state, antony blinken, is back in tel aviv as washington increases the pressure for a humanitarian pause. antony blinken talked about israel's right to defend itself, but also the need for �*concrete steps�* to minimize harm to civilians in gaza. meanwhile, the leader of hezbollah — like hamas — a proscribed terrorist organisation — has spoken in lebanon. hassan nasrallah praised the hamas attacks and said, the possibility of �*total war is realistic�*. one other important line to update you on — more foreign nationals have been getting out of gaza — at the rafah crossing point into egypt. 124 british nationals are on the list of people, who are being allowed to leave. the hamas—run health ministry in gaza says, more than 9,000 people have been killed in the strip since october the 7th — after hamas killed 14 hundred people, in the attacks in southern isreal. the us seretary of state antony blinken held talks with the israeli war cabinet — a closed—door gathering. he also met the israeli president isaac herzog. after those talks, he reaffirmed his solidarity with israel. alongside hopes for a pause in the fighting. that was an important area of discussion today with israeli leaders — how, when and where these can be implemented. what work needs to happen and what understandings must be reached. now, we recognise this will take time to prepare and coordinate as well with international partners. a number of legitimate questions were raised in our discussions today, including how to use any period of pause to maximise the full humanitarian assistance. how to connect a pause to the release of hostages. how to make sure that hamas doesn�*t use these pauses or arrangements to its own advantage. these are issues that we need to tackle urgently and we believe they can be solved. we�*ve agreed to have our teams continue to discuss practical solutions. i�*ve instructed our special envoy for middle east humanitarian issues, david satterfield, who has been doing remarkable work here the last couple of weeks, to continue these discussions. ultimately, we believe this can be a critical mechanism for protecting civilians while enabling israel to achieve its objectives of defeating hamas. live now to our correspondent injerusalem paul adams. let�*s ta ke let�*s take this in stages. the humanitarian pause first, really clear what the americans are pushing for. interesting comment straightaway from israel�*s prime minister. straightaway from israel's prime minister. , ~ ., minister. yes, i think we need to establish exactly _ minister. yes, i think we need to establish exactly what _ minister. yes, i think we need to establish exactly what were - minister. yes, i think we need to l establish exactly what were talking about here. cease—fires and humanitarian pauses, benjamin netanyahu has said since the beginning of the conflict there is zero chance of a cease—fire. so that�*s completely off the table. what the americans are trying to achieve is something much more modest. these pauses, brief breaks and fighting which might allow more aid to get into the gaza strip, it might also allow room for negotiations about the release of hostages. at the moment there is no indication that israel has yet expressed a willingness to allow these pauses. you heard antony blinken expressing some of the israeli reservations about such pauses and how hamas might exploit them. there is clearly a lot of work still to do before anything like thatis still to do before anything like that is implemented on the ground. the americans want to see several, because they want to see aid getting particularly into southern gaza. this was something anthony blanca talked about, they want to see fuel getting into the southern gather at my gaza strip to hospitals and other key location where it is needed. 0n key location where it is needed. on that issue there is absolute disagreement because benjamin netanyahu made it clear in his remarks a short time after mr blinken was speaking that he was simply not interested in allowing any fuel to get into gaza. to simply not interested in allowing any fuel to get into gaza.- any fuel to get into gaza. to the humanitarian _ any fuel to get into gaza. to the humanitarian pauses, _ any fuel to get into gaza. to the humanitarian pauses, israel's. any fuel to get into gaza. to the - humanitarian pauses, israel's prime humanitarian pauses, israel�*s prime minister linking it absolutely to the release of hostages. that is a further complication here is it in a sense, what happens is the timeline of those different factors? yes. of those different factors? yes, it's incredibly _ of those different factors? yes, it's incredibly difficult, - of those different factors? yes, it's incredibly difficult, all - of those different factors? 