murderous acts of terror and deplorable use of innocent men, women and children as human shields. in our meetings with israeli leaders here and injerusalem, and palestinian leaders in ramallah, we discussed our continued focus on preventing the conflict from spreading, whether to the west bank, to israel's northern border, or the broader region. i raised our deep concerns about steps that could escalate tensions in the west bank, including violence and proposals from parts of the israeli coalition government to further expand settlements. i made clear our expectations about addressing these issues. we also focused on what we can do, what we must do now to prepare for the day after the conflict. to create the conditions very durable and lasting peace, building up the principles i said last week during the g7 meeting in tokyo. breaking out of the cycle of violence, the cycle of conflict, ensuring israel's and during security, demands improving the lives of thousands in the west bank in immediate and tangible ways, and providing them with a credible path towards their legitimate aspiration towards their legitimate aspiration to statehood. in ongoing conversations with israeli and palestinian leaders, we will discuss practical steps to make real a just and lasting peace, and what each of us is prepared to do to help achieve it. we have no illusions this will be easy, we will surely have disagreements along the way. but if we are going to move forward towards practical steps to a lasting peace and lasting security, we have to work through these disagreements because the alternative, more terrorist attacks, more violence, more innocent suffering is unacceptable. that's why the united states is here, and we are leading towards this goal. with that, i'm happy to take some questions. the first question goes to reuters. hello. — first question goes to reuters. hello. mr_ first question goes to reuters. hello, mr secretary. _ first question goes to reuters. hello, mr secretary. you've i first question goes to reuters. i hello, mr secretary. you've just said the — hello, mr secretary. you've just said the us is urging israel to ensure — said the us is urging israel to ensure the protection of civilians before _ ensure the protection of civilians before starting its operations in southern — before starting its operations in southern gaza. i'm wondering, you've talked _ southern gaza. i'm wondering, you've talked about — southern gaza. i'm wondering, you've talked about what you made clear to prime _ talked about what you made clear to prime minister netanyahu and the war cabinet. _ prime minister netanyahu and the war cabinet, but what more concrete and specific _ cabinet, but what more concrete and specific assurances have you gotten from them, — specific assurances have you gotten from them, if any, based on what you heard _ from them, if any, based on what you heard from _ from them, if any, based on what you heard from them today, are you confident — heard from them today, are you confident israel will follow the international laws of war in southern _ international laws of war in southern gaza when it resumes its military— southern gaza when it resumes its military operations? my second question— military operations? my second question is, you and others in the administration have repeatedly said that the _ administration have repeatedly said that the united states wants to see a revitalised palestinian authority to rule _ a revitalised palestinian authority to rule gaza and the west bank. could _ to rule gaza and the west bank. could you — to rule gaza and the west bank. could you tell us what exactly the us viston— could you tell us what exactly the us vision is for a revitalised pa, and does — us vision is for a revitalised pa, and does it— us vision is for a revitalised pa, and does it include a reshuffle in the leadership? thank you. so and does it include a reshuffle in the leadership? thank you. so as i said, we the leadership? thank you. so as i said. we made _ the leadership? thank you. so as i said, we made clear _ the leadership? thank you. so as i said, we made clear the _ said, we made clear the imperative before any operations go forward in southern gaza, that there be a clear plan in place that puts a premium on protecting civilians as well as sustaining and building on the humanitarian assistance it's getting into gaza. and the israeli government agreed with that approach. there are concrete steps that it's not appropriate for me to detail here tonight, that we know and heard can ensure to the best of anyone's ability that that happens. it's always a challenging given the conditions israel has to deal with in getting to hamas and making sure that it can't represent the threat that it can't represent the threat that it can't represent the threat that it posed on october 7th. but again, israel understands the imperative of protecting civilians, of the humanitarian assistance, and will continue to work to ensure that that carries forward in practice. and again, as i said, to the prime minister, to the war cabinet, intent is obvious where you start, and it's vitally important, and i'm very confident in the intent — but results are fundamentally what matters. with regard to the palestinian authority, we've said, andindeed palestinian authority, we've said, and indeed i had an opportunity to discuss today with president abbas the need for reform, the need to revitalise, to revamp the palestinian authority so that it can most effectively meet the aspirations of the palestinian people and deliver for them. aspirations