on concrete floors. 80% of the population are displaced, almosti million are children and they are being pushed further and further south into areas that are overcrowded and without any of the basics that need to survive. humanitarian aid at the moment is the only lifeline for people and we are simply not able to get the access that we need to get through. for the past four, five, six these aid agencies such as unicef only been able to access rafah and it is only limited aid and if we cannot get through soon people are going to really struggle because there is not enough water, food, shelter. on saturday — a group of men and boys taken by israeli forces and claiming to have been tortured — were released. with more on that — and the aid situation in gaza — here's a report from lucy williamson, injerusalem. just a warning that it contains distressing images — from the start. buried by the war, but still alive, dug from the rubble of their homes in deir al—balah after an israeli strike this morning. more than 20 members of the salman family and their neighbours. their faces, like their lives, made unrecognisable. six others were killed, they say. the frantic race to hospitals is gaza's new daily routine. health care in the north has collapsed. here, further south, doctors say the situation is catastrophic. there aren't the resources to treat all the wounded, much less to comfort them. this boy praying quietly to himself. the girl beside him calling for her mother. gunfire in the north of gaza israeli forces say they're targeting palestinian fighters injabalia camp. one of those inside a un shelter there told the bbc they were encircled and had now been without food or water for five days. israel is under growing international pressure to israel is under growing international pressure to spare at the gazan civilians. translation: at the gazan civilians. tuna/mom- at the gazan civilians. translation: , , ., translation: they understand it is ossible translation: they understand it is possible to _ translation: they understand it is possible to support _ translation: they understand it is possible to support the - is possible to support the elimination of hamas and on the other hand calls for the and for a war which will prevent the elimination of hamas. today a group of men and boys taken by israeli forces five days ago were released claiming they were tortured. among them, this man, held separately from his dad. translation: they made us sleep naked and kept - hitting us with their guns. they hit me when i asked where my father was. they hit us with wires. we've asked the israeli army for a response. israel's ground campaign is now focused on khan younis. gaza's southern capital. fighting, it says, house to house and tunnel to tunnel. israel's aim of destroying hamas infrastructure here is also destroying lives. the city's nasser hospital reported more than 60 dead this morning, around 100 injured. others are said to still be trapped under the rubble of an attack four days ago. translation: we beg the world. what you waiting for? are you waiting for us to die here in gaza? don't worry. we are going to die here. today, we buried six relatives. tomorrow, and in the days to come, we fear we will allahu akbar. funerals here have shifted from the mosque to the morgue. faith in hospitals and their power to protect still something to cling to even when the chance to save a life has gone. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. meanwhile the us continues to face fierce criticism for veteoing a measure calling for a ceasefire in gaza friday. international rights groups have widely condemned the us�*s move. it was the only country to veto, while 13 countries voted in favour of it and the uk abstained. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu praised the us�* decision. for more on the situation in gaza and the latest in the war, i spoke with our diplomatic correspondent, paul adams. good to see you once again, paul. today we have a fresh warning from un that half of all people in the gaza strip are starving — a serious warning there from un what more can you tell us about that ever worsening humanitarian situation inside the strip? it is hard for us to verify that particular claim, you are right, it is an extraordinarily drastic claim indeed coming from un. it's in keeping with other comments we are hearing with increasing urgency, save the children put out a statement today saying they have identified more than 7,000 children under the age of five whose malnutrition is so acute now that they require urgent medical treatment to avoid dying. we have heard desperate accounts of the lack of sanitation in these encampments of tents and other makeshift shelters that are springing up all across the far southern reaches of the gaza strip. with so many people hemmed into these small areas, lacking basic supplies, lacking sanitation, realfears about the spread of disease. it is no longer warm. winter is arriving. it is getting cold at night. so with every passing day and in every passing way, the situation seems to be getting worse and worse. of course, we know that america vetoed the un security council resolution calling for a cease—fire, i wonder in light of that news, what has been the reaction in the region? obviously, dismay among arab countries and relief from here in israel. this was not a surprise. there would have been very surprising if the united states had supported a cease—fire resolution at this point. because the us, like israel does not believe that the job of defeating hamas has yet been achieved and to the united states, like israel, once to make sure that it does happen. so it was never likely that they were going to do anything other than veto the cease—fire resolution. certainly, that has not stopped arab leaders and arab ministers, many of whom are friends of the united states, some who have relations some who have relations with israel, saying that this was simply not good enough. it was a missed opportunity for the united states to use its undoubted leverage over the israel to stop what thay and many people in the regard in the region as a catastrophe that is beyond explanation and beyond justification. i want to ask with regards to the defeat of hamas, do we know how long that, potentially, could take? do we know what israel's endgame is here? the stated endgame is the defeat of hamas, and making sure hamas never rules the gaza strip again. it is clear from what we are seeing both in the north and in the south that there are still intense battles going on. hamas and other palestinian