Into gaza to attack marketing positions overnight. It released this Video Showing Tanks and armoured bulldozers crossing the perimeter fence. An Israeli Defense forces spokesman told the bbc soldiers carried out the tactical raid towards central gaza to in his words � prepare the battlefield for future operations. The Israeli Military says the number of people confirmed to be held hostage in gaza has now risen to 224, and warns that number could rise. So far four hostages are known to have been released. By by hamas which is a prescribed Terrorist Organisation by the uk. Meanwhile, un aid workers say theyve begun to significantly scale down their operations in gaza as Fuel Reserves have almost run out. Israel says hamas is storing enough fuel to run hospitals and water pumps for many days, but is keeping it for its war fighting capabilities. The hill Fog Ministry In Gaza says the number of palestinians killed there has passed a 7000, almost 3000 of them are said to be children. The hamas attacks in southern israel this month killed at least 1400 people. Coming up this hour we will hearfrom our people. Coming up this hour we will hear from our correspondence people. Coming up this hour we will hearfrom our correspondence in the region, seek to it Senior Palestinian leader and aid agencies about their operations. Lets cross to a chief International Correspondent who is injerusalem. Nearly a few weeks into the water, on day 20, despite all the concerns about rescuing the hostages, more than 224 now, and also that deepening humanitarian crisis is making it absolutely clear that there will be no letup in its military operations. The focus now in this phase of the more is on the Nonstop Bombardment across the gaza strip and last night that limited rate, with tanks and bulldozers into the gaza strip, across the perimeter fence. It took place just after the israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu addressed the israeli public in a prime time address. He made it clear there will be a Ground Invasion at some point. He said the timing had yet to be determined but when it was it would be taken by consensus. It comes in the midst of growing questions here and abroad with so many israeli troops massing at the border, when would israel carry out its much expected Ground Attack . Lets take a look at the latest developments. We have the support from our middle correspondent tom bateman. In the dead of night, israeli tanks entered in northern gaza. A targeted raid, says the military, to prepare the battleground. Then the troops come back into israel. They are trying to put maximum pressure on hamas. Translation in gaza i idf troops commanded by the Givati Brigade and other troops from the I62nd Division have conducted a limited ground raid using tanks on Northern Territory on the gaza strip. The troops have killed terrorists and destroyed hamas infrastructure. The raid is part of our preparation for the war� s next stages. Meanwhile in the depths of gazas blackout, paramedics rush to save lives. The israeli bombardment is relentless. 0nly torches and lamps are left to light up the deadly aftermath. Even the youngest survivors face the stark realities of the israeli siege. A third of hospitals are shut down. Stocks of medicines are desperately low. Israel says it wont let up without the release of its hostages. Now space is running out even to store the dead. More funerals took place this morning in khan younis, the southern town to where many fled after israels Evacuation Order for the north. The israeli army vows to target hamas wherever it operates, but for Palestinians Nowhere is safe. Translation why did a oneyearold become a terrorist . Why would a one year old be targeted . They havent even lived yet. They havent even said the word, dad, or know theirfather� s names. Yet for them to become martyrs. Children who are seven or four days old were killed. Why . While in israel the agony goes on for the families of more than 220 people being held hostage by hamas. One of the captives, a young boy, should be celebrating his 12th birthday today. The pressure is intense on the israeli leadership to do more about the issue of the hostages and that is where hamas has leverage over this situation. So the Israeli Government is trying to show that its troops are ready at a minutes notice to go in, so we saw those pictures, for example, earlier this morning, but the fact is once that attack happens it could derail all the diplomacy around getting the captives out. Israels leaders want to show that their troops, seen here training, are ready to go into gaza, but much more that will determine that decision is happening well out of sight. Tom bateman, bbc news, jerusalem. So much anguish among the families, desperately hoping for news of their loved ones. Today the idf updated that figures seen 224 hostages were now being held by hamas and other groups, but in the past few minutes that has been a statement on reuters news agency, that hamas is now saying 50 of the captives have been killed in israeli air strikes. This is the first time hamas has mentioned this figure. We will have to wait for more confirmation, more details. Earlier in this crisis there had been a report, in the very first days that four had been killed, and then another report that there was one. This lunch number is there was one. This lunch number is the first time it has been