with theirfamilies in israel. it follows mediation efforts by the gulf state of qatar, with hamas, designated as a terror organisation by many western governments, including the uk, saying they were freed for "humanitarian reasons". around 200 hostages are still being held in gaza, and israel's airstrikes and total siege of the territory, cutting off food, water and medicines, will not end until all of them are freed. desperately needed humanitarian aid has still not reached the besieged people of gaza. emergency aid trucks stocked with supplies sit on the border with egypt, waiting to be let across the rafah crossing as part of a deal to allow in limited aid. let's bring you more now on the fate of those two american hostages freed by hamas. us presidentjoe biden spoke with the two women after their release on friday, telling them that their government — quote — "will fully support them as they recover and heal." and secretary of state anthony blinken said he's relieved the women have been released, but reminded reporters that many others are still being held. there's still ten additional americans who remain unaccounted for in this conflict. we know that some of them are being held hostage by hamas, along with an estimated 200 other hostages held in gaza. they include men, women, young boys, young girls, elderly people from many nations. every single one of them should be released. and our correspondent barbara plett usher has this report from the halls of the state department. the release of the hostages disrupted the day here at the state department. we were sitting down for the daily briefing, and then we were told that it would be delayed for two hours, for breaking news. now, they didn't say what the breaking news was, but we knew what it was. and so when we returned to the briefing room, there was another delay and then secretary of state antony blinken came up to speak. and this was an important moment for him, because he has really been pressing for the release of the hostages during his recent trip to the region, engaging in shuttle diplomacy between israel and the arab states. he was pressing for this, especially in qatar, which has taken the lead in trying to negotiate the release of the hostages because it has relations with hamas. there is a hamas office in doha, so qatar has been working very hard on this. the foreign ministry there released a statement saying there had been days of continuous communication to get to this point with all parties, and saying that the qataris would continue talks with hamas and with the israelis to try to get the rest of the hostages released, and hopefully that would help to de—escalate the situation. they said they would release more if the security environment allowed. reports said if the airstrikes was not this could be a possibility. antony blinken was asked if this was a window of opportunity to follow—up and he didn't really go there. he said the us position was all hostages should be released immediately and unconditionally and he said he would not take advantage value anything that hamas said. i spoke to gina abercrombie—winstanley, president of the middle east policy council, and suzanne maloney, vice president and director of the foreign policy program at the brookings institution, to get their thoughts on the hostage situtation. good evening to you both. very good to have you both on bbc news tonight. gina, we'll start with you. the news of these hostages released — can you give us an idea of what would have been going on behind the scenes to secure their release? well, clearly for the last several days there have been negotiations supported by probably a number of parties. certainly, the united states has been intent on doing all that we can to secure our own citizens, as any government would, working — i know the israelis, of course, are doing the same — and qatar has a very important role to play, because it is in that position of being able to speak with all parties. and this elevates qatar in comparison with several other countries in the region, that would be supportive of these negotiations. so no doubt the united states, to some extent the government of israel, the government of egypt, but really led by the government of qatar, who is able to speak directly to hamas, to effect the release of these two women. yeah, they really appear to be very complex negotiations that were happening behind the scenes, gina. suzanne, i want to bring you in on this and ask, you know, what do you make of this? could we be witnessing the start of a de—escalation? i would love to believe that that might be the case, but i really have no reason for confidence that we are seeing anything that could lead to a broader de—escalation. i think the release of the two american israeli hostages is a credit to the incredibly tireless diplomacy of secretary —— secretary of state tony blinken, but also the wider efforts on the part of the biden administration to try to press for at least some pause by the israelis before a ground invasion begins, in order to do as much as might be possible to effect the release of as many hostages as possible. now, the human toll has mounted throuhgout this crisis. more than 1,400 people have been killed in israel — and at least 3,400 palestinians have been killed. on october 7, hamas attacks southern and central israel by land and air, killing israeli civilians and soldiers, in what has led some leaders to call it "israel's 9/11". soon after, israel launches