Have struck tel aviv and areas that surround gaza. Air raid sirens have also sounded in several other towns. A number of people have been reported killed on both sides, but the exact numbers are not confirmed. Details of the palestinian incursions are unclear, but gunmen have been reported in towns near the gaza border and israelis have been warned to stay inside. Hamas� military commander Mohammad Deif announced the start of the operation in a broadcast on hamas media, calling on palestinians everywhere to fight. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the military says it is striking targets in gaza in response. He says the enemy will pay a price that it has never known simonjones reports. Rockets launched from gaza into israel in a Surprise Attack that started just after dawn. The Palestinian Militant Group hamas claims it launched 5,000 rockets in the space of 20 minutes, some of them long range. Militants are said to have entered israeli territory in a number of different locations. Gunmen on the loose in one town are reported to have opened fire on civilians. Hamas says this is a response to what it describes as israeli violence against palestinians in the west bank. Hamas has called on palestinians everywhere to fight. This is the israeli city of ashkelon, north of gaza. Firefighters have been tackling flames caused by the strikes. Israels Defence Forces telling residents around in the gaza strip to stay inside while the people in southern and central areas must remain next to shelters. It says it is conducting what it calls a situational assessment, promising hamas would face the consequences and responsibility for these events. Israels Prime Minister is preparing to meet his top security officials. In gaza, these pictures are said to show hamas militants with a captured israeli vehicle. With a captured israeli army vehicle. People have begun fleeing their homes as retaliatory strikes are being fired into the gaza strip. A morning that has erupted into violence, hamas says its operation has onlyjust ordered while israel has declared a state of readiness for war. Simon jones, bbc news. Live now to our security correspondent, frank gardner. Iamjust i am just seeing your report to the bbc live page, with the latest updates on the story. Youre saying this colossal Intelligence Failure for israel. How did this happen . That is a good question. I put exactly that question to an Israeli Government official a few minutes ago, and he didnt have an answer. He said, dont know. Some people may have some ideas, but it is coming right at the end of a jewish holiday. This is not the first time that a religious holiday or a jewish holiday has been used to catch the israelis out, by surprise. Yom kippur war, israelis out, by surprise. Yom kippurwar, of israelis out, by surprise. Yom kippur war, of course, israelis out, by surprise. Yom kippurwar, of course, in 1973, being the most famous one. It is an Intelligence Failure, because israel spends a huge amount of money and effort on trying to know ahead of time what is going on. It has informants, it is supposed to have, inside militant groups, inside hezbollah, inside situ mass, and yet, seems to cut them off with this. Inside hamas. They coordinated the Rocket Attacks with the considerable coordination across the considerable coordination across the border, getting people across of paragliders, and it may be snuffed out from here, and israel is going to retaliate with massive force, thatis to retaliate with massive force, that is a given. They have already launched Operation Swords of aaron, as they are calling it, but there will be an inquiry into how they were caught off guard. I will be an inquiry into how they were caught off guard. Will be an inquiry into how they were caught off guard. I was ust askin were caught off guard. I was ust asking why fl were caught off guard. I was ust asking why producers were caught off guard. I was ust asking why producers for i were caught off guard. I wasjust asking why producers for more i were caught off guard. I wasjust i asking why producers for more time with you. One question was how hamas were able to plan this, there is a blockade around the gaza strip, to have any idea what it would have taken to come up with this attack and how hamas managed it . Be like it has been known that they have are large arsenal of rockets, as has hezbollah in lebanon. Theres been a thriving Cottage Industry in gaza in manufacturing these rockets, and the initial barrage, 5000 rockets launched with another 2000 after that, and the initial report was that, and the initial report was that there was just one israeli woman killed. That is obviously much too low, i think the death toll will be much higher, and it will be significant in gaza as well. Most of these rockets are fairly well powered, low powered, but nevertheless there is a lot of them, and they are churned out in cellars and they are churned out in cellars and back rooms in gaza, this immensely crowded, very depressing place on the mediterranean where people are largely hemmed in, a huge number of people are hemmed in, mostly. A lot of people turn to militant activities there. It doesnt to excuse it, but you have an enormous number of young men, board, angry and idle, so they get involved in militant activities. The light israel is this conflict spreads. Rememberthat light israel is this conflict spreads. Remember that Mohammad Deif, who is the spokesperson for hamas, the military wing of hamas, has called on all palestinians to rise up, notjust the palestinians in the west bank as well. Then islamicjihad, a Smaller Group of hamas, has said they willjoin in. If hezbollah, and there is no suggestion that this will happen, but if they are lebanon got involved, israel would find itself under attack from two borders. Hezbollah has a very formidable arsenal of weapons, mostly supplied with help from iran. This arsenal of weapons, mostly supplied with help from iran. With help from iran. This is a very owerful with help from