According to israels public broadcaster. Three Israeli Soldiers have been moderately wounded thats accordind to the broadcaster on x. They added attackers had been killed. With all of this in mind, talking this evening, i just want to begin by getting your reaction to what weve been seeing. Gosh, well, i mean the hostages massively complicate situation there because obviously in the israeli psyche, hostages are extremely important, every israeli life is really important, and they have been known in the past to, you know, in releasing israeli hostages to give up a lot in return. A few years ago when an israeli called gilad shalit was released by hamas, that was in return for 1000 Palestinian Prisoners. So, the fact that there are so many other hostages who are still being used as Human Shields essentially by hamas in gaza since they have taken them back there, that massively complicates the situation for israel as it looks to deliver a response a proportionate response or a disproportionate response that were likely to see in the coming days and this reallyjust is a huge, huge attack that has taken place today that i think has shocked israelis, that has shocked the world and it was a surprise in many senses because this is a massive Intelligence Failure for hamas to be able to conduct such an attack by air, land and sea, despite having a fraction of the resources that israel has at its disposal. And, ravi, touching on this unprecedented scale of the attack, as you have been alluding to, were also getting more details coming in from the new york times, essentially reporting we have Air Raid Sirens which are continuing early on Sunday Morning and warnings going off in the coastal city of ashkelon at about 2 30 am. Just talking about this scale and what we are seeing and what weve seen essentially on what is day one, how do you see this developing . I mean, day one is a very apt way of putting it, helena, because this will go on for a while. Its very clear now that he must have been planning this for months. It is not over on hamas� s part. There are scattered fighters who have infiltrated by ground or paragliders into israeli towns. They are still active. Israel is busily trying to shut those attackers down. But then, you know, we sort of move into the response phase and there will be a lot of pressure internally on israel to launch a huge response. Weve heard the phrase that this is israels 9 11 being invoked again and again today and that gives you a sense of a major blow this is to israel but it also gives you a sense of what to expect in the coming days. 9 11 was obviously an awful, awful attack on america but then, it led to a series of attacks and a War On Terror that lasted for the better part of 20 years. Similarly, now that were invoking 9 11, you can expect israel to have a massive response that will have a range of regional effects. Is not just is notjust going to about gaza. Is not ust going to about gaza. ,. , is not ust going to about gaza ,. , , is not ust going to about gaza. ,. , , gaza. Questions will be asked who is supported gaza. Questions will be asked who is supported hamas. Which other regional powers, which may involve iran. We may yet see hezbollah and other regional groups be involved and all have an impact on other regional deals, such as the saudi israeli move to try to normalise ties between the two countries. I did want to ask you about that with your international perspective, ravi, in terms of why now . As you point out, coming at a time where there was this closening of ties, the possibility for this peace deal between saudi arabia and israel, do you think that could have played a role or was this also a symptom of the fact that this conflict between israel and hamas had been so long running that essentially, things were bound to boil over at some point . I think its a bit of all of that. All we can do is try and assess, in hindsight, the potential israeli Saudi Normalisation of ties. One thing on the table was america trying to pressure israel to make concessions towards the palestinians. All of that now is gone. But clearly, in even those talks of concessions, the palestinians were not consulted. This could be hamass way of saying, wait a minute. We dont like what is going on and we want a say, we want to sort of attack in this very brutal, horrific way. But it isntjust that, this hasnt come in a vacuum, and we can say that now in hindsight. Theres been a lot of violence in the west bank that other palestinian territory nearby, over the course of this year, some of the worst violence that weve seen, skirmishes in years. We also have one of israel most ring wing governments in recent history. That,too, has come with its own complications. A top israeli minister recently visited what israelis called the temple mount, their holiest site, what muslims call the al aqsa mosque. That is another thing that has raised tensions in recent weeks. All of that, when you put all that together and the fact that america has largely been distracted to a degree by the war in ukraine and also with competition with china, you put all that together and hamas may have just found a moment to attack and surprise israel and the world. Weve been keeping an eye on what happens in gaza tonight. Its 4 30am there and were now hearing that israel will cut off the supply of electricity, fuel and goods to gaza thats according to Media Reports citing a statement from israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahus office. Gaza was already thrown into darkness on saturday as israeli authorities cut power to its territories. Joining me on set now is our reporter carl nasman. Youve been looking through this reaction coming in internationally but