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