watching bbc news. we start with the latest from the israel gaza conflict. it's been one of the heaviest nights of bombardment in gaza since the start of the war — with israeli air strikes hitting the north of the territory — and reports of huge explosions. israel says it's now effectively divided gaza into two parts — north and south. 11 un agencies and six humanitarian groups have called for an immediate ceasefire, urging israel to protect civilians and allow more food, water, medicine and fuel into gaza. they also called on hamas to release the hostages captured on october 7th. some aid continues to get through — a royaljordanian air force cargo plane has dropped several containers of humanitarian relief supplies over the gaza strip. the update was shared in a tweet by thejordanian king. jordan's state news agency said the consignment was urgent medical aid for thejordanian field hospital in gaza. israeli media reports say the air drop was carried out in co—ordination with the israeli military. meanwhile, the us has stepped up diplomatic efforts in the region. secretary of state antony blinken is now in turkey, for meetings with the country's foreign minister. the country's cia director william burns is also now in israel — urging greater effort to avoid civilian casualties. and in the last few hours, the white house has said vice—president kamala harris will discuss the conflict in a phone call with unnamed foreign leaders today. let's go live to southern israel — and my colleague mark lowen. thank you very much indeed. it has been a morning of intense military activity in gaza, much of which we have heard from here. we are about three kilometres away from the gaza strip, and we are frequently seen plumes of smoke billowing after israeli air strikes on the gaza strip, some of which have been the largest that many here have seen for several days, even weeks. and then overnight our team in gaza reported it was some of the worst and heaviest air strikes they have witnessed since the war began. the palestinians say that 200 civilians were killed overnight in israeli air strikes. those are figures that come from the hamas run health ministry. these really defence force gives regular updates and briefings of course and says yesterday they hit 450 course and says yesterday they hit a50 targets, including hamas command centres, they hit a hamas military outpost and they took out several terrorists, as they say, as well. they have added that today, once again, forfour hours between now, two hours ago and another two hours more the main road connecting north and south gaza will be open for some of the civilians that are still in northern gaza to make their way to a safer area in the south of the gaza strip will stop the us estimates that there are still around a00,000 civilians that are still in northern gaza refusing or unable to move. 0ur middle east correspondent yolande kneu middle east correspondent yolande knell has the very latest. explosions the relentless bombardment continues. the latest israeli strikes in northern gaza among the most intense so far and, once again, phone and internet lines were cut. this was yesterday's aftermath. locals say dozens were killed. said's wife and daughters were wounded. he searches on for his neighbours. "can anyone hear me inside?" he shouts. "there are people." this is part of gaza where civilians had been told to flee to. israel's military says it is looking into whether it was operating in the area at the time. israel's ground invasion is advancing. its military says it has now divided the territory into two and that it is doing what it can to avoid civilian casualties. for several hours, israeli forces said they opened a route for gazans to head south. but relatively few made the journey. on his latest stop in turkey, the us secretary of state is hearing calls for an immediate ceasefire from around the region. washington backs short pauses in fighting. everyone would welcome a humanitarian pause because, again, it would advance things we are all trying to accomplish, including getting hostages back, including getting a lot more assistance into gaza, including getting people out of gaza. one of the more than 2a0 hostages being held in gaza is 8a—year—old elma avraham. her family found this photo online, where she is seen being taken by hamas. her son worries how she is coping without her medication. right now, we are four weeks after that. four weeks and one day and they are still not here. and they should be here yesterday. not today, yesterday. i am like in some horror movie that does not stop. but, yeah, i still have hope. israel says that without progress on releasing the hostages, it won't agree to any pause in hostilities. for now, for so many, each day brings only more suffering. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. the humanitarian situation is of course catastrophic as you saw in yolande knell�*s report, that refugee camp struck yesterday as the israeli military continues to wait to tell us whether or not their forces were operating in the area. they have consistently said facilities that are struck are targeted because they come in their words, contain hamas terror command centres including, for example, hospitals and the israeli military gave a briefing yesterday which they showed slides and videos that purported to show hamas tunnels operating beneath hospitals. hamas denies that and says the claims are baseless but the idf, israeli defence force, saying they are only targeting known terror cells. let's get a sense of the situation on the ground inside gaza. we can speak live to my bbc colleague rushdi abualouf. tell us what you witnessed overnight and this morning where you are. idem; this morning where you are. very intense air— this morning where you are. very intense air strikes. _ this morning where you are. very intense air strikes. the _ this morning where you are. very intense air strikes. the people in gaza _ intense air strikes. the people in gaza say— intense air strikes. the people in gaza say they may have been the biggest _ gaza say they may have been the biggest since the start of this war, about_ biggest since the start of this war, about 450 — biggest since the start of this war, about 450 targets were hit across the gaza — about 450 targets were hit across the gaza strip are the main focus of the gaza strip are the main focus of the strikes — the gaza strip are the main focus of the strikes were north—west and south—west of gaza, with the israeiis — south—west of gaza, with the israelis