briefing in washington. we'll bring you that live. the israeli government said today the majority of the hostages hamas is holding are still alive. 20 of them are under the age of 18. meanwhile, the un secretary general, antonio guterres, has visited the egyptian border with gaza today, appealing for the trucks to be let in. an israeli official tells the bbc there is a "good chance" the aid trucks will be allowed in tomorrow. there is a "good chance" the aid good evening. there is a "good chance" the aid after days of continual bombardment in gaza, it was noticed today that suddenly there was a lull in the fighting. and perhaps there was good reason. tonight hamas has freed two hostages. an american mother and her daughter. in a statement hamas said they were being released for humanitarian reasons, the mother is not in good condition. let's bring in our correspondent. what can you tell us about the way this exchange took place? flat a what can you tell us about the way this exchange took place? not a lot about the mechanics _ this exchange took place? not a lot about the mechanics of _ this exchange took place? not a lot about the mechanics of the - this exchange took place? not a lot| about the mechanics of the release, not an exchange but a release. we are not aware there is any additional component to the story. as you say, hamas said this was a release that took place for humanitarian reasons. there is some suggestion that the mother is not well. i should tell you that their names arejudith raanan and natalie raanan from illinois and they were kidnapped from kibbutz nahal oz on october the 7th. they were handed over to the israelis on the edge of the gaza strip and taken to the military base somewhere in the middle of the country where family members will be waiting to meet them and at the end of a statement from the prime minister's office it says the prime minister's office it says the government of israel, the israeli army and the entire security establishment will continue to operate with the best of their abilities to locate and return all of the abductees home. one thing said earlier in the day by an israeli military official is at some of the small limited operations conducted in the gaza strip by the israeli military are to gain intelligence where hostages might be. ., ~' , ., , intelligence where hostages might be. . ~ , ., , . intelligence where hostages might be. . ~' i” , . ., intelligence where hostages might be. . , . ., ., be. thank you very much for that. i can tell you — be. thank you very much for that. i can tell you from _ be. thank you very much for that. i can tell you from reporting - be. thank you very much for that. i can tell you from reporting that - be. thank you very much for that. i can tell you from reporting that we | can tell you from reporting that we have already done onjudith and natalie raanan that they were taken hostage at kibbutz nahal oz in southern israel when they were visiting relatives. judith's husband told local news station that his daughter had texted him as the attack began and they were hiding in attack began and they were hiding in a bunker or safe room and last they were seen was being started across the border by hamas militants. i am pleased we are joined by the former foreign minister ofjordan. joining us tonight from washington is the former foreign minister ofjordan and long—time diplomat, marwan muasher. cani can i get your reaction to the release of these two cottages and what it tells us about qatar's mediation ongoing in the background? it is obviously great news, christian. targeting civilians should never be condoned and i hope that this is part of the process in which there are negotiations. i know there are negotiations going on as we speak in order to either deter israel from going all the way to gaza or having done in a different way. but the bottom line is we do need to stop, to have a ceasefire first and engage in a process later and this is the value to that and thatis and this is the value to that and that is extremely good news. truth? that is extremely good news. why do ou think that is extremely good news. why do you think they _ that is extremely good news. why do you think they released _ that is extremely good news. why do you think they released these - that is extremely good news. why do you think they released these two . you think they released these two cottages? they are american citizens. there are other hostages that we know were badly injured —— released these two hostages? why these particular too? is it a message from hamas? i these particular too? is it a message from hamas? i truly cannot tell at this stage. _ message from hamas? i truly cannot tell at this stage. i _ message from hamas? i truly cannot tell at this stage. i am _ message from hamas? i truly cannot tell at this stage. i am not _ message from hamas? i truly cannot tell at this stage. i am not privy - tell at this stage. i am not privy to what has been going on but the very fact that hamas did release hostages is a good sign and means that there are negotiations going on and i hope it is part of a bigger deal than the two hostages but obviously it is a good sign. you have been _ obviously it is a good sign. you have been heavily _ obviously it is a good sign. you have been heavily involved in some diplomacy in recent days. argue about whether the jordanian government is playing a role in some of this mediation? i am government is playing a role in some of this mediation?— of this mediation? i am not aware of an role. of this mediation? i am not aware of any role- i— of this mediation? i am not aware of any role- i hone _ of this mediation? i am not aware of any role. i hope they _ of this mediation? i am not aware of any role. i hope they are _ of this mediation? i am not aware of any role. i hope they are but - of this mediation? i am not aware of any role. i hope they are but i - of this mediation? i am not aware of any role. i hope they are but i am i any role. i hope they are but i am not aware of any role. i any role. i hope they are but i am not aware of any role.