but the us secretary of state is en route to the middle east as the pressure mounts on the white house to limit civilian casualties. we will hear tonight from the rafah border, where another 400 foreign nationals have crossed into egypt today. and we will get the thoughts of the qataris who are playing an important role in the backchannel negotiations with hamas. later in the programme, we will assess the widespread damage caused by storm ciaran across southern england and the channel islands. and a first outing tonight for our new segment ai decoded, at the end of a two—day summit at bletchley park at which 28 countries pledged to collaborate on safety. welcome to the programme. the israeli army says it has now completely encircled gaza city, as the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, said the "height of battle" had been reached. the army says it is beginning the work to dismantle the series of hamas tunnels. the prime minister said he will reject all calls for a cease—fire. the idf said soldiers were engaged in close quarters combat with hamas fighters staging hit—and—run attacks from underground tunnels. they estimate that at least 130 hamas fighters had been killed in the latest battles. a bombardment that began on tuesday on a refugee camp north of gaza city has continued. the united nations assist for schools been damaged in the area of the refugee camp. the hamas—run gaza health ministry says 27 people have been killed in an israeli strike near a un school, the third deadly strike in as many days on the densely—populated jabalia refugee camp. it says more than 9000 people have now been killed in gaza since the 7th of october. that is not number the bbc can independently verify. the assess their operations in gaza completely collapsed. meanwhile, more evacuees from gaza have arrived in egypt through the rafah crossing. today, egypt has said it will help to evacuate approximately 7000 foreign nationals and dual—national injured palestinians who will be treated in a new field hospital. the problem is some of the most seriously wounded are in gaza city which is now entirely encircled. we start our coverage tonight with a report form our international editorjeremy bowen. and a warning, as always, that you may find it distressing. more evidence that nowhere in gaza is safe. israel hit bureij refugee camp. for days, israel has been ordering civilians in gaza to move south for their own safety. bureij is inside the area where they were told to go, and thousands of displaced people were sheltering there. the un human rights office has said that so many civilians have been killed and wounded in israeli air strikes that it has serious concerns that these are disproportionate attacks that could be war crimes. a girl was pulled out alive. she asks the stretcher—bearers, "are you taking me to my grave?" the men try to reassure her that she's not dead. across gaza, unknown numbers of dead are buried under the rubble. in bureij camp, he is asked who he is looking for. "my four children. "my four children," he says. "oh, god, why did you leave me and die?" israel says it wants to destroy hamas. civilians, it says, are killed because hamas uses them as human shields. israel has released pictures of some of its latest attacks. based on reports from inside gaza and israeli military statements, it seems clear that they are pushing forward into gaza city. the pictures released by the army are pre—edited. they don't want to give away locations. hamas, as far as we can tell, is using hit—and—run tactics against what is a much more powerful army. to support the ground war in gaza, the israeli military says it is only using half its air power. the troops have been visited by israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu. translation: icall- on the uninvolved, get out. get out, move south, because we will not quit our efforts to eliminate the hamas terrorists. we will advance, we will advance and win. this is jabalia in northern gaza, hit three days running. israel defends its targeting vigorously, but it also knows that pictures like this every day make it harder for its allies to push back demands for a cease—fire. the boy is saying, "we didn't do anything wrong. we didn't do anything wrong!" the un says 32 people sheltering in four of its schools were killed today. it isn't clear what hit this one injabalia. what is clear from the evidence and from un statements is that nowhere is safe in gaza. jeremy bowen, bbc news, southern israel. a lot of activity tonight in northern gaza. let me show you the pictures i'm looking at of the skyline looking south from israel across that border. we are seeing a lot of flares in the air and a lot of explosions. we see the explosions now and this is just north of the city. around the area of jabalia actually. jabalia in the northern part of the strip. you can see that ordinance raining down on those areas close to the border. we will keep an eye on that and get some reaction to that tonight. the agreement to allow foreign passport holders and the critically injured civilians to depart through the rafah border crossing was reached on tuesday, prior to the israeli forces' hitting gaza's largest refugee camp. qatar, which coordinated with the united states, was the key broker of the deal between israel, egypt and hamas. we are told the negotiations were immensely complicated and that the breakthrough only came after some "intense american diplomacy with allies in the region". qatar does play host to some of the leaders within the political wing of hamas, so it does have communication with the group. we are nowjoined live by nawaf al thani, former qatari military attache in the us and former director of defence intelligence operations in qatar. thank you very much coming back on the programme to speak to us this evening. could you pick up a picture form equipment the americas pick up the phone and really concerns about what is happening. how does qatar that facilitate a conversation between all different parties? this is something _ between all different parties? ti 3 is something that qatar has been doing for a long time and in different conflicts was that we've seen this in afghanistan, in africa and we have seen even in the past couple of weeks in returning children from russia to ukraine so this is not a new element even with hamas and with gaza between israel in the past. qatar play that role as recently as of september with a spokesperson for the ministry of foreign affairs mentioned earlier this week that qatar was able to calm down a situation that could have