Words, to prepare the battlefield for future operations. The words, to prepare the Battlefield Forfuture operations. The Israeli Military says the number of people confirmed to be held hostage in gaza has risen to 224 and has warned that number could rise. So farfour hostages are known to have been released. We have some pictures for e of paris, you can see the i felt hour. 30 empty pushchairs with the faces of children, a display organised by the council of french jewish institutions to raise awareness and demand the release of children but they say were taken hostage by equity. The un are saying the aid workers has significantly scaled down their operations in gaza. Israel serves hamas are storing enough fuel to run hospitals and water pumps for many days but prefers to keep it all for their war fighting capabilities. I have been speaking to tom bateman about this incursion. It speaking to tom bateman about this incursion. ,. , speaking to tom bateman about this incursion. ,. ,. , incursion. It was last night that Prime Minister incursion. It was last night that Prime Minister benjamin incursion. It was last night that Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu gave this televised address, one of the few he has given prime time on national tv. The few he has given prime time on nationaltv. Because the few he has given prime time on national tv. Because the government is under pressure specifically over theissue is under pressure specifically over the issue of the hostages, first and foremost, but with those trips amassed on the border, he appeared saying that israel was raining and hellfire down on hamas. When it came to the issue of a potential Ground Invasion, he said the forces were ready but he said it would be a decision of consensus between the Political Leadership and the Israeli Military itself. He specifically mentioned the chief of staff, the person running the Israeli Military. That is because there has been a sense of criticism over potential hesitation, and also over what a Ground Invasion might mean for those hostages being held in gaza. It was early this morning that we got the first signs there was some activity by troops, israeli troops, amassed on the gaza perimeter. In by troops, israeli troops, amassed on the gaza perimeter. By troops, israeli troops, amassed on the gaza perimeter. In the dead of ni. Ht on the gaza perimeter. In the dead of night israeli on the gaza perimeter. In the dead of night israeli tanks on the gaza perimeter. In the dead of night israeli tanks into on the gaza perimeter. In the dead of night israeli tanks into northern | of night israeli tanks into northern gaza, a targeted rate, says the military to prepare the battleground. Then the troops come back into israel. They are trying to put maximum pressure on hamas. Translation in put maximum pressure on hamas. Translation translation in gaza idf troops commanded translation in gaza idf troops commanded by translation in gaza idf troops commanded by troops translation in gaza idf troops commanded by troops from translation in gaza idf troops commanded by troops from the l translation in gaza idf troops commanded by troops from the hundred and 62nd Division have conducted a limited grant rate using tanks on Northern Territory on the gaza strip. The troops have killed terrorists and destroyed hamas infrastructure. The rate is part of our preparation for the mores next stages. Our preparation for the mores next staues. ~. ,. , stages. Meanwhile, in the depths of gazas blackout, stages. Meanwhile, in the depths of gazas blackout, paramedics stages. Meanwhile, in the depths of gazas blackout, paramedics rushed | gazas blackout, paramedics rushed to save lives. The israeli bombardment is relentless, only torches and lamps are left to light up torches and lamps are left to light up the deadly aftermath. Even the youngest survivors face the stark realities of the israeli siege. A third of hospitals are shut down, stocks of medicines are desperately low. Israel says it will not let up without the release of its hostages. Now space is running out, even to store the dead. Morphine was to place this morning. The southern town to wear many fled after a spell� s Evacuation Order for the north. The israeli army vows to target hamas or whatever it operates, but for Palestinians Nowhere is safe. Nowhere is safe. Why did a oneyearold nowhere is safe. Why did a oneyearold become nowhere is safe. Why did a oneyearold become a i nowhere is safe. Why did a oneyearold become a terrorist . Nowhere is safe. Why did a oneyearold become a terrorist . Why one year old become a terrorist . Why would a one year old to be targeted . They havent even left yet. They havent even said the word dad or know their fathers names, havent even said the word dad or know theirfather� s names, get havent even said the word dad or know their fathers names, get for them to become marketers. Children who are seven or four days old were killed. Why . Bud who are seven or four days old were killed why . Killed. Why . And israel the agony noes on. Killed. Why . And israel the Agony Goes On the killed. Why . And israel the Agony Goes On. The families killed. Why . And israel the Agony Goes On. The families of killed. Why . And israel the Agony Goes On. The families of more killed. Why . And israel the agony. Goes on. The families of more than 220 people being held hostage by hamas. One of the captives, a young boy should be celebrating his 12th birthday today. The pressure is intense on israeli leadership to do more about the issue of the hostages, and that is where hamas has a leverage over this situation. The Israeli Government is trying to show its troops