poised as he is, to fastrack aid into gaza should the temporary truce come. and we will speak to the director of medicins sans frontieres, a charity in mourning tonight for two of its doctors, killed in a strike today on the al awda hospital, in northern gaza. good evening. a deal to release hostages taken from israel by hamas could be closer than ever tonight, with the israeli war cabinet meeting these last few hours to sign off on the final terms agreed in qatar. according to the white house that deal would secure the release of 50 women and child hostages, in return for a li—s—day pause in the fighting. earlier, a hamas leader said the group was "close to reaching a truce agreement." the pause would give the group time to gather hostages who are in gaza, some of them held by other groups, and in return for each hostage they release, sources say the israelis would be expected to free three palestinian prisoners who they are holding in israeli jails. khaled mashal, the political leader of hamas, said some weeks ago the group has what it needs to secure the release of roughly 7,000 palestinians in israeli prisons. this deal seems to relate only to women and children that israel is currently holding, and nowhere near that number — though some questions remain as to whether eventually the israelis will have to hand over some of the higher—value prisoners, some of whom will have killed israeli citizens. budour hassan is from amnesty international. right now, we are talking about more than 7,000. the numbers have skyrocketed since the 7th of october for all sorts of things, for alleged incitement, for publications on social media, including over 2,070 people who are held under administrative detention without charges or trial, which already is a record high of the number of palestinian detainees. with us tonight oliver mcternan, co—founder of the conflict mediation group, forward thinking. he was deeply involved in the talks that led to the release of the israeli soldier gilad shalit 12 years ago, so he has lots of experience in this. good evening, welcome to the programme. i imagine you can rememberjust what it programme. i imagine you can remember just what it was programme. i imagine you can rememberjust what it was like at the 11th hour? it rememberjust what it was like at the 11th hour?— the 11th hour? it was a five-year rocess, the 11th hour? it was a five-year process. and — the 11th hour? it was a five-year process, and in _ the 11th hour? it was a five-year process, and in the _ the 11th hour? it was a five-year process, and in the words - the 11th hour? it was a five-year process, and in the words of- process, and in the words of president biden, nothing is done until it is done. i think there is always at this period or time in negotiations — there's always the risk of spoilers, those who are opposed to any exchange doing something that will get in the way of the process. the something that will get in the way of the process.— of the process. the critical player in all this is _ of the process. the critical player in all this is the _ of the process. the critical player in all this is the international- of the process. the critical playeri in all this is the international red cross, the president of the icrc was in doha yesterday speaking to the various parties. can you explain what they will do if and when a deal is agreed? what they will do if and when a deal is a . reed? �* , what they will do if and when a deal is areed? a , . is agreed? as i understand it, the role of the — is agreed? as i understand it, the role of the icrc _ is agreed? as i understand it, the role of the icrc is simply - is agreed? as i understand it, the role of the icrc is simply to - role of the icrc is simply to facilitate the process, that when the hostages are handed overfrom the hostages are handed overfrom the brigade, they'll be taken by the red cross and handed to the egyptian authorities. i don't think the red cross were involved actually in the process. we discussed before but a complicated process this has been, because you haven't had direct communication through one mediator, but you've had the israelis talking to the americans, the americans talking to the qatar breeze, and the qatari is talking to hamas, and vice versa. so there is an enormous room for what we may say, something important getting lost in translation. so i'm amazed that hate that i could they have reached a deal through this process. == that i could they have reached a deal through this process. -- i'm amazed that _ deal through this process. -- i'm amazed that they _ deal through this process. -- i'm amazed that they reached - deal through this process. -- i'm amazed that they reached a - deal through this process. -- i'm| amazed that they reached a deal. deal through this process. -- i'm - amazed that they reached a deal. we are just hearing that the war cabinet and security cabinet have met, it'll now go to the full cabinet, and everyone has to agree on it. there are reports tonight that there are too hard right groups that there are too hard right groups that are opposed to it, so we don't know yet what will come out of the israeli discussions. and know yet what will come out of the israeli discussions.— israeli discussions. and there's a ossibili israeli discussions. and there's a possibility that _ israeli discussions. and there's a possibility that even _ israeli discussions. and there's a possibility that even if _ israeli discussions. and there's a possibility that even if it - israeli discussions. and there's a possibility that even if it gets - possibility that even if it gets through, that some of those opposed to it will take it to the supreme court. but i honestly can't see the supreme court standing in the way of a decision that would first of all give hope to the families of the hostages who have been suffering, but also to the 2.3 million people in gaza who, every day that this is delayed, are suffering more and at risk of their lives. you delayed, are suffering more and at risk of their lives.— risk of their lives. you talk about the complications _ risk of their lives. you talk about the complications of— risk of their lives. you talk about the complications of all- risk of their lives. you talk about the complications of all the - risk of their lives. you talk about l the complications of all the parties dealing through qatar — one of the reports we've had is that from time to time over the last six weeks, hamas have gone dark. for those families who will not get hostages back tonight, i imagine the most important thing for them in the next few days is to get a list of who is in gaza and what their condition is, is that correct?