But gunmen have been reported in towns near the gaza border and israelis have been warned to stay inside. There are also reports of a number of Israeli Soldiers taken captive by fighters. Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif announced the start of the operation in a broadcast on hamas media, calling on palestinians everywhere to fight. Israels military has been striking targets in gaza in response. At least two palestinians are confirmed dead so far. Neri zilber is a journalist and analyst on middle east politics based in tel aviv, and an adjunct fellow of the washington institute. I asked him how he became aware of the palestinian attacks this morning. I like all the residents in tel aviv was woken up by air raid Rocket Science over the city in central israel, not that close to the gaza border region. That was the first indication that Something Different was under way. I and many other analysts and even israeli officials already view this as a colossal intelligence and military failure on par with what happened 50 years ago and in many respects worse because in 1973 it was the egyptian and syrian military, this was launched by one notary group that controls the gaza strip on one front in Southern Israel against israel on a holiday morning. Unprecedented colossal intelligence failure. The ongoing firefights and at least a dozen israeli communities in Southern Israel in this region were still ongoing now, nine hours after this started. We still ongoing now, nine hours after this started this started. We are hearing that and seeing this started. We are hearing that and seeing retaliatory this started. We are hearing that and seeing retaliatory action this started. We are hearing that and seeing retaliatory action by i and seeing retaliatory action by israel on the gaza strip at the moment. What you are saying is the intention here was not what was surprising but the capabilities of hamas. , hamas. The capabilities were well known in terms hamas. The capabilities were well known in terms of hamas. The capabilities were well known in terms of the hamas. The capabilities were well known in terms of the special hamas. The capabilities were well l known in terms of the Special Forces that know how to take to the air and land inside israel proper or even Naval Commando units was all known. The intention as of a few days and a few weeks ago assessed the amounts while there was an uptick in escalations in the border between gaza and israel did not warrant a major escalation and nothing like the total board that was launched this morning by hamas into israel so in terms of capabilities and even hamass reason for being that was not a surprise but the intention was not a surprise but the intention was not believed to be there as well as the actual capability to pull off an operation like this. It takes two sides to actually engage in conflict like this and the fact the Israeli Military and Gaza Division responsible for that area apparently completely both ms tomass assault as well as apparently crumbled in the face of this assault is the Biggest Surprise and we are seeing the results of that ongoing right now in Southern Israel. Huge questions now in Southern Israel. Huge questions now now in Southern Israel. Huge questions now about now in Southern Israel. Huge questions now about the now in Southern Israel. Huge questions now about the intelligent failure and response but as we look at what was happening which is these attacks on the gaza strip and you have mentioned the ongoing wary of the southerners where situation is we are looking at these pictures and gaza but it ask you what you think the Israeli Defence forces will do now and how big you think the response will be. Mi; now and how big you think the response will be. Now and how big you think the response will be. My fear is that this will be response will be. My fear is that this will be a response will be. My fear is that this will be a gaza response will be. My fear is that this will be a gaza israel response will be. My fear is that this will be a gaza israel hamas| response will be. My fear is that. This will be a gaza israel hamas idf Campaign Like we have never seen step, stuck over the gaza strip in 2007 and is most of your viewers likely know there has been constant rounds of escalation and conflict since roughly around the time hamas took over the gaza strip. We are likely to see in the coming days and weeks on a scale in order of magnitude like nothing before. What magnitude like nothing before. What about the concerns magnitude like nothing before. What about the concerns we are also hearing that this will widen not just of the west bank but waiting for a response from hezbollah and lebanon. It for a response from hezbollah and lebanon. ,. ,. ,. , for a response from hezbollah and lebanon. ,. ,. For a response from hezbollah and lebanon. ,. ,. ,. ,. , lebanon. It is a maor concern on the israeli lebanon. It is a maor concern on the israeli side. Lebanon. It is a major concern on the israeli side. Hezbollah lebanon. It is a major concern on the israeli side. Hezbollah from | lebanon. It is a major concern on i the israeli side. Hezbollah from the north and lebanon, it is a major concern. They mightjust be biding their time until israel commits further divisions and air force squadrons to the response and retaliation on gaza and then it likely they may start Firing Rockets and perhaps even a cross border incursion as well, that is a Real Fearfor Incursion as well, that is a real fear for the incursion as well, that is a real fearfor