Now reached 900, amid intensifying israeli air strikes. It says 4,500 more have been injured. Dozens of buildings have also been damaged. Hamas, which has been designated a Terrorist Organisation by several governments, responded with rockets into southern israel, tuesday. It comes as gaza braces for what could be a full scale Israeli Ground invasion. In israel, efforts are under way to recover the bodies of those killed by hamas attacks. More than 1,000 israelis are dead. But Israeli Forces say theyve successfully rescued 30 trapped people in the Southern Kibbutz of ein hashlosha, after following distress calls. Speaking at the white house, President Biden accused hamas of pure unadulterated evil. He said at least 14 americans were among those killed. Mr biden has pledged more aid to israel, as the uss Gerald R FordCarrier Strike group arrives in the eastern mediterraean. The Israeli Military also says that the first plane carrying american ammunition has arrived in the country. Well examine all those developments, but first, lets go on the ground to kfar aza, israel, where the bbc� Sjeremy Bowen has been reporting on the carnage some Israeli Forces are now confronting there. A warning you may find some of the images in his report distressing. The first few days of war, at this small Israeli Community called kfar aza, are a microcosm of israels trauma and a glimpse of what might come next. Israeli troops only seized back full control of the kibbutz this morning. Its one of a series of small israeli villages along the gaza wire. Gunfire. When we arrived, they were still firing on houses across on the gaza side. Israeli combat soldiers only started their fight back here at around six oclock on saturday evening, around 12 hours after hamas attacked. These men are experienced soldiers, combat reservists. And during that day, hamas carried out a massacre. This kfar aza was taken by surprise, like everywhere else hamas attacked. The kibbutz guard, Armed Civilian volunteers, died fighting back. These were the bodies of israelis. Decomposing hamas gunmen are still lying where they were killed. Jeremy bowen reporting from southern israel. The bbc has learned that more than 100 israelis have been taken hostage by hamas. Earlier, i spoke with Marc Ginsberg the former Us Ambassador to morocco� s nephew, eli, was killed rescuing hostages at a kibbutz. Former ambassador ginsberg, thanks forjoining us. First of all, our condolences to you on the loss of your nephew. We appreciate you speaking to us at this time. You might start by telling us about what you know about what happened to your nephew. My know about what happened to your nephew know about what happened to our nehew. G , your nephew. My nephew eli was a lieutenant your nephew. My nephew eli was a Lieutenant Colonel your nephew. My nephew eli was a Lieutenant Colonel in your nephew. My nephew eli was a Lieutenant Colonel in the a Lieutenant Colonel in the Commando Unit that was called up Commando Unit that was called up and mobilised immediately after the saturday morning attack. He was deployed to kibbutz regime, which was the sight of the Music Festival where so many people, enemy innocent civilians, were massacred, and his unit that he commanded was responsible to free hostages that were being held by Hamas Inside The Kibbutz buildings. In one of the efforts to free hostages that were being held in one of the apartment blocks, he was killed in a gun firefight. find killed in a gun firefight. And when did word killed in a gun firefight. And when did word reach you and yourfamily about when did word reach you and your family about what had happened . My your family about what had haened . ~,. Happened . My sisterinlaw contacted happened . My sisterinlaw contacted me, happened . My sisterinlaw contacted me, or happened . My sisterinlaw contacted me, or his happened . My sisterinlaw| contacted me, or his mother, who lives on the northernmost kibbutz in israel, on the lebanese border, and it is a kibbutz that my entire family has been raised on, and eli was born at that kibbutz. Tell has been raised on, and eli was born at that kibbutz. Born at that kibbutz. Tell us a little bit about born at that kibbutz. Tell us a little bit about him, born at that kibbutz. Tell us a little bit about him, as born at that kibbutz. Tell us a little bit about him, as you i little bit about him, as you say, he was born there, he had a great military career, and four children, i believe . He had four four children, i believe . He had four beautiful children, a wonderful wife, had four beautiful children, a wonderfulwife, he had four beautiful children, a wonderful wife, he has two brothers, both of whom are wonderful young man. Brothers, both of whom are wonderfulyoung man. His wonderful young man. His father, wonderfulyoung man. His father, my brother, was killed in the 2006 Lebanese Hezbollah war, so my family has lost not only his father, now eli. Eli was revered by many in the military. He was a navy seal, he was a commander in the navy seals of israel. He was also one of the instructors at the Counterterrorism School in israel, and he had an infectious smile, a wonderful personality. He was built like a tank, but he had the personality of what we call, he was tough on the outside and extraordinarily warm on the inside. We loved him and his smile was infectious. figs inside. We loved him and his smile was infectious. Smile was infectious. As you say