of artificial intelligence. for the first time, really, in human history with something that's going to be far more intelligent than us. and on newsnight at 10.30, we'll go deeper behind the headlines and on newsnight at 10.30, we'll go deeper behind the headlines and speak live to key players on today's big stories — plus a first look at tomorrow's front pages. good evening from jerusalem. for the first time since the war between israel and hamas began, people have been allowed to leave the besieged territory of gaza. they included dozens of injured palestinians and hundreds of foreign nationals. they've left by the rafah crossing on the border with egypt — and the injured were treated at field hospitals there. the foreign office says the first british nationals have crossed and that more will be taken out in stages over the coming days. people who've been trapped in gaza for weeks began crossing the borderfrom late morning, after the territory was closed off by israel when hamas attacked it over three weeks ago. hamas is classed as a terrorist organisation by the uk government. and in northern gaza, there has been another air strike onjabalia, a day after an israeli attack caused heavy casualties at the refugee camp there. 0ur international editor jeremy bowen has our first report, which contains material that you may find upsetting. at last the gates of the rafah some foreign citizens were allowed to leave gaza for egypt for the first time since israel imposed its siege. though not nearly as many as the un and aid agencies say are necessary. ambulances went in for the seriously wounded. injabalia, at the opposite end of the gaza strip, more israeli raids. this time they said the target was a command centre. the un said gaza civilians were being starved, traumatised and bombed to death. 0n the other side of the border wire, israelis are still in shock over the 7th october attacks. this is kibbutz nirim, directly facing gaza. for the first time, adele was back to look and to grab a few things. her old hopes of peace with her neighbours in gaza gone forever. stopping anything like this happening again is powering israel's determination to see this fight through to the end. adele showed me the place where her son—in—law saved her three granddaughters, all under the age of ten. tell me what happened here. there, there is their safe room and there is where he shot the terrorists. as kibbutz nirim was under attack, hamas radio messages were intercepted, and the israeli army gave us this excerpt. the fence has been fixed, israel's security has not. so there is no doubt there was a lot of complacency about the risks that hamas posed to israel, and after the war there is going to be an inquiry, but even now the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, is under a lot of pressure about his responsibility for the security lapses that led to hamas breaching the border. i took my pistol... that day, noam, a retired israeli general, drove down from tel aviv to rescue his son's family from hamas. as the hamas gunmen surged forward, his mission was successful. he took a rifle from a dead israeli soldier and, with others, fought his way in. i saw one terrorist, i pointed on him, i killed him, i saw another one, i think i wound him or killed him. so who do you hold responsible for what happened? this is the biggest failure in the history of the state of israel. it was a military failure, it was an intelligence failure and it was the failure of the government. but i think that the one that is really in charge and all the blame is on him, is prime minister benjamin netanyahu. this was the funeral of 20—year—old lavi lifschitz, killed in combat in gaza. israelis are behind their troops, but increasingly they want to know how so much went wrong, and the pressure on the prime minister is going to increase. jeremy bowen, bbc news, in southern israel. many families are waiting at the rafah crossing desperate to leave gaza. our special correspondent fergal keane, who is based injerusalem, has been working with freelance journalists in the territory filming for the bbc to tell their stories. caught in the borderlands, the small space between war and peace. because whatever is ahead has to be better than what is behind them. in this place of the list... ..the names of the lucky ones. that's if luck is having to flee your home, to say goodbye to family left behind under bombardment. mona has an australian passport. she told a bbc colleague of her anguish at leaving family behind. i'm not happy at all, that's because i'm leaving my other part, my brothers and sisters, my whole family is still here. iwish, inshallah, they'll all be in safe place. the situation is terrible there. it's very, very bad. many of those who can't get to egypt are crowding into gaza's hospitals, believing they might be safe there. they bring their wounded and their questions. translation: the patients ask me i if they should