michigan earlier on saturday. earlier on saturday. at a rally near detroit, at a rally near detroit, muslim leaders endorsed muslim leaders endorsed the former president onstage, the former president onstage, saying they believe he can saying they believe he can bring peace to the middle east. bring peace to the middle east. the conflicts in gaza and lebanon are top issues there in michigan. there in michigan. but in pennsylvania, but in pennsylvania, energy and manufacturing top the list. energy and manufacturing top the list. at his rally, trump promised to reduce energy at his rally, trump promised to reduce energy prices for pennsylvanians. prices for pennsylvanians. under kamala's high—cost energy under kamala's high—cost energy policies, pennsylvania policies, pennsylvania electricity prices are already electricity prices are already up 50% and are projected up 50% and are projected to more than double to more than double in the years ahead, year in the years ahead, year and a half, they and a half, they expect to be double. expect to be double. not only are they not not only are they not going to be double, your energy going to be double, your energy prices — that's car, gasoline, prices — that's car, gasoline,

because we're going to end because we're going to end the electric mandate immediately, ok? applause immediately. your energy prices will be cut in half within 12 months, from january the 20th, which is when we would take over. meanwhile, in the last hour, kamala harris finished rallying a crowd of supporters in kalamazoo, michigan. former first lady michelle obama introduced the vice president to the crowd in herfirst campaign appearance since the democratic national convention in august. in a fiery speech, the former first lady criticised donald trump repeatedly, and argued kamala harris is being held to a higher standard than her opponent. this was her message to voters in michigan. right now, as you know, this race is close. it's too close for my liking. and i came out here to michigan because i am someone who takes her own

advice to heart. i know that if we want to help this country finally turn the page on the politics of hatred and division, we can'tjust sit around and complain. no, we've got to do something. if we want to usher in the next generation of american leadership, we have got to do something! our digital reporter bernd debusmananr recaps the day of campaigning from harris�* rally in michigan. we heard both from vice president kamala harris and from first lady michelle obama, who made herfirst appearance on the campaign trail in support of harris. they both took swipes at donald trump during their remarks, but mostly, they focused on abortion access issues. they believe and the democratic party believes that that is one of the issues in which they might be able to woo undecided voters in michigan, where harris and trump are in a very tight race.

on the other side of the state, former president trump met with arab—american and muslim leaders including the mayor of dearborn, a town with a significant arab—american population. the mayor formally endorsed him saying that he believes he would bring peace to the middle east. with ten days left in this campaign, both parties

these are snap elections. this election came as a surprise — prime minister shigeru ishiba called itjust days after he took the helm of the governing liberal democratic party. it means a campaigning has been a very short indeed. last night in his last rally he pledged to build a newjapan but he is raising strong headwinds with his party rocked by corruption scandals, the leaders of which saw his predecessor booted from office. talking about his main rival, the leader of the opposition constitutional democratic party, he told supporters the ldp only works those who offer the party because, ignoring the deeds of japan's porous. looking at the overall picture, the ldp and the coalition partner had a healthy majority with 279 and over 406 overseas and the house of representatives. his

opposition had the remainder scattered between a range of minor parties across the political spectrum. many analysts predict significant losses for the ruling party, the ldp, but also questioning who among the opposition will be able to stand up and coalesce enough of a coalition partner to form government should they be able to deny the ldp from getting a majority. let's cross over to ourjay cooper respondent now. just give us a sense of the main thing for us to understand about god is the significance of the election but the circumstances in which it has come about?— circumstances in which it has come about? .,, ,., ., come about? the most important thin to come about? the most important thing to understand _ come about? the most important thing to understand is _ come about? the most important thing to understand is how- thing to understand is how unusual_ thing to understand is how unusual this is. you are laying out what — unusual this is. you are laying out what has been happening, the devastating political domino effect the financial scandal_ domino effect the financial scandal has had on the ldp, and the whirlwind of the political situation we find ourselves in,

that— situation we find ourselves in, that is— situation we find ourselves in, that is not— situation we find ourselves in, that is not the norm in a japanese politics. the ldp has always— japanese politics. the ldp has always had a secure, steady presence _ always had a secure, steady presence in a japanese politics, they have governed pan for _ politics, they have governed pan for most of his post—war era but— pan for most of his post—war era but they find in a tight spot— era but they find in a tight spot and _ era but they find in a tight spot and that is because of the fallout— spot and that is because of the fallout from the revelation that — fallout from the revelation that came out late last year that — that came out late last year that dozens of senior ldp members were embroiled in a pocketing what amounted to millions _ pocketing what amounted to millions of dollars over a five year — millions of dollars over a five year period, not revealing it for tax — year period, not revealing it for tax purposes, and that has angered — for tax purposes, and that has angered the public because remember they watch this happen, they watch a party unable _ happen, they watch a party unable to deal with this internal scandal and investigate itself properly, making itself look so bad to the electorate, and the people i the electorate, and the people i have — the electorate, and the people i have spoken to they seem unrepentant. meanwhile, people deal unrepentant. meanwhile, people deat with— unrepentant. meanwhile, people deal with pocketbook issues, dealing — deal with pocketbook issues, dealing with high prices, that have — dealing with high prices, that have risen very fast in the last— have risen very fast in the last couple of years. also