the idf on High Incursion as well, that is a real fear for the idf on high alert incursion as well, that is a real fearfor the idf on high alert both in northern israel and also in the west bank which is of us know has been escalating in violence and between israelis and palestinians for the better part of the past year and a half so my fear is that it is only the beginning of a deadly conflict in this part of the world. Benjamin netanyahu responded by saying we are at work and we will win, what did you make of his rhetoric and his term. The rhetoric isnt surprising rhetoric and his term. The rhetoric isnt surprising because rhetoric and his term. The rhetoric isnt surprising because the rhetoric and his term. The rhetoric isnt surprising because the failure here by the Israeli Military is also on him and his government because he is the one actually responsible for the military Intelligence Security forces so he is talking tough. It took several hours to actually issued a statement, for several hours israeli civilians and citizens had no Real Authority figure to actually explain what was going on except from Media Reports and i fully expect the Prime Minister and his government and cabinet to retaliate in a strong way against hamas in gaza and notjust via air strikes but my fear is a major Ground Operation by the Israeli Military. Ground operation by the israeli milita. ~ ,. ,. , Ground Operation by the israeli milita. ~. ,. , ~ military. Where you are talking about the response military. Where you are talking about the response and military. Where you are talking about the response and information, are we seeing any misinformation spread and how are people accessing factual and accurate news right now . There is the official reports which i would argue are undercounting purposely both the casualties on the israeli side and the hostages and captives that have been taken from israeli territory into gaza. I believe that is due to the continuing ongoing operation in Southern Israel and also not to completely freak out the public, it fear again is that once the fog of war clears, the numbers both in terms of israeli casualties and Southern Israel and hostages taken will be much greater than the israeli public realise at this moment. We have some live pictures from gaza that we can show you. These retaliatory strikes by israel have been taking place for the past few hours. At times they have been incredibly intense. We are now hearing from local Pulse Officials in gaza out that these strikes have killed more than 100 people and injured hundreds more. It hasjust gone up to 161, in the past few seconds we have had that new figure. Israel saying it had begun targeted strikes in the gaza strip in respect to the barrage of rockets and resourcefully unprecedented attack by Palestinian Militants and what youre seeing right now is our life page, we are keeping you across every development as people respond to this with the latest lines. You can log on if you are not by the television with us and make sure you are across these developments as the picture changes minute by minute. Israeli air strikes clearing 161 palestinians and entering close to a thousand people. More on this with our correspondence in gaza. Gaza is incredibly densely populated. It has limited hospitals and Health Care Facilities as well. Not many places to go to stay safe if you are a civilian and of course this is probably what was to be expected with the scale and ferocity now of the retired reaction. 161 palestinians killed, close to a thousand people injured. Now dispatch situation in gaza. To remind you of the latest figures that we are getting from israel on the death toll there, a0 people have been killed and over 500 people have been killed and over 500 people have been wounded. That has gone up to 7a0. The picture changing minute by minute but we are keeping you across all the developments we can confirm. We have been hearing some pretty horrific things from israel. Close to the border with gaza. It appears some hamas militants headed there after breaking through the border fencing. We are hearing from sderot and other israeli southern towns as well as fighting going on there, the Israel Police chiefs said there were 21 active scenes in Southern Israel and these ambulances are heading away at the moment from sderot but a reuters photographer has filed some copy saying they have seen bodies, many bodies on the streets of sderot. Reports that militants went into this town and opened fire on people who live there. It is unclear how many of those who died in israel were killed by rockets and how many were killed by rockets and how many were killed by these gunmen and militants going into this town and opening fire. We are keeping a that for you. The latest response from the United States which is always so vital, condemning this barrage lodged by hamas. The us unequivocally condemns these unprovoked attacks by terrorists against israeli citizens, this is going from the National SecurityCouncil Spokesperson adrian watson. There is never anyjustification for terrorism, we stand firmly with the government and the people of israel and we extend our condolences for the israeli lives lost in these attacks. Jake sullivan who is a National Security adviser in the us we understand has spoken to his counterpart in israel and says a us remains in close contact with our israeli partners. Israeli journalist and author, gideon levy is in tel aviv which is among the Cities Attackedhe told us about the scene he woke up to this morning. I dont remember tel aviv