israel has ordered residents to leave the centre of gaza s main southern city, khan younis, as fighting there intensifies. there s been heavy bombardment of the territory overnight; the head of the israeli army has called for the military campaign in gaza to be stepped up. israeli tanks are reported to be slowly advancing towards the centre of khan younis and there are reports of house—to—house fighting in the city. the head of the world health organisation has said the war in gaza is having a catastrophic impact on health care there. tedros adhanom ghebreyesus warned health workers are having to work in unimaginable conditions in a desperate effort to help civilians. more on that in a moment, but first, this report is from our middle east correspondent, yolande knell. the misery of life under canvas. four in five gazans have now fled their homes and away from the front lines, they're still fighting to survive, with severe shortages of food and drinking water. aid agencies say that they're struggling to deliver the basics even close to the egypt border where supplies come in. humanitarian aid at the moment is the only lifeline for people, and we're simply not able to get the access that we need to get through. for the past four or five, six days, aid agencies such as unicef have only been able to access the rafah governorate, and even then it's been with very limited aid. and if we can't get through soon, people are going to really, really struggle because there isn't enough water, there isn't enough food, there isn't any shelter. israel's ground campaign is now focused on the southern city of khan younis. troops saying they're going house—to—house and tunnel to tunnel. and the head of the israeli army is calling for the offensive in gaza to be stepped up amid signs, he says, that hamas is falling apart here injabalia in the north, the battles are at close quarters. one local told the bbc they've received no food or water for five days. israel is under growing international pressure to spare gaza's civilians. translation: other countries should also understand - that it is impossible, on the one hand, to support the elimination of hamas. and on the other hand, to call for an end to the war which will prevent the elimination of hamas. after this group of men and boys taken by israeli forces five days ago were released, they claimed they were tortured. among them, mohammed mahmoud salim, held separately from his dad. "they made us sleep naked," he said, "and kept hitting "us with their guns. "they hit me when i asked where my dad was. "they hit us with wires." the bbc has asked the israeli military for a response. new aerial shots show palestine square, previously a bustling spot of gaza city, now under control of israeli forces marking thejewish hanukkah holiday. after two months of the most intense ever war between israel and the palestinians, the scale of the suffering and devastation here is unprecedented. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. this is the view from its role looking across to the gaza strip. we see regularly the sights and sounds of artillery fire and we know fighting is happening notjust in the north of the gaza strip but right the way down to the south and around khan younis. earlier, i spoke to mark regev, senior adviser to the israeli prime minister. i asked him to respond to claims from some quarters that israel is not doing enough to reduce the death toll among gazan civilians as well as accusations of genocide and war crimes in gaza. i think the body of evidence will support that israel has made a maximum effort to try to safeguard civilian life and as we pursue hamas, which as you said, is a brutal and horrific enemy capable of the most atrocious violence, as we pursue that enemy, we are making maximum effort to safeguard civilian life. and i am sure when this conflict is over, and the dust has settled and the numbers are actually known, you will see that the effort that the idf has made to safeguard civilian life will be apparent to all when you compare the number of civilians killed with those in comparable operations, let's say in the operation against isis in syria and iraq, in places like mosul and fallujah where there was a comparable situation, a terrorist group in an urban area with civilians and forces coming into defeat the terrorists. we know what the civilian to combat death ratio was there and i believe we will be far superior at the end of this conflict in gaza when the final and accurate numbers come out. but how much longer will this conflict go on for? because no military anywhere in the world enters a conflict with an open ended timescale and in fact the idf chief of staff was speaking at a hanukkah candle lighting last night and he said there were signs of the hamas system disintegrating inside gaza, so let's put a timescale on it. because civilians are dying. how much longer will this go on for? this could end tomorrow if we saw more and more hamas people surrendering and giving up their arms. this could end tomorrow if hamas released the hostages and unconditionally surrendered. this a war israel did not start or want, but it's a war israel has to win and we will win it decisively. if hamas wants to speed up the end of this they can do so. we've already seen and you have seen the pictures of them beginning to surrender. if they speed up the process, this can be over quicker. unfortunately the hamas leadership seems to be totally unconcerned about the civilians of gaza, that they have brought this suffering upon them, and i am convinced when this is over, you will see an outpouring of pent—up anger by the people of gaza against hamas that have brought this disaster upon them. i wanted to ask you about the humanitarian situation in gaza because the head of the un, antonio guterres has said the whole humanitarian aid system could break down in the strip. israel plays a key part in allowing humanitarian aid inside gaza, so what are your plans to try and increase that so civilians do not continue to suffer while this military operation goes on? we are working closely with the relevant organisations to try to expedite humanitarian support for the people of gaza. as you know, at the first week of this war, the israeli cabinet took a decision there would be no limitations whatsoever on water and food and medicines going into the gaza strip, and we have a situation today where trucks that have passed the israeli security inspection — and people understand that we have to have those inspections because we do not want to see hamas bringing into gaza weapons and other material for