minister benjamin netanyahu. he also met israel's wall cabinets. —— war cabinet. mr blinken said he had had what he described as "good conversations" with the israelis — with humanitarian pauses a key element of those discussions. letters into a bit of what he had to say. —— lets listen to a bit. we provided israel advice that only the best of friends can offer on how to minimise civilian deaths, while still achieving its objectives of finding and finishing hamas terrorists and their infrastructure of violence. today, i spoke with prime minister netanyahu and other senior officials about concrete steps to do that. president biden has consistently stressed the need for israel to operate according to international humanitarian law. i also emphasised that the protection of civilians must take place notjust in gaza but also in the west bank, where incitement and extremist violence against palestinians must be stopped, and perpetrators held accountable. third, we need to substantially and immediately increase the sustained flow of humanitarian assistance into gaza and getting american citizens and other foreign nationals out of gaza. also happening now, the leader of the iranian—backed lebanese group hezbollah is making his first public speech since the beginning of the israel—gaza war. there were fears that his address could be the catalyst to a wider conflict. millions are watching the speech around the world. although we won't broadcast the speech live because hezbollah is prescribed a terrorist organisation. but here are some of the highlights. sheikh hassan nasrallah said the attack by hamas — which, like hezbollah, is a designated terror group by the uk and us governments — was right, wise, courageous, and at the right time. but he said the battle was "completely palestinian", "for the palestinian people" and did not relate to any regional issue. he did talk at length about the responsibilities of the groups he describes as the resistance. he said the resistance was allied to iran, but all of these groups, including hezbollah and groups in iraq and syria and yemen, he said had made their own decisions at that time. he is still speaking and we will bring some analysis of that speech shortly. but let's look at the latest developments here on the ground on day 27 of the gaza israel war. the israeli military says its ground offensive has now "completed the encirclement of gaza city". before the war, it was the most densely populated part of the palestinian territory. with the fighting intensifying, there's been strongly worded criticism of the humanitarian situation emerging from the united nations. this has been on a daily basis. seven human rights experts have said that they believe that the palestinian people in gaza are at risk of genocide. a very strongly worded criticism. israel has accused them of repeating hamas propaganda. let's return now to that speech by the hezbollah leader hassan nasrallah, a proscribed terrorist organisation by the united kingdom and others. hezbollah�*s leader hassan nasrallah has been praising the 7 october hamas attacks on israel that killed more than 1,400 people. we can now bring you an excerpt. let's ta ke let's take a listen. translation: , , ,.,, translation: this is the post 0 eration translation: this is the post operation which _ translation: this is the post operation which has _ translation: this is the post operation which has been - translation: this is the post operation which has been a - translation: this is the post - operation which has been a historic point and bless it a point. this was a palestinian decision ioo%. —— blessed point. it was supported by the palestinians ioo%. there is much to discuss in that speech and it is still continuing. with me now are — drjulie norman, associate professor in politics & international relations at university college london, and the bbc�*s security correspondent frank gardner. i know that both of you will not have failed to notice what an extraordinary split screen moments, which underlines the rift, the forward line going right through the region. antony blinken speaking in his comments about his partners across the region who will try to make sure this war in gaza that does not escalate. —— fault line. at the same time, as a nas runner speaking in his speech about this resistance, praising the operations by hamas. frank, let me bring you in a first of all. there was great anticipation about what hassan nasrallah had to say. what strikes you most about his speech so far? i say. what strikes you most about his speech so far?