1&1: it's incredibly difficult, all hands it�*s incredibly difficult, all hands on a knife edge. i think when the prime minister netanyahu talks about release of hostages he saying no cease—fire until all hostages have been released. there is a back and forth about cease—fires and humanitarian pauses. the bottom line at the moment is neither of these things seem to be in play despite what mr blinken was complimenting his staff, having spent weeks trying to implement. at the moment the israelis are very, very focused on their military objectives. they are closing in on gaza city, they have in effect surrounded it. that is really dominating the thinking. they do not want anything that is going to distract them from becky mission. exactly on the final point, with gaza city effectively surrounded, that order for people to leave that area, those people have to actually pass through and be allowed to pass through and be looked at and examined by the israeli troops on the ground. the examined by the israeli troops on the ground-— examined by the israeli troops on the round. ., . the ground. the other day the chief israeli military _ the ground. the other day the chief israeli military spokesman - the ground. the other day the chief israeli military spokesman said - the ground. the other day the chief israeli military spokesman said the| israeli military spokesman said the window of opportunity for leaving the north was closing. it may be that that window is now shot. we�*ve seen very disturbing pictures today, both from the vicinity of the hospital but also on the coast road leading from gaza city down towards the south where there are pictures of bodies strewn along that road. and at the hospital of bodies lying outside next to ambulances. what palestinians are saying is a convoy of ambulances that was due today wounded people solve came under attack. we don�*t know how. other sources telling us those bodies lying on the ground on that coastal road have also been subject to some form of attack from israeli forces. we do know that israeli forces including tanks and special forces have been operating south of gaza city on the two main highways that lead to the cell. we�*ve asked the israelis if they can shed any light on what has happened there. the pictures are very, very disturbing indeed but what the palestinians are saying is that people who are fleeing have been hit. paul saying is that people who are fleeing have been hit. pauladams in jerusalem, thank _ fleeing have been hit. pauladams in jerusalem, thank you _ fleeing have been hit. pauladams in jerusalem, thank you very _ fleeing have been hit. pauladams in jerusalem, thank you very much. - fleeing have been hit. pauladams in jerusalem, thank you very much. as| jerusalem, thank you very much. as paul was concluding that thought a statement has been released by 0xfam. let me goes through the key lines. they say they are gravely concerned for the lives of around half a million palestinians alongside any of the more than 200 israeli and national hostages currently trapped in a seizure when the disease in northern gaza. that is the phrase they are using. israeli forces they say are composed of a complete stranglehold, effectively cutting the enclave and half on the border wall to the sea. a member of 0xfam shared a harrowing account with herfamily a member of 0xfam shared a harrowing account with her family yesterday, escaped death twice today. we feel like rats in a cage. gaza city is closed off and we hear people travelling to find shelter in the south have been targeted by airstrikes. a strongly worded statement given you just a sense from 0xfam of their assessment of what it is like they are in the northern part of gaza. let�*s turn from that to the speech we heard today. the leader of the iranian—backed lebanese group his brother has delivered 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. sheikh hassan nasrallah said the attack by hamas — which, sheikh hassan nasrallah said 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. although he warned the possibility of "total war was realistic". translation: this is the first - operation which has been a historic point and blessed point. this was a palestinian decision 100%, and supported by the palestinians 100%. joining me now from southern lebanon is our middle east correspondent, hugo bachega. so many eyes on this speech, waiting to hear what he was good to say. what was your assessment? i to hear what he was good to say. what was your assessment? i think of eo - le what was your assessment? i think of --eole are what was your assessment? i think of people are relieved _ what was your assessment? i think of people are relieved to _ what was your assessment? i think of people are relieved to in _ what was your assessment? i think of people are relieved to in lebanon - people are relieved to in lebanon today after the speech because of those concerns over what�*s happening along the lebanon— israel border with those intense cross—border attacks between his brother and the israeli army and fears those attacks could drag lebanon into this conflict. i don�*t think anyone was inspecting that he would simply declare war. —— hezbollah. there were concerns perhaps that he could announce a major escalation of the groups attacks against israel. that didn�*t happen. but he did leave the door open i think to perhaps a much more aggressive campaign by the group against israel. he said all options were on the table. he said the only way to prevent an escalation of