of the palestinian people and deliverfor them. there are a number of things that go into that, including for example reforms so it more effectively combats corruption, that engages and empowers in civil society, that it supports a free press and open media, and a number of other things. leadership choices, these are of course up to the palestinian people, and the palestinians themselves. but there are a number of things that we think would be critical to making sure that again, the palestinian authority can be effective in helping to advance the aspirations and the needs of its people. that is the us secretary _ and the needs of its people. that is the us secretary of _ and the needs of its people. that is the us secretary of state _ the us secretary of state speaking to the press in tel aviv after his meetings in ramallah and jerusalem today. 2—3 things to pick out, it was interesting he prioritised the arguments and concerns over aid in gaza — not enough is in gaza at the moment, he wants more to be fast tracked. prime minister netanyahu has said he will resume the operation in gaza, "i made it clear to mr netanyahu that its operations have to put in place protections for civilians." netanyahu and the war cabinet agreed with this approach, he said. it is a more nuanced approach from the americans, there is support from the continued israeli operation, but he is emphasising, as he has done before, that innocent lives must be protected on all sides. we'll perhaps get some reaction to that through the course of our programme. we are excepting shortly another handover of hostages, and the reciprocal release of palestinian prisoners in the west bank. we have news on two hostages released earlier today. back with her family tonight, 21—year—old mia schem, abducted from the supernova music festival, who you might recall was one of the first people to appear in a hostage video that was released by hamas. this was the moment she was reunited with her family after almost eight weeks. she is back home, safe again. so too the ao—year—old lawyer amit soussana, who was kidnapped from kibbutz kfar aza. and we hope in the next hour, we will have details on the release of six more who were on today's list. 30 palestinian prisoners are also set to be released tonight — 22 of them children, and eight women. from jerusalem, here is our international let's go live to oliver mcternan, director who has worked in hostage negotiation for over 20 years. he played a key role in the negotiations surrounding the release of the israeli soldier gilad shalit, held hostage by hamas for five years. before we came to air tonight, we've had another video released by hamas which is quite upsetting to watch. we won't show the video because it's being filmed under duress, and it is extremely upsetting. but yesterday, you'll recall that hamas claimed his wife and their two young boys, who have become symbols for the israeli public throughout this, were killed they said by an israeli bomb, and they said by an israeli bomb, and they are saying tonight that they have offered to return the three bodies, the mother in the bodies of the two children, and that israel has refused. what do you make of that? ~ , ., ., , ., that? well first of all, christian, i think the _ that? well first of all, christian, i think the practice _ that? well first of all, christian, i think the practice of _ that? well first of all, christian, i think the practice of showing i i think the practice of showing videos of people being held is quite immoral because it obviously creates anxiety, increases the anxiety of the relatives. so i first would feel that's an important point to make. i can believe that the deaths did occur given the extent of the destruction in northern gaza. we've been told that it's now accepted that the hostages are not in one place. so if they not in one place, it's obvious the risks of some of them being killed whilst waiting to be released is very, very real, and i think it's very sad that it has happened in this case. i hope somehow that the whole thing will be resolved so that the family will be able to deal with the emotion that it's obviously caused to them. well. it's obviously caused to them. well, if it's true that _ it's obviously caused to them. well, if it's true that they _ it's obviously caused to them. well, if it's true that they were _ it's obviously caused to them. well, if it's true that they were killed, - if it's true that they were killed, they would release him so he could grieve properly, correct? i they would release him so he could grieve properly, correct?— grieve properly, correct? iwould auree grieve properly, correct? iwould agree entirely. — grieve properly, correct? iwould agree entirely, but _ grieve properly, correct? iwould agree entirely, but in _ grieve properly, correct? iwould agree entirely, but in a - grieve properly, correct? iwould agree entirely, but in a worse . agree entirely, but in a worse situation — we've talked before about this, in a normal negotiation for the release of hostages, there is a process and columnists. it's not carried out publicly, they are not carried out publicly, they are no press conferences, no videos of that release. sign of life is given privately to the negotiators in the family. i think the situation is quite out of the ordinary, and therefore, it's extremely complex. we are not only caught in a real war where people are dying, but also a propaganda war. and i think that to me is the despicable part of it because it's costing more and more lives and prolonging the pain of relatives. {iii lives and prolonging the pain of relatives. _, , lives and prolonging the pain of relatives. .., , . lives and prolonging the pain of relatives. _, , ., , ., , relatives. of course, and if you put that with the _ relatives. of course, and if you put that with the return _ relatives. of course, and if you put that with the return of _ relatives. of course, and if you put that with the return of the - relatives. of course, and if you put that with the return of the women | that with the return of the women today and the emotional reunion which we've shown our viewers, it shows you what a roller coaster this is for the families. they genuinely don't know whether their loved ones are alive or dead.