This hezbollah protest in beirut was held in solidarity for palestinians in gaza. There were strong words. And defiance. The speech here was full of anti american and anti israeli slogans. Its unlikely that its done anything to ease tensions that this country could be dragged into this conflict. For days, hezbollah and the israeli army have exchanged fire along the border. So far, the attacks have been contained. But what happens next is likely to be decided farfrom here in iran, hezbollah� s main supporter. The tensions also threaten to deepen sectarian divisions. This is a sunni village by the border. This is my cousins house. Sabrina has left. It was too dangerous. She came back to inspect the damage caused by an israeli retaliatory strike. So youre angry that hezbollah has been using this place to attack israel . Yes, ok, im not against that. To start war, let them start from their own homeland, not from our houses. In a pro hezbollah town, different opinions. Im not going to leave no more, no. Not unless it gets way out of hand, which i doubt that it will. Why . Because i have faith in the resistance that we have here, in the lebanese people. But many residents are on the move. This college is now a shelter for people fleeing the fighting and with nowhere to go. This man is here with his two wives and their ten children. Translation there was shelling every day. Sometimes in the morning. Sometimes in the afternoon. It kept getting closer. Every day i was saying, tomorrow it will be over, but the children couldnt take it any more. I said, lets leave, hoping that god would help me. With violence along the border getting worse, its unlikely theyll be going back home anytime soon. Hugo bachega, bbc news, southern lebanon. Weve seen a flurry of diplomacy in the middle east with visits from the british pm and us president , in the hopes of preventing israels war with hamas from escalating into a regional war. With me is our security correspondent frank gardner. And also former uk ambassador in lebanon, tom fletcher. Thank you both forjoining us, tom, if i could ask you first, we are talking about this issue of escalation, we know that there has been violence on the israel lebanon border, how significant do you read that to be at the moment . It is significant do you read that to be at the moment . Significant do you read that to be at the moment . It is significant. I mean things at the moment . It is significant. I mean things are at the moment . It is significant. I mean things are on at the moment . It is significant. I mean things are on a at the moment . It is significant. I mean things are on a knifeedgel at the moment . It is significant. I l mean things are on a knifeedge on mean things are on a knife edge on the morn border, let us be in no doubt the people of will be nand and, do not want that escalation, they know where that leads, i dont believe either israel or hezbollah want that escalation but it is very delicate and it is very important all sides hear the message loud and clear, that we need to reduce that tension, that we need to focus back on what matters now which is getting that aid across the Rafa Crossing and into gaza and to the civilians under fire. And into gaza and to the civilians under fire under fire. Remind us of the link between hezbollah, under fire. Remind us of the link between hezbollah, iran under fire. Remind us of the link between hezbollah, iran and under fire. Remind us of the link between hezbollah, iran and hamas, because i think it is important, every time we talk about this for people to understand the context of this this. ~, this this. There are links, it is very complex. This this. There are links, it is very complex, the this this. There are links, it is very complex, the key this this. There are links, it is very complex, the key link i this this. There are links, it is very complex, the key link is | very complex, the key link is between hezbollah and iran, it is a very strong link, closer than been iran and hamas. They have a tactical freedom if you like on ground, but they are very much part of the iranian access. And if iran instructs them to escalate, then they will escalate. Even if they dont judge they will escalate. Even if they dontjudge it as in this interests of lebanon and of their own community, but i very much hope that wont happen. Community, but i very much hope that wont happen wont happen. Frank, can we talk about an incident wont happen. Frank, can we talk about an incident last wont happen. Frank, can we talk about an incident last night wont happen. Frank, can we talk about an incident last night in about an incident last night in yemen or potentially involving yemen. Highlighting the property of escalating. That yemen. Highlighting the property of escalatinu. , escalating. That report that the us na shot escalating. That report that the us navy shot down escalating. That report that the us navy shot down a escalating. That report that the us navy shot down a number escalating. That report that the us navy shot down a number of escalating. That report that the us i navy shot down a number of missiles being fired by houthi, we used to call them rebels but they have been in control of yemen for several year, so the Houthi Militia In Yemen reportedly fired missiles to israel. That is Long Distance but we know that they have got Long Distance drones and missiles because they have hit abu dhabi, jeddah, targets in saudi arabia, so think think is one example of the risk of escalation, of this thing spilling out well beyond israels borders, i think there is a triple threat, a triple risk. The first is as we say and as tom fletcher referred to there, this spreads across the border, pulls in hezbollah and possibly iran and becomes a regional conflict. The second is that anger on the streets, on the, i hate this cliche, the arab street, ordinary people, not governments but ordinary people, not governments but ordinary people are so enraged, incensed