has been put at 100 by the israeli embassy to the us, though some have been freed. in northern israel, hezbollah rockets targeted three military positions, with israel responding with barrages of artillery into southern lebanon. the un security council will meet later on sunday. president biden has vowed "rock solid" support for israel and warned against other countries taking advantage of the situation. let's show you the scene live in gaza now. israeli airstrikes are ongoing in response to hamas�*s attack — including some in the last few hours. palestinian health officials say 20 children are among the more than 300 killed there. they say nearly 1,800 people have been wounded. let's get the latest from simonjones. israel is stepping up its retaliation. this is what it describes as its "mighty vengeance" on the palestinian militant group hamas. 0vernight, gaza has been rocked by explosions. earlier, warplanes hit several buildings in the centre of the city. the israeli defence forces released these pictures, which they say are hamas cells being targeted. the israeli military trying to show they are on the front foot after being taken by surprise by hamas�*s attacks. the israeli prime minister issued this warning in a televised address. translation: all of the places hamas is active in, translation: all of the places hamas is active in. in — translation: all of the places hamas is active in, in this _ translation: all of the places hamas is active in, in this city _ translation: all of the places hamas is active in, in this city of _ translation: all of the places hamas is active in, in this city of evil, - is active in, in this city of evil, all the places hamas is hiding in and operating from, we will turn them into ruins. i'm telling the people of gaza, get out of there now because we are about to take action everywhere with all our force. this is how the attack by hamas began yesterday morning. armed men cutting through israel's perimeter fence accompanied by a wave of rocket attacks. hamas released this footage showing an israeli tank being targeted. it was a highly planned operation, catching israel off guard. israelis who had been at a rave in the fields near gaza were forced to flee for their lives. they were going three by three and shooting everywhere from two sides and so many people were dying all around. israelis were seen being taken into gaza as hostages. more than 100 soldiers and civilians are believed to have been taken captive, though some have been rescued or released overnight. the leader of hamas, which governs gaza, has promised to end israel's occupation of palestinian lands. translation: we are on the verge of a great victory and a clear- conquest on the gaza front. in the israeli city of sderot, which came under attack, a bulldozer is used to break into a police station where hamas gunmen were thought to be holed up. the british prime minister has described hamas's actions as cowardly and depraved. a view shared by the us president. innocent people murdered, wounded. entire families taken hostage by hamas. just days after israel marked the holiest of days of the jewish calendar. it's unconscionable. you know, when i spoke with prime minister netanyahu this morning, i told him the united states stands with the people of israel in the face of these terrorist assaults. this morning, gaza is shrouded in smoke. israel says it's cutting off the supply of electricity, fuel and goods to the city. the israeli military says it has also carried out strikes into lebanon after shots were fired from the north. and the hamas attacks have continued. this was tel aviv last night. the escalating violence will be discussed today at an emergency meeting of the un security council. hamas shows no sign of pulling back. the israeli prime minister is warning of a long and difficult war. diplomatic efforts to stabilise what is the largest escalation in this conflict for decades won't be easy. simon jones, bbc news. let's go live to our reporter in gaza, rushdi abualouf. first of all, bring us up to date with the latest where you are. the latest after _ with the latest where you are. the latest after ten _ with the latest where you are. tue: latest after ten hours, with the latest where you are. tte: latest after ten hours, the militants resumed firing rockets, theyissued militants resumed firing rockets, they issued a statement saying they fired 100 rockets towards sderot in retaliation for israeli air strikes that targeted many houses, according to hamas. through the night and this morning, the sounds of israeli air raids were clearly heard in gaza, as palestinian security sources said, over 150 targets have been hit by israel. israel has been targeted mainly hamas installations but also the houses of hamas leaders. most of the houses of hamas leaders. most of the permanent leaders, including the leader in southern gaza, his house was destroyed, everywhere israel is hitting hamas hard after what hamas have done yesterday by firing thousands of rockets and also crossing the border and fighting the israelis and captured some of the israelis. also, the armed wing of hamas has issued a statement saying that within an hour they will announce the number of israeli citizens, they said soldiers and civilians captured yesterday, they said within the hour they will publish the official figure about the number of people held captive by hamas. let's talk a bit about the humanitarian situation in gaza. i've just been driving through the gaza downtown, which is completely blocked by a building that came down this morning in the main street in gaza, the street was blocked by rubble, the people of gaza, mostly stayed indoors since yesterday, will be shocked when they see the scale of destruction in the streets of gaza following the air strikes across different areas. also, one of these buildings is a significant hub for the internet providers in gaza, so most of the internet, most of the places he do not have intellect or electricity since last night. we have also _ electricity since last night. we have also -- _ electricity since last night. we have also —— but how much have we heard about the death toll from officials where you are?- officials where you are? yes, palestinian _ officials where you are? yes, palestinian health _ officials where you are? yes, palestinian health ministry i officials where you are? yes, i palestinian health ministryjust palestinian health ministry just issued palestinian health ministryjust issued a statement saying 313 people were killed. 