— speech so far? i think, as you mentioned — speech so far? i think, as you mentioned earlier, _ speech so far? i think, as you mentioned earlier, the - speech so far? i think, as you mentioned earlier, the fact i speech so far? i think, as you| mentioned earlier, the fact he speech so far? i think, as you - mentioned earlier, the fact he says it is 100% palestinian, the attack of october the 7th, the hamas raid into southern israel. there is clearly messaging here by iran, that it wasn't others, so iran has praised that horrific attack, those atrocities of october the 7th, but they have said we didn't do it, and they have said we didn't do it, and the wording of the speech is i've think very careful. it is praising that attack but saying it was entirely the work of the palestinians. hezbollah, as you know, is a lebanese organisation. it is very much embedded in lebanese politics and is not only a military organisation but a political one also. the other things that popped up, he said that it exposed the weakness of israel's defence. i have to say he is right on that one. this was the biggest security, defence and intelligence failure in 50 years in israeli history, because you have only got to look at the horrific images of that day, where the israel defense forces were nowhere to be seen, and hamas simply cross the border and carried out their attacks. the third thing that struck me, i think, attacks. the third thing that struck me, ithink, is attacks. the third thing that struck me, i think, is that he talks about nas and has roller praises the attacks by ministers in iraq and syria. these are attacks on us bases, and that is one of the areas where it is feared this whole situation could spin out of control. ——. the us has already warned iran to rein in those ministers and stop attacking the isolated us bases which are primarily fighting isis, so—called islamic state, but have been coming under drone attack, so he praised those, because whether it is palestinians or lebanese, this whole axis of resistance is aimed at expelling us forces and israel from parts of what they consider to be occupied territory.— occupied territory. doctorjulie norman, occupied territory. doctorjulie norman. of — occupied territory. doctorjulie norman, of course, _ occupied territory. doctorjulie norman, of course, as - occupied territory. doctorjulie i norman, of course, as expected, hassan nasrallah had great condemnation for the united states and even use the expression of the runyon revolution, describing it as the great satan, and he emphasised that the united states are to pay the price for the crimes, as he saw it, in the war against gaza. —— the iranian revolution. do you think this isjust iranian revolution. do you think this is just rhetoric, iranian revolution. do you think this isjust rhetoric, or in iranian revolution. do you think this is just rhetoric, or in the speech, what many will be analysing, do you think there is a call to their allied militias to do more, to attack american interests in the region? i attack american interests in the re . ion? ~ ., , attack american interests in the reuion? ~ . , ., , ,., region? i think we have seen hassan nasrallah keeping _ region? i think we have seen hassan nasrallah keeping his _ region? i think we have seen hassan nasrallah keeping his options, - region? i think we have seen hassan nasrallah keeping his options, and l nasrallah keeping his options, and by extension, iran's options open for the _ by extension, iran's options open for the moment. we normally expect the rhetoric— for the moment. we normally expect the rhetoric of blaming the us and israel— the rhetoric of blaming the us and israel for— the rhetoric of blaming the us and israel for the war, for everything that has— israel for the war, for everything that has been going on, so that was expected _ that has been going on, so that was expected. as frank mentioned, this emphasis _ expected. as frank mentioned, this emphasis on the complex being palestinian in some ways, i think it allows— palestinian in some ways, i think it allows for— palestinian in some ways, i think it allows for the current posture sort of somewhat calibration and restraint _ of somewhat calibration and restraint to maintain. —— this complex— restraint to maintain. —— this complex being palestinian. but in some _ complex being palestinian. but in some ways, the shout out to proxy groups _ some ways, the shout out to proxy groups that — some ways, the shout out to proxy groups that have been maintaining complex— groups that have been maintaining complex of us forces, and the sense that this _ complex of us forces, and the sense that this could escalate if iran or hezbollah chooses to do so. now, i think— hezbollah chooses to do so. now, i think they're working this fine dine. — think they're working this fine dine. and _ think they're working this fine dine, and i think they are in a position— dine, and i think they are in a position when they can distract a lot of— position when they can distract a lot of military intelligence attention, butjust to lot of military intelligence attention, but just to emphasise again. _ attention, but just to emphasise again. this — attention, but just to emphasise again, this is on the edge of a knife. — again, this is on the edge of a knife. and _ again, this is on the edge of a knife, and things can escalate and also heat — knife, and things can escalate and also beat this calculator very quickly— also beat this calculator very quickly by all actors. —— working this fine — quickly by all actors. —— working this fine line. he quickly by all actors. -- working this fine line.