there are reports of house—to—house fighting in the city. as the israeli bombardment of gaza continues, the united nations says half the population of the territory are starving and nine out of ten can t eat every day. it comes as the world health organization holds a special session on the health situation in the occupied palestinian territories — we will hear from our correspondent on that later this hour. but first, our middle east correspondent yolande knell has the latest. the misery of life under canvas. four in five gazans have now fled their homes and away from the front lines, they're still fighting to survive, with severe shortages of food and drinking water. aid agencies say that they're struggling to deliver the basics even close to the egypt border where supplies come in. humanitarian aid at the moment is the only lifeline for people, and we're simply not able to get the access that we need to get through. for the past four or five, six days, aid agencies such as unicef have only been able to access the rafah governorate, and even then it's been with very limited aid. and if we can't get through soon, people are going to really, really struggle because there isn't enough water, there isn't enough food, there isn't any shelter. israel's ground campaign is now focused on the southern city of khan younis. troops saying they're going house—to—house and tunnel to tunnel. and the head of the israeli army is calling for the offensive in gaza to be stepped up amid signs, he says, that hamas is falling apart here injabalia in the north, the battles are at close quarters. one local told the bbc they've received no food or water for five days. israel is under growing international pressure to spare gaza's civilians. translation: other countries should also understand - that it is impossible, on the one hand, to support the elimination of hamas. and on the other hand, to call for an end to the war which will prevent the elimination of hamas. after this group of men and boys taken by israeli forces five days ago were released, they claimed they were tortured. among them, mohammed mahmoud salim, held separately from his dad. "they made us sleep naked," he said, "and kept hitting us with their guns. they hit me when i asked where my dad was. they hit us with wires." the bbc has asked the israeli military for a response. new aerial shots show palestine square, previously a bustling spot of gaza city, now under control of israeli forces marking thejewish hanukkah holiday. after two months of the most intense ever war between israel and the palestinians, the scale of the suffering and devastation here is unprecedented. a short time ago, qatar's prime minister spoke at the opening ceremony of the doha forum — giving his assessment of how this may effect an entire generation of palestinians. it also affects an entire generation that might be radicalized because of these images and seeing the international community not responsible... not responding responsibly to it. so there is a collective responsibility on all of us to stop the killing. to go back to the table. to find a lasting solution... as the only solution for sustainable peace is to have a palestinian state, is to... that's why we are advocating for a two—state solution now for decades. he talked about the prospects of a fresh ceasefire and said they were continuing to get all parties around the negotiating table. we will continue pressuring the parties despite each party aims to destroy the others. at the end, we know that the resolution will only come through the table. right now, maybe the openings are narrower than where we were before the last... the last pause. yet there are still an opening. we are still continuing our talks. we are still continuing our efforts. we are hoping to go back to the agreement that we have brokered a couple of weeks ago and continue in releasing the rest of the hostages who are still alive. but the continuation of the bombardment actually is just narrowing this window for us. it's exposing not only the lives of the palestinians who have been lost throughout this, er, this war, but also the hostages themselves, they are at risk. so i believe that the only way forward for this to end is through a negotiation table. it will never... no—one go back... i mean, historically, with all wars, all conflicts, none of them being achieved this result in the battlefield. earlier i spoke to mark regev, senior adviser to the israeli prime minister. i asked him to respond to claims from some quarters that israel is not doing enough to reduce the death toll among gazan civilians as well as accusations of genocide and war crimes in gaza. i think the body of evidence will support that israel has made a maximum effort to try and safeguard civilian life and as we pursue hamas watches as you said a brutal and horrific enemy capable of the most atrocious violence, as we pursue that enemy, we are making a maximum effort to safeguard civilian life and i am sure when this conflict is over, and the dust has settled and the numbers are actually known, will see that the effort that the israeli defence forces have made to safeguard civilian life will be apparent to all when you compare the number of civilians killed with those incomparable operations let's say in the operation against isis in syria and iraq and places like mossel where there was a comparable situation, a terrorist group in an urban area with civilians and forces coming into defeat the terrorists. we know what the civilian to combat death ratio was and i believe we will be far superior at the end of this conflict in gaza from the accurate and final numbers come out. how much longer will this conflict go on? not military anywhere in the world enters a conflict with an open ended timescale and in fact the idf chief of staff was speaking at a hanukkah candle light last night and he said there were signs of the hamas system disintegrating so let's put a timescale on it.