0ne health official told me this morning more than half of them are civilians, but now the figure, they are talking about 20 children among them. this is because israel has hit several houses without warning, although israel said the houses belonged to hamas commanders but also civilians are always caught in this crossfire and we have seen this in the past with civilian casualties always caught in this. in the palestinian health ministry keep appealing to people who could reach any hospital to go and donate blood, they said they are struggling to cope with the situation in a place that has been suffering for a long time for a lack of health care system, lack of equipment, and they said this recent escalation is adding even more complication to the already suffering system.— complication to the already suffering system. complication to the already sufferin: s stem. . ., ., , suffering system. have we heard any more from the _ suffering system. have we heard any more from the hamas _ suffering system. have we heard any more from the hamas leadership - suffering system. have we heard any| more from the hamas leadership this morning? more from the hamas leadership this mornin: ? ~ ., .,, ., more from the hamas leadership this morninu? ~ ., ., , morning? well, hamas have been issuin: a morning? well, hamas have been issuing a statement _ morning? well, hamas have been issuing a statement by _ morning? well, hamas have been issuing a statement by statement| issuing a statement by statement since yesterday. the latest one was talking about the number of israeli captives, they said they will publish the figure, they said this is a battle they lost because of israeli aggression against our people. this morning a senior hamas commander said that, we will continue until the end, we will not stop, israel has to stop its aggression first. hamas keep issuing statements saying that they will continue, that this is a revenge for israeli aggression. d0 continue, that this is a revenge for israeli aggression.— continue, that this is a revenge for israeli aggression. do we know any more about — israeli aggression. do we know any more about some _ israeli aggression. do we know any more about some of _ israeli aggression. do we know any more about some of the _ israeli aggression. do we know any more about some of the places - israeli aggression. do we know any| more about some of the places that have been targeted by the israeli air force? we have had includes two banks belonging to hamas and an aerial weapons production site belonging to the islamichhad terrorist organisation. what more do we know about some of those targets? as we know, hamas is not only a military side, they are running this place for the last 17 years, so they are the government, they have the offices, they have government offices, they have government offices, they have police stations, security compounds and they also have banks. but for israel, everything is targeted. they are targeting hamas whether it is a military compound, whether it is a bag, israel has been targeting all the hamas installation including banks and including what hamas said is a charity organisation in central gaza. so for israel, they can keep hitting targets for quite a long time because they have it every corner, they have either a bank or an institution or a police station or a security compound, so this is what israel have been targeting since yesterday, when they started this retaliation attack after the hamas attacks on israel yesterday. i'm not sure how much you have been able to get out and about and speak to people, but if you are able to have had any conversations, what have had any conversations, what have people been sent to you about this last 2a hours or so? == have people been sent to you about this last 24 hours or so?— this last 24 hours or so? -- saying to ou. this last 24 hours or so? -- saying to you. well. _ this last 24 hours or so? -- saying to you. well, communication - this last 24 hours or so? -- saying to you. well, communication is . this last 24 hours or so? -- saying i to you. well, communication is hard and the security situation is really risky but i had a chance to drive around the city this morning, i was talking to people yesterday as well, who were fleeing their houses. people have mixed feelings, most of the people i met have mixed feelings about this. yesterday it was like a moment of celebration for some of the palestinians, they said, because hamas was taking revenge on israel, china daily business attack the palestinians, but on the other hand people are worried that this war might last for a very long time, and since israel decided to cut off electricity supplies, food and water supplies into gaza, people are really worried about the humanitarian situation. most of gaza, the people are staying indoors. behind me is the main street, all the shops are closed except a few bakeries, and we saw last night people queueing at the bakeries because they believe this war will last for a long time. thank ou ve war will last for a long time. thank you very much _ war will last for a long time. thank you very much as _ war will last for a long time. thank you very much as always _ war will last for a long time. thank you very much as always for - war will last for a long time. thank i you very much as always for bringing us up—to—date on the latest. there is more analysis on the bbc news website on our live page. so what more do we know about the co—ordinated attack by hamas? here's our security correspondent frank gardner. so, this map here gives you some idea of the extent of hamas's infiltration across the border from gaza into southern israel. these are 17 locations where we have verified the presence of palestinian militants in this attack. from up in space, this is what that area of southern israel looked like today. just look at all that smoke coming from burning buildings. if we zoom in you can see the heat spots that we've enhanced so you can see them. now, all these cross—border infiltrations by palestinian militants taken together with the thousands of rockets fired at israel represent a massive intelligence failure from israel. it should have seen this coming because they had regular military patrols going along that border. this is footage taken some years earlier. but they had cameras, sensors, informants inside the militant groups. and yet hamas was able to charge through that border, crossing it with things like this bulldozer, paragliders, by land, sea and air, and all the while, hamas has been sending more missiles into places like this, tel aviv, this office and residential block here, hitting buildings while the israeli airforce hits gaza. however this ends, it will go down as one of the worst failures of israeli intelligence in 50 years. live now to ourjerusalem bureau chief, jo floto. thank you forjoining us. just bring on how things are fair you are. still getting hundreds of rockets that have been fired overnight from israel, they sustained an attack by the israeli military, the death toll on both sides is rising, approaching 300 on both sides, we think. hamas havejust told us 300 on both sides, we think. hamas have just told us that they will release the numbers of hostages that they claim to have taken into the gaza strip and the next hour or so and we are also told by the israeli military they will let us know how many other soldiers have died, they say it is a substantial matter very much an ongoing situation for the really military telling us they are sweeping through about eight remaining towns and villages on the gaza border to make sure there are no militants still hiding out in those locations and they are proceeding with a major evacuation of israeli citizens from the south, so thousands of people are going to be bussed out and that may give us an indication of the kind of operation the anticipate unfolding in the next few days. just operation the anticipate unfolding in the next few days.