been much worse back in september. have been much worse back in september-— september. what were the complications? _ september. what were the complications? because i september. what were the | complications? because the september. what were the - complications? because the white house is say it was complicated right up until tuesday. what was the biggest stumbling block? lalkali. biggest stumbling block? well, honestly not — biggest stumbling block? well, honestly not being _ biggest stumbling block? well, honestly not being part - biggest stumbling block? well, honestly not being part of - biggest stumbling block? vii honestly not being part of the government, i cannot comment on is only what went on, but as an observer we can see clearly from statements made from the government of qatar is the current escalation in the conflict. having bombs dropped on gaza, [and invasion is not an environment inducing negotiations being fully successful. however, at the same time, the qatari government said it will not give up on trying to find a the escalatory result and cessation of hostilities. ~ ., , ., ., hostilities. where does that leave the separate _ hostilities. where does that leave the separate negotiations - hostilities. where does that leave| the separate negotiations because hostilities. where does that leave . the separate negotiations because as you recall there are two twin tracks ongoing here, one for the foreign nationals and one for the hostages? where does this leave that negotiation for the hostages that are still in gaza?— negotiation for the hostages that are still in gaza? well, that same statement _ are still in gaza? well, that same statement made _ are still in gaza? well, that same statement made two _ are still in gaza? well, that same statement made two days - are still in gaza? well, that same statement made two days ago, i are still in gaza? well, that same statement made two days ago, in fact, the letter statement by the four ministry of the state of qatar made it clear that no negotiations will stop seeking the release of hostages will continue. the qatari government said they were hopeful but also warns that escalation of violence is not helpful and would not be helpful moving forward, but they would not give up on finding a peaceful resolution, including returning hostages. but peaceful resolution, including returning hostages.— peaceful resolution, including returning hostages. but in your view, returning hostages. but in your view. would — returning hostages. but in your view, would a _ returning hostages. but in your view, would a humanitarian - returning hostages. but in your i view, would a humanitarian policy improve the chances of getting some of them out? would a cease—fire, albeit temporary, would that lead in your view to some of them being released? in your view to some of them being released? , ., , , released? in my view, any pause in the battle, — released? in my view, any pause in the battle, ned _ released? in my view, any pause in the battle, ned escalatory - released? in my view, any pause in. the battle, ned escalatory measures by the israelis will be able to decision and have a positive impact definitely on everything including negotiations.— negotiations. there have been several statements _ negotiations. there have been several statements from - negotiations. there have been i several statements from hamas negotiations. there have been - several statements from hamas in recent days that hostages have been killed in the bombardment. are you able to tell us whether you, qatar, have been able to infinitely verify whether or not that is true? i whether or not that is true? i cannot tell you anything of that nature obviously, i'm not involved. we have seen it however from our allies like the us for instance, an encouraging messagejust allies like the us for instance, an encouraging message just today from the white house thanking qatar, in a sense pushing qatar towards more negotiations with them in war, it gets messy and you don't know exactly what's going on on the ground and the fog of war is very sick right now with everything going on in gaza. the sick right now with everything going on in gaza. , ., on in gaza. the israeli prime minister may _ on in gaza. the israeli prime minister may statements - on in gaza. the israeli prime i minister may statements today on in gaza. the israeli prime - minister may statements today that said he had no interest in a cease—fire. you've spoken to all parties including the iranians who were there in doha. how precarious is a situation in your mind to do situation in lebanon and the wider region? i situation in lebanon and the wider reuion? , ., , region? i believe that if this thing is not resolved, _ region? i believe that if this thing is not resolved, it _ region? i believe that if this thing is not resolved, it could - region? i believe that if this thing | is not resolved, it could widen and engulf the whole region unfortunately. many governments in the region, including qatar and others in the region have warned of this outcome. and it is an actual unfortunately reality that could be an inevitability if this war in gaza continues to go beyond and continues to move further in time unfortunately. in to move further in time unfortunately.- to move further in time unfortunatel. ., ,, . unfortunately. in that respect we have a look _ unfortunately. in that respect we have a look ahead _ unfortunately. in that respect we have a look ahead to _ unfortunately. in that respect we have a look ahead to more - unfortunately. in that respect we have a look ahead to more from | unfortunately. in that respect we i have a look ahead to more from the speak of the secretary general of hezbollah, who is not spoken thus far. it's been flagged as an important speech. are you getting any word or suggestion there on the ground in doha after what he might say? ground in doha after what he might sa ? ., , ., , ., . ground in doha after what he might sa? ., , ., say? know, everyone is watching and waitin: and say? know, everyone is watching and waiting and l'm _ say? know, everyone is watching and waiting and i'm watching _ say? know, everyone is watching and waiting and i'm watching bbc- say? know, everyone is watching and waiting and i'm watching bbc and - waiting and i'm watching bbc and others to see what comes about. unfortunately, the bigger picture right now is all the death and destruction happening in gaza. the numbers are staggering, and with no relief coming in, qatar has announced there are many relief packages they have seen in other arab nations have sent that have had difficulties going into gaza because of restrictions by the israeli war cabinet. that if the bigger picture right now, and i think everyone should focus on that and it does not look good right now, but everyone remains hopeful that there may be a resolution eventually.