— any role. i hope they are but i am not aware of any role. i want to ask ou not aware of any role. i want to ask you about — not aware of any role. i want to ask you about a — not aware of any role. i want to ask you about a bug — not aware of any role. i want to ask you about a bug that _ not aware of any role. i want to ask you about a bug that is _ not aware of any role. i want to ask you about a bug that is why - not aware of any role. i want to ask you about a bug that is why we - you about a bug that is why we invited you want because it is such a dire situation in gaza at the moment. the un secretary—general has been at the rafah crossing today. what you think is a hold—up? because i was 20 trucks had been at the rafah crossing folk several days. first ball, 20 trucks a day is not enough. gaza needs at least 100 trucks a day. two, this collective punishment also should not be condoned where all of gaza has been shut off from electricity, medicine, food, etc. so this is not a question about the weather 20 trucks go in or not, it is a question of whether the international community is going to condone 2 million people being under siege, locked up with nowhere to go and even if these trucks go in, if israel goes into gaza there will be casualties in the thousands and that is what i am concerned about. so, yes, the 20 trucks are needed but a lot more than this is needed and what is actually needed is to stop the incursion altogether. you what is actually needed is to stop the incursion altogether.- the incursion altogether. you will be aware there _ the incursion altogether. you will be aware there have _ the incursion altogether. you will be aware there have been - the incursion altogether. you will be aware there have been a - the incursion altogether. you will. be aware there have been a number the incursion altogether. you will- be aware there have been a number of statements in recent days from some israeli politicians and defence officials that after this conflict gaza will be smaller. some speculation that they will increase the size of the buffer. beyond that, there is of course if they are demolishing buildings thousands of palestinians displaced, maybe towards egypt and jordan. do you worry about that? it is towards egypt and jordan. do you worry about that?— worry about that? it is a huge wor , worry about that? it is a huge worry. both — worry about that? it is a huge worry. both in _ worry about that? it is a huge worry, both in egypt - worry about that? it is a huge worry, both in egypt and - worry about that? it is a huge i worry, both in egypt and jordan worry about that? it is a huge - worry, both in egypt and jordan but particularlyjordan about a mass transfer intojordan. christian, the current israeli government has clearly said they do not intend to end the occupation are established a second state and i would assume also they don't intend palestinian majority to be under their control and today the palestinians are a majority inside areas of their control. it if that is a case are only logical alternative to that is to affect a massive transfer of gazans into egypt and from the west bank intojordan. that is what the jordanians and egyptians are most worried about. they don't want it. the palestinians that left in 19118 never went back again, despite the presence of many un resolutions, most prominently 194. they don't want a repeat of that. and that is why there is concern that they are going to result in a second tragedy, for the palestinians. this is why the cycle of violence cannot remain, why there is no military solution to this conflict. the two sides have to sit together and discuss the root cause of the whole issue, which is occupation. without discussing the root cause i'm doing something to end it, i'm afraid the cycle of violence is going to continue. the e: tian violence is going to continue. the egyptian president has been categoric that no refugees will be accepted but that is a very tough position to maintain if the conflict does escalate. and the palestinians just can't exist in gaza. is there a contingency plan if that is the case? a, contingency plan if that is the case? �* ., ., contingency plan if that is the case? ., ., , ., , case? a lot of people are asking why is it that the — case? a lot of people are asking why is it that the humanitarian _ case? a lot of people are asking why is it that the humanitarian corridor . is it that the humanitarian corridor is it that the humanitarian corridor is not done to take palestinians who want to leave gaza? not all of them want to leave gaza? not all of them want to leave to the west bank, for example, to their own land where they don't feel or are not concerned that they will be a victim of their plant and have to come back to it. why is it that the human corridor is only two... hp fuelled the speculation that israel's real objective is to expel palestinians outside their natural home. {line outside their natural home. one other proposal _ outside their natural home. one other proposal i _ outside their natural home. one other proposal i have seen voiced is that if hamas were dislodged, that somehow the palestinian authority could be emboldened, re—financed, and empowered to take over in gaza. do you think it is feasible or desirable in gaza? it do you think it is feasible or desirable in gaza?