the us secretary of state, antony blinken has met the palestinian authority president mahmoud abbas in the occupied west bank city of ramallah for talks on the gaza conflict. mr abbas told mr blinken there must be an immediate ceasefire and an allowing of humanitarian aid to the gaza strip. in gaza itself, we've been reporting an explosion at al—maghazi refugee camp where at least 50 people have been killed — that's according to the head of a nearby hospital. the israeli military says it's investigating. and in the last hour, paltel — the palestinian telecommunications company — says there has been another "complete disruption" to communication and internet services in gaza. they say this is due to "the previously reconnected major routes" being exposed to israeli attacks. further north, and lebanese state media say three children and their grandmother were killed in an israeli strike on a car in southern lebanon. the report said their car was hit on a road in the bintjbeil district, and that the children were aged ten, 12, and 14. the lebanese foreign minister says lebanon will submit a complaint to the united nations over the incident. we begin our coverage with this report from yogita limaye. a densely populated refugee camp. it's not one of the areas that israel had asked gazans to leave. hamas says it was an israeli air strike that killed dozens here. israel says it's investigating. this mans�*s daughters and wife were injured, taken to hospital. can anyone hear me, shouts. i think there are people trapped here. saeed stayed back, working all night to pull bodies from under the rubble. journalist mohammad al aloul was working in another part of gaza, unaware at first that his family had become the story. translated: i got in touch with my colleagues who told me that four of my children were killed. i don't know what to tell you. my nephews were killed and so are all my brothers, except one. my wife is in a critical condition. mohammed told the bbc he wishes he'd been killed with his family. as it continues its offensive against hamas into gaza, israel says it's doing what it can to minimize civilian casualties. it claims to have dropped six million leaflets and made tens of thousands of phone calls warning people to move to safer areas. but it's not clear where in gaza is safe and only a tiny number have been allowed to leave the strip. us secretary of state antony blinken made an unannounced stop in the occupied west bank city of ramallah today, meeting palestinian leader mahmoud abbas, who called for an immediate cease fire. blinken has been pushing instead for shorter humanitarian pauses. 84—year—old elma avraham is one of more than 200 hostages being held in gaza. her son, uri ravitz, showed us the medicines his mother needs to take every day to stay in good health. he's hoping someone can take these to her. just a nightmare and like in some horror movie that i'm stuck. not only me, there is to more than 240 families. right now, we are four weeks after that, four weeks and one day, and they still not here. and they should be here yesterday. and then today. not today. yesterday. so i have to believe that she's still alive. and i'm going to see her. but yeah, i still have hope. more on that strike at the maghazi refugee camp now. the site of the attack is in the center of the strip — south of the wadi gaza — in a part of the territory were civilians were told to move to to avoid the fighting in the north. but still, they are not out of the firing line. 0ur reporter rushdi abualouf has been able to travel to the camp and sent this report. they are still looking under the rubble of about three or four buildings which were destroyed overnight. this is maghazi refugee camp. it's in the safe area where israel advised 1.2 million in gaza city and the north to flee south. this is safer, but this destruction is in the safe area, where about 50 bodies have been recovered from this air strike. many, many others are missing. this is the biggest air strike, it is in a crowded refugee camp in the middle of the gaza strip. the people are fleeing south because the fighting has intensified around gaza city and in the north where israel is part of the ground operation. five different battles are going on there. 0vernight, israel issued another warning for the people, asking them to leave gaza city and the north and to come here. live now to our diplomatic correspondent, paul adams, in jerusalem. we've heard reports of more civilians killed in gaza, from the hamas run health ministry there. what is the latest we know? it seems as thou . h what is the latest we know? it seems as though things _ what is the latest we know? it seems as though things are _ what is the latest we know? it seems as though things are pretty _ what is the latest we know? it seems as though things are pretty dramatic. as though things are pretty dramatic tonight. reporters down on the edge of the gaza strip are reporting huge explosions, and we have seen images of an enormous fireball of ageing in the northern part of the gaza strip. we don't know exactly what that signifies, but it does seem so that are being launched launched on the northern part of the gaza strip this evening are very intense indeed. there are also common in the last few minutes, sirens across essential israel, warning of the press about edges of rockets fired out of the gaza strip. we haven't heard reports yet of any rockets being fired, but clearly there are alerts being sounded. and it is also being reported on israeli tv channels that the israeli army is saying that it will be in the centre of gaza within the next 48 hours or so, which suggests that the israeli military is making quite significant progress, as it works towards the centre of gaza city. find progress, as it works towards the centre of gaza city.