expanding the ground operation and now they say they are in control— operation and now they say they are in control of— operation and now they say they are in control of the coastal road, isolating _ in control of the coastal road, isolating gaza completely. the air strikes. _ isolating gaza completely. the air strikes, according to the director of ai-shifa — strikes, according to the director of al—shifa hospital who i managed to speak— of al—shifa hospital who i managed to speak to this morning after the communication were resumed, said around _ communication were resumed, said around 200 — communication were resumed, said around 200 people were killed in the strikes _ around 200 people were killed in the strikes overnight and they were transported by people, they said people _ transported by people, they said people were carrying the dead bodies on their— people were carrying the dead bodies on their cart by donkeys and in their— on their cart by donkeys and in their own _ on their cart by donkeys and in their own cars because the communications were cut and people couidh't_ communications were cut and people couldn't communicate with the ambulance services and the hospital was overwhelmed by the number of bodies _ was overwhelmed by the number of bodies and — was overwhelmed by the number of bodies and injuries. he expects the number— bodies and injuries. he expects the number to— bodies and injuries. he expects the number to go bodies and injuries. he expects the numberto go up bodies and injuries. he expects the number to go up again and he said there— number to go up again and he said there is— number to go up again and he said there is over10,000 number to go up again and he said there is over 10,000 people have been _ there is over 10,000 people have been killed. the strikes were not only in_ been killed. the strikes were not only in gaza city with the focus of the israeii — only in gaza city with the focus of the israeli operation but a safe area _ the israeli operation but a safe area where israel asked 1.2 million people _ area where israel asked 1.2 million people to — area where israel asked 1.2 million people to come in, and we have about 67 people _ people to come in, and we have about 67 people who were killed overnight in three _ 67 people who were killed overnight in three air— 67 people who were killed overnight in three air strikes in the middle. it in three air strikes in the middle. it was _ in three air strikes in the middle. it was a — in three air strikes in the middle. it was a very— in three air strikes in the middle. it was a very tough night with the communication suspended, mobile phones _ communication suspended, mobile phones were off and the internet in the entire _ phones were off and the internet in the entire gaza strip. this morning communications were resumed but getting _ communications were resumed but getting information is still very hard _ getting information is still very hard from the gaza city, verifying some _ hard from the gaza city, verifying some of— hard from the gaza city, verifying some of the information is very hard, _ some of the information is very hard, getting witnesses from the area is— hard, getting witnesses from the area is very hard, so we are struggling _ area is very hard, so we are struggling as journalists to get any sort of— struggling as journalists to get any sort of information concerning the ai-shifa _ sort of information concerning the al—shifa hospital. the director of the hospital this morning said they had called the un to send a delegation in to check the hospitals because _ delegation in to check the hospitals because he said israel is lying about— because he said israel is lying about having a hamas infrastructure in the _ about having a hamas infrastructure in the hospital and they said our hospitals — in the hospital and they said our hospitals are open for the un and an international body want to investigate. he said this is the hamas— investigate. he said this is the hamas run director of the hospitals in gaza _ hamas run director of the hospitals in gaza who — hamas run director of the hospitals in gaza who were speaking this morning — in gaza who were speaking this morning tojournalists in gaza who were speaking this morning to journalists here in gaza who were speaking this morning tojournalists here in kahn yourris— morning tojournalists here in kahn younis in_ morning tojournalists here in kahn younis in the mass hospital. canl younis in the mass hospital. can i ask about the _ younis in the mass hospital. can i ask about the movement - younis in the mass hospital. can i ask about the movement south? you talked about how parts of the safe area, or largely safe area but is welcome had also seen air strikes. that road south, salah al—din road, going from northern gaza to southern gaza, is supposed to be open again today. do you get any sense that civilians are moving, or do they feel too unsafe to take that road? people did manage to go but down on foot but— people did manage to go but down on foot but you know the distance is about _ foot but you know the distance is about seven or eight kilometres because — about seven or eight kilometres because the road itself is damaged. my colleague here in the hospital is still in _ my colleague here in the hospital is still in the — my colleague here in the hospital is still in the north injabaliya. i talked — still in the north injabaliya. i talked to— still in the north injabaliya. i talked to his family yesterday and he said _ talked to his family yesterday and he said they decided to leave and they took— he said they decided to leave and they took their cars and drove about five kilometres from the north into the middle of gaza city and he said the middle of gaza city and he said the road _ the middle of gaza city and he said the road was completely blocked. the only way— the road was completely blocked. the only way out of this is to walk. and imagine _ only way out of this is to walk. and imagine for— only way out of this is to walk. and imagine for people who are exhausted by a month— imagine for people who are exhausted by a month of no clean water or proper— by a month of no clean water or proper food, they had to walk about six or— proper food, they had to walk about six or seven — proper food, they had to walk about six or seven kilometres to cross this line — six or seven kilometres to cross this line which is where israel said is the _ this line which is where israel said is the line — this line which is where israel said