— do you think it is feasible or desirable in gaza? it is too early to speculate _ desirable in gaza? it is too early to speculate on _ desirable in gaza? it is too early to speculate on all _ desirable in gaza? it is too early to speculate on all of _ desirable in gaza? it is too early to speculate on all of this. - desirable in gaza? it is too early to speculate on all of this. i - desirable in gaza? it is too early| to speculate on all of this. i think the palestinian authorities are in a weak spot and it has been made weaker by what hamas did starting on october the 7th, and i believe that moving forward we need elections inside the palestinian territories to develop new leadership. i am not a palestinian and this is something for the palestinians themselves to decide on, but it is true that there palestinian authorities also lacks any degree of credibility or legitimacy among the palestinian people and moving forward we need a process where there are palestinian elections. �* ., , ., process where there are palestinian elections. �* ., ., elections. before you go, we will talk later about _ elections. before you go, we will talk later about the _ elections. before you go, we will talk later about the very - elections. before you go, we will talk later about the very real - talk later about the very real concerns in the biden administration that this could spread and clearly there is a lot of diplomacy going on in the region today. rishi sunak was in the region today. rishi sunak was in qatar and in the region today. rishi sunak was in qatarand cairo. in the region today. rishi sunak was in qatar and cairo. are you concerned that if there was a ground incursion that the tensions we currently see at the northern border would be further inflamed and hezbollah might come into the war? it depends on the extent of the incursion. this is herfifth war that israel wages against gaza in the last 16 or 17 years. hezbollah has not interfered in any of these was before and so at this stage i am not as concerned that hezbollah has an interest in entering this war. if the number of casualties rise, the incursion state for a very long time, one cannot predict what will happen but at this stage in time i am not concerned.— happen but at this stage in time i am not concerned. thank you very much for coming _ am not concerned. thank you very much for coming on _ am not concerned. thank you very much for coming on the _ am not concerned. thank you very i much for coming on the programme. am not concerned. thank you very - much for coming on the programme. it is a pleasure to talk to you.— is a pleasure to talk to you. thank ou. thank you. earlier in the day, the secretary general antonio guterres visited the rafah border crossing with egypt. there are 20 trucks waiting at the gate, as they have been for the past two days. mr gutteres says he expects the first shipment to cross in "the next day or so". but 20 trucks will not feed 2 million people. the water is running out, the hospitals are overwhelmed and are now rationing anaesthetic and painkillers, the main medical facility in gaza city says its generators which power the life support machines will run out of fuel tomorrow. there are no fuel supplies in the convoy that is waiting to cross. tonight, we have two special reports from our correspondents who live and work in gaza. in a moment, we'll hear from rushdi abu alouf, who's in the city of khan younis, in the south. but first, bbc arabic�*s adnan el bursh has more from central gaza. this is an affluent neighbourhood in central gaza. overnight, it has been completely destroyed. 32 tower blocks, each containing dozens of flats, are now totally gone. translation: they told us to evacuate at around - 8:30pm or 9pm at night. we ran through the streets. then israel started bombing the area non—stop, from nine until seven this morning. you can see all of this destruction. um salim lived in one of these blocks of flats. she tells me all the families in her tower are now living stranded in the streets of gaza with nowhere to go. other residents say many people remain trapped. translation: we cannot bring people out from under the rubble. _ ambulances cannot get here. we cannot pull the bodies out. people are screaming but we cannot pull them out. last night's attack took many residents by surprise, as people told me that it has been a relatively calm area in gaza. translation: we are civilians living peacefully in our homes. _ why are you bombing us and ruining our lives? as we were filming here, a new warning came in from the israeli army, telling people to evacuate. we have now left because it is dangerous but the reality is for many people still there, there is nowhere safe to go. adnan el—bursh, bbc news, from central gaza. first night with a little hope it might be a good sign for this humanitarian corridor to open at rafah crossing. hamas says they have released two citizens and they said... the militant group hamas said they have released two american citizens who were taken hostage that day on saturday, and they said after the qataris have intervened they have decided to release them for her humanitarian reason. we understand that the qataris, the egyptians, mediation has been taking place, in qatar many foreign countries involved in visiting hamas in qatar. the chairman of hamas, ismail haniyeh, is based in qatar and is leading the negotiation. people here are hoping that this sign might be going to lead to the opening of the humanitarian corridor and allow 4000 trucks of food, medicine, fuel to enter into gaza. gaza is struggling to cope with the situation, to cope with the difficulties the hospitals are facing. over two thirds of the population are displaced in the southern part of gaza, including this city of khan younis, where a million people are living here now. he is living and telling the story in khan younis and things are getting increasingly difficult for him. this is the us state department where we are expecting an update on the two hostages released by hamas, judith and natalie raanan both taken from kibbutz nahal oz on the 7th of october, they were both hiding in a bunker in a house where they were visiting relatives in the last we saw of them was footage shot by hamas then been taken across the border. it would appear thatjudith is not very well and i have heard in previous interviews from a sister that she wasn't in good health before she went to gaza and