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advice to help you live your life. life well planned. george: actually, you don't need vision to do most things in life. it's exciting to be part of team driving the technology forward. i think that's the most rewarding thing. people who know, know bdo. narrator: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. announcer: and now, "bbc news". >> live from london,c news. on a rare visit to gaza, benjamin netanyahu warns that fighting will deepen in the coming days. as his health ministry says over 250 people were killed in the last 24 hours, including at

least 70 at a refugee camp. rafa -- alexei navalny has been found to be held any penal colony in siberia -- held in a penal colony in siberia. king charles uses his christmas broadcast to talk about what he calls an increasingly tragic conflict around the world. ♪ >> hello. i am lewis vaughan jones. welcome to the program. start with the latest on the israel-gaza. benjamin netanyahu says the military will deepen its fight against hamas in the coming days. while these visits show him on a rare visit to israeli troops in gaza, he later told members of his party his country's military campaigns not close to being

over. his comments come days after the u.s. secretary of staaid the u.s. should lower the and has the its strikes. he later appeared in parliament. listen. >> [speaking a non-english language] lewis: speech was heckled by the families of hostages who were watching, some shouting "now" as they demanded the immediate release of loved ones. these images show the aftermath of an airstrike on a refugee camp which reportedly killed more than 70 people. the gaza health ministry says at least 250 people have been killed in the last 24 hours. local health officials say the number of debt is likely to rise. this report contains images some may find distressing. >> pointing to her pain,

overcome with distress, it hurts here, mama, she says. her mother is trying to console her. late at night, their mes were bombed. the wounded kept coming to the nearby hospital, already overwhelmed, with no fuel or water and minimal supplies. to gaza, there is no respite for the people or those trying to save them. for many, it was too late. the rating on these body bags says remains. this man survived the airstrike. his wife did not. he says it in his building, several children and displaced people were killed. >> it was horrific. i somebodies on the road, some so badly disfigured they were unrecognizable. our block was meant to be safe, according to the israeli ministry maps, but there are no

safe areas in the gaza strip. >> in a statement, the israeli ministry said it was looking into the incident, adding it was committed to taking visible steps to minimize harm to civilians. as the scale of the devastation becomes clear, so too do those facing rescue teams. in bethlehem, christmas looks and feels very dierent. it is sad and subdued. no tourists, no festivities, lots of prayers. this time of year, the eyes of the world would be on the birthplace of jesus, but it has been stripped there are messages on solidarity and calls to end the suffering. for the people here, images of destruction and death coming from gaza hit close to home. >> the pain from gaza is felt deeply here. this year it has replaced was normally a time of joy.

lewis: let's take you straight to these the -- these live pictures, this camera on southern israel looking out toward the blackness of gaza. just a few hours ago, we had a spokesperson out for benjamin netanyahu. the spokesperson saying with regard to those hostages, we heard from them a few moments ago saying that in his view, hamas responded to military pressure when it came to hostage releases. therefore, the pressure would continue. just ask to bring you an interview i did earlier at the world health organization. take a listen. >> what is available is minimal and overwhelmed. we have got officially nine of the 36 health facilities.

we -- they are partially functioning for the whole of gaza. the nine partially functioning are in the south. there are hospitals in the north, but they are functioning more as shelters. they do have a lot of people there. they have got it load of internally displaced people but they have so few staff, so few supplies but -- that they are not able to do what you are i would understand as health care and beyond just overseeing people. innocents are dying. one of my colleagues described him as will more than hospices at this stage. lewis: our medical supplies and people able to around at all? or with the constant airstrikes, is that not possibly? >> we have been able to send missions. it has been difficult. every time our team goes up there, our fingers are crossed. it is difficult to move because

you have to get agreement with both sides. even when they do remove, they find themselves being faced down by tanks or shelters, but they have been able to get to different hospitals. they do it for two reasons -- to get a sense of what their needs are but also to get some supplies. he is never enough. during that it is never enough. during our last mission, one of the structs that that stalks that was stopped, people jumped on. they are so hungry and so desperate. you are not just bombarded but you are likely to be hijacked by people who are desperate to get anything to eat. lewis: can i also ask about the secondary consequences? of course, people will be coming in and needing help from collapsed buildings, but as things disintegrate, the spread

of disease and other major health risks. >> you are absolutely right. we are concerned and we are seeing hundreds of thousands of cases of diarrhea, respiratory disease. these things are things that you might consider normal but they are not normal when y're starting in the suppressed. they wrap -- immuno suppressed. they rapidly lead to death. we have no idea how many people are dying from that right now because people are not reaching hospitals. there are also women delivering babies every day. we expect that at least 70 of those women will have complicated deliveries requiring cesarean section. that is not happening. there is nobody who can do it. they are either dying or giving birth in such a way that they will be permanently disabled if they survive and if the baby survives.

