let's go now to nicole johnston who joins in gaza. now nicole, i believe you are in an area where residence have been told that it's safe to return. how is it that this came about? >> reporter: well, people from the area had received word from the israeli army that they could now move back to their homes. we were just ate the an united nations schools right on the outskirts, and there were thousands of people there. they said they would not be returning back to their houses just yet even though they had received this word from the israeli army they didn't believe it. they don't think it's safe just yet. where we were we could still hear the shelling of tanks. certainly people are very nervous. we've had cease-fires come and go. people thought they would be safe to return home at various times and people have been injured or killed as they've done so. at this stage the people there, there are four and a half thousand of them, they said as much as they desperately wanting to home they've been living in this u.n. school for 17 days, they'

term cease fire and eventually longer term talks and at the moment both of them are stuck. >> nicole johnston jerusalem, thank you. al jazeera is continuing to demand the release of three journalists who have been in prison in egypt for 223 days. fahmy, greste and no had were falsely accused of helping the muslim brotherhood and given 7 years and mohamed got an extra 7 years because of a spent bullet he picked up in a protest. presidential elections agreed to form a unity government and they signed a document vowing to work together. even before an official review of the resent vote has been completed. the u.s. secretary of state john kerry through to kabul to prevent a dead like. >> the candidates will work together to move the process forward and signed a political agreement saying they will form a unity government, a government of national unity and one will be president and a chief officer and who is not president they will have a voice in a post in the new government and both agreed to abide by the election auditing process, the biggest in the u.n. history, 8 million votes are being look

we could see nicole johnston's piece, the health risks. water supply, the drinking water supply. what are the chance he that that might now become contaminated sufnlg it hasn't -- assuming it hasn't been already? >> the drinking water supply has been suffering critical lack of supply, because so many water pipelines have been destroyed during the air strikes. when the main power plant was completely destroyed, and now it's out of service, this affected pumping the water, the clean water into the houses of the gaza strip. which means now hundreds of thousands of people are out of water especially drinking water. talking about the situation in the shelters, where at least 400,000 people are sheltering, in schools and other public places, they have a cute shortages of clean and drinking water. now everyone is having only three liter of clean water a day. we at oxfam started to distribute clean water during the start of this operation but the need is huge on the ground. >> we saw on the report, how long would it take to get sewage system that

earlier we spoke with nicole johnston who has been reporting from gaza. >> reporter: they're starting to get reports in from all of our sources in gaza along the borders. we're hearing they're pulling back from the area east, areas that have been heavily hit over the last few days as well as the area north o. some of the tanks are firing as they start to pull back. they're moving closer and closer to the israeli border. today the israeli army told the people in the area this is in the north of the gaza strip that they can return to their homes. we went up to that area to see where people decided to go back and went to an united nations school just on the outskirts of it. there were 4,000 people there desperate to go home living in a school that only had enough room for 1,000 people at most. they said as much as i wanting to home and they're desperate for it, they're not going to home right now they still don't think it's safe. there is false starts and stops and cease fires and problems as we know in gaza over the last few weeks. even though we're hearing word of tanks pulling back, t

. >> nicole johnston is live for us in gaza, and nicole, good to see you again. now a lot of back and forth from--you're looking around. what's going on, first, let's start there. >> reporter: i'm just keeping an eye for things. nothing specific. >> what do we know about what happened this morning in gaza? >> reporter: there's two very different stories of what has happened. they say they had a suicide bomber go into a tunnel, emerge on the other side, kill two israeli soldiers and capture a soldier, however they say this all took place before the cease-fire formerly came into effect. this is being totally disputed by israel and backed up by the usa. they say this happened after the cease-fire started and for that reason the cease-fire and the humanitarian pause became null and void so to speak. they say it was a very heavy situation in gaza. most of it is concentrated in the southern area of rafa. it's during the three weeks of fighting that it has come from the town of rafa. very heavy tank shelling has been going on all day. people receiving messages saying th

