Time for a look at the weather across the uk with ben rich. And theres more bad weather on the way. Yes, for some things will get worse before they get better. Not least in the eastern dramatic developments tonight as hamas releases two americans a mother and daughter, judith and Natalie Ranaan into the care of the red cross after negotiations involving qatar. Hamas says it released the hostages on humanitarian grounds after President Biden decried them as inhumane. Two american hostages released so what does this mean for the fate of the nearly 200 that remain . Well hear from general david petreus, the former director of the cia. Will tonights hostage release impact israels plans for their offensive . Emir has been to the lebanese Israel Border where fighting there has intensified. What was that sound . This is the terrorist. What was that sound . This is the terrorist, the terrorists start the bombs well be speaking to professor lina khatib, the director of the soas middle eastern institute, and from jerusalem, Anshel Pfeffer, Senior Correspondent at haaretz, and unauthorised biographer of benjamin netanyahu. Also tonight, labour routs the conservatives in two big by elections. Can they repeat the trick in a General Election . Have you sealed the deal with middle england or is it much closer than people think . England or is it much closer than peeple think . England or is it much closer than heolethink . , , people think . Everybody picks their own dates, people think . Everybody picks their own dates. I people think . Everybody picks their own dates, i look people think . Everybody picks their own dates, i look forward, people think . Everybody picks their own dates, i look forward, it people think . Everybody picks their own dates, i look forward, it will. Own dates, i look forward, it will be tough, we landed in a bad place in 2019. Good evening. Hamas has released two american citizens a mother and her 17 year old daughter for what they describe as humanitarian reasons, after negotiations led by qatar. Hamas says their action is a message to the americans, after President Biden called hamas inhumane. Judith and Natalie Ranaan have been flown to a Military Base in central israel. The news of the release followed more details from the Israeli Defence force about the hostages in gaza. The majority are alive. There are now 19 children under 18, and among the other captives, between ten and 20 are over 60. This, as the prospect of the Israeli Ground offensive draws ever nearer. Today in the knessett, the Defence Minister outlined a three stage plan for the israeli operation on the gaza strip and indicated that there was nothing to suggest that israel intended to reoccupy territory in gaza that it left in 2005. Im joined by emir injerusalem. What do we know about the hostages . We know thatjudith and Nathalie Ranaan are to make that us citizens who are back in israel tonight. They were visiting israel originally for a Family Holiday and they were staying in a kibbutz near the gaza strip but it is believed they still have other Family Members that are still missing. The us have said their Health Condition is unknown but they are on their way to a Military Base in central israel. We also know that Many International players were involved in negotiating that release like the us, qatar and the red cross as well. The red cross as well. What has the reaction been in the red cross as well. What has the reaction been in israeltonight . Reaction been in israel tonight . Netanyahu has celebrated that release and he has said, we wont give up on the effort to return all of our hostages and missing persons. Hamas and the us both acknowledge the role of qatar as a mediator with the us Thanking Qatar and it raises the question obviously about the remaining 200, i suppose what the big question was was what hamas received in return, or they offered or threatened, the cat i being careful with the information they have released i have spoken to a contact there and they said, we will continue our dialogue with both the israelis and hamas and we hope that these efforts will lead to the release of all civilian hostages from every nationality. Thank you, and we will from every nationality. Thank you, and we will hear from from every nationality. Thank you, and we will hear from you later. Earlier i spoke to general director of the cia. I began by asking whether the decision to release the hostages signifies a shift in hamass position. Well, its hard to say at this point. This could be a wonderful humanitarian gesture or it could be a ploy by a group that carried out one of the most barbaric, horrific attacks in human history. And again, or a combination of those two, frankly. We understand that this is. It was released for humanitarian purposes. We would hope, in fact, that all the women and children, at the very least, would be released, but again, uncertain at this moment. Now, President Biden has just made a statement, thanking the qataris. How crucial do you think, as mediators and indeed just as a possible ally of President Biden in the region, although they do support hamas, are the qataris . Well, they also are the host for the Us Central CommandForward Headquarters. And so when i was the commander of the Greater Middle East Regional Combatant Command for the us forces, thats where my Forward Headquarters was and they paid for it as well, and also built one of the most extraordinary airfields in the