Seventeen british nationals, including children, are now understood to be dead or missing after the hamas attack on israel. This is the scene live in gaza well have the latest on the escalating conflict. Hello, and welcome. Im maryam moshiri. We start in israel and gaza where there has been another night of missile launches and air raids across the border, while the prospect of an Israeli Ground invasion appears to be drawing closer. Here are the latest developments. Israel says that more than 1,200 israelis are now known to have been killed, since hamas launched attacks on saturday. The bbc understands 17 british nationals are dead or missing. Palestinian sources say that more than 950 people have been killed by israels bombardment of gaza, where entire neighbourhoods have been flattened. Israel has sealed all crossings into gaza. And were getting reports of a large number of Israeli Forces massing at the border. Missing at the border. Both sides have accused the other of war crimes in the attacks which began on saturday. Strikes against gaza have continued this morning. This was a blast a couple of hours ago which sent black Smoke Billowing into the sky. This is the scene live in gaza now. There is bill smoke in the background and missile strikes continuing throughout the morning. There is still smoke in the background. A hamas Spokesman Says at least 30 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in overnight strikes, with residential buildings, factories and mosques among targets hit. Lets show you some pictures now, just in, about the scale of destruction in gaza from those air strikes. These images are taken by drone. As you can see, the damage is immense with entire buildings reduced to rubble. The scene is pretty deserted. Most people in the area will have been evacuated but there will have been many casualties as well. We heard from a doctor in gaza in the last hour who told me that many women, children and elderly are being brought into hospital with horrific injuries. The palestinians are putting the number of dead at around 950. We will hear later in the programme from israel, but now from our correspondent in gaza. There is artillery hitting the coastal side of gaza. Israel tanks are relocating near the border with israel, and they shelled the western part of the city, about 25 shells landed within the palestinian only fishing harbour. It is on the western side of the city, so about six kilometres or seven kilometres, Constant Israeli Artillery Fire in this area. In a wary worrying sign, i could see a few people who went out to shop from a market here. The fleet home, because people had a very bad memory about Artillery Fire back 2014, when israel started to use the artillery file. It was followed by a very big incursion. Tell me about the blockade, we are hearing fuel could run out as early as Todaymy Jazz Hearing Fuel could run out as early as todaym as todaymy jazz on the edge of a humanitarian as todaymy jazz on the edge of a humanitarian crisis, as todaymy jazz on the edge of a humanitarian crisis, according i as todaymy jazz on the edge of a humanitarian crisis, according to j humanitarian crisis, according to the health minister, who issued our warning that all Health Centres will be running out of fuel, and the essential treatment for about 5000 people, half of whom were in hospital. They say hospitals will be running out of fuel and all the essential medicals. It is the and gas that is completely shot from everywhere. The latest shut is. They cut the electricity supplies, and hit most of the companies that supply internet people, so electricity and internet and some parts of the city are without water, and there is no food or medicine or water being sent to gaza for the last five days. The humanitarian situation is really on the edge of crisis, and i went to a supermarket yesterday, and you nearly can find anything on any shelf of the supermarket. People are really worried, and they are moving to shelters within the un schools. Already about 10 of the population are displaced in un schools, and 200,000 palestinians are sheltering in un schools, with the un also unable to provide the Essential Services for them, because israel is not allowing the United Nation to bring food. The United Nation is supporting before this crisis, about 100,000 families. They give them food every month, and they have arrangement of giving food to people. They said they are trying to distribute this. The local authority here is trying also to manage what is available. We understand that banks are not giving enough cash, and banks are leaving about 100 for each user. In the fuel stations, the gas stations, there are only giving people very small amount of gas. Even the bakeries are not giving people what they need, a small amount of bread for people. Theyre trying to manage what is available, but very soon, of gaza is not supplied what is needed, it will be a catastrophic situation. I5 supplied what is needed, it will be a catastrophic situation. A catastrophic situation. Is our correspondent a catastrophic situation. Is our Correspondent Reporting a catastrophic situation. Is our Correspondent Reporting from | a catastrophic situation. Is our Correspondent Reporting from gaza. Israel has called up 300,000 reservists to join its front line troops. Tanks and other heavy Military Equipment are massing near gaza, some has also been deployed to the northern border with lebanon, where there have been exchanges of gunfire across the border. The un has called for the laws of war to be upheld which would include the release of hostages, and the protection of civilians. What