their war machine — but trucks that we have authorised to enter gaza, and who have passed the israeli security inspection, are still being held up in the south at the crossing, and one can only speculate as to why. is it possible that hamas understands the only way for them to survive is to have international pressure on israel, and the way to get that is to augment a humanitarian crisis? one has to be very, very sceptical here. why are trucks that israel has inspected, why are they still being held up? part of the problem, isn't it, mr regev, you talk about the fact civilians suffer as a result of hamas, and they do, but civilians do not have the power to control what hamas is doing. they are onlookers to all of this. many of them did not vote for hamas, are too young to have voted for hamas so if you want to make israel different you need to consider the civilians in a way that maybe hamas doesn't. i've been arguing all along and throughout this interview that the steps we have taken to safeguard civilians are almost unprecedented. the fact we send warnings and ask people to leave neighbourhoods we know there will be fighting, we are giving information to the enemy in advance but we're doing so because we are wanting to safeguard civilians. i know the people of gaza are going through a difficult time, war is never easy and has never been without innocent people getting hurt, that is the sad reality. but having been forced to fight this war, israel is making maximum effort to safeguard gaza civilians, and when this is over and hamas has been defeated, ultimately, the people of gaza will themselves be better off because they will get a government and regime that will worry about and care about their own well—being much more than this group of hamas terrorists who have orchestrated this disaster. that was a senior adviser to the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. in switzerland the world health organization held a special session on the health situation in the occupied palestinian territories. here's the director general tedros adhanom ghebreyesus. since the 7th of october, who has verified more than 419 attacks on health care in gaza and the west bank, and 60 attacks on health care in israel. health care should never be a target. i also grieve the loss of more than 100 of our un colleagues in gaza, including our own dima alhaj, who was killed alongside her six—month—old son, her husband and her two brothers. in summary, health needs have increased dramatically and the capacity of the health system has been reduced to one third of what it was. as that recession continues in switzerland, this is the scene in gaza, in the southern city of khan younis, people attending this medical centre if they have been caught up in attacks and it is a place civilians are sheltering but they do not have supplies inside the medical centre to give everyone the help that they need and it is not just the medical situation. the deputy head of the un world food programme, carl skau, has warned 90% of people in some parts of gaza can't eat every day because of the shortage of food. he said only a fraction of the humanitarian aid needed has been able to enter the strip. i've been speaking to nebal farsakh, spokesperson for the palestinian red crescent, who explained what the situation is like on the ground. the health situation is catastrophic. over 63% of hospitals are shut down due to bombing and running out of fuel and medical supplies. the aid that is getting into gaza isn't even 10% of the needs. hospitals are still lacking fuel as well as medical supplies and medicines. all the hospitals that are still operating have gone beyond their capacity and they are overwhelmed with injuries and wounded, while you can see injured and wounded people are being treated at the hospital's corridor, on the ground, because there is no left space. if you allow me to just remember that today marks the 75th anniversary of the universal declaration of human rights, these rights that should be granted to all people in the world at all circumstances. unfortunately, in gaza, these rights are just a dream. when we talk about the right to life and security, over 17,000 civilians have been killed and there is no safe place. let's talk about the right of education. all children have not been able to attend school for over two months since it's not safe and even dozens of schools have been destroyed. we talk about the rights to have basic human necessities, including food, clothing, medical care and shelter. unfortunately, in gaza, there is no available food, people have no homes since their homes were destroyed or they have to evacuate them from a place to another. talk about clothing, they have left their homes without clothing and we can see children having extreme pain and suffering because they have not enough clothing and it's getting winter and so much cold. on top of that, all medical care has been reduced to the bare minimum. the humanitarian situation in gaza is not even imaginable. no—one can imagine the catastrophic situation that is going on right now in gaza. it is well over a week now since the last humanitarian truce deal broke down. qatar's prime minister spoke at the opening ceremony of the doha forum. he warned the international community had a collective responsibility to tackle the crisis in gaza. it also affects an entire generation that might be radicalized because of these images and seeing the international community not responsible... not responding responsibly to it. so there is a collective responsibility on all of us to stop the killing. to go back to the table. to find a lasting solution... as the only solution for sustainable peace is to have a palestinian state, is to... that's why we are advocating for a two—state solution now for decades. he then went on to talk about the continuing effort to get hamas and israel to negotiate. we will continue pressuring the parties despite each party aims to destroy the others. at the end, we know that the resolution will only come through the table. right now, maybe the openings are narrower than where we were before the last... the last pause. yet there are still an opening. we are still continuing our talks. we are still continuing our efforts. we are hoping to go back to the agreement that we have brokered a couple of weeks ago and continue in releasing the rest of the hostages who are still alive. but the continuation of the bombardment actually is just narrowing this window for us. it's exposing not only the lives of the palestinians who have been lost throughout this, er, this war, but also