go to the south, i but the south is being bombed and the hospitals in the south are crowded. or should they stay in gaza? they ask me if they can stay in the hospital here, but it is also crowded, and we have no place for them. we do not know how we can treat them. we feel sorry for them because we can't provide them with any services, although the hospital is open. yazid abu nahleh suffers from seizures made worse by the terrors of the war. this is the third time his sister tala has tried to get him across the border. every time the situation, when i believe it's got to the worst, itjust keeps getting worse. then, i don't know, it's like we are trying to survive. like we're not sure we're going to make it but we're trying to do anything we can do to survive because i simply don't want to die at 2a, basically. they waited all day, but tonight tala sent us a message saying they didn't make it out. they were back in the dark of their gaza apartment. i'm not sure how to feel any more. we came back to no electricity, no food for today, no clean water to drink, or even washing water. and one more day closer to my brother running out of medications and we're still here and it's night, so. they'll try again tomorrow. fergal keane, bbc news, jerusalem. israel's leaders have warned of a long war — but what do we know about its military operation so far, and how realistic are its aims? 0ur defence correspondent jonathan beale explains. israel says its goal is to destroy hamas, wipe it off the face of the map. its tanks are now in gaza. what's still not clear, though, is how it will achieve that with military means alone. so what do we know about israel's military campaign so far? this map gives an indication of the focus of israel's attacks on gaza. israel says it's carried out more than 11,000 strikes over the past three weeks. yellow dots show the damage caused to buildings by airstrikes and artillery since the start of the war. the red shows the most recent strikes since ground operations began. now, israel has imposed strict reporting restrictions on both the movement and location of its troops. but we do know that israeli ground forces have entered gaza from three directions — mainly from the north, but also from the east. these satellite images identified by bbc verify show the build—up of some israeli forces inside gaza. this appears to be a forward operating base with tanks, bulldozers and troop carriers parked up. as you can see, they're protected by berms of sand, the kind of base from where they launch further attacks. remember, israel has called this the second stage of what it says will be a long war, and they'll need much more than this if they're to try to isolate the city of gaza and clear all those hamas tunnels. israel has still not committed all its forces. this week, it released video of more of its tanks and armour massing on the border. that military build—up in gaza will take some time. but remember, israel can'tjust focus on gaza. it's also had to bolster its defences in the north, the borders of syria and lebanon, where it faces another threat from hezbollah. 0verall, israel's military strategy is still relatively opaque, nor is it clear how or even whether it can achieve its objective of destroying hamas. and then there's the question of time. a long war with mounting casualties will test the patience of even israel's staunchest allies. jonathan beale reporting. that's all from the team here injerusalem on a day where there has been huge relief for a very small number of people allowed out of gaza. but for the vast majority, prevented from going anywhere, the war and the fear grind on. now it's back to you in the studio, sophie. thank you. another big storm is sweeping across the english channel towards southern england tonight — storm ciaran is bringing torrential rain and very strong winds with gusts that could reach 80 even 90 miles an hour in some places. many schools are being closed tomorrow and people are being warned of severe travel disruption across large parts of southern england. in a moment, we will speak to duncan kennedy who's near southampton, but first danjohnson is injersey where there's a red weather warning in place and a major incident is being declared. yes, indeed. people are being warned there is a real danger to life here, particularly in the early hours of tomorrow morning. we had just passed high tide and the worst of the danger has passed for this evening but with another high tide in such strong winds of 90 or even 100 mph winds are expected at around 5am six m tomorrow, people are being warned to stay off the roads, stay at home, stay away from the coast. schools will be closed tomorrow, there is no boat service to the islands and flights are being cancelled from jersey and guernsey tomorrow too. the channel islands are tonight starting to look more like caribbean islands and hurricane season. the first taste of the job is pretty strong, the worst is not due until first thing tomorrow. it is strong, the worst is not due until first thing tomorrow.