Taken to Al Aqsa Hospital in nearby dair al balah. The Health Ministry says the strike hit three houses and the death toll is likely to rise given the large number of families living the area. It also says more 20,400 have been killed since the war began in october. Our correspondent Shaimaa Khalil has been following developments from bethlehem in the occupied west bank. What we understand from the hamas run Health Ministry is that the air strike hit this densely populated residential block. So its several buildings in very close proximity to one another. As you said, the death toll is likely to rise. Thats according to the spokesperson, essentially because of the large number of families living in that block, but also because many, many people are still stuck under the rubble. Weve seen footage of First Responders from the Palestinian Red Crescent walk through really narrow areas, trying to navigate the rubble to get to people and try using torch lights and moving the rubble with their hands with the help of others around them. Weve also seen footage of the injured being rushed into the Al Aqsa Hospital, the nearby hospital. There was no space in the hospital that some people were being treated on the ground, on the floor. One man who had lost his daughter, his grandchildren and his son in law had said that his family was ordered to evacuate from gaza city because of the Israeli Military operation. He said, we came to central gaza only to die. He said, theres just no safe place. There are two big challenges ahead after this. One is that the Palestinian Red Crescent said that the air strike has caused the main road connecting these Refugee Camps to shut down. Thats going to make it very difficult for rescue teams, for ambulances to get through. But also remember that the hospitals in gaza are struggling, whether its fuel or lack of supplies or water. So as this Rescue Operation Scrambles on, its also going to be difficult for the medical staff. And has there been any response from the israeli army . Yes, there has the idf has responded. They said they are looking into the incident, but they also said that they are committed to International Law and the uptake feasible actions to make sure that civilians are safe. Essentially, they are looking into the incident and were waiting to hear more from them about exactly what happened. Meanwhile, the Israeli Military says its killed more than 8,000 hamas fighters during its campaign to date. On the israeli side too, it says its experienced one of the highest losses in a single day. More than a dozen soldiers have died in the territory since friday, bringing the total who have died in the Ground Assault to 154. Some other stories and the headlines for you Protesters In Serbia who are claiming that the government manipulated last weeks local and parliamentary elections have tried to force their way into belgrade city hall. Thousands of people had gathered in front of the National Election commission to demand a re run of the vote. They are accusing the Progressive Party of serbias president Vucic Of Bussing in people from outside belgrade, to rig the election. Police in sri lanka say they have arrested more than 13,000 suspects during a week long drive against Drug Traffickers across the country. They say the Operation Led to the seizure of almost 440kg of various types of narcotics, including heroin. More than 1,000 addicts have been sent to a military run rehabilitation centre. Ukraine is celebrating christmas on december the 25th For The First Time after the government changed from the Orthodox Christian date, which is on 7january. President zelensky said it would allow the people of his country to abandon the russian heritage of imposing the date for christmas. Ukraines Orthodox Church formally severed links with its russian equivalent after moscow annexed crimea in 2014. As Christmas Day arrives first in asia, we want to tell you about the celebrations in timor leste where the majority of the 1. 5 million catholic population enthusiastically marks the day with family and Friends At Mass and at home or the beach. Were joined now by the countrys president , jose ramos horta, from the capital dili. First, i asked what christmas means for him. We first, i asked what christmas means for him. First, i asked what christmas means for him. We are 99. 6 catholic, means for him. We are 99. 6 catholic. So means for him. We are 99. 696 catholic, so that means for him. We are 99. 696 catholic, so that is means for him. We are 99. 