iran. This is a very powerful statement with help from iran. This is a very powerful statement from with help from iran. This is a very powerful statement from hamas, j with help from iran. This is a very powerful statement from hamas, some even comparing it to the young cooper operation, a Surprise Attack on israel. How does this compare in historical times in terms of what we have seen happening between israel and palestine in the past . You are right in that it is not the first time that israel has been attacked during a national holiday, and i think during a national holiday, and i thin ,. , during a national holiday, and i thin 1 ,. , , during a national holiday, and i thin ,. , , during a national holiday, and i thin ,. ,. , think questions will be asked as to wh so think questions will be asked as to why so many think questions will be asked as to why so many peeple think questions will be asked as to why so many people were think questions will be asked as to why so many people were off think questions will be asked as to | why so many people were off duty, not being on duty and aware of what was about to happen. There is a major difference, the Young Cooper War was several arab nations deploying the full might of their National Armies and military effort against israel, and initially, in 1973, they really pushed the israelis back. Israel had its back against the wall initially. They were driven right back. It did take them by surprise. Compared to 1967, which was a successful war for israel. The difference here is that these are not National Armies, this is the Palestinian Militants who are fighting israel, and you said earlier, how did they get all stuffing, while there are tunnels going out of gas. Egypt and israel have tried to close them, that they keep being dug. There is an ending that out contesting in and out clandestine supply route. All this will play into the arab street, a bit of a cliche, but general populations in arab countries, a lot of whom have made peace with israel, despite this relatively new Israeli Government has lurched to the right, it is a fairly hard line government with a very uncompromising stance over settlements and land that the palestinians say is theirs and that is settlers say is theirs, and that is settlers say is theirs, and that is one of the reasons that this conflagration has broken out, but there is enormous frustration with there is enormous frustration with the growth of israeli settlements. At the same time, this violence is going to end up hurting palestinians in a big way. Like going to end up hurting palestinians in a big way in a big way. Like you very much, our security in a big way. Like you very much, our security correspondent, in a big way. Like you very much, | our security correspondent, frank gardner, with that analysis of the news coming out of israel. We are just hearing from the Palestinian President , who does not speak for hamas, which controls the gaza strip. He says that the terrors of settlers and occupation groups, the Palestinian People have the right to defend themselves against the terror of settlers and occupation troops. Apologies for that. In the uk, a former director at the Energy Regulator 0fgem, has called on energy firms to refund customers more quickly, if theyve built up credit on their accounts and ask for it back. It comes after the bbc revealed last week, that in the first three months of this year, credit held by energy firms was more than £8 billion. Dan whitworth reports. Credit built up by people paying for their energy using monthly direct debits can be a good thing. It helps customers budget and smooths out higher winter bills with lower summer ones to keep costs the same all year round. But too much or excessive credit and crucially, customers not getting it back when they ask for it, is a problem. Just over a month ago, i asked for £500 of my £1,a00 credit back because the system shown on the Energy Suppliers website seemed so simple and so straightforward and so customer friendly. And so customer friendly, that i thought it was the right thing to do. Unfortunately, after numerous emails, i havent even had an acknowledgement, let alone any response, to whether they agreed to let me have my own money back. In the first three months of this year, Energy Suppliers held more than £8 billion of customers money in the form of credit than £8 billion of customers money in the form of credit on peoples accounts. During the same period, customers owed nearly £2 billion. Now, a former non executive director at the regulator, 0fgem, says this issue of excessive credit needs looking at. Its understandable that some money is held in credit balances, but £8 billion at a time when its maximum energy usage in the middle of a cold winter . Thats wrong. Timely needs to be defined and 0fgem need to set down a really proper, tight, hard rule on what a timely refund of balances is. I would suggest 30 days as a maximum. Energy uk, which speaks for suppliers, said when that £8 billion was held, prices were extremely volatile. Prices were extremely volatile, the level of government help was unknown, and that its not meaningful to compare credit and debt. Regulator 0fgem, meanwhile, says its strengthened the rules around direct debit to stop excessive credit being built up, adding customers have the right to ask for it back whenever they want and if theyre not happy, they can complain to their supplier and then the energy 0mbudsman. Dan whitworth, bbc news. The government has apologised and ordered an inquiry after admitting it miscalculated its funding plans, meaning schools in england will get less money than promised next year. The National Education union said the government was in chaos and that the government was in chaos and that headteachers had already based their plans on the money theyd been allocated. The education secretary, Gillian Keegan, has ordered an inquiry into the mistake. 