retaliatory airstrikes on gaza, with president benjamin netanyahu announcing that israel is at war. strikes have continued from both gaza and israel. the very next day, israel declares a seige on the territory, saying it is cutting off gaza's electricity and water until hamas releases hostages. on october 13, israel's defense force calls for all residents of gaza city to evacuate their homes and move south for their protection, ahead of a possible ground offensive. on october 17, hundreds of people are killed in an explosion at the al—ahli hospital at the centre of gaza city. it still has not been confirmed who launched the attack. mr biden visited israel to show us support on october 18, vowing the us would help the country defend itself. he also pushed for humanitarian aid into gaza, securing $100 million in aid to palestinians and striking a deal with egypt to open its rafah crossing into egypt. —— into gaza. but not everyone in the biden administration agrees with the us government's policy. josh paul was a former state department official who resigned over the us response to the war. in a public letter, he explained his reasons for quitting. he walked through his rationale with my colleague caitriona perry earlier. you say in your letter that the biden administration's approach has been an impulsive reaction built on confirmation bias, political convenience, intellectual ba nkru ptcy and bureaucratic inertia. can you explain what you mean by that? surely. so, impulsive — i think everyone was shaken and shocked by the horrific attacks of hamas on october 7 — and let's not make any bones about it, those were absolutely an outrage and should be condemned forthright — but there was an impulse there to say, ok, this something horrible has happened. what is israel asking for? let's do everything we can. i say that there was bureaucratic inertia because, again, this has been the trend for many years, that when israel asks for something, we give it. and rather than pausing to think about what we're doing, that's how we move forward. confirmation bias in the sense that we see an attack, it confirms our bias that this is an enemy that must be defeated. and — and there is certainly an argument to be made there — but rather than standing back and looking at the broader situation and, again, looking at both sides. so i think in each of those respects... and intellectual bankruptcy, because this is something we have tried for years and years and years, and it has not led to security for israel. it has not led to peace. to talk more about the biden administration's policies, i spoke to emily harding, deputy director of the international security program at the center for strategic and international studies. i want to get your thoughts on josh paul and his reason for leaving the state department. i think he had to do what he thought was best but i would disagree with a lot of his comments. i don't think intellectual bankruptcy is the way to look at this. hamas�* attack was heinous. the us has always been a staunch supporter of israel and against terrorism in all its forms. supporting israeli to do what they felt they needed to do is important. it is important to have a debate of what the right course of action is. kudos to him for study of what he believes in, but i disagree with his opinion. but i disagree with his opinion-— but i disagree with his oinion. ., ., ~ but i disagree with his oinion. ., ., y., 4' , opinion. how do you think this is -la ed opinion. how do you think this is played out _ opinion. how do you think this is played out for _ opinion. how do you think this is played out for the _ opinion. how do you think this is played out for the bidon - is played out for the bidon administration, because that very balance between pressing israel on its operation in gaza but also standing behind is and supporting it has been a difficult one for the biden administration to walk? the biden administration to walk? tue: biden administration administration to walk? tte: biden administration has been very clear about its staunch support for israel from the go. i think bidon�*s visit to israel during what is in essence a war really speaks to that. further i think the biden administration is doing the right things when it comes to asking israelis hard questions about their plans but balancing that with support. and the diplomacy that antony blinken is carrying out any regents region speaks to a broader viewpoint as well. this isn't just an israel question. this is a regional question.- is a regional question. how difficult - _ is a regional question. how difficult - because - is a regional question. how difficult - because we - is a regional question. how difficult - because we werej difficult — because we were talking earlier about a possible ground operation — can you give us an idea of how difficult, because you have worked in counter—terrorism, this will be for israel, given the situation on the ground. and we seen pictures of the rubble strewn everywhere. tt rubble strewn everywhere. tit will be an extremely difficult situation. gaza is one of the most densely packed places on the planet. there are still civilians there despite the evacuation order. the tunnels and systems underneath the buildings that hamas have dug over decades are still in existence. the location of the hostages is mostly unknown. a guarantee israeli intelligence pauses are working hard to work out the location of the hostages to rescue them. but it'll be a very difficult house house fight. the fallout from this war is having an impact in the wider region, with protests breaking out injordan, lebanon and egypt in response to the al—ahli arab hospital explosion in gaza. iran is urging muslim countries to sanction israel following the deadly explosion. some countries in the region are calling for an immediate ceasefire. in a rare move, the egyptian government approved and even organised dozens of locations for protestors to gather. and in the west bank, crowds clashed with israeli forces. smoke from burned tyres filled the streets as protestors hurled rocks at security personnel. 