696 catholic, so that is the catholic, so that is the second most catholic country in the world after vatican city. I personally have been engaged in some traditions in the last five years or so where we have a five years or so where we have a because of covid, but some other decisions that were made. Traditionally throughout the country, everywhere in the country, everywhere in the country on the roadside, thousands of people particularly Youth Build Replicas of Nativity Scenes in incredible creativity, representing the birth ofjesus christ. Right now, ongoing at the gardens of the president ial palace, we have an exhibit of Nativity Scenes. For almost two weeks, we have had many different activities but most important was last night and today last night, Hundreds Of Thousands of people flocked to churches all around the country. In dili, the capital of about 250,000 people, literally you can say 99 of the people went to church last night. So thats how we celebrate. Night. So thats how we celebrate. ~ � ,. , celebrate. Were showing some ofthe celebrate. Were showing some of the pictures celebrate. Were showing some of the pictures of the of the pictures of the celebrations. I do want to ask you some political questions, if i may, because you are now on a pause to join the association of Southeast Asian nations, orasean. Association of Southeast Asian nations, or asean. What will that mean for east timor, and do you hope to get that signed and sealed in 202a . Do you hope to get that signed and sealed in 2024 . And sealed in 2024 . Actually, between myself and sealed in 2024 . Actually, between myself as and sealed in 2024 . Actually, between myself as president l and sealed in 2024 . Actually, i between myself as president and the prime minister, we have set as the target to join in 2025. That will give us more time to prepare our resources both infrastructure as well as Human Resources to meet the obligations of full membership. We already participate in all the summits, all the meetings at every level, and in 2025 it will only be the formality of reallyjoining as the 11th member. What this means it would mean that we will be part of a market of 700 Million People with a joint gdp of about 4 trillion. Already, we have numerous, dozens of investors, flocking to timor leste from the region from South East Asia, from north east asia, and from the gulf country in particular, from the united arab emirates. And as well as australia, new zealand, japan, korea, china. So i expect that our asean accession will boost our gdp many times. Accession will boost our gdp many times accession will boost our gdp man times. ~ ~ ,. , many times. Mmm. At the same time, southeast many times. Mmm. At the same time, Southeast Asia many times. Mmm. At the same time, Southeast Asia is time, South East Asia is grappling with many issues geopolitics, economy, and also issues like myanmar� s military rule, not to mention chinas growing influence as well. How do you read the landscape of the region in the year ahead . Well, the biggest challenge and embarrassment for all of us in South East Asia and, for that matter, for the International Community is the unresolved conflict in myanmar, where Tens Of Thousands of people have been brutalised by the Military Regime unelected Military Regime unelected Military Regime unelected Military Regime who think they are a law unto themselves, acting with absolute impunity. They are completely isolated in asean, but they are getting Military Hardware from russia of all countries, its actually russia that is providing Military Hardware to myanmar, enabling it to persecute the war. China tried to help pacify the situation, but the military nor to asean leaders nor to china. After months of speculation about the future ownership of Manchester United the club has announced that the british billionaire Sirjim Ratcliffe is buying a 25 stake for around 1. 6 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, hell take control of football operations, like Recruiting Players and management staff. Our Sports Editor dan roan reports. When Sirjim Ratcliffe toured old trafford earlier this year, the british billionaire was hoping to buy Manchester United. Instead, hell become a minority shareholder of the club he says hes always supported. The founder of petrochemicals giant ineos, ratcliffes already invested in sailing and cycling teams and owns a third of mercedes in formula one. The owner of two football clubs, including nice in france, manchester Born Ratcliffe last year failed in a bid to buy chelsea, at the time, hinting to me that united was his real goal. Some would argue you should be trying to buy the club that you grew up supporting. Yes, i mean, i can understand that. But Manchester Uniteds not for sale. With its rich history. They were supreme soccer champions of europe. Legendary players. Cantona . And dominance under managerial great sir alex ferguson, united became a commercial powerhouse with a globalfan base. But since 2005, its been owned by the glazer family and, after years of protests from fans unhappy with the clubs debt, a lack of investment in old trafford and on field decline, last season the americans put the club up for sale. Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim wanted to buy it outright, but withdrew, leaving the way clear for ratcliffe. One of uniteds top executives explained why fresh investment was needed. Were doing this for a very positive reason. We know weve got real ambition and a plan at united and we wanted to make sure that we attract the right investment to be able to deliver that ambition. After a drawn out and divisive process thats lasted more than a year now, many united fans will be dismayed that the glazers remain in overall control here at old trafford. The challenge facing Sirjim Ratcliffe to convince them that he is the man to lead a revival in the footballing fortunes of this club. Ex british cycling chief sir Dave Brailsford oversees ratcliffes various sports teams and hes set to have a key role at united, the pair experiencing mixed fortunes at nice since ineos bought it in 2019. Some environmental campaigners say the Petrochemicals Company uses sport to give it a more positive image, but those involved defend the investments. What do you think jims motivation is . He loves a challenge, bigger than any, and thats, i guess, the drive for the americas cup and probably when you look at man united, thats a team thats been struggling in recent years. Theres no bigger challenge in sport right now than turning man united around. So i think thats what drives jim. But ten years have now passed since united last won the premier league, and after a difficult start to this season, the challenge Facing Ratcliffe is a formidable one. Dan roan, bbc news. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Lets take a look at some of the stories in the headlines in the uk a second man has been arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage after a road sign featuring an art work by The Street Artist Bansky was removed in southeast london. A man in his 40s was detained after footage of the incident appeared on the internet. A man in his 20s was arrested on saturday over the same alleged offences. He was bailed pending further inquiries. A man has been arrested after a mother was killed in a suspected hit and run crash in essex. 48 year old Marie Theobald from hainault was walking with two dogs, named riley and honey, in chigwell, when she was hit by a car. The dogs were also killed. The met police say the driver of the white seat leon failed to stop. King charles will deliver the second christmas message of his reign from a Buckingham Palace room featuring a living christmas tree. The king is a long term environmental campaigner and the tree will be replanted after the broadcast. Youre live with bbc news. For many people around the world its already Christmas Day and we here at newsday wish you all the best. Many religious services have been taking place. Pope francis has led the Christmas Mass at st peters basilica. He appealed for peace in the middle east and said it was being drowned out by the futile logic of war in the very Land Wherejesus was born. Translation tonight our hearts are in bethlehem, l where the prince of peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, by The Clash Of Arms that even today prevents him from finding room in the world. Meanwhile, in the west bank, Palestinian Christian leaders have said they will forgo all public festivities as a mark of solidarity with the people of gaza. It means that bethlehems streets are empty and the shops remain closed. Christmas as local people know it has been cancelled. As Shaimaa Khalil reports. A message from the children of bethlehem to the world. The city looks nothing like its festive self this time of year. There are no celebrations, but there is lots of solidarity. The latin patriarch ofjerusalem made a point of entering the church of nativity wearing the traditional Black And White Chequered palestinian scarf. There is no atmosphere of feast because we are in war, a terrible war, and we are here to pray, but also, tonight, for us, for ceasefire, but ceasefire is not enough, we have to stop these hostilities and to turn the page. Violence generates only violence. fin generates only violence. On da s generates only violence. On days like generates only violence. On days like this, this man and his father would have been talking about christmas preparations stop not this year. His family are stuck in northern gaza. He tries to reassure his father that he will make it out alive and that they will be together again. But his dad is overcome with grief. A week ago his grandmother was shot twice in the stomach. His aunt rushed to help her and was shot in the head. Your aunt. Help her and was shot in the head. Youraunt. His help her and was shot in the head. Your aunt. His parents and relatives had been sheltering in the holy family church. Now they have buried their loved ones there. The family blames israeli snipers for their death. The idf says it will continue its investigation. There is still selling around us, his father tells me. Before he says goodbye he has one last message for his son. May god be with you, my son, he says. Take care of your sister. Wadi gaza was heavily on bethlehem. Visitors from around the would have been here by now. Is empty, the city is empty from happiness, from joy, from kids, from santa, from every celebration. There is no celebration. There is no celebration this year. We cannot be celebration this year. We cannot be happy celebration this year. We cannot be happy because, you know. Cannot be happy because, you know. We cannot be happy because, you know, we are not in another side know, we are not in another side of know, we are not in another side of the know, we are not in another side of the world. Translation � , . Translation its so difficult, we are really translation its so difficult, we are really struggling. Translation its so difficult, we are really struggling. Lookl we are really struggling. Look at bethlehem, we are really struggling. Look at bethlehem, its we are really struggling. Look at bethlehem, its never we