is the line between the safe area and the — is the line between the safe area and the operation area. so they decided — and the operation area. so they decided to move back because they said my— decided to move back because they said my mum is old, she can't walk five kilometres along this road. many— five kilometres along this road. many people without access to cars or any— many people without access to cars or any transportation to get the people — or any transportation to get the people out. for now, what we understand is that very few people who are _ understand is that very few people who are fit — understand is that very few people who are fit enough to work, they managed — who are fit enough to work, they managed to walk but they are talking about— managed to walk but they are talking about a _ managed to walk but they are talking about a few hundreds. still according to the un there are 400,000 people, remaining in gaza city and _ 400,000 people, remaining in gaza city and the — 400,000 people, remaining in gaza city and the hammers authority here saying _ city and the hammers authority here saying 700,000 people still remain in the _ saying 700,000 people still remain in the area — saying 700,000 people still remain in the area. the un said it is a huge— in the area. the un said it is a huge numberof in the area. the un said it is a huge number of people. even the few trucks _ huge number of people. even the few trucks that— huge number of people. even the few trucks that come from egypt when the road was _ trucks that come from egypt when the road was open, when the humanitarian corridor— road was open, when the humanitarian corridor was _ road was open, when the humanitarian corridor was open about four days ago. _ corridor was open about four days ago. none — corridor was open about four days ago, none of these trucks or aid or medical— ago, none of these trucks or aid or medical were allowed to the northern part of— medical were allowed to the northern part of gaza. so the people who are in the _ part of gaza. so the people who are in the northern part are most affected _ in the northern part are most affected than the people in the south — affected than the people in the south. israel is still carrying out attacks— south. israel is still carrying out attacks in— south. israel is still carrying out attacks in the south because it is targeting — attacks in the south because it is targeting hamas infrastructure or hamas— targeting hamas infrastructure or hamas people. but in the south by far it _ hamas people. but in the south by far it is _ hamas people. but in the south by far it is safer, less air strikes and — far it is safer, less air strikes and less— far it is safer, less air strikes and less people are dying. but still everybody — and less people are dying. but still everybody you ask here in gaza or in the middle _ everybody you ask here in gaza or in the middle or in rafah they say no place _ the middle or in rafah they say no place in _ the middle or in rafah they say no place in say. the middle or in rafah they say no place in say-— place in say. thank you, rushdi abualouf. _ place in say. thank you, rushdi abualouf, stay _ place in say. thank you, rushdi abualouf, stay safe _ place in say. thank you, rushdi abualouf, stay safe and - place in say. thank you, rushdi abualouf, stay safe and our- place in say. thank you, rushdi| abualouf, stay safe and our best place in say. thank you, rushdi - abualouf, stay safe and our best to you and your family. that's the situation inside gaza. but there is another area of concern, that the increasing military activity and cross—border fire increasing military activity and cross—borderfire in increasing military activity and cross—border fire in northern increasing military activity and cross—borderfire in northern israel into lebanon and back again. 0vernight there was an israeli strike on a car in lebanon that the lebanese media say killed three miners and their grandmother travelling in a car. israel says that was a terror suspect vehicle and it took place after lebanese grad rockets were fired into northern israel. 0ur correspondent hugo bachega is in southern lebanon. hugo, what's the latest on that cross—border fire? hugo, what's the latest on that cross- border fire ?_ hugo, what's the latest on that cross- border fire? cross-border fire? yes, this shows how tense — cross-border fire? yes, this shows how tense the _ cross-border fire? yes, this shows how tense the situation _ cross-border fire? yes, this shows how tense the situation is - cross-border fire? yes, this shows how tense the situation is along i cross-border fire? yes, this shows | how tense the situation is along the lebanon—israel border. last night the lebanese authorities said four civilians _ the lebanese authorities said four civilians were killed including three — civilians were killed including three children. i think this is the worst— three children. i think this is the worst attack so far in terms of civilian — worst attack so far in terms of civilian casualties since this all started. — civilian casualties since this all started, and the israelis are saying that they— started, and the israelis are saying that they targeted a car that was suspected of transporting terrorists, and that they were looking — terrorists, and that they were looking into reports that civilians were _ looking into reports that civilians were killed. but there has been strong — were killed. but there has been strong reaction here in lebanon following — strong reaction here in lebanon following this attack. the caretaker prime _ following this attack. the caretaker prime minister here has described it as a crime — prime minister here has described it as a crime. pictures of the destroyed car have been widely shared — destroyed car have been widely shared here on social media and also on lebanese — shared here on social media and also on lebanese television. a hezbollah politician _ on lebanese television. a hezbollah politician has said israel would pay the price — politician has said israel would pay the price. sol politician has said israel would pay the price. so i think this is perhaps— the price. so i think this is perhaps raising fears that violence here could — perhaps raising fears that violence here could escalate because this happens — here could escalate because this happensjust days after here could escalate because this happens just days after the hezbollah leader hassan nasrallah .ave hezbollah leader hassan nasrallah gave his _ hezbollah lead