— are alive or dead. yes, i agree, and the one family _ are alive or dead. yes, i agree, and the one family that i _ are alive or dead. yes, i agree, and the one family that i am _ are alive or dead. yes, i agree, and the one family that i am in - are alive or dead. yes, i agree, and the one family that i am in touch i the one family that i am in touch with, their relative was released today and i know what relief that will bring them. the today and i know what relief that will bring them.— will bring them. the israelis talk about 140 who _ will bring them. the israelis talk about 140 who are _ will bring them. the israelis talk about 140 who are still - will bring them. the israelis talk about 140 who are still left - will bring them. the israelis talk about 140 who are still left in i about 140 who are still left in captivity — how many of those would you suppose are still women and children? , ' . you suppose are still women and children? , , . ., children? very difficult to say because 17 — children? very difficult to say because 17 october _ children? very difficult to say because 17 october -- - children? very difficult to say. because 17 october -- october children? very difficult to say - because 17 october -- october 7th because 17 october —— october 7th was chaotic. and i think to know who survived it, who's been kept by whom i think would be a nightmare, but i keep coming back, christian — the only hope we have of seeing all the hostages returning safely is for a complete cease—fire. we've talked before about the incompatibility of two objectives saying "i will eliminate hamas" and at the same time, i will go i'm going to negotiate with hamas to ensure the secure release of the hostages." so i think that incompatibility, and we saw it reflected with secretary of state antony blinken's remarks tonight, i don't think it's recognised that those are competing objectives. they not only prolong the process, but i think they put the process, but i think they put the lives of those being held in captivity at risk. just the lives of those being held in captivity at risk.— captivity at risk. just a quick final one. — captivity at risk. just a quick final one, oliver, _ captivity at risk. just a quick final one, oliver, i'm - captivity at risk. just a quick final one, oliver, i'm sure l captivity at risk. just a quick- final one, oliver, i'm sure you've spoken the hostages who have been released in the past, how much information and intelligence do you think the israelis will have gleamed in these seven days from the other hostages? because broadly speaking, we are not allowed to interview them or we are discouraged from speaking to them. in your mind, is that purely to retain any intelligence they may have passed on? well i would hurt _ they may have passed on? well i would hurt post-dutch _ they may have passed on? well i would hurt post-dutch hope - they may have passed on? well i would hurt post-dutch hope first| they may have passed on? h i would hurt post—dutch hope first and foremost, it's the documentary in principle. they need space, they will be traumatised, they need to come to terms with that. "dust of course, the information services will try to get that information. but of course, the way gilad salit was held in five years, where and how he was being held wasn't ever discovered. so i think in a way, the intelligence that they would gather would be very, very limited, and it would be very, very limited, and it would only apply to exactly where they were being kept. it wouldn't give insight to anyone else that's being held hostage.— give insight to anyone else that's being held hostage. oliver, always aood to being held hostage. oliver, always good to talk— being held hostage. oliver, always good to talk to _ being held hostage. oliver, always good to talk to you, _ being held hostage. oliver, always good to talk to you, thank- being held hostage. oliver, always good to talk to you, thank you - being held hostage. oliver, always good to talk to you, thank you for| good to talk to you, thank you for your thoughts this evening. lovely, thank ou, your thoughts this evening. lovely, thank you, christian. _ let's get some reaction now from our diplomatic correspondent paul adams who is injerusalem. there is nuanced support from the americans for the there is nuanced support from the americans for th— americans for the resumption of operations _ americans for the resumption of operations in — americans for the resumption of operations in gaza, _ americans for the resumption of operations in gaza, and - americans for the resumption of operations in gaza, and the - americans for the resumption of operations in gaza, and the us l operations in gaza, and the us secretary of state stating that the lives of civilians must be put first. , , . , lives of civilians must be put first. , , ., , , first. this is a