— first thing tomorrow. it is getting u . first thing tomorrow. it is getting u- a cust first thing tomorrow. it is getting up a gust now. — first thing tomorrow. it is getting up a gust now. it _ first thing tomorrow. it is getting up a gust now, it is _ first thing tomorrow. it is getting up a gust now, it is very - first thing tomorrow. it is getting up a gust now, it is very strong. l up a gust now, it is very strong. time _ up a gust now, it is very strong. time to— up a gust now, it is very strong. time to get— up a gust now, it is very strong. time to get home. i�*m up a gust now, it is very strong. time to get home.— up a gust now, it is very strong. time to get home. i'm on my way. lots of trees _ time to get home. i'm on my way. lots of trees on _ time to get home. i'm on my way. lots of trees on jersey _ time to get home. i'm on my way. lots of trees on jersey along - time to get home. i'm on my way. lots of trees on jersey along the l lots of trees on jersey along the roads. _ lots of trees on jersey along the roads, some will probably fall down, issues _ roads, some will probably fall down, issues with— roads, some will probably fall down, issues with slates and things flying and causing damage.— and causing damage. emergency services are _ and causing damage. emergency services are out _ and causing damage. emergency services are out already, - and causing damage. emergency services are out already, trying l and causing damage. emergency| services are out already, trying to save homes from flooding. we are braced for absolutely _ save homes from flooding. we are braced for absolutely everything, i save homes from flooding. we are l braced for absolutely everything, we have iteen— braced for absolutely everything, we have been checking _ braced for absolutely everything, we have been checking all _ braced for absolutely everything, we have been checking all the _ have been checking all the residents, _ have been checking all the residents, making - have been checking all the residents, making sure - have been checking all the i residents, making sure they have been checking all the - residents, making sure they are battened — residents, making sure they are battened down, _ residents, making sure they are battened down, have _ residents, making sure they are battened down, have a - residents, making sure they are battened down, have a nuts- residents, making sure they arej battened down, have a nuts and residents, making sure they are - battened down, have a nuts and pads etc, everyone — battened down, have a nuts and pads etc, everyone seems _ battened down, have a nuts and pads etc, everyone seems happy. - battened down, have a nuts and pads etc, everyone seems happy. do- battened down, have a nuts and pads etc, everyone seems happy.- etc, everyone seems happy. do you think it will _ etc, everyone seems happy. do you think it will be — etc, everyone seems happy. do you think it will be a _ etc, everyone seems happy. do you think it will be a busy _ etc, everyone seems happy. do you think it will be a busy night? - etc, everyone seems happy. do you think it will be a busy night? yes. . think it will be a busy night? yes. santallier has _ think it will be a busy night? yes. santallier has been _ think it will be a busy night? yes. santallier has been getting ready, concerns about being cut off prompted some panic buying so the co—op has drafted in extra staff to keep shelves stocked. we co-op has drafted in extra staff to keep shelves stocked.— co-op has drafted in extra staff to keep shelves stocked. we are used to havin: keep shelves stocked. we are used to having disruptions _ keep shelves stocked. we are used to having disruptions with _ keep shelves stocked. we are used to having disruptions with scaling - having disruptions with scaling schedules during these extreme circumstances —— sailing schedules. we all_ circumstances —— sailing schedules. we all mackem as a team and we are prepared _ we all mackem as a team and we are prepared to _ we all mackem as a team and we are prepared to help our colleagues. —— we all_ prepared to help our colleagues. —— we all merck— prepared to help our colleagues. —— we all merck in as a team. prepared to help our colleagues. -- we all merck in as a team.