— quickly by all actors. -- working this fine line. he did emphasise, the speech _ this fine line. he did emphasise, the speech that _ this fine line. he did emphasise, the speech that i _ this fine line. he did emphasise, the speech that i had _ this fine line. he did emphasise, the speech that i had before - this fine line. he did emphasise, the speech that i had before we | this fine line. he did emphasise, - the speech that i had before we came on air, this is not a time for statements, and he called for the cutting of ties with israel, the recording of ambassadors. we know thejordanians recording of ambassadors. we know the jordanians have recording of ambassadors. we know thejordanians have already done that, so he seems to be giving instructions, or it is trying to give instructions to what has to be to fight against israel and the war in gaza. ~ ,,., , ., to fight against israel and the war in gaza. ~ , ., in gaza. absolutely. right now, as ou in gaza. absolutely. right now, as you noted. — in gaza. absolutely. right now, as you noted. the _ in gaza. absolutely. right now, as you noted, the split _ in gaza. absolutely. right now, as you noted, the split screen - in gaza. absolutely. right now, as you noted, the split screen resortl you noted, the split screen resort over— you noted, the split screen resort over this — you noted, the split screen resort over this last hour of secretary of state _ over this last hour of secretary of state blink— over this last hour of secretary of state blink lincoln giving one message and hassan nasrallah giving a very— message and hassan nasrallah giving a very different message. —— secretary— a very different message. —— secretary of state antony blinken. both of— secretary of state antony blinken. both of them will be communicating to different actors and partners in the region— to different actors and partners in the region of how to move forward. as you _ the region of how to move forward. as you know, jordan had removed its ambassadors and antony blinken will io ambassadors and antony blinken will go there _ ambassadors and antony blinken will go there tomorrow. both are kind of vying _ go there tomorrow. both are kind of vying for— go there tomorrow. both are kind of vying for public opinion. i think it is an— vying for public opinion. i think it is an uphill— vying for public opinion. i think it is an uphill battle for the us, and some _ is an uphill battle for the us, and some will— is an uphill battle for the us, and some will find antony blinken's commenced a little too late, but others _ commenced a little too late, but others will be hesitant to fully endorse — others will be hesitant to fully endorse hassan nasrallah's comments as well, _ endorse hassan nasrallah's comments as well, but— endorse hassan nasrallah's comments as well, but i think you see both of them _ as well, but i think you see both of them jockeying for arab leaders and wider— them jockeying for arab leaders and wider public opinion right now. let me wider public opinion right now. me bring you wider public opinion right now. let me bring you in again, frank, he outlined two goals, saying we must end the war in gaza and we must ensure that hamas wins this war, and he spoke in a mocking tone of 2006, the lebanon, israel war, where he said that israel was saying the same thing at the time that they would wipe out hezbollah, as if saying, we will win again. how did you read those comments? yell back the 2006 war, which you and i both clobbered of course between israel and hezbollah did inconclusively. —— you and i both covered. i think there was a bit up, not exactly arrogance, but assumption between the senior israeli air force officers that they could win that war from the air, and they couldn't, and the israeli army had to go in with its inventory, and they had a tough time, and hezbollah knew exactly that which they would take, and ambush them with improvised explosive devices and mines, and it ended after a few days and hundreds killed, with really a kind of stalemate with neither side really able to claim victory, and i remember that a lot of people said at the , , �* ., ., at the time, this isn't over, and since then. _ at the time, this isn't over, and since then, in _ at the time, this isn't over, and since then, in the _ at the time, this isn't over, and since then, in the ensuing - at the time, this isn't over, and since then, in the ensuing year| since then, in the ensuing year since then, in the ensuing year since 2006, iran has helped hezbollah retrain, and hezbollah