this conflict, to prevent the war from spreading who was to stop the war in gaza. he also said the groups actions will be determined by what happens in gaza and also by israel�*s action towards his brother and towards lebanon. again he said the groups wouldn�*t be intimidated by warnings coming from america, —— hezbollah. also warships in the eastern mediterranean. he was critical of the level of americans support that israel has received in this conflict. again, i think we�*ve been talking about those cross—border attacks for week now. they have intensified in recent days. and he described those attacks is unprecedented and very significant because his brother is keeping the israeli army busy in the normal patent northern part of israel. he said this wasn�*t the main front of the conflict, that this was in an effort to help hamas in gaza. again, no major announcement that his brother is going to intensify its campaign against israeli targets. its campaign against israeli taraets. ,., ., its campaign against israeli taraets. ., ., �* , targets. -- hezbollah. you've seen first-hand — targets. -- hezbollah. you've seen first-hand yourself— targets. -- hezbollah. you've seen first-hand yourself because - targets. -- hezbollah. you've seen first-hand yourself because you - targets. -- hezbollah. you've seen l first-hand yourself because you been first—hand yourself because you been in the border regions for the last while. 0ne in the border regions for the last while. one of assumes will see a continuation of the sort of attacks we�*ve seen over the last three or four weeks. we've seen over the last three or four weeke— four weeks. yes. this is pretty much the message — four weeks. yes. this is pretty much the message here _ four weeks. yes. this is pretty much the message here that _ four weeks. yes. this is pretty much the message here that the _ four weeks. yes. this is pretty much the message here that the attacks i the message here that the attacks are not going to intensify but they are not going to intensify but they are going to continue. i think that�*s what he said during this speech for the up and went to one of their screenings in this southern beirut it lebanon, thousands of people were there with flags, hezbollahh flags, iranian flags, iran obviously is hezbollahh main support. it supports an alliance across the region, the so—called action axis, again talking about the attacks that are being carried out by groups and around. also the attacks that have been carried out by the who these in yemen. those missile launchers that have been carried out in recent days. he said this was a sign that all those groups were engaged in supporting hamas. visiting villages along the border here in lebanon, thousands of people left because they fear the situation can escalate. and again lebanon could be dragged into this conflict. i think lots of people here still remember the devastation brought by the 2006 war between his brother and israel. israeli officials, american officials have been warning his brother against escalating the situation. israeli prime minister has promised a response of unthinkable magnitude. lots of people will be relieved here in lebanon after the speech. regional, washington watching closely. 0ur correspondent has more on the us response to today�*s events. on the us response to today's events. �* , ., . events. i've been watching the american _ events. i've been watching the american message _ events. i've been watching the american message evolved - events. i've been watching the i american message evolved since events. i've been watching the - american message evolved since the beginning of this crisis in which they initially came up firmly, almost exclusively supporting israel and its right to defend itself as they spoke to arab partners in the crisis in gaza started to unfold they became more and more insistent that civilians in gaza must be protected, the way that israel carried out its offensive was important, that humanitarian aid must get through. that is very much at the core of what mr blinken is talking about now in israel. he has specifically brought up this idea of humanitarian pauses. so the americans support the israeli refusal to have a cease fire. they say this would just allow hamas to regroup, it would benefit hamas. they talk about humanitarian pauses. in undefined, short—term stop of hostility so it can command, so hostages can be progress on hostages and so on. what we heard from mr blinken and also from mr netanyahu is that still difficult. mr netanyahu said no chance of an humanitarian posit the hostages will not be released. mr blinken to let down a bit, he said he heard legitimate questions about how you link a humanitarian posit to the hostages, to concerns about hamas benefiting from something like this, how you maximise the delivery of aid during these sorts of pauses. but he also said it didn�*t seem it would happen anytime soon, he said it would take time and negotiations with all the different partners. around the world and across the uk it watching bbc news. let�*s look at some other stories making news. a week on conflict between military