"and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals." israeli authorities have denied the who's claim. the israel defense forces are now telling civilians to leave areas around khan younis, a city israel told civilians to flee to for safety earlier in the conflict. our diplomatic editor paul adams has more on the latest on the ground. so israeli ground forces, including tanks, other armoured vehicles and bulldozers, have been operating close to the city of khan younis in the southern gaza strip, the largest city in the southern gaza strip for the last couple of days. and it seems likely that an assault on the city may be coming fairly soon. we are hearing that there are very, very heavy air strikes in parts of khan younis. some of those parts are areas that the israelis have told palestinians to evacuate. there is a very real fear voiced by the un that we may see large numbers of palestinians on the move once again, some of them for their second, third, fourth, fifth time. last week when the us secretary of state antony blinken was here, one of the things he asked the israelis to make sure they didn't do was displace large numbers of civilians once again as they did from gaza city. international pressure is building. the un chief says he is "extremely alarmed" by fighting resuming in gaza, and there is "nowhere safe to go." the us government says it is too early to tell whether what israel is doing enough to protect civilians. for more, on israel's strategy and international pressure, i spoke with mark schwartz, a former us security coordinator for israel and the palestinian authority. i want to start with what the state department said today about the conflict. it has seen an improvement by israel in narrowing targets in gaza. do you agree?— you agree? from what i have seen reported, _ you agree? from what i have seen reported, certainly- you agree? from what i have seen reported, certainly the l seen reported, certainly the release of this evacuation zone grid that was discussed earlier in the idf has said that they are implementing, that is certainly one step in the right direction, provides safe areas for the palestinians, but as you stated earlier, very difficult to do when you've got in excess of 350,000 to 400,000 palestinian civilians around khan younis where the next major offensive is going to take place. so i believe that the idf are taking steps, is very challenging just given the population density. the other note i think is the fact that there is still humanitarian assistance coming in, not to the degree that was in the pause, but i understand also that within the war council today in israel with the israeli government, they were talking about increasing the amount of humanitarian aid coming into gaza is the offensive continues. figs coming into gaza is the offensive continues. as you 'ust offensive continues. as you just said. — offensive continues. as you just said, the _ offensive continues. as you just said, the south, - offensive continues. as you just said, the south, as - offensive continues. as you just said, the south, as we | just said, the south, as we have been mentioning, is a part of gaza where civilians have been cleaning too. the idf now says all of gaza is part of the operation. what should the usb doing, the department, president biden, the white house be doing about the concerns for these to civilians? i concerns for these to civilians?— concerns for these to civilians? i believe the administration - civilians? i believe the administration have i civilians? i believe the i administration have been civilians? i believe the - administration have been very strong, the secretary of defence was very strong in his remarks over the weekend about the importance of not sacrificing strategic success through the targeting like they did during the first phase of the ground offensive. so i believe that that dialogue and the continued pressure by the united states and the community will continue. i have noticed the idf are publishing a lot more precision strikes that they have conducted since the real initiation of offensive operations to demonstrate that they are going after terrorist, hamas terrorist fighters and weapons, etc.— hamas terrorist fighters and weapons, etc. regardless, we have heard — weapons, etc. regardless, we have heard from _ weapons, etc. regardless, we have heard from the _ weapons, etc. regardless, we have heard from the one - weapons, etc. regardless, we have heard from the one run l have heard from the one run health ministry that more than 15,000 palestinians have been killed in the fighting so far. there is no time limit, no end to get to this conflict. we have the white house says they have the white house says they have talked to israel about the length of the operation in gaza. should the us be pushing israelis on a plan when this operation ends and what that would apply? i operation ends and what that would apply?— operation ends and what that would apply? i think putting a time limit _ would apply? i think putting a time limit on _ would apply? i think putting a time limit on it, _ would apply? i think putting a time limit on it, i— would apply? i think putting a time limit on it, i would - would apply? i think putting a time limit on it, i would not i time limit on it, i would not advise to do that. this is event driven. the event is the elimination of either killing or capturing hamas military capability and terrorist capability and terrorist capability really inside of the gaza strip, that will take several more weeks, if not months to accomplish. even when the majority of the fighting is complete, there is still going to be hamas terrorists that are moving around gaza because they are so ingrained in the population... it are so ingrained in the population. . .