we bring our coverage with nicole johnston. >> the al kasam brigade, the military wing of hamas has released a statement saying they don't know where the soldier is or anything about it. they did say however they had a mission which included a suicide bomber operating near rafah, after that team accomplished whatever it set out to do was hit by an israeli air strike. so if that team happened to have had an israeli soldier with them about al kasam brigade is saying he would have been killed by this israeli air strike. we have strikes carried out over different parts of the strip at least half a dozen inside gaza, a lot have been underway inside the southern town of rafah, more than 80 people have been killed there, a large mosque has been hit and a family of five have been killed. >> that's nicole johnston. >>> the senate approved $225 million for weapons for iron dome. house will take it up later tonight. hamas has fired nearly 3,000 rockets at israel since the fight began. jonathan betz has more. >> john, frustration grows in washington. on capitol support for israel and age are towards whi

let's go to nicole johnston who joins us live from gaza. nicole, we heard there was a seven hour limited cease-fire is now over. what is happening there? >> reporter: well there didn't appear to be a seven-hour limited cease-fire from what we saw. people were able to return to the center, which people have not been able to do previously. there were people going in and taking a look at their damaged and destroyed houses. as you were saying in your introduction in other parts of the gaza strip there were airstrikes and shelling started up again and artillery fire. this was happening along those eastern border yet again. we heard tank shellings just as we were leaving. people got quick out out of that area, and in the northern area of gaza as well. in other information that i can update you on, more than gaza, they can return to their homes. a couple of days ago israel told people in the area nearby that they could go to their homes. but the area is still unstable for them to return. so while they get sort of one message from israel they're not

. >> nicole johnston with the failure of the truce. >> reporter: as soon as the cease-fire started there were dozens of fishing boats for the first time out inside the support trying to fish going a few money meters out from shore. that's the first time we've seen that for a few weeks. there was a sense of optimism here. but as we've seen the events of the day have willingly changed things dramatically on the ground. 120 people have been killed across gaza today. it's a very high loss of life. and in rafa, fighting between the israelis and the palestinian factions, more than 65 people have been killed. we know that the area is still being heavily sheffield united. that people have been told by the israeli army to stay in the houses, not to go out on the streets, not to drive their cars. communication now is very difficult. we have not been able to get through on the phones. there is no electricity, so it's a terrible situation. reports as well that one of the hospitals, the front of it, the entrance, had also been hit. so it's going to be a very difficult night ahead i would imagine in g

nicole johnston reports from gaza. >> took his bike to hoza to see what was left, not much. all he found at home was some is oolives. >> they shot the house from 10:00 to 5:00. he went back to get the bottle of olives. we have them stuffed for children. >> it is hard to believe this was a quiet village surrounded by farms. now it's a waste land. another neighborhood in gaza have been destroyed. homes and businesses under all this rubble. the people who live here are coming in to try to find whatever they can unde find to salvage under the concrete. >>> always lived in h-oza, since the war started, 40 members of his extended family have been killed. >> most of the bodies were dissolved. my urchg some 106 years. they -- my uncle is 106 years. we left him bleeding, his body, the smell everywhere, the smell of the bodies, that killed people, the rubbish, the chicken, the animals everywhere. >> reporter: in the middle of the house israel left this behind. the casing of a missile. close by, another family eat in the middle of the rubble, next to their old house. >> translator: we

nicole johnston, al jazeera, gaza. >> the united nations has been criminal of the campaign's toll on the population. israel disputes the number and says more than half of those killed were from islamic jihad and hamas. 30% of gazaens have been forced to flee their homes. 65,000 of them have lost their homes entirely and have nowhere to go. and earlier i spoke with daniel kirtzer former ambassador to egypt. i asked him if unlike other crease fires if this cease-fire might actually hold? >> i think the cease-fire is likely hold in its largest dimensions. israel will announce it's accomplished its military objectives destroying the tunnels and fighting back against the rockets. we heard today that the external leader of hamas has announced that they achieved their military objectives. the problem is as the underlying conflict goes on we're likely to see a recurrence of violence. this particular cease-fire may hold for a while. >> ambassador, what is the significance in your mind of egypt's role in the cease-fire? >> well, egypt has played quite a significant role. in the conflict they w