— in the next few days. just looking at the bbc _ in the next few days. just looking at the bbc website, _ in the next few days. just looking at the bbc website, it _ in the next few days. just looking at the bbc website, it says - in the next few days. just looking at the bbc website, it says that i in the next few days. just looking i at the bbc website, it says that the israeli ambassador to the uk says the country is now in a necessity war with hamas to protect our people. it goes on to say, we need to make sure all the infrastructure of terrorism will be 100% destroyed, she said. we've been hearing a little bit more about some of these strikes which have happened this morning, what more can you tell us about some of the targets? the israeli military _ about some of the targets? t'te: israeli military say about some of the targets? tte: israeli military say they about some of the targets? tt9 israeli military say they have hit in the last 24 hours more than 400 targets, they have obviously got a list of places that they identify as hamas military targets but also our colleague in gaza at the moment says they are also hitting buildings that are associated with hamas in their other role as the government of the gaza strip. and israelis cut off electricity supplies, supply some of the electricity into the gaza strip from the israeli grade, more are supplied through a generator inside gaza. so there hopefully from their point of view tightening the noose on hamas. but it's going to be a difficult operation. the thing that complicates things more than anything at the moment is the knowledge that there are dozens of hostages, both dead and alive, inside the gaza strip, and that is the main occupation of this morning, have been watching social media posts of people being dragged across the borderfrom posts of people being dragged across the border from their homes posts of people being dragged across the borderfrom their homes in posts of people being dragged across the border from their homes in those communities near the gaza strip and paraded for the cameras, sometimes humiliated for the cameras. these are people hamas say will be used as bargaining chips to release their own prisoners from israeli jails. so difficult to make any predictions when we are talking about this, but what do we expect we might hear in the next few hours from the israeli government? we have heard statements obviously overnight. the government? we have heard statements obviously overnight.— obviously overnight. the one thing we can predict _ obviously overnight. the one thing we can predict is _ obviously overnight. the one thing we can predict is that _ obviously overnight. the one thing we can predict is that the - obviously overnight. the one thing we can predict is that the violence | we can predict is that the violence will get worse before it gets better. this is a divided country politically, we have had nine months of rolling protests, hundreds of thousands of people hitting the streets in opposition to the current prime minister and his plans to change the oversight of government ljy change the oversight of government by the courts, currently today we are seeing probably the formation of are seeing probably the formation of a national unity government, which gives you a sense of the national crisis this country feels it is in. political differences are being satisfied by arch rivals, people who have no love lost between them, in order to be seen to have a united front against hamas. this is an attack that you have to go back probably to the yom kippur war were 50 years ago this year to see that like this and probably even further, to the 1948 war at the founding of israel with a civilian population were confronted with this level of attack by militants. and it's that shock, determination and revulsion at the savagery that there is a tax thatis at the savagery that there is a tax that is unifying israel currently. in the meantime, the israeli military are telling the civilian population in gaza to move. it's very crowded area, not very many places to move but they are saying they will identify areas of operations and ask people to leave. there is nowhere to go, the borders are closed, the one border with egypt is tightly restricted, so currently we are seeing families in gaza moving to united nations runs at schools, the un runs a huge humanitarian and education service in gaza and it is those locations which are clearly marked where people are seeking refuge at the moment. but it's a tightly packed to strip and inevitably, there are going to be more casualties and i think inevitably on the israeli said the death toll is going to go out because a number of people are severely wounded in the hospitals. thank you very much. the us president biden has offered israel all appropriate means of support. 0ur north america correspondent barbara plett usher told us what she thought the biden administration will be prioritising just now. the party as expressed by president biden is to stand strong with israel, give it support at every level, and he has directed his various agencies to do so from the secretary level on down to coordinate intelligence, military assistance and diplomatic efforts, that was a very strong message he put out in a public statement. another of their big concerns is that they don't want the conflict to spread beyond gaza and there has been a lot of calls that have been made to countries in the region at foreign minister level but also the level of senior officials on down, trying to convince or to get people, any country, any government with any influence to ensure or to work at the conflict not spreading, especially to lebanon, where hezbollah is situated, there is a fear that there might be an attack from the northern border of israel, so they are working very hard to try to prevent a regional conflagration off the back of this conflict with hamas. as we've been hearing, israeli security forces have been criticised for failing to intercept the attack from hamas. steven simon, who served as middle east security adviser in the 0bama administration, gave us his thoughts on whether criticism should also be directed