Paul Adams
Diplomatic correspondent

One thing seems certain: Israel will soon invade the densely populated Gaza Strip.

Vast numbers of troops have already assembled in southern Israel. Along with huge numbers of tanks and other armoured vehicles.

Less clear is when the order will be given, or what the Israeli government’s ultimate objectives are.

With Israeli officials talking about creating a new Middle East reality – essentially a Gaza without Hamas - there’s every indication that this operation will exceed all its predecessors in scale and scope.

Our BBC colleagues in Gaza already tell us that the airstrikes are like nothing they’ve seen before.

In five days of attacks, Israel has already killed almost half as many Palestinians as died during six weeks of the 2014 Gaza war.

It’s likely Israel will continue to hit Gaza from their air for several days, weakening Hamas so much that when the ground incursion comes, the group’s ability to fight on will have been severely degraded.

With parts of Gaza reduced to rubble and as many as quarter of a million Palestinians already on the move, the prospects for the coming days look extremely bleak.

The Israel Defense Forces says on X, external, formerly known as Twitter, that it's received reports of a suspected infiltration from Lebanon into Israeli airspace.

Alerts were sounding in many towns in norther Israel, according to Reuters news agency.

Reuters also cited Israeli broadcaster Kan as saying projectiles had landed in northern Israel.

All civilians in the areas where sirens were sounding are asked to enter shelters and stay in them until further notice, the IDF said.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have also been taking place across the world.

People rallied outside the Sydney Opera House in Australia and in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Supporters of the Palestinians also marched in the streets of Chicago.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Earlier we reported that a British Airways flight from London to Tel Aviv had been diverted back to Heathrow, because of security concerns.

British Airways has just said that it was suspending all flights to Tel Aviv.

In the last 24 hours vigils have been held across the world for the people killed by Hamas attacks on Israel.

In Nepal students commemorated the killing of 10 Nepali students, while in Lisbon people gathered by candlelight.

Hundreds also gathered in Sydney; and in Sofia, Bulgaria people congregated in front of the Monument of Salvation dedicated to the Bulgarian Jews.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly was visiting the town of Ofakim in southern Israel when sirens went off warning of an imminent Hamas rocket fire.

Cleverly can be seen running for cover as the sirens ring out in a video posted on X, external, formerly known as Twitter.

The foreign secretary arrived in Israel on Wednesday. He is meeting survivors of the Hamas attacks and senior Israeli leaders.

Britain, along with other European countries, has expressed support for Israel and condemned last week's attacks by Hamas.

A British Airways flight from London to Tel Aviv has been diverted back to Britain, after it almost reached Tel Aviv.

A spokesperson for the airline said that they had taken the decision to return the plane to Heathrow for security reasons.

After the flight was diverted, Israel Airports Authority confirmed that there had been rockets near Tel Aviv but "nowhere near the airport." It also said that no other flights were diverted.

Since Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday, many international airlines have suspended flights to Tel Aviv.

British Airways had said on Monday that it was monitoring the situation and would continue to operate some flights.

Nicholas Witchell
BBC royal correspondent

In the past 30 minutes, a spokesperson for the British monarch has issued a statement, saying the King is “appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel”.

It was a very robust statement but not meant to be construed as a political one.

King Charles, as the former Prince of Wales, has had a long-standing interest in spiritual matters and in relations between the great faiths, including Islam and Judaism.

His comments are those of an appalled citizen, which reflect the feelings of many millions of people.

It just so happens that this appalled citizen is king and the UK head of state.

Joel Gunter
Reporting from Jerusalem

Mahmoud Matar, the head of limb reconstruction surgery at a hospital in Gaza, is sending WhatsApp messages to the BBC, describing his situation as Israeli air bombardments continue.

“We are completely overwhelmed with the number of injuries and the number of dead,” he said.

“The dead bodies arrive in pieces. I am a surgeon and yet I cannot stomach the scene of death.”

“Families here have seen their homes demolished over their heads, killing all but maybe one or two people, who come to the hospital with terrible injuries.

“We all feel disabled - we cannot help people."

He says at the moment he wishes he was not a doctor. "I cannot save my own family, my children are at home crying while I am on duty.”

Mahmoud says the hospital’s operating theatre is running non-stop and the hospital beds are full.

By his count, more than 10 ambulance staff have been killed or injured and he personally knows a gynaecologist and urologist who have died.

“The smell of death is all around now in Gaza. There is no water, there will be no electricity, and we have very bad network connection. I am currently looking for water to drink.”

A rocket from Gaza has hit a hospital in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon.

Israel's public broadcaster Kan said the Barzilai hospital - where our correspondent reported from at the weekend as people searched for missing loved ones - was directly hit. No casualties have been reported.