— put a timescale on it. civilians are d inc. put a timescale on it. civilians are dying- this _ put a timescale on it. civilians are dying. this could _ put a timescale on it. civilians are dying. this could end _ put a timescale on it. civilians are dying. this could end tomorrow. put a timescale on it. civilians are dying. this could end tomorrow if| put a timescale on it. civilians are i dying. this could end tomorrow if we saw more and more hamas people surrendering and giving up their arms. this could end tomorrow if hamas released the hostages and unconditionally surrendered. this is over israel did not start or want, but israel has to win and we will win it decisively. if hamas wants to speed up the end of this they can do so. we are already seeing and you have seen the pictures of them beginning to surrender, if they speed up the process this can be over quickly. unfortunately the hamas leadership seems to be totally unconcerned about the civilians of gaza, that they have brought this suffering upon them and i am convinced when this is over you will see an outpouring of pent—up anger by the people of gaza against hamas. i wanted to ask you about the humanitarian situation in gaza because the head of the un, antonio guterres has said the humanitarian aid system could break down. israel plays a key part in allowing humanitarian aid inside gaza so what are your plans to try and increase that so civilians do not continue to suffer while the military operation goes on? we suffer while the military operation aoes on? ~ . ., ~ suffer while the military operation noeson? ., ., ~ , goes on? we are working closely with the relevant — goes on? we are working closely with the relevant organisations _ goes on? we are working closely with the relevant organisations to - goes on? we are working closely with the relevant organisations to try - goes on? we are working closely with the relevant organisations to try to i the relevant organisations to try to expedite humanitarian support for the people of gaza. as you know, the first week of this war, the israeli cabinet take a decision there would be no limitations on water and food and medicines going into the gaza strip and we have a situation today where trucks that have passed the israeli security inspection and people understand that we have to have those inspections because we do not want to see hamas bringing into gaza weapons and other material for their war machine, trucks that we have authorised to enter gaza and who have passed the israeli security inspection are being held up in the south at the crossing and one can only speculate as to why. is it possible hamas understands the only way for them to survive is to have international pressure on israel and the way to get that is to augment a humanitarian crisis? one has to be very sceptical. why are trucks that israel has inspected, why are they being held still? part of the problem, isn't it, you talk about the fact civilian suffer as a result of hamas but civilians do not have the power to control what hamas is doing. the power to control what hamas is doinu. , ., ., , ., ., the power to control what hamas is doing. they are onlookers to all of this. doing. they are onlookers to all of this- many — doing. they are onlookers to all of this- many of— doing. they are onlookers to all of this. many of them _ doing. they are onlookers to all of this. many of them did _ doing. they are onlookers to all of this. many of them did not - doing. they are onlookers to all of this. many of them did not vote i doing. they are onlookers to all of| this. many of them did not vote for her mass, or too young to have voted for hamas so if you want to make a real difference you need to consider the civilians in a way that maybe hamas doesn't? i’ee the civilians in a way that maybe hamas doesn't?— the civilians in a way that maybe hamas doesn't? �* , . ., hamas doesn't? i've been arguing all alon: and hamas doesn't? i've been arguing all along and through _ hamas doesn't? i've been arguing all along and through this _ hamas doesn't? i've been arguing all along and through this interview - along and through this interview that the steps we have taken to safeguard civilians are almost unprecedented. the fact we send warnings and ask people to leave neighbourhoods we know there will be fighting, we are giving information to the enemy in advance but we do so because we are wanting to safeguard civilians. i know the people of gaza or going through a difficult time, or going through a difficult time, or is never easy and has never been without innocent people getting hurt, that is the sad reality but having been forced to fight this war, israel is making maximum effort to safeguard gas at civilians and when this is over and hamas has been defeated the people of gaza will themselves be better off because they will get a government and regime that will worry about and care about their own well—being much more than this group of hamas terrorists who have orchestrated this disaster.— this disaster. that was a senior adviser to _ this disaster. that was a senior adviser to the _ this disaster. that was a senior adviser to the israeli _ this disaster. that was a senior adviser to the israeli prime - adviser to the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. let's show you some pictures from southern israel right now, looking across into gaza, it is a hazy day, 12:15pm here at local time, that is the north of the gaza strip that you can see but the israeli defence forces have released in the last few minutes some detail about what they are going to do in the south of the gaza strip, we know there has been fierce fighting overnight they are particularly around khan younis. they talk about a local and temporary tactical suspension of military activity for humanitarian purposes, in the far south of the gaza strip, the area where the is the rafah crossing into egypt, they say there will be a suspension of military activity until 2p this afternoon for the purpose of supply and they say they are allowing humanitarian movement of civilians and part of that area to try and allow people to move to places of more safety. let me show you live pictures of what is happening inside khan younis at the moment, this is the medical centre you can see. and there are almost always people outside the centre to a greater or lesser extent. it is one of the maine medical centre is still operating in the southern city, where i say there has been a strong bombardment and we've of house—to—house fighting happening. also the humanitarian situation in gaza, the way it continues to cause concern. earlier in switzerland, the world health organization held a special session on the health situation in the occupied palestinian territories. this is a little of what was said. since the 7th of october, who has verified more than 419 attacks on health care in gaza and the west bank. and 60 attacks on health care in israel. health care should never be a target. i also grieve the loss of more than 100 of our un colleagues in gaza, including our own dima al—haj, who was killed alongside her six—month—old son, her husband and her two brothers. in summary, health needs have increased dramatically and the capacity