entire region. And we had a fleet of aircraft there, we had our air operations centre. So theyre very, very useful in this kind of situation. They have communications with iran. They host one of the hamas political leaders there in doha. They have often been an intermediary. They try to be fair to all. Occasionally, that is frustrating because one or the other side would like them to side with them. But no, theyre very helpful in this kind of situation. And do you think it is likely that there may be a drip of hostages released as a tactic to slow down the offensive . Its certainly possible. Again, the hamas military wing, the terrorist wing, if you will, and the political wing can see what is potentially coming here. Theres a mass of Israeli Soldiers and other capabilities on the border. They have to be very concerned about that. They know that they could inflict considerable casualties on the israelis if they engage in what is the toughest of all contexts, which is urban fighting, and especially in this kind of situation, where you do have still over 200 hostages that will be used as human shields, lots of civilians. The enemy doesnt use uniforms. You dont know where they are until they shoot at you. So, again, a very, a fiendishly difficult situation. But the Israeli Defence forces have enormous capability. I think they could destroy hamas if that was necessary. And it seems to be that has to cause them great concern. This is an existential moment for hamas, and it is likely that theyre trying to delay this and to use any means necessary, again, to buy them some more time in the hope that Something Else might intervene that could delay it further. General david petraeus. Tonight President Biden said that the two hostages had Endured A Terrible Ordeal and that they will have the full support of the Us Government as they recover and heal. Joining me now live from jerusalem is Anshel Pfeffer, a senior journalist at haaretz, and here with me in the studio is lina khatib, director of the soas middle east institute. Good even to you both. Firstly, Anshel Pfeffer, what you might make of the Release Ofjudith and Natalie Ranaan . ,. ,. , ranaan . It is certainly not eight unitarian gesture, ranaan . It is certainly not eight unitarian gesture, it ranaan . It is certainly not eight unitarian gesture, it is about. Unitarian gesture, it is about as humanitarian as someone who kidnapped someones children is forced to release them, that person is not humanitarian. Weasley hamas, as general petraeus just said, is under intense pressure, they are looking down the barrel of an Israeli Force which is poised on the borders of gaza to basically destroy hamass military and political capabilities that and they are now trying to play with time. This is one of the reasons why they captured 200 israelis. They captured them because they want to have human shields, human bargaining counters, and that we are seeing them use them, but they are certainly under pressure, the qataris are under pressure, the qataris are under pressure as having been their patrons for so long and what we are seeing a lot of the players in the aftermath of what happened on october seven, the attack on israeli 0ctober seven, the attack on israeli communities, realising that perhaps they didnt quite win it victory they didnt quite win it victory they thought they won because now this war did not end on october seven, itsjust began. What this war did not end on october seven, its just began. What we are now seeing is hamas trying to see how it can almost wiggle out of what is, for now, for them, an existential situation. Is, for now, for them, an existential situation. But what you have said is existential situation. But what you have said is true, existential situation. But what you have said is true, they existential situation. But what you have said is true, they are existential situation. But what you have said is true, they are trying l have said is true, they are trying to delay things. But the qataris have been successful and they are still working on the other hostages, they have indicated, so its more likely that a Ground Offensive will be delayed and the reality is that once the Ground Offensive start, it will be very difficult to get these hostages out alive . So israel will be under pressure to let the qataris do their work. Be under pressure to let the qataris do their work do their work. There is no question that israel do their work. There is no question that israel is do their work. There is no question that israel is also do their work. There is no question that israel is also in do their work. There is no question that israel is also in a do their work. There is no question that israel is also in a difficult that israel is also in a difficult position, 200 of its people, like these to jewel in america Israeli Citizens who work released tonight, they are there inside gaza and their lives are in danger, its not a humanitarian situation, to Terrorist Hostagetaking and the qataris, if they really wanted, could do a lot more. They host the hamas leadership, qatari State Television which you know as additive is basically a hamas mouthpiece. If they really wanted to help, they could do so much more. They are beginning to feel the pressure, so we saw the qataris are urging hamas, one of their clients, to allow to make hostages to go but there was a lot more that the qataris must be doing here and hopefully they will be more