at us intelligence services. well, for intelligence, the united states are equally relies on information provided by the intelligence services of the countries in which the united states is interested. so, from a us perspective, if they were not hearing anything from the israelis, there must not be anything going on. that is precedented, it's not unprecedented at all. so in a way, i'm not surprised that we didn't know, although the united states has surveillance and communications intercept technologies, is still a bit hard to see how the united states picked up nothing. but the israelis, like any country, have a limit, really, to the kinds of intelligence resources they can allocate to any given target, and the context in which they have been operating is one where tensions have been especially high on the west bank, owing largely to policies undertaken by the ultra—right government coalition ruling israel now. so a disproportionate amount of intelligence resources were allocated to ongoing events on the west bank, and just as importantly, personnel resources, that its soldiers who were serving in the south, were diverted to the middle of the country to help control a very volatile situation on the west bank. so in a sense, the israelis and the united states were blind to what was going on, and the israelis didn't have enough people there to staunch the hamas impression. it was also the yom kippur war holiday so many soldiers hadn't returned to duty yet. let me just bring you these pictures from gaza where a mosque in khan younis is among buildings damaged. this is al ameen mosque which was hit this morning. there are copies of the koran scattered on the ground. just a reminder that we do have that a coverage of this ongoing story on the bbc news website. we have a life page which you can see there which is running, there is also a live stream available as well. the latest from both sides, 313 palestinians have been killed and also according to israel's embassy in turkey, quoting the israeli ministry of health, at least 300 israelis have been killed so far. we will continue to bring you all the latest. hello. impacts from the weakened rainfall in scotland will be felt all the way to the start of the coming week, but out there today, the met office number one is enforcer in the grampians towards the moray coast, it is here where to expect the greatest risk of further flooding and destruction but there will be further impact elsewhere. river levels continue to rise. some of the heaviest rain has been this morning. through the afternoon the rainbow turn a little bit more patchy, still some heavier bursts mixed in but not as extensive. the north, shuttle and staying dry and bright, brighter into southern scotland and northern ireland and northern england although still some areas of cloud. sunniest of all, central and southern england and wales. it is here that another warm day is expected, temperatures into the mid 20s for some, not as chilly across parts of scotland as we saw yesterday. this evening and overnight, the far north of scotland sees some rain to begin with, we could see some heavier bursts in central scotland but not to the level we have seen recently. some levels affecting and offering them, may be the far north or northern ireland but for most a dry night, so areas of mr low cloud especially towards the irish sea and a mild night, temperatures 16 or 17 tomorrow morning. a lot of low cloud, so bursts of rain, the odd heavier one. to the north, isolated showers and sunny spells, better than we have seen this weekend. to the south of that front, more dry and sunny weather that could remain quite misty and fog and western coasts. warm across central and southern areas, temperatures in the mid—teens further north. tuesday, a more windy spell for much of the northern half of the uk. 0utbreaks northern half of the uk. outbreaks of rain returning across scotland, some of which heavy infantry but rainfall amounts vary wildly. heavier showers into northern england and northern ireland during the day, whereas in the south and east we stick to dry, sunny and unseasonably warm. but that is the last of the very warm days, just about. intimately, the area of low pressure will work its way eastwards, blowing the weather front southwards which will wriggle around southern counties as we go to the end of the week. after starting the week without north to south split still in place, you will notice by that amagger we get a wednesday, it will even things out a bit, outbreaks of rain just about anywhere and it will feel cooler across the south. this is bbc news — the headlines... buildings flattened in gaza — as israel strikes back against hamas. a ground offensive is now widely expected. this is the scene in gaza city right now — where people have been told to seek safety. translation: all the places hamas height, we will turn them into ribbons. i am telling the residents of gaza, leave now because we will act with all our power. rescue operations continue for the dozens of people taken hostage — so far nearly 50 have been freed. president biden offers �*rock—solid' support for israel — the un security council will discuss the crisis at an emergency meeting. more now on the middle east, where 24 hours after palestinian militants launched an precedented surprise attack on israel, fierce clashes continue. here are the key developments in the conflict as they stand. people living in gaza have been warned to flee their homes as the israeli army prepares to step up its retaliation. israeli airstrikes on the territory have continued overnight. more than 250 israelis have died with the toll on the palestinian side put at 313. israel says it is still trying to regain full control of eight areas where hamas militants infiltrated following saturday's attack. the number of israeli civilians and soldiers taken hostage has been put at 100 by the israeli embassy to the us, though some have been freed. in northern israel, hezbollah rockets targeted three military positions, with israel responding with barrages of artillery into southern lebanon. the un security council will meet later on sunday — president biden has vowed rock solid support for israel — and warned against other countries taking advantage of the situation. the united states stands with this role. we will not ever fail to have their back. we will make sure they have the help their citizens need and they can continue to defend themselves. you know, the world is seeing appalling images, thousands of rockets in the space of hours, raining down on israeli cities. i got up this morning and started this at 7:30am, 8am, taking my calls, israeli soldiers and civilians killed. in their streets, their homes, innocent people murdered, wounded, entire families taken hostage by hamas, just days after israel marked the holiest of days in the jewish calendar. israel marked the holiest