by what they see as the continuing war crimes in gaza against palestinians, and the sympathy for israelis very quickly evaporated after october 7th because of the intensity of bombing, that that, that that could metastisise into a new arab spring, a kind of wave of unrest across the region, calling for the collapse of regimes in countries likejordan and egypt. The this third is the risk of terrorism. That people could be so personally furious at what is going on there and what they see as the accomplicety of western governments that they take action and indulge in about acts of what people consider to be terrorism. To be terrorism. Does that explain wh we to be terrorism. Does that explain why we have to be terrorism. Does that explain why we have seen to be terrorism. Does that explain why we have seen this to be terrorism. Does that explain why we have seen this flowery, i to be terrorism. Does that explain | why we have seen this flowery, we talk about a flurry of diplomacy, us President Biden here and Prime Minister rishi sunak, in israel yesterday, hes in egypt today, what can all that do, can it make a difference, change the dialogue . So frank is right about the risk of failure frank is right about the risk of failure and it is excellent to see that diplomacy under way, trying to delay that diplomacy under way, trying to delay a that diplomacy under way, trying to delay a that potential Ground Invasion delay a that potential Ground Invasion. Any trip, diplomatic trip, i have invasion. Any trip, diplomatic trip, i have organised this them for Prime Minister i have organised this them for Prime Minister nos the past, to the region. Minister nos the past, to the region. It minister nos the past, to the region, it is delicate in normal times region, it is delicate in normal times and region, it is delicate in normal times and these arent normal times so it is times and these arent normal times so it is good times and these arent normal times so it is good the pm issen gauged. I have talked so it is good the pm issen gauged. I have talked to his team morning, these have talked to his team morning, these are have talked to his team morning, these are substantive talk, he is seeing these are substantive talk, he is seeing is these are substantive talk, he is seeing is regional leaders, it is vital seeing is regional leaders, it is vital many seeing is regional leaders, it is vital many my view he sees the palestinian leadership because we need that alternative to hamas, it is important that the uk has a distinci is important that the uk has a distinct voice and uses it, including distinct voice and uses it, including for our interest round our own nationals who are held hostage, and i own nationals who are held hostage, and i think own nationals who are held hostage, and i think what the Prime Minister is doing and i think what the Prime Minister is doing is and i think what the Prime Minister is doing is taking his cue from joe biden is doing is taking his cue from joe biden and is doing is taking his cue from joe biden and Antony Blinken in the region. Biden and Antony Blinken in the region, saying to israel, we feel your region, saying to israel, we feel your pain, region, saying to israel, we feel your pain, we do, but also saying to the other your pain, we do, but also saying to the other peoples of the region, including the other peoples of the region, including the palestinians we feel your pain including the palestinians we feel your pain too and saying to all of them your pain too and saying to all of them we your pain too and saying to all of them we have your back, we dont want them we have your back, we dont want it them we have your back, we dont want it to them we have your back, we dont want it to escalate, and dont make mistakes want it to escalate, and dont make mistakes in want it to escalate, and dont make mistakes in this moment of raw anger, mistakes in this moment of raw anger, dont miscalculate. I hope the message is a firm one, let us hunt the message is a firm one, let us hunt down the message is a firm one, let us hunt down the terrorists but let us. Et hunt down the terrorists but let us get aid hunt down the terrorists but let us Get Aid In Hunt down the terrorists but let us get aid in and let us respect humanitarian law. And then, the friendly humanitarian law. And then, the friendly advice, the quiet advice when friendly advice, the quiet advice when the friendly advice, the quiet advice when the cameras are away and they are in when the cameras are away and they are in the when the cameras are away and they are in the room alone, i would when the cameras are away and they are in the room alone, iwould be saying are in the room alone, iwould be saying dont are in the room alone, iwould be saying dont do what iran wants you to do, saying dont do what iran wants you to do. Dont saying dont do what iran wants you to do, dont escalate, think about where to do, dont escalate, think about where this to do, dont escalate, think about where this ends, think about building where this ends, think about building up an alternative mainstream leadership to hamas, think mainstream leadership to hamas, think about the off ramps, that is the key think about the off ramps, that is the key to think about the off ramps, that is the key to diplomacy. The think about the off ramps, that is the key to diplomacy. Think about the off ramps, that is the key to diplomacy. The and the difference between the key to diplomacy. The and the difference between the the key to diplomacy. The and the difference between the prime difference between the Prime Ministers visit and the president s, obviously the president had to cut his short, there was a plan to meet Arab Leaderses and in the end that didnt happen. How much can rishi sunak� s visit maybe have some of those conversations that President Biden didnt in the end have . , ~ ~ , have . That is where i think kit be most useful have . That is where i