0n israel's northern border with lebanon, there have been regular exchanges of gunfire between the israel defense forces and hezbollah, the group designated as a terror organisation by many western governments, including the uk, and which, like hamas, is financially backed by iran. the israeli military is now evacuating thousands more residents near the frontier, this time from the city of kiryat shmona. it's the largest community forced to move out as concerns grow that the israel/gaza conflict could spread. anna foster, has that story, from northern israel. a threat so close you can see it. this hezbollah observation post is metres from an israeli town. and that's why even more of this border is now emptying out. today, kiryat shmona, a community of 20,000. but leaving isn't easy. in the shelter, this lady waits with a husband and three children. she has cancer, but since the war began all her medical appointments have been cancelled. translation: they're evacuating today and i asked them to take i the sick people first. i know they evacuated others, but no one has reached out to me. the feeling is very scary, that's why i want them to evacuate my family as soon as possible. even underground, efrat doesn't feel her twins are safe. she says the law bans locking the door of these public shelters and she fears another massacre, like the one in the south. this is israel's defence. thousands of soldiers digging in as the people move out. this is what's been happening all the way along the border. fields turned into forward operating bases, artillery shells are being prepared, armoured vehicles are being readied. israel has been doing as much as it can to strengthen and fortify this border. these reserve forces know that everything is different now. not my first war, and i have never have seen such massive amounts of — of units, all across israel, trained on scales we've never seen before — at least not in my lifetime. these are some of israel's darkest moments, and here, they hope there aren't even harder days to come. anna foster, bbc news, on the israel—lebanon border. i was joined by our panel for more on the situation. suzanne, we've heard the biden administration and allies around the world warning iran not to get involved. how serious do you think the risk is of that actually happening? i think there is a real risk. 0bviously, i think there is a real risk. obviously, as you said, iran is a very important backer of hamas, in addition to financial backing, iran has provided hamas and other militia groups around the region with considerable materiel support, especially in the form of missiles, which of course hamas and others have used against israel as well as against american interests and positions across the region. for the most part, i think the iranians prefer to stand back from the fire. they tend to light the match and then watch the region burn. but there are huge risks, particularly if we see continued action on the northern border — the exchange of fire between israel, hamas fighters in southern lebanon, as well as hamas, as well as hezbollah, could draw this into a much wider conflict, and i think the iranians — while they'd prefer to avoid direct fire themselves, it's not inconceivable that they could get into the action.— get into the action. gina, we saw president _ get into the action. gina, we saw president biden - get into the action. gina, we saw president biden saying i get into the action. gina, we i saw president biden saying just this evening that he thinks hamas attacked israel as he was urging saudi—israel normalisation of ties. do you agree with that assessment? well, i think there's good reason to support that assessment. it certainly was changing the focus of the middle east — that it was increasingly moving the palestinian issue away from the centre of what the basis of relations and discussions, negotiations, in the region about various issues sat — that certainly would be a part of it. i don't believe that we can ignore the longstanding lack of trust and hope that palestinians have in the palestinians have in the palestinian pa, the palestinian authority — that's how hamas got into power in gaza in the first place. so even though there are all these other reasons that are out there — it's a terrorist organisation, heinous activity, but there are underlying political issues that must be got at when there is time, once the israelis have accomplished their initial goals. but keep in mind, in addition to lebanon and the cost of hezbollah getting involved is going to be devastating for the nation of lebanon, as well as the activity that is going on in the west bank, in in addition to the demonstrations we've seen there, there have been clashes between palestinians and settlers of the west bank. my and settlers of the west bank. my understanding is that upwards of 70 palestinians have been killed in the west bank in the last several days. much smaller numbers than, of course, is happening in gaza. but still, it is a testament to how volatile the situation is. even beyond the middle east, the demonstrations that you mentioned have been in other countries, and as far away as malaysia. this is a difficult balance that the government of israel moves forward... tt’s balance that the government of israel moves forward. . .