pressure on them. Because as you noted, there are 19 children who were snatched from the homes ia days ago and so many other civilians. Let me ut ago and so many other civilians. Let me put this to Lina Khatib Pond what you make of what has happened tonight and is it a sign of weakness of hamas or a sign that they hold some cards with these hostages . I some cards with these hostages . I think it is an important Political Development we have to look at it as a Political Development we have to look at it as a political move. Hamas is under pressure a political move. Hamas is under pressure notjust because of the Military Pressure notjust because of the Military Threat from israel, but also Military Threat from israel, but also from Military Threat from israel, but also from the arab world. Very crucially, also from the arab world. Very crucially, just a few days ago, the prince crucially, just a few days ago, the prince of crucially, just a few days ago, the prince of saudi arabia made an unprecedented speech in which he said to unprecedented speech in which he said to hamas effectively, you call yourself said to hamas effectively, you call yourself an Islamic Group but the holding yourself an Islamic Group but the holding of hostages and the king killing holding of hostages and the king killing of holding of hostages and the king killing of women, children and elders killing of women, children and elders goes against the principles of islanr elders goes against the principles of islam and this kind of statement has never of islam and this kind of statement has never been made against hamas by any arab has never been made against hamas by any arab leader before. So in a way, hamas any arab leader before. So in a way, hamas will any arab leader before. So in a way, hamas will be worried that they are beginning hamas will be worried that they are beginning to lose the political card beginning to lose the political card in beginning to lose the political card. In releasing the hostages, they card. In releasing the hostages, they are card. In releasing the hostages, they are in card. In releasing the hostages, they are in a weight responding to that pressure, notjust the Military Pressure that pressure, notjust the Military Pressure. Its that pressure, not ust the military ressure. � , that pressure, not ust the military ressure. A 4. , that pressure, not ust the military ressure. A ~. ,. , pressure. As we know, particularly because pressure. As we know, particularly beeause of pressure. As we know, particularly because of what pressure. As we know, particularly because of what happened pressure. As we know, particularly because of what happened or pressure. As we know, particularly | because of what happened or didnt happen, we dont know yet, at the hospital the other day, a number of leaders in the region pulled back from meeting President Biden although of course which sunak has made a number but where do you think, apart from what you have just said, the pinch points are for hamas in other areas . They have the support of iran, for example, where are the other pinch points they might face. Are the other pinch points they might face are the other pinch points they miaht face. ,. ,. ,. , might face. They are several and crucially for might face. They are several and crucially for them, might face. They are several and crucially for them, the might face. They are several and crucially for them, the reason i l crucially for them, the reason i think crucially for them, the reason i think they crucially for them, the reason i think they conducted the october seven think they conducted the october seven attack is primarily because they wanted to be seen as the only interlocutor of palestinian voices. And i interlocutor of palestinian voices. And i thought they could achieve this through appearing heroic militarily. But because of how things militarily. But because of how things have developed since they need things have developed since they need to things have developed since they need to find political means to stay current. Need to find political means to stay current, even if they lose their military current, even if they lose their military capacity, they want to retain military capacity, they want to retain their political currency. What retain their political currency. What you retain their political currency. What you make of that, Anshel Pfeffer . I what you make of that, Anshel Pfeffer . , ,. , what you make of that, Anshel Pfeffer . , i ,. ,. What you make of that, Anshel Pfeffer . , ,. ,. , pfeffer . I agree 100 , as much as this Attack Pfeffer . I agree 10096, as much as this attack was pfeffer . I agree 10096, as much as this attack was designed pfeffer . I agree 10096, as much as this attack was designed and this attack was designed and intended to kill as many israeli families and citizens and children as possible, as you said, it was also a direct political challenge at the other main palestinian movement, factor, which rules the Palestinian Authority in the west bank. This is the hamas plate for power, they want to show that being able to land at such a grievous blow on the israelis, they are the real leaders of the palestinian cause and what we are now seeing is they are reading the instructions on the policy and as weve seen at the hospital where, sorry, we do know what happened. It was a palestinian rocket which broke up was a palestinian rocket which broke up in the air and fell