hamas say tonight they have released her and her daughter on humanitarian grounds. they have been handed over at the border and they are now on their way to a military base in central israel. we will talk more about that through the course of the programme. around the world and across the uk, you are watching bbc news. let me bring you up to speed with other stories. the conservative suffered two heavy by—election defeat with labour overturning huge majorities to take bedfordshire and tamworth. bedfordshire won the seat for the first time. sir keir starmer said labour is redrawing the political map. the conservative party chairman said the results were disappointing. government borrowing in september... government borrowing in september was lower than most economists had expected. the office for national statistics says public sector net borrowing last month was £14.3 billion. many economists had predicted that figure to be more than 18 billion. the actress haydn gwynne has died aged 66. for tv audiences, she was known for roles in drop the dead donkey and the windsors. she was nominated for olivier and tony awards for playing billy elliott's dance teacher in london's west end and on broadway. she was due to return to the west end last month before being diagnosed with cancer. you're live with bbc news. tonight, there arejewish families around the world sitting down to shabbat dinner. and scores of israeli tables will have empty places where the missing would normally have taken their seats. at the tel aviv museum, a table has been set in the plaza for the 203 hostages that hamas is holding — for the 201 hostages that hamas is holding — an empty chairfor every one one of them. the idf thinks the majority of them are still alive. and they gave some details on who has have been taken. at least 20 of them are under the age of 18. some of them very young. between 10 and 20 of them are over the age of 60. that information gives us some hope that the idf knows where they are, and is keeping tabs on their position. let's hear from former sunday express reporter, yvonne ridley who was held hostage back in 2001 by the taliban. good to see you again. thank you for coming on. i guess you can relate to the relief that these two people will be feeling tonight as they get acclimatised to having their freedom back. , , . ., back. they will be excited, elated, but they will _ back. they will be excited, elated, but they will also _ back. they will be excited, elated, but they will also be _ back. they will be excited, elated, but they will also be concerned - back. they will be excited, elated, but they will also be concerned to | but they will also be concerned to see their friends and family, who, from my experience, i was held for 11 days, i was quite shocked when i saw how stressed all of my friends and relatives had been in my absence. and they will have a lot of catching up to do. tonight will be a joyous occasion forjudith and natalie and it is interesting that they were released on humanitarian grounds. that is exactly the term used by the taliban when i was released. and i am sure that they will be debriefed at the moment to see if there is any ounce of intelligence they can give which will help the police of the other hostages. and this is huge, huge intelligencejob and the hostages. and this is huge, huge intelligence job and the negotiators intelligence job and the negotiators in qatar should really be praised for their unstinting work. there is always a lot goes on behind the scenes. , ., ~ always a lot goes on behind the scenes. ,., . ., , scenes. indeed, so. we have 'ust read a statement i scenes. indeed, so. we have 'ust read a statement from i scenes. indeed, so. we have 'ust read a statement from joe h scenes. indeed, so. we havejust read a statement from joe biden| scenes. indeed, so. we havejust i read a statement from joe biden in the last minute. he said we secured two american hostages, taken during the horrific terrorist assault on october the 7th. a terrible ordeal these past 14 days and i am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family who has been racked with fear. these individuals and the family will have the full support of the us government as they recover and heal and we should all respect their privacy. we will continue to work around the clock to free american citizens who were still being held. there are still a handful of american citizens still being held by hamas. i want to come back to that point you made about being debriefed. when you came out, where you able to sort of paint and create a picture for the authorities about where you are held and what conditions, he was held on you when that sort of thing, or was it all a bit of a blur?— that sort of thing, or was it all a bit of a blur? no, i can remember everything — bit of a blur? no, i can remember everything quite _ bit of a blur? no, i can remember everything quite distinctly. - bit of a blur? no, i can remember everything quite distinctly. i - bit of a blur? no, i can remember everything quite distinctly. i was i everything quite distinctly. i was held along with some german hostages, two american girls and an australian, and when i was released, their ambassadors and intelligence agencies asked me about the other hostages, how they were, how they were coping mentally, and i tried to give as much information as i could. one of the things that we used to talk about was being rescued, and we were all agreed that we hope that nobody would try and rescue us, because we didn't want to be caught up because we didn't want to be caught up in any crossfire and become collateral damage. that up in any crossfire and become collateral damage.