about the European Union . It is in a difficult position in terms of the fact it does give aid to the palestinians. What is that you said and what role could potentially play in mediating some sort of resolution . Lets go live now to Matina Stevis gridneff, who is the Brussels Bureau chief for the new york times. It is good to talk to you, welcome to the bbc. Let me ask you, what kind of a role does the eu have here . � ,. , here . The eus is a little complicated, here . The eus is a little complicated, as here . The eus is a little complicated, as you here . The eus is a little i complicated, as you hinted here . The eus is a little complicated, as you hinted at. The European Union is the single Biggest International aid donor to the palestinians, with a long history of providing Financial Aid to fund humanitarian development. Let providing Financial Aid to fund humanitarian development. Let me ask ou another humanitarian development. Let me ask you another question, humanitarian development. Let me ask you another question, and humanitarian development. Let me ask you another question, and you humanitarian development. Let me ask you another question, and you talk you another question, and you talk about complications and the difficulty the eu has. How different is the eus viewpoint compared to eu members . We have heard from joseph borel talking about humanitarian crisis, but what is president macron and 0laf scholz think, whether they diverge . The and olaf scholz think, whether they diverue . , and olaf scholz think, whether they diverue . ,. ,. ,. , diverge . The vast maority of eu countns diverge . The vast maority of eu countries, including diverge . The vast majority of eu countries, including the diverge . The vast majority of eu countries, including the two diverge . The vast majority of eu countries, including the two you | countries, including the two you mentioned earlier, are going to be stressing the issue of International Humanitarian law and International Law being adhered to, as they acknowledge israels right to respond militarily to the brutal hamas terrorist attacks over the weekend. This is something Joseph Borrell mentioned when he spoke from moscow. He went as far to say that some of israels actions in the gaza strip have been contrary to International Law, which is quite strong language, but at the same time trying to project the israeli flag of the Israeli Commission here, and at the Brandenburg Gate in berlin. That shows that the vast majority of eu Member States are trying to walk between supporting israel wholeheartedly standing against the terrorist activities of hamas, while also supporting civilian lives of the palestinians. It is tricky. Civilian lives of the palestinians. It is tricky civilian lives of the palestinians. It is tricky. Lets talk about aid in particular. It is tricky. Lets talk about aid in particular, because it is tricky. Lets talk about aid in particular, because the it is tricky. Lets talk about aid in particular, because the eu it is tricky. Lets talk about aid in particular, because the eu has. Particular, because the eu has funded the palestinians. Words that stand now . It funded the palestinians. Words that stand now . , funded the palestinians. Words that stand now . ,. , funded the palestinians. Words that stand now . , , stand now . It has also been very muddled stand now . It has also been very muddled. One stand now . It has also been very muddled. One european stand now . It has also been very muddled. One European Commissioner muddled. 0ne European Commissioner went ahead and went rogue and said it would be suspended, largely, within the European Commission and indeed Joseph Borrell last night settled that. We are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars, and they said there was no suspension. This is vital aid to the palestinian people. He said the aid would continue, there would be a review to check that the chaos of war and conflict was not diverting that aid to the wrong hands, especially, of course, hamas, directly or indirectly, but he expressed confidence that was not the case, and he also said that the European Union stood against collective punishment. He said that not all palestinians are terrorists, and we mustnt treat them like that. He stressed that the european aid to the palestinians was vital in keeping hamas under check, and stopping it from infiltrating the population and radicalising more people. Population and radicalising more neole. �. , population and radicalising more neole. ,. , population and radicalising more neole. ,. , population and radicalising more neole. ,. ,. ,. , people. And a couple of days ago, or esterda people. And a couple of days ago, or yesterday in people. And a couple of days ago, or yesterday in fact. People. And a couple of days ago, or yesterday in fact, the people. And a couple of days ago, or yesterday in fact, the eu people. And a couple of days ago, or yesterday in fact, the eu foreign yesterday in fact, the Eu Foreign Affairs chief invited Palestinian Foreign ministers to come and talk to put their case forward. Is that happening . It to put their case forward. Is that happening . To put their case forward. Is that happening . It didnt happen, no. Theres an happening . It didnt happen, no. Theres an emergency happening . It didnt happen, no. Theres an Emergency Meeting. Happening . It didnt happen, no. I theres an Emergency Meeting held mostly by video conference. My understanding is that the officials from israel and the Palestinian Authority did not attend. Nonetheless, the European Union is trying to sort out its position vis a vis israel, and