upon them. I know the bbc said earlier it was an israeli air strike, we know that wasnt the case. And they are bringing disaster on the palestinians. Hamas is an organisation founded first of all to kill what they call palestinian collaborators, an organisation which has brought more damage on the palestinians than on is the israelis. ,. ~ palestinians than on is the israelis. , ,. , palestinians than on is the israelis. , ,. , israelis. Let me ust pick you up on the hospital, israelis. Let me just pick you up on the hospital, the israelis. Let me just pick you up on the hospital, the bbc israelis. Let me just pick you up on the hospital, the bbc was israelis. Let me just pick you up on the hospital, the bbc was not the hospital, the bbc was not ascribing the attack to the israelis, there were reports from within that it could have been the israelis, we did not say it was the israelis, we did not say it was the israelis, just to be clear. Macro let me carry on. 0bviously, these two women, mother and daughter, they are going to be going through a period of support but also, how important will there debrief be . They are obviously deeply traumatised. 0ther they are obviously deeply traumatised. Other members of their family were murdered and some are still missing. It is impossible to say at this point what they saw and what they know. First of all, the First Priority will be to see they are ok physically and it will be a long period of rehabilitation after the ordeal they have been through. The more people see the effecting picture of the women coming out holding hands, with their rescuers, the more the pressure will be on, because we now know, 19 under 18, some of them very young, so the pressure will be on. So in your view, will we see an offensive . I view, will we see an offensive . I would lean towards not soon and that is also would lean towards not soon and that is also because qatar has promised that it is also because qatar has promised that it will is also because qatar has promised that it will work towards the release that it will work towards the release of the rest of the hostages, so here release of the rest of the hostages, so here we release of the rest of the hostages, so here we have different stakeholders and Everyone Wants to be a stakeholders and Everyone Wants to he a Winner Stakeholders and Everyone Wants to be a winner in this equation. Root would be a winner in this equation. Root would like be a winner in this equation. Root would like to stay politically relevant and qatar would like to show relevant and qatar would like to show they are doing the right thing lry show they are doing the right thing by hosting the hamas leadership hamas by hosting the hamas leadership hamas would like to stay politically relevant hamas would like to stay politically relevant. You need qatar to play the role of relevant. You need qatar to play the role of mediator so qatar has a Interest Role of mediator so qatar has a interest in role of mediator so qatar has a interest in having more success in that Regard Interest in having more success in that regard in the release of further that regard in the release of further hostages, and for israel, it wants further hostages, and for israel, it wants its further hostages, and for israel, it wants its citizens to be alive and safe and wants its citizens to be alive and safe and to wants its citizens to be alive and safe and to be released and for the us who safe and to be released and for the us who wants to show that its diplomatic efforts after the tour of The Middle East from Antony Blinken is bearing fruit, so everyone has a stake is bearing fruit, so everyone has a stake in is bearing fruit, so everyone has a stake in this is bearing fruit, so everyone has a stake in this one. Stake in this one. Thank you both very much we can return now to emir, who has spent the day on the Israel Lebanon Border where there has been serious tension. Today we have been told sorry, there is a delay on the line. We have been on the northern border of israel and lebanon, and there is a strip of around five kilometres South Of The Border where the Israeli Government has evacuated the towns and villages and there is a kind of sense of tension while everyone is looking towards gaza and what an increased Ground Offensive there might spark in the northern border with hezbollah. It is a place that bears a lot of difficult memories for people there, in 2006 there was a big war between israel and hezbollah, and it was strange to see within those two weeks, so quickly, already a routine developing, at apm every day, that is when strikes are launched from the south of lebanon into israel, into those towns, and sadly we have seen civilians dying on both sides including on the lebanese side where a reuters journalist last week was killed. There is this tension now and it will continue until we get further clarity on what might happen next in gaza and you can watch our report now. Thank you. Gaza and you can watch our report now. Thank you. Villages and farming towns and a now. Thank you. Villages and farming towns and a closed now. Thank you. Villages and farming towns and a closed military now. Thank you. Villages and farming towns and a closed military zone. Now. Thank you. Villages and farming towns and a closed military zone. In | towns and a closed military zone. In the north they are about 200 kilometres from the gaza strip but the conflict is landing at