translation: we are at war and we will continue the war. we will continue the war until we have achieved all of our goals: to destroy hamas, to bring back all of the hostages and the missing and to ensure that gaza poses no threat to israel. hamas released a statement confirming the deal and the israeli government said in a statement: "the government of israel is obligated to return home all of the hostages." tonight, the government has approved the outline of the first stage of achieving this goal according to which at least 50 hostages, women and children will be released over four days, during which a pause in the fighting will be held. the release of every additional ten hostages will result in one additional day in the pause. the government of israel, the idf and the security services will continue the war in order to return home all of the hostages, complete the elimination of hamas and ensure that there will be no new threat to the state of israel from gaza. our senior international correspondent, orla guerin, has more on the hostages who may be released and their families, who hope the deal means their return. after six long weeks, there is hope. here are some of those who could soon be coming home. oriya is four and loves football and ice cream. and kfir is just ten months old and recently started crawling. he is always smiling, relatives say. in tel aviv tonight, campaigners standing together as israel's government debated the deal. # just come home... many here would pay any price. the fear is some hostages are already dead. it has been a very long wait, but there is a sense of hope here now. hostages are expected to be released in phases over a number of days, but the families and supporters gathered here know that most of those being held in gaza will not be included in this deal. chen almog is being held with three of her children, including her two young sons. her husband and eldest daughter were killed by hamas. her brother, omri, hopes to get his relatives back soon. he's been counting the dark days. the bad and the pain is behind. we are going to live with this pain forever but the good things in front of us and they will come. what is the first thing you would like to do when you are all together? first to tell them i'm sorry because it's sad and it's a shame what happened. then that i love them. you can imagine hugs for so many days so now, when the time comes, we are going to do it. in return, gaza will get a respite from israel's assault, at least for a few days. israeli troops were still advancing today. food and fuel will be allowed in to the rubble and some palestinian women and children will be released from israeli jails. israel's prime minister got a warm reception from these troops today. benjamin netanyahu said releasing the hostages was a sacred duty but the war wouldn't stop after they were freed. tonight, there's an empty place at this table for every one that is being held in gaza. the deal looks set to be approved. the first hostages could be released on thursday or friday. we are speaking about the current situation with my guests and great to see you both. lauren, just starting with you, if there are any further details, let us know, and what the white house reaction has been? your thoughts, ambassador? mixed emotions. only 50 out of 205 of— mixed emotions. only 50 out of 205 of 40 — mixed emotions. only 50 out of 205 of 40 hostages will be release _ 205 of 40 hostages will be release and it's great to see the women interim but i was just— the women interim but i was just in— the women interim but i was just in israel a week ago and the amount of agonising the public— the amount of agonising the public at large and the hostages families has added to the dimension of grief and anger— the dimension of grief and anger that exists in israel. i think— anger that exists in israel. i think the _ anger that exists in israel. i think the most important thing here _ think the most important thing here is— think the most important thing here is whether or not it will lead — here is whether or not it will lead to— here is whether or not it will lead to more hostage releases and what — lead to more hostage releases and what further terms of what i would — and what further terms of what i would say blackmail, will hamas _ i would say blackmail, will hamas impose on israel in order to get— hamas impose on israel in order to get the — hamas impose on israel in order to get the other hostages out because — to get the other hostages out because after the women and children. _ because after the women and children, how must considers israeli — children, how must considers israeli soldiers, perhaps foreign _ israeli soldiers, perhaps foreign citizens, man, to be much — foreign citizens, man, to be much more of a bargaining chip thah _ much more of a bargaining chip than women and children. danielle, i will throw that to you. what does this with the remaining hostages, as the ambassador said, this is a moment of agony for their families who know that perhaps their loved ones are not going to be released? it their loved ones are not going to be released?