vis a vis the Palestinian Authority. It seems they are getting to that position now. The eu is not a tightened diplomacy, so while it might stick to its guns with regards to its aid to the palestinians, and it will also sound like it is determined to continue pressing for adherence to International Law, while the israelis make their response to hamas, i dont expect them to be directly leading any mediation talks. It directly leading any mediation talks. , directly leading any mediation talks. , directly leading any mediation talks. ,. , talks. It has been so good to have ou on talks. It has been so good to have you on the talks. It has been so good to have you on the programme, talks. It has been so good to have you on the programme, im talks. It has been so good to have you on the programme, im reallyj you on the programme, im really gratefulfor you on the programme, im really grateful for your you on the programme, im really gratefulfor your time. A little earlier we heard from gaza, but lets hear from a little earlier we heard from gaza, but lets hearfrom israel now. Live now to our chief International Correspondent lyse doucet whos in the southern israeli city, ashkelon. Lyse, bring it up to date with whats been happening around you . We whats been happening around you . Are right on the edge of is now enclosed military zones. Viewers can see behind me the israeli checkpoint. It is a military checkpoint. It is a military checkpoint. There has been, all morning, a lot of Military Activity here, the sound of artillery going out, firing into gaza. Gaza is about 3. 5 miles away from us. This is the main road to the gas at wire, but it is now closed, and you can hear the thud, the constant fans this morning, we have been reporting, and as you have just heard from our correspondent, those of the sounds of artillery going into gaza, night and day. Israel has vowed to do what it takes to destroy the infrastructure of hamas. Unfortunately, it is also laying whole neighbourhoods to waste as well. Weve been seeing many Israeli Military vehicles going past, white buses carrying troops, and there has been, you cant see it from here, but the line of trees here behind it in the past few days, israelis have been massing armour. Some of it has moved down closer to the gaza border, we understand, and more is coming. There is a green highway sign that is a sign of an umbrella, a beach umbrella. This kibbutz used to be a place where tourists and israelis would come to have a nice day out at the beach. Yesterday, on the mediterranean, hamas fighters were able to get very close to it. They penetrated this border again, and there was an exchange of fire. Even now, as are israel says, it has regained control of this area, they have to admit Theyjust Cannot regained control of this area, they have to admit they just cannot see little. Seal it off. They have much more determination to get here. And weve been hearing that 169 Israeli Soldiers have been killed in this war with hamas. The cost and price of the Israeli Military is obviously high . Price of the Israeli Military is obviously high . Price of the Israeli Military is Obviousl Hith . ,. , obviously high . Yes, we saw on the road coming obviously high . Yes, we saw on the road coming from obviously high . Yes, we saw on the road coming from jerusalem obviously high . Yes, we saw on the road coming from jerusalem down | obviously high . Yes, we saw on the | road coming from jerusalem down to the south side, there are long stretches of road where there are cars lining the road. People are coming, some of the 300,000 reservists who have been called up, they get in the car, they shut the door, they get the gun, and they come down here to be part of the preparations for what is believed to be an inevitable Ground Incursion in gaza. It is a highly risky operation. It is one that, for decades, is really neat leaders including Benjamin Netanyahu have avoided. Israeli leaders. Given that death toll of Israeli Soldiers and civilians, ive been covering this conflict since the 1990s, meaning many wars and permutations, and we have never seen the Israeli Death toll so high. Yet again, a very high and rising Palestinian Death toll. We are not even one week into this crisis. The United Nations are saying that the number of palestinians who have been displaced inside gaza, trying to flee for their lives, although nowhere is safe, has now reached the maximum of what has been a 50 day operation in 2014. Injust what has been a 50 day operation in 2014. In just a few days, it has surpassed that number. 2014. In just a few days, it has surpassed that number. Lyse, thank ou ve surpassed that number. Lyse, thank you very much surpassed that number. Lyse, thank you very much indeed. Surpassed that number. Lyse, thank you very much indeed. There surpassed that number. Lyse, thank you very much indeed. There will. Surpassed that number. Lyse, thank you very much indeed. There will be plenty more from her throughout the day today. Let me take you very briefly to gaza, just to give you the scene live in gaza. Missiles are continuing to hit gaza city throughout the morning. Around the world and across the uk, you watching bbc news. Lets look at some other stories making news. All flights have been suspended at London Luton Airport after a large fire caused the partial collapse of a multistorey car park. Authorities say over 1,000 vehicles may have been in the car park five people were taken to hospital after breathing in smoke. The fire service say they believe the fire was accidental. The labour leader, sir keir starmer says he is prepared to bulldoze planning rules to get more homes built in england. Speaking to the bbc on the final day of the Labour Party Conference sir keir also said his party would increase funding to the nhs by £1. 