leaders and ethnic insurgents. reports suggest dozens d oze ns of dozens of military outposts have fallen. the three rebel groups say their goal is to overthrow the military dictatorship. goal is to overthrow the military dictatorship. at least one person has died in flooding in northern italy. the tuscany region was badly hit by storm ciaran, which swept through north—west europe on thursday. the storm brought strong winds and driving rain, forcing the closure of schools, airports, rail and ferry services. colombia is to cull some of the more than 160 hippos descended from a herd owned by drug lord pablo escobar in the 1980s. experts have for years tried to control the hippo numbers. escobar imported the animals for his private zoo, but they were left to roam after he was killed in a shootout with police in 1993. those of the stories making the headlines. those of the stories making the headlines. you�*re live with bbc news. almost 40 flood warnings remain in place in the uk after storm ciaran battered the south coast of england and the channel islands yesterday. downpours and strong winds are expected in scotland and parts of northern england. meanwhile onjersey, the clean—up continues. as dan johnson reports. we�*ve been able to get our aerial camera up this morning, and that�*s given us a really clear view of just exactly how destructive this storm was. you can see where what people are convinced was a tornado has blown in from the sea through the streets of this estate, taking off the roofs of many of the houses, smashing the windows. people think that might have been caused by some of the huge hailstones that were hammering down here in the middle of the night. and even a day on, there is still lots of work to clear up, and you can see what sort of damage it has done here. people are still really trying to actually get an idea of the scale of this, just how many homes have been affected. we know across the island, 120 people have had to be evacuated into hotels or community centres, because this is the sort of damage that they�*re putting up with. look at the state of the houses. just trying to save as much furniture as we can. 0bviously, nobody has a roof, so the water�*s starting to leak through the bedrooms. so we�*re prepared for the ceilings to come down in the next couple of days. and yeah, we don�*t really have a plan at the moment. you�*re going to need a new house. yeah, everyone�*s going to need a new house. it�*s going to be a long time before this estate gets back to anything like normal. and there are lots of people who are homeless, at least temporarily, and have got to find somewhere to stay. there�*s disruption more widely on the island as well. the airport is closed until at least this afternoon. there�*s some damage there that�*s got to be repaired before flight connections can resume. and there�*s no boat service to the island for the next few days because there�*s a threat of another storm blowing in. now, that�*s not expected to be anywhere near as destructive as this was, but people are still trying to absorb exactly what happened here, how much damage it did, and what the lasting impact may be. danjohnson, bbc news injersey. conservative mp bob stewart has been found guilty after telling activists to go back to bahrain in an altercation in west minister last december. the mp has been issued with a £600 fine in order to pay additional court costs in the region of a further £835. let�*s get more on this. let�*s talk to sharon who is in the newsroom. just tell us a little bit more about the background to all of this. it bit more about the background to all of this. ., ., ~' bit more about the background to all of this. ., ., 4' , w bit more about the background to all ofthis. , , . , of this. it took place in december the 14th of this. it took place in december the 1�*tth last _ of this. it took place in december the 14th last year _ of this. it took place in december the 14th last year outside - of this. it took place in december the 14th last year outside the - the 14th last year outside the foreign offices at lancaster house in west minister. a row broke out between the mp had been at an event when yelling bob stewart, for how much do you sell yourself to the iranian embassy? during a heated exchange mr stewart replied, "go away, i hate you. you make a lot of fuss, go back to bahrain. "the 74 mp told him you are taking money off my country, go away. so in footage played during the trial at west minister court today the mp also said now, shut up you stupid man. bob stewart told the court he had no idea who he was, he said he used the word hate because of what the protester was saying. he told of being goaded and embarrassed. during his evidence he said he was exercising his right to protest by questioning the mp and having intended to insult him. he went on to say that if he did return to bahrain he would be killed and tortured. , ., ., tortured. tell us more about the sentencing- _ tortured. tell us more about the sentencing. the _ tortured. tell us more about the sentencing. the chief _ tortured. tell us more about the| sentencing. the chief magistrate found