the hostages themselves, they are at risk. so i believe that the only way forward for this to end is through a negotiation table. it will never... no—one go back... i mean, historically, with all wars, all conflicts, none of them being achieved this result in the battlefield. joining me now from our london newsroom is said shehata from bbc arabic. he was talking about the efforts to try and bring these sites back to the negotiating table but how far away from that do you think we are? it is very far because israel insists on destroying hamas and the palestinian prime minister said earlier to get rid of hamas is unrealistic and hamas is part of the palestinian fabric so there is no way to exclude hamas in future negotiations about the palestinian state. so israel, for them, there is no way to be close negotiation but it is the only solution because israel is trying since the 7th of october and before to destroy hamas. the only way to get rid of hamas is a two state solution, a palestinian state because with that there is no justification for hamas during an attack and there will be an arrangement for transition, the palestinian state to come to the west bank and gaza together. so the qatari prime minister, the arab leaders, they see this is the only solution but for america and israel, getting rid of hamas is first before thinking about negotiation so unfortunately we talk about negotiations and a two state solution, it is hard for the time being. solution, it is hard for the time beinu. ~ . solution, it is hard for the time being. ., ., solution, it is hard for the time beina.~ . ., solution, it is hard for the time being. what about something even a short term as — being. what about something even a short term as we _ being. what about something even a short term as we saw _ being. what about something even a short term as we saw before? - being. what about something even a short term as we saw before? the i short term as we saw before? the seven days and there was a pause in fighting, some of the israeli hostages released from gaza and some palestinian prisoners released from israeli jails. some sort of lasting resolution is a long way away but what about another short—term deal that sees people released on both sides? figs that sees people released on both sides? �* , ., that sees people released on both sides? ~ , ., ., , sides? as for the hostages with tomas there — sides? as for the hostages with tomas there is _ sides? as for the hostages with tomas there is lack _ sides? as for the hostages with tomas there is lack palestinian | tomas there is lack palestinian prisoners in israel, there is pressure from inside israel. yesterday there was a demonstration calling on the prime minister to release the hostages so for the hostages and prisoners and the department of gaza, it would be a truce. qatar is doing its best with egypt, the united states in order to convince israel that putting a truce is helping the humanitarian situation because that is very bad according to some agencies which say it is on a scale never seen before. asking for a ceasefire. every four in gaza according to several international organisations they say the responsibility is in gaza so it puts pressure on the us to do that. the us vetoed a ceasefire, but a truce like what happened before, i think it's more pragmatic and realistic and i think it might happen soon because the loss of the palestinians, 17,000 dead, 7000 of them children, 116,000 injured, so there is a problem and the israeli hostages need to be released and there is a call for unconditional release of all hostages. as for all of these cards being there, the truce might happen sooner rather than later. ., ~ , ., truce might happen sooner rather than later. ., ~ i. . than later. thank you so much. one ofthe than later. thank you so much. one of the various _ than later. thank you so much. one of the various things _ than later. thank you so much. one of the various things we _ than later. thank you so much. one of the various things we are - than later. thank you so much. one of the various things we are looking j of the various things we are looking at today. we were talking about the continuing efforts to try and negotiate coming from qatar, the session happening in switzerland with the world health organization looking at the humanitarian situation in gaza. more to come for me injerusalem. for now, i will hand you back to london. people in egypt are casting their ballots in the country's presidential election. voting will be spread over three days, with approximately 67 million egyptians eligible to vote. president abdel fattah el—sisi hopes to win his third term in office. sally nabil has the latest from cairo. we know now it is getting quieter but how much voters believe the next election will bring about some change, that is the big question because right before the vote started, we've been talking to people in different parts of cairo and very few believe things are going to change for the better after the election. of course, their primary worry is the economy that has been going from bad to worse over the past few years, the devaluation of the currency, the unprecedented high inflation, going up unprecedented high inflation, going up by unprecedented high inflation, going up by the day, that is their major concern at the moment. but even if they go to the polling station, whether or not they believe that the days to come will be better, that's the big question, because you feel that they have a deep sense of pessimism at the moment, and they genuinely believe that not much is going to change because as you've said, that president sisi's win is quite inevitable. sally, do tell us this, because we heard that voters are concerned about the economic situation, their own cost of living crisis that is playing out in egypt. but how much is the war that is happening in gaza also playing out in these polls? actually, things have been difficult for egyptians even before the war broke out in gaza. but there has been some reports suggesting that egypt is going to get some financial incentives to alleviate its deep economic crisis in return for opening up the borders for residents of gaza. the sinai, the egyptian sinai peninsula, borders gaza and israel. so there have been reports suggesting, make space for the residents of gaza to go into the sinai peninsula in return for financial incentives from regional and international donors. so far, the official stance is that this is not going to happen. egypt is not part of the conflict. yes, it can be a mediator, but it won't be involved directly in this