- israel moves forward... it's a volatile situation, _ israel moves forward... it's a volatile situation, certainly. i volatile situation, certainly. if i could jump in — it is a volatile situation. emily, if i could get your thoughts on this as well — the prospect of the normalisation of ties. did tay that play as well as the president indicated? tt’s that play as well as the president indicated? it's hard to sa . i president indicated? it's hard to say. i wouldn't _ president indicated? it's hard to say. i wouldn't want - president indicated? it's hard to say. i wouldn't want to - president indicated? it's hard to say. i wouldn't want to putj to say. i wouldn't want to put too much _ to say. i wouldn't want to put too much weight on it. an attack_ too much weight on it. an attack like this would take a very— attack like this would take a very long time to plan. there's no guarantee that they could have — no guarantee that they could have gotten the timing just right— have gotten the timing just right to _ have gotten the timing just right to a certain political moment. but the palestinians have — moment. but the palestinians have long looked to the west — the arab — have long looked to the west — the arab world has supported their— the arab world has supported their cause, and they have been a little _ their cause, and they have been a little bit — their cause, and they have been a little bit concerned that this— a little bit concerned that this would perhaps sideline them _ this would perhaps sideline them. ,, . �* , this would perhaps sideline them. ,, ., �* , ., them. suzanne, we've seen a few anal sts them. suzanne, we've seen a few analysts we've — them. suzanne, we've seen a few analysts we've had on _ them. suzanne, we've seen a few analysts we've had on bbc- them. suzanne, we've seen a few analysts we've had on bbc the - analysts we've had on bbc the last few days tell us, if we look at the us role in all of this, that president biden, in his trip to israel, in his fulsome support for israel, is carrying out this bear—hug strategy — bring israel close, so he can then apply pressure, particularly on questions of protecting civilians in gaza. do you think that's what's behind the type of full—throated support we've seen from the president in the last few days? t seen from the president in the last few days?— last few days? i think that, as a baseline. — last few days? i think that, as a baseline, the _ last few days? i think that, as a baseline, the us's_ a baseline, the us's relationship is a very close partnership. and we are staunch supporters of israel, and prepared to defend israel — especially when it comes under this kind of unprecedented attack. so i don't want to describe the president's engagement in this crisis as purely strategic and opportunistic, trying to push a certain narrative. but we can look back on the pattern that has emerged over the course of prior wars in gaza and the approach of the biden administration has been to give the israelis some space, but then at a certain point to draw some lines in the sand to ensure that the situation doesn't escalate out of control. and i think it's quite possible that the biden administration, in this heartfelt and genuine expression of sympathy, support and camaraderie with the israeli people, is also positioning itself to be an honest broker and to be the kind of good friend to israel that the government may need. that's a really interesting point, suzanne. gina, iwant to ask you about that as well. because we spoke to republican senator bill cassidy earlier in the week — he had just come back from a trip to israel. we asked him about drawing those lines in the sand, as suzanne just referred to it. he said, "we have to recognise there's a limit to what the united states or anyone can do." do you agree with that?— with that? well, of course - we're all — with that? well, of course - we're all sovereign - with that? well, of course - we're all sovereign nations, | with that? well, of course - i we're all sovereign nations, so on the — we're all sovereign nations, so on the one _ we're all sovereign nations, so on the one hand, certainly the united — on the one hand, certainly the united states doesn't control the actions of other nations. but it— the actions of other nations. but it is— the actions of other nations. but it is important that we are that— but it is important that we are that good friend, which is helping _ that good friend, which is helping israel navigate this space — helping israel navigate this space and ensure that, as they seek_ space and ensure that, as they seek to — space and ensure that, as they seek to reach their goals, that civilians — seek to reach their goals, that civilians are taken into account. this is international law — account. this is international law it's _ account. this is international law. it's humanitarian law. it is the — law. it's humanitarian law. it is the right thing to do. israel— is the right thing to do. israel has a long history in putting _ israel has a long history in putting human life first and trying — putting human life first and trying to mitigate against unnecessary human casualties. and so— unnecessary human casualties. and so certainly supporting them — and so certainly supporting them in _ and so certainly supporting them in those efforts, making sure _ them in those efforts, making sure - — them in those efforts, making sure - as— them in those efforts, making sure — as they go forward — that— sure — as they go forward — that the _ sure — as they go forward — that the world sees that those efforts — that the world sees that those efforts are being made. this is war, _ efforts are being made. this is war. so— efforts are being made. this is war, so casualties will happen. rightm — war, so casualties will happen. richt. .. �* , war, so casualties will happen. richt...