— centre of gaza city. and antony bfinken centre of gaza city. and antony blinken obviously _ centre of gaza city. and antony blinken obviously a _ centre of gaza city. and antony blinken obviously a big - centre of gaza city. and antony blinken obviously a big goal - centre of gaza city. and antony blinken obviously a big goal for centre of gaza city. and antony - blinken obviously a big goal for him blinken obviously a big goalfor him was to push for the humanitarian policies, has gotten any closer to that goal? he policies, has gotten any closer to that coal? ., , �* , ., ., that goal? he doesn't seem to have no. that that goal? he doesn't seem to have n0- that was _ that goal? he doesn't seem to have no. that was something _ that goal? he doesn't seem to have no. that was something that - that goal? he doesn't seem to have no. that was something that joe - no. that was something thatjoe biden yesterday gave a thumbs up and he was asked if that progress was being made. american officials have been talking about these for several days now, but it does seem as though israel still has significant conditions are putting in the way commandos seem to focus on the issue of the hostages. the 240 or so hostages still being held inside the gaza strip. this release so they want information, they want to see signs of progress. for example, for the international community of the red is to be given access to the hostages, something they say hamas have refused to grant. that seems to be holding up the wider negotiations on the humanitarian causes, which are all about trying to alleviate humanitarian situation in the southern gaza strip. find humanitarian situation in the southern gaza strip.- humanitarian situation in the southern gaza strip. and we have 'ust had southern gaza strip. and we have just had that _ southern gaza strip. and we have just had that antony _ southern gaza strip. and we have just had that antony blinken - southern gaza strip. and we have just had that antony blinken is i southern gaza strip. and we have i just had that antony blinken is now on a surprise visit to baghdad in iraq, and so the diplomatic efforts office are going to continue. we have also heard that there will be a press conference coming up shortly with antony blinken. thank you, paul, for that. just to add that the surprise visit in iraq, that is according to the afp news agency. scotland's first minister, humza yousaf, say his in—laws are back in the uk after being trapped in gaza for more than three weeks. he's posted a photograph on social media of the reunion. for relatives, who don't hold uk passports, and remain trapped in gaza. 0ur news correspondent, angus crawford, told us why they were there his in—laws had gone to gaza some time ago because they wanted trapped after october 7th, they were unable to leave. we hear reports that at one point they were sheltering in a house with approximately 100 other people. they had made three abortive visits to the rafah crossing to try to get out and that had failed. but then this morning, after days of uncertainty, mr yousef, as you say, posted on his twitter account that he had good news. he said, "i am pleased to say my in—laws are safe and back home." it's thought that they flew back in to edinburgh at 10.30 this morning. but of course, as you've pointed out, very difficult for the use out, very difficult for the yousaf family because some of their relatives who don't hold british passports are still stuck in gaza, unable to get out. and again, he posted on twitter, he said, "my thoughts remain with those who can't leave. and then he said, "we will continue to raise our voices for peace." former uk pm borisjohnson and former australian pm scott morrison are in israel the two former leaders are making a joint visit to express solidarity and support for israel after the terrible terrorist attacks on october 7th. they met british soldiers enlisted with the israeli army, and borisjohnson expressed his support for the troops, saying he disagreed with those trying to make a moral equivalent between what the soldiers are doing and what hamas is doing. a hostage crisis at hamburg airport in germany has ended with the arrest of the suspect and the safe rescue of a child. german police say the suspect put up no resistance when arrested. the four—year—old appears to be unharmed. the incident began late last night, when the man drove through a security barrier at the airport. all flights were suspended. police had been negotiating with him via a turkish interpreter, while he sat in his car parked on the tarmac. the man was believed to have been armed. police think the incident probably stems from a custody dispute. jenny witt is a freelance journalist based in hamburg. she said the incident had the whole city on edge. but before that, antony blinken is speaking now. i got an update on everything we're doing to make sure that our personnel are safe secure. in addition, i had a good, productive, candid meeting with the prime minister, and there were two areas of focus for me in that meeting. the first was to reaffirm our commitment to our partnership with iraq. we have made tremendous progress with iraq in recent years, particularly working with the iraqi government. 0n everything from economic reform to energy independence, to helping to strengthen its institutions, building respect for human rights. and not only the security aspect of the relationship, all of these different aspects. the quality hundred and 60 degrees, and we are committed to it. so, being had a discussion about that, and the progress we have made. at the same time, it was very important to send a very clear message to anyone who might seek to take advantage of the conflict in gaza to threaten our personnel here or anywhere else in the region. don't do it. i made very clear that the attacks, the threats coming from militia that are aligned with iran are totally unacceptable, and we will take every necessary step to protect our people. we are not looking for comfort without iran, we have made that very clear, but we will do what is necessary for protector people, military or civilian. the prime minister has made very clear his condemnation of attacks directed against our people and his determination to do what is necessary to make sure that doesn't happen. so, we had a good, candid, important conversation. more broadly, we are working very hard to make sure that the conflict in gaza does not escalate, does not spread to other places. while it is here, whether it is elsewhere in the region. this is a very vital and urgent work of american diplomacy, and that is what we have been engaged in as well throughout this trip. i'm happy to take a few questions. trip. i'm happy to take a few questions-— trip. i'm happy to take a few cuestions. , , , g ., questions. yesterday president joe biden when asked _ questions. yesterday president joe biden when asked whether- questions. yesterday president joe biden when asked whether he - questions. yesterday president joe biden when asked whether he was| biden when asked whether he was optimistic— biden when asked whether he was optimistic about progress being made towards _ optimistic about progress being made towards getting israel to agree to humanitarian policies committee give a thumbs _ humanitarian policies committee give a thumbs up and said yes. you turn your— a thumbs up and said yes. you turn your conversations with israel on friday. _ your conversations with israel on friday, with arab leaders yesterday and today, — friday, with arab leaders yesterday and today, the use show the president's optimism? why hasn't the deal being _ president's optimism? why hasn't the deal being agreed to yet? how do you -et deal being agreed to yet? how do you get around _ deal being agreed to yet? how do you get around israel's inherent category of rejection of any kind of deal that_ category of rejection of any kind of deal that many people seem to think as a model— deal that many people seem to think as a model step?