think kit be most useful. The have . That is where i think kit be most useful. The foreign have . That is where i think kit be i most useful. The Foreign Secretary has been most useful. The Foreign Secretary has been out there, but in this moment has been out there, but in this moment it has been out there, but in this moment it is great we have that level moment it is great we have that level of moment it is great we have that level of engagement. And the pm is rolling level of engagement. And the pm is rolling up level of engagement. And the pm is rolling up his sleeves, in all of this it rolling up his sleeves, in all of this it is rolling up his sleeves, in all of this it is so rolling up his sleeves, in all of this it is so important that Mainstream Palestinian Leadership is engaged Mainstream Palestinian Leadership is engaged as well, because we need to think about engaged as well, because we need to think about who emerges to replace hamas. Think about who emerges to replace hamas. In think about who emerges to replace hamas, in that political process, but, hamas, in that political process, but. Also hamas, in that political process, but. Also to hamas, in that political process, but, also to remind everyone, including but, also to remind everyone, including israel, the real prize is normalisation, and that will get much normalisation, and that will get much harder, as long as this carnage. Oes much harder, as long as this carnage goes on. Much harder, as long as this carnage goes on. As much harder, as long as this carnage goes on, as long as the Civilian Casuatties goes on, as long as the civilian casualties mount. If we the take a deep casualties mount. If we the Take A Deep Breath and step back from an escalation, deep breath and step back from an escalation, that prize of nremlisation between israel and the arab world is still out there. There is what arab world is still out there. There is what i arab world is still out there. There is what i heard this morning, what i am hearing is what i heard this morning, what i am hearing from former colleagues to ambassadors, that that prize is still out ambassadors, that that prize is still out there. Still out there. Frank, normalisation still out there. Frank, normalisation does i still out there. Frank, normalisation does seem a still out there. Frank, normalisation does seem a long way away, doesnt it. The normalisation does seem a long way away. Doesnt it away, doesnt it. The accords brokered away, doesnt it. The accords brokered by away, doesnt it. The accords brokered by the away, doesnt it. The accords brokered by the trump away, doesnt it. The accords brokered by the Trump Administration did norm lights ties between the uae, bahrain, morocco and sudan with israel. It is incredible to think two weeks ago saudi arabia was on the track to norm lose hissing to recognise state of israel. You had the Tourism Minister coming to re had, that is all now off, largely because, i mean i am sure arab countries, the leaders are genuinely appalled what is happening but they are under domestic pressure to condemn israel, so ties have cooled. There a short term problem which is to stop the violence right now, but the lodger, and that could be done, relatively quickly, but, the much bigger, longerterm relatively quickly, but, the much bigger, longer term problem relatively quickly, but, the much bigger, longerterm problem is relatively quickly, but, the much bigger, longer term problem is how do you resolve the Twin Problems that the, the gazans have been governed by an organisation that is violent, that is sending rockets into israel that is killing israeli civilians and this Israeli Government is intent on building settlements across arab land, across the real estate palestinians expect to have. Every day that dream gets further away, there is no hope until thatis further away, there is no hope until that is resolved. That is the longer term problem, what want we are seeing now is the volcano breaking through the crust, the mantle but there is is a bigger Boiling Problem under the surface. Brute there is is a bigger Boiling Problem under the surface. Under the surface. We will have to leave it there. Under the surface. We will have to leave it there. Frank under the surface. We will have to leave it there. Frank gardner under the surface. We will have to leave it there. Frank gardner and l leave it there. Frank gardner and tom this youre live with bbc news. The Opposition Labour Party overturned substantial majorities in mid beds and tamworth. Let us look at the number, in mid bedfordshire the labour candidate won the seat with 13872 votes, it gives the party a majority of 1192 votes. This means the swing from the conservatives to labour was 20. 5 , making it is biggest conservative majority to be overturned by labour since 1945. Here is the labour leader keir starmer. ,. , here is the labour leader keir starmer. ,. , here is the labour leader keir starmer. ,. ,. , starmer. This was such a hard fight, such a big majority, starmer. This was such a hard fight, such a big majority, it starmer. This was such a hard fight, such a big majority, it was starmer. This was such a hard fight, such a big majority, it was a starmer. This was such a hard fight, such a big majority, it was a three i such a big majority, it was a three way fight, every single conversation, every vote that you persuaded to come across to us was work that you have done on behalf of this constituency, for a better future. And in tamworth labours candidate won the seat by 1316 votes, this means the swing from the conservatives to labour was 23. 9 , thatis conservatives to labour was 23. 9 , that is the second biggest swing from the conservatives, to labour, since world war ii. Labours leader welcomed the historic results. I think what you have seen here replicates what is going on across the country, people are fed up to the country, people are fed up to the back teeth with 13 years of decline un