heard. This large number. Concern about the deepening humanitarian crisis. Lynn hastings who is a un Assistant Secretary General and the humanitarian co ordinator in the occupied palestinian territory. Shes been telling the bbc about how dire the situation is. There is a number of factors that are impacting the operations and one, of course, is fuel, which i will get to in a moment but the other is the lack of supplies going in and the continuing bombardment, which makes it very, very difficult for our staff who are still trying to deliver humanitarian assistance to do so. The fuel is directly related to hospitals working and i heard your reporter talking about the situation in the hospitals. If i may give you some statistics, there is 1000 patients who are supposed to be receiving dialysis treatment, 130 premature babies who are in incubators and patients who are in intensive care. All of them rely on electricity or fuel in order to receive their health care. Fuel also drives desalination and most of the water in gaza is groundwater and therefore needs to be desalinated. There is very little clean water available which means people are resorted to drinking dirty or salinated water or both. The sanitation is locked up because there the sanitation is locked up because there is the sanitation is locked up because there is no the sanitation is locked up because there is no electricity to pump sewage there is no electricity to pump sewage into the sea so we are expecting the streets to be having a sewage expecting the streets to be having a Sewage Overflow onto them imminently. We need fuel for our trucks to be able to deliver assistance to People In Need. She emphasised the shortage of fuel and clean water, shortage of everything that gazans need to stay alive. Also the bombardment continues. We can bring you the image above gaza city where black smoke is on the horizon, another sign that is continuing bombardment. The black plumes of smoke rising. I believe that is gaza city. The city that israel had told more than 1. 1 Million People in the north of the gaza strip to leave immediately. But many have been telling us they cannot leave and they will not leave. There are also hospitals in gaza city who say they simply cannot up gaza city who say they simply cannot up sticks. The United Nations repeatedly expressing concerns that the bombing continues in the north, the bombing continues in the north, the centre and the south of gaza were hundreds of thousands of palestinians had gone to seek shelter. Israel has continued its taxpayer, Israeli Defence forces spokesperson told bbc news earlier today that was because hamas was Firing Rockets from within those densely populated areas. The death toll continues to rise. The Hamas Health Ministry says today the number has risen about 7000. All the while, a great many questions being asked about when that Ground Attack tjy asked about when that Ground Attack by israel will take place. Lets speak to our Diplomatic Correspondent paul adams. Benjamin netanyahu made it clear last night, he is under huge pressure, that there will be a Ground Offensive by there will be a Ground Offensive by the time it has yet to be determined. It is fair to say he is coming under pressure at home but also for many capitals, his best friends. , ,. , friends. The pressures are mindboggling, friends. The pressures are mindboggling, pressurel friends. The pressures are l mindboggling, pressure at friends. The pressures are mindboggling, pressure at home, mind boggling, pressure at home, especially mind boggling, pressure at home, especially on the issue of hostages, with people demonstrating on the streets with people demonstrating on the streets of this company day after day saying bring our loved ones home day saying bring our loved ones home. Pressure from abroad, yesterday home. Pressure from abroad, Yesterdayjoe Biden was asked whether Yesterdayjoe Biden was asked whether he had specifically asked Benjamin Netanyahu to delay the ground Benjamin Netanyahu to delay the Ground Invasion in order to get time for the Ground Invasion in order to get time for the release of hostages. Joe biden for the release of hostages. Joe biden said i am not making any demahds biden said i am not making any demands but that is kind of what i would demands but that is kind of what i would advise him to do. Also reports that the would advise him to do. Also reports that the United States are so anxious that the United States are so anxious about the regional implications of this, that they have also Asked Implications of this, that they have also asked for a delay so they can et also asked for a delay so they can get their also asked for a delay so they can get their own defences in their various get their own defences in their various bases around the region property various bases around the region properly prepared, in case this leads properly prepared, in case this leads to properly prepared, in case this leads to some kind of wider conflict leads to some kind of wider conflict. All of those pressures beihg conflict. All of those pressures being brought to bed. At the same time, being brought to bed. At the same time, we being brought to bed. At the same time, we are seeing a campaign in gaza time, we are seeing a campaign in gaza that time, we are seeing a campaign in gaza that is time, we are seeing a campaign in gaza that is evolving and the