and his war cabinet this morning. the us, along with the arab states, is pushing for a further two day extension, the question is, how much leverage do they have. the united states certainly has the ability to have leverage over israel — they have yet to exercise that, and that is why we are just now seeing very loud cries within us domestic policies spaces for restrictions on us aid to israel. as i'm sure you are aware, in the past, we have never placed restrictions on aid to israel — and therefore, we have tied our own hands and not been able to exercise leverage. it is an extremely fragile truce. three people were killed injerusalem this morning, after two gunmen opened fire at a bus stop during rush hour. hamas said the attackers — who were shot then dead by police — were its members. it comes a day after two palestinian boys, eight and 14, were shot and killed during an israeli army raid in the occupied west bank city ofjenin. the upsurge in violence in the west bank and in eastjerusalem pre—dates the current conflict. and in his meetings with mr netenyahu today, the secretary of state stressed that israel must avoid inflaming tensions in the west bank and take "immediate steps to hold jewish settler extremists accountable". he's been speaking in the last hour, saying he's focused on extending the ceasefire and making sure civillians are protected. the way israel defends itself matters. it's imperative that israel acts in accordance with international humanitarian law and the laws of war, even when confronting a terrorist group that respects neither. in my meetings today with the prime minister and senior israeli officials, i made clear that before israel resumes major military operations, it must put in place humanitarian civilian protection plans that minimise further casualties of innocent palestinians. our panel with us tonight, the former british ambassador to washington, sir kim darroch, and the celebrated us columnist and commentator mona charen. thank you for being on the programme, good to have you with us. just watching the secretary of state tonight, it's quite obvious that the biden administration is beginning to push back more forcefully particularly on the protection of civilians in gaza. it is the administration prepared to change course if the israelis are not responsive? it course if the israelis are not resnonsive?_ course if the israelis are not resonsive? , . ., responsive? it is unclear whether the administration _ responsive? it is unclear whether the administration will _ responsive? it is unclear whether the administration will do - responsive? it is unclear whether the administration will do that. i responsive? it is unclear whether i the administration will do that. joe biden is an old—fashioned democrat whose views of israel were formed early in his life— he recognises the fragility of israel's situation, the fact that israel does have existential threats on its borders, that there are challenges to dealing with an enemy that both attacks israeli civilians, then hides among palestinian civilians. and this is a devilish problem that really more of the world needs to acknowledge in this situation, rather than simply saying that all of the responsibility is on israel. the fact is, hamas has guaranteed through its own conduct that palestinians will suffer, and it would be great to see more world protests and agitation urging hamas to release all of the hostages, and to release all of the hostages, and to surrender so that the suffering of palestinians can come to a rapid and. 50 of palestinians can come to a rapid and. ., ., , , , and. so kim, no one is suffering, it seems to me. _ and. so kim, no one is suffering, it seems to me, quite _ and. so kim, no one is suffering, it seems to me, quite like _ and. so kim, no one is suffering, it seems to me, quite like the - and. so kim, no one is suffering, it seems to me, quite like the father| seems to me, quite like the father in the video that hamas released tonight which is truly awful to watch. he's being held somewhere in gaza, but yesterday hamas claimed that his wife and two young boys were killed by an israeli bomb in northern gaza. the idf says it's looking into that. not showing the video because it's been filmed under extreme duress, but it speaks to the extreme duress, but it speaks to the extreme psychological warfare that is now going, and its families suffering the most. christian, there are hundreds _ suffering the most. christian, there are hundreds of _ suffering the most. christian, there are hundreds of families _ suffering the most. christian, there are hundreds of families on - suffering the most. christian, there are hundreds of families on both i are hundreds of families on both sides— are hundreds of families on both sides of— are hundreds of families on both sides of this conflict who are suffering _ sides of this conflict who are suffering — of course, as you said, some _ suffering — of course, as you said, some 140 — suffering — of course, as you said, some 140 hostages are still held. so from where — some 140 hostages are still held. so from where i sit, it's been extraordinarily valuable that theres— extraordinarily valuable that there's been this seven—day cease—fire. the negotiations are going _ cease—fire. the negotiations are going on— cease—fire. the negotiations are going on for a further two days, and one hopes _ going on for a further two days, and one hopes they reach a conclusion. but look. _ one hopes they reach a conclusion. but look, there have been three shootings — but look, there have been three shootings injerusalem of israelis i think— shootings injerusalem of israelis i think in— shootings injerusalem of israelis i think in the — shootings injerusalem of israelis i think in the last 24 hours, which hnines— think in the last 24 hours, which hamas have actually claimed responsibility for. so it's not as if hamas— responsibility for. so it's not as if hamas are actually contributing to getting this cease—fire maintained, giving it another couple days _ maintained, giving it another couple days so _ maintained, giving it another couple days so it's— maintained, giving it another couple days. so it's very fragile, the risk of escalation is still there, and what _ of escalation is still there, and what hamas has done is a terrible crime _ what hamas has done is a terrible crime and — what hamas has done is a terrible crime and not helping. so there are pressures— crime and not helping. so there are pressures on israel, the israeli government to restart the ground operation — government to restart the ground operation soon. sol government to restart the ground operation soon. so ijust hope that those _ operation soon. so ijust hope that those negotiations can succeed, but i'm those negotiations can succeed, but i'm not— those negotiations can succeed, but i'm not confident. i�*m those negotiations can succeed, but i'm not confident.