— is that correct? yes, but i think that will be _ is that correct? yes, but i think that will be difficult _ is that correct? yes, but i thinkj that will be difficult to produce. you may recall right to the beginning, there was a commitment to hand all the civilian hostages back without any preconditions. now that process time and time again was, we were told, impossible to implement because of the heavy bombardment, and i think that's reasonable because how can you move large numbers of people around such an environment as gaza under heavy bombardment and shelling? sol environment as gaza under heavy bombardment and shelling? so i don't think it was an excuse, it was a reason. that's why i was always saying that you need a cease—fire in order to initiate the process and to ensure the safety of the hostages. while you have heavy shelling or bombardment, even with the six hour pause, i really can't see how you can guarantee the safety of individual hostages being moved from the place where they need to at rafah crossing in order to be handed to the egyptian authorities. mi to the egyptian authorities. all ou'll to the egyptian authorities. all you'll be aware of the anger and frustration amongst the families of the hostages in israel. they marched on jerusalem the hostages in israel. they marched onjerusalem this weekend and met with prime minister netanyahu yesterday, whojust with prime minister netanyahu yesterday, who just released this statement, let me read it to the viewers. he radiates again that he carefully listened to the plights of hostages, telling them that returning the hostages is a sacred goal —— reiterates. but "the war effort will not be hurt, but will allow the idf to prepare for the fighting to come. i say again, the war is continuing, the war will continue until we release all the hostages, until there will be a day without hamas. with god's help, we will succeed." that will play on the minds of many of the families tonight, all of her, because it is surely the case that some of the hostages are in the southern part of the strip and they'll know that once the strip and they'll know that once the women and children have been released, that the fate of their loved ones will be in the balance once again. loved ones will be in the balance once again-— once again. yes, and i can understand _ once again. yes, and i can understand that _ once again. yes, and i can understand that fully - once again. yes, and i can understand that fully and l once again. yes, and i can - understand that fully and their concerns. you see, ifeel like understand that fully and their concerns. you see, i feel like a scratched record, christian, because i've said time and time again, i feel the two targets that prime minister netanyahu has set himself are incompatible. you can't, on one hand, talk about destroying people who are holding the hostages, and on the other hand, talking about releasing them and having them return to their families. i think someone needs to sit him down and say, "look, everyone is traumatised by what's happened, let's think rationally." and to set those two competitive targets — ijust can't see how it will be realised, the safe release of all the hostages. sorry, christian, butjust to add to that, i think that the plight of the soldiers is another matter, because they are the leverage for release of long—term prisoners in palestine. and let's remember too that since the 7th of october, i think something like 2300 palestinians have been given administrative detention. so there's been a massive increase in the number of palestinians in israeli jails. palestinians in israeli “ails. those high-value * palestinians in israeli “ails. those high-value prisons _ palestinians in israeli jails. those high-value prisons certainly - palestinians in israeli jails. those high-value prisons certainly on i palestinians in israeli jails. those l high-value prisons certainly on the high—value prisons certainly on the agenda for the hamas leadership in qatar. just a final word about where these hostages are, and the job that these hostages are, and the job that the icrc will have — would it be fair to assume that hamas might not know the whereabouts of all these hostages and, amid the chaos, haven't been able to gather the information that other groups are indeed holding them at the moment? i would think that is more than probable, given the fact that the israeli assault in gaza began immediately after the atrocities of the 7th of october. and given the fact that the number of people brought hostages back, including different groups, i think it's almost impossible to say they can co—ordinate and know exactly the whereabouts of people... so co-ordinate and know exactly the whereabouts of people... so what would the conditions _ whereabouts of people... so what would the conditions be _ whereabouts of people... so what would the conditions be then, - whereabouts of people... so what i would the conditions be then, within this 4— day period that they go away and get a handle on this, i know that was discussed within the negotiation —— 4— five day period. aha, negotiation —— 4— five day period. six hour break doesn't give much opportunity to really have a serious process where you can identify where people are, where you can gather information and, more important, where you can actually ensure the safety of the hostages while you're trying to transport them through what is in effect a battlefield. it's really good to talk to you this evening, thank you for your expertise. evening, thank you for your exoertise-— evening, thank you for your exertise. . ~ , . around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. police searching for four teenagers who have been missing in north wales since sunday morning have found the bodies of four boys — jevon hirst, harvey owen, wilf henderson, and hugo morris. they were aged between 16—18. police say the car had left the road and was upside down and partially submerged in water. the minimum wage in the uk is to increase by more than a pound to £11.44 per hour, from april next year. in a major change of policy, chancellorjeremy hunt has decided the rate will now apply from 21, instead of 23. it comes ahead of mr hunt's autumn budget statement tomorrow. the bbc�*s flagship show top gear will not return "for the foreseeable future" after presenter andrew "freddie" flintoff was hurt in a crash while filming last year. the presenter