— their loved ones are not going to be released? it is extremely difficult, to be released? it is extremely difficult. as _ to be released? it is extremely difficult, as the _ to be released? it is extremely difficult, as the ambassador i difficult, as the ambassador said and even to think about this, in the context of decades of conflict between israel and the palestinians. if you think back to the 19705 when palestinian militant groups first started hijacking planes with the intention of coercing the israeli government to make concessions, those militants would often release the non— israeli captives without making any demands at all. then hold onto israeli adults and try to use those captives for a bargaining chip. in some ways, letting go of their children and women, those are the easy cases, the vulnerable hostages and there is unambiguous sympathy and outrage around the world that these vulnerable individuals are being held hostage. as a group of hostages becomes more and more narrow, when it is soldiers, able—bodied men, not only are those hostages easier for her mouth to hold onto long—term, but it means the price is going to be quite high for the chance of seeing them released. i’iiii of seeing them released. i'll ask ou of seeing them released. i'll ask you both, following up on said, what do you think it would take to secure the release of the rest of the hostages and wishes at the same time we have seen a massive humanitarian crisis in gaza, something which could possibly lead how must you want a longer pause inviting as well, to release more hostages? absolutely. what we have heard about this possible deal, and it is just been reporting and not publicly released, what we have heard about the deal is that in many ways it is the idea that for every ten hostages that hamas is able to release, there will be another pause in the day of fighting, and that israel will release 30 palestinian prisoners with the idea that it is entirely possible that the chain may continue. we have seen hostage groups in the past release some hostages and continue to make more demands for the release of others, so i think the negotiating as impossible as it has been up and to this point, may only get harder from here. ambassador, what is your sense of this, especially with the us playing a big role in negotiations. we understand what might come next, especially looking at the remaining hostages? from the oint of remaining hostages? from the point of view — remaining hostages? from the point of view of _ remaining hostages? from the point of view of the _ remaining hostages? from the point of view of the biden - point of view of the biden administration, the fact that hamas— administration, the fact that hamas is_ administration, the fact that hamas is still holding onto american citizens, is obviously of great — american citizens, is obviously of great concern to the biden administration from day one. you _ administration from day one. you are — administration from day one. you are going to see continued pressure — you are going to see continued pressure on the part of the bideh— pressure on the part of the biden administration, on the israeli — biden administration, on the israeli government, do not do anything — israeli government, do not do anything to make it harder, and that is— anything to make it harder, and that is a — anything to make it harder, and that is a relative term, harder, _ that is a relative term, harder, to make it possible for american _ harder, to make it possible for american hostages to also be released. that draws in the other— released. that draws in the other issue. why is hamas doing this how? — other issue. why is hamas doing this now? do they fill militarily that they are under pressure? that they need this so-caiied _ pressure? that they need this so—called pause in the conflict? or is thisjust so—called pause in the conflict? or is this just an effort _ conflict? or is this just an effort by— conflict? or is this just an effort by hamas to jettison what — effort by hamas to jettison what essentially has been from its own — what essentially has been from its own perspective and public relations, a humanitarian disaster. _ relations, a humanitarian disaster, because of the focus on these — disaster, because of the focus on these hostages has taken away— on these hostages has taken away attention, or at least a relative _ away attention, or at least a relative degree of attention from — relative degree of attention from the people in gaza, who are being _ from the people in gaza, who are being victimised by the conflict? , ., conflict? danielle, if you look at the situation _ conflict? danielle, if you look at the situation now - conflict? danielle, if you look at the situation now going - at the situation now going forward, we're looking some pictures now of the situation in gaza right now, how much does it shape efforts of hostage diplomacy going forward? its, hostage diplomacy going forward?— hostage diplomacy going forward? . ., forward? a few ways that the conditions — forward? a few ways that the conditions of _ forward? a few ways that the conditions of the _ forward? a few ways that the conditions of the war - forward? a few ways that the conditions of the war until. forward? a few ways that the l conditions of the war until now have shaped the negotiations thus far and will continue to do so. when the israeli government has talked about its war aims they are several fold but they say eliminating us from gaza, and then, securing the release of hostages. that has always been a second goal of the idf. but in some ways putting pressure on her mouth with the idf invasion of gaza with the idf invasion of gaza with ground incursions and with the military strength, has put, perhaps, on their back foot and made it so that they feel pressure to come to the table. the negotiation for a pause in the fighting is interesting in that it the fighting is interesting in thatitis the fighting is interesting in that it is both content of the deal and process of the deal. so it's deal and process of the deal. so its content in that it is negotiation for the pause infighting that her mouth and the civilian residents of gaza will be grateful for, a the civilian residents of gaza will be gratefulfor, a break in hostilities, of course, but it is about the process of hostage release. it allows hostages to come out of captivity and back to israel safely. captivity and back to israel safel.�* , ., captivity and back to israel safel.�* ., safely. ambassador, quickly our on safely. ambassador, quickly your on that _ safely. ambassador, quickly your on that as _ safely. ambassador, quickly your on that as well, - safely. ambassador, quickly your on that as well, could i safely. ambassador, quickly. your on that as well, could you comment on that? the your on that as well, could you comment on that?