Welcome to the programme, im lewis vaughanjones. You join us as Significant Development have been taking place, in the last hour or so, we heard from the idf, a spokesperson, saying backGround Forces are expanding their operations tonight. And we have seen an intensification of airstrikes on gaza. First thing we are going to do is show you the live pictures we have, these are the feeds coming in, this is gaza which over the last few has reported increasing bombardment and an intensification of airstrikes. The other thing to tell you about gaza tonight is that communications have been cut, the internet seems to be down, telecommunications down, potentially as a result there was airstrikes but we do not know for certain why. But we do not know for certain why. But we have now got numerous reports that the communications within gaza are down. We also have another live feed from gaza to show you as well. We are keeping across these two live feeds for you as the airstrikes from israel into Gaza Continue tonight. Now, i want to show you some of the pictures of the strikes from a little earlier on. Take a look at this. So, you can see the darkness there because fuel and power is in such short supply in gaza. The flashes of orange tell the story of the intensification of the strikes in the gaza strip tonight. Specifically again we heard from the spokesperson of the idf, the as well defence forces, again asking people to move from the north of gaza to the south. Lets just take a listen to that statement from the idfjust a little earlier. Translation . , translation over the last few hours, we have translation over the last few hours, we have intensified translation over the last few hours, we have intensified our. Hours, we have intensified our airstrikes in gaza. The iaf has extensively carried outrage to underground targets and terror infrastructure in a substantial manner. As a continuation of our offensive strikes over the last few days the Ground Forces are expanding their operations this evening, acting forcefully in all dimensions to achieve the goals of the war. Earlier on today we are exposed to the world the Shifa Hospital with the world the Shifa Hospital with the Underground Expanse and how they have converted to hospital for terror activities. We revealed this to the world, hamass cynical use of the hospital, and we will continue to do so, we will continue Attacking Gaza and its surroundings, and again, south to the gaza river, there are better conditions, we have called upon them and reiterated the called upon them and reiterated the call to the people of gaza to move. Stick lets go to our correspondent Lucy Williamson in southern israel. Lucy, just talk us through what has been happening there. Well, there has been a much heavier bombardment here than we have seen in recent days, big explosions to and heard from towns along the gaza border, including ashkelon which is around ten, has also from the border. We have also heard what appear to be artillery strikes as well and there have been regular sirens warning of rockets coming in, most of those seem to have been intercepted by israel, their defence system. But earlier on today, there were a couple of rockets that hit a residential area here in ashkelon, and also rockets that hit in tel aviv as well. But and lucy, we heard ofjust aviv as well. But and lucy, we heard of just a little aviv as well. But and lucy, we heard ofJust A Little Bit there aviv as well. But and lucy, we heard of Just A Little Bit there from that statement from the idf, what do you make of it . Well, as you were saying there as we head, they were talking about widely attacking Terrorist Infrastructure and underground targets by the air. Some of those big explosions that we have seen tonight. But he also talked about expanding ground operations. Israel has been waiting, preparing, fearing a Ground Invasion into gaza for many days now. It is not clear if this is actually what is happening, if this is what the spokesman meant or whether it is simply expanding what we have seen in recent days, which is much smaller scale incursions into gaza to gather information, they say, to try and locate the hostages that are there. Sometimes with tanks. We have seen those expanded, small incursions, have been expanded in recent days and so it is not clear whether the spokesperson is talking about these sorts of operations being expanded or something much, sorts of operations being expanded orsomething much, much sorts of operations being expanded or something much, much wider. find or something much, much wider. And lu , the or something much, much wider. And lucy, the statement from the idf, could you just put it in some context for us about how the Communications Work from the idf, these statements to the television cameras, whether it is part of a regular updating process, put it in a bit of context for us . Regular updating process, put it in a bit of context for us . Well, there are regular a bit of context for us . Well, there are regular daily a bit of context for us . Well, there are regular daily briefings a bit of context for us . Well, there are regular daily briefings from are regular daily briefings from the idf updating on their operations inside the gaza strip but there is a lot of other context around this as well. There were widespread reports today that there was some sort of deal that may have been close to being struck between the two sides, perhaps in exchange for some kind of ceasefire, in exchange for the release of a large number of hostages. Now, tonight the idf said, dont listen to rumours, seemed to dismiss those reports. There are also signs that israeli Public Opinion is shifting, perhaps because we have seen four hostages released over the past week or