factions continue to put up stiff resistance in certain areas, inflicting some casualties on israeli forces. each day brings news of two or three more israeli soldiers killed. i don't think the end result of this is in any doubt. israel has overwhelming force on its side and it will prevail, but the question is how long that takes, and how much suffering will be inflicted on the civilian population in the meantime? what the israelis are trying to do at the moment is give the impression they are gradually breaking up hamas as a fighting force. we have seen images released, not actually officially, but by israeli soldiers and they have leaked onto social media accounts showing what appear to be hamas fighters, or at least fighting age men again dressed in underpants giving themselves up. we saw one video of a man coming forward following instructions being delivered over a megaphone carrying an automatic weapon, putting it on the ground, and retreating. those images are starting to flood social media. whether that is the strategy of the israeli military or something soldiers are doing off their own volition we don't know but clearly the impression intended here is one of showing hamas slowly being defeated. here in washington, the state department has approved the potential sale of tank shells to israel. the deal would send about 14,000 tank rounds for immediate delivery. the biden administration used an emergency authorisation to push the sale through without the congressional review that's normally required. for more on this, i spoke with our north america correspondent shingai nyoka. shingai, we understand that the state department is pushing through this sale — usually there is a review process when it comes to sale to a foreign oountry. what more do we know about this? according to a state department statement, they notified congress last night of their intention to move ahead with this arms sale. it includes 13,000 rounds of tank ammunition, but also logistical and support services to israel. they say this equipment will be taken from the us army inventory. as you have mentioned, this is a very rare move, but it's not unprecedented. in his statement, the secretary of state antony blinken also justified the reasons why he was waiving this move of going through congress. he says that this is an emergency and in the interest of the united states, but also that israel needs to defend itself. this obviously comes against the background of frustration within the biden administration. there is a request, an emergency request, that has been sitting in congress since october. and that has essentially stalled because republicans want a certain concessions before they can approve it. president biden has, in the last week or so, said that the republicans are playing chicken with issues of national security, but that really is theirjustification on why they are going ahead with this. it is because they believe that it is an emergency and israel needs these arms. it also happens a day after the us vetoed the un resolution to order a cease—fire in gaza. so it is coming at a very incredible time at this moment. mark cancian, senior adviser at the think tank the centre for strategic and international studies joins me now from arlington, virginia. welcome and thank you mark, as we know the us has vetoed a resolution calling for a ceasefire. but the us deputy ambassador to the un robert wood cut a lonely figure as he raised his hand to do so — with the uk abstaining. what kind of pressure do you think that puts the us under, diplomatically speaking? there is no question _ diplomatically speaking? there is no question that _ diplomatically speaking? there is no question that pressure i is no question that pressure has been building on the united states on many directions on lots of concerns with the humanitarian situation in gaza. on the other hand, the united states is very reluctant to have a cease—fire without negotiations, release of hostages. they are worried that a cease—fire now would in effect to be a hamas victory, they could claim that they were able to claim a lot of israelis and still maintain a fighting force. so on that thinking the united states is not quite ready to ask for a cease—fire. on the other hand they have indicated clearly to the israelis how concerned they are about civilian casualties. i want to pick up on that point because the accusation from the united nations and other aid agencies right now is that washington ends up having blood on its hands. hearing that, i just wonder, how do you think washington is navigating that and what kinds of conversations do you think us officials will be having with israeli officials behind closed doors? there is a lot of concern about the level of civilian casualties and we have seen that in the public. blinking has been clear with the israelis that he wants them to have them to exert every effort to minimise civilian casualties. unfortunately the question with blood on their hands, to live in the real world. that is, if you have a cease—fire now, hamas will attack. they are dedicated to destroying israel and killing dues and they will go back at it again. so we trade blood now and later, the united states would at least yield a blow to the hamas so that israel can be ready for. d0 the hamas so that israel can be ready for-— ready for. do you think there is another — ready for. do you think there is another way _ ready for. do you think there is another way of _ ready for. do you think there is another way of doing - ready for. do you think there is another way of doing that, perhaps a more targeted operation? perhaps a more targeted operation?— perhaps a more targeted operation? perhaps a more targeted oeration? �*, ., ., ., operation? it's hard to say at this point. — operation? it's hard to say at this point, the _ operation? it's hard to say at this point, the israelis - operation? it's hard to say at this point, the israelis of- this point, the israelis of course launched ground operations which are very destructive of civilian infrastructure, it is possible that they could just do this by air, on the other hand, air attacks have been very destructive also. and it would go on for a lot longer. unfortunately there is just no easy way out. i think what will happen is that israelis will have a couple of weeks before for the pressure gets such that the united states will demand that they demand their operations. i don't think there will be able to take over the whole gaza strip at that may give them enough time to do youra give them enough time to do your a severe blow to hamas. i want to touch on the situation with regards to hostages because israel has said that it must continue those air strikes on gaza to eliminate hamas and also bring the sausages home. the israel defense forces spokesperson told the bbc on saturday, any death paid with a civilian is paid for but we don't have any alternative. taking a look at the state of the conflict right now, do you see any prospect of the progress on the question of getting more hostages out live? at this point i do not think so. there was an opportunity last week when there was a truce and i think both sides in particular hamas is reluctant to give a more hostages. this is their ace. this is the thing that they know israelis really want and would pay a high price to get hostages back so they will hold onto those hostages to get the best deal. i will hold onto those hostages to get the best deal.