0ur correspondent Louisa Pilbeam has more on this. This is an embarrassing blunder, because we expect Education Bosses to be able to do their sums, dont we . What it means is that Education Bosses, schools, they will be looking at a shortfall of around £370 million in the next academic year. The top Civil Servant for england, in the education department, has written to school buses stop she has for this mistake in the National Funding formula. That is how Education Bosses work out how much goes to each student in schools. In the next academic year, it would have seen. But now that will be reduced to 1. 9 . Schools are receiving more money than ever, and they have nearly £60 billion for the next academic year, and they say that works out to around an average of £5,300. They say this is an embarrassing blunder, and educations unions are not happy about this, because they say schools try and work out how much money they are going to have, they look forward, and they make assessments based on that. They say this is throw in some disarray into their plans, and unions have called the mistake frustrating. They said budgets are already down to the bone. This in the context of schools just recently having to recover from the raac concrete crisis, with schools having to close, and we saw the education secretary Gillian Keegan expressing her frustrations that she doesnt always get praise when she doesnt get anything when she gets things right. Gillian keegan has started an inquiry into this. Inquiry into this. Thank you very much, inquiry into this. Thank you very much. The inquiry into this. Thank you very much, the bbcs inquiry into this. Thank you very | much, the bbcs correspondence inquiry into this. Thank you very much, the bbcs correspondence live much, the bbc� s correspondence live from the bbc newsroom. In the uk, its National Libraries week, which also marks joseph coelho. He has completed an epic, nationwide Library Marathon four years in the Making Visiting and joining 213 libraries across the country. Josephs mission is to celebrate the role libraries play within communities and is calling for people, young and old, to join their local library. Josephjoins me now. Live from london, and i wasjust reading into the story and looking at some of the places where you found libraries. On buses, on bikes, even expect tells what you have seen over the past four years. It even expect tells what you have seen over the past four years. Over the past four years. It has been such over the past four years. It has been such an over the past four years. It has been such an honour. Over the past four years. It has been such an honour. Ive over the past four years. It has j been such an honour. Ive seen over the past four years. It has i been such an honour. Ive seen so many amazing libraries, from huge city libraries, my First Library was birmingham central library, i rememberjoining up their rather timidly. Since there, i have been to peterborough library, they have a big purple bus mobile library. 0utside blackpool, in berisford, there is a tiny library in a one bedroom converted flat. Ive seen large, huge Carnegie Libraries with big stained glass windows, but what has been consistent throughout those libraries is the passion of librarians. They know the names of their patrons, there are always ready with a book recommendation, and they are always ready to highlight Essential Services to their members. find highlight Essential Services to their members. Highlight Essential Services to their members. � ,. ,. , their members. And joseph, one of their members. And joseph, one of the key issues their members. And joseph, one of the key issues over their members. And joseph, one of the key issues over the their members. And joseph, one of the key issues over the past their members. And joseph, one of the key issues over the past few i the key issues over the past few years has been the impact of covid, and obviously that has been during the time you have been carrying out this Library Marathon full stop specifically on children and their ability to read, but also access to libraries, what have you found . I found by doing three live events as part of my Library Marathon, some librarians of use that as an opportunity to reconnect with schools and teachers, which they may have lost contact with because of covid. People move onto otherjobs and things. It has been really wonderful see that by offering a free event, libraries have been able to reconnect with schools and get things in. Been so lovely to see young people coming into the libraries, sometimes for the first time, and say to me, can i have those books, and being delighted when i say, yes, you canjoin up to the library, and it is absolutely free, and you can take eight books, ten books, 12, sometimes 20 books. They love that. Ten books, 12, sometimes 20 books. They love that they love that. That points to the next question. They love that. That points to the next question, in they love that. That points to the next question, in the they love that. That points to the next question, in the last they love that. That points to the next question, in the last few they love that. That points to the l next question, in the last few years and decades, there have been questions around the survival of libraries, and now it is National Library week, what you think the future holds for libraries . Everything is going digital, so can libraries survive . Everything is going digital, so can libraries survive . What many people dont realise libraries survive . What many people dont realise is libraries survive . What many people dont realise is that libraries survive . What many people dont realise is that libraries libraries survive . What many people dont realise is that libraries are dont realise is that libraries are at the forefront of information technology. Yes, books are a huge amount of what libraries offer, but from your local library, using your library card, you can borrow e books, audiobooks, e magazines. Ive been to libraries that offer competing classes alongside coding classes, english language classes. As