This time, beating pakistan. They won by eight wickets, and are in with a chance of qualification to the knockouts themselves. Imran sidat was watching. A meeting of near neighbours in chennai withJonathan Trott a meeting of near neighbours in chennai with Jonathan Trott site hoping to hit the heights of their Shock Victory over england. Pakistan chose to bat and that decision looked vindicated early on as the openers passed 50 without loss. But then, the wickets began to fall as afghanistan sensed an opportunity. When Mohammed Rizwan went to the spin off the teenager, the momentum was now firmly with the minnows. Pakistan needed to turn the tide and when they were in need of some inspiration, barbara azam is usually the man they look too. The skipper leading from the front as he reached his half century. He made 7a before ahmed struck again to leave the pakistanis in trouble at 206 5. The arrival of ahmed was just the turnover they needed as some Elite Bic Hitting Saw them reach 282 from their 50 overs. Bic hitting saw them reach 282 from their50 overs. Big bic hitting saw them reach 282 from their 50 overs. Big hitting. Bic hitting saw them reach 282 from their50 overs. Big hitting. A good start with is essential if the afghans are going to close, and they gotjust afghans are going to close, and they got just that with the dangerous leading the charge. The opening pair put on a Sentry Partnership as the pakistan bowlers began to feel the heat. Century. Abraham was eyeing his own century, but when he was dismissed, the celebrations told you everything. With the pressure building, attack is often the best form of defence as shaw eased the nerves to edge his country closer to victory. They reached their target with an over despair as the outsiders claimed another huge world cup scalp to throw the race for the semi finals wide open. Imran sidat, bbc news. Staying with cricket former england spinner and 2017 world cup winner alex hartley has been announced as Assistant Spin Coach at pakistans mens super league franchise, multan sultans. Hartley retired from the sport in august, and she joins former ireland player Catherine Dalton as the first of two female coaches in the psl. Its one of those where i was asked to do some social media for them, and they came back and said, would you like to be Assistant Spin Coach . And its an opportunity i cant turn down. To have that opportunity to work in a mens environment, to work in a franchise as one of my first coaching gigs is a huge opportunity. And for anyone to turn it down, i think they would be very silly. Englands wayne barnes will referee the Rugby World Cup final between new zealand and south africa at stade de france, on saturday. Barnes is the worlds most capped referee, with 110 tests, having made his debut working on fiji and samoa, in suva back injune 2006. Hell become the second englishman to officiate a Rugby World Cup final. It still goalless in that match between spurs and fulham, Tottenham Hotspur stadium for all the rest, go to the bbc sport website, there is around 12 minutes remaining until half time. Thank you very much for that. Lets get some more now on the fighting in gaza, and those reports of the release of two further hostages. We decided to release them for humanitarian and Poorer Health grounds, as a result between the of mediation between hamas and egypt. Weve also heard from our partners in the us, cbs news, confirming those details. In the red cross says they helped to facilitate the release of two more hostages held by hamas. Joe biden has been speaking about his economic plans in the last hour. But as you would expect he was asked about the situation in israel and hostages. Take a lsiten. Is the us supporting hostages for a ceasefire is the us supporting hostages for a Cease Fire Deal . Is the us supporting hostages for a ceasefire deal . Ceasefire deal . Then we can talk. Has there been ceasefire deal . Then we can talk. Has there been any ceasefire deal . Then we can talk. Has there been any progress ceasefire deal . Then we can talk. Has there been any progress on i ceasefire deal . Then we can talk. | has there been any progress on that front. Has there been any progress on that front, mr has there been any progress on that front, mr president . Has there been any progress on that front, mr president . That has there been any progress on that front, mr president . Front, mr president . That in the last few minutes front, mr president . That in the last few minutes or front, mr president . That in the last few minutes or so. Joining me now is amichai chikli. He is the minister of Diaspora Affairs and the minister for Social Equality in the israeli government. Thank you very much for coming on The Programme. Thank you very much for coming on The ProgrammeThe Programme. Thank you, good evenina. The programme. Thank you, good evening as The Programme. Thank you, good evening. As we The Programme. Thank you, good evening. As we are The Programme. Thank you, good evening. As we are talking, The Programme. Thank you, good evening. As we are talking, we i The Programme. Thank you, good | evening. As we are talking, we are caettin evening. As we are talking, we are getting details evening. As we are talking, we are getting details of evening. As we are talking, we are getting details of these evening. As we are talking, we are getting details of these two getting details of these two hostages being released, according to claims by hamas. Do you have any more details . We to claims by hamas. Do you have any more details . More details . We dont have more details, but more