are ready at a minutes notice to go in. We saw those pictures earlier this morning. But the fact is ones that attack happens, it could derail all the diplomacy around getting the captives out. Israels leaders want to show their troops, senior training, i ready to go into gaza. But much more that will determine that decision is happening well out of sight. In that decision is happening well out of si. Ht. , that decision is happening well out ofsiaht. ,. , of sight. In the last couple of hours we of sight. In the last couple of hours we have of sight. In the last couple of hours we have had of sight. In the last couple of hours we have had more of sight. In the last couple of. Hours we have had more detail of sight. In the last couple of hours we have had more detailfrom the israeli army about that targeted rate, they called it in the Northern Gaza Strip this morning, describing it as a sweet and clear operation. They say because they have been previous limited incursions over the last fortnight, they call this the largest operation conducted on the palestinian side of the fence since the beginning of the war. It seems a big part of this was, in their words, to engage and kill anti tank missile squads. We know in gaza, in previous rounds of conflict, there have been anti tank missiles are filed by fired by hamas across the fence Targeting Notjust israeli forces, but in the past have had civilian casualties as a result. That was clearly a big part of what they were doing, going in and trying to probe the ground there, engage hamas forces there but also to try and destroy the defences that could be in their path when they go in. It is clear that israel is readying the ground for this potential ground incursion. The question remains, deeply political about the timing. There is huge pressure internationally, especially from the us, about the idea of allowing humanitarian pauses. The hamas run. Humanitarian pauses. The hamas run 7000 humanitarian pauses. The hamas run. 7000 people humanitarian pauses. The hamas run. 7000 people have humanitarian pauses. The hamas run. 7000 people have been i humanitarian pauses. The hamas. Run. 7000 people have been killed in the gaza strip. Every family affected thereby what has including affected thereby what has including a seniorjournalist. We have these very poignant pictures of him mourning over his wife and children who were among the latest victims of israels bombardment. This is him losing his wife, his son, his daughter and his grandson and an air strike. He was on air at the time when he was informed they had been killed. There was very distressing footage of him at the hospital as he had to identify his children. You can see him here at work for al jazeera, but his family had been killed in an air strike on gaza, his grandson as well. The Aid Situation inside the gaza strip is also quite desperate according to the united nations. Really difficult, no aid is coming in, it is difficult with the little they have to deal with. The un Assistant Secretary General spoke to me from jerusalem and told me just what is happening on the ground for her teams and how difficult it is when they have so little fuel. There is a number of factors that are impacting the operations and one, of course, is fuel, which i will get to any moment but the other is the lack of supplies going in and the continuing bombardment, which makes it very, very difficult for our staff who are still trying to deliver humanitarian assistance to do so. The fuel is directly related to hospitals working and i heard your reporter talking about the situation in the hospitals. If i may give you some statistics, there is 1000 patients who are supposed to be receiving dialysis treatment, hundred and 30 premature babies who are in incubators and patients who are in incubators and patients who are in incubators and patients who are in intensive care. All of them rely on lectures that he and fuel in order to receive their health feel also drives desalination and most of the water in gaza is ground and therefore needs to be desalinated. There is very little clean and clean water available which means people are resorted to drinking dirty or salmon heated water or both. Dirty water. We are expecting the streets to be having a Sewage Overflow onto them imminently. We need to fuel for our trucks to be able to deliver assistance to people are in need. Able to deliver assistance to people are in need are in need. Lets turn to brussels. Eu leaders are in need. Lets turn to brussels. Eu leaders are are in need. Lets turn to brussels. Eu leaders are there are in need. Lets turn to brussels. Eu leaders are there for are in need. Lets turn to brussels. Eu leaders are there for a are in need. Lets turn to brussels. Eu leaders are there for a twoday| eu leaders are there for a two day summit. They are expected to call for the establishment of humanitarian corridors and pauses to give vital aid into gaza. We have been hearing from the president of the European Commission ahead of the meeting talking about Roth The War In Gaza and what is happening in ukraine. We in gaza and what is happening in ukraine. ~. , ukraine. We are meeting with the euro ean ukraine. We are meeting with the European Council ukraine. We are meeting with the European Council in ukraine. We are meeting with the European Council in times ukraine. We are meeting with the European Council in times of ukraine. We are meeting with the| European Council in times of great upheaval. We see the russian war in ukraine is raging, we see that the horrible terroristic attacks by hamas on israel, are now also harming the Palestinian People and whisk to destabilise the region. Migrants are fished to search for a better life by war and conflict, and come to our shores in greater numbers. With all these challenges, the European Union needs to act and react united and resolute. The commission is acting decisively. We are providing ukraine in a steadfast manner with the support it needs to resist the aggression of russia. We are providing crucial humanitarian aid to the civilian people in gaza, we are working very hard with the Member States to manage migration. All this Needs Funding and this is the reason why i have proposed a revision of the eu budget, to be able to fund these very important tasks. This will be discussed in this European Council and we will see where we are going. 