- will hold onto those hostages to get the best deal. i want to come back _ to get the best deal. i want to come back to _ to get the best deal. i want to come back to what _ to get the best deal. i want to come back to what you - to get the best deal. i want to i come back to what you just said with regards if washington was to pull its full backing or support for israel in some way, where do you think that would leave netanyahu. he is leave neta nyahu. he is co nsta ntly leave netanyahu. he is co nsta ntly stated leave netanyahu. he is constantly stated that his aim is to crush hamas, to remove it as well, from government leadership so both militarily and in terms of leadership positions. if that is not possible, where can he draw a line in the sand and say, that is seen as enough right now? 1973 united states put on israel to stop its operations, israel to stop its operations, israel wanted to finish the work, destroy the egyptian army in the unites is prevented them from doing so. i can imagine something similar happening here. on the other hand the israelis, once they take khan younis, and destroy the infrastructure there, and may be hamas leadership, what the clear the north, they may be enough for them to say that they have dealt such a blow to hamas, they will be many years before he can come back. therefore they have accomplished its goals. talking about khan _ accomplished its goals. talking about khan younis _ accomplished its goals. talking about khan younis of _ accomplished its goals. talking about khan younis of course i about khan younis of course that city and the software many in the north have been told to move to for safety. operations continue across the gaza strip right now. eat agencies have been saying that there is no receipt for civilians. —— nowhere safe. have we seen a situation like this where warfare is being carried out and yet there does not appear to be or very limited prospects of safe harbour for civilians caught up in this. unfortunately this happens a lot with the war and civilians. over the years we have seen many places where fighting has occurred around cities where civilians have been caught. look at chechnya were russians attacked there, look at black mood in ukraine or mariupol. the tragic thing about where is that civilians also —— often get caught in it. mark cancian, senior adviser at the think tank the centre for strategic and international studies. well the ongoing conflict in the middle east in the middle east is also playing out on university campuses... and the president of the university of pennsylvania has resigned — four days after her testimony at a congressional hearing sparked an anti—semitism i’ow. during her testimony, elizabeth magill seemed to evade the question of whether students who called for the genocide of dues should be disciplined. pressure had been mounting for her to stand down... for her to stand down from jewish students, alumni and donors, who claimed that she was not taking concerns about anti—semitism on campus seriously. even the white house weighed in. she later sought to clarify her comments and apologised. but on saturday, she resigned... saying, it has been my privilege to serve as president of this remarkable institution. ms magill is the first president of a major university to leave office as part of the fallout from the protests that have engulfed campuses since october seven. with students deeply divided over the war, university presidents have tried to balance pro—palestinian protesters' right to free speech with concerns that some of their language has been anti—semitic. the highest court in the us state of texas has temporarily blocked a woman with a high—risk pregnancy — from obtaining an emergency abortion. the texas supreme court on friday halted a lower court ruling from earlier this week — that would have allowed the abortion for 31—year—old kate cox. her foetus was diagnosed with a fatal abnormality, and doctors told her — continuing with the pregnancy posed a risk to her health and, potentially, her ability to carry another child. the case has drawn national attention — with the latest ruling drawing criticism from top democratic leaders on saturday. it's considered one of the biggest test cases since the us supreme court overturned the nationwide constitutional right to abortion last year. let's turn to some important news around the world. the presidents of venezuela and guyana have agreed to meet on thursday to discuss how to ease tension over a worsening border dispute. venezeula's president nicolas maduro and guyana's president ifraan ali have also requested the presence of their brazilian counterpart, luiz inacio lula da silva, since brazil has good relations with both countries. it comes after venezuela held a referendum claiming the oil rich region of essequibo as its own, which guyana disputes. there's been a backlash from some countries at the un climate summit in dubai, after a letter was leaked from the oil cartel opec urging its members to block any deal targeting fossil fuels. france's energy minister says she's "stunned" — while spain's ecology minister called the move �*disgusting'. countries at the summit have been clashing over a possible agreement to phase out fossil fuels — which means that a first—ever commitment to end the use of oil and gas in 30 years — is now injeopardy. the family of this year's nobel peace prize winner, narges mohammadi, says she will go hunger strike from her iranian prison cell on the day of the award ceremony in oslo. at a press conference in oslo, her children — twins ali and kiana rahmani — expressed their pride in their mother for speaking out against the regime's treatment of women and promoting