— up in any crossfire and become collateral damage. that is a really im ortant collateral damage. that is a really important point — collateral damage. that is a really important point because, - collateral damage. that is a really important point because, clearly, | important point because, clearly, there is enormous value in these hostages to hamas and of course they have been able to use these two tonight. the statement they are put out, talking about the humanitarian thought about the couple they are released. but obviously with a ground incursion pending, there must be 200 or so hostages wondering what will happen next. be 200 or so hostages wondering what will happen next-— will happen next. well, yes, i was still locked _ will happen next. well, yes, i was still locked up _ will happen next. well, yes, i was still locked up on _ will happen next. well, yes, i was still locked up on the _ will happen next. well, yes, i was still locked up on the 7th - will happen next. well, yes, i was still locked up on the 7th of- still locked up on the 7th of october 2002 when america and britain launched the war, and they dropped more than 20 cruise missiles in cabo. and that was terrifying because there is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide —— in campbell. and we have heard this constantly from the palestinians living in gaza said that they got to move out and they say, where to? there is nowhere. and it must be even more concentrated and focused for the hostages because they will have all heard the bombs dropped. you can hear a missile land from about 20 miles away and of course gaza isn't that big. so i would imagine that has been terrifying. would imagine that has been terri inc. . would imagine that has been terrifying-— would imagine that has been terri inn. ., ., ., terrifying. yeah, i was above ground in gaza in 2008 _ terrifying. yeah, i was above ground in gaza in 2008 and _ terrifying. yeah, i was above ground in gaza in 2008 and it _ terrifying. yeah, i was above ground in gaza in 2008 and it was _ in gaza in 2008 and it was terrifying above ground so goodness knows what they are going through underground. lovely to see you. i will show you the picture from the state department. we are focusing on that. we will bringing live news as soon as we can. this was sunderland and around northey because we are a gust of wind up to 60 miles an hour and elsewhere flooding has been the cause of some major concern and we still have a number of severe flood warnings, a plethora of other warnings, a plethora of other warning still in force across various parts of the uk and probably the best way to keep up—to—date with this ever—changing situation is looking at the bbc weather website for the latest number of warnings but looking at their weather warnings, overnight, we had this morning across vast across the peaks and pennines and the scottish borders. but looking at the weather warnings, well, overnight, we've got this warning still in force across the peaks of the pennines, into the scottish borders, and further warnings issued into scotland. by saturday, it's these scottish warnings thatjust remain in force. you'll notice another red one for parts of angus and aberdeenshire. remember, they're the top level warnings. another 70 to 100 millimetres of rain expected. further severe flooding is a certainty for this part of the world. now, overnight, some of the heaviest rain will continue to drift northwards across from northern england, into eastern scotland, with the winds continuing to be very gusty here. meanwhile, further south, across the midlands, we've seen lots of flood warnings through the day. the rain tending to become lighter and patchier before clearing out of the way, so we should see a modest improvement with the weather here as we go through saturday. the rain eventually turning a bit lighter and patchier as well across northern england on saturday, but this part of the world, there are some rivers that take quite a while to respond to the rainfall that has fallen, so there could be some communities where flooding gets worse before it gets better. but the main focus of the heavy rain will be across eastern areas of scotland, still with those amber and red weather warnings in force throughout the day. further severe flooding, then, is very likely indeed. as we go through saturday night, finally, the majority of the rain pulls away. what's left across north—east scotland will tend to be a bit lighter and patchier. a few mist and fog patches elsewhere to start the day on sunday, but sunday is a much, much drier day. plenty of sunny spells around, and our temperatures quite close to average — around 12 to 15 degrees celsius. but of course, there will still be some areas suffering from flooding even as the sunshine comes out and the rain finally stops falling. it might be a brief hiatus, though, because next week does look pretty unsettled. low pressure in charge, and that means further rain on the way. you're watching the hello, i'm christian fraser. hamas has released two hostages — an american mother and daughter — who were taken in israel nearly two weeks ago. we are watching the picture of the moment where they are about to begin a briefing. we will take you straight to that when someone appears on an update on that situation. first, let's get the quick sport round—up with ben proctor. the first of the rugby world cup semifinals is under way at the stade de france in paris — three—time champions new zealand taking on argentina. —— ben croucher. the all blacks very much the favourites, but it was argentina who got the first points on the board through the boot of emiliano boffeli. it took fewer than ten minutes, though, for new zealand to assert their authority on the contest, with wing willjordan crossing for the first try. his sixth of the tournament — the joint most. jordie barrett crossed in the same corner five minutes later to extend the all blacks' advantage. about 30 minutes gone and new zealand lead 12—3. this time tomorrow, england and south africa will be locking horns in a repeat of the 2019 final, won by the springboks. england are the only unbeaten side left in france, but will be underdogs against the defending champions.