of days in thejewish calendar. it is unconscionable. when i spoke to prime minister benjamin netanyahu this morning i told him the us stands with the people of israel in the face of these terrorist assaults. israel has the right to defend itself and its people. there is never a justification for terrorist attacks. in my administration and support for israel's security is rocksolid and unwavering. let me say this as clearly as i can, this is not a moment for any party hostile to israel to explore these attacks to seek advantage. the world is watching. aaron david miller — a senior fellow at the carnegie endowment for international peace, focusing on us foreign policy — told us that no—one would have predicted the scale of these attacks. anyone who would admit i told you so ought that they had information this was coming simply not being honest. the fact is this was a failure of imagination on the part of the israelis. just a 73 was a failure of imagination. i do not think israeli planners believed hamas would dare undertake such a bold strategy. and i think it came at a time when in effect the israelis, benjamin netanyahu in particular was trying to increase the number of palestinians working in israel to largely keep dasa quiet as he perceived and pursued his larger objective. i think a lot of this factored into this situation, the key question in my mind now is whether or not the conventional wisdom that israel would never launch a major ground incursion, land, sea and air, to eradicate hamas and its military leadership and essentially create a new set of circumstances in gaza that would make the kind of tragic wash, rinse and repeat cycle, almost inevitable to happen again, that is the key question. and i have listened carefully to the israeli military spokesman, they are talking about this, i hate the game changer but they are talking this is an extraordinary different even transformative moment. and i leave you with the thought that if in fact that occurs, the blood is up and it is really going to be horrific. questions are being raised about failures by israeli intelligence in anticipating the hamas attack. let's speak to our security correspondent frank gardner: what do you think the israeli authorities did not have the intelligence they would expect to have had? tt intelligence they would expect to have had? , :, , have had? if they did have it, they did not use _ have had? if they did have it, they did not use it _ have had? if they did have it, they did not use it and _ have had? if they did have it, they did not use it and that _ have had? if they did have it, they did not use it and that is _ have had? if they did have it, they did not use it and that is the - did not use it and that is the problem. as your previous guest said i think there was a failure of imagination because the attention of the stroke was focused primarily on the stroke was focused primarily on the west bank, most of the gaza strip. there's been an ongoing spat in the gaza strip, they have fired missiles into southern israel many times but i do not think the plan is military strategists thought that hamas would dare do this or even was capable of such a complex and well coordinated assault. that involved penetrating that the defence by air, land, and sea, using motorised paragliders, powerboats and cutting through and using bulldozers. it is shocking they were able to do all of this right under the noses of the israeli military intelligence which is supposed to have informants inside the gaza strip. if they were doing theirjob, then the warnings were not heeded by those further up the chain and there will be an investigation about this but right now, far bigger problem for israel is to dampen down violence across palestinian territories sought to suppress any risk of it igniting in the west bank as well as gaza and then of course really depressingly, then of course really depressingly, the fate of these 100 or so hostages some of whom have been taken according to her mass including senior israeli military officers, some of them women, children, disabled taken across the border and held hostage in different locations in gaza. this will not be easy for israel, if it was one or two people being held in a location, you could not be special forces operation, not easy but doable but you are talking about densely populated area, the most densely populated in the world, the gaza strip is 2 million people packed into the biggest open prison in the world as it is known as. conditions are not great. to put it mildly. they are pretty awful. a large number of very angry people who have had years of feeling they are oppressed by their neighbour. these are the people holding these hostages. so it's probably going to have to be done by negotiation and that could take years, took five years to get the captured israeli servicemen at of activity and the release of thousands of palestinian prisoners so hamas will demand a high price. we prisoners so hamas will demand a hiuh rice. ~ :, ., prisoners so hamas will demand a hiuh rice. ~ :, ~ :, high price. we were talking about some of the _ high price. we were talking about some of the intelligence - high price. we were talking about some of the intelligence failures l some of the intelligence failures but do you think the israeli government anticipated that hamas would have this much military capability, the arsenal to carry out what they did yesterday? iliiui’eiiii capability, the arsenal to carry out what they did yesterday? well they knew there were _ what they did yesterday? well they knew there were rockets, - what they did yesterday? well they knew there were rockets, perhapsl what they did yesterday? well they i knew there were rockets, perhaps not as many as those. these things, a lot of them are crude and fairly easy to make, knocked up in backstreet workshops in the gaza strip, in some cases smuggling through the tunnels but they are easy to manufacture and it is an ongoing cottage industry in gaza for a lot of unemployed angry young man. but definitely, there was a failure of command, leadership, intelligence and a failure of imagination here. so, you know, israelis right now are concerned about the fate of their fellow citizens who are being held in gaza but ultimately, they will turn towards the government and say, why didn't you see this coming? what all your sensors, satellites, surveillance cameras, your informants, how did this happen? how is it that israel can allegedly assassinate iranian nuclear scientists in different countries and yet they do not seem to have seen this huge 9/11 style attack coming and hitting them when they were asleep? taste coming and hitting them when they were asleep?