And why so many palestinians are dying in this operation. So hamas has had a diabolical plan of embedding all of its infrastructure within the civilian arena. We are currently targeting their leaders, from ismail haniyeh, who is the Prime Minister of hamas, but is actually the mastermind of the massacre in the south, on october the 7th. From him, right up at the top, down all the way down to the terrorists that conducted the infiltration, we are gathering intelligence and seeking them out and destroying them. So wherever they are hiding, congregating, planning their next attack, that is a legitimate target and well within the realm of the laws of armed conflict. We will seek them out. We didnt start this war. We didnt choose to go to war with hamas. They chose it, but we will win it. Critics of israel will say that the thousands of people who have been killed, the Hundreds Of Thousands who have been displaced, they didnt choose this war either, what do you say to them . I would say that the idf operates within the realm of the laws of armed conflict, with distinction, the military necessity and proportionality. And i would say to those critics, you cant expect israel not to protect its civilians, just because hamas is hiding behind theirs. We have a moral obligation to protect and restore safety and security to the people of israel. That is what we intend on doing. And on the other hand, i would say we are actively operating in order to keep palestinians in gaza out of harms way. When we are telling them, please evacuate, go south, it is in order to differentiate between combatants, the Terrorist Organisation, the butchers that came into our homes and massacred babies in their bedrooms and, on the other hand, those that are not, that need to be kept out. So we are in an effort now to seek out hamas, in their fortresses of terrorism. They have positioned them, quite cynically, in the hub, the heart of gaza city. This is how they operate. They have no regard for human life. They dont care about israelis and they dont care about palestinians. Theyve been trying to discourage people from evacuating areas where were saying we are going to strike. What type of people do that . And that is exactly what we need to understand about this conflict. Hamas are bent on our destruction, i would say bent also on the destruction of gaza. They need to be banished from the realm of existence. What can you tell us about the strike on friday of Salah Al Din Street, lieutenant . Convoys of vehicles heading toward southern gaza, as they were told to do by the idf, attacked and many people killed, ordinary civilians trying to get to safety. I think there are two lessons from this event. First of all, the idf did not conduct that strike. From the best of our ability to understand, there was no idf strike on that convoy. What we have seen and it has been circulated widely on social media that it appears that the explosions took place from beneath. So it looks like some sort of roadside bomb. And again, if hamas have no regard whether they put rockets in the basements of buildings, or drones with explosives on the rooftops of houses of palestinians and they have no regard for the People Living in those houses, why would they care about people moving south, if this image serves their interest . And the second lesson we need to understand is, we need to be very, very cautious at determining that this was an israeli strike, because it wasnt. Ok, so thats a categorical denial that israel had anything to do with the death of those civilians on Salah Al Din Street on friday . From our investigation, there was no israeli strike on that road. Ok, so i want to ask you about the operation and the fact that you are targeting these buildings, which is affecting many ordinary palestinians, leading to many deaths. You know better than anybody that hamas operates in a series of tunnels underneath gaza. How are you getting to them there, how does destroying these buildings help you in this operation . Samantha, i need to just be a bit more accurate. Were not targeting buildings, were targeting hamas. Were targeting their strongholds, were targeting their command and control positions, were targeting where they put their terrorist infrastructure, the rocket launchers, the drones, the explosive drones, that is where we are striking, those are legitimate military targets. Indeed, they have intentionally and deliberately put them within the civilian arena. This is how they operate. This is the ruthless enemy. These are people that will butcher babies in their bedrooms. They have no regard, they just dont care. These images are serving them and we need to ask this question to hamas, why did you do this . What did you expect to gain from butchering those babies, from abducting almost 200 people, innocent people, into israel . We are now focused and this is in accordance to the governments directive in destroying hamas� s capability. They will never, ever be able to use the gaza strip as a Staging Ground for massacres in israel ever again. Peter lerner. Lets talk about the Jewish Community in the uk because there has been a significant rise in anti semitic attacks in the past week in london. The Prime Minister rishi sunak has been visiting a Jewish School in north london and this is what he had to say. This is what he had to say. Well, ive come this is what he had to say. Well, ive come to this is what he had to say. Well, ive come to this this is what he had to say. Well, ive come to this jewish this is what he had to say. Well, ive come to this Jewish School | this is what he had to say. Well, i ive come to this Jewish School this ive come to thisJewish School this morning specifically to demonstrate my solidarity with the Jewish Community here in the uk and let them know we are going to do everything in our power to keep them safe. Last week, i met with the Community Security trust and police chiefs, we provided more funding for the Community Security fund that helps keep schools, synagogues under the jewish helps keep schools, synagogues under theJewish