in this situation for many years. I just went out to the streets, the streets are totally empty. Restaurants, cafe is, everything is locked down. And there is a very heavy feeling of surprise, of shock and fear from what is still expected to happen. When the first rockets fell, i Wasjogging In The Park and the noise was terrible. And ever since then, tel aviv went into a new phase. First of all, there are many more israeli killed in the official number because things are still very unclear and it is still going on in many towns in the south. Expect much bigger numbers of casualties. It is an inevitable result of months and maybe years of israeli arrogance, of the feeling that israel can do whatever it wants and it will never be taken accountable, never pay any price for the programmes of the settlers in the west bank, backed and supported by the israeli army, for the arrest, for the attacks, for the killings of innocent civilians in the west bank and also for violating the status quo in the Temple Mountain. Ijust got now a report that there were over 5000 jews going in a very provocative way to the Temple Mountain and all those things are feeding the fire and what is a surprise is the capability of hamas, not their intentions because nobody in israel had foreseen that they have such impressive capabilities. In the south, there are still battles in towns and villages, settlements, over at least tens of palestinian fighters inside israel and they have hostages. This is very delicate, the situation. In the same time, hamas declared they have 35 captured. I dont know if this number is right but if they kidnapped 35 israelis into gaza, it will be very hard for israel to release them and it will be very difficult for israel to attack gaza now, as long as 35 israelis are in their hands. Again, i am not sure about the figure. But this is what hamas declares. And there are tens of Israeli Air Jets which are bombing gaza and soon we will know more. Now there is a lot of smoke above everything. And the full picture is not very clear right now. Access forjournalists is quite limited now, to those places. And we are quite depending on the messages of the army spokespersons, who is not always reliable in israel. But there are also immediate questions. For example, most of the troops around gaza were busy with the celebrations in the west bank. And if you become a Security Company of the settlers for all their crazy celebrations and gaza is left with very few soldiers, those things can happen and someone is responsible for this and this is only one example for many questions that arise now but as i say, it is too earlyjudge because we know too little. Gaza is a cage, the biggest prison in the world and those conversations nobody spoke about lifting the siege. And people who live now 17 years in a cage, want to resist and if they have the possibility, they do it. And i am surprised that they had the possibility because the barrier, i know the barrier around gaza, billions of dollars was spent there to build this unbelievable barrier under the surface and above the surface, with all kind of extraordinary devices, and finally, you see that the spirit of resistance is many times stronger than anything else and they broke it and penetrated into israel, which is now shocked. Finally, by the end of the day, by the end of the war, the palestinians will pay for it, an unprecedented price, with this right wing government, i am really quite scared from the israeli reaction, people are talking already about erasing whole neighbourhoods in gaza, people are also talking about Re Countering Gaza and all this will lead to more bloodshed and to more despair. Expressing his concerns about what the skill of the reaction will be. In the past three minutes we have had some confirmation from palestinian officials that israeli air strikes have killed 161 people over the past few hours or so and close to a thousand people have been injured. That is the death toll coming from gaza. Live now to Issam Ikirmawi from bbc arabic. Good to see you as we reflect on these big numbers of palestinians killed in gaza and we have seen the ferocity of the air strikes and some live pictures we have been bringing viewers. Can you give us an idea of what it is like in gaza, that if you are a civilian there rockets are coming over, is there anywhere to try to go to seek some kind of safety. Try to go to seek some kind of safe. ,. ,. , try to go to seek some kind of safe. , safety. Gaza is probably the most dense centre safety. Gaza is probably the most dense centre on safety. Gaza is probably the most dense centre on earth. Safety. Gaza is probably the most dense centre on earth. We safety. Gaza is probably the most dense centre on earth. We have i safety. Gaza is probably the most dense centre on earth. We have about a1 kilometres long and we have two and a half Million People living in that very small place so it is overcrowded. Anything happens is bound to harm ordinary civilians, ordinary people. I have been Hearing Reports and in touch with some people there. It is pretty grim. People are bracing themselves, even one of my friends told me they have been saying goodbye to members of theirfamilies and their been saying goodbye to members of their families and their friends because no one knows when this will end and who will survive and who will be armed. It is pretty grim at the moment. It is expected to escalate in the coming hours and days because the scale of this operation is surprising. If it continues operation is surprising. If it continues with operation