details . We dont have more details, but what more details . We dont have more details, but what i more details . We dont have more details, but what i wanted more details . We dont have more details, but what i wanted to more details . We dont have more details, but what i wanted to say, | details, but what i wanted to say, and to remind the viewers of the bbc, as we were speaking, a mother, 32 years old, and her son, four years old, and a little baby, nine months old, is in captivity, kidnapped by hamas terrorists. So forgive me for not being excited about the humanitarian jesters of the terrorists. Also we have more than 200 hostages, some of them are about 78 80, all of those survivors will need medical treatment. They are going to play with the hostages and we know it, and if they think that it will prevent us from going in and destroying hamas, they have a terrible mistake. So in and destroying hamas, they have a terrible mistake. Terrible mistake. So do you think this in any terrible mistake. So do you think this in any way terrible mistake. So do you think this in any way can terrible mistake. So do you think this in any way can be terrible mistake. So do you think| this in any way can be interpreted as positive with regards to releasing more hostages . I as positive with regards to releasing more hostages . I see it as a manipulation. Releasing more hostages . I see it as a manipulation, as releasing more hostages . I see it as a manipulation, as an releasing more hostages . I see it as a manipulation, as an attempt releasing more hostages . I see it as a manipulation, as an attempt to releasing more hostages . I see it as| a manipulation, as an attempt to buy time, and to fool the international community. As long as we have children, babies, innocent civilians kidnapped by hamas terrorists, theres nothing to discuss, and theres nothing to discuss, and there is nothing that is related to humanitarian thoughts that they have. 50 humanitarian thoughts that they have. M,. , , humanitarian thoughts that they have. M,. , i,. ,. , have. So qatar, egypt mediation, whats your have. So qatar, egypt mediation, whats your stance have. So qatar, egypt mediation, whats your stance on have. So qatar, egypt mediation, whats your stance on that have. So qatar, egypt mediation, whats your stance on that taking | whats your stance on that taking place . Whats your stance on that taking lace . � ,. , . Place . Theres a big difference between egypt place . Theres a big difference between egypt and place . Theres a big difference between egypt and qatar. Place . Theres a big difference l between egypt and qatar. Qatar place . Theres a big difference between egypt and qatar. Qatar is one of the biggest points of hamas. Qatar is one of the biggest supporters. We dont see qatar as a friendly state, and unfortunately they contribute to hamas, they continue to contribute. Unlike egypt, whom we have a Peace Agreement and the do have good intentions, and we consider them a serious ally. Intentions, and we consider them a serious ally serious ally. Ok, but specifically on the negotiations serious ally. Ok, but specifically on the negotiations to serious ally. Ok, but specifically on the negotiations to release i on the negotiations to release hostages, our correspondent was reporting earlier that hamas is said to have given a positive response to the release of multiple hostages, but those kinds of negotiations, i cant quite establish whether you are in favour of them or not. I think that the idea of selection between those who have foreign passports, those who dont have foreign passports is also a cynical game. If they want to do a humanitarian gesture, if they care whatsoever we dont care because if you care about humanitarian needs and burn baby is alive and behead them, and shot children that shot children, hiding in a shelter, theres nothing humanitarian about hamas. And if they want to do something positive, they can release all the citizens that they have in captivity straightaway. The Biden Administration captivity straightaway. The Biden Administration in captivity straightaway. The Biden Administration in the captivity straightaway. The Biden Administration in the us, captivity straightaway. The biden i administration in the us, according to us media reports, has been asking israel to delay any big ground invasion, to give more time for talks and negotiations around this issue of the hostages. Is that your understanding . I issue of the hostages. Is that your understanding . Issue of the hostages. Is that your understanding . I cant get into the details, but understanding . I cant get into the details, but i understanding . I cant get into the details, but i want understanding . I cant get into the details, but i want to understanding . I cant get into the details, but i want to tell understanding . I cant get into the details, but i want to tell you details, but i want to tell you one thing. We have one purpose, to destroy hamas and prevent more casualties and more war. We want to live peacefully in our land, and in order to do it, we need to to meet hamas, a total defeat. The international community, our western allies need to understand this is not another operation or round. But we have witnessed and experienced is like 9 11, and even bigger. And therefore, we are in a total war against hamas, and we need to defeat hamas, to the fitzroy its infrastructures, its political system, to destroy its infrastructure. 