was injured in december at top gear's test track, sustaining what he describes as "life—changing injuries" on his face. you're live with bbc news. in gaza, the hunger and the thirst is as widespread as the fear and anxiety. there is very little fuel to pump water and sewage. on average, 150 people are sharing a single toilet and 700 people a single shower when available. telecommunications are failing, too. we are seeing signs of civil order breaking down, as people fight for whatever is left. and in all of this, it is unrwa, the un agency for palestinians, that is their lifeline. the humanitarian aid they so desperately need is conditional right now — on the political negotiations. but no doubt the un is preparing and readying its staff for what will be four or five critical days in which to transfer hundreds of trucks of food, water, and desperately medical supplies. joining me now isjorge moreira da silva, under secretary general of the united nations and executive director of unops, the operation that is tasked with supporting the operation in gaza. thank you very much for coming on the programme tonight. jan are you, christian. you must be poised and waiting for whatever news comes from jerusalem, but will you be ready if the deal is agreed?— jerusalem, but will you be ready if the deal is agreed? well, as i think all citizens of _ the deal is agreed? well, as i think all citizens of the _ the deal is agreed? well, as i think all citizens of the world, _ the deal is agreed? well, as i think all citizens of the world, we - the deal is agreed? well, as i think all citizens of the world, we are - all citizens of the world, we are eager to get the news from this negotiation. as he rightly said, we have to focus also on what is needed to recover from this current situation we are dealing with a humanitarian crisis. unops, as you said, we are focusing on operation, we are the un agency dedicated to infrastructure, and we see that infrastructure, and we see that infrastructure is collapsing on health, water, sanitation, education — and we know that one key element to recover is the access to fuel. for several years, since 2018, unops has been the agency that has brought the fuel from israel to gaza. so every day, we were procuring and delivering 500,000 l of fuel that was fundamental to increase the electricity from five hours a day to 12 hours. if you check the figures of what's been provided in the last week on fuel, it was around in total, and one week, 300,000 l. so it's almost half of what we were bringing every day. so obviously, the access to fuel is fundamental for this electricity, for health, to provide access to electricity in the hospitals, for food provide access to electricity in the hospitals, forfood production, but also for the delivery of aid as we've seen in the last days. so the access to the number of trucks that have been entering gaza has decreased, at the same time there was this lack of fuel. so fuel is a fundamental element, and i really hope we can learn from experience. and what that expense does... but ou'll also and what that expense does... but you'll also know that it is fundamental to hamas, to pumping oxygen into the tunnels they are using. so what assurances are you able to give the israelis, and have you any assurances back in return that would mean you could transfer this fuel that is needed over the course of the next 4—5 days? this fuel that is needed over the course of the next 4-5 days? well, let me answer _ course of the next 4-5 days? well, let me answer your _ course of the next 4-5 days? well, let me answer your first _ course of the next 4-5 days? well, let me answer your first question. | let me answer your first question. in the last six years, we have been successful in bringing the fuel from israel to gaza, and providing the fuel to this power plant without any kind of question. so nobody questioned... 50 kind of question. so nobody questioned. . ._ kind of question. so nobody cuestioned... �* , , questioned... so it's never been intercepted? — questioned... so it's never been intercepted? this _ questioned... so it's never been intercepted? this was _ questioned... so it's never been intercepted? this was an - questioned... so it's never been intercepted? this was an israeli | intercepted? this was an israeli com an intercepted? this was an israeli company that — intercepted? this was an israeli company that was _ intercepted? this was an israeli company that was providing - intercepted? this was an israeli company that was providing the j intercepted? this was an israeli - company that was providing the fuel, and you can see that in six years, this was indisputable. so nobody disputed... 50 this was indisputable. so nobody disputed- - -_ disputed... so what then do you think is the _ disputed... so what then do you think is the israeli _ disputed... so what then do you think is the israeli motive - disputed... so what then do you think is the israeli motive and i disputed... so what then do you | think is the israeli motive and not supplying that fuel?— think is the israeli motive and not supplying that fuel? well, i cannot comment on _ supplying that fuel? well, i cannot comment on that, _ supplying that fuel? well, i cannot comment on that, i _ supplying that fuel? well, i cannot comment on that, i can _ supplying that fuel? well, i cannot comment on that, i can just - supplying that fuel? well, i cannot comment on that, i can just say i supplying that fuel? well, i cannot i comment on that, i can just say that in case there is the political will, the negotiation capacity to bring the negotiation capacity to bring the fuel, we at unops are ready to assure that that fuel can be delivered, and we can monitor and verify the access to this fuel. you also asked about the next five days — and obviously, we are all in the un system ready to provide the support, but we also need the safety conditions and security conditions to guarantee that, while we have these humanitarian corridors being open, that not only the volume of the number of trucks is consistent with the needs and, as you note, for many years we are bringing 500 trucks and in the last few weeks, it's only been a0 trucks a day. just it's only been 40 trucks a day. just in terms of — it's only been 40 trucks a day. just in terms of strategic planning, you will be aware that this is only a pause — in fact, wejust had word from prime minister netanyahu that it will resume as soon as the a—5 days has lapsed — are you discussing within the un where you move your lenora operations to? we he