very interesting and important _ first. this is a very interesting and important press - first. this is a very interesting i and important press conference first. this is a very interesting - and important press conference by antony blinken. he spent about the first three minutes or so talking about the ongoing effort to try and secure the release of hostages, what you've just been talking to oliver mctiernan about, but i think he spent the rest of the time talking about frankly what happens when this process ends, because i think everyone knows that we are in the tail end of the process now, that we will return to war fighting pretty soon, perhaps within a matter of days. so the secretary of state's message to the israelis about what happens at that point was really, really important, and ijust want to check my notes here — he talked about first of all, before israel resumes military activity, it needed to make sure that the humanitarian scene was set, if you like, with the proper provisions for aid, for a proper provisions for aid, for a proper understanding of designated areas where people would be safe — not the single safe area that the israelis have been talking about for weeks now, but specific designated areas inside un facilities, particular locations, hospitals, schools, where civilians would know they would not be hit. he also said there should be no enduring internal displacement, and that people should be allowed to return to the northern part of the gaza strip as soon as circumstances permitted. and it laid down a challenge to the israelis, saying, "look, you have one of the most sophisticated military is in the world, you ought to be able to do this. it'll be difficult but you can do it. intent matters, but so does the result," he said. and he said without giving details that the israeli government had broadly speaking i agreed with this approach, and would act accordingly. just a word on this video that's being released by hamas tonight, how has that been received in israel, this video and all the circumstances surrounding a? what sort of pressure does that put on the israeli government? —— circumstances surrounding it? it government? -- circumstances surrounding it?— surrounding it? it does, ithink it's worth _ surrounding it? it does, ithink it's worth noting _ surrounding it? it does, ithink it's worth noting that - surrounding it? it does, ithink it's worth noting that this - surrounding it? it does, i think. it's worth noting that this video, just like the one several weeks ago in which a female hostage — a group of three women, one of them delivered and passionate appeal to the netanyahu government, and that was very redolent of today's video, very redolent of that one, it was a painful video to watch. most israelis, in fact i would hazard all israelis, in fact i would hazard all israelis have not seen it, and certainly have not heard it. it has not been broadcast, it's been alluded to for some the israeli military has said it's seen it, describing it as psychological warfare, but it is deliberately not being shown to the israeli public. it is just too painful, being shown to the israeli public. it isjust too painful, and being shown to the israeli public. it is just too painful, and the being shown to the israeli public. it isjust too painful, and the kind of pressure that it might generate would also be difficult for the government. but i think that it is regarded as yet another piece of psychological warfare by an organisation that continues, to a certain degree, to dictate the pace of events. but for how much longer, who knows?— who knows? and finally, paul, you said ou who knows? and finally, paul, you said you think— who knows? and finally, paul, you said you think it _ who knows? and finally, paul, you said you think it can _ who knows? and finally, paul, you said you think it can resume - who knows? and finally, paul, you said you think it can resume within days. you think within past the 5—7 a.m. deadline, you think they might find another reason to extend a day or two? ., ., ~' find another reason to extend a day or two? ., ., ,, , or two? look, we were in this osition or two? look, we were in this position last _ or two? look, we were in this position last night, _ or two? look, we were in this position last night, we - or two? look, we were in this position last night, we did - or two? look, we were in thisj position last night, we did not or two? look, we were in this - position last night, we did not know at this hour, and fact for several hours, whether or not we would see another group of hostages released. and it was only literallyjust before 7am this morning that we got confirmation the process would continue. we could be in that situation tomorrow morning. my instinct is that we have a couple more releases still left while the remainder of the children, their mothers, and older women are released. we don't know quite how many of those people there still are. as oliver says, it's a confusing, messy picture. but there are still some, and i think the government will allow space to get those people out because this process has run successfully for a week now before it then takes a decision to go back to war. paul adams, thanks _ decision to go back to war. paul adams, thanks for _ decision to go back to war. paul adams, thanks for that. for more on this story, let's bring in bassima alghussein. she is executive director of the middle east policy council. thank you for your patience while we were watching the secretary of state. exactly what israel plans is not clear, but it would seem quite obvious that the path appears to lie in the south. do you think that the us administration does have the leverage over israel to ensure that what secretary blinken is sitting out there is followed?