0therwise system, to destroy its infrastructure. Otherwise we could not live peacefully on the border with gaza. ,. , � , not live peacefully on the border with gaza. ,. � ,. , not live peacefully on the border with gaza. ,. � ,. ,. , not live peacefully on the border with gaza. ,. � ,. ,. ,. , with gaza. Israels allies have all been supporting with gaza. Israels allies have all been supporting the with gaza. Israels allies have all been supporting the us with gaza. Israels allies have all been supporting the us the i with gaza. Israels allies have all. Been supporting the us the us, been supporting the us the us, eu, i cant say all allies, but theyve been supporting israels right to defend itself. Absolutely, weve seen right to defend itself. Absolutely, weve seen tremendous, right to defend itself. Absolutely, weve seen tremendous, first right to defend itself. Absolutely, weve seen tremendous, first andj weve seen tremendous, first and foremost, coming from the Prime Minister of britain, rishi sunak, and the Biden Administration, and in the eu. But and the Biden Administration, and in the eu. � � ,. ,. , the eu. But theres an extra line here from the eu. But theres an extra line here from joseph the eu. But theres an extra line here from joseph morel, the eu. But theres an extra line here from joseph morel, the the eu. But theres an extra line here from joseph morel, the eu i here from joseph morel, the Eu Foreign Affairs spokesperson, saying, israel has the right to defend itself and this must be done in accordance with International Humanitarian law. This means there cannot be i have to finish the sentence, this means there cannot be cutting of water and electricity for the civilian population. Whats your response to that . Irate for the civilian population. Whats your response to that . For the civilian population. Whats your response to that . We are acting only according your response to that . We are acting only according to your response to that . We are acting only according to international your response to that . We are acting only according to international law. I only according to international law. Also i want to remind you that the atrocities that were made were not made only by hamas terrorists. The atrocities were made also by a mob that came from gaza, participated in torturing people, robbing people, raping and murdering even without armed weapons, but with axes and knives. But still, but still we are not the same, we are totally different. We do care about human life and we will do everything we can to prevent the bombing of civilians. Therefore we are calling for the citizens of the northern part of the gaza strip to evacuate the area and to move south. Theres water in the south, there is enough electricity in the south, there is supply coming from the egyptian border. ~ � , supply coming from the egyptian border. ~ �. ,. , border. Weve heard from the charities working border. Weve heard from the charities working on border. Weve heard from the charities working on the border. Weve heard from the i charities working on the egyptian border, there is simply not enough humanitarian aid, there isnt enough aid coming in. Humanitarian aid, there isnt enough aid coming in aid coming in. Prevent civilians from getting aid coming in. Prevent civilians from getting hurt. Aid coming in. Prevent civilians from getting hurt. Weve aid coming in. Prevent civiliansj from getting hurt. Weve heard aid coming in. Prevent civilians from getting hurt. Weve heard from charities operating from getting hurt. Weve heard from charities operating on from getting hurt. Weve heard from charities operating on the from getting hurt. Weve heard from charities operating on the southern i charities operating on the southern border there that you just referenced saying there is not enough humanitarian aid getting in, there isnt enough water or food getting in support that population. There is enough, and also i want to say, we are not like hamas. We dont want to harm anyone with civilians. But we are in a war and we told the people in the northern part of gaza to evacuate the area, move south. Hamas bears full responsibility for this war. If it was the 6th of october, there were no attacks, 0ctober, there were no attacks, no war. They launched the war. They went and killed innocent people. We have 1500 casualties, most of them are civilians, more than thousands. Some of them we still cannot recognise because of the atrocities. Imagine, wejust recognise because of the atrocities. Imagine, we just found recognise because of the atrocities. Imagine, wejust found out recognise because of the atrocities. Imagine, we just found out recently that one of the bodies was actually a Father Hugging his baby, but they were totally burned, so it took two weeks to recognise them. Can you imagine the atrocities . So now, when they are also keeping hostages, babies, mothers, you are asking us not enough water in the southern part of gaza, not enough trucks coming . Are you kidding me . Thank ou ve coming . Are you kidding me . Thank you very much coming . Are you kidding me . Thank you very much for coming . Are you kidding me . Thank you very much for coming coming . Are you kidding me . Thank you very much for coming on coming . Are you kidding me . Thank you very much for coming on the you very much for coming on The Programme, thank you. Similar developments on the release of those two hostages by hamas. We now have the names being reported by our partner, cbs news. As we were reporting a little earlier, hamass statement saying, we decided to her stomach release them on humanitarian and poor health grounds, hamas releasing two female captives in response to also qatari egyptian mediation. In terms of the logistics, how this happened, we have confirmation from the International Red cross that they helped facilitate the release of two more hostages held by hamas, to more referring to the fact that there were two released last week. So this is the message from the icrc that you can see there. We facilitated the release of two more hostages, transporting them out of gaza this evening. So we will bring you more details on this developing news, of course, over the next hour or so. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Bbc news bring your different stories from across the uk. For generations, people in wellingborough have walked through these line trees. Campaigners want that to continue. In february, protests stopped contractors felling the trees to make way for an access road to the new Stanton Cross housing development. Around 16 were chopped down around 45 were temporarily spared. Now, campaigners have been told by a high courtjudge that protests can go to a fulljudicial review. These are our heritage, this is the heritage of wellingborough. Wellingborough walks is a natural amenity, and almost a natural monument within our town. The Developers Say they have paused work while the legal challenge takes place, but cant comment until its resolved. Thats expected to be next year, when campaigners hope these trees hope these trees will still have a bright future. For more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. Youre live with bbc news. Iam i am lewis vaughanjones, thanks very much for your company. Lets head to the border north, with lebanon. Remember, that has rather hezbollah. In the last two weeks, israel has been exceeding fire with hezbollah, and they are considered a Terrorist Organisation by many including the us, the uk and others. People have been leaving the towns on the border there as that fire increases. Firas maksad, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute think tank, and an expert on hezbollah and lebanon. Thank you very much for coming on The Programme. Aha, thank you very much for coming on The Programme thank you very much for coming on The Programme. So thank you very much for coming on i The Programme. So could The Programme. A pleasure. So could ou ust The Programme. A pleasure. So could you just talk The Programme. A pleasure. So could you just talk us The Programme. A pleasure. So could you just talk us through The Programme. A pleasure. So could you just talk us through firstly you just talk us through firstly where we are on this border . Whats the state of the clashes there . Well, its been two weeks. Initially there was quite a bit of concern that this could quickly spiral out of control. I think where we are todayis of control. I think where we are today is that the escalatory trend continues, both in terms of Geographic Scope and also the intensity of the daily operations across those borders. However we have not seen the full scale war that many feared, and i think both sides, whether its israel or hezbollah, continue to have an interest in keeping this relatively contained, whats referred to as the tacit Rules Of Engagement since the last war, the 2006 war which was utterly devastating for lebanon and also very costly for israel. Also very costly for israel. Youll have to unpack also very costly for israel. Youll have to unpack a also very costly for israel. Youll have to unpack a little also very costly for israel. Youll have to unpack a little bit also very costly for israel. Youll have to unpack a little bit of also very costly for israel. Youlll have to unpack a little bit of what you said they are, but this idea of it being contained, why is that advantageous at the moment . Iliraieiiii it being contained, why is that advantageous at the moment . Well for the followin advantageous at the moment . Well for the following reasons. Advantageous at the moment . Well for the following reasons. On advantageous at the moment . Well for the following reasons. On one advantageous at the moment . Well for the following reasons. On one hand, i the following reasons. On one hand, hezbollah is already achieving its primary objectives without having to go to a full on war with israel, the primary objective of which is to distract and harass israel. Israel today has deployed well over 100,000 soldiers, reserves to its northern border with lebanon for fear of potential war with hezbollah. Those could be deployed to fight in gaza. And israel does not want a second front with lebanon at a time when it will be a very costly and difficult ground, urban warfare in gaza. A lot of sites dont have an interest in a war between those two sides. Thats very interesting. War between those two sides. Thats very interesting, thanks war between those two sides. Thats very interesting, thanks very war between those two sides. Thats very interesting, thanks very much. | very interesting, thanks very much. I dont want to exaggerate but i think its important to lay out why people around the world are watching this so closely. What are the potential, if not worst Case Scenarios here . What could happen if things do escalate and go wrong . There are a lot of nervous people on both sides of that border. I have friends in lebanon, i got phone calls all the time asking whether we are heading towards war. And i say there continues to be various escalatory pathways. First, in the fog of war, mistakes do happen all the time. So if we do have a mass casualty incident on either side of that border, that then will kick things into an escalatory cycle, so we need to be wary and careful about that. Second, ithink