Nicholas Witchell
BBC royal correspondent

Image source, PA Media

A spokesman for King Charles has said the British monarch is "extremely concerned about" the situation in Israel and Gaza and "has asked to be kept actively updated".

"His thoughts and prayers are with all of those suffering, particularly those who have lost loved ones, but also those actively involved as we speak," the spokesman said.

According to sources the King is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel.

Here's a bit more on the agreement to form an emergency government in Israel. It comes after days of talks between PM Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz.

Netanyahu first invited the opposition leaders - Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz - to do so on Saturday after the surprise attack by Hamas.

The statement from Netanyahu and Gantz, chair of the National Unity party, released just now reads: "The two agreed on the establishment of an emergency government and a war management cabinet.

"A 'war management cabinet' will be established with three members: the prime minister, the defense minister and the chairman of the National Unity".

There will also be two extra officials serving as observers in the war management cabinet.

"On behalf of the National Unity party a total of five ministers without a portfolio will be added to the political-security cabinet (with one of them as an observer): Benny Gantz, Gideon Sa'ar, Gadi Eisenkot and two other ministers. This is for the duration of the war."

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz have agreed to form an emergency government.

A "war cabinet" will also be set up - with Netanyahu, Gantz and the country's defence minister.

It means that during the war period, "no bills or government decisions will be promoted that do not concern the conduct of the war" and all senior appointments will be automatically extended during the war period.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said what is happening in Israel is "terrible", as he called on both sides to minimise civilian deaths.

Speaking at a conference in Moscow, Putin - who is wanted by the International Criminal Court over allegations of war crimes relating to Ukraine - also accused the US of stoking tension.

"I do not understand why the United States is bringing aircraft carrier groups [to the region]", he said - referring to the US sending extra military aid to Israel.

And Putin also said suggestions that Iran may have been involved in the attack by Hamas were "groundless" - although it's worth remembering that Russia and Iran have a close relationship, with Iran even considered to be Russia's top military backer.

Iran has celebrated the Hamas attack on Israel but its supreme leader yesterday denied being involved. Tehran has been one of Hamas' main sponsors for many years, providing it with financial assistance and weapons.

Poland's president has suggested that Putin might stand to benefit from the crisis, external in Israel, hoping it might distract from the Ukraine war - although UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said there was "no chance" of losing focus on the war.

Image source, .

Israel's foreign minister, Eli Cohen, has shared this picture of a billboard by a road, external in Israel on X, formerly Twitter.

Alongside it he again wrote the words "thank you Mr President".

It comes as the US is boosting military aid to Israel, with the first plane carrying US arms arriving in southern Israel yesterday evening.

The Israeli army said "advanced ammunition” had arrived at the Nevatim Airbase, and it was "meant to enable significant strikes and preparation for additional scenarios".

Yesterday US President Joe Biden condemned Hamas' unprecedented assault on Israel as “sheer evil”.

The US is also moving an aircraft carrier and a fighter aircraft to the eastern Mediterranean.

Austria has previously said that three Austrian-Israeli dual citizens were missing after Hamas's attack on Israel on Saturday.

The country's foreign ministry has now put out this statement: "It is our sad duty to announce that one of the three missing Austrian-Israeli dual citizens has been found dead."

It did not give a name, or any further details of the two people who remain missing.

Image source, Reuters

Egypt's top diplomat Sameh Shoukry held talks with the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees on Wednesday, about how to help civilians in Gaza.

Shoukry warned of the "dangerous humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip" and said Egypt "fully supports UN agencies" in ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Israel has closed its crossings with the Gaza Strip, meaning the Rafah crossing, controlled by Egypt, is the only possible route for civilians in and out.

Egypt closed the crossing from on Tuesday after Israeli air strikes in the area.

But even before then, people had to have their names down to cross - and there was a long waiting list for the 400 daily spaces.

The Israeli military has just said, external there are sirens going off in central Israel, warning people of incoming rockets from Gaza.

Israel's public broadcaster Kan also reports, external there has been rocket fire towards the centre of the country.

Beth Timmins
BBC News

Gaza resident Kamal Mashharawi spoke to the BBC a short time ago from a basement shelter with 45 people in.

“It’s very difficult - we don’t have water, we don’t have internet, we don’t have electricity,” he says.

His children are injured and his lungs hurt. Kamal has lost a few members of his family but is unable to contact the others because the internet is out.

“We tried to make road trips to the nearest supermarket but it was unsafe because of the explosions,” he tells Newshour.

On the phone, Kamal says his heart is beating as he looks for the next strike, thinking "am I the next person?"

“I don’t think civilians deserve to die - they should be left out of the conflict," he says.

"I can’t really blame Hamas, I can’t really blame Israel, but I say that we civilians are affected.

“We are the people who are not part of this conflict and we’re paying it off."