— coming and hitting them when they were aslee-? ~ :, , , , :, ~ were asleep? we have been speaking to other people _ were asleep? we have been speaking to other people here _ were asleep? we have been speaking to other people here on _ were asleep? we have been speaking to other people here on the _ were asleep? we have been speaking to other people here on the bbc - were asleep? we have been speaking to other people here on the bbc who| to other people here on the bbc who feel things are likely to get worse before they get better. you talk about the possibility of hostages being held for weeks if not months. where do you see things on the ground in the next few weeks and months? t ground in the next few weeks and months? ., ground in the next few weeks and months? ~' :, :, , :, months? i think unfortunately gaza, thins will months? i think unfortunately gaza, things will play _ months? i think unfortunately gaza, things will play out _ months? i think unfortunately gaza, things will play out as _ months? i think unfortunately gaza, things will play out as they - months? i think unfortunately gaza, things will play out as they always . things will play out as they always do. with high casualty tolls on both sides. 0ne do. with high casualty tolls on both sides. one of the unusual things about this, interesting is the wrong word, one of the surprising things is usually when there is a conflict between israel and the palestinians, the casualties are far greater on the casualties are far greater on the palestinian side because israel has all the firepower, the heavy weapons in the backing of the us but so far at this time, the casualties have been pretty similar, about 300 killed on both sides, 300 plus. that is unusual and that has been a real shock to its real essentially, the very high numbers on their site but the israeli air force will continue to target hamas positions inside gaza. and i cannot see tensions subsiding, if anything, gaza. and i cannot see tensions subsiding, ifanything, it gaza. and i cannot see tensions subsiding, if anything, it could potentially get worse, the palestinians on the west bank to site tojoin the palestinians on the west bank to site to join the call for violence and worse still for israel, if hezbollah in the north decides to open up in new frontier of which would leave israel fighting on three fronts. :, ., :, ., would leave israel fighting on three fronts. :, ~ :, one of the most terrifying aspects of this conflict is the fighting in israeli villages that were overrun by hamas militants breaking out from gaza. here's the story of one woman who was at a festival when it all happened. they were just next to us, all of the place with automatic weapons. i was staying and then i was running out and i saw two policemen at the festival so we had policemen in the festival, they were standing next to the chorus, starting to shoot but i realised it is very easy to get killed by this policeman because everyone was going everywhere. the terrorists were coming from four or five places, not like one direction so we did not know whether to go here so then i got into my car again, i drove a little bit more, i got some people cheating on me, i left the car and i started to run. i saw a place with many trees, many trees, like it was 200 trees, 0k? saw a place with many trees, many trees, like it was 200 trees, ok? so i was going in the middle, just in the middle and i was lying on the floor, and they were just all around me. they were going tree by tree and shooting, bang, bang, everywhere, from two sites and i saw many people, people were dying all around. i was very quiet, i was like, i did not cry, i did not do anything but i was on one hand, i said ok i am going to die, it is ok, just beatand close said ok i am going to die, it is ok, just beat and close your eyes because it was shooting everywhere, very close to me. also, then i heard the terrorist, i heard them, they opened a big van, they will all it must be in hiding, they opened a big ban and all the they got more weapons from this car. they were in the area for three hours, no one was there, no one, a policeman from the party, yes, isaw, but they there, no one, a policeman from the party, yes, i saw, but they were on one side, the other side, i wish you the army will come, i heard some helicopters, i wish your soldiers will come down the throats and go into this field and save us but no one was there. all these terrorists. and yes, so they were very close to me so i could not control myself, my leg was like this, i tried, i did my best, i moved a little bit, they were talking arabic, when they were on the site, i moved to the other side and started to try to be much under the tree so maybe when the cheating will come there will not touch my face. so yes, i was lying there, three hours. bud touch my face. so yes, i was lying there, three hours.— touch my face. so yes, i was lying there, three hours. and did you know what happened _ there, three hours. and did you know what happened to _ there, three hours. and did you know what happened to your— there, three hours. and did you know what happened to your friends? - there, three hours. and did you know what happened to your friends? i - there, three hours. and did you know what happened to your friends? i was sure she was — what happened to your friends? i was sure she was dead, _ what happened to your friends? i was sure she was dead, i _ what happened to your friends? i was sure she was dead, i was _ what happened to your friends? t —" sure she was dead, i was thinking about my kids, my friend, about everything. and i said it is not the time to die for me, not yet. and then i started to hear some hebrew from one side and arabic from three different sites so i realised that we have some soldiers, a little bit, five soldiers, six soldiers and then i started to go and decided to go to these soldiers stop meanwhile, there are still terrorists are wrong but i was going to them, with my hands up so they will notice me and not terrorists and some was putting me in a car and telling me you can go away and they took us, me and another someone that was coming and all the time i was worried about my friend and then when i was coming there was a girl here, showing photos that we took, we took to the hospital, she is ok but until now i did not contact her, i am sure she is alive. it was a shooting in her stomach. i do not know yet, i am waiting. maybe she is, may be having surgery or something? and then my boyfriend came with his motorbike through all these things and picked me at some point. i was the first one to go out of the field still, people taking two or three hours to go out and all of the way people were dying, on the road, young people, it is a festival for young people. many people were dying in the road. whoever try to run away, they were shooting from both sides so best to hide. in the last hour the leader of the opposition sir keir starmer has spoken to the bbc as his party conference gets under way in liverpool. my colleague victoria derbyshire asked him what he thought about