forces have been fighting a lot in syria in support of al asad, the syrian president, so they are combat ready and combat experience, more than the israelis are. so they are full to be reckoned with on that border, but mitigating against that is the pressure from within lebanon, from all of the lebanese who are not part of hezbollah, saying please don't start a war with israel. our economy is broken as it is, it has suffered a near collapse four years ago, it is inner very precarious state, and israel has made it very clear to hezbollah, if you embark on a full—scale war with israel, the response, iforget a full—scale war with israel, the response, i forget netanyahu's response, i forget neta nyahu's words, response, i forget netanyahu's words, but it was something like other magnitude you cannot imagine doing, something like we will devastate southern lebanon, and that would be a death blow to their economy. so i think that hezbollah is trying to calibrate its response. it wants to be seen as supportive of hamas, as part of this axis of resistance that you mention, but not to provoke israel so far that it brings on a massive retaliation of the sort that has devastated whole swathes of gaza. fin the sort that has devastated whole swathes of gaza.— the sort that has devastated whole swathes of gaza. on a knife edge, as we have been — swathes of gaza. on a knife edge, as we have been saying. _ swathes of gaza. on a knife edge, as we have been saying. thank- swathes of gaza. on a knife edge, as we have been saying. thank you - swathes of gaza. on a knife edge, as we have been saying. thank you for i we have been saying. thank you for joining us, frank gardner and doctor julie norman for your assessment. we will continue to bring you more analysis throughout the day. just a few top lines from antony blinken, who as we mentioned, was speaking at the same time. not only did he say that much more had to be done to protect the civilians in gaza, he also announced that a mechanism had been found to deliver that badly needed, that are urgently needed fuel that israel had drawn a red line on, saying we are not sending any fuel into gaza but, because hamas was diverted. yesterday, the israeli defence chief seem to indicate that if you could go in, and prime minister benjamin netanyahu said no, the fuel would not go in. that is the latest from the us secretary of state that they have come up with what he has described as a mechanism for fuel, thatis described as a mechanism for fuel, that is badly needed to keep the hospital is running, and to keep life going in the gaza strip, and also to get more food and medicine end, and so we are also going to keep an eye on more of the statements, by antony blinken, as he comes to an end of his visit here in israel, and then as we have been hearing, we will go on tojordan. he also mentioned the urgency of getting foreign passport holders, including americans, out of gaza, and also rescuing the hostages which are said to include dozens of nationalities, and indeed, today, in the southern gaza strip, many foreign nationals are expected to leave gaza today, through the rafah crossing to egypt. in the last two days, there have been hundreds, about 400 each day, and today, british nationals are expected to be on the list. among those british nationals who were on the list to leave, were the mother and father—in law of scotland's first minister humza yousaf. and we've heard they have managed to cross into egypt earlier. this is elizabeth and maged el—nakla, from dundee. they had travelled to gaza to visit family before the hamas attacks on israel on the seventh of october. in a statement, mr yousaf and his wife, nadia el—nakla, said: "we are grateful to all of those who have "assisted our parents over the last few weeks. over the last few weeks." look at those wide smiles. "these last four weeks have been a living nightmare for ourfamily, "we are so thankful for all of the messages of comfort "and prayers that we have received from across the world." elizabeth el—nakla had been putting out videos during her time there, and will have a last video is talked about how the relief they were feeling about being able to leave, but also, there extreme sadness that more than 2 million honest onions had a low ebb leaving, and howi million, as we know, fled from their homes in the north on israel's orders. —— 2 million palestinians had no way of leaving. now, at least, she and her husband are safe but not everyone is. however, the bbc is aware of at least 19 british people on the list who cannot leave gaza today for safety reasons. our reporter rushdie abualouf is in southern gaza for us with the latest there. day and night, they are looking under the rubble of this. this is the recent air strike in khan younis. this is the area where israel is telling people to go, because it's safe. about 15 people were killed in this building and many other wer