— as a model step? first, as we said, followin: as a model step? first, as we said, following my _ as a model step? first, as we said, following my conversation - as a model step? first, as we said, following my conversation with - as a model step? first, as we said, following my conversation with the | following my conversation with the prime minister and the israeli government, this is a process. israel is raising important questions about humanitarian policies would work. you've got to answer those questions. we are working on exactly that. in fact we agreed that our teams would get together, and they are doing just that, including to work through the specifics, the practicalities of these policies. second, it's important that the pause advance a number of things, and one of it as hostages. we are intensely focused, united states, israel, every other country that has one of its growing scratch my citizen is being held hostage by hamas, to bring them home. it is important that as was are engaged in pursuing humanitarian policies, this can be something that advances the prospect of getting the hostages back. you can also advance other things that we are committed to doing, that is a government of israel and other partners in the region, especially getting more humanitarian assistance to people who need it in gaza. i remind you, when we had conversations three weeks ago about starting humanitarian assistance, it was a process to actually get that moving. but we had a commitment to do that, it took some days to get the process in place. since income will be had trucks moving from about 100 a day going on, that's good but it is grossly insufficient so now we are working on raising that more aid come in a sustained way, get sent to palestinians who need it. there again, humanitarian pause can also help in advance that and create an environment in which we can do as much as possible for people who so desperately need the assistant. yes i do this short of a total ceasefire would _ i do this short of a total ceasefire would he — i do this short of a total ceasefire would be acceptable. did you make any progress in convincing them of humanity— any progress in convincing them of humanity would be a reasonable compromise? | humanity would be a reasonable compromise?— humanity would be a reasonable comromise? ~ , , ., compromise? i think everybody would welcome them. _ compromise? i think everybody would welcome them, there _ compromise? i think everybody would welcome them, there are _ compromise? i think everybody would welcome them, there are obviously i welcome them, there are obviously different views including a question of the ceasefire, but there is no doubt from my conversations with all of our colleagues yesterday that everyone would welcome the humanitarian pause because it could advance things or try to accomplish, including getting getting hostages back, getting a lot more assistance into gaza, including getting people out of gaza, citizens from other countries, who seek to leave. we have had important progress in recent years. there are also no complication to come along with it. we continue to work soon. but in each of these areas, a humanitarian pause could make a positive difference.— pause could make a positive difference. . ~' , ., , . pause could make a positive difference. ., ~ , ., , . ., difference. thank you very much for takin: m difference. thank you very much for taking my question. _ difference. thank you very much for taking my question. a _ difference. thank you very much for taking my question. a question - difference. thank you very much for. taking my question. a question about each of— taking my question. a question about each of your— taking my question. a question about each of your visit today. here, what kind of— each of your visit today. here, what kind of substitute to quebec with iraqi prime minister that they can take as _ iraqi prime minister that they can take as a — iraqi prime minister that they can take as a government to try to reduce _ take as a government to try to reduce the — take as a government to try to reduce the military attacks on us forces _ reduce the military attacks on us forces here? and looking back atjoe marler, _ forces here? and looking back atjoe marler, 0 _ forces here? and looking back atjoe marler, q said that you had a view for the _ marler, q said that you had a view for the palestinian authority to have _ for the palestinian authority to have a — for the palestinian authority to have a potential governance role in gaza _ have a potential governance role in gaza i_ have a potential governance role in gaza. i wanted to ask what president abbas's _ gaza. i wanted to ask what president abbas's view of that was to do? why do you _ abbas's view of that was to do? why do you think— abbas's view of that was to do? why do you think that is a good idea, given— do you think that is a good idea, given the — do you think that is a good idea, given the general luvvie of the palestinian authority among palestinians?— palestinian authority among palestinians? ~ , palestinians? the prime minister soken palestinians? the prime minister spoken clearly — palestinians? the prime minister spoken clearly come _ palestinians? the prime minister spoken clearly come in _ palestinians? the prime minister spoken clearly come in fact - palestinians? the prime minister spoken clearly come in fact he i palestinians? the prime minister. spoken clearly come in fact he made an important statement about a week ago, condemning these attacks and making clear the imperative that they stop. and in addition, she is working with his own security forces and others to take necessary action to deal with these attacks and to seek to prevent them. we talked about that. i can't get into specifics, but this is a matter of iraqi sovereignty. no country wants to have militia groups engaged in violent activity that is clearly against the interests