Community institution save, we spent time with the police to make sure they have the tools, power and guidance they need to Police Protests over the weekend appropriately and strike the right balance. It is a difficultjob, but im grateful to them for everything that they have done, they have made several arrests. They also now reviewing footage of some of the things that many people will have seen that i just simply things that many people will have seen that ijust simply not acceptable and where they can, they will be able to make further arrests. But i am determined to ensure ourJewish Community is able to feel safe on our streets. There is no place in our society for Anti Semitism and we will do everything we can to stamp it out and where it happens, it will be met with the full force of law. You and where it happens, it will be met with the full force of law. With the full force of law. You are asked by one with the full force of law. You are asked by one of with the full force of law. You are asked by one of the with the full force of law. You are asked by one of the children with the full force of law. You are asked by one of the children just| asked by one of the children just now, where is the line between protesting for palestinians and supporting hamas . It is a great question, what is your answer . Hamas is a proscribed question, what is your answer . Hamas is a proscribed terrorist is a proscribed Terrorist Organisation and it is very clear under the law support of hamas is illegal and those offences are punishable with up to 14 years in jail. Police have that guidance and thats why a met with them specifically last week in advance of this weekends protester make sure they were Crystal Clear about what was ok and not ok. It is notjust about hamas protests. Actions that violence or stirrup racial violence are also not acceptable and thats why there is no place in our society for that type of hatred or division and it will be met with the full force of law where it happens. It is a fast moving situation in The Middle East, is there anything you say about the half dozen british hostages, is britain working to keep safe routes open and what is our role in the humanitarian effort . I have been discussing that with students today who obviously have family and friends impacted by this in israel. We are doing everything we can to provide support. I know it is an anxious time for many families who have loved ones impacted or missing. We are providing all the consular support through the Foreign Office we can and also providing direct support for the israelis. And humanitarian situation is one of course we are concerned about and i have raised it in the interactions i have raised it in the interactions i have had with other leaders from across the legion and in particular, making sure we can try and get the Rafah Crossing Open the region. That will ease the humanitarian situation and i prioritise speaking with the egyptian president last week and we will continue to do everything we can to alleviate the humanitarian situation, including moving royal navy assets into the region to provide further support as required. Region to provide further support as reuuired. ,. , region to provide further support as reuuired. ,. , region to provide further support as reuuired. ,~. , � , required. Nobody challenges israels central aim to required. Nobody challenges israels central aim to destroy required. Nobody challenges israels central aim to destroy the required. Nobody challenges israels central aim to destroy the Terrorist L Central Aim to destroy the Terrorist Group HamasHis Barbarism shocked the world. The worry for many is a hundreds of thousand civilians in gaza and whether Military Action will mean large numbers of casualties in the group, do you share that worry and you urge israel to show restraint and discipline to avoid casualties in that group of people . We avoid casualties in that group of eole . ~. , avoid casualties in that group of neale . ,. , people . We have to remember the entity responsible people . We have to remember the entity responsible for people . We have to remember the entity responsible for all people . We have to remember the entity responsible for all of people . We have to remember the entity responsible for all of the entity responsible for all of the suffering is hamas, a Terrorist Organisation which has perpetrated a horrific act of terror causing the death of over 1,000 people. Israel does have every right to defend itself and its people to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again. That is what the israeli people would expect from its government and of Something Like that happened here, it is what people would expect from this government to make sure they take the proportionate and necessary steps to keep everybody safe. I have raised with the israeli Prime Minister the need to minimise the impact on civilians best we can, i have raised the humanitarian situation, we will do that with other allies around the region as well. But again, israel has given people advance notice of what is happening, given them the opportunity to leave and it is hamas now telling people to stay behind. It is hamas embedding itself inside civilian populations and that is just an example of the barbarity with which they operate. They are not doing the right thing by the palestinian people, by those actions, and they should be held accountable for that. Do actions, and they should be held accountable for that. Actions, and they should be held accountable for that. Do you worry about where accountable for that. Do you worry about where the accountable for that. Do you worry about where the Endgame Accountable for that. Do you worry about where the endgame is accountable for that. Do you worry about where the endgame is and l accountable for that. Do you worry i about where the endgame is and this could be an open ended occupation by israel of gaza . Could be an openended occupation by israel of gaza . Israel of gaza . Israel has been very clear hamas israel of gaza . Israel has been very