more than 200 hostages. jeremy bowen has been embedded with the israel defense forces, inside the territory. while the bbc retained editorial control of the report, the sections featuring the israeli military have been cleared by the idf. like young soldiers in many wars, israeli troops looked excited, not apprehensive, as they made their final preparations tojoin israel's invasion of the gaza strip. they're moving in as the war approaches a critical point. their colleagues already inside the strip have surrounded gaza city. these men might be part of the next stage, locating hamas tunnels and fighting street by street. israel's prime minister promised his country a mighty vengeance against hamas. but with so much firepower, one question — is israel following joe biden�*s advice not to be blinded by rage, to defend itself, but also protect the lives of palestinian civilians? we went into gaza with the israeli army on condition we didn't reveal their positions. video shot after they took us through the gap in the fence into gaza — though not this script — had to be submitted to their military censors. we got out of the back of an armoured vehicle and walked into a wasteland. after a month of air strikes and more than a week of tanks and troops, every building i saw was damaged or destroyed. they wanted to show us what they said was a hamas weapons factory, in this wrecked structure. this is their scuba diving equipment that's meant to come from sea, from their land to our land. and they made drones that drop bombs, he said, in this workshop. places like this, he said, originated the seventh of october attacks. but upstairs was a family apartment. the soldiers said it was more proof that hamas used civilians as human shields, building bombs underneath a bedroom used by children. the officer said hamas — not israel — was responsible for civilian deaths. we know, intelligence. we know what we hit. we know the targets, they're approved by our command. it's not that i wake up and my objective is to ruin the city. i aim for enemy and enemy only, and i use all in my power to hit the enemy only. so judging by the destruction here, the enemy was everywhere, you'd say? yes. israel's strategic equation measures the destruction and death it's brought to palestinians in gaza — civilians as well as hamas — against the pain of its own people and the importance of making them feel safe again. the overriding impressions i have from being here is, first of all, the level of force that israel has brought to bear on the gaza strip — a vast amount of military power. in addition, the level of destruction, massive destruction, thousands of homes gone. israel says a military necessity, self—defence. this woman's view was different. she said it was because of israel's bombardment, because nowhere was safe, because there was no food or drinking waterfor the children and because israel had bombed the bakeries. israel said 50,000 palestinians moved south after it promised safe passage. hamas released more videos of its fight against israel in gaza's streets. it claims victories but it is vastly outgunned. hamas cannot win a toe to toe fight with israel but guerrilla tactics, hit—and—run, might drag the war out for months, and force a ceasefire. more israeli tanks were moving forward as we left the gaza strip this evening. israel's western allies support the invasion. but america's reminders about the laws of war and the pressure for humanitarian pauses suggest even israel's closest allies are queasy about this war�*s human catastrophe. jeremy bowen, bbc news, gaza. the us secretary of state, antony blinken, says there should be no israeli occupation of gaza when the current conflict comes to an end. speaking after a meeting of g7 foreign ministers injapan, he called for the territory and the west bank to be united under the palestinian authority. it is also clear that israel cannot occupy gaza.- it is also clear that israel cannot occupy gaza. the reality is that there _ cannot occupy gaza. the reality is that there may _ cannot occupy gaza. the reality is that there may be _ cannot occupy gaza. the reality is that there may be a - cannot occupy gaza. the reality is that there may be a need - cannot occupy gaza. the reality is that there may be a need for| is that there may be a need for some transition period at the end of the conflict, but it is imperative that palestinian people be central to governance in gaza and the west bank as well. for more on the war we bring in a.l. male roles from the university of sydney. thank you forjoining us on the programme. as we mentioned, israeli military says hamas has lost control. what is the overriding plan especially given more than 200 hostages are still there.— are still there. well, the idea of both destroying _ are still there. well, the idea of both destroying hamas - of both destroying hamas capability and releasing the hostages is very problematic because _ hostages is very problematic because there is no way that israelis _ because there is no way that israelis can go into the tunnels_ israelis can go into the tunnels —— tunnels of hamas and release _ tunnels —— tunnels of hamas and release the — tunnels —— tunnels of hamas and release the hostages, they will be killed — release the hostages, they will be killed immediately. i don't see be killed immediately. idon't see how— be killed immediately. i don't see how anything other than negotiations and agreements on hostages swapped with palestinian prisoners in israel will help— palestinian prisoners in israel will help solve this problem. i mean. — will help solve this problem. i mean, the release of hostages and also — mean, the release of hostages and also calls for a ceasefire and — and also calls for a ceasefire and calls _ and also calls for a ceasefire and calls for humanitarian was having — and calls for humanitarian was having growing. but and calls for humanitarian was having growing.— and calls for humanitarian was having growing. but how likely is that, having growing. but how likely is that. we _ having growing. but how likely is that, we actually _ having growing. but how likely is that, we actually get - having growing. but how likely is that, we actually get there, | is that, we actually get there, do you think? ladle is that, we actually get there, do you think?