— out there is followed? well, the united states _ out there is followed? well, the united states certainly - out there is followed? well, the united states certainly has - out there is followed? well, the united states certainly has the i united states certainly has the ability to have leverage over israel — they have yet to exercise that, and that is why we are just now seeing very loud cries within us domestic policy spaces for restrictions on us aid to israel, as i'm sure you're aware in the past, we have never placed restrictions on aid to israel, and therefore we have tied our own hands and not been able to exercise leverage.— to exercise leverage. that's interesting _ to exercise leverage. that's interesting because - to exercise leverage. that's interesting because there i to exercise leverage. that'sj interesting because there is to exercise leverage. that's l interesting because there is a to exercise leverage. that's - interesting because there is a broad spectrum of policy suggestions out there from senator chris murphy, to senator bernie sanders — murphy saying there should be a condition set the if they breach humanitarian law, that weapons should be supplied. sanders goes further, saying it should depend on israelis reining in settlement expansion. why do you think the biden administration is reluctant to add conditions to the aid? 50 administration is reluctant to add conditions to the aid?— conditions to the aid? so as you know, conditions to the aid? so as you know. for— conditions to the aid? so as you know. for a _ conditions to the aid? so as you know, for a very _ conditions to the aid? so as you know, for a very long _ conditions to the aid? so as you know, for a very long time, - conditions to the aid? so as you know, for a very long time, us l know, for a very long time, us foreign policy towards israel has really been bipartisan and, to quote president biden and many former presidents, there has been, this is paraphrasing, "no sunlight between the shoulder of the united states and our ally, israel." now more and more americans are pushing back on that and questioning the rationality behind that, and whether or not that is a responsible way to manage our funding. and it's very interesting because in the united states, if the us federal government were to give money to a state, let's say the state of texas or alabama, it would most certainly be restricted and have a number of demands and associations with receiving that aid —— in a session with receiving the aid. so it's interesting we've had that policy so long where we are giving money to a foreign country without really demanding anything in return —— in association with receiving that aid. as we hear time and time again from this demonstration, they say they keep asking tough questions behind—the—scenes, but i have yet to hear why they think that is sufficient in garnering results. thank you very much, i'm sorry we got squeezed for time tonight, but i hope you'll come back and talk to us some more. thank you. plenty of times on this programme, we have focused on the scale of the destruction, but it is not until you plot it on the maps that you see it for what it is. this is the north of gaza. the red marks indicating the damaged up and until 22 november — the day before the ceasefire was agreed. more than a million people lived here on october 7th, and many of them fled to the south to places like khan younis and rafah on the border with egypt — where there is less damage, but still it's considerable. the only spot israel says is safe is that red box on the coast, the al mawasi humanitarian zone. well, one of the people behind those maps, which plenty of networks and newspapers are using, is jamon van den hoek, of the conflict ecology lab at oregon state university. thank you very much for being with us. ijust want thank you very much for being with us. i just want to explain to us. ijust want to explain to people something about the technology that you are using, because what a lot of people don't understand is that you're not relying here on overhead images — what is the difference between satellite radar, which you are using, and commercial satellite imaging? are using, and commercial satellite imaauin ? , ., are using, and commercial satellite imauuin? , ., ., ,, , , imaging? yes, our approach uses open satellite radar _ imaging? yes, our approach uses open satellite radar data _ imaging? yes, our approach uses open satellite radar data from _ imaging? yes, our approach uses open satellite radar data from the _ satellite radar data from the european space agency copernicus programme. so we are sensitive to different things in terms of what kind of damage might occur, under what conditions. first of all, with a radar we can see damage or monitor day or night regardless of atmosphere or weather conditions. we also look at the built environments, cities, villages, towns, structures from the side, from an oblique angle. so it's not an overhead view. we are notjust seeing damage to the roof, which is typically all you can see from high—resolution satellite imagery that you're describing. we are also sensitive to lateral damage and different kinds of severities of damages, which is one of the active areas we are exploring right now. which is highly unique, and it gives a very accurate picture. wejust heard secretary of state blinken talk about people going back to the north. from the imaging you've looked at, how likely is it that a million people could move and live in the north? i million people could move and live in the north?