draught resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in gaza. the palestinian president mahmoud abbas said the veto made the us complicit in what he described as war crimes against palestinians. the us envoy to the un said a ceasefire would be dangerous and unrealistic. these are the latest pictures from the israel defense forces, showing fighting in the jabalia refugee camp in the north of the strip, which is still surrounded by israeli tanks. people there say they've been without food and clean water for several days. the hamas —run health ministry in gaza says the death toll since the conflict began is 17,700. from jerusalem, our middle east correspondent lucy williamson reports. buried by the war, but still alive, dug from the rubble of their homes in deir al—balah after an israeli strike this morning. more than 20 members of the salman family and their neighbours. their faces, like their lives, made unrecognisable. six others were killed, they say. the frantic race to hospitals is gaza's new daily routine. health care in the north has collapsed. here, further south, doctors say the situation is catastrophic. there aren't the resources to treat all the wounded, much less to comfort them. this boy praying quietly to himself. the girl beside him calling for her mother. gunfire. in the north of gaza israeli forces say they're targeting palestinian fighters in jabalia camp. one of those inside a un shelter there told the bbc they were encircled and had now been without food or water for five days. the army says it was targeted by fighters from a un school and a mosque yesterday. these weapons, it said, were found inside a classroom. israel's ground campaign is now focused on khan younis, gaza's southern capital. fighting, it says, house to house and tunnel to tunnel. israel's aim of destroying hamas infrastructure here is also destroying lives. the city's nasser hospital reported more than 60 dead this morning, around 100 injured. others are said to still be trapped under the rubble of an attack four days ago. translation: we beg the world. what you waiting for? are you waiting for us to die here in gaza? don't worry. we are going to die here. today, we buried six relatives. tomorrow, and in the days to come, we fear we will all face the same fate. allahu akbar. funerals here have shifted from the mosque to the morgue. faith in hospitals and their power to protect still something to cling to even when the chance to save a life has gone. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. live now to alexandra murdoch, a spokeswoman for unicef who is in amman injordan. thank you very much forjoining us here. we are hearing a lot of concerning lines coming out out of humanitarian agencies, many of them, of course, united nations agencies. what is your description of how bad things are what is your description of how bad things are for what is your description of how bad things are for children what is your description of how bad things are for children in what is your description of how bad things are for children in gaza what is your description of how bad things are for children in gaza at the moment?— things are for children in gaza at the moment? yes, thank you for havin: the moment? yes, thank you for having me- _ the moment? yes, thank you for having me- by — the moment? yes, thank you for having me. by all— the moment? yes, thank you for having me. by all the _ the moment? yes, thank you for having me. by all the measuresl the moment? yes, thank you for . having me. by all the measures that you can think of, the situation for people in gaza is beyond crisis point. food is running out, as you have reported. there is a severe lack of safe water, safe drinking water and this a particularly lethal threat to children. people are sleeping outside and concrete floors. 80% of the population are displaced, almost a million of them are children. they are being pushed further and further south into areas that are overcrowded without any of the basics they need to survive. what are the options at the moment? i'm assuming there aren't many, for example, medicalfacilities, that example, medical facilities, that are example, medicalfacilities, that are operating, and israel is now ordering evacuations to the west of the strip to this evacuation zone. yes. the options are extremely limited. as i said before, 80% of the population have been displaced. a small strip that civilians are being told to go to for safety represents about 4% of the entire strip, so it's impossible to have that many people going there and there is nothing there for them either. it isjust there is nothing there for them either. it is just a really catastrophic situation, and humanitarian aid at the moment is the only lifeline for people and we are simply able not to get the access that we need to get through for the past four or five, six days, aid agencies have only been able to access the rafah crossing and even thenit access the rafah crossing and even then it is limited. so many people are going to really, really struggle because there isn't enough water, there isn't enough food. there isn't any shelter. i’m there isn't enough food. there isn't any shelter-— any shelter. i'm sure you are aware ofthe any shelter. i'm sure you are aware of the unraw _ any shelter. i'm sure you are aware of the unraw letter— any shelter. i'm sure you are aware of the unraw letter warning - any shelter. i'm sure you are aware of the unraw letter warning of - any shelter. i'm sure you are aware of the unraw letter warning of a i of the unraw letter warning of a full—blown collapse and an inability for it to fulfil its mandate. what would that mean for you to be able to, or unicef or any other agencies to, or unicef or any other agencies to be able to do the job? to, or unicef or any other agencies to be able to do thejob? —— unrwa. how long have these children that have been described from suffering from wasting have?— from wasting have? well, we are already unable _ from wasting have? well, we are already unable to _ from wasting have? well, we are already unable to do _ from wasting have? well, we are already unable to do our - from wasting have? well, we are already unable to do ourjob - from wasting have? well, we are already unable to do ourjob to l from wasting have? well, we are| already unable to do ourjob to be aid agencies are not getting the axes they need. the conditions are not there. the conditions are not being met for eight agencies to be able to deliver what they need to. it is really difficult to deliver aid supply when there is a likelihood you will be attacked. the delivery might be diverted or stopped. it's already impossible. at the impact on children will be really severe. if malnutrition starts to take hold, than children's immune systems will be down. if you couple this with the lack of safe water, you will have a situation where children are forced to drink dirty water, they will be getting diarrhoea, other diseases, their immune system will be down. eventually it is going to lead to death in more children, so if they are not dying from the bombs and the bullets, eventually they will be buying through lack of food and deadly diseases.