in a library in wales the other day that had 3d printers that have make and create spaces, we can learn to use new technologies. We will always need new libraries, libraries will have always been and will continue to be the hearts of communities, so we must celebrate and honour them and protect them, and honour them and protect them, and we people dont realise the extent of things you can do at your local library. I would encourage everyone, if youre not already a member, get down and sign up, and if you are a member, make sure you are a regular visitor. There are lots of fantastic clubs, knit and natter groups, board game clubs, and have been very lucky that ive been able to join been very lucky that ive been able tojoin all been very lucky that ive been able to join all these libraries. Becoming will laureate, i had 70 left tojoin on my library becoming will laureate, i had 70 left to join on my Library Marathon, and its been wonderful to do events with students and members of the public, and see how much value they are getting for their local library. And just the other week, my friends son received his local library card in the post. That is a promising sign for libraries, he isjust14 years old. Now, to the Rugby World Cup in france. The pool stage is approaching its conclusion, and for the majority of nations there is still plenty to play for. Today sees three crucial games. Wales kick off proceedings against georgia, followed by england versus samoa, and this evening is the main event in paris as scotland take on world Number One Team ireland. Live now to dublin to speak to grace davitt, a former Ireland Rugby Union player. Grace, how excited are you about this evenings game . What to expect . Super excited. I think everyone in ireland will be watching the match, but there is a nervous trepidation about it. There is such expectation on this irish team. As you said, they are number one in the world. They have beaten the world champions, south africa, in their previous game, and Everyone Wants them to get out of these pool stages and go on and get into the quarters, and go on and get into the quarters, and do what they have never done before, which is getting to the semis. Really exciting, and i think it is going to be an absolute cracker of a game. These two teams are really well matched, probably one of the best matches this weekend, and because they are so close, they are so well matched, when you look at both sides they are very similar in how they play, very similar in key decisions, and they know each other so well through the six nations. Although ireland have the upper hand in the last few years with the skylines. With the skylines. What you make a violents number with the skylines. What you make a violents number one with the skylines. What you make a violents number one in with the skylines. What you make a violents number one in the with the skylines. What you make a violents number one in the world l violents number one in the world status . Theyve been billed as the team to beat in so many ways. Do you think this is too much on the shoulders of the irish team . I think with their mentality shoulders of the irish team . I think with their mentality and shoulders of the irish team . I think with their mentality and their with their mentality and their mindset, theyve actually been doing pretty well. They have a 16 game Winning Streak now, which is something that only three other teams in that world cup have done. I think the fact they are still able to win, they havent had amazing performances through that Winning Streak, but they are still able to grind out the wince, so theyve shown that they can live up to that number one status, and the way they have been speaking throughout this world cup, they are not getting ahead of themselves, especially after beating south africa. They know today is a must win match. They have to win to get through to the quarterfinals, so there is a lot of expectation, but they will be keeping it in check and giving it within the camp, knowing exactly what their roles are, and trying to keepin what their roles are, and trying to keep in the motion. What their roles are, and trying to keep in the motion. Should ireland aet keep in the motion. Should ireland get through keep in the motion. Should ireland get through this keep in the motion. Should ireland get through this evening, keep in the motion. Should ireland get through this evening, the keep in the motion. Should ireland get through this evening, the next| get through this evening, the next team they will be facing would be the all blacks or new zealand, they would be in the quarters, and i would be in the quarters, and i would really be an exciting match, and everyone is trying and willing ireland to get onto that stage . Ii ireland to get onto that stage . It ireland to get onto that stage . It ireland finish top of the group, they face new zealand, and everyone was like, oh, i would they face new zealand, and everyone was like, oh, iwould be they face new zealand, and everyone was like, oh, i would be better to face new zealand than it would be france, but i think is this tournament has gone on, you can see how much new zealand have improved. They got a 96 0 win against italy. A six nations teams, to put that score up, you can see how much they are up for that game. Getting into the finals will be very difficult, to get the onto the semifinal stage. I have no doubt that ireland will be purely focused on getting the win against scotland. We know how dangerous they are, we know the likes of finn russell and what he can pull out of the bag, and any bit of magic, one lapse of concentration, ireland could fall behind. Its great in the quarterfinals, but lets get tonight over with first. Over with first. Yes, lets get toni. Ht over with first. Yes, lets get tonight over over with first. Yes, lets get tonight over and over with first. Yes, lets get tonight over and done over with first. Yes, lets get tonight over and done with. L lets return now to our top