— million people could move and live in the north? �* _, ., in the north? i can't comment on the safe of in the north? i can't comment on the safety of migration _ in the north? i can't comment on the safety of migration back _ in the north? i can't comment on the safety of migration back to _ in the north? i can't comment on the safety of migration back to the - safety of migration back to the north, but we can comment on the scale of destruction in the north. it is severe, our estimates are plotting at least 50% of structures in north gaza and because have likely been damaged since the start of the war. so if a million people return, it's very unclear where they will live. , , , _ will live. so, is there consistency in the data? _ will live. so, is there consistency in the data? when _ will live. so, is there consistency in the data? when you're - will live. so, is there consistencyj in the data? when you're looking at small changes in the echoes, what is the algorithm actually looking for, very quickly? we the algorithm actually looking for, very quickly?— very quickly? we are looking for a sustained. — very quickly? we are looking for a sustained, significant _ very quickly? we are looking for a sustained, significant drops - - very quickly? we are looking for a sustained, significant drops - in l very quickly? we are looking for a sustained, significant drops - in a j sustained, significant drops — in a sense, the stability of the built environment. so these probably are pretty stable over time, a structure is built, it stays looking the same. when we have aerial bombardments of the scale we are seeing in this conflict, the signal, the echo as you describe it so perfectly changes. so we detect the timing of that change, then we make sure that it's large enough and persistent enough to register as a signal of damage. it’s enough to register as a signal of damaue. v . , enough to register as a signal of damaue. h ., , , damage. it's really interesting work, damage. it's really interesting work. we _ damage. it's really interesting work. we are _ damage. it's really interesting work, we are really _ damage. it's really interesting work, we are really grateful. damage. it's really interesting | work, we are really grateful for your work on the programme. stay with us, we will keep across all events in the middle east, we'll take a short break but be right back. hello there. we've got several more days of this freezing cold weather to come before things potentially turn milder deep into next week. now, today, we've seen some fresh snowfall in the showers, east scotland, northeast england and into parts of southwest england. a couple of snowmen standing testament to the wintry weather conditions here in parts of devon, for example. and snow at this time of the year, november, very, very unusual. this chart shows the white areas where, on average, we get a day or less of lying snowfall on the ground. snow really tends to be confined to the higher parts of the pennines and the scottish mountains during november. now, overnight tonight, we'll keep the cold weather conditions, clear skies for many, but where we've seen showers by day, namely southern england, eastern england, northern eastern scotland, there is a risk of some icy stretches on roads and pavements. and a freezing cold night, temperatures in the countryside probably getting down to about minus eight. watch out for a few mist and fog patches as well as we start the day on friday. now, for most of us, it's a freezing cold start to the day. temperatures very slow to rise. most of us will see some sunshine, but showers continue to feed in off the north sea. many of these around the coast itself, probably transitioning at least for a time, back to sleet or rain. it is going to be cold, temperatures struggling to get much above freezing across scotland and, what, 3—5 celsius across northern ireland, england, and wales. it is going to be a day of well below average temperatures for the time of year. saturday sees a weak weather fronts move into that cold air, and that's going to be bringing some patches of rain, probably some sleet or snow over hills, maybe some localised small accumulations. but that feature will continue to push eastwards, bringing the threat of wintry weather, at least for a time, into west scotland, parts of wales and western areas of england. those temperatures continue to struggle after another freezing cold start to the day. for sunday, low pressure to the southwest. there's some uncertainty about how quickly this is going to make inroads into the uk. this is one of the quickest models, so it could end up being quite a bit slower than this. but for the time being, the forecast shows rain moving in from the southwest and we'll probably see a bit of snow on the leading edge of this system just for a short time. the best of the bright weather and cold weather for scotland and northeast england, where temperatures, again, will struggle to get much above freezing. if you do see some milder weather in the southwest, those temperatures very slow to rise. hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. a un summit on global warming opens in dubai with a call for countries to turn their promises into action, after another year of record temperatures. inaudible let me bring you all the latest. apologies for the technical issues. i'm sarah