the latest in the middle east? this is an appalling attack on lsrael. — this is an appalling attack on lsrael. a _ this is an appalling attack on israel, a terrorist attack for which there _ israel, a terrorist attack for which there is— israel, a terrorist attack for which there is no— israel, a terrorist attack for which there is nojustification and israel has every— there is nojustification and israel has every right to defend herself and the — has every right to defend herself and the perpetrators of this have deliberately pushed back the prospect of peace agreements, peace talks and _ prospect of peace agreements, peace talks and so an appalling act of terrorism — talks and so an appalling act of terrorism and i think everybody is shocked — terrorism and i think everybody is shocked i— terrorism and i think everybody is shocked. i spoke to my counterpart, the leader— shocked. i spoke to my counterpart, the leader of the israeli labour party— the leader of the israeli labour party last — the leader of the israeli labour party last night and toured for myself— party last night and toured for myself the anxiety, the concern, as we were _ myself the anxiety, the concern, as we were on— myself the anxiety, the concern, as we were on the phone the siren went off and _ we were on the phone the siren went off and she _ we were on the phone the siren went off and she had to go into the shelter. — off and she had to go into the shelter, taking her paper sweater so it is an _ shelter, taking her paper sweater so it is an appalling act of terrorism and it— it is an appalling act of terrorism and it needs to be called out across the world — and it needs to be called out across the world. , ' , :, , :, , the world. different strands on this sto . the world. different strands on this story- let's — the world. different strands on this story. let's focus _ the world. different strands on this story. let's focus on _ the world. different strands on this story. let's focus on northern - story. let's focus on northern israel which has been targeted by rockets hezbollah fired from lebanon. mohamed taha from bbc arabic gave us this update about lebanon's hezbollah claim it had launched shells into israel. this is all the analysis we were expecting to happen because normally in previous wars between israel and hamas hezbollah willjoin the efforts of hamas from day one. hezbollah hailed hamas attack and that was something expected. they started by firing rockets into northern israel and israel already retaliated by striking farms in southern lebanon which apparently, is an introduction of a wide scale. we know the capabilities of hezbollah, they are by far having more military capabilities than hamas and if this is going to spread, this work is going to be really unprecedented as we kept saying in the news. israel will be really stretched but the israeli army is very strong and already, the united states announced that they are supporting them. they will be providing them with whatever intelligence and arms and equipment that they need. they can handle that but the security pressures on the citizens of the state of israel and the political situation as well, we'll be really tense. for example, benjamin netanyahu is under pressure to launch a ground attack on the gaza strip which will be really a horrid military decision to be taken but given that hamas already invaded and raided part of the israeli territories, he will be under huge political pressure to launch that ground attack on gaza. earlier, i spoke to lt col richard hecht, the international spokesperson for israel defence forces — he told described what was happening on the ground. as the second day of the world that hamas unleashed on the state of israel, specifically on the communities of, around the gaza strip, multiple communities, as we speak there is still fighting going on. we are dealing slowly with special forces to take care of the terrorists that came on in their hundreds, into israel, the church, killed, kidnapped civilians, mainly civilians and soldiers. the main firefights or more or less over, we are still dealing with some communities and military locations for there are still firefights as we speak with terrorists. hopefully as the day goes on, we will be able to at the first stage secured the communities around the gaza strip. right now, we are focusing on the fight, that is where we are in right now. it is a very dire situation. slowly, we are doing what we need to be to get the communities back and save that we are now planning our future severe response on hamas and the inhumane attack into israel. hostages right now and that is probably going on in our channels, the ideas focusing mainly on stabilising and responding to this terrible attack. so yesterday, our minister of defence approved the deployment of reserves, we have mobilised close to 200,000 reserves. the idea is basically ready also and mobilising forces to the south, towards the gaza, swarming it with operational combat soldiers who are also now looking atjudaea and and also now looking atjudaea and and also this morning we had some mortars fired from hezbollah in the north. we responded with artillery fire. and we hope they do not make the mistake of coming into the fight because the idea of israel and all of these arenas and we are deploying more and more forces, also defensive and offensive forces. mainly iron domes. a, and offensive forces. mainly iron domes. :, :, , :, , and offensive forces. mainly iron domes. :, :, , :, , :, :: domes. more on that story on the bbc news website- — another developing story, more than 2000 people are known to have been killed in an earthquake in afghanistan. the 6.3 magnitude quake struck near herat on saturday morning and was followed by powerful after—shocks. images from nearby villages showhome is reduced to rubble and people trying to take survivors out with their bare hands. taliban officials say more than 9000 people are injured. we canjoin our reporter who has been monitoring events for us. thank you forjoining us. just tell us the latest that you are hearing from herat? shes us. just tell us the latest that you are hearing from herat?