clear hamas is israel of gaza . Israel has been very clear hamas is the israel of gaza . Israel has been very clear hamas is the entity clear hamas is the entity responsible for this and what they want to do is ensure their people are safe and this doesnt happen again. And that the focus of their attention and self defence is on hamas and i think thats right, nobody wants to see regional isolation and certainly, the israeli Prime Minister does not when i have spoken to him. I have spoken to other leaders around the region, all of us are united in not wanting to see regional escalation. Again, that is something we can help with. We have already sent Surveillance Aircraft of the Eastern Mediterranean last week, they will be able to make sure no Arms Shipments for example being sent to other Terrorist Organisations in the thatis other Terrorist Organisations in the that is a practical step we can take to help ensure this remains contained to dealing with hamas and does not spread more broadly in the region. Does not spread more broadly in the reuion. ~ , ,. , region. Prime minister rishi sunak at a Jewish School region. Prime minister rishi sunak at a Jewish School in region. Prime minister rishi sunak at a Jewish School in north region. Prime minister rishi sunak at a Jewish School in north london | at a Jewish School in north london looking to reassure the 250,000 strong Jewish Community here in the uk about their safety and security concerns. There has been a massive rise in anti semitic incidents and attacks on theJewish Community in the past week since the attacks in israel by hamas and the retaliatory action by israel in response in gaza. Lets get the thoughts of our religious Affairs Correspondent harry farley. What is the significance of this visit and the fact the Prime Minister felt the need to go to a Jewish School today . Well, we saw last week that a number ofJewish Schools in london we were told closed out of security fears, they were worried about attacks on pupils, particularly those schools where pupils are visiblyjewish, they were worried about that and three schools last week, last friday, closed as a result of those security fears. It is worth saying the Community Security trust, a charity that provides Security Advice for british jews charity that provides Security Advice for britishjews said charity that provides Security Advice for british jews said jewish life should continue as normal and school should remain open. That gives you an indication, i suppose, of the fear within the Jewish Community. We have seen in the past how when there is violence in The Middle East, that affects communities here as well and the Metropolitan Police gave some figures last friday to say that within the week from last friday and going back to last saturday when hamas launched those attacks on israel, there were 105 anti semitic incidents in london alone. To put that in context, in the same week last year, there were 1a. So you can see through those figures the impact the war in The Middle East is having on communities here. Metropolitan police also they had also seen a rise in islamophobic incidents as a result of the war in The Middle East. But not as significantly. So it is affecting communities across the uk and i suppose this visit from the uk and i suppose this visit from the Prime Minister isjust an education of his support and his acknowledgement that there is real fear in communities here. find acknowledgement that there is real fear in communities here. Fear in communities here. And the Ournalist Fear in communities here. And the journalist asked fear in communities here. And the journalist asked an fear in communities here. And the journalist asked an important journalist asked an important question about what is the line between anti semitic incidents, people, incidents werejewish people feel threatened and legitimate right to protest and come out in support of those in gaza . Of those in gaza . Yes, thats right and that is of those in gaza . Yes, thats right and that is a of those in gaza . Yes, thats right and that is a fine of those in gaza . Yes, thats right and that is a fine line of those in gaza . Yes, thats right and that is a Fine Line Police of those in gaza . Yes, thats right and that is a Fine Line Police are i and that is a Fine Line Police are having to juggle at the moment. We saw significant protests across the weekend. On the Metropolitan Police are very clear that waving a palestinian flag is not an offence in itself, but doing so in a way that might incite violence or hatred, that is when the line is crossed, but that is a difficult balance to strike, which the police are having to battle at the moment. And also, last week, there was a huge amount of support by the Prime Minister and Home Secretary for the Jewish Community and more Financial Support for the Community Support trust which helps different organisations, synagogues, Jewish Schools, provide security. The Prime Minister announced schools, provide security. The Prime Minister announced in schools, provide security. The Prime Minister announced in x schools, provide security. The Prime Minister announced in x £3 schools, provide security. The Prime Minister announced in x £3 million l minister announced in x £3 million for the Community Security trust to go towards guarding and protecting Jewish Schools and synagogues an extra. Around the country. And i suppose that gives an indication of the levels of concern, particularly within the jewish the levels of concern, particularly within theJewish Community. That they will be on the Receiving End notjust they will be on the Receiving End not just of abuse, they will be on the Receiving End notjust of abuse, but they will be on the Receiving End not just of abuse, but Violent Attacks on the Metropolitan Police gave an indication of that. They have seen a number of incidents, a range of incidents ranging from abuse both in person and online to more physical attacks and assaults. And they had seen that in the last week since hamas launched that attack. fin week since hamas