nicole johnston, al jazeera, gaza. >>> talks are due to take place in cairo.alestinian delegation is already there. they want a full israeli withdraw from gaza, an end to the blockade of the territory, the release of hamas prisoners held by israel, and international assistance in the reconstruction of gaza. israel is demanding that gaza be completely demilitarized which would require hamas to give up its arsenal of weapons and a way to prevent hamas from rearming in the future. we'll have plenty more still ahead. and coming up this news hour, the lebanese army fighting to retake the town held by nig night -- fighters. >>> and in sports one of spain's most decorated players announces his retirement. we'll tell you who soon. ♪ >>> british police have arrested a passenger on board a qatar airways just for making a hoax bomb threat. air force fighting planes escorted the plane down to manchester airport where it landed safely. simon give us more details. >> the latest as you say correctly this man has been arrested on suspicion of making a bomb hoax. we gather at

nicole be johnston has the story. >> what happens after the ceasefire expires, 8:00 a.m. in the morning local timer. some reports are coming out from egyptian and israeli media that israel does favor idea of continuing the ceasefire without conditions attached. but hamas has not reached agreements. far apart on their demands in talks in cairo. reopening the rafah brotherhood crossing as well as a number of other demands and israel is talking about demilitarizing. something hamas would never agree to at this stage. >> nicole johnston reporting. >>> ceasefire talks as james bays explains leaders are on tremendous domestic and international pressure to under the violence. >> reporter: after 29 days of death and bombardment it's now time for diplomacy. but the talks taking place in cairo will be extremely difficult and all sides have plenty to lose. the israeli prime minister bmentbenjamin netanyahu is alrey under pressure. israeli public have high expectations. israeli rockets may have only killed three people in four weeks but they want them stopped completely. there are th

. >> nicole johnston is live and thank you very much.hile israel is coming under increased pressure for the strike on a u.n. school on sunday, at least ten people were killed, the u.n. called it a criminal act and israel's main ally the u.s. is describing this as disgraceful and we report. >> reporter: chaos at best caused by an israeli drone. this mobile phone video was shot just minutes after the strike and witnesses say a missile was fired at a motorcycle parked meters from a u.n. school being used as a shelter. several people were killed and dozens wounded and 3 1/2 million live in schools like this across the gaza strip and meant to be safe havens that have been targeted by fire at least three times. the schools used as shelters are clearly full of children, children who are killed and injured in the attack. he shows me the footage he filmed moments after the drone strike and tells me what he saw. >> translator: the street was full of children, bikes by the shop at the main gate, what do they do, they are only kids and so many dead

. >> nicole johnston in west jerusalem for us. thank you. well, you can always get plenty more on our website. you'll find that at aljazeera.com. much more ahead in this news hour. including, malaysia airlines is taken ownership after losing two planes in 5 months. >>> and discovering nine babies in a bangkok flat. and a footballer after biting an opponent. >> in afghanistan, they are trying to document vowing to work together, even before an official review has been completed. now, the u.s. secretary of state, john kerry, he flew to kabul to try to end the political deadlock. jennifer glasse sends us this update. >> reporter: the two candidates say that they are going to work together to move the process forward. they signed a communique on two agreements, one saying this they will form a unity government. but they will also agree to have a check executive officer, and whoever does not become president will have a voice on some of the posts in the new government. and they have also agreed to abide by this election auditing process. the bigg

. >> nicole johnston in jerusalem. >> the "world health organization" declared today global emergency. the agency said africa needs more help to fight the outbreak and said help is needed immediately. we have reports from lagos, nigeria. >> reporter: the ebola outbreak is the worst in history. it's so far affected more people than any other previous outbreaks combined. >> this morning i am declaring the current outbreak of the ebola virus disease a public health emergency of international concern. the committee's position was unanimous. it applies to me, acknowledges the serious and unusual nature of the outbreak and the potential for further international spread. >> the current outbreak has crept to liberia, serie a leone and nigeria. the ebola outbreak is an emergency. until now they've been fighting it on their own, and the declaration will become more financial and technical. >> our collective health security depends on support of containment operations in these countries. i urge the international community to provide the support on the most urgent need basis as soon as possible.