also of course from us congressional members. Walk us through it . We saw the members. Walk us through it . Saw the big address from us President Joe Biden but several different officials and lawmakers have been commenting and issuing statements today and issuing statements today and i wanted to start with some congressional officials. Chuck schumer among many sending out their support for israel. The Top Democrats in the house, hakeem jeffries, also speaking out today and, of course, the houseis out today and, of course, the house is a body right now without a speaker. We have also heard from the top two candidates who are looking to replace Kevin Mccarthy. Jimjordan, the jim jordan, the other candidate looking to become speaker of the house and another republican said a mix of democrats and republicans then but very similar message. I republicans then but very similar message. Republicans then but very similar message. I have to oint similar message. I have to point out similar message. I have to point out that similar message. I have to point out that this similar message. I have to point out that this of similar message. I have to l point out that this of course is coming against a backdrop of weeks House Speaker drama with a centrally no one at the helm. What more can you tell us about that . fix. What more can you tell us about that . �. ,. ,. ~. ,. ,. , that . A chaotic week on capitol hill with kevin that . A chaotic week on capitol hill with Kevin Mccarthy that . A chaotic week on capitol hill with Kevin Mccarthy had. Hill with Kevin Mccarthy had been the speaker, he was ousted on tuesday but there is no one there now to basically take the helm and it means this is a congress that is essentially paralysed. It doesnt have the ability to bring any bills or resolutions to the house floor. There is a temporary speaker right now in control, patrick mchenry, but he doesnt have much power. This is almost a senator oneill role. There is some debate in fact as to whether or not he can join some debate in fact as to whether or not he canjoin in to the classified briefings the House Speaker would normally take part in ceremonial. And into all of the chaos as the us does not currently have an ambassador to israel. President biden had nominated Macalou Backin Biden had nominated macalou back in september and the nomination has not been cleared through the senate jack lew. Their speculation in fact over whether now the house and the republicans in particular will be propelled to really move this process forward, to get a new speaker in place. Mike lawler even tweeting today, saying this was total chaos and what we should do, as we can see here, reinstate Kevin Mccarthy, the former House Speaker, to stop messing around and do it and he says this will breathe some sort of vulnerability around the world, the way that other countries are viewing the us right now, and he is not the only lawmaker expressing these kind of concerns about some of what we are seeing it that what next week and we are expecting a vote potentially to take place to select a new speaker. fin to select a new speaker. On tuesday to select a new speaker. On tuesday. Great to select a new speaker. On tuesday. Great to have your reporting, carl nasman. For more on the events of the past 2a hours or so, i spoke a short time ago with ambassador david satterfield, former us assistant Secretary Of State for near eastern affairs. Thank you for being with us here on bbc. The death toll is rising in israel and the idf is now urging civilians in gaza to evacuate as its military forces target hamas. What are your greatest concerns about how this situation could escalate . Lets look first at why hamas chose this moment. And this particular strategy. Chose this moment. And this particularstrategy. I chose this moment. And this particular strategy. I think its clear there were long preparations made by hamas, and in communication with iran and hezbollah, given the personalities on all sides involved here. What was the purpose . I think it was several fold. It was first and foremost to obtain Israel Hostages Civilian and military, as many as possible in Orderfor Hamas to then be able to hold them for two reasons. As shields against a possible israeli massive ground move and secondly as a means of getting Palestinian Prisoners out of israeli jails. Why is there such a critical objective . Why did hamass leaders take this enormous risk of a massive israeli response . Ithink enormous risk of a massive israeli response . I think they did so because for their part, they wanted to demonstrate, and demonstrate overwhelmingly to the Palestinian People not in gaza but in the west bank, that they, not mike lawler bus and they, not mike lawler bus and the Palestinian Authority other true revolutionary force that serves the interests of the Palestinian People mahmoud abbas. This is not new, its an old motivation. And looking broadly at the other regional motivations with a saudi israeli normalisation deal as it has been referred to, its not done yet but certainly something has been quite seriously considered and such a deal is a challenge, a challenge for radical terrorist movements such as hamas and a challenge to iran and both parties have every incentive to try to defer it or put it off altogether. If there is a massive Israeli Ground incursion into gaza, and that is something which the movement of his infantry on the ground tonight would suggest israel infantry. Then he must� s hope is, and this is the big drop microfibres are, tragic situation, more innocents are killed. ~ , � situation, more innocents are killed. ~ a , killed. Inaudible served. Crosstalk. Killed. Inaudible served. Crosstalk. Yes killed. Inaudible