lewis: thanks to dr. margaret harris. next, the shipping giant immersed says it is preparing to resume shipping operations through the red sea. a major international military operation led by the u.s. had been deployed to the region to prevent commercial ships from being targeted. other shipping companies discussed sending ships to the red sea and suez canal earlier this month as a result of attacks by houthi rebels. next, to iran, the president says israel will "certainly pay" for the killing of a senior general. iran's state media reported the official has been killed by an israeli this airstrike in syria. he was reportedly responsible for the military alliance

between syria and iran. >> he was such an important commander in syria that iranian state to interrupted its program to announce his death. he was an iranian revolutionary guard, also issued in a statement saying that he was in charge of the logistics in syria and often on. he was a close aide to a slain general killed in a drone strike in iraq in 2020. he was an extremely important figure. then also -- they also mentioned he was killed in a town the oscars of damascus. -- on the outskirts of damascus. israel usually has a no comment policy.

usually, we hear about it through israeli media. this time, like previous attacks, they have not commented. lewis: given clearly everything that is happening in the region, talk us through the significance of this. >> we have to see this in light of the recent fire between israel and iran. u.s. officials there that i wrong launched a drone and hit an oil tank knew the indian coast, which is 1000 formatters meters away from iranian territory. there today, they said they were not involved in this attack, but u.s. officials say the drone was launched from the iranian territory. houthis were backed by iran. they have been targeting oil tankers in the red sea. those involved with this oil tanker was also his rate --

related to israelis. lewis: two russia, electing has been found that alexei navalny has been found alive and well after apparently disappearing to the country's prison system. the u.s. state department welcomes the news but remains concerned about his well-being. hes reported to be held in a penal colony in siberia. he is one of peyton's -- putin's leading opponents. he has been in jail since 2021. his new prison is considered one of the toughest in russia. navalny's team had lost contact with him on the sixth of november. >> there is no more in russia -- they always create for him special conditions. they do not have anything to do with law. we know for sure that in this new colony, his conditions would be worse than before.

but the thing is this connie is distant. it is difficult to access. for lawyers, it will be difficult to go there and to see alexi. lewis: our european regional editor reminded us about who alexei navalny is. >> he began his career as a grassroots anticorruption campaigner. he did something simple which got attention. he started buying shares in major companies which had links to the states so they had to send him their accounts. he started seeing where the corruption was. he became a thorn in the side of the kremlin with his anticorruption activities when he got a hold of the video of the house belonging to a prime minister and people could see his luxurious lifestyle. at this point, the russian state started trying to prosecute navalny. he was bending -- banned from

standing for election. this culminated in 20 when navalny was poison. he was rushed to hospital in germany. there was plenty of evidence which connected the poisoning with the russian state. at this point, he flew back to russia from germany, where to no one's surprise, he was arrested, charged with all sorts of offenses. i could tell you what they were but i would be wasting their time. nobody takes them seriously. i do not think even the russian state takes these charges seriously. he was given a total of 30 years in prison. lewis: he effectively over the last few weeks has been unable to track down. talk us through what the signicance is knowing his location. paul: inevitably, one thinks it is good news and a terrible news at the same time. a good news because there were

fears for his life. he has been a thorn in the side of the come in for so long. he is alive and his lawyer says he is alright, to use her words. however, this penal colony is brutal. i not been to that region, but i have been in the same neighborhood of russia, visiting a former penal colony in the arctic circle. it is hard to describe just how awful it is. i was wearing seral layers of professional grade mountaineering here and yet i have never been so cold in my life. indescribably so. i talk to people who'd worked in the the prison camps there who were not having the benefit of the kind of clothing i was wearing, tough beyond all measure. also, the timing of this is interesting. there are presidential elections coming up in march. nobody has any doubt that putin

will win, but it seems like the kremlin is not taking any chances saturday, they bannned an antiwar candidate from standing on some technicality. now they clearly do not want navalny heavy -- having any influence. i suppose that is a compliment to the power that alexei navalny has, certainly in the common imagination. lewis: 20 thing happens now? paul: hard to believe, but there is one penal colony a step worse than where he is now in the same vicinity. there are fears that they could send him there. people do die in these places natural causes even if nobody comes a knife in their back. but it is so harsh. we will see if he manages to maintain any contact, get any messages out.

we next step is elections and much, but do not hold your breath. we know what the results will be. lewis: around the world and across the u.k., this is bbc news. the head of the catholic church in england and wales has made an appeal for peace in the middle east. cardinal vincent nichols is worried after two women reportedly killed. the claimant denied israeli defense forces. the cardinals of catholic parishioners may be forced to leave. >> my biggest fear is that somehow they will be given orders to vacate and adjust bill. there is nowhere safe. they avoid stay there, always looked after the needy, the 54 seriously handicapped children were there. sometimes, times of darkness help us to focus on what is really of lasting importance.