so from gaza, a week ago, one poll suggested that a week ago, one poll suggested that a week ago some two thirds of israelis were in support of a Ground Offensive in gaza, that seems to have dropped to around less than a third according to this one newspaper poll. So, there is a lot of different context playing out around what is happening here tonight. But we are still not entirely clear exactly what this heavier bombardment signifies. Lucy. Heavier bombardment signifies. Lucy, thank ou heavier bombardment signifies. Lucy, thank you very heavier bombardment signifies. Lucy, thank you very much heavier bombardment signifies. Lucy, thank you very much for heavier bombardment signifies. Lucy, thank you very much for that heavier bombardment signifies. Lucy, thank you very much for that update. Just to explain as lucy was talking and as i am talking now you can see the right hand side of the page, we are keeping these live pictures up. This is ashkelon. So, we are going to keep these live pictures going on the screen at the same time as we analyse exactly what has been happening. Lets take a look now at some of the developments throughout the day today. The Israel Defence forces released this footage, they say it is of targeted raids overnight in the central area of the gaza strip. They claim to have killed hamass head of intelligence. Next, the World Health Organization has confirmed the numbers that have been released by hamas in the gaza strip. The number of people killed, more than 7000 now. Moo people were killed in israel. Also you can see pictures of the devastation here, we are getting updates on the aid just as we lose those pictures just for a moment. Aid agencies warning that Something Like ten trucks only came in today, normally of course it would be hundreds of trucks, crumbs of aid, according to one aid agency, as they described it. We heard lucy talk a little bit about hostages, there has been an update throughout there has been an update throughout the day on that, the bbc has been told that talks accelerated on Hostage Exchange deal but so far we havent had any more updates on that. We will explore that a little later. The number updated from the israelis, 229 now is their number. And more broadly, any talk of a ceasefire has been rejected by israel thus far. Qatar is still acting as mediators here. Had no official statements or updates on the hostages but we will be analysing what is going on there a little later. Someone who is familiar with negotiations between israel and hamas, the exchange of hostages, has told the bbc they are accelerating. The key to Hostage Negotiations as i mentioned has been qatar. Joining me now to discuss the countrys mediating role is a former military attaching to the us and a member of the ruling family. Speaking to us in a personal capacity. Thank you for coming on the programme. Capacity. Thank you for coming on the programme capacity. Thank you for coming on the programme. Thank you for having me. Can the programme. Thank you for having me can you the programme. Thank you for having me. Can you explain the programme. Thank you for having me. Can you explain the the programme. Thank you for having me. Can you explain the role the programme. Thank you for having me. Can you explain the role of me. Can you explain the role of qatar . Well, me. Can you explain the role of qatar . Well, i me. Can you explain the role of qatar . Well, i think me. Can you explain the role of qatar . Well, | think it me. Can you explain the role of qatar . Well, i think it is me. Can you explain the role of qatar . Well, i think it is said i me. Can you explain the role of i qatar . Well, i think it is said best b the qatar . Well, i think it is said best by the foreign qatar . Well, i think it is said best by the Foreign Minister qatar . Well, i think it is said best by the Foreign Minister and qatar . Well, i think it is said best. By the Foreign Minister and minister of Foreign Affairs mediation, trying to find a solution towards peace. And do you think the events that we are seeing in the last couple of hours, this intensification of airstrikes, this expanding of Ground Forces tonight, do you think that makes any difference . Forces tonight, do you think that makes any difference . Well, actually it doesnt help makes any difference . Well, actually it doesnt help. I makes any difference . Well, actually it doesnt help. I think makes any difference . Well, actually it doesnt help. I think in makes any difference . Well, actually it doesnt help. I think in the makes any difference . Well, actually it doesnt help. I think in the same i it doesnt help. I think in the same statement made by the Foreign Minister a couple of days ago, calling for a cessation of hostilities, so, these things go hand in glove and if one is not met, it makes the other negotiation very difficult. � ,. ,. , difficult. And in terms of status, clearl , difficult. And in terms of status, clearly. We difficult. And in terms of status, clearly, we find difficult. And in terms of status, clearly, we find out, difficult. And in terms of status, clearly, we find out, the difficult. And in terms of status, clearly, we find out, the last difficult. And in terms of status, | clearly, we find out, the last four hostages to have been released, the process of finding out what has happened has been a social Media Statement released by hamas, then some verification from an intermediary, someone independent working to actually physically move the hostages out and then confirmation from the israeli side or some other government. Is that how you would expect any future Hostage Situation to unfold . Weill. Hostage situation to unfold . Well, the nature of Hostage Situation to unfold . Well, the nature of negotiation