— comment on that? the fact is that as long _ comment on that? the fact is that as long as _ comment on that? the fact is that as long as hostages - that as long as hostages remain, _ that as long as hostages remain, hummus is not going to lay down— remain, hummus is not going to lay down its arms unless it gets — lay down its arms unless it gets what it believes to be some _ gets what it believes to be some more leeway for purposes of regrouping —— hamas. israeiis _ of regrouping —— hamas. israelis are determined to get the hostages out but let's make sure everyone understands, no government in israel can survive _ government in israel can survive if hamas survives in gaza — survive if hamas survives in gaza so. _ survive if hamas survives in gaza. so, how you thread the needle — gaza. so, how you thread the needle between hostage negotiations and in the weeks ahead, — negotiations and in the weeks ahead, and the determination of israei— ahead, and the determination of israet to— ahead, and the determination of israel to eliminate hamas as a military— israel to eliminate hamas as a military threat, this will be a very— military threat, this will be a very hard _ military threat, this will be a very hard needle to thread. both— very hard needle to thread. both of— very hard needle to thread. both of you, thank you so much for your thoughts. we will speak to you later. we also do have a statement released from the presidentjoe biden on the news of the agreement and he says he welcomes the deal to secure the release of hostages, taken by the terrorist group hamas during the brutal assault against israel on october seven and goes on to say of a president i have no higher priority than ensuring the safety of americans held hostage around the world. that is why from the earliest moments of the brutal assault by hamas my national security team and i have worked closely with regional partners to do everything possible to secure the release of our fellow citizens. it goes on then to end a statement saying the deal todayis end a statement saying the deal today is a testament to the tireless diplomacy and determination of many dedicated individuals across the united states government, to bring americans home. we know not just americans, part of this hostage agreement but the message therefrom presidentjoe biden on the hostage release in gaza. let's look at some other stories making news: north korea claims it successfully launched a spy satellite into orbit on tuesday night — a move the un secretary general has strongly condemned. if the satellite is operational, it would allow leader kimjong unto monitor the movements of south korean and us troops. south korea believe the north received technological help from russia and has partially suspended its military agreement with the north in response. the head of binance is agreeing to plead guilty to money laundering and resign his post as chief executive of the company. it's part of a deal between changpeng zhao and the usjustice department, which accuses the world's largest crypto—exchange of helping criminals and terrorists move money and evade sanctions. zhao will also pay a $50 million fine. binance will pay $4.3 billion in penalties. ten days after a tunnel collapse in northern india, new video has emerged of the 41 construction workers trapped inside. a medical camera slipped into the tunnel through a pipe captured the video, showing the trapped men. authorities say the rescue could still take several days. you're live with bbc news. and just a reminder of our top story this hour — the israeli government voting to approve a deal on tuesday that secures the release of some israeli hostages held by hamas. earlier, a senior israeli official telling the bbc and agreement would involve the release of 50 hostages within four days. a us official saying those released would mostly be women and children, in exchange for 150 palestinian prisoners being freed by israel. hamas has said in a statement they would be women and children as well. the white house statement from john kirby says a safe passage would have to be key. a little earlier, i got more details on the hostage deal from state department correspondent barbara plett usher. we were always told at the state department they were very hesitant to tell us anything about the negotiations because there were times when they thought they would be an agreement and then there wasn't, that nothing was agreed until everything was agreed, that was really up until the end, actually. we saw that comment from presidentjoe biden earlier in the day, in which he really signalled he thought this would be the time that they were very close, but again he said we can't say for sure, so these negotiations have been tenuous, they have been difficult, they have involved a number of parties, definitely qatar of course that has been negotiating, has been contacting hamas and has been making contact between hamas and israel, and then the united states also very much involved at very senior levels. so secretary of state antony blinken of course making those trips to qatar and israel but other senior officials in the head of the cia, mr biden himself making calls to both qatar and israel, so very heavily involved in these negotiations, and now we have that statement from the israeli government, quite a sparse statement i would say, basically giving the outline of the deal of these 50 hostages being released overfour the deal of these 50 hostages being released over four days with potential for more overtime. and still waiting to find out exactly when that might start, because there needs to be supreme court approval in israel before it goes through because of the palestinian prisoners that would