- are so ingrained in the population... if that is the case, terrorists _ population... if that is the case, terrorists still - population... if that is the l case, terrorists still moving around gaza, what would a victory look like for israel? i think from a tactical and operational sense to where they have reported, the idf, they have reported, the idf, they have killed or captured the majority, if not all of the hamas leadership, the battalion commanders you have been hearing about in the news lately all the way up to the leader, the military leader inside of the gaza strip. and then, again, providing security so that, ideally, the palestinians that have been forced out of the north to do this conflict and move back north, obviously with the amount of infrastructure that has been destroyed, it will be extremely challenging, but what is still going to have to take place is identifying, training a viable security force that can replace hamas, and that will take years, not weeks or months. inside gaza, communication services and internet are down, and the humanitarian situation is worsening. the gaza—run health ministry says about more than 15,000 people have been killed in israel's retaliatory campaign, and that includes about 6,000 children. bbc arabic�*s dalia haidar and freelance journalist mohammed al—kahlout have been following the story of omar lubbad and his five siblings who lost their parents in shelling in southern gaza after fleeing their home in gaza city. a warning that you may find this report distressing. a strong bond between father and child. soon broken by the horrors of war. 13—year—old 0mar says his final goodbyes to his mum and dad. they were killed in an air strike in southern gaza. translation: , , , ., translation: this is my father. he was martyred _ translation: this is my father. he was martyred here _ translation: this is my father. he was martyred here under- translation: this is my father. he was martyred here under the| he was martyred here under the rock. my mum was next to him in my little sister was in between, but she is ok. when they bombed our house, i felt lonely and without a family. 0mar and his five siblings are now orphans. their uncle who has been displaced with his family is now the only caretaker. translation: ., , ., , ., translation: now my family got bi cer. translation: now my family got bigger- these _ translation: now my family got bigger. these children _ translation: now my family got bigger. these children need - translation: now my family got bigger. these children need to - bigger. these children need to live with me. it is challenging with the expenses, medicine and education. they are all little. the youngest is one—year—old. the youngest is one—year—old. the eldest is 16. the youngest is one-year-old. the eldest is 16.— the eldest is 16. omar and his siblinus the eldest is 16. omar and his siblings are — the eldest is 16. omar and his siblings are just _ the eldest is 16. omar and his siblings are just some - the eldest is 16. omar and his siblings are just some of - the eldest is 16. omar and his siblings are just some of the l siblings are just some of the children orphaned by war in gaza. doctors here say they are seeing a rise in numbers, but unicef says it is very difficult to count and organise care for them. translation: care forthem. translation: g ., careforthem. translation: g ., , ., translation: my dad used to take us out _ translation: my dad used to take us out and _ translation: my dad used to take us out and show- translation: my dad used to take us out and show us - translation: my dad used to | take us out and show us around. my take us out and show us around. my mum used to do embroidery. she was an artist and we were very happy together. i wish they were still alive and that we could be one family again, but it is over. we fell apart. new details are coming to light about the way sexual violence was allegedly used by the hamas in the october seven attacks. israel's ambassador spoke to the us about the united nations in new york. 0n the seventh of october, hamas perpetrated rape and sexual violence, exploiting these unforgivable crimes as weapons of war. these were not merely sick, spare of the moment decisions to defile and mutilate israeli women and girls, to parade their naked bodies in the street while onlookers cheered. this was premeditated. this was planned. this was instructed. separately, an israeli women's rights campaigner and lawyer told the bbc that, based on evidence she has seen, hamas had a premeditated plan to use sexual violence as a weapon of war during its october 7 attack. i spoke with the bbc�*s nada tawfik about this. can you tell us what the evidence was that was presented about these allegations of sexual violence? i about these allegations of sexual violence ?_ about these allegations of sexual violence? i think it is important — sexual violence? i think it is important to _ sexual violence? i think it is important to remember- sexual violence? i think it is| important to remember that israeli police say they have so far gathered more than 1500 testimonies from witnesses and medics, and we heard a few of those at the un today. the police representative, the chief superintendent spoke about women being found with our clothes, raped, mutilated bodies, and she played previously released recorded testimonies that were given to police investigators. 0ne police investigators. one person who was described as a rescuer who helped evacuate bodies said they found bodies with their hands cuffed behind their backs, a woman's corpse bleeding from the genital area, a paramedic who gave first aid so they saw a lot of gun wounds, shootings targeted at sexual organs of both men and women and amputations, and a survivor of rape said she saw a woman gang raped. so some testimonies there from investigators. now, it is important to note that hamas has rejected those accusations today as well, saying that they were unfounded lies, they were allegations to demonise the palestinian resistance, and a un commission of enquiry says they will investigate more crimes on both sides, specifically focus on sexual violence. specifically focus on sexual violence-— specifically focus on sexual violence. ., . , ., , violence. horrific testimony. very briefly. _ violence. horrific testimony. very briefly, what _ violence. horrific testimony. very briefly, what is - violence. horrific testimony. very briefly, what is the - violence. horrific testimony. very briefly, what is the us| very briefly, what is the us saying about this? the very briefly, what is the us saying about this?- very briefly, what is the us saying about this? the us says that they have _ saying about this? the us says that they have been _ saying about this? the us says that they have been briefed - that they have been briefed extensively on a number of theirfindings, but extensively on a number of their findings, but that they don't have their own independent assessments to make right now because they don't have people on the ground obviously conducting those assessments. they haven't used the was rape or sexual violence when talking about the atrocities of hamas. at the united states as i have no doubt to do that have no reason to doubt the reports of sexual violence and there is very little they would put beyond hamas when it comes to the mistreatment of civilians. fiur mistreatment of civilians. our re orter mistreatment of civilians. our reporter in — mistreatment of civilians. our reporter in new _ mistreatment of civilians. 