story Security Forces in southern israel have moved to a war footing to combat a Surprise Attack by the Palestinian Militant Group, hamas the biggest in years. Thousands of rockets have been launched into israel from gaza. A short while ago Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed israels Emergency Services say at least 22 people have been killed so far. The number of Palestinians Kilt is not yet clear. A short while ago Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation in a video statement. Translation citizens of israel, we are at war. Translation citizens of israel, we are at war not translation citizens of israel, we are at war. Not in translation citizens of israel, we are at war. Not in operation, translation citizens of israel, we are at war. Not in operation, a translation citizens of israel, we are at war. Not in operation, a war. | are at war. Not in operation, a war. Hamas launched an attack against the state of israel and its citizens. First of all, and instructed to cleanse the settlements of the terrorist who had infiltrated. This operation is being carried out during these hours. At the same time, i offered an extensive operation and retaliatory war with strength in scope that the ebony has never known. The enemy will pay up an unprecedented price. In the meantime, i call on all citizens of israel to obey the instructions of the army and the instructions of the home command. We are in a war, and we will win it. That was the israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Just let you Benjamin Neta nyahu. Just let you know, Benjamin Netanyahu. Just let you know, we have a live page now on the bbc website, bbc news dot com, we live analysis and coverage from correspondence in israel and in gaza, as well as analysis on how significant and unexpected this development is. Heres matt taylor with the weather. Hello. The weekend has started with some massive weather contrasts. Two weather watcher shots from earlier on. Really sums up those contrasts across the south here you can see here in dorset, blue skies overhead. Its going to be a pretty warm day for october. Whereas further north this was the view in glasgow where the rain has been relentless since yesterday evening. This is the cloud thats producing the rain. Its been fed by some warm, moist air coming up from iberia, but also clashing with some colder air coming down from the north. And thats really given the Weather Front a bit of oomph, and thats why the met office have an Amber Weather Warning in place for heavy rain across these areas of scotland. Theres already been lots of travel disruption, flooding, more to come, potential further disruption and landslips as well. Brighter colours just focusing on that area where the heaviest of the rain is into the start of the afternoon. Extensive rain across the rest of scotland, the rest of scotland, but the far north, 0rkney, shetland should stay dry. Not too bad in the hebrides either and turning a little bit dry in the far south later. But for northern ireland, england and wales, well compared to their 9 to 13 celsius, weve got some spells of hazy sunshine limited, a bit by low cloud around the coast in the west. But we could see temperatures seven, eight degrees above normal, 2a or 25 degrees in southeast england later this evening. This evening and overnight, those areas under the Amber Weather Warnings still seeing some further rain, but it does ease its way northwards. Some of the worst of the conditions as we head in towards tomorrow morning. Most of the areas stay dry with some light winds to the southwest. Well see some mist and fog patches, temperatures for most of those staying at around 8 to 1a degrees. So heres the Weather Chart for sunday where the front is still there, still drawing in the warmer air from the south on that western edge of an area of High Pressure. But that rain is going to be most relentless across the north of scotland through tomorrow. Does mean central southern scotland, a drier, slightly brighter today, but itll still be a few showers around. Maybe the odd one for northern ireland, northern england, but much of northern ireland, england and wales staying dry, a bit more cloudy, especially in eastern areas. But with the sunshine at its strongest across the south, well see temperatures again into the mid 20s. Not as cold a day for scotland. Now as you go through into next week, High Pressure in the south keeps things dry, warm for a time, but a passing area of low pressure midweek will throw a Rain Southwards and eastwards or itll be quite windy across the north through the first half of next week. Quite chilly and the breeze towards the end. Quite chilly in the breeze towards the end. But further south, the warmth continues for a few days. Yet thats been cleared away from wednesday onwards. Thats been cleared away from wednesday onwards. Take care. Live from london this is bbc news. Israels Prime Minister says his country is at war, after an unprecedented attack by the Palestinian Militant Group, hamas. Translation citizens of israel, we are at war, not in operation, not on installation, at war. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price. Thousands of rockets are launched from the gaza strip. The israeli Emergency Services say at least 22 israelis have been killed. The International Community condemns the violence, the United States urging both sides to refrain from retaliation. Hello and welcome. Im catherine byaruhanga. We start in The Middle East where israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the country is at war and will win, after a Surprise Attack by the Palestinian Militant Group, hamas, the biggest in years. Thousands of rockets have been launched into israel from gaza. And dozens of militants appear to have entered southern israel. Heres what we know so far. The Rocket Attacks have struck tel aviv and areas that surround gaza. Air raid sirens also sounded in several other towns. At least one person is reported to have been killed so far