is surprising. If it continues with 161 Operation is surprising. If it continues with 161 People Killed and a thousand people injured what about the infrastructure in gaza particularly the medical facilities. They will be overwhelmed. Absolutely. The medicalfacilities in gaza is really limited at the best of times. In a situation like this when you have a high number of casualties and people injured and all sorts of traumas happening, medical establishment will be under enormous pressure to cope with the number of injured and those who need medical attention. Number of injured and those who need medicalattention. In number of injured and those who need medical attention. Medical attention. In no way are we seekin to medical attention. In no way are we seeking to justify medical attention. In no way are we seeking to justify but medical attention. In no way are we seeking to justify but i medical attention. In no way are we seeking to justify but i need medical attention. In no way are we seeking to justify but i need to seeking to justify but i need to explain what is happening because there are so many questions about why hamas would take this action today knowing the retaliatory effect would be so big from israel, that they would respond in this way. What art hamas leaders saying about why they have done this . They have done this . Hamas leadership they have done this . Hamas leadership is they have done this . Hamas leadership is saying they have done this . Hamas leadership is saying enough | they have done this . Hamas| leadership is saying enough is enough. The gaza strip has been under siege and blockade since 2006. The community has been paying lip service, Human Conditions and the gaza strip is very hard. People can hardly leave. All sorts of commodities are missing. Also the israeli bombing to certain targets in the gaza strip. There is no light at the end of the tunnel for the people of gaza. Also the length, increasing violence by Israeli Settlers in the west bank, attacking palestinian villages and setting fire to all fields and so forth. Also the increasing number of israeli incursions into the compound. Especially during the jiras holidays, an increasing number of religious jewish jiras holidays, an increasing number of religiousjewish people have been going into the mosque under the protection of the israeli army and they call that provocation. It is very upsetting. There is a lack of palestinian consensus that the mosque is under threat at the moment. The israelis are trying to change the status quo by making it accessible to jews to let them change the status quo by making it accessible tojews to let them go and play there. We have seen in the last few days people have been trying to perform rituals in the compound. All these things have to be fed into this latest escalation on the border with gaza. Who be fed into this latest escalation on the border with gaza. Who else, what other on the border with gaza. Who else, what other groups on the border with gaza. Who else, what other groups are on the border with gaza. Who else, what other groups are supporting i what other groups are supporting hamas at the moment and how complicated is that in gaza and also the west bank . Mil complicated is that in gaza and also the west bank . The west bank . All the factions are at the moment the west bank . All the factions are at the moment united the west bank . All the factions are at the moment united together at the moment united together against what they call israeli aggression. Even the president of the possible Palestinian Authority said this morning the palestinians have the right to defend themselves against persistent attacks by settlers and the israeli army. So it is pretty volatile at the moment. If this continues for a few more days, i think to see escalation in the west bank or other places, only time will tell. ~ ,. ,. , ~ west bank or other places, only time willtell. ~. , ~. , will tell. When you talk about the eole will tell. When you talk about the people youre will tell. When you talk about the people youre speaking will tell. When you talk about the people youre speaking to, will tell. When you talk about the | people youre speaking to, saying they are saying goodbye to their loved ones they are concerned they might not make it through today and we are actually watching attacks on gaza taking place. Actually they are not live, they came in earlier, but it gives you a sense of the scale of the action we are seeing at the moment. When you also speak to people in gaza how many of them actually support hamas, is it possible to say . Actually support hamas, is it possible to say . Actually support hamas, is it ossible to sa . ~ ~ possible to say . When Something Like this happens. Possible to say . When Something Like this happens. I possible to say . When Something Like this happens, i think possible to say . When Something Like this happens, i think the possible to say . When Something Like this happens, i think the supporters i this happens, i think the supporters become like a side issue, when people feel threatened or are under attack, they tend to close ranks and help each other. So this thing about who is responsible and who supports who is responsible and who supports who becomes really a side issue, not many people are talking about it. I dont think youll hear many palestinians now in the gaza strip blaming hamas because when they are under attack they are trying to blame the side who was attacking them rather than who started what. What are your thoughts on whether hezbollah