Operation Last Night was clearly bigger Operation Last Night was clearly bigger than the ones we have seen before, bigger than the ones we have seen before, involving more armour, and clearly before, involving more armour, and clearlyjudging by the air strikes that are clearlyjudging by the air strikes that are going on, the israelis still feel that are going on, the israelis still feel there is a lot they can do, still feel there is a lot they can do. That still feel there is a lot they can do, that they can achieve from the area before do, that they can achieve from the area before they take the fateful decision area before they take the fateful decision to send in troops on the ground decision to send in troops on the ground to decision to send in troops on the ground. To keep talking about wanting ground. To keep talking about wanting to make sure the troops have as favourable an environment as possible as favourable an environment as possible in as favourable an environment as possible in which to operate. We do not know possible in which to operate. We do not know how this campaign is going to unfold not know how this campaign is going to unfold. We think, judging what the israelis have said, the focus initially the israelis have said, the focus initially will be on gaza city, hence initially will be on gaza city, hence the constant demands for people hence the constant demands for people to hence the constant demands for people to move south. It seems tikeiy people to move south. It seems likely that people to move south. It seems likely that the israelis will try to isolate likely that the israelis will try to isolate the city, with all the people isolate the city, with all the people who still remained there, some people who still remained there, some unable to leave, some simply refusing some unable to leave, some simply refusing. Ive been touch with a family refusing. Ive been touch with a family in refusing. Ive been touch with a family in a refusing. Ive been touch with a family in a refugee camp, they will not leave family in a refugee camp, they will not leave. When that moment comes to deal with not leave. When that moment comes to deal with gaza city, that is going to be deal with gaza city, that is going to be horrendous. No deal with gaza city, that is going to be horrendous. Deal with gaza city, that is going to be horrendous. No doubt we will seak to to be horrendous. No doubt we will speak to you to be horrendous. No doubt we will speak to you again to be horrendous. No doubt we will speak to you again but to be horrendous. No doubt we will speak to you again but thank to be horrendous. No doubt we will speak to you again but thank you i to be horrendous. No doubt we will| speak to you again but thank you for joining us with some insight into the precious, precious at home and from many capitals including the greatest of friends to israel the United States, the most staunchest of allies, realising the pace and the scale of that Ground Attack once it does happen. Lets cross to the lebanese capital beirut because i middle east correspondent is there. I understand you were at a Press Conference short time ago held by hamas. What did they have to say . Essentially what the spokesman for hamas essentially what the spokesman for hamas had to say was that he was trying hamas had to say was that he was trying to hamas had to say was that he was Trying Tojustify what hamas had to say was that he was trying to justify what happened hamas had to say was that he was Trying Tojustify what happened on the 7th Trying Tojustify what happened on the 7th of Trying Tojustify what happened on the 7th Of October as this attack by Hamas The 7th of october as this attack by Hamas Being A Military Operation aimed Hamas Being A Military Operation aimed at Hamas Being A Military Operation aimed at a Hamas Being A Military Operation aimed at a military target, soldiers are not aimed at a military target, soldiers are not civilians. We know that more than 1400 are not civilians. We know that more than 1400 were killed in israel on the 7th than 1400 were killed in israel on the 7th of than 1400 were killed in israel on the 7th Of October, the vast majority the 7th Of October, the vast majority were civilians. I had the opportunity to ask him after the press opportunity to ask him after the Press Conference, how this operation was not Press Conference, how this operation was not targeting civilians, the vast was not targeting civilians, the vast majority of people who had been killed were vast majority of people who had been killed were civilians. I asked him the same killed were civilians. I asked him the same questions in a number of times the same questions in a number of times and the same questions in a number of times and he refused to answer the question times and he refused to answer the question. He also talked about the hostages question. He also talked about the hostages in gaza. I said if you are not interested in targeting civilians not interested in targeting civilians and attacking civilians, why can civilians and attacking civilians, why can you not just released the civilians why can you not just released the civilians who are now being held in gaza . Civilians who are now being held in gaza . We civilians who are now being held in gaza . We know more than 200 people are ireing gaza . We know more than 200 people are being held