Hostage Situation to unfold . Well, the nature of negotiation and the nature of negotiation and mediation has to be its ability to do it in a cool and calm and in some cases stealthy manner to secure the safe return of hostages. Unfortunately, with the escalation of attacks, especially tonight, which seems to be a prelude to groundwater, or Ground Invasion, these things tend to be a bit more sticky, much more difficult, moving forward. Now the israelis have a choice to believe in the qatari approach of mediation and see the actual, tangible results of have already been achieved as a way forward or they can choose the path that they are on right now, and unfortunately it seems that they are choosing to go the latter, rather than the former. Than the former. Commerce is described than the former. Commerce is described as than the former. Commerce is described as a than the former. Commerce is described as a terrorist described as a Terrorist Organisation by the us, by the uk, by many others, how does that influence negotiations and specifically the role of qatar . Well, hamas is obviously viewed by the international community, by the United Nations, as not a terror organisation. Semantics really cant play a role in mediation. The question of how you get mediation to succeed is the vital question, i think, and part of that is having a cessation of violence, otherwise its very difficult for any mediator, qatar orany its very difficult for any mediator, qatar or any abound else, and there are other partners obviously, to actually have success as they have had in the past. And as they have had in the past. And are ou as they have had in the past. And are you confident of success . As they have had in the past. And i are you confident of success . Well, i mean are you confident of success . Well, i mean qatar are you confident of success . Well, i mean qatar has are you confident of success . Well, i mean qatar has had are you confident of success . Well, i mean qatar has had two are you confident of success . Ii i mean qatar has had two decades of successes. So, there is no reason to believe that qatar wont be successful in the future. But other estimates see that for success to happen, the israelis have to cooperate. The israelis have to show seriousness in their attempts to save the lives of those hostages, and unfortunately we havent seen that yet. In fact some of the rhetoric was absolutely the other way against stopping any escalation, evenif way against stopping any escalation, even if it guaranteed hostages would be released, which is unfortunate. We have to leave it there but thank you very much for coming on the programme. Just to explain, of course were keeping the pictures up on the right hand side of the screen, these are live feeds that we are getting in from a couple of different locations just to keep you across exactly what is happening. Significant developments this evening. In the last couple of hours we heard from the idea, Israel Defence forces, spokesperson, with a significant military update, saying first double that the Ground Forces are expanding their operations tonight. Secondly, bombardment is increasing in intensity in gaza. Weve got airstrikes have been witnessed by our teams in southern israel. And they have been talking about increasing vacancy in here. And we heard from the idf that the strikes are focusing on Underground Hamas targets and Terrorist Infrastructure. But we are continuing to get reaction to that statement and to the intensification of those airstrikes. I think we can take a look at a social media post now. So, this is antonio guterres, who is of course Secretary General of the United Nations. He says. So, lets go announ to a spokesperson for the idf, i talked a little about what he said, it was a statement delivered straight down the barrel of the camera, just a couple of hours ago, and many interpreting it as a significant shift in this war. Take a listen. Translation shift in this war. Take a listen. Translation ,. ,. ,. , shift in this war. Take a listen. Translation . ,. , translation good evening and a good sabbath. Translation good evening and a good sabbath over translation good evening and a good sabbath. Over the translation good evening and a good sabbath. Over the last translation good evening and a good sabbath. Over the last few translation good evening and a good sabbath. Over the last few hours, translation good evening and a good sabbath. Over the last few hours, we sabbath. Over the last few hours, we have intensified our airstrikes in gaza. The iaf has extensively carried out raids to underground targets and terror infrastructure in this essential manner. As a continuation of our offensive strikes over the last few days, the Ground Forces are expanding their operations this evening, acting forcefully in all dimensions to achieve the goals of the war. Earlier on today we exposed to the world the Shifa Hospital with the Underground Expanse, how they have converted the hospital for terror activities. Hamass cynical usage of the hospital, we released this to the hospital, we released this to the world and we will continue to do so, we will continue attack on gaza and its surroundings. And again, south to the gaza river, there are better conditions, we have called upon them and reiterated the call to the people to move. This evening we were attacked in the direction in the north. And we have course returned this. We are continuing with these activities, trying to thwart all those attacks with terror cells, so many of them, that have been actually trying to carry out, anyone who dares intimidate us and threaten us will be immediately, this will be curbed immediately. We are following the regional developments very closely. This morning