the mp — sentencing. the chief magistrate found the mp guilty _ sentencing. the chief magistrate found the mp guilty of _ sentencing. the chief magistrate found the mp guilty of a - sentencing. the chief magistrate found the mp guilty of a racially | found the mp guilty of a racially aggravated public order offense. despite mentioning his immense positive character he remarked that he accepts he�*s not a racist per se but that�*s not the case against him. he went on to say that good men can do bad things of that after giving his verdict in a short time ago he finally paid £600 with the additional legal costs and that brought the total to just over £1400. pt, brought the total to 'ust over £1400. �* ., , ., ., , brought the total to 'ust over £1400. �* ., , ., , £1400. a final question, has it been any reaponse _ £1400. a final question, has it been any response from _ £1400. a final question, has it been any response from the _ £1400. a final question, has it been any response from the conservative| any response from the conservative party? we any response from the conservative pa ? ~ ., �* any response from the conservative pa ? ~ . �* ., any response from the conservative pa 7~ . �* ., any response from the conservative party? we haven't had any response so far. party? we haven't had any response so far- thank _ party? we haven't had any response so far. thank you _ party? we haven't had any response so far. thank you very _ party? we haven't had any response so far. thank you very much - party? we haven't had any response so far. thank you very much for - so far. thank you very much for those details. _ so far. thank you very much for those details. we _ so far. thank you very much for those details. we returned - so far. thank you very much for those details. we returned to i so far. thank you very much for i those details. we returned to the middle east because the uk secretary of state has said the number of british nationals able to leave gaza and provided this update on the rafah crossing.— and provided this update on the rafah crossina. . ., , ,, . rafah crossing. have a listen. since the onset of — rafah crossing. have a listen. since the onset of this _ rafah crossing. have a listen. since the onset of this terrible _ rafah crossing. have a listen. since the onset of this terrible situation i the onset of this terrible situation the onset of this terrible situation the uk government has been working with our partners internationally, including israel, egypt and others. to try and open and keep open the border crossing at rafa to facilitate the evacuation of foreign nationals, including british nationals, including british nationals from gaza. and in order to facilitate humanitarian aid getting into gaza. what we have seen is some positive news that we�*re now getting a number of british nationals through backcrossing. we will continue to work to keep the crossing open, to liaise directly with israel, with egypt and intermediaries through hamas to ensure that as many british nationals can leave gaza as possible. nationals can leave gaza as possible-— nationals can leave gaza as ossible. , ., , . , possible. james cleverly, the forei . n possible. james cleverly, the foreign secretary _ possible. james cleverly, the foreign secretary talking - possible. james cleverly, the foreign secretary talking in l possible. james cleverly, the i foreign secretary talking in the last little while. the parents of the wife of first minister of scotland there around 100 british nationals allowed to leave gaza via that crossing point. he has given his reaction to that news that his in—laws are now safely out of that war zone. in-laws are now safely out of that war zone. ., , ., war zone. the last four weeks have been the most _ war zone. the last four weeks have been the most dramatic _ war zone. the last four weeks have been the most dramatic of - war zone. the last four weeks have been the most dramatic of my life | been the most dramatic of my life andindeed been the most dramatic of my life and indeed of not is life. very difficult for our children, my 14—year—old. but i think for people, evenif 14—year—old. but i think for people, even if you don�*t have family in gaza watching this and you see these people, people are feeling the distress of the conflict of interest sent people dying. it�*s been really difficult for us emotionally draining physically, quite difficult. but having my in—laws backis difficult. but having my in—laws back is a huge relief for us. do difficult. but having my in-laws back is a huge relief for us. do you know how — back is a huge relief for us. do you know how many — back is a huge relief for us. do you know how many scots _ back is a huge relief for us. do you know how many scots are - back is a huge relief for us. do you know how many scots are still in i know how many scots are still in gaza what the prospectors for them to get out? we gaza what the prospectors for them to net out? ~ to get out? we were never given the number of scots _ to get out? we were never given the number of scots in _ to get out? we were never given the number of scots in gaza, _ to