their doorstep. The conflict is landing at their doorste. ,. , the conflict is landing at their doorste. , , doorstep. They strike innocent eo le. Doorstep. They strike innocent people they doorstep. They strike innocent people. They always doorstep. They strike innocent people. They always strike. L doorstep. They strike innocentl people. They always strike. Is doorstep. They strike innocent people. They always strike. Is not people. They always strike. Is not ok, it is logic, but it is not 0k, it is logic, but it is not logic. They did not do anything, these arejust logic. They did not do anything, these are just people who came to work and to make a living. Like other towns work and to make a living. Like other towns and work and to make a living. Like other towns and villages within five kilometres of the lebanon border, this residence has been asked to these residents have been asked to leave by the Israeli Government. I leave by the Israeli Government. I hope that this time we will go until the end until we make peace with them because i think on the lebanon side there are a lot of people that just one, like me, and the other people here, in this place, and all the people in israel, wejust want peace. We are from the army. It is Something Like this that we came to defend. To defend my country and to defend. To defend my country and to defend my house. Defend. To defend my country and to defend my house. We defend. To defend my country and to | defend my house. We can defend my house. Thank you. We can start. Blast what was that sound . Where the terrorists have what was that sound . Where the terrorists have started what was that sound . Where the terrorists have started to what was that sound . Where the terrorists have started to bomb l what was that sound . Where the l terrorists have started to bomb us. That is something you hear every day . That is something you hear every da . , � , that is something you hear every da . ,. ,. ,. ,. , that is something you hear every da . , a. ,. ,. , that is something you hear every da . , a. , a day . Yes, lets go to a safe part. A rox for day . Yes, lets go to a safe part. A proxy for iranian day . Yes, lets go to a safe part. A proxy for iranian interest day . Yes, lets go to a safe part. A proxy for iranian interest and proxy for iranian interest and described by the uk government as a terrorist group, hezbollah present themselves as a defender of the palestinian cause, forcing israel to keep one eye also on the north and not be caught unaware again. We just heard from the idf that their air force has struck three hezbollah fight is not far from force has struck three hezbollah fight is not farfrom here force has struck three hezbollah fight is not far from here and when we talk about this War Escalating to a regional conflict of this will be the expected second front, and evacuating Tens Of Thousands of citizens from the villages along the border shows how seriously israel is taking this threat. This video released by the israeli army shows strikes today on what they say were hezbollah positions in the area, tit for tat clashes across the border were not uncommon before, but the increasing scale and pace is unsettling israelis. With around 20 militant fighters from lebanon killed alongside a handful of Israeli Soldiers, in gunfire and artillery clashes, it has been building since the war began. Handed a machine gun by the israeli army, but this local is no soldier, a resident here who wanted to stay and defend his village. Translation i defend his village. Translation i passed the age of carrying a weapon but i came back and ijoined the Civil Defence and we are staying here because we need to guard the place. And the border. Today they are spread over hundreds of villages with Rocket Launchers in hundreds of villages. With Rocket Launchers in hundreds of villaaes. ,. ,. ,. ,~ with Rocket Launchers in hundreds of villaaes. ,. , villages. Does that not make you feel more worried villages. Does that not make you feel more worried this villages. Does that not make you feel more worried this time villages. Does that not make you. Feel more worried this time around . We know hezbollah are a lot stronger . We know hezbollah are a lot stronuer . ,. , , stronger . No, of course it bothers me because stronger . No, of course it bothers me because you stronger . No, of course it bothers me because you cant stronger . No, of course it bothers me because you cant live stronger . No, of course it bothers me because you cant live with stronger . No, of course it bothers me because you cant live with an | me because you cant live with an enemy that stays on your border. The same thing as gaza. Same thing as gaza. Despite fiery lan. Ua. E same thing as gaza. Despite fiery language and same thing as gaza. Despite fiery language and daily same thing as gaza. Despite fiery language and daily skirmishes, i same thing as gaza. Despite fiery i language and daily skirmishes, both sides are cautious of a bloody deterioration, holding the memories of their last war in 2006 in mind but could the shock and awe of the Israeli Campaign in the gaza strip forced the hand of hezbollah . Brute Israeli Campaign in the gaza strip forced the hand of hezbollah . We are talkin forced the hand of hezbollah . We are talking about forced the hand of hezbollah . We are talking about an forced the hand of hezbollah . We are talking about an organisation forced the hand of hezbollah . We are talking about an organisation that talking about an organisation that has Something Like 150,000 rockets. So you are certain regardless of whether the Gaza Campaign might incite a much wider regional conflict and you are certain that the israeli army will go in and continue with the strategy people are expecting . Continue with the strategy people are exoecting . Are expecting . Yes, this is inevitable are expecting . Yes, this is inevitable because are expecting . Yes, this is inevitable because there i are expecting . Yes, this is inevitable because there isj are expecting . Yes, this is i inevitable because there is no are expecting . Yes, this is inevitable because there is no other way to really find a solution. This means there will be a flare up in the north. We will have to bear the consequences of this and so will hezbollah, which will be much more dangerous for them than for us. We may have casualties but they are going to be destroyed. That is the big difference between the two things. For big difference between the two thins. ,. ,. ,. , things. Far from the brutal war raauin in things. Far from the brutal war raging in the things. Far from the brutal war raging in the south, things. Far from the brutal war raging in the south, israelis i things. Far from the brutal war. Raging in the south, israelis here are bracing themselves. And that report was produced Byjasmin Dyer and filmed byjon hughes. Sirjohn curtice not one for hyperbole declared today that the mid beds and tamworth by elections amounted to one of the worst nights any government has endured. Both delivered a swing of more than 20 from conservative to labour, and that with the Liberal Democrats campaigning hard. Add those results to a swing from snp to labour in rutherglen and Hamilton West two weeks ago of 20. A , and that could make for a very interesting labour manifesto, not least because tamworth and mid beds were firmly leave in the Eu Referendum and scotland overwhelmingly remain. So, are the comparisons with the years leading up to tony blairs famous victory in 1997 valid . Like blair, starmer appears to be setting up his base camp in the centre ground. Heres nick. Middle england cautious, conservative, and, in recent times, a cold home for labour. Cheering not anymore. Celebrations in mid bedfordshire. What a fantastic candidate. What a fantastic win. After labour overturned a conservative majority of nearly 25,000 on a swing of 20. 5 , capturing a seat which had been in tory hands since 1931. Cheering and then, a second celebration in tamworth. What a fantastic candidate. After labour overturned a conservative majority of nearly 20,000 on a swing of 23. 9 . Tamworth had been in tory hands since 2010. Nick, how are you . Im very well. How are you . For the winning leader, a busy morning of travel. Sir keir starmer, for you its been breakfast in mid bedfordshire. Elevenses here in tamworth. Presumably next on the menu for lunch is the Conservative Party . Well, the Conservative Party have been on the menu in these two byelections, because what weve seen here are historic results. Tamworth, where it was said we couldnt win, mid bedfordshire where weve barely ever won, and weve turned it around. So, historic steps on a very importantjourney. Have you sealed the deal with middle england or is it what David Blunkett has been talking about, the next election is going to be like 196a, much closer than people think . Well, everybody picks their own dates. I look forward. Its going to be tough. We landed in a bad place in 2019 and we had a big job of work to do to get to the next General Election in 202a. Thats why we accept victories like this humbly. We have changed our party and i think everybody can now see were a changed labour party. All the sweeter for labour because the party captured the same area in a 1996 by election, a year before the blair landslide. The winner of that contest was on hand today. So, is history repeating itself . I sincerely hope so. I think this country needs a change of direction. I think it needs a leader. Unlike tony blair probably not as loved as tony blair. Probably not the salesman that tony blair was, but an honest, a sincere, a Purposeful Leader who i think will take this country on and improve it. Tamworth, right in the heart of middle england, really matters for both of the main parties. For the conservatives, its where their modern creed was founded by sir robert peel. So, when theyre winning here, they are happy. For labour, what a prize. If theyre winning here, that suggests theyre going to win big around the rest of the country. They want to keep it like that. For the tories, they want to find a way back. From The Middle East, a Prime Minister acknowledging a setback but reminding us these were by elections. Obviously, disappointing results, not least because our candidates, festus and andrew, worked very hard and i know theyll continue to be great local champions in their communities. Its important to remember the context. Midterm by elections are always difficult for incumbent governments, and, of course, there were also local factors at play here. Im committed to delivering on the priorities of the british people. A pollster believes the by elections do reflect the national mood, but that could change. I think what were also seeing here is how the public mood generally feels about a governing party at what they feel is the normal midterm blues, but on steroids