— i'm not confident. i'm 'ust seeing news here — i'm not confident. i'm 'ust seeing news here from h i'm not confident. i'm just seeing news here from reuters, - i'm not confident. i'm just seeing news here from reuters, this - i'm not confident. i'm just seeing news here from reuters, this is l i'm not confident. i'm just seeing - news here from reuters, this is from a palestinian officialfamiliar news here from reuters, this is from a palestinian official familiar with the truce talks — six hostages have been handed over in the last few minutes to the red cross, and are now on their way back to israel. we've seen prisoners starting to come out of 0fer prison in the west bank tonight, 22 of them women, eight children. we spoke to mark rago of on monday on this programme, and i spoke to him about what would happen if hamas started to reduce the number of hostages it was releasing, and he said, "we won't get into playing games here, we're not interested in a sliding scale." but i wonder, if in light of what we've seen today, of hostages coming out in fits and bursts, whether there will be pressure internally to just give this a few more days to see what hamas is prepared to give up? film see what hamas is prepared to give u - ? , see what hamas is prepared to give u . ? , , , , up? oh definitely, the pressure within israeli _ up? oh definitely, the pressure within israeli society _ up? oh definitely, the pressure within israeli society is - within israeli society is tremendous. the families of the hostages have formed their own civil society group that has been putting tremendous pressure on the government. and of course, they have great sympathy among all israelis, so it is an agonising situation for israel. the former ambassador, who i'm sure kim knows — by the way, i'm having trouble hearing him, it's a bit garbled, just so you know that. 0k. bit garbled, 'ust so you know that. 0k. �* ~ . ., ., bit garbled, 'ust so you know that. ok. but michael pointed out that this terrible _ ok. but michael pointed out that this terrible dilemma _ ok. but michael pointed out that this terrible dilemma that - ok. but michael pointed out that this terrible dilemma that israel| this terrible dilemma that israel faces now is whether it chooses to prioritise bringing home it's hostages, and therefore continuing the pause on the war against hamas, or prioritising the health of the nation, which israel perceives to be completely bound up in destroying hamas. and so far for now, this week they are choosing the hostages. right, it's interesting, these are not live pictures, these are pictures of a previous release of palestinian prisoners, but you see the green flags in the foreground which are the flags of hamas in the west bank. it will be interesting if hamas is as popular in gaza as they appear to be hamas is as popular in gaza as they appearto be in hamas is as popular in gaza as they appear to be in the west bank. can we talk about the populate or dust popularity of the israeli government at the moment? the far rate politician let the cat out of the bag yesterday, where he said that stopping the war would mean breaking apart the government. —— far right politician. do you think governments are concerned at the moment that benjamin netanyahu has an interest in prolonging this for as long as possible? i in prolonging this for as long as ossible? ., in prolonging this for as long as ossible? ~' ., , possible? i think it would be extraordinarily _ possible? i think it would be extraordinarily cynical - - possible? i think it would be extraordinarily cynical - i'm| possible? i think it would be i extraordinarily cynical - i'm not possible? i think it would be - extraordinarily cynical - i'm not a extraordinarily cynical — i'm not a fan of— extraordinarily cynical — i'm not a fan of netanyahu — to use prolonging the war— fan of netanyahu — to use prolonging the wariust — fan of netanyahu — to use prolonging the warjust for his own political survivai — the warjust for his own political survivai i— the warjust for his own political survival. i think he's in a very tough — survival. i think he's in a very tough spot. _ survival. i think he's in a very tough spot, i think that what i read of opinion— tough spot, i think that what i read of opinion polls in israel, a majority— of opinion polls in israel, a majority of the israeli popularity is sympathetic to what happened we had the worst loss of his life in a single _ we had the worst loss of his life in a single day, sol we had the worst loss of his life in a single day, so i think he's under huge _ a single day, so i think he's under huge pressure. i suspect his days are numbered, but i would hope he's not so _ are numbered, but i would hope he's not so cynical to put his own personal— not so cynical to put his own personal interests ahead of reaching a point _ personal interests ahead of reaching a point quickly with this ground operation. because every day that continues, — operation. because every day that continues, international support risks— continues, international support risks ebbing away. they can complete this quickly— risks ebbing away. they can complete this quickly and move on to the most difficult _ this quickly and move on to the most difficult decisions he faces, who runs— difficult decisions he faces, who runs gaza — difficult decisions he faces, who runs gaza when this ground operation is finished. _ runs gaza when this ground operation is finished, and what will israel do atrout— is finished, and what will israel do about the — is finished, and what will israel do about the pressure that will come on to reopen _ about the pressure that will come on to reopen the negotiations with palestine over some sort of lasting solution _ palestine over some sort of lasting solution based on un solutions, the two state _ solution based on un solutions, the two state solution approach, and so on. g , _, ., ., two state solution approach, and so on. , ., ., on. just confirmation in the last minute or— on. just confirmation in the last minute or so — on. just confirmation in the last minute or so that, _ on. just confirmation in the last minute or so that, this - on. just confirmation in the last minute or so that, this is - on. just confirmation in the last minute or so that, this is from | minute or so that, this is from the idf, that six hostages were transferred to the red cross and are on their way. if you're wondering why it's not ten, two russians were released last night, so there were 12 release last night, so actually does add up to ten, but it's been a slightly convoluted way of releasing the hostages in the last 24 hours. we will continue to watch events in israel. coming up — who dares wins. matt hancock, the reality tv star and one time health secretary, gives his evidence to the covid inquiry. we will hear who he blames for the mistakes made. we'll get the thoughts of the panel on henry kissinger, who's died at the age of 100. and george santos is not resigning — but tomorrow, may well become only the sixth member in history to be expelled from the us house of representatives. stay with us, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the pogues frontman shane macgowan has died at the age of 65. his wife, victoria mary clarke, confirmed his death on social media. macgowan fronted the pogues from 1982 until their break—up in 2014. the band are best known for the hit christmas song fairytale of new york. the former labour chancellor, alistair darling, has died at the age of 70. following labour's landslide 1997 election win, lord darling served in the cabinet for 13 years under tony blair and gordon brown, and helped steer the uk through the financial crisis in 2008. a statement issued on behalf of his family called lord darling a "much—loved husband of margaret and beloved father of calum and anna". rail workers in the rmt union have voted to accept a pay deal, ending a long—running series of strikes. but train drivers represented by the aslef union will still take action. the rmt agreed an offer from 14 train companies, including a backdated pay offer. you're live with bbc news. if you have been following the covid inquiry here in london, then you will know that the former health secretary, matt hancock, has been a lightning rod for the criticism in evidence given by other witnesses. today, it was his turn to push back. during the pandemic, mr hancock was forced to quit for breaking social distancing guidelines. this was the first of two days of evidence he will give. the core mistake of government planning, he said, was a misplaced focus on how to manage the pandemic, rather than halting the spread of the virus. and mr hancock said a lockdown should have come much sooner. if we'd had the doctrine that i proposed — which is, as soon as you know you've got to lock down, you lock down as soon as possible — then we would've got the lockdown done over that weekend, and on the 2nd of march, three weeks earlier than before. there's a doubling rate at this point estimated every 3—4 days — we would've six doublings ahead of where we were, which means that fewer than a tenth of the number of people would've died in the first wave. those who guided britain's response to covid have devoted a lot of time in this inquiry insisting that others within government were lying. simon case, the cabinet secretary, said he had "never seen a bunch of people less well—equipped to run a country," comparing them to "wild animals". mr hancock pointed the finger at the number ten adviser dominic cummings, who he said was attempting to take over government for himself. there is a proper government emergency response system and it was actively circumvented. and in one of these early meetings, the chief adviser said decisions don't need to go to the prime minister. now, that is inappropriate in a democracy and i saw it simply as a power grab. but it definitely got in the way of organising the response for the period it was in operation. so kim, as someone who's worked in whitehall for many years, i want to get your view on this. because i think what many are claiming in this inquiry, and we heard similarfrom michael gove earlier, is that these clashes between government departments is all the more likely because the structure of government is not set up to co—ordinate and challenge properly. did you find that when you are in the fco, it was at a problem that government departments did not speak to each other effectively? i departments did not speak to each other effectively?— other effectively? i think there are alwa s other effectively? i think there are always problems _ other effectively? i think there are always problems with _ other effectively? i think there are always problems with people - other effectively? i think there are i always problems with people working in siios, _ always problems with people working in silos, christian. but i worked twice _ in silos, christian. but i worked twice in— in silos, christian. but i worked twice in numberten in silos, christian. but i worked twice in number ten — the national security— twice in number ten — the national security council, i was the adviser. my second — security council, i was the adviser. my second time there was a highly effective _ my second time there was a highly effective mechanism for getting departments are aware of what others were doing. _ departments are aware of what others were doing, with proper debate around — were doing, with proper debate around the table about what was going _ around the table about what was going on — around the table about what was going on. and i can promise you in my three _ going on. and i can promise you in my three years doing that job, my three years doing thatjob, there were lots— my three years doing thatjob, there were lots of— my three years doing thatjob, there were lots of disagreements around that table — were lots of disagreements around that table that got thrashed out there — that table that got thrashed out there so — that table that got thrashed out there. so i don't think there's a real— there. so i don't think there's a real serious _ there. so i don't think there's a real serious problem with government mechanisms, i think there was a serious — mechanisms, i think there was a serious problem of a lack of anticipation of the challenges of the pandemic, plan forthe anticipation of the challenges of the pandemic, plan for the wrong sorts— the pandemic, plan for the wrong sorts of— the pandemic, plan for the wrong sorts of pandemic, but i thought matt— sorts of pandemic, but i thought matt hancock did 0k today. we'll see how tomorrow goes. i think his claim about— how tomorrow goes. i think his claim about the _ how tomorrow