get out? we were never given the number of scots in gaza, they - to get out? we were never given the number of scots in gaza, they don'tl number of scots in gaza, they don�*t break it down by nationality. but we do know from, there�*s about 200 uk citizens in gaza i don�*t know how many have been able to cross the border today. my hope is all of them have been able to. because we don�*t want a single uk citizen, scotland or otherwise trapped in a war zone for one second longer than they have to. d0 for one second longer than they have to. , ., for one second longer than they have to. ,, ~ ., for one second longer than they have to. ~ ., ., , to. do you know when your in-laws will be able — to. do you know when your in-laws will be able to _ to. do you know when your in-laws will be able to return _ to. do you know when your in-laws will be able to return to _ will be able to return to scotland? as i speak to you now, my wife is on the phone trying to see if they could get a flight back. they are desperate to come back as soon as they possibly can. tonight when they are sleeping, they will be sleeping with much more sexy than they have in the last four weeks. they�*ll be sleeping not worrying about bombs, air strikes hitting them. not worrying about whether they make it through the night or not. staff safely than they have.- through the night or not. staff safely than they have. humza yousaf talkin: to safely than they have. humza yousaf talking to the — safely than they have. humza yousaf talking to the sac. _ hello there. good afternoon. it�*s a much quieter looking day of weather today across the uk following storm ciaran, of course, yesterday. still some heavy showers developing, including once more for the south coast. but that deep area of low pressure from the storm is now out in the north sea. we�*ve seen associated fronts create problems across europe, flooding in northern italy, damaging winds for france and spain. the next low is approaching now from the southwest. it will be with us through this evening and overnight. still blustery for eastern scotland as we head through the rest of this afternoon. some rain for many northern and central areas of scotland. a lighter northwesterlyjust wind blowing down some showers across parts of northern ireland, the western side and western wales, the south west of england into central, southern england. but there will also be some sunny spells. top temperatures — once more about the average — ten to 14 degrees celsius. now, this evening and overnight, the rain clears from central scotland and the winds will lighten here. some mist and fog developing here and across northern ireland into tomorrow morning. meanwhile, that deep flow approaches from the southwest — heavy and persistent rain here. temperatures will dip to mid single figures for a time, rising in the south with that milder air associated with our deep area of low pressure. and here it is. you can see the squeeze on the isobars. strong, gusty winds once again for the channel islands. we could see some gales here tomorrow morning. strong, gusty winds 40 to 50 miles an hour for channel coasts. perhaps that heavy rain moves its way further northwards across to the midlands and northern wales by the time we get into the afternoon. but it�*s weakening as it goes. heavy, thundery showers following on in its wake. but for northern england, northern ireland, for much of scotland away from the east, it should stay largely dry tomorrow. temperatures again — ten to 15 degrees celsius. those heavy thundery showers continue towards the south, particularly the south coast and eastern areas as we head through saturday evening. now, once again, same sort of pattern. that deep low pushes away into the north sea. and we�*re now drawing in more of a northwesterly wind. so the focus of the showers on sunday likely to change out towards the northwest. so for north western areas of scotland, the western isles, northern areas of northern ireland, perhaps, and through western parts of wales and the south west of england. further east, it�*s a drier picture and we�*re likely to see quite a lot of cloud, perhaps a few brighter spells at times. of course, bonfire night celebrations going on over the weekend. sunday — probably the best night for most. the fifth, of course. seggy ground, but clear spells with showers in the west. bye— bye. this is bbc news. the headlines: antony blinken urges a humanitarian pause in the war, but israel�*s prime minister says there�*ll be no temporary truce until all hostages are released. israel says, its troops are involved in face to face fighting with hamas as they completely surround gaza city. scottish first minister humza yousef�*s mother and father in law are among the british nationals to leave gaza today via the rafah crossing into egypt. almost 40 flood warnings remain in place across the uk in the aftermath of storm ciaran. an australian woman charged with murdering three people at a family lunch is also accused of trying to kill her ex—husband four times. we arejust we are just hearing that two people have been charged under the terrorism act following an incident