— we all merck in as a team. there is no bread. — we all merck in as a team. there is no bread. it _ we all merck in as a team. there is no bread. it is _ we all merck in as a team. there is no bread, it is like _ we all merck in as a team. there is no bread, it is like the _ we all merck in as a team. there is no bread, it is like the end - we all merck in as a team. there is no bread, it is like the end of- we all merck in as a team. there is no bread, it is like the end of the l no bread, it is like the end of the world _ no bread, it is like the end of the world. it— no bread, it is like the end of the world. , ., . ~ world. it is quite nerve-racking, i live next to _ world. it is quite nerve-racking, i live next to two _ world. it is quite nerve-racking, i live next to two building - world. it is quite nerve-racking, i live next to two building sites - world. it is quite nerve-racking, i live next to two building sites so | live next to two building sites so the debris— live next to two building sites so the debris that could fly off and i am quite — the debris that could fly off and i am quite high up, it is nerve—racking. am quite high up, it is nerve-racking. am quite high up, it is nerve-rackinu. ~ ., , ., nerve-racking. worried, but what is the point worrying _ nerve-racking. worried, but what is the point worrying over _ nerve-racking. worried, but what is the point worrying over something i the point worrying over something can't _ the point worrying over something can't change? _ the point worrying over something can't change? but _ the point worrying over something can't change?— can't change? but they certainly can re are. can't change? but they certainly can prepare. the roads _ can't change? but they certainly can prepare. the roads along the - prepare. the roads along the seafront have been closed off to traffic by the police and they are busy working into the evening trying to do as much as possible to minimise disruption. they reckon it'll be the worst weather they had seen since the great storm of 1987. it is notjust the channel islands which are bunkering down and braced tonight. the wind just keep getting stronger and stronger. the rain isn't as heavy but there are already properties at risk of flooding and the threat is we'll see more of that impact through tomorrow. we are going to take a bit of time tomorrow to assess the damage, see what needs to assess the damage, see what needs to be done and weather they can get the transport connection is reintroduced to the islands on friday, see if they can get the schools reopened but the message that tomorrow is people should batten down, stay at home and keep safe. ., ~ batten down, stay at home and keep safe. . ~ ., ~ let me show you the scene in penzance in cornwall tonight. these images were filmed an hour or two ago now on the promenade as the storm was approaching. the man who filmed this footage says it's the worst storm he has seen there for ten years and his house on the seafront is shaking. 0ur correspondent duncan kennedy is further along the coast in between southampton and portsmouth, which is where the storm is heading. as you can see, the storm is getting really energised in this part of the world, it's pouring with rain, wind gusts about 50—60. that is having all kinds of knock—on effects already. take the isle of wight, they are declaring a major incident tonight so they can free up resources. as far as travel is concerned, ferry services out of portsmouth are cancelled and major disruption tonight full—service as out of dover where they are expecting peaks of eight metres in terms of the waves. also badly affected on the trains, southern trains say there are cancellations tomorrow, south—western say there will be lots of revisions. we're also hearing there are problems with some flights out of heathrow. for schools, there will be some cancellations tomorrow, many local authorities advising schools close for health and safety reasons although the final decision will be taken by various head teachers across the coast. bournemouth council have said they are providing emergency accommodation for rough sleepers but treacherous conditions right along the south coast. thank ou. a former top civil servant has told the covid inquiry that there wasn't one day during the pandemic when the coronavirus rules were properly followed in downing street. helen macnamara — who used to be the second most senior civil servant in the country — also said borisjohnson's "breezy confidence" at the time jarred with her and that there had been a toxic, macho culture in government. 0ur political editor chris mason reports. closed... ..empty... ..little moving but the escalators. those bleak memories of 2020. a virus at first distant, then quickly frightening, and a government that was vastly unprepared, as this then senior civil servant told downing street at the time. what she said then, read out today by the lawyer questioning her. "i have come through here, to the prime minister's office, to tell you all i think we are absolutel, i think this country is heading for a disaster. i think we are going to kill thousands of people." is it right that that's an accurate account? yes. it's very striking. yes. no doubt you can still remember that moment of realisation? yes, it was horrible. helen macnamara was herself fined for notjust turning up at a leaving do in westminster when leaving dos were banned, but turning up with a karaoke machine. she reckons in downing street the covid rules were brok