inflation, the fact that their wages _ inflation, the fact that their wages have not risen in the last— wages have not risen in the last 30 _ wages have not risen in the last 30 years, while those in power— last 30 years, while those in power are _ last 30 years, while those in power are embroiled in corruption, and people i have spoken— corruption, and people i have spoken to _ corruption, and people i have spoken to say they are either not decided about who they want to vote _ not decided about who they want to vote for or they are quite angry— to vote for or they are quite angry at— to vote for or they are quite angry at the ruling party at this— angry at the ruling party at this point. angry at the ruling party at this point-— angry at the ruling party at this oint. ., , ., ., ., , this point. that is a dangerous combination _ this point. that is a dangerous combination for _ this point. that is a dangerous combination for them - this point. that is a dangerous combination for them having l this point. that is a dangerous| combination for them having to deal with pressure on their own party and also unhappy electorate with the economic situation. what are the other issues or opposition members, how are they thinking about how they can take advantage of the ldp? �* , , ., ldp? an interesting question because one _ ldp? an interesting question because one of _ ldp? an interesting question because one of the _ ldp? an interesting question because one of the other- ldp? an interesting question. because one of the other main stories— because one of the other main stories to _ because one of the other main stories to come out of the election— stories to come out of the election is the opposition failure _ election is the opposition failure to take advantage of how— failure to take advantage of how bad the situation the ldp find itself in, and there are a coupte — find itself in, and there are a coupte of— find itself in, and there are a couple of reasons. one is the main — couple of reasons. one is the main opposition the constitutional emigrating party has not —

constitutional emigrating party has not been able to convince the electorate that there are a viable — the electorate that there are a viable option. people injapan are merely conservative and do not like — are merely conservative and do not like change, they like politicians you have a track record _ politicians you have a track record of— politicians you have a track record of governing, the ldp has that— record of governing, the ldp has that despite the anger in their— has that despite the anger in their scandals and they bet on that — their scandals and they bet on that the _ their scandals and they bet on that. the other problem, when i speak— that. the other problem, when i speak to — that. the other problem, when i speak to people about opposition, they say they do complain a lot, they tell us how— complain a lot, they tell us how bad _ complain a lot, they tell us how bad the ldp is, they do not have _ how bad the ldp is, they do not have a _ how bad the ldp is, they do not have a clear plan on how they will do — have a clear plan on how they will do things differently, and how they will deal with the economy, how they will raise wages — economy, how they will raise wages i_ economy, how they will raise wages. i think the lack of clarity, _ wages. i think the lack of clarity, the fact the opposition parties are not united _ opposition parties are not united behind one entity, if you — united behind one entity, if you will, _ united behind one entity, if you will, all of that has scattered the votes. if people are angry, they can be for the opposition, but that does not mean — opposition, but that does not mean it— opposition, but that does not mean it gives them enough majority _ mean it gives them enough majority. they will see a bump in their— majority. they will see a bump in their seats, that is what is expected. _ in their seats, that is what is expected, to make the ldp look bad _ expected, to make the ldp look bad it— expected, to make the ldp look bad it is— expected, to make the ldp look bad it is i— expected, to make the ldp look bad. it is i give them enough for them _ bad. it is i give them enough for them to form a majority. we

for them to form a ma'ority. we will see for them to form a ma'ority. we will how h for them to form a majority. - will see how this plays out. let's get more from william pesek, journalist and author ofjapanization: what the world can learn from japan's lost decades. you have been a long watcher of japan. can you elaborate a bit more on the fight the ldp finds itself in and the prime minister? i itself in and the prime minister?— itself in and the prime minister? ~' .,, minister? i think the most important _ minister? i think the most important thing _ minister? i think the most important thing to - minister? i think the most| important thing to mention minister? i think the most. important thing to mention is that— important thing to mention is that japanese elections are normally a snooze fest. we know days _ normally a snooze fest. we know days ahead of time, weeks ahead of time _ days ahead of time, weeks ahead of time often how things will turn — of time often how things will turn out _ of time often how things will turn out. this election it genuinely is a tossup, a dramatic election, a rare moment— dramatic election, a rare moment forjapanese politics. moment for japanese politics. certainly— moment forjapanese politics. certainly as we had a moment a-o certainly as we had a moment ago this— certainly as we had a moment ago this would be the third time — ago this would be the third time only that the ldp might lose — time only that the ldp might lose power. what is interesting is a month— lose power. what is interesting is a month ago you saw the

changing _ is a month ago you saw the changing of the guard, to prime minister— changing of the guard, to prime minister shigeru ishiba, and there — minister shigeru ishiba, and there are expectations minister