there is no doubt in my mind that the person of christ and the birth that we celebrate is an indomitable light that shines in the human heart. ♪ lewis: we are live with bbc news. next, to nigeria. at least 113 people have been killed in coordinated attacks on farming communities. the attacks in hutto states started on saturday, lasted until midnight on sunday. many people were sleeping. media says the assailants also burnt down houses and looted farm projects. plateaued is one of central nature is ethnically and religiously diverse states. clashes have killed hundreds in recent years. some were seen packing their belongings and fleeing the area in the wake of the attacks. in may, fighting between farmers

and herders left more than 100 people dead. next, to russia. an american journalist detained in march is spending christmas day behind bars as he awaits trial. the wall street journal reports he was arrested more than 270 days are now. the u.s. since the charges against him are false and diplomats from the two countries are still in negotiations with the israelis. gordon fairclough is evans boss of the wall street journal. >> the holidays are a time to be with friends and family. evan is deprived of that this year in a jail in moscow with no indication of when his case may come to trial. putin said russia wants to reach an agreement with the uas -- with the united states in the casef evidence paul miller and others wrongfully detained.

we know that toxic continuing, but the latest offer from washington was rejected. lewis: next, to the serbian capital, belgrade, where protesters gathered earlier today vowing to block streets unless the government promises to rerun disputed elections. violence on sunday night shows activiststtempting to storm dahlgren city hall and police using teargas. dozens were arrested. russia has now said the west is trying to stabilize soviet. -- serbia. in the czech republic, authorities say the country's cluttered warning system is on the highest state of alert invoices and follow several days of rain and melting snow, which led to significant rises in river levels. in prague, and big men seven close off and in some cases

raise. elevated river levels were reported at 170 places around the country. here in the u.k., king charles has emphasized the importance of universal values shared between major religions at a time of "increasingly tragic conflict around the world." thus began the second christmas broadcast. here is our royal correspondent. >> at the church on the sandringham estate, the king and queen were joined by other members of the moral family for morning worship -- royal family for morning worship. the prince and princess of wales were accompaed by their three children. the duke of york was with the family and church and making a surprise return to the morning church appearance, the duchess of york. it is thought to be the first time in nearly 30 years that she has been seen in public with family on christmas day.

after church, the family returned to sandringham house for lunch and to watch the king's christmas message. [god save the king] for this second christmas broadcast of his reign, the king focused in particular on those who render service to others. king charles iii koren my heart has been warmed by countless examples of the imaginative ways in which people are caring for one another. my wife and i were delighted when hundreds of representatives of that selfless army of people, volunteers who serve their communities in so many ways and with such distinction, were able to join us in westminster abby for the coronation earlier this year. >> community projects were all the more important, the king said, any time of hardship for any, as his family had great news. then he turned to his great passion, the need to protect the environment. >> you care for this creation is

the responsibility owned by people of all faiths. we carefully the earth for the sake of our children's children. >> ten-day message for a troubled world. >> at a time of increasingly tragic conflict, type great that we can also do all in our power to protect each other. the words of jesus seem more than irrelevant. do to others as you would have them do to you. >> for christmas broadcast built around those three themes, which matter so much to the king -- a service to rutgers, the environment, and interfaith relations. and concluding with a heartfelt prayer that people and communities will respect each other. nicholas witchell lewis: for the first time in

more than 100 years, ukraine is marking christmas day today instead of in january. it is a way of cutting ties with russia which celebrates according to the orthodox calendar. for those that were, there will be little cause for celebration. james waterhouse reports from one city on the front line. >> christmas here is a celebration in name only. children were evacuated from this frontline city. and only 5000 people remain. it used to be five times that. today is punctuated with artillery shells and sirens. life continues for those who stayed, but it is a tense existence. >> we all live in fear of death. when we go to work, we do not know what can happen, whether

russia will strike with rockets. we love on edge. we do not know whether we will come back home or not. lewis: 17-year-old sophia has them for both occupation and liberation. her dad is stating. she is not impressed with her country's fate being determined by skeptical western politicians. >> perhaps they should come here and see for themselves what the situation is like and how much the aid is needed. if there is no hope for ukraine now, russia will take its aggression further. >> the briefest of pauses for a christmas prayer. large gatherings are dangerous here, when brush -- russian drones loiter above. instead of these tips forcing out their invaders, it is them repelling constant attacks. >>'s day and night. no breaks.

it is 24/7. we have more targets, so we need more shelves. they trolled lots of men and machinery into battle. they do not give you anything. >> it is hard to sell a victory. it seems distant. ukraine's struggle to contain western doubt has left it with a new unit looking far from certain -- new year looking far from certain. lewis: i am lewis vaughan jones. this is bbc news. ♪ narrator: funding for this presentation of this program is provided by... narrator: financial services firm, raymond james. man: bdo. accountants and advisors. narrator: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs.

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♪ ♪ narrator: funding for this presentation of this program is provided by... woman: architect. bee keeper. mentor. a raymond james financial advisor tailors