could be pulled into this as well, that has been a real concern from people we have been speaking to an israel today. People talk about, speaking to an israel today. People talk about. Is speaking to an israel today. People talk about, is it speaking to an israel today. People talk about, is it possible, talk about, is it possible, personally i think it is unlikely it has but i will be drawn into this because there are enough issues in lebanon at the moment, without a president there is an interim government, also divisions within lebanon, so i dont think at this stage hezbollah is contemplating opening a front against israel from the north. ,. ,. , opening a front against israel from the north. , i. The north. Good to get your thoughts the north. Good to get your thoughts. Thank the north. Good to get your thoughts. Thank you the north. Good to get your thoughts. Thank you for the north. Good to get your thoughts. Thank you forjoining us. Lets bring you the latest dating from the pentagon in washington. The secretary of defence saying he is monitoring developments, our commitment to israel because i tried to defend itself remains unwavering. I send my condolences to the family of those who lost their lives and the Support Attack on civilians. The Department Of Defence will work to enter israel has what it needs to defend itself and protect civilians from intimate violence and terrorism. Hello. It is a weekend of big contrast in terms of the weather, both temperature and rainfall as well. Lots of dry, sunny weather for many of us. This is a picture in brixham in devon. Blue skies there. A very different picture across scotland, though. Heavy rain is causing some Flooding Problems for quite a wide area in scotland. In fact, weve got this slow moving front, dividing that warm, humid air in the south to the colder air in the far north. So with this front producing up to about 180 millimetres of rain, possibly by about 6am sunday in the wettest spots, an Amber Warning is in force. So flooding and further disruption likely. Heres the radar. Weve seen all that rain piling in across much of scotland over the past six hours or so. Weve already seen Flooding Problems, problems with the trains, the roads, and that will continue through the rest of the afternoon with this heavy rain. Away from scotland the rest of the uk predominantly dry with lots of sunshine around. Temperatures really contrasting, just nine degrees in aberdeen, but up to about 25 degrees possible down towards london and the southeast, widely above 20 degrees for much of england, wales and northern ireland, but much cooler with the heavy rain across scotland, which slowly lifts a little bit further north through this evening and overnight too. So perhaps drying up for the scottish borders, for instance, further south, mostly dry, could be some mist and fog patches forming tonight. Its a little bit murky. Certainly not cold, though, wherever you are to start the day. So sunday here, this frontal system still with us just edging its way a little bit further north and High Pressure is holding on across much of the uk. So, yes, some more rain tomorrow, but i think it will ease from central and southern parts of scotland, just continuing in the far north, caithness and sutherland up towards the Northern Isles as well. Elsewhere, lots of sunny, dry weather. Once again, temperatures well above average by about ten degrees, in fact, for this stage in october. For monday, the front will have eventually cleared away from scotland. So we are looking at a drier day really across the board. Again, spells of sunshine for many of us, Lifting Temperatures to 2a or 25 in the warmest spots in the south, typically into the mid teens across parts of scotland. Heading into the middle of the week and low pressure will push this frontal system gradually further south. So some spells of rain, i think wednesday into thursday for many of us. And youll notice those temperatures drop off to more typical for the time of year in the south later on next week. Bye bye. Live from london this is bbc news. We are at war declares israels Prime Minister, after an unprecedented attack by the Palestinian Militant Group hamas. Translation citizens of israel, |we are at war, not an operation, | not an escalation, a war. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price. In an unprecedented price. The meantime, i call on ai citizens in the meantime, i call on all citizens of israel to strictly obey the instructions of the army. We are in a war and we will win it. Distant explosions. Thousands of rockets are launched from the gaza strip. At least a0 israelis have been killed. More than 160 palestinians are reported dead. Israeli forces have carried out retaliatory air strikes on gaza. The us is calling on both sides to show restraint. Hello and welcome. Im lucy hockings. Israels Prime Minister, benjamin netanyahu, says the country is at war and will win, after a Surprise Attack by the Palestinian Militant Group hamas Saw Thousands of rockets launched into israel from gaza. Dozens of militants appear to have entered Southern Israel. It entered Southern Israel. Is still a very fluid situatio heres what we know so far. Entered Southern Israel. The Rocket Attacks have struck tel aviv and areas surrounding gaza. The town of ashkelon saw several major explosions. Israels n12 news is now reporting that at least a0 israelis have been killed, with 7a0 injured. 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. There are also reports of a number of Israeli Soldiers taken captive by fighters