served. Crosstalk. Yes but killed. Inaudible served. Crosstalk. Yes but the | crosstalk. Yes but the escalation crosstalk. Yes but the escalation is crosstalk. Yes but the escalation is almost escalation is almost certainly going to be an escalation which targets innocents on both sides. I targets innocents on both sides. ,. ,. ,. Targets innocents on both sides. ,. ,. , sides. I want to touch on some of our sides. I want to touch on some of your points sides. I want to touch on some of your points about sides. I want to touch on some of your points about other of your points about other players because you were ambassador to lebanon the past where hezbollah prays the attack, saying it serves as a warning against recognising israel. Do you think hezbollah may use this moment i want ability to also attack israel and that we risk being a situation in which this conflict becomes more widespread . Conflict becomes more widespread . No, ithink hezbollahs widespread . No, ithink| hezbollahs engagement widespread . No, ithink hezbollahs engagement now is of a different character. It is a potential guarantor, of israels connect along with iran to ensure if it can, but israeli actions against hamas and gaza are limited. In other words, hezbollah is not going to unilaterally move against israel, i would assess, but if there is a massive incursion into gaza, the threat is always there of hezbollah rocketing and that something israel would have to take into consideration. , , consideration. Perhaps this is a difficult consideration. Perhaps this is a difficult question consideration. Perhaps this is a difficult question tonight, i a difficult question tonight, this particularjuncture in this particular juncture in light this particularjuncture in light of the fact that we are seeing an unprecedented scale at least in recent decades, memory, in terms of attack. What impact do you think what were seeing tonight could have on efforts normalise relations between israel and the arab world . , world . Certainly, is run, hezbollahs world . Certainly, is run, hezbollahs and world . Certainly, is run, hezbollahs and last world . Certainly, is run,| hezbollahs and last post attempt to thwart such normalisation but i dont think it will work. I think over time for generators, the engines that push normalisation forward, will continue to operate and one of those engines, quite frankly, theres the threat to all the state in the threat to all the state in the region. Arab and israel. From iran and from terrorist movements such as mice. I do want to ask movements such as mice. I do want to ask you movements such as mice. I do want to ask you with movements such as mice. I do want to ask you with your want to ask you with your expertise, what you envision us Secretary Of StateAntony Blinken will do tonight. We know he was holding a call with president mark wood of us but this is about israel and garzo president mahmoud abbas. How effective for this and how can the United States balanced its approach and relations while giving its traditional support to israel . I giving its traditional support to israel . ~ , to israel . I think the message that the diplomatic to israel . I think the message that the diplomatic activity to israel . I think the message that the diplomatic activity in | that the diplomatic activity in which President Biden and secretary blinken for that Matter Secretary of defence austin are engaged during the day today and probably for the next several days is first to register that the United States unequivocally supports israel. The president could not have made that clearer. He was quite wide. There is no question here of equivalency or balance as those terms are sometimes used. This is support for an ally against a massive calculator Terrorist Attack against innocent civilians. The other message which they will be passing and working is to try to ensure that all parties will influence in the middle east exercise that influence to ensure that hezbollah and iran hide it do not enter this conflict. That is absolutely critical. �. , conflict. That is absolutely critical. , critical. Ambassador david satterfield, critical. Ambassador david satterfield, former critical. Ambassador david satterfield, former us satterfield, former us assistant Secretary Of State for near eastern affairs. We thank you for your analysis. Thank you for taking the time to be with us. Live now to bbc state Department CorrespondentBarbara Plett usher. The conversation earlier was about the Biden Administration of� s steadfast support for israel. But what about the perception among the American Public . We perception among the american ublic . ~. ,. ,. ,. , public . We have not really got a wa to public . We have not really got a way to measure public . We have not really got a way to measure the public . We have not really got i a way to measure the perception since the hamas attacks started, but certainly amongst the American Public in recent years there has been a growing sympathy for palestinians and greater criticism for israel. I would say that that is something that developed over the period of the Benjamin Netanyahu leadership of israel because of his fairly hardline stances. And especially now because of the right wing government that was recently elected but is quite extreme. You are seeing certain things happen or you had seen the certain things happen in the American Space that you had not seen before, for example, quite recently a group of prominent academics put out a letter in which they suggested that the situation in the occupied west bank be referred to as apartheid which is a very controversial thing of course to say in many circles. Noting i think it was because of the right wing go