assistance package for israel. that's amidst the country's military offensive in gaza — ever since hamas attacked israel on october the 7th. hamas is designated a terrorist organisation by western governments and israel says around 1,200 people were killed in that attack and around 130 israelis and foreigners are still being held hostage. gaza's health ministry says more than 311,000 palestinians have been killed inside gaza so far, most of them women and children. these pictures have just come these pictures havejust come in. they show a plume of smoke in rafah. this is the aftermath of overnight strikes in rafah. 18 palestinians have reportedly been killed — mostly children. the israeli war cabinet has been planning an offensive against hamas in rafah, where an estimated 1.5 million displaced palestinians are sheltering. but the us and other allies have warned israel against a full—scale assault on the city. earlier i spoke to the bbc�*s