Suspended, if a deal emerges to free the hostages still held by hamas. Israel katz said their freedom was a top priority. Hostage release also forms a key part of International Mediation efforts to bring about a ceasefire in the gaza war. Hamas has posted a new video, which shows two of the hostages captured during its october attack. Keith siegel, and omri miran both identify themselves. While the video is not dated, there is a reference to the recent passover holiday. Its the second such video that hamas, considered a terror group by the uk and us governments, has published in the past few days. Our correspondent, anna foster, sent this update from tel aviv. Omri miran s father was actually already on the list of confirmed speakers for this event tonight. When he got up on the stage, he talked about the moment, he said he was sitting having coffee with someone and talking about his grandchildren when the man he was talking to held his phone and said, look, they have released a video
While theres no sign of that happening at this point, a video showing two hostages, including an american was released on saturday by hamas. In other diplomatic moves, the us Secretary Of State Antony Blinken is due in saudi arabia for talks with regional leaders. He and other key players are expected to meet on the sidelines of the World Economic forum to discuss the war. And its reported a hamas delegation will visit cairo on monday for Gaza Ceasefire talks. So how likely is it that hamas will release hostages . Ive been speaking to Ahron Bregman from the Department Of War Studies at Kings College london about those hostage videos. Well, first of all, very good news for the families because they can see that their loved ones are still alive. And the message of hamas is basically here, you have the hostages, and you, the Israeli Government, should compromise. It is also a message to the American Administration because one of the hostages has got american nationality. So hamas pressure
Hello, im lewis vaughanjones. Welcome to The Programme. We start in the middle east, where the palestinian president says only the us can prevent an Israeli Attack on rafah, where more than a million have fled. Mahmoud abbas is at the World Economic forum summit in riyadh. He will be joined there on monday by the us Secretary Of State, Antony Blinken. Other Key International figures are expected in the saudi city and Sideline Meetings are expected to discuss the war in gaza and the way forward. That could include further Ceasefire Talks a hamas delegation is reportedly in cairo for discussions there on monday. This is the appeal from palestinian president , mahmoud abbas, to the us, urging it convince israel to reconsider any offensive in rafah. Translation and i say here whats happening now in gaza, | and what will happen in the coming few days, and what israel will do by invading the city of rafah, all the palestinians from gaza are gathered in rafah and its only one small strike tha
Lets get more on our top story, the palestinian president says only the us can prevent an Israeli Attack on rafah, where more than a million have fled. Efforts are under way to negotiate a truce between israel and hamas. The us Secretary Of State is heading to riyadh, where he will meet arab leaders to discuss the situation. Lets speak to Gina Abercrombie winstanley, president of The Middle East Policy Council and former us ambassador. Thank you very much for coming on the programme. Antony blinken on his way. What you think he is hoping to achieve . Hes got a tough road ahead, he has got to convince the players he is meeting in riyadh are several things. Players he is meeting in riyadh are severalthings. Number players he is meeting in riyadh are several things. Number one, players he is meeting in riyadh are severalthings. Number one, he has got to convince the saudis there is a deal ahead, that the us Security Guarantees are going to make it worthwhile for them to continue forward.
Hello, im lewies vaughanjones. Welcome to the programme. Ukraines president zelensky has renewed his appeal for allies to provide his country with more air defences, after another night of russian bombardment caused serious damage to energy infrastructure. In kharkiv ukraines second city officials said a missile narrowly missed a hospital with a thousand people inside, leaving a huge crater in the grounds, blowing out windows and injuring one person. There were also attacks in the dnipro region in central ukraine and in the Western Areas of lviv and ivano frankivsk. Ukrainian Officials Say equipment was damaged and at least one Energy Worker injured. Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian Energy infrastructure over recent months. Mr zelensky called for decisive action, saying the world could shoot down every missile and drone launched by what he called russian terrorists. Meanwhile, there are reports that ukraine has launched Drone Attacks on a Military Airfield in the southern russi