there. Smile was infectious. As you say there. He smile was infectious. As you say there, he was smile was infectious. As you say there, he was killed smile was infectious. As you say there, he was killed in l smile was infectious. As you say there, he was killed in a i say there, he was killed in a gunfight trying to free people in that same kibbutz. Have you managed to speak to anyone he was there at the time about what that scene was like . H0. What that scene was like . No, there has what that scene was like . No, there has been what that scene was like . No, there has been some what that scene was like . Iifr, there has been some postings on Israeli Media about his leadership in that fight, and in that struggle, because there were so many terrorists who had occupied the buildings and had committed horrific massacres against the civilians that lived in that kibbutz, as well, as you well know, the people who were attending the Supernova Festival outside the kibbutz. You have read some postings will stop his name has been mentioned frequently on Israeli Television in recent days because of stories that have percolated out from his unit to Israeli Media. But i only have access to one of the stories, which was a wonderful story about his heroism. find story about his heroism. And have you story about his heroism. And have you been story about his heroism. And have you been speaking to his wife will have you heard from his for your sister how his wife is doing . I his for your sister how his wife is doing . Wife is doing . I speak to her now almost wife is doing . I speak to her now almost every wife is doing . I speak to her now almost every couple wife is doing . I speak to her now almost every couple of| now almost every couple of hours, and part of the problem here as you well know, jews who dey are supposed to be varied within 2a hours. Jews that die are supposed to be buried within 2a hours. We found that promises today that the israeli army is just not able to schedule his funeral because there are so many israelis who are in the military who died in the conflict already, and the army cannot even give us a date for the funeral. Thats how bad the situation is. I was raised in israel, i knew eli growing up, obviously i was very close to his father, and so this affects all of us, that he is unable to rest in peace at this point. Unable to rest in peace at this oint. , unable to rest in peace at this oint. w , unable to rest in peace at this oint. . , i. Unable to rest in peace at this oint. point. And as you say, you havent point. And as you say, you havent been point. And as you say, you havent been given point. And as you say, you havent been given any havent been given any indication of when you can lay him to rest . Him to rest . No, in fact my sister and him to rest . No, in fact my sister and i him to rest . No, in fact my sister and i him to rest . No, in fact my sister and i my sister and i my Sister In Law and i have been communicating and i have been communicating and i have been communicating and i spoke to his brothers today. We are just in this terrible period of mourning and yet not knowing when he can be laid to rest. Yet not knowing when he can be laid to rest laid to rest. And of course our laid to rest. And of course your family laid to rest. And of course your family experienced i laid to rest. And of course l your family experienced this laid to rest. And of course your family experienced this in the past with your own brother also being killed. Also being killed. Yes, my brother was also being killed. Yes, my brother was the also being killed. Yes, my brother was the head also being killed. Yes, my brother was the head of i brother was the head of security at the kibbutz in northern galilee, and in the outbreak of the 2006 war, when it occurred, he was killed in a Gun Fire Fight with hezbollah. My Gun Fire Fight with hezbollah. My mother who lived up there, her home took a direct hit by a rocket. She survived the attack but died several months later. Ok, well, ambassador ginsberg, 0k, well, ambassador ginsberg, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us, given the time to talk to us, given the circumstances we find ourselves in and your family, and again our condolences to you. Now to gaza, where access in or out is nearly impossible. The borders are sealed, but the bbc has a rare insight into the situation on the ground, with our correspondent, rushdi abu alouf. Very quickly, if we can see the scale of destruction in this neighbourhood. Its called rimal neighbourhood. Its the economic hub for gaza that has been completely targeted yesterday. Many buildings were destroyed. Behind me is the Ii Storey Building that was knocked down two days ago, but the destruction in this area has been targeted quite recently, last night. Israel has said they carried out 200 air strikes targeting hamas infrastructure. In fact, they hit many buildings, government buildings, belonging to the hamas run authority, but look to the scale of destruction in the area and how civilian homes were completely affected and some of them were completely destroyed. Translation i lost everything. My house, my shop has been destroyed completely. Where do we go . We have become homeless. This gentleman just told us we have to leave the area, because it seems the israelis are warning residents of the areas that they should leave, they are going to target another building in the