5 billion by ending the non dom tax status. And the independent Monitoring Board at Wandsworth Prison has found that a severe shortage of available staff is undermining efforts to run the jail effectively. It also found that years of underinvestment in the site had led to an unsafe environment. A spokesperson said Decisive Action had already been taken to address the issues at the prison. Youre live with bbc news. We continue our coverage of the israeli gaza war. I want to talk to you about hostagetaking. It is a hallmark of the violence in israel and gaza, that youngsters and children have been victims. The bbc knows of many young people who were kidnapped by hamas. The images of boys and girls, and indeed babies in their mothers� arms being led away, are among the most harrowing of the war so far. Caroline hawley has that story. Imagine that you know and love these children, all now hostages in gaza, and the wait, the absence of news, is torture. This is 30 year old israeli mother shiri, on saturday morning in the hands of her captors. Still in her arms, her nine month old baby, kfir, and her four year old, ariel. They were kidnapped from their kibbutz near the border with gaza. Theirfather, her husband, yarden, was also taken. I really hope that she is ok, i really hope that they didnt separate the kids from her. The babies were torn out from their bed at 6am on saturday morning, on holiday, in israel. They were asleep in their beds. My feeling that my family is over there, i dont know how they treat them and i know there is a nine month baby that is without his food and diapers. These are pictures of more children held hostage, shared with Danish Television by their mother, maayan. They are her eight year old and 15 year old girls, and she had this message for them. Translation i will do anything. We will do anything to get you back. Do what your Hostage Takers tell you. Be strong. You are heroes. The whole country is with you and Everyone Else who is being held hostage. Everybody loves you. We dont know all of the children taken hostage, but along with ariel and kfir we know of 12 year old erez and his sister sahar, and sisters raz and aviv, who are five and three. As israeli air strikes flatten buildings in gaza nobody knows whats happening to them. And now the lives of palestinian children are also being taken and torn apart. Caroline hawley, bbc news. The Israeli Army Says a first plane carrying Us Military Aid has arrived at an airbase in the south of the country. The us Secretary Of StateAntony Blinken is heading for israel later today, a trip which washington says is intended to send a message of solidarity and support. In a speech on tuesday, President Biden said hed make sure israel had what it needs to defend itself against attacks by hamas. He described the assault as an act of sheer evil. So in this moment, we must be crystal clear. We stand with israel. And we will make sure it has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack. Theres no justification for terrorism. Theres no excuse. But, in a phone call with israels Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu, the white house says mr biden stressed the need to distinguish between terrorists and innocent civilians. 0ur North America correspondent Shingai Nyoka gave us this analysis of mr bidens approach. Well, in his actual speech, if there are limits, he didnt spell them out explicitly, or not publicly, anyway. His speech was incredibly emotional, where he referred to hamas as pure and unadulterated evil, and reiterated what he said all along that the United States stands with israel. He also said that israel has the right and a duty to defend itself against hamas, essentially giving them a blank sheet, a blank space to be able to do what they want, what they need to, to be able to put hamas down. What we have been hearing, as you mentioned there, is that President Biden has been speaking privately to Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu. He has urged restraint and concern about the fate of the civilians, and what he has said publicly in his address is that israel is like the us, and it respects the rules of war as well as International Law. But there are concerns expressed by United Nations as well as the European Union that this will not happen, and the fate of two million palestinians are at risk, even as israel escalates its offensive. But i dont really think many people here will expect to hear criticism from the us as israel escalates its offensive against hamas. Some of the first reports of saturdays attack came from eyewitnesses at a Music Festival in reim in southern israel, near the border with gaza. Hamas gunmen arrived in force and killed at least 260 people there. At least 260 young people there. The attackers then continued their rampage into the surrounding villages. 