Humanitarian reasons. Around 200 hostages are still being held in gaza, and israels airstrikes and total siege of the territory, cutting off food, water and medicines, will not end until all of them are freed. Desperately needed humanitarian aid has still not reached the besieged people of gaza. Emergency aid trucks stocked with supplies sit on the border with Egypt Waiting to be let across the Rafah Crossing as part of a deal to allow in limited aid. Lets bring you more now on the fate of those two american hostages freed by hamas. Us President Joe Biden spoke with the two women, telling them that their government will fully support them as they recover and heal. Our correspondent Barbara Plett usher brings us more from inside the halls of the State Department. The release of the hostages disrupted the day here at the State Department. We were sitting down for the Daily Briefing and then we were told that it would be delayed for two hours because of Breaking News. Now, they didnt say what the Breaking News was, but we knew what it was. And so when we returned to the briefing room, there was another delay and then Secretary Of StateAntony Blinken came up to speak. And this was an important moment for him, because he has really been pressing for the release of the hostages during his recent trip to the region, engaging in Shuttle Diplomacy between israel and the arab states. He was pressing for this, especially in qatar, which has taken the lead in trying to negotiate the release of the hostages because it has relations with hamas. There is a hamas office in doha, so qatar has been working very hard on this. The Foreign Ministry there released a statement saying there had been days of continuous communication to get to this point with all parties, and saying that the qataris would continue talks with hamas and with the israelis to try to get the rest of the hostages released, and hopefully that would help to de escalate the situation. Hamas said it was releasing these hostages for humanitarian reasons, but it also said it was still in talks with qatar and egypt to talk about releasing the rest of the civilian hostages if the Security Arrangements or the Security Arrangements or the Security Environment allowed. And reports suggest that they were saying that if the airstrikes would stop, this could be a possibility. Now, mr lincoln was asked whether he saw this as a window of opportunity to follow up, but he didnt really go there. He said that the us position was all hostages should be released immediately and unconditionally, and he said he would not take at Face Value Anything that hamas said mr blinken. Joining me now are Gina Abercrombie winstanley, president of the middle east policy council, and suzanne malone, Vice President and director of the Foreign Policy program at the brookings institution. Good evening to you both. Very good to have you on bbc news tonight. We will start with the news of these hostages released. Can you give us an idea what would have been going on Behind The Scenes to secure their release . Their release . Well, clearly for the last their release . Well, clearly for the last several their release . Well, clearly for the last several days. Their release . Well, clearly i for the last several days there have been negotiations supported by probably a number of parties, certainly the United States has been intent on doing all that we can to secure our own citizens, as any government would, working i know the israelis of course are doing the same, and qatar has a very Important Role to play because it is in that position of being able to speak with all parties. And this elevates qatar in comparison with several other countries in the region that would be supportive of these negotiations. So no doubt the United States, to some extent the government of israel, the government of egypt, but really led by the government of qatar, who is able to speak directly to hamas to effect the release of these two women. To effect the release of these two women two women. Yes, they really a ear two women. Yes, they really appear to two women. Yes, they really appear to be two women. Yes, they really appear to be very two women. Yes, they really appear to be very complex. Appear to be very complex negotiations that were happening Behind The Scenes, gina. Suzanne, iwant happening Behind The Scenes, gina. Suzanne, i want to bring you gina. Suzanne, iwant to bring you in on gina. Suzanne, i want to bring you in on this and ask you what you in on this and ask you what you make of this news. Could we be witnessing the start of a De Escalation . I be witnessing the start of a deescalation . Be witnessing the start of a deescalation . I would love to believe that deescalation . I would love to believe that that deescalation . I would love to believe that that might deescalation . I would love to believe that that might be deescalation . I would love to believe that that might be the | believe that that might be the case, believe that that might be the case, but i really dont have any case, but i really dont have any reason for confidence that we are any reason for confidence that we are seeing anything that could we are seeing anything that could lead to a broader De Escalation. I think the release De Escalation. I think the release of the two American Israeli Release of the two american israeli hostage is a credit to the incredibly tireless diplomacy of Secretary Of State tony diplomacy of Secretary Of State tony blinken, but also the wider tony blinken, but also the wider efforts on the part of the Biden Administration to try to press the Biden Administration to try to press for at least some pause to press for at least some pause by to press for at least some pause by the israelis before a ground pause by the israelis before a Ground Invasion begins, in order Ground Invasion begins, in order to Ground Invasion begins, in order to do as much as might be possible order to do as much as might be possible to order to do as much as might be possible to effect the release of as possible to effect the release of as many hostages as possible. Of as many hostages as possible of as many hostages as ossible. ,. ,. ,. , possible. Suzanne, iwant to followop possible. Suzanne, iwant to followop on possible. Suzanne, iwant to followup on that, possible. Suzanne, iwant to followup on that, because l possible. Suzanne, i want to l followup on that, because we follow up on that, because we saw President Biden saying tonight he was asked about whether he wants israel to delay the Ground Invasion that we are expecting until they can get more hostages out, and he said yes. What do you think that means for what me we might see . ~ ~. ,. , see . Well, i think we have all been poised see . Well, i think we have all been poised since see . Well, i think we have all been poised since this see . Well, i think we have all been poised since this horrific attack been poised since this horrific attack on been poised since this horrific attack on israel was revealed to see attack on israel was revealed to see that the israelis were going to see that the israelis were going to to see that the israelis were going to very quickly go into gaza going to very quickly go into gaza i going to very quickly go into gaza. I think that there has been gaza. I think that there has been some restraint on the part of the been some restraint on the part of the israelis. They were very clear of the israelis. They were very clear on of the israelis. They were very clear on what the objectives are in clear on what the objectives are in terms of releasing as many are in terms of releasing as many hostages