area. But look at the scale of destruction. This is happening overnight, with israelis targeting houses, shops, ministries, mosques, everything. The whole neighbourhood was levelled to zero. This is one of the most important economic hubs for gaza, where, as you can see, most of the shops were damaged, houses were damaged, the infrastructure, the street. This is the street that leads to the southern part of the city. Its completely blocked. Back here in washington, President Biden spoke to israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu, saying the us remains committed to israels security and securing the safety of american hostages. The white house says at least 20 americans are missing. We now know that american citizens are among those being held by hamas. Ive directed my team to share intelligence and deploy additional experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise israeli counterparts on Hostage Recovery and recovery efforts. Because, as president , i have no higher priority than the safety of americans being held hostage Around The World. As part of the us response, this week Secretary Of StateAntony Blinken will also travel to israel. Earlier, my colleague Sumi Somaskanda spoke with White House National security spokesmanjohn kirby about us support for israel. Admiral, great to have you back on bbc news. I want to start with a phone call between us President Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu. Can you tell us what the us is hoping that support will do . Well, first and foremost, we want to make sure that that support will help them better defend themselves, and to go after these Hamas Terrorists where they are, and to affect their ability to continue to conduct Terrorist Attacks. So thatis conduct Terrorist Attacks. So that is the main purposes. 0bviously giving israel the capabilities they need to better defend their citizens. Admiral, can you tell us a bit more about what the israeli Prime Minister has asked the us president for . I Prime Minister has asked the us president for . President for . I dont want to net into president for . I dont want to get into the president for . I dont want to get into the specifics president for . I dont want to get into the specifics of president for . I dont want to get into the specifics of the i get into the specifics of the conversation that President Biden and Prime Minister netanyahu had too specifically. I think should be obvious based on the president s remarks that we made it clear to Prime Minister netanyahu that we would continue to provide them the necessary Military Support as they prosecute this fight against hamas, and already one tranche, the First Tranche of military aid is on its way to israel, it will be there soon. Israel, it will be there soon. I fully expect there will be more. It is important for President Biden to make it clear to Prime Minister netanyahu that we stand with them, and that extra support will be forthcoming. President biden also will be forthcoming. President biden also confirmed will be forthcoming. President biden also confirmed that will be forthcoming. President biden also confirmed that us. Biden also confirmed that us citizens are also among those being held hostage. What is the us doing right now to work to secure their release . The first thing weve secure their release . The first thing weve done secure their release . The first thing weve done is secure their release . The first thing weve done is offer thing weve done is offer support to israel, with respect to the expertise that we have in the Law Enforcement community, in the military community, in the military community here in the United States, even in the intelligence community. Weve got Hostage Recovery experts, and we have offered their expertise to israeli officials, as they think through how they might want to go about recovering hostages, and we now know, and it is a recent development, literally within just the last hour or so now, we have been able to confirm that at least some number of those hostages are americans, so obviously we want to do whatever we can to help israel in these efforts. I would ask you about the sites been targeted because there are concerns about the than to mcmillion citizens living on the gaza strip. A full siege no power no food no gas. The un Secretary General said he was distressed by this announcement. Just today the. Says israel does have the right to defend itself but that has to defend itself but that has to be done according to International Law and he was saying that some things are not according to International Law cutting electricity and food. As the us concerned about this . Nobody wants to see any more innocent civilian life lost and certainly hamas is responsible for the civilian life lost here, the slaughter, the butchery of innocent israeli civilians. Nobody wants to see civilians. Nobody wants to see civilian life thrown away that way. One of the great things and the president talked about this things in his speech the great thing about the relationship between us and is well is we are too vibrant democracy. We respect human life and the rule of law. We respect the need to observe the law of war specifically and the president talked about that. Again, we do not want to see any more innocent life taken but we also recognise that what has been visited upon the israeli people isjust israeli people is just horrific, israeli people isjust ho