0ur middle east correspondent, lucy williamson, has been to the area around reim, to hear the testimony of people who saw and heard the violence unfold. Another warning, you may find some of her report distressing. The road that led to an open air party, now an open air crime scene. The path of hamas gunmen mapped by their weapons and their bodies. Screaming. Their target, a Festival Site where hundreds died. The ground zero of this multipronged attack. Among the dead, the passengers of this car, gunned down as they fled. Bodies and debris still line the route into this Festival Site. Police have told us this vehicle was used by hamas militants. You can still see the ground here is covered with the remains of weapons, the uniforms they used. Days on from this attack, families all across this area are still trying to trace exactly what happened to their loved ones. Four members of one family listed among the hostages kidnapped by militants. Among them his nephews, 12 and 16 years old. The boys phoned their mother as gunmen took them from a nearby house. And then they said they hear someone breaking into the door and walking in the house. About ten minutes later i heard people speaking in arabic outside the door. The door opened and i could hear my youngest say, dont take me, im too young. That was the last i heard from them. Those barbarians took kids out of their houses and out of their beds and just kidnapped them. They are keeping them hostage. Theirfather and his girlfriend are also missing. This video appears to show them in the hands of militants. But the waiting is killing us. I can see my mum broken. Thats the hardest part for me. I can be strong, i can lift up all my family, but its hard to see my mum breaking. As israel continues to pound targets in gaza, hamas has threatened to begin executing hostages in response. With every strike, some see the face of israels military might. Ranana sees the faces of her children. Lucy williamson, bbc news, southern israel. Coming up at 11 40am bst, well bejoined by a our middle east analyst, sebastian usher, and from jerusalem by our correspondent, tom bateman. Theyll be here to answer your questions live. These have been very popular over the last few days, because so many of you have questions to ask about why this is happening, and also the background to some of the stories that weve been telling you. So get in touch using the hashtag bbcyourquestions, or email yourquestions bbc. Co. Uk. Would seek you very briefly live to the scene in gaza, and leave you with his view of buildings, smoke, and gaza city. I am back in a few minutes, stay with us. Hello. The weather will be feeling much more autumnal for many of us over the next couple of days. Weve had that warm air mass with us. But if we look at whats happening with the air mass, it is going to be clearing towards the south, so gradually over the next few days, some colder air into the north. A brief spell of warmer weather again towards the south. But by the end of the week, we are all in the cooler, fresher conditions. Three bands of weather today, mostly dry, fairly mild in the far south. This area of rain at times through the central swathe of the uk, and windy with sunshine and showers further north. So the showers quite frequent across the north west of scotland, gales developing up towards the northern isles, but some sunshine for Northern Ireland into the likes of northumberland and cumbria as well. Theres that Heavy Rain Sitting across wales in particular. There could be some flooding impacts. Now to the south of the area of rain, 22, 23 degrees possible once again, whereas further north were looking at temperatures between about 10 to 18. So still some contrast in temperature out there. The Weather Front will bring its rain a bit further south into the evening hours through the midlands, east anglia. And eventually therell be a few spots of rain into Southern England through this evening and tonight too. But under the clearer skies further north, could be A Touch Of Frost around the parts of northern england, for parts of northern england, perhaps Northern Ireland as well. But were Still Holding onto a mild night with a lot of low cloud and drizzle in the south. Thats how we start thursday, a real north south split. Sunshine for scotland, Northern Ireland, northern england, too. Further south across england and wales weve got more cloud and outbreaks of rain. Theyre going to be quite light and patchy i think through the day on thursday, but it will be a bit of a damp day, some low cloud, some murkiness still quite breezy in the north, but not as windy as today. And a really different feeling day in terms of temperature, 10 to 17 degrees, our top temperature tomorrow afternoon. Looking towards the latter part of the week, this is into friday, weve got a couple of Weather Fronts around, so we could well see some spells of fairly heavy, persistent rain, particularly for parts of england and wales, i think, on friday. Some showers moving in across parts of scotland in that cooler air as well. But despite the rain in the south and the breezy conditions, its going to be quite mild. Weve got the flow of air coming in from the southwest. So again, 20 degrees or so towards the london area, but a different story, about ten degrees cooler than that, but more sunshine across the northwest. Then into the weekend, it looks like most of the showers clear away. So a predominantly dry picture, but look at those temperatures. They are much cooler than weve seen of late. Bye bye. This is bbc news. The headlines entire neighbourhoods of gaza have been flattened by israels latest airstrikes. Palestinian Officials Say more than 950 people have been killed. Doctors are struggling to cope. I had to take this six or seven year old child, a beautiful young girl, to the Operating Room with horrific facial injuries. Her mother, who is also a doctor at the hospital, had been killed. While in israel, the military says 1,200 people are now known to have died in the attacks by hamas gunmen on israeli soil. Israel is massing troops near gaza in preparation for whats thought to be an imminent invasion. And 17 british nationals including children are now understood to be dead or missing after the hamas attack on israel