potentially be released. but yes, it is something that there has been an intense amount of diplomacy and negotiations over over the past weeks. �* . negotiations over over the past weeks. . ., , weeks. and we are seeing reporting _ weeks. and we are seeing reporting from _ weeks. and we are seeing reporting from axial- weeks. and we are seeing reporting from axial is - weeks. and we are seeing| reporting from axial is that the secretary of state himself might again be heading to israel next week. we haven't received confirmation of that and we also have not received a statement from the white house, but barbara, at this point do we know anything about whether or how many americans might be part of this agreement of hostages being released? well, we did have _ hostages being released? well, we did have a _ hostages being released? well, we did have a briefing _ hostages being released? well, we did have a briefing a - hostages being released? well, we did have a briefing a little i we did have a briefing a little earlier by the mount house, saying it is expected that —— by the white house, saying it is expected three americans will be included in this release, including a child, a three—year—old girl named abigail, and the others he would be women, so three americans to be included in this initial phase of 50 hostages. and there are ten americans who are unaccounted for at the moment, presumed to be hostages, so three out of ten, it seems will be involved in this first phase.— in this first phase. one more question _ in this first phase. one more question on _ in this first phase. one more question on this, _ in this first phase. one more question on this, it - in this first phase. one more question on this, it is - question on this, it is important to note for the biden administration they have also emphasised that a pause in fighting he has to be used also to get humanitarian aid into the gaza strip.— the gaza strip. that's right, and again. _ the gaza strip. that's right, and again, administration i and again, administration official said it was expected that once a deal would be made that once a deal would be made that there would be a surge in humanitarian supplies, so the administration has pushed for humanitarian causes —— humanitarian causes —— humanitarian causes, as i call them to allow me to not only facilitate the release of the hostages but also to get more aid into gaza through that rafah border crossing with egypt. they have worked really, really hard to get the amount of aid coming through now, which is not sufficient, and they have been hoping for a longer period of time in order to do so, and have been particularly pushing in the past week for fuel to come in, because gaza was running out of fuel. according to our broadcast partners here in the united states, cbs, this agreement is meant to allow 300 trucks per day carrying aid, including cooking oilfor bakeries and fuel hospitals. so again those details have not been formally released, but there is expectation that this will also help with aid deliveries into gaza. spoke with retired general mark schwartz who served as i asked him about the logistics of this that are known. i think the idf will set the security conditions for that to occur inside of gaza. from what i understand, the international red cross is going to play a very important role, in terms of the transfer from the hostages in the hands of hamas to the israeli security forces inside of gaza. so it is going to be... there is lots of opportunity for things to go amiss during the course of the transfers. maybe not specifically harm to the hostages, just things to potentially unravel and that is probably a concern being shared by the israeli officials in discussions in the knesset this evening. but i think overall it is certainly doable. but i think cautious optimism is the right approach at this point, given what has unravelled since the conflict started, and what we thought were agreements that were going to occur early on but didn't come to permission —— fruition. but didn't come to permission -- fruition-— -- fruition. and we heard benjamin _ -- fruition. and we heard benjamin netanyahu - -- fruition. and we heard l benjamin netanyahu saying -- fruition. and we heard - benjamin netanyahu saying make no mistake, as soon as this deal is done, the fighting will start again. is that the right approach?— start again. is that the right a- roach? ~ , approach? the prime minister has said many _ approach? the prime minister has said many times - approach? the prime minister has said many times that - approach? the prime minister has said many times that the l has said many times that the only thing hamas understands is the pressure put on them through combat operations, right? so they cannot negotiate from a position of strength at a position of weakness. i am not surprised that it is intent that has been the intent all along and it has been pretty consistent, at least what our government has set too, that they don't believe in a ceasefire per se butjust a pause in combat operations, until this first exchange occurs. ~ . until this first exchange occurs. . ., ., until this first exchange occurs. ., ., , ., occurs. we are now seeing two senators calling _ occurs. we are now seeing two senators calling for _ occurs. we are now seeing two senators calling for a _ senators calling for a ceasefire and the us, including the release of all hostages, getting a mass influx of humanitarian aid in an haouas laying down arms. do you think the us should then be pushing israel for a cessation of hostilities? i israel for a cessation of hostilities?