launched that attack. ,. , week since hamas launched that attack. ,. ,. ,. , attack. On israel. Harry farley, our reliuious attack. On israel. Harry farley, our religious affairs attack. On israel. Harry farley, our religious Affairs Correspondent, religious Affairs Correspondent, thank you very much. Lets return to events in The Middle East. Hugo bachega is our middle east correspondent and is in Southern Lebanon. He explained the situation there. This morning, we had an announcement from the israeli authorities saying that they would be evacuating villages in Northern Israel next to the border with lebanon, 28 communities to be evacuated. We dont know whether this is a mandatory or a voluntary evacuation. But the reality is that most of the residents have already left some of those communities. My colleague anna foster has been to some of those communities in recent days and she said that most people have left because of the violence happening in that part of the country. And one of those communities is the community of chouba where, yesterday, a man was killed, the first israeli civilian to die as a result of an attack carried out in Southern Lebanon by hezbollah. This came after a day of the exchange of intense fire between militants in lebanon, hezbollah and the Israeli Military. In the last few minutes, we had reaction from a spokesperson for the Israeli Military saying the attacks yesterday, attacks carried out by hezbollah, happened after iran gave orders to the group to carry out these attacks. So this is reaction from the israeli army, a spokesperson for the Israeli Military, again, showing how intense the situation is along the lebanese and israeli border. And hezbollah is supported by iran, and i think there has been a lot of pressure in recent days from western countries warning iran against escalating the situation here. And the Iranian Foreign minister has visited some countries in the region. He was here in lebanon, where he met the leader of hezbollah, hassan nasrallah. And he reacted to those comments made by western leaders, saying that if the United States wants to prevent an escalation of the conflict, it should tell israel to stop the aggression, in his words, against civilians in gaza. So, again, it shows how volatile the situation is and there are fears that lebanon could be dragged into this conflict. Hugo bachega. In other news, the first predicted results in polands General Election suggest the governing law and Justice Party is on course to win more seats than any other party, but is unlikely to secure a third term in office. Instead, three liberal parties including donald tusk� s Civic Coalition have a better chance of forming a coalition. Sundays election saw the biggest Voter Turnout since the end of communism in poland more than 30 years ago, following a bitter and divisive campaign. Donald tusk said polands � bad days were over. Translation yesterday, people approached me and asked, will you be able to do it . It wasnt possible for so many years. This is the end of this bad time. This is the end of the rule of law and justice. Our Eastern Europe correspondent, sarah rainsford, explained what these Election Results will mean. Well, the count is obviously very much under way. Its been going on through the night. Complicated by the fact that turnout was so high that in many places, the Polling Stations had to stay open, some of them for several hours after they should have closed, so that everyone in the queue could actually cast their ballot. In some places, in krakow, the polls were open until midnight and the turnout there, were reading, was around 80 . So a lot of people casting their ballots and we saw that in warsaw. You can see the palace of culture, the giant stalinist era tower block. In the marble foyer of that polling station, we saw really long queues and the foyer was crowded during the day. People feeling this was a historic vote, it was about deciding basically the direction poland would take in the future. Two very starkly different options on the table. One continuing with the law and Justice Party, the Governing Party, a right wing party which is very much pro social spending. Giving quite a lot of money to families who have children, very tough on security, that was a big measure. But it was presenting the opposition as essentially a foreign backed threat to the country. The opposition presenting the Governing Party as a threat to democracy itself, talking about deteriorating relations with the eu and deteriorating Democratic Values, particularly the rule of law and the freedom of the press. So very different visions. And at the moment, it is looking like the choice for the opposition, the choice for change here has been made by the voters at the polls, and particularly young polish voters seem to have been a fairly decisive factor in voting for what looks like change. Yes, sarah, what impact could the result and the next government have on the countrys support or otherwise for ukraine . Well, i think there had been some suggestion in recent weeks that the government here was kind of cooling in terms of its support for ukraine. There had been dispute over ukrainian grain imports to this country and whether or not poland would continue sending weapons to ukraine. I think a lot of that was about them, the Governing Party, trying to claw votes back from the far right, which was very ukrainian sceptic. That party, confederation, did pretty badly at the polls and the Governing Party doesnt appear to have benefited from that either. The opposition far more sympathetic to making sure there is continued support for ukraine, certainly pretty strong on russian aggression as well. So i think we wont really see any major change, poland will continue to be an important conduit for aid and weaponry and Political Support as well for ukraine Going Forward either way. It wasnt really the big issue at these elections, these were very much about security and about democracy itself, Democratic Values and polands relationship with the eu, which is obviously very important for such