we need to be wary and careful about that. Second, i think the tough moment of decision for both hezbollah and iran in terms of whether to get further involved in this conflict will come when israel decides to commence a Ground Operation in gaza. And if hamas, the palestinian leg of that iran led access to the region is in trouble, on its back foot and israel is making significant progress towards dismantling its military infrastructure, we will very much likely see hezbollah stepping up operations across that border. So we arent Out Of The Woods yet, theres clear escalatory pathways, but both sides at this point still have an interest in keeping it contained. Thank you very much for that, we believe that there, thank you for your perspective. We do have a team on that border area, as well, monitoring events. We appreciate your time. A group of us senators from both Political Parties have visited israel over the weekend to show their support. Among them was ben cardin, the democratic chair of the foreign select committee, and hard line republican lindsey graham, who had a warning for iran. Were here today to tell iran, were watching you. If this war grows, its coming to your back yard. There wont be two fronts, therell be three. The crimes that were committed, the barbaric actions that were committed, were committed against israel and the victims. But these were crimes against humanity. Were all involved in this. With us now isjoel rubin, a former Deputy Assistant in the State Department of the 0bama administration. Thank you very much for coming on The Programme. Thank you very much for coming on The Programme thank you very much for coming on The Programme. Happy to be with you. Lets talk about The Programme. Happy to be with you. Lets talk about the The Programme. Happy to be with you. Lets talk about the uss The Programme. Happy to be with you. Lets talk about the uss role The Programme. Happy to be with you. Lets talk about the uss role in lets talk about the uss role in all this. First things first, we had these comments from joe biden in the last few minutes, and i want to put them to you, to get your thoughts on them. Us President Joe Biden said on monday, i discussions about a gaza cease fire could only take place if hamas frees all hostages. We should have those hostages released, then we can talk. What do you make of that . , we can talk. What do you make of that . , � , that . Clearly President Biden is focused on that . Clearly President Biden is focused on hostages, that . Clearly President Biden is focused on hostages, first that . Clearly President Biden is focused on hostages, first and. Focused on hostages, first and foremost, and thats appropriate considering there are americans that are hostages, and this unconscionable seizure of citizens, young people, hong kong survivors and kidnapping them into a piece of territory used as Human Shields is a bridge too far. Unfortunately we have allies in qatar helping to bring in. Ithink have allies in qatar helping to bring in. I think what President Biden is saying is we cant have a cease fire where one side is aggressive in attacking another. Thats the discussion we had earlier which is that hamas launched this strike, this war without provocation in this moment, 1500 innocents were slaughtered, so the president is saying you cant have a cease fire just go one way, there must be a good faith showing, and thats releasing these hostages. And good faith showing, and thats releasing these hostages. And the two we are being releasing these hostages. And the two we are being released releasing these hostages. And the two we are being released this two we are being released this evening, does that change any equation . Its evening, does that change any equation . Equation . Its certainly a good sin, equation . Its certainly a good sign. And equation . Its certainly a good sign, and hopefully equation . Its certainly a good sign, and hopefully therell equation . Its certainly a good sign, and hopefully therell be| equation . Its certainly a good i sign, and hopefully therell be in there. There are rumours that there is discussions with people inside and out of the government in washington. There is cautious optimism that there will be more individuals released, so yes, thats a help. But theres well over 200 still in captivity. Still in captivity. Indeed. Now lets aet still in captivity. Indeed. Now lets get back still in captivity. Indeed. Now lets get back to still in captivity. Indeed. Now lets get back to this still in captivity. Indeed. Now. Lets get back to this bipartisan visit to israel, your thoughts on it . , ~. ,. ,. ,. ,. , visit to israel, your thoughts on it . You know, senators want to be seen and they it . You know, senators want to be seen and they have it . You know, senators want to be seen and they have to it . You know, senators want to be seen and they have to be it . You know, senators want to be seen and they have to be seen, i seen and they have to be seen, and now is a bit of a recess for the senate. Fortunately we have one chamber of congress thats functional in the senate, the house is not functional, it doesnt even have a leader. So its good to see bipartisan support for israel and america having a role in the world, it but there are some points being made that made me a little off the mark may be a little off the mark. While iran has long been a supporter of hamas, hamas is the actual target here, not iran. And when senators start calling on war with iran, that actually loses the focus. We in the United States went through that with invading afghanistan, than