— is that, we actually get there, do you think? we can only guess there are a _ do you think? we can only guess there are a number _ do you think? we can only guess there are a number of _ there are a number of initiatives, run at the moment by egypts, iranian negotiators are supposedly trying to release thai hostages. thailand and the netherlands was involved. and obviously qatar. but what are the hamas intentions of releasing how many and in return for what and whether israel will be willing to pay that price is anyone's is at the moment.— to pay that price is anyone's is at the moment. and if hamas entered had _ is at the moment. and if hamas entered had lost _ is at the moment. and if hamas entered had lost control - is at the moment. and if hamas entered had lost control of - is at the moment. and if hamas entered had lost control of the i entered had lost control of the north of gaza, what is the future of gaza strip, because opinion seemed to be quite different between washington and israel. i different between washington and israel. ~ , and israel. i think this statement _ and israel. i think this statement that - and israel. i think this| statement that hamas and israel. i think this - statement that hamas has lost control is problematic. it may have lost control above ground but not underground. and israel has no alternative other than to go underground if it wants to go underground if it wants to demolish the hamas capabilities and so we have not seen anywhere near the end of the war in north gaza. israel is expecting a very long process of fighting, which will add to the current misery of the civilian population that was left in north gaza. there are still a lot of civilians there that unless they evacuate are in grave danger and israel is all but certain that it has months to do that, because the americans are still supporting their war effort, americans are still supporting theirwar effort, but americans are still supporting their war effort, but at some point may lose patience if the civilian death toll grows. there were concerns at the beginning of the war for wider regional escalation. in your view, is that still a risk? i view, is that still a risk? i think the risk is pretty view, is that still a risk? i think the risk is pretty much what it was from day two, which is, on one hand, low because neither hezbollah nor israel want escalation, they have been fighting the whole month but trying to make sure that it doesn't get out of hand. hezbollah is the main military power in lebanon and lebanon cannot handle any kind of war and hezbollah knows that. but at the same time there is always the risk of some kind of provocation, whether in al—aqsa mosque by religiousjews or the mass killing of israeli civilian�*s that can deteriorate the situation very quickly and inflame the middle east. we don't know whether that will happen, what are the odds, but the risk is always there. easel the risk is always there. eyal ma roz, the risk is always there. eyal mayroz, thank _ the risk is always there. eyal mayroz, thank you _ the risk is always there. eyal mayroz, thank you so - the risk is always there. eyal mayroz, thank you so much for joining us on bbc news this morning. now to the us. donald trump's daughter ivanka has been testifying in a court in new york, in the civil fraud case against her father and two of her brothers. she repeatedly said she did not remember the details of various conversations with banks when she worked at the trump 0rganization. the judge has already ruled that donald trump inflated the value of the firm's assets to secure cheaper loans and better insurance deals. 0ur north america correspondent nada tawfik has been following her testimony. you could really summarise ivanka trump's testimony as, "i don't recall." i mean, prosecutors really wanted to try to nail her down on those specific conversations she had with deutsche bank to secure those favourable loans. we heard the attorney general speak about that, and also what conversations she had with the trump organisation about her concerns — about whether her father did have the minimum net worth needed to act as a guarantee for those loans. but time and again, she said she could not recall. even when presented with her own e—mails in court, she repeated she could not recall or didn't have the necessary details to offer. and what we're really seeing is she has repeated a lot of the defence that we've seen from her brothers in the past, that some of these claims are just too old. she remarked at one point conversations were happening when she was nine months pregnant with her first child, so just too long ago for her to be able to give specifics. let's stay in the united states. the third republican presidential debate is now under way in florida, but without a donald trump stop. five candidates will take to the stage. it comes a day after the democrats performed strongly in state and local elections, potentially influencing how the would—be nominees make their pitch. 0ur correspondent helena humphrey, who is in miami where the debate will take place, told us more about what we can expect. a trimmed down field of candidates, and they'll be looking forward to that, likely because that will mean more airtime for them on the debate stage tonight. they'll be needing that in order to try and have that breakthrough moment, because they are trying to catch up to donald trump, a0 points clear of his next challenger, ron desa ntis. this is largely expected to be a matchup between ron desantis on his home turf and the former south carolina governor, nicky haley, who has been gaining in the polls of late. they'll be quizzed on domestic issues, also on international ones as well. keep in mind, this is the first time they've been together on the debate stage since hamas attacks on israel on the 7th of october and perhaps more aggressive stances, more going on the attack as well, trying to win some ground, trying to close the gap with donald trump. you mentioned nicky haley gaining her support a bit in recent weeks. can you just tell us why that is? it comes down to a number of factors. she's proven herself to be strong. she's a strong debater on the debate stage. then she has got that foreign policy acumen. right now, she is the former ambassador to the united nations. the big questions facing the united states right now, of course, related to the middle east and ukraine. she's pitching herself as something of a more moderate republican, softening her views on abortion. and we saw that play out well with ohio voters right now. and then also, there have been some issues with the desantis campaign. there's been a high staff turnover of late. some republican strategists would prefer that he pivoted away now from those cultural issues, started speaking about issues that mobilize voters, the economy, for example. and as a result, what we're seeing is nicky haley having a strong showing in those three early state polls as we go into the iowa caucuses injust less than nine weeks now. but i guess donald trump still far and away the leading candidate. briefly, before we let you go, he's also speaking, isn't he? can you just tell us more about that? he absolutely is. half—an—hourfrom here, a city called hialeah, 95% latino population. he will be courting that vote. it's a vote that's done well for him in the past. and he said that essentially the rnc should do away with all of these debates, instead coalesce around him as he seeks to take on president biden in 202a. eleanor humphrey reporting there. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. when you different stories from across the uk.— across the uk. villagers who cathered across the uk. villagers who gathered to _ across the uk. villagers who gathered to meet _ across the uk. villagers who gathered to meet the - across the uk. villagers who gathered to meet the mp - across the uk. villagers who gathered to meet the mp in | across the uk. villagers who | gathered to meet the mp in a pub car park have just found out about the latest proposal for a similar park. the great north road scheme planned battery storage for the grid and a chain of what is called solar islands linked by underground cable circling the village. underground cable circling the villaae. ., ., , ., village. the ma'ority of the community — village. the majority of the community probably - village. the majority of the community probably isn't l community probably isn't against _ community probably isn't against solar but the dimension of this— against solar but the dimension of this project is so huge and vast — of this pro'ect is so huge and vast. , ., ,., , ., , of this pro'ect is so huge and vast. , ., , ., , ., vast. the proposals we are seeinu vast. the proposals we are seeing covered _ vast. the proposals we are seeing covered dozens - vast. the proposals we are seeing covered dozens of l seeing covered dozens of villagers. _ seeing covered dozens of villagers, thousands - seeing covered dozens of villagers, thousands of l seeing covered dozens of- villagers, thousands of acres, and will— villagers, thousands of acres, and will have _ villagers, thousands of acres, and will have a _ villagers, thousands of acres, and will have a profound - villagers, thousands of acres, l and will have a profound impact on the — and will have a profound impact on the landscape _ and will have a profound impact on the landscape and _ and will have a profound impact on the landscape and the - on the landscape and the quality— on the landscape and the quality of— on the landscape and the quality of life _ on the landscape and the quality of life of- on the landscape and the quality of life of people l quality of life of people living _ quality of life of people living in _ quality of life of people living in this _ quality of life of people living in this area. - quality of life of people living in this area.- living in this area. the company _ living in this area. the company behind - living in this area. the company behind the i living in this area.- company behind the plan living in this area— company behind the plan says if it goes ahead, they will pay £1 million a year to projects suggested by the community. this is just the start of the consultation which really gets going here. a nationally infrastructure project, the final decision will be made by the secretary of energy. for more stories _ the secretary of energy. for more stories across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you are alive with bbc news. ethnic insurgent groups have come together to attack government forces in response, the military leaders have hit back with air strikes with thousands of people now forced from their homes. a recent fierce fighting mounts latest flareup in a long—running civil in the country. let's bring in the bbc�*s southeast asian correspondent who joins us live from bangkok. thank you for joining us. what do we know about what has happened, and how much of a blow is this to the militaryjunta? i don't think, since the crew, the military has not suffer this number of losses, they have lost according to the insurgents and posting photographs and video to prove it, control of 125 military positions, they've taken control of four or five key towns along the china border. these insurgents have now taken control of the most important border crosses going to china which is the most important land trade partners in myanmar. it is notjust that. we have seen hundreds of soldiers have been killed, many more have surrendered or defect did and the military has lost a very senior commander, the commander of those forces in one of those attacks. the reason this is happening is because these three insurgent groups are well—known, they are very well armed. it is a huge state but has been more or less out of the civil war conflict because there are so many internal conflicts and because china's very strong on these groups, and up until now, china has acted as a restraining force and have largely avoided siding with the opposition in the attempt to overthrow the military government. that has changed. in launching these attacks, clearly they have territorial ambitions, they have had them for a long time, they have clashed in the past but these groups are saying we are now part of this broad opposition movement, this is part of a much bigger opposition push to throw the military out, and we have thrown that mixing other attacks taking place in support of this operation in other parts of myanmar, the forces aligned to the national unity government, the government in exile representing those who were ousted in the coup, they have just taken a district capital for the first time with their volunteer forces who are generally much worse equipped, and we have seen a lot of other attacks in different parts, it is a co—ordinated operation. these are still small steps, know when defeating the military overall, it certainly has changed the move inside the opposition camp, it is much more, and it has changed the calculations. the military have not brought in reinforcements after two weeks of fighting, they are in danger of losing another key border town, they don't have an answer for this and now they are facing a much more significant and better armed opposition. has more significant and better armed opposition.- more significant and better armed opposition. as you say, this happened _ armed opposition. as you say,