of the health system has been reduced to one third of what it was. that session is continuing so we will keep you updated. a senior un aid official has warned that half of gaza's population is starving, as fighting there continues — and only a fraction of supplies needed have been able to enter the strip. joining me now is nebal farsakh, spokesperson for the palestinian red crescent. thank you forjoining us. let's talk about the health system first which you are heavily involved in. in terms of operational hospitals, supplies, equipment that needs electricity to run, what is the situation at the moment? thank you for havin: situation at the moment? thank you for having me- _ situation at the moment? thank you for having me. the _ situation at the moment? thank you for having me. the health _ situation at the moment? thank you for having me. the health situation l for having me. the health situation is catastrophic, over 3% of hospitals are shut down to bombing and running out of fuel and medical supplies. the eight getting into gaza does not even 10% of their needs, hospitals are still lacking fuel as well as medical supplies and medicines. all the hospitals that are still operating have gone beyond their capacity and they are overwhelmed with injuries and one dead and you can see injured and wonder people are being treated at the hospitals, on the grounds, because there is no left space. if you allow me to remember today marks the 75th anniversary of the universal declaration of human rights, these rights that should be granted to all people in the world at all circumstances. unfortunately, in gaza, this isjust a dream. we talk about the right to life and security, overi7,000 talk about the right to life and security, over 17,000 civilians have been killed and there is no safer place so let's talk about the right of education, children have not been able to attend school for over two months since it's not safe and even dozens of schools have been destroyed. we talk about the rights to have basic human necessities including food, clothing, medical care and shelter. unfortunately, in gaza, there is no available food, people have no rooms since their homes were destroyed or they have to evacuate them. from a place to another. talk about clothing, they have left their homes without clothing and we can see children having extreme pain and suffering because they have not enough clothing and its getting to winter and so much cold. on top of that, or medical care has been reduced to the bare minimum. the humanitarian situation in gaza is not even imaginable. no one can imagine the catastrophic situation that is going on right now in gaza. talk catastrophic situation that is going on right now in gaza.— on right now in gaza. talk me throu~h on right now in gaza. talk me through what _ on right now in gaza. talk me through what exactly - on right now in gaza. talk me through what exactly is - on right now in gaza. talk me. through what exactly is needed on right now in gaza. talk me - through what exactly is needed in terms of numbers because gaza was reliant on humanitarian aid before the war began on the 7th of october and we know even the amount of aid getting in before that has reduced dramatically so to try and give those people, though civilians what they need, what are the numbers of aid trucks that need to be going through, passing through the rafah crossing every day?— crossing every day? before an escalation _ crossing every day? before an escalation gaza _ crossing every day? before an escalation gaza was _ crossing every day? before an escalation gaza was getting i crossing every day? before an - escalation gaza was getting around 500 trucks before the escalation and now the best day, we are only having 100 and we are talking about continuous escalation and even the humanitarian situation now is worsening. so we do not receive enough aid, what we receive is only 10% of the needs and that is why we call on the international community to pressure israel to allow more entry of humanitarian aid, to fulfil basic humanitarian needs and support the work of hospitals and ambulances that are operating in gaza. however, our teams are still trying their best to save lives, even with the minimum medical supplies. yesterday we had an evacuation convoy for around 11 wonder people from a hospital in gaza city. those were in urgent need to be evacuated and in coordination with the united nations, the palestinian red crescent was able to evacuate the wounded people to other hospitals in the south of gaza and unfortunately when the convoy was passing through the checkpoint that separates gaza from the south, and because waiting for over three hours, inspecting an ambulance, one of the wounded people had died and as i said they are critically wounded people. one was dyed and on top of that one of our paramedics was detained for over four hours, he was later released after the convoy was passed already and he had to walk at night with no clothing and in one extremely dangerous areas and it was extremely traumatising experience for him. while healthcare workers should be respected and protected according to the international humanitarian law, unfortunately this is not the case for my colleagues, for all paramedics and healthcare workers in gaza who are trying their best to continue providing their life—saving services and reach the people who are in urgent need for humanitarian services. ., ~ , ., ., ., , services. thank you for “oining us. as i mentioned, h services. thank you for “oining us. as i mentioned, the _ services. thank you forjoining us. as i mentioned, the world - services. thank you forjoining us. as i mentioned, the world health | as i mentioned, the world health organization session in geneva about the humanitarian situation in gaza continues and will keep you updated. let's head back to london now. thank you forjoining us with all the latest updates and volvo rejoin you. —— we will rejoin you. let s get some of the day s other news now. the president of the university of pennsylvania has resigned following days of intense criticism of comments she made to the us congress about anti—semitism. elizabeth magill was widely condemned for failing to clearly say whether calling for the genocide ofjews would breach the university's code of conduct. storms and tornadoes in the us state of tennessee have killed at least six people. many homes and vehicles were damaged or destroyed in the north—western suburbs of nashville, as well as in nearby clarksville. more than 80,000 homes are reported to be without power. for the second d