president bush decided to go after iraq before alqaeda had been taking afghanistan. Thats a losing strategy and i worry about senators pushing that before anything concrete has been done in gaza. Do think theres a genuine chance of effectively history repeating itself here . ,. , effectively history repeating itself here . ,. , effectively history repeating itself here . ,. Here . Fortunately cooler heads are sittin in here . Fortunately cooler heads are sitting in the here . Fortunately cooler heads are sitting in the white here . Fortunately cooler heads are sitting in the white house here . Fortunately cooler heads are sitting in the white house right i sitting in the white house right now, in President Biden. So i think what we hear publicly our illusions to his conversations with the israeli leadership about not going down that road or making that mistake, and by putting Aircraft Carrier groups in the eastern mediterranean, hes also signalling to iran to not go there, dont make that mistake, and hopefully through these tactics, and hell keep the region from getting itself set on fire. I worry when senators start to use language that goes in the opposite direction, it doesnt help the president as hes trying to balance a very difficult moment. Really interesting analysis, joel rubin, thanks very much. Yarmouk thanks, lewis. We have that post on social media from hamas, saying they have released hostages due to poor health grounds, then we have these images as well as their names, and we had the red cross confirming that they facilitated that release of two more hostages, transporting them out of gaza this evening, their role is neutral in this, they hope theyll be back with their loved ones. Stay with us, im lewis vaughanjones, this is bbc news. Hello there. Well, after last weeks significant stormy spell of weather, this morning was quite a refreshing change chilly but dry, with some sunshine. And into the afternoon, just take a look at Highland Scotland absolutely glorious. We did have some rain, however it was mostly down to the southwest, in particular through the isles of scilly. In the first six hours this morning, we sawjust shy of two inches of rain. So some threatening looking skies at times across cornwall. And theres more rain to come, im afraid, in the weather story as we go through the week ahead. In fact, we could see more significant rain arriving overnight tonight into the south east and across Eastern England areas where we dont need any more significant rain moving across east anglia, lincolnshire into the East Midlands, and across to parts of south yorkshire. Itll be accompanied eventually by another spell of wet weather moving through the west midlands. Now, with the cloud and the rain around, those temperatures are going to hold up. So it wont be as chilly a start, but yes, it will be wet for some, particularly across parts of lincolnshire, the East Midlands and into northern england, south yorkshire. So the rain, fairly showery in nature, but we dont need any more significant rain in these areas. So there is a Weather Warning in force here, there is a potential again for some further localised flooding. To the south of that, sunny spells and scattered showers. To the north of that, once again, not a bad day for much of scotland and the far north of england, 11 12 celsius the high. Further south, were looking at top temperatures of 15 16 celsius. Eventually, that rain will ease away, another little ridge of High Pressure keeps things quiet. And a cooler start first thing on wednesday morning, but its not expected to last, as this low will push in further outbreaks of heavy rain and strong winds at times. And easterly Wind Mightjust drive in a few showers across the east coast of scotland, sheltered Western Areas staying dry. England and wales seeing some sunshine for the bulk of the day before clouding over towards the southwest. So, that will bring some rain into northern ireland, eventually into southwest england and wales. It spills its way steadily north and east, and then, we come under that influence of low pressure. The isobars squeeze together for the end of the week thatll be piling in plenty of showers or longer spells of rain at times. Not quite as bad as we had last week, but nevertheless, that unsettled spell of weather set to continue. Hello, im lewis vaughanjones. Youre watching the context on bbc news. Quoting a Senior Palestinian official who is in doha who is in contact with hamas, he said, the talks, negotiations, he said, the talks, negotiations, are taking serious birth. The most important thing is to call for humanitarian support to go into gaza. We are providing an additional £20 million of humanitarian aid to civilians in gaza, more than doubling our previous support to the palestinian people. A number of Key Developments today in the israel gaza war. We are keeping a close eye on whats happening with israeli hostages being held by hamas. A spokesperson for hamas says theyve released two more Hostages Nurit Cooper and yocheved lifshitz. And the bbc has learned that negotiations to release more have reached a serious stage. We hear from an experienced Hostage Negotiatior about the Communications Going on behind the scenes. The british Prime Minister rishi sunak announces an extra 24 million of aid to help civilians in gaza, calling for a constant stream of aid pouring in. We hear from charities telling us how the Current Situation is creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. In the us, the speaker saga continues, three weeks on the republicans are still looking for a new nominee