. >> nicole johnston, there were dozens killed in rafah, after israel shelled the city for retaliation for killing the soldiers. >> the fighting there is continuing and overnight it's moved from tank shelling from the israeli side to more air strikes. so we're getting a lot of reports of air strikes on friday, 65 people were killed, already we've had another 20 people killed, so it's been a really hard 12, 18-hour period, inside of rafah in the south. we have been speaking to the people there. they say they're terrified, air strikes and shelling going on for hours. they've received messages from israel telling them not to go outside their houses not to drive, to stay inside. it sounds like a very hard operation is underway there. ambulance crews haven't been out to get to those houses that have been hit, we know fighting is still continuing and we feel it's a while before we'll get a final death toll there. bodies are still under rubble and a lot more injured people are coming out. it's been difficult for ambulances to get to them. >> what about hamas, has it been shooting its rockets

nicole johnston has the latest from gaza. >> reporter: we are at the united nations school on the outskirtsere most have been here for 17 days. they have been told by the israeli army that they can return to their homes. around 2,000 people have gone back to take a look to see whether they have any homes left to take the mattresses, et cetera, but at this stage, they say they won't be permanently going back because they are too worried. they are too fearful about the situation. they have heard about the heavy bombardment that is continuing inside rafah and for now, they don't want to go back to their houses. so at this stage, there is still 4 and a half thousand people inside this u.n. school in a facility that only has room for around 1,000. >> thousands of pro-palestinian protesters swarmed the streets flu france. >> called on the french government to impose sanctions against israel. demonstrate orders reenacted scenes showing palestinian women carrying slain children in their arms. the protest was authorized. there was a heavy police plex in the west bank. a funeral for a 20-year-old man

nicole johnston, al jazeera, gaza. >> reporter: they reached agreement for people fleeing violence ando assess the situation and fighting in libya left thousands of people hoping to leave the country and they are stranded on its borders and we report from neighbor tunesia. >> reporter: they were elected in june but this is their first official meeting. violence is rife in the capital tripoli and forced the army to withdraw from benghazi so this was the best place for them to meet n a hotel under protection of heavy security presence. fighting between different libya malitia has thrown the country in turmoil again and to add to complexity the head of the parliament called for a rival meeting in tripoli, new house of representatives called for a national unity government as a way out of the current crisis. >> translator: the transitional government is proposing an urgent vision, at the core of which is to put in place all necessary solutions to preserve security using all means possible that will produce a balanced situation in libya. >> reporter: the instability caused oil production to

nicole on-johnston but we will talk about why the cease fire wasn't extended from hamas?rter: well, at this stage we have not heard much from hamas. we have, of course, heard from various people, suggesting that hamas is still trying to come up with some sort of agreement which in the long-term we will see an end to the blockade which we will see new rules which allow fisher men in the gaza strip to go further than allowed and an establishment of a port in gaza but we understand the gulf between what hamas wants and indeed what israel is willing to settle for remains extremely wide. and that is why perhaps we have seen the kind of fighting we have today. in fact, just before i spoke to you i could hear the boom of an air strike. we don't know what the target was at this stage. but the fighting continues. >> in gaza thanks for much and speaking to nicole in west jerusalem and what do we hear about cease fire talks from israelis? >> just in the last couple hours we started to hear from the israeli media about the main sticking point, officially israel is not saying anything