a big country as this. The businessman daniel noboa has won ecuador� s president ial election. The 35 year old heir to a banana Production Company becomes the youngest ecuadorean president. Mr noboa took about 52 of votes. His rival in the run off election, a left wing lawyer, luisa gonzalez, acknowledged defeat and congratulated mr noboa on his victory. Ecuador has suffered an increase in Gang Violence in recent years and the president ial campaign was marred by the assassination in august of one candidate, fernando villavicencio. As a journalist, he had campaigned against corruption. Violent crime has risen dramatically in recent years, with ecuador becoming a hub for smog gangs for drug gangs smuggling cocaine. An update on the situation in israel, gaza and egypt, with crowds of people gathering at the border between egypt and the gaza strip after us media reported several hours ago that it was about to reopen. The decision to do that would allow desperately needed aid into the territory and some foreigners, including us citizens, to leave. But the rafah crossing remains closed at the moment. Hamas and israel have both denied reports that they have agreed any kind of truce in southern gaza. The us Secretary Of State was in cairo on sunday to persuade egyptian officials to reopen the border point. There has been no letup in israels bombardment of gaza. Palestinian sources reported that israels air. 20 targets overnight, with the detonations amongst the heaviest seen in the past nine days. Well, it comes as the israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu says that his military is ready to begin a Ground Offensive at any moment aimed at crushing hamas, after its fighters murdered more than 11100 israelis and took more than 150 people hostage last week. We have had an update on that number and it is now 199 israelis and many other nationalities being held hostage in gaza. An estimated 300,000 israeli troops are amassing near gaza, but israel has given no indication of when an attack might begin. The us Secretary Of StateAntony Blinken is also in tel aviv, arrived within the past hour and we will keep an eye on that meeting he is having and update you on the situation in israel and gaza. To stay with us on bbc news. Hello. The new week starts in the way the weekend was, with temperatures below average for the time of year. Quite a chilly start to the week. Thats denoted by the blues on this chart. However, warmer than normal temperatures these are the oranges and reds push towards us this week, but they will come at a price. The pressure chart tells the tale. High pressure recedes, low pressure is going to take hold across much of western europe. Its going to bring outbreaks of rain, some of it should be relentless in Eastern Scotland later in the week, and some very strong winds, particularly around the north sea again, later in the week. As for the here and now, well, the winds are light for most. A bit of a Breeze Blowing through shetland. A few showers here. More of a breeze developing towards the south west. In between, most will be dry. A few showers in south west scotland, eastern northern ireland, and one or two later on across parts of east anglia. But compared with the weekend, a lot more cloud around. And the sunshine that we do have, a bit on the hazy side. Temperatures all fairly similar to what we saw yesterday, at around 11 to 1a degrees. Now, into this evening and overnight, where the winds are lightest across parts of scotland, northern ireland, northern england, skies clearest. Tomorrow, here, we see the coldest conditions into tomorrow morning. The greatest chance of frost for your Tuesday Morning commute. Head further south, temperatures nowhere near as low. We saw temperatures down to 1, this morning, 8 or 9 degrees for many. A bit more breeze, a bit more cloud, and that cloud towards cornwall, devon will bring outbreaks of rain through the day, eventually pushing in towards the far south west of wales, pembrokeshire, also carmarthenshire. Most of you, though, will be dry. Sunshine again, fairly hazy. The bluest of the skies the further north you are. And temperatures for all just lifting by a degree or so compared to what weve seen the past few days. And thats because we start to drag in south Easterly Winds as we go through into the middle part of the week, but these Weather Fronts push their way up northwards. With it, strengthening winds across the country for wednesday. Outbreaks of rain initially across scotland ease for a time. Elsewhere, some drier and brighter weather, but some of the more persistent rain will be there across parts of wales and the south west later. For all, as i said, a windy day. Temperatures will rise a bit but, of course, that will be tempered by the strength of the wind, especially across parts of scotland and north east england. Beyond that, winds could get Even Stronger still around north sea coasts. Well all See Rain At Times for the end of the week and into the weekend. There will be some drier moments, and temperatures will temporarily rise, before dropping at the weekend. Take care. Live from london, this is bbc news. Thousands of people are waiting at the border between egypt and the gaza strip after us media said it was about to reopen. The build up of israeli troops continues near gaza before an expected Ground Offensive targeting hamas. Israel and hamas deny reports theyve agreed a truce. Us Secretary Of StateAntony Blinken has returned to israel as he tries to head off a wider conflict in the region. The uk Prime Minister rishi sunak has visited a Jewish School in north london and says the uk will do everything to alleviate the humanitarian situation in gaza. In other news, projected results in polands General Election suggest the governing law and Justice Party has lost its majority. Hello, im samantha simmonds. There are crowds of people at the border between egypt and the gaza strip after us media said it was about to reopen. That occurred several hours ago. If the rafah crossing were reopened, that would allow desperately needed