Good evening from jerusalem. Two more hostages have been released by hamas after being taken captive just over two weeks ago. They include yocheved lifshitz, whose family live in north london. Her relatives spoke tonight of their delight at her release. They say have spoken to her and that she is well. Another woman, nourit cooper, has also been released but israel estimates that more than 200 people remain in captivity. Meanwhile officials in gaza say that hundreds more palestinians have been killed in israels intensified bombardment of the territory, many of them in the south, where they fled for safety. 20 more lorries carrying food, water and medical supplies have crossed over the border with egypt but aid agencies say that without deliveries of fuel, their humanitarian work will cease. The air strikes are in response to attacks by hamas, a designated Terrorist Organisation by the uk and other western governments, that killed more than 1,400 israelis. With the latest heres our midd
Of the territory, many of them in the south, where they had fled for safety. 20 more lorries carrying food, water and medical supplies have crossed the border with egypt, but aid agencies say without deliveries of fuel, their humanitarian work will stop. The airstrikes are in response to attacks by hamas, a designated Terrorist Organisation by the uk and other western governments which killed over 1,400 israelis. With the latest, heres our middle east correspondent lucy williamson. Released after more than two weeks in captivity, Yocheved Lifshitz at nurit cooper were taken out of gaza into egypt. Freed on health grounds, no longer hostages but survivors. Both were kidnapped by hamas gunmen in nir oz, the scars of looting and destruction still mark the empty kibbutz. This was what they lived through. The vision of home they took to gaza just three miles away. And this was what they lived through there. Israeli air strikes, more than 300 a day, caught between their army and hamas. Many
Hamas officials in gaza say more than 5,000 people, including 2,000 children, have been killed since israeli airstrikes began more than two weeks ago. The strikes are in response to attacks by hamas that killed more than 1,400 israelis, with more than 200 still being held hostage. Israels armed forces have now intensified their bombardment of the gaza strip military Officials Say they hit 320 targets overnight ahead of a widely anticipated ground offensive. The Defence Minister here has warned the Military Campaign against hamas which is designated a Terrorist Organisation by the uk and other western governments could take up to three months. Lucy williamson has this report which you may find distressing. A single day in gaza is measured in hundreds. Israels army counts targets. More than 300 hit in 2a hours. Targeting sites liable to endanger troops in a ground invasion, it says. Gazas hamas run government counts casualties. It says more than 400 people were killed in those strikes. H
Made yet on any ground incursion. And this is the scene live for you in gaza today as the Palestinian Health Ministry Says the number of people who have been killed has hit 1200. Americas top diplomat the Secretary Of State, Antony Blinken has arrived in israel. Hell express us solidarity as he meets israeli officials but is also expected to urge restraint to protect palestinian civilians, as air strikes on gaza continue. Mr blinken is expected on friday to meet the palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah Faction is a political rival to hamas. We can speak now to lord darroch, kim darroch, who served as the uks National Security adviser between 2012 and 2015 and has also served as its ambassador to both the eu and the united states. If the eu and the united states. I can ask you first of this if i can ask you first of all about this visit by Antony Blinken, what can he hope to achieve . I this visit by Antony Blinken, what can he hope to achieve . This visit by Antony Blinken,
This is another morale boost for labour, more woe for the conservatives. Chris mason has our top story. Natalie elphicke, shoulder to shoulder with the Prime Minister when rishi sunak invited reporters to dover last summer to talk about stopping the boats. Less than a year later, she has stopped being a Conservative Mp. Look at the leader shes appearing with now. I must admit, when i got up this morning i didnt expect to hear this today. Natalie elphicke, the labour member of parliament for dover and deal. I think she speaks for very many tory voters in saying that the tory party has changed, it has left the centre ground. But equally the labour party has changed and we are very clearly the party of the national interest. Really good day. It has been a great day. Cue the mildly awkward first date with the cameras in tow vibes ahead of her criticism of their Prime Minister. He is not stopping the boats and he is letting the country down. Meanwhile, under labour, they are clear that it i