50 this European Council and we will see where we are going. This European Council and we will see where we are going. So far the uruent see where we are going. So far the urgent response see where we are going. So far the urgent response from see where we are going. So far the urgent response from the see where we are going. So far the| urgent response from the european leaders could be tricky as our correspondent in brussels explains. I think that is going to be quite difficult i think that is going to be quite difficult. If you look at what we have difficult. If you look at what we have seen difficult. If you look at what we have seen in the past few weeks in the eu, have seen in the past few weeks in the eu, we have seen in the past few weeks in the eu, we have seen conflicting messages, confusing, next to statements from different leaders. But it statements from different leaders. But it is statements from different leaders. But it is true that today european leaders but it is true that today european leaders who have just started to arrive leaders who have just started to arrive here in brussels will want to projecl arrive here in brussels will want to projecl a arrive here in brussels will want to project a united front. As you mentioned, they are expected to call for humanitarian pauses in the fighting for humanitarian pauses in the fighting in gaza. Because they have said the fighting in gaza. Because they have said the main priority today is to find ways said the main priority today is to find ways to get you aid into gaza. Humanitarian pauses would allow that, humanitarian pauses would allow that, and humanitarian pauses would allow that, and allow for water, fuel and medital that, and allow for water, fuel and medical care to reach people in gaza medical care to reach people in gaza but medical care to reach people in gaza. But there are profound divisions gaza. But there are profound divisions within the eu and just ate few minutes ago, we heard from the hungarian few minutes ago, we heard from the hungarian Prime Minister. He said the issue hungarian Prime Minister. He said the issue of humanitarian pause is very controversial and divisive, and so he very controversial and divisive, and so he is very controversial and divisive, and so he is expecting a long conversation about that. Today was different conversation about that. Today was different european leaders, having opposing different european leaders, having opposing views on that. Can different european leaders, having opposing views on that. Opposing views on that. Can you exlain opposing views on that. Can you exolain those opposing views on that. Can you explain those divisions opposing views on that. Can you explain those divisions a opposing views on that. Can you explain those divisions a little. Explain those divisions a little more . Which countries are aligning themselves with israel, which appear more sympathetic to the Palestinian Cause . ~. , more sympathetic to the Palestinian Cause . ,. , cause . What we are seeing is quite a bi divide cause . What we are seeing is quite a big divide and cause . What we are seeing is quite a big divide and european cause . What we are seeing is quite a big divide and European Countries big divide and European Countries following big divide and European Countries following in two camps. You have got countries following in two camps. You have got countries like germany, austria, the czech countries like germany, austria, the Czech Republic and hungary that have taken quite a strong pro israel stance taken quite a strong pro israel stance. Then you have got other countries stance. Then you have got other countries like spain, ireland and portugal countries like spain, ireland and portugal that are more at tune with the Palestinian Cause. Today is a really the Palestinian Cause. Today is a really good example of those divisions because four days there has been divisions because four days there has been a divisions because four days there has been a debate here in brussels about has been a debate here in brussels about whether to call for humanitarian pause or pauses, ulurat humanitarian pause or pauses, plural. Countries like germany are opposed plural. Countries like germany are opposed to plural. Countries like germany are opposed to the idea of a humanitarian pause because they feel that is humanitarian pause because they feel that is too humanitarian pause because they feel that is too similar to a humanitarian ceasefire, and they feel that humanitarian ceasefire, and they feel that would be perceived as putting feel that would be perceived as putting a feel that would be perceived as putting a limit to israels right to defend putting a limit to israels right to defend itself. And so they are calling defend itself. And so they are calling for a humanitarian pauses, ulurat calling for a humanitarian pauses, plurat that calling for a humanitarian pauses, plural. That is perceived to be very short plur