— resolution eventually. hamas has been cited by _ resolution eventually. hamas has been cited by the _ resolution eventually. hamas has been cited by the uk _ resolution eventually. hamas has been cited by the uk and - resolution eventually. hamas has been cited by the uk and us - been cited by the uk and us governments as a terrorist group. it has slaughtered m00 innocent israelis. how difficult is it becoming for you to host hamas because there is been fierce criticism from the israeli government in recent days of the fact that you allow the clinical wing of hamas to stay in doha? i wing of hamas to stay in doha? i don't know what the qatari government position is anything that they have not already said might be. i think in the fullness of time after peaceful resolution is reached, i think looking at what hamas and what the israelis and what's going on right now will be good to look back on, of the matter is the national security council of the arab states and qatar negotiated with hamas today. the israeli national security adviser at the other day thanks qatar for the release of israeli hostages. i think thatis release of israeli hostages. i think that is a viable tool. qatar is not giving up on a piece resolution and they are not giving up as they exit on hostage negotiation. let's hope that israel says the continuation of violence is not the answer and a pete cease—fire and cessation of violence is reached and we can move forward. it’s violence is reached and we can move forward. fl ., ., violence is reached and we can move forward. �*, ., i. forward. it's good to get your thou . hts forward. it's good to get your thoughts this _ forward. it's good to get your thoughts this evening. - forward. it's good to get your thoughts this evening. think| forward. it's good to get your. thoughts this evening. think you for coming on the programme stop you very much. you will see in the right box there that the pictures from gaza city show escalation in the fighting. we see rockets in the city and a cloud in the sky tonight. we have heard from the israeli prime minister that gaza city is now entirely encircled and the mechanized brigade is in the city working on the tunnel network thatis city working on the tunnel network that is an extraordinary complex and drawn out operation because my stomach as they are something like 500 km of tunnels in an underground city beneath gaza that hamas is built so it will not be straightforward. we heard today that around 18, i think 18 israeli soldiers have been killed in this conflict so far but certainly from these pictures we are watching tonight, a lot more activity in the northern part of the strip. the... the israeli government keeps changing the number of hostages they think are being held in gaza. sadly that is because they are still identifying the dead. some of those bodies were left across the border in gaza and have since been recovered. at the last count, we were told there were 240 hostages. that does not include the four that were released in the past two weeks and the one israeli soldier freed. we have had a second video of three of the hostages that was released earlier in the week, but aside from that, very little detail on their whereabouts or their welfare. that, of course, leads to immense frustration among relatives and friends of those taken. in fact, there were more protests today in tel aviv, with families demanding to know more from the government, as well as more vocal demands now for a humanitarian pause to give space for the negotiations to continue. one of those missing is tal haimi. he was taken on the 7th of october. part of the emergency squad at his kibbutz, which meant he was one of the first to confront the attackers as they moved into the area. let's speak to udi goren. his cousin, tal, was among those believed to be kidnapped by hamas. thank you very much coming on the programme. what would you like people to know about your cousin? thank you, christian, for having me on and _ thank you, christian, for having me on and continuing to bring this topic— on and continuing to bring this topic to — on and continuing to bring this topic to the front because this is crucial — topic to the front because this is crucial i— topic to the front because this is crucial. i have heard your previous interviewee, — crucial. i have heard your previous interviewee, and i think that the statements that they have made about how crucial— statements that they have made about how crucial a cease—fire is right now— how crucial a cease—fire is right now has— how crucial a cease—fire is right now has to _ how crucial a cease—fire is right now has to be stated over and over again _ now has to be stated over and over again tal— now has to be stated over and over again. tal come up my cousin, is an average _ again. tal come up my cousin, is an average guy — again. tal come up my cousin, is an average guy. he is a civil engineer. he has— average guy. he is a civil engineer. he has got— average guy. he is a civil engineer. he has got a — average guy. he is a civil engineer. he has got a wife and three kids. the older— he has got a wife and three kids. the older two are twins. they are nine _ the older two are twins. they are nine years old. they are torn apart. you know. — nine years old. they are torn apart. you know, they are sick with worry. they— you know, they are sick with worry. they don't — you know, they are sick with worry. they don't understand where their dad is. they had been living under the circumstances of continuous bombardment from gaza year in and year out _ bombardment from gaza year in and year out. but it's become a routine. and obviously what happened on october— and obviously what happened on october the 7th has nothing to do with this — october the 7th has nothing to do with this routine, and they are away from _ with this routine, and they are away from their— with this routine, and they are away from their kibbutz. it's not even clear— from their kibbutz. it's not even clear when— from their kibbutz. it's not even clear when they will be back. the entire _ clear when they will be back. the entire community, notjust the heirs. — entire community, notjust the heirs. and _ entire community, notjust the heirs, and it'sjust a horrible, horrible — heirs, and