— us. just tell us the latest that you are hearing from herat? as the day is auoin are hearing from herat? as the day is going on. — are hearing from herat? as the day is going on. more _ are hearing from herat? as the day is going on, more images - are hearing from herat? as the day is going on, more images are - is going on, more images are appearing from herat. it seems that it is a very destructive earthquake. the taliban officials on the ground have now confirmed more than 2000 people have died and have been killed as a result of this earthquake and are right 9000 people have been injured stop they are still emphasising that this is not the final figure of the casualties, a lot of people are still stuck under the rubble in one particular district north—west of herat city. the reports are saying around 11 villages have been completely destroyed, terrible pictures are emerging from there. it shows destroyed houses and these villages, the very painful thing is that this happened yesterday at 11 o'clock, the earthquake happened, local time. but the rescue staff are still very limited, people have been stuck, hundreds of people under the rubble. we know afghanistan is already facing a terrible humanitarian crisis. the international presence is very limited there as a result of the taliban control of the country. and there are not a lot of rescue missions who have been trying to take out people under the rubble and that has caused a major increase in casualty numbers. t that has caused a ma'or increase in casualty numbers._ that has caused a ma'or increase in casualty numbers. i was going to ask ou about casualty numbers. i was going to ask you about that _ casualty numbers. i was going to ask you about that of— casualty numbers. i was going to ask you about that of course _ casualty numbers. i was going to ask you about that of course because - you about that of course because there are challenges getting eight to hard to reach areas already given the ongoing humanitarian crisis and now this earthquake?— the ongoing humanitarian crisis and now this earthquake? absolutely. it is something _ now this earthquake? absolutely. it is something that _ now this earthquake? absolutely. it is something that will _ now this earthquake? absolutely. it is something that will certainly - is something that will certainly deteriorate the humanitarian crisis in the country with these villages totally destroyed. they already need an awful lot of help and assistance, the red cross has said that their team has reached the area, it is a very remote area. t team has reached the area, it is a very remote area.— team has reached the area, it is a very remote area. i am so sorry we must stop _ very remote area. i am so sorry we must stop you. — very remote area. i am so sorry we must stop you, we're _ very remote area. i am so sorry we must stop you, we're coming - very remote area. i am so sorry we must stop you, we're coming to . very remote area. i am so sorry we| must stop you, we're coming to the end of the programme but thank you so much for bringing us up to date on what is very important story. we will have more in the ongoing situation in the middle east on the bbc news channel so please stay with us and plenty more on the news website. please stay with us. hello. impacts from this weekend's rainfall in scotland will be felt all the way into the start of the coming week. but out there today, the met office amber warning is in force around the grampians towards the moray coast. it's here where they expect the greatest risk of further flooding and disruption, but there will be further impacts elsewhere. river levels continuing to rise and respond to the rain we've already seen today. some of the heaviest has been this morning. through the afternoon, the rain will turn a little bit patchier. there'll still be some heavier bursts mixed in, but not quite as extensive, the widespread heavy rain. to the north of it, shetland stays dry and bright but brighter to southern scotland, northern ireland this afternoon and northern england, although still some areas of cloud around, sunniest of all central southern england and wales, away from some western coast. and it's here another warm day expected, temperatures into the mid 20s for some, not as chilly across parts of scotland as we saw through yesterday. now into this evening and overnight, far north of scotland continue to see some rain to begin with and then we could see some heavier bursts return through central scotland, but not to the level or extent you've seen through recent days. some of that also affecting northern england, maybe the far north of northern ireland, but away from that, most will have a dry night. some areas of mist and low cloud, more especially towards the irish sea and a very mild night, temperatures 16 to 17 degrees to start tomorrow morning for some in northern england. a lot of low cloud here, though, and northern ireland, southern scotland, some bursts of rain. the odd heavier one. to the north of it, isolated showers, some sunny spells. better day than we've seen through this weekend. to the south of that weather front, more dry and sunny weather, although it could remain quite misty and foggy around some western coasts. another warm one across central southern areas. temperatures in the mid teens further north. now, as we go into tuesday, a windier spell for much of the northern half of the uk. outbreaks of rain return across scotland, some of which should be heavy and thundery. but rainfall amounts will vary widely. some heavy showers into northern england, north wales and northern ireland too during the day. for the south and east we stick dry, sunny and unseasonably warm. but that's the last of the very warm days. just about. through into midweek low pressure which will bring the windy weather across. scotland will work its way eastwards, throwing a weather front southwards which will wriggle around southern counties as we go for the end of the week. so after starting the week with that north—south split still in place, you'll notice by the time we get to wednesday, even things out a little bit, outbreaks of rainjust about anywhere and it will feel cooler across the south. take care. live from london, this is bbc news. buildings flattened in gaza as israel strikes back against hamas. a ground offensive is now widely expected. this is the scene in gaza city right now — where people have been told to seek safety. translation: all the places hamas are hiding, _ we will turn them into ruins. i'm telling the residents of gaza, leave now because we will act with all our power. rescue operations continue for the dozens of people taken hostage — so far nearly 50 have been freed. president biden offers "rock—solid" support for israel — the un security council will discuss the crisis at an emergency meeting. hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan. we start in the middle east, where just over 24 hours after palestinian militants launched an unprecedented surprise attack on israel, fierce clashes continue. here are the key developments in the conflict as they stand. people living in gaza have been warned to flee their homes as the israeli army prepares to step up its retaliation. israeli airstrikes on the territory have continued overnight. more than 250 israelis have died, with the toll on the palestinian side put at 313. israel says it is still trying to regain full control of eight areas where hamas militants infiltrated following saturday's attack. the number of israeli civilians and soldiers taken hostage has been put at 100 by the israeli embassy to the us,