�* , ., right... but it is important that they _ right... but it is important that they be _ right... but it is important that they be minimised, i right... but it is important l that they be minimised, yes. right... but it is important i that they be minimised, yes. i want that they be minimised, yes. want to that they be minimised, yes. i want to give everyone a final thought on the question — starting with you, emily, if i may — what the us needs to do to engage partners in the region. we know the president wanted to hold a summit in jordan with the presidents of egypt - jordan with the presidents of egypt — mahmoud abbas and king abdullah. that was cancelled over the hospital strike. emily, starting with you — what do you think the us needs to do there to engage those partners? public pressure rarely works in these sorts of situations. there'll be a lot of behind—the—scenes diplomacy. there are trusted partnerships there that go back decades, and he'll try to draw on those to speak truth to people who don't necessarily want to hear a hard truth. that'll be really important in coming days. suzanne? i important in coming days. suzanne?— suzanne? i think emacy's exactly right _ suzanne? i think emacy's exactly right - _ suzanne? i think emacy's exactly right - that i suzanne? i think emacy's exactly right - that kind l suzanne? i think emacy's| exactly right - that kind of exactly right — that kind of quiet _ exactly right — that kind of quiet diplomacy — these arerary very— quiet diplomacy — these arerary very close — quiet diplomacy — these arerary very close relationships. i think— very close relationships. i think there is a shared objective here, which is to avoid _ objective here, which is to avoid the _ objective here, which is to avoid the escalation that could implement the wider region, and minimise— implement the wider region, and minimise civilian cash casualties going forward. i think— casualties going forward. i think what we saw from secretary of state tony blinken will continue at many levels, and — will continue at many levels, and i— will continue at many levels, and i hope it succeeds. all ri . ht. and i hope it succeeds. all right. gina. _ and i hope it succeeds. fill right. gina, we havejust and i hope it succeeds. fill right. gina, we have just about right. gina, we havejust about 30 seconds to get your thoughts on this as well. i 30 seconds to get your thoughts on this as well.— on this as well. i think that's exactly right- _ on this as well. i think that's exactly right. the _ on this as well. i think that's| exactly right. the secretary's point — exactly right. the secretary's point of — exactly right. the secretary's point of view _ exactly right. the secretary's point of view — _ exactly right. the secretary's point of view — robustly i point of view — robustly engaged _ point of view — robustly engaged in _ point of view — robustly engaged in diplomacy, i point of view — robustly . engaged in diplomacy, as point of view — robustly - engaged in diplomacy, as well as everyone _ engaged in diplomacy, as well as everyone else _ engaged in diplomacy, as well as everyone else at _ engaged in diplomacy, as well as everyone else at the - as everyone else at the department— as everyone else at the department of- as everyone else at the department of state, . as everyone else at the . department of state, and everyone _ department of state, and everyone working - department of state, and everyone working hard i department of state, and everyone working hard toj department of state, and i everyone working hard to get this as — everyone working hard to get this as in _ everyone working hard to get this as in hand _ everyone working hard to get this as in hand as _ everyone working hard to get this as in hand as possible i this as in hand as possible while _ this as in hand as possible while reaching _ this as in hand as possible while reaching the - this as in hand as possible while reaching the goals. i and ending now on a reminder of the human cost of war. earlier, my colleague caitriona perry spoke to bushra khalidi, west bank policy lead for 0xfam, who is originally from gaza and has been working on the aid response since the humanitarian crisis began. she shared an emotional message from one of her colleagues in gaza. he said, "the situation is getting worse day after day. "finally, i managed to get bread forfive shekel, "but it will only last for half a day. "when i was walking to the bakery, i saw people "who came from gaza sleeping in their car because they "were not able to find shelter. "i saw people sleeping in shops, in the streets, "on the asphalt, without any mattresses nor blankets. "it's a terrible situation they're suffering. "on my way back home, i found two children alone. "they were crying. "they told me they were in an unrwa shelter, "but their parents went to get food and didn't come back. "we're looking for them. "we can't find them. "i was afraid to lose those children, so i took them to a shop owner from khan younis who knows the area and maybe could help them. "we don't have electricity, we don't have water. "we're buying fuel at double its costs. "we rented a generator at a high costjust to pump "water for two hours. "we were able to buy water for double the price, "but it can only cover the need for one day. "we're not hungry. "we have a little food, but very limited choices, "every day, i hear my daughter and my son — �*dad, i want to return back to gaza.