— israel for a cessation of hostilities? i don't believe so. hostilities? i don't believe so- again. _ hostilities? i don't believe so. again, the _ hostilities? i don't believe so. again, the strategic. so. again, the strategic objective that israel has laid out i think is pragmatic, extremely difficult but pragmatic. hamas cannot be allowed to continue to dominate the palestinian people inside of gaza militarily or whatever level of governance they are providing they cannot be seen as the governing body of the gazans, beyond this current conflict. if gazans, beyond this current conflict. _, , , conflict. ifi could 'ust “ump in there because i conflict. ifi couldjust “ump in there because you b conflict. ifi couldjustjump in there because you said l conflict. ifi couldjustjump. in there because you said you think israel's operation here is pragmatic, its goal, at the same time, it isn't clear what the strategic objective here is, other than eradicating hamas, and we know there has been a massive loss of civilian life on the ground, so again, is this the right approach? well, i don't believe the approach has been appropriate. certainly there is really significant emotion after the 7th of october atrocities that took place, fully understandable, but the idea of cutting off alljust basic subsistence, power, medical aid, a lot of the interdiction that took place from the air before the ground offensive started and that has continued. i think some of the targeting should be looked at by an objective body. who that is, we will see in the future. so i don't think that approach was correct. i do think that the restart of significant humanitarian assistance needs to occur because of the crisis that exists, because you can't say that hamas does not represent the palestinian people in gaza and also hold them hostage, in terms of the trauma they are going through with this ongoing military campaign and then providing no relief, other than to say move from the north to the south and be dislocated, without really any basic subsistence that they need to survive. so i don't believe that should continue. i think that is a pretty consistent view from not only military professionals butjust the international community writ large. the international community writ large-— the international community writlarue. . . writ large. thank you so much forjoining _ writ large. thank you so much forjoining us. _ writ large. thank you so much forjoining us. thank - writ large. thank you so much forjoining us. thank you. - writ large. thank you so much forjoining us. thank you. we | just want to bring you that statement from president biden on the hostage deal, saying i am extraordinarily gratified that some of these brave souls who have endured weeks of captivity and an unspeakable ordeal will be reunited with their families once this deal is fully implemented. remember, you can get the latest on our website. stay with us. hello. some changes in the feel of our weather over the next few days. tuesday brought temperatures generally around the average for the time of year. it was a little bit chilly in some locations. for wednesday, westerly winds introducing milder air and double digit temperatures for the majority. but then the end of the week will bring northerly winds and something colder. in the short term, wednesday morning brings high pressure to the south of us, low pressure to the north. and this frontal system between this warm front here and this cold front here, a wedge of warm or at least mild air. within that wedge of mild air, a lot of cloud, that cloud producing some rain at times, particularly across hills in the north and the west. that rain enhanced by a weather front in the north of scotland. pretty cloudy for northern ireland, northern england, north wales, the odd spot of rain. further south and east, a few brighter glimpses on what will be a breezy day, in fact, a windy one across the northern half of the uk. temperatures, though, in double digits forjust about all of us broadly 11—14 celsius. now, as we head through wednesday night, we will see this frontal system starting to journey southwards, outbreaks of rain with that. ahead of it, a lot of cloud, it is going to be very mild. behind that frontal system, we will just start to introduce something a little bit colder. it will turn increasingly windy, too, across the north of scotland. so here's our weather front for thursday. it'll be moving southwards. it's a cold front you'll notice, that means the air behind it is going to be turning colder. so here's ourfrontal system — this is the dividing line ahead of it. a lot of cloud through the day on thursday. behind the weather front, sunny spells and showers. some of those showers turning wintry over high ground in northern scotland. gales developing in the far north here. it really will feel cold by the end of the afternoon. furthersouth, holding on to something milder. but by friday, all of us into these northerly winds, some showers which will be wintry, especially over higher ground in the north, perhaps even to lower levels in the far north for a time. some decent spells of sunshine, still 11 celsius in cardiff and plymouth, but most places feeling colder than that. in fact, when we factor in the strength of the wind, it will feel subzero for some parts of eastern and northeastern scotland. into the weekend, we stick with a chilly feel. there will be quite a lot of dry weather, though, and some spells of sunshine. bye for now. 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. welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur. the global economy has been hit by a series of unforeseen events — covid, russia's invasion of ukraine, the current sky—high tensions in the middle east, not to mention the impacts associated with long—term climate change. governments would like you to believe that poor economic performance, high inflation, low growth, rising inequality can be blamed on external factors. but is that true, or are the wrong economic levers being pulled ? well, my guest is former governor of the bank of england, mervyn king. does economic orthodoxy need rethinking? mervyn, lord king, welcome to hardtalk. thank you.