— buying through lack of food and deadly diseases. buying through lack of food and deadl diseases. ~ . ., ., ., deadly diseases. warning also have a hiuh risk deadly diseases. warning also have a hi . h risk of deadly diseases. warning also have a high risk of illness. _ deadly diseases. warning also have a high risk of illness. what _ deadly diseases. warning also have a high risk of illness. what needs - deadly diseases. warning also have a high risk of illness. what needs to i high risk of illness. what needs to be done? this is kind of the the message i'm trying to eat out of you. message i'm trying to eat out of ou. ~ ., , ., message i'm trying to eat out of ou. ~ . , ., , ., message i'm trying to eat out of ou. . , ., you. what needs to be done as a cease-fire. _ you. what needs to be done as a cease-fire, and _ you. what needs to be done as a cease-fire, and i— you. what needs to be done as a cease-fire, and i know _ you. what needs to be done as a cease-fire, and i know we - you. what needs to be done as a cease-fire, and i know we have i you. what needs to be done as a - cease-fire, and i know we have been cease—fire, and i know we have been sounding the alarm on this for a long time, but this is the only way that we can deliver safe and sustainable access to people inside gaza. and the only way that we can stop my children and my civilians from being killed. just stop my children and my civilians from being killed.— stop my children and my civilians from being killed. just one more, alexander. _ from being killed. just one more, alexander, one _ from being killed. just one more, alexander, one more _ from being killed. just one more, alexander, one more question, i from being killed. just one more, alexander, one more question, ifj from being killed. just one more, | alexander, one more question, ifi alexander, one more question, if i could. a warning also the breakdown of law and order. any reports of that that have come your way? i have seen the reports _ that that have come your way? i have seen the reports of _ that that have come your way? i have seen the reports of this. _ that that have come your way? i have seen the reports of this. i _ that that have come your way? i have seen the reports of this. i can't - seen the reports of this. i can't verify them specifically, but i mean, i think, verify them specifically, but i mean, ithink, to me, it verify them specifically, but i mean, i think, to me, it makes sense. if you've got a situation where you are living in a place and you cannot give your child a drop of water or you have an elderly relative and you cannot get food for them, you will be desperate. he will do whatever you can to try and survive, and that is what is happening at the moment. people are just trying to survive.— just trying to survive. alexander, thank ou just trying to survive. alexander, thank you very — just trying to survive. alexander, thank you very much _ just trying to survive. alexander, thank you very much for - just trying to survive. alexander, thank you very much for your - just trying to survive. alexander, l thank you very much for your time. thank you. president macron is at the centre of a row over france's secular ideals, after appearing to take part in a religious ceremony at the elysee palace. footage of the event was posted online on thursday and the president has since faced a wave of criticism. from the newsroom, our reporter tom brada has the details. this video has dragged president macron into the eye of a political storm. he's seen standing alongside the chief rabbi of france who is lighting the very first candle on the menorah as part of the jewish festival hanukkah. 0n the surface, there is nothing controversial going on, but the issue here is the location. the ceremony took place at the official residence of the president, the elysee palace. and for many people, that is completely at odds with the country's commitment to secularism. now, secularism is the idea that there should be a separation between religious institutions and the state, and many people from across the political spectrum are not happy. these are the thoughts of the right wing mayor of cannes who wrote that... and these were the thoughts of a prominent socialist leader who wrote that... for his part, president macron defended what took place. translation: if the president - of the republic had made a gesture of worship or taken part in a ceremony, this would not be respectful of secularism. that's not what happened. there's even been criticism from some members of the jewish community. this was the head of the representative council of frenchjewish institutions. he said that... so when did secularism become such an important part of french identity? well, in 1905 it was officially enshrined into law with the separation of the church and state, and all religious symbols were removed from public buildings. the law ensures strict neutrality of all religions, but it frequently creates controversy, particularly recently with tensions over school dress codes and islamic traditions. and this recent incident at the elysee has brought the republic's relationship with religion back into sharp focus. ina in a moment, we look at the latest developments that have taken place on the ground in this war between israel and gaza. we willjoin our correspondent, paul adams, shortly. actually, i think we have him with us. pauladams actually, i think we have him with us. paul adams is injerusalem. hello there to you. first off, bring us up—to—date with the latest developments, please. us up-to-date with the latest developments, please.