�* �*why, dad?�* �*i want to go back to gaza because i want my uniform. �*i want to go and play football.�* "it's difficult to go. "the situation is risky. "insha'allah, you'll get your uniform and you can go "back to the football club. "my children are deeply affected by what happened "at the hospital the day before yesterday. "they are scared. "they didn't know how to make sense of it. "it's difficult to understand why people are being targeted "like this and they are afraid they will be targeted "ina similarway. "we truly hope for a future where everyone is happy "and safe and where the humanitarian rules "are followed, to ensure protection for all." bushra khalidi. thank you for watching this special report on the israel—gaza war. and rememberfor the very latest, you can head over to our website — that's bbcnews.com — or check out our app. we have reports from our correspondents in israel, gaza, and around the world. and all the reaction about our top story today — the release of two us hostages held by hamas. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. for some places, the flooding situation could get worse before it gets better — not least in eastern scotland, where we have this new red warning from the met office. further rain through the day on saturday, falling on top of what we've already had. this is friday's rainfall radar. the rain was pretty relentless across eastern scotland and also northern england, parts of east anglia, the north midlands, north wales. huge amounts of rain. we've seen widespread flooding and this met office amber warning remains in force through the first parts of saturday morning. but of greatest concern, i think, is this red warning covering parts of angus and southern aberdeenshire — a further 100mm of rain, further significant flooding and a danger to life. amber warnings covering larger parts of eastern and northern scotland as this rain just keeps on coming through the day tomorrow. for england and wales, broadly speaking, a drier day. this band of showery rain will push eastwards. could see hefty downpours skirting the southeast corner. northern ireland probably having some of the best of the weather — largely dry, just the odd shower, some spells of sunshine. windy in the south of england and the channel islands. still windy in north—east scotland. but for many northern parts of the uk, not as windy as it has been. temperatures north to south 8—16 degrees. now, this heavy rain continues into saturday evening but it will clear northwards overnight, this band of showery rain pushing away from eastern england and then, things do turn drier. yes, a few showers, i think there'll be some mist patches around as well, but a drier start to sunday morning as an area of low pressure tends to swirl away north—eastwards. and this very, very weak ridge of high pressure — you can't see much of it here on the weather chart but there is some slightly higher pressure just toppling through, and that means drierweather, more in the way of sunshine. yes, there will be some showers but certainly not as wet as it has been. lighter winds, temperatures of 12—16 degrees, so a much calmer day to end the weekend. but then, as we head into next week, well, another area of low pressure looks set to push up from the south. this one probably not as potent but it will still bring further rain in places where we really do not need it. so, the outlook for next week is pretty unsettled. there will be some heavy rain around at times. it will be quite windy but with some drier interludes. voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. it was almost like a bereavement. it was a major blow, really, and one we haven't really still come to terms with. the overriding feeling of the players was we were kind of hung out to dry a little bit. to see a third club go out of the league was shocking really, and you kind of wonder about the state of rugby. i'd like to think we're at rock—bottom, we're trying to move ourselves out. ijust think it hurts a lot of people and hurts the game by obviously unfortunately what's fallen to the bottom of the pile like worcester. club owners, investors, were taking a long—term view, but really, as soon as the pandemic hit, the risk that they were having to manage became totally unmanageable. it was not a surprise that a rugby club was in danger. it was a surprise how quickly and how devastating the fall of the clubs was. tv: it was a season that shook fans to the core as english and european professional rugby faced its biggest crisis in three decades. the world cup here in france is a global celebration of the game and its challenges. the final here at the stade de france puts an international