0ur reporter in new york there for us. thank you so much. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at another story making news. the uk government has announced plans to slash net migration. it's increasing the minimum salary needed to receive a uk work visa to £38,700 a year. there will be tougher restrictions on dependents too. the home secretary james cleverly set out the 5—point plan. visas were granted to defenders or sponsors students in the year september 2023. today i can announce that we will go even further than those provisions already in place with a 5—point plan to further curb immigration abuses and that will deliver the biggest ever reduction in net migration. in total, this package, plus our reduction in student dependence will mean around 300,000 fewer people will come in future years that have come to the uk. official figures show net migration soared to a record 745,000 in 2022 and the government had been under growing pressure. you're watching bbc news. a former us ambassador to bolivia has been charged with spying for cuba for 40 years. manuel rocha held several high—ranking diplomatic posts and served on the us national security council in the 1990s. he's accused of helping cuba gather intelligence against the us since 1981. he was the us ambassador to bolivia from 1999 to 2002, but court documents unsealed monday allege mr rocha made several trips to cuba, where he helped advance interests of cuban officials. the us department ofjustice says the former diplomat was arrested last friday in miami after an undercover sting operation that lasted more than a year. here's attorney general merrick garland earlier. those who have the privilege of serving in the government of the united states are given an enormous amount of trust by the public we serve. to betray that trust, by falsely pledging loyalty to the united states while serving a foreign power is a crime that will be met with a full force of the department. joining me live to discuss from mexico city is will grant, our cuba correspondent. very good to see you. this really is a remarkable story. what do you make of it? i really is a remarkable story. what do you make of it? i think is absolutely — what do you make of it? i think is absolutely extraordinary. - is absolutely extraordinary. the very fact that the attorney general used this phrase that he thought it was "0ne general used this phrase that he thought it was "one of the highest rating and longest lasting infiltration of the us government by a foreign agent" does a great deal. in some of the details on that indictment are absolutely extraordinary. the idea that the former ambassador, the former us ambassador to bolivia, a man who reads that kind of level in the state department was, all the state department was, all the time, thought of working with the cuban government, if these allegations turn out to be true, is obviously extremely damning. in the details that suggests he was having regular contact with his handlers in cuba from the 1980s, including the time he was in cuba. he spoke to this undercover agent and is alleged to have said that the us was the enemy, that the cuban revolution, he referred to as "we". and although we aren't aware exactly of the details of what he is opposed to a bus to the cuban government it does have echoes of the anna montes case, just at the turn of the 21st century, she was known as the queen of cuba, she worked the daa, she was an extremely important piece of the sort of spy important piece of the sort of spy was between the two countries and spent 26 years in prison. it seems that he perhaps, well, we don't know exactly what has passed, but certainly this is an extremely high ranking official to be accused of such a crime. but liven accused of such a crime. but given the — accused of such a crime. but given the fact _ accused of such a crime. but given the fact he _ accused of such a crime. but given the fact he is - accused of such a crime. but given the fact he is not an acting diplomat anymore, how damaging do you think this will be for us ties with cuba? yes. be for us ties with cuba? yes, think it is _ be for us ties with cuba? yes, think it is important _ be for us ties with cuba? yes, think it is important that - be for us ties with cuba? yes, think it is important that he i think it is important that he wasn't of an service right now, andy biggs the question why on earth a retired diplomat would even be investigated by the fbi at this stage, think it is because of that language being used by the attorney general, that this was such an important figure in terms of his career and in terms of the years, the decades that passed while he was allegedly working for the cuban government. i don't know then necessarily has too much of an impact on the relationship at the moment, simply because things are so negative already. they can't get that much worse. it's always interesting moments like this, takes a while i think before cuba ever recognises there was a spy or there was any relationship and i don't think it will be until there is a conclusion in the case in miami before there is any word from the government in nevada on this whole situation. aha, on this whole situation. a guess that would be my next question. do you expect cuba to respond at all to these allegations?— respond at all to these allegations? respond at all to these alleaations? , ., �* ~ allegations? yes, i don't think that is particularly _ allegations? yes, i don't think that is particularly likely. i i that is particularly likely. i think what we're going to see, if it is anything there will be sort of a silence, maybe there will be a denial, think what we will be a denial, think what we will see really will be taking place in miami. 0f will see really will be taking place in miami. of course that's where the cuban—american and the that�*s where the cuban—american and the anti— that's where the cuban—american and the anti— castro population is. one wonders what the make up is. one wonders what the make up of thejury is. one wonders what the make up of the jury will be. we don't really... up of the jury will be. we don't really. . ._ up of the jury will be. we don't really... all right, it looks like _ don't really. .. all right, it looks like our— don't really... all right, it looks like our line i don't really... all right, it looks like our line has i don't really... all right, it i looks lik