- us up-to-date with the latest developments, please. well, we are seeinr , developments, please. well, we are seeing. you — developments, please. well, we are seeing. you know. — developments, please. well, we are seeing, you know, continued - developments, please. well, we are seeing, you know, continued heavyl seeing, you know, continued heavy fighting in the same three areas that we have been talking about for several days now, that is around the largest city in the south in khan younis, the refugee camps and also in an area of gaza city. these are all areas that is regarded by israel as hamas strongholds and all areas where the israeli military seems determined to make progress. i've been speaking to someone who is thinking about leaving his home in central —— khan younis. they have not yet penetrated into the heart of the city but it is certainly present in significant numbers on the outskirts to the north and the east of the city. and i think there is a growing sense there that the israeli force will try and move in fairly soon. because of that fear, large numbers of people are leaving. i love that so chris is making the humanitarian situation so much worse with warnings of starvation and, with warnings of starvation and, with save the children saying that thousands of children are so malnourished that they are in need of medical treatment to avoid dying. so that situation, the humanitarian situation just seems to get worse every day. situation just seems to get worse eve da . ., ., , every day. paul, we have been heafina every day. paul, we have been hearing outcry _ every day. paul, we have been hearing outcry following - every day. paul, we have been hearing outcry following that l every day. paul, we have been - hearing outcry following that veto, the us veto at the united nations security council. leverage has failed was the quote from the saudi foreign minister. when we talk about leverage in the diplomatic discussions in this conflict, what are we talking about?— are we talking about? well, primarily — are we talking about? well, primarily we _ are we talking about? well, primarily we are _ are we talking about? well, primarily we are talking - are we talking about? well, primarily we are talking but| are we talking about? well, - primarily we are talking but the united states because everybody recognised says that it is really only washington that has the ability to significantly influence israeli decision—making. those same arab foreign ministers who have been voicing dismay over the last 2a hours will look at the latest news from washington of the decision to send thousands more tank shells to israel as a further sign that the united states as not using its leverage, but i think the thing to remember here is that the united states fundamentally agrees that israel's primary objective, which is to destroy hamas as a military force in gaza. it is not going to start using its undoubted leverage until it feels that enough damage has been done to hamas that it will no longer be a force to be reckoned with in gaza. the israelis don't think that point has been reached. the americans don't think that point has been reached, but that may be that in the coming weeks, we start to see a slight divergence between how israel and the united states assesses the situation on the ground. assesses the situation on the round. ., ., , , ., ground. paul, obviously hearing about the close _ ground. paul, obviously hearing about the close quarter - ground. paul, obviously hearing| about the close quarter fighting, house to house fighting, urban warfare, essentially. in an environment like gaza that has been more or less flattened in those areas that have been targeted, who has the upper hand here? israeli areas that have been targeted, who has the upper hand here?— has the upper hand here? israel is alwa s has the upper hand here? israel is always going _ has the upper hand here? israel is always going to — has the upper hand here? israel is always going to have _ has the upper hand here? israel is always going to have the - has the upper hand here? israel is always going to have the upper . has the upper hand here? israel is i always going to have the upper hand. it is the only regional superpower. it is the only regional superpower. it has trained for this. yes, hamas are fighting on their home turf. yes, they are using their network of tunnels, which gives them the ability sometimes to take israeli forces by surprise. but bit by bit, slowly but surely, the israeli military is prevailing. you know, it was never in any doubt from the start of this war that ultimately, israel would win what ever winning looks like. hamas may be determined, they may be well equipped, they may have their backs to the wall, but ultimately, israel will prevail. the question is how much destruction will be rocked on the gaza strip? how much suffering will be inflicted on the civilian population before israel decides that it has done enough? israel decides that it has done enou~h? . �* . , israel decides that it has done enou~h? ., ~ ., , ., ., . enough? pauladams, our diplomatic correspondent— enough? pauladams, our diplomatic correspondent in _ enough? pauladams, our diplomatic correspondent in jerusalem, - enough? pauladams, our diplomatic correspondent in jerusalem, thank. correspondent in jerusalem, thank you correspondent injerusalem, thank you very much indeed. ukraine 5 first lady, 0lena zelenska, has warned russia's aggression against ukraine will "spread like a virus" unless it's stopped. mrs zelenska has called on western countries to support her country's war effort, amid a stand—off in congress over funding for kyiv�*s military. in the two years since russia's invasion, ukraine has relied on billions of dollars from its overseas allies. she was speaking to the bbc�*s laura kuennsberg. explosion. war in winter, ukrainian forces on the front line in eastern ukraine. weapons, tanks paid for in part by billions of pounds, dollars and euros from western taxpayers like you and me. but as the war edges to two years old political arguments in washington have put payments on ice. in kyiv the zielinski h0, the first lady told me her fears if the money runs out. translation: we do need aid desperately. in simple terms. we cannot get tired of the situation because otherwise we will die. and if the world gets tired they will simply let us die. the us remains the largest military donor to ukraine providing more than $46 billion in weapons and assistance since the war began. germany and the uk come next in the top ten donor countries. billions have been given. yet us support has been on the decline in recent months. new assistance for ukraine has been blocked by republicans in the senate. yet the threat hasn't gone even though more money isn't there. speaking to me just hours after the latest strikes, alanna zelensky urged the world not to forget. ——olena zelensky urged the world not to forget. translation: | think i today there is a