as possible, Decapitating The Hamas leadership and ensuring that hamas leadership and ensuring that hamas can no longer effect any kind of hamas can no longer effect any kind of attack of this kind in the future. But obviously the mobilisation of 300,000 plus soldiers mobilisation of 300,000 plus soldiers to go into gaza on the ground, soldiers to go into gaza on the ground, very difficult terrain, one ground, very difficult terrain, one that ground, very difficult terrain, one that has already been under bombardment for several weeks and where there are significant tunnel and where there are significant tunnel infrastructure present, where tunnel infrastructure present, where hostages may be held but also where fighters are going to be also where fighters are going to be active. And sol also where fighters are going to be active. And so i think that to be active. And so i think that there is a need for a plan that that there is a need for a plan that really meets the strategic objectives of the israelis. And gina, i objectives of the israelis. And gina. I saw objectives of the israelis. And gina, i saw you objectives of the israelis. fific gina, i saw you nodding as objectives of the israelis. fific gina, i saw you nodding as i was putting that question to suzanne, so i want to get your thoughts on that as well. Ida. Suzanne, so i want to get your thoughts on that as well. No, i think thats thoughts on that as well. No, i think thats exactly thoughts on that as well. No, i think thats exactly right, thoughts on that as well. No, i think thats exactly right, but l think thats exactly right, but i will add that being able to get to hostages now will put additional pressure on the government of israel that hamas may be using those hostages to release them in small doses, dribs and drabs, two here, three there, may indeed force the government of israel to delay the Ground Invasion. Certainly the families, a lot of pressure will be coming from them, as well as other governments who have citizens inside of the gaza strip. So that might have that consequence as well. We have to watch that and see. Really interesting points you make, gina and suzanne. We will take a look at some items and come back to you a moment. The human toll has mounted. More than 1,400 people have been killed in israel and at least 3,400 palestinians have been killed. On 7 october hamas attacks southern and Central Israel by land and air, Killing Israeli civilians and soldiers in what has led some leaders to call it israels 9 11. Soon after, israel launches retaliatory airstrikes on gaza, with president Benjamin Netanyahu announcing that israel is at war. Strikes have continued from both gaza and israel. The very next day, israel declared a siege on the territory, saying it is cutting off gazas electricity and water until hamas releases hostages. On 13 october Israels Defense Force calls for all residents of gaza city to evacuate their homes and move south for their protection ahead of a possible ground offensive. On 17 october, hundreds of people are killed in an explosion at the Al Ahli Hospital at the centre of gaza city. It still has not been confirmed who launched the attack. Mr biden visited israel to show us support on 18 october, vowing the us would help the country defend itself. He also pushed for humanitarian aid into gaza, securing 100 million in aid to palestinians and striking a deal with egypt to open its Rafah Crossing into egypt. But not everyone in the Biden Administration agrees with the us governments policy. Josh paul was a former state Department Official who resigned over the us response to the war. In a public letter, he explained his reasons for quitting he walked through his rationale with my colleague Caitriona Perry earlier. You say in your letter that the Biden Administrations approach has been an impulsive reaction built on confirmation bias, political convenience, Intellectual Bankruptcy and Bureaucratic Inertia. Can you explain what you mean by that . Surely. So, impulsive i think everyone was shaken and shocked by the horrific attacks of hamas on 7 october. And lets not make any bones about it, those were absolutely an outrage and should be condemned forthright. But there was an impulse there to say, ok, this is something horrible has happened. What is israel asking for . Lets do everything we can. I say that there was Bureaucratic Inertia because, again, this has been the trend for many years that when israel asks for something, we give it. And rather than pausing to think about what were doing, thats how we move forward. Confirmation bias in the sense that we see an attack, it confirms our bias that this is an enemy that must be defeated. And there is certainly an argument to be made there, but rather than standing back and looking at the broader situation and, again, looking at both sides. So i think in each of those respects. And Intellectual Bankruptcy, because this is something we have tried for years and years and years, and it has not led to security for israel. It has not led to peace. Emily harding, Deputy Director and Senior Fellow of the International Security program at the center for strategic and international studies. What do you make of mr pauls reasons for leaving the State Department . He reasons for leaving the State Department . Reasons for leaving the state deartment . ,. ,. ,. , department . He had to do what he thought department . He had to do what he thought was department . He had to do what he thought was best, department . He had to do what he thought was best, but department . He had to do what he thought was best, but i department . He had to do what he thought was best, but i do i he thought was best, but i do not agree with many of his comments. I am not agree with many of his comments. Iam not not agree with many of his comments. I am not sure that Intellectual Bankruptcy is the way to look at this. What hamas did was a heinous Terrorist Attack and the United States has always been a staunch opponent of terrorism in all its forms. The gut reaction to support the israelis in what they feel they need to do to protect the people was the right reaction. Now, in any democracy, it is very healthy to have a debate about what the right course of action is, and kudos to him for speaking up for what he believes in, ijust disagree with his opinion. Emily, how do you think this has played out, actually, for the Biden Administration . Because that very balance between pressing israel on its operation in gaza but also standing up behind israel and supporting it has been a difficult one for the binding administration to what Biden Administration. The administration to what Biden Administration. Administration. The Biden Administration administration. The Biden Administration has administration. The Biden Administration has been l administration. The biden i administration has been very clear about its strong support for israel, and i think that bidens visit to israel in the middle of what is in essence a war really speaks to that support. Further, ithink war really speaks to that support. Further, i think that the Biden Administration is doing the right things when it comes to asking israelis hard questions about their plans but balancing that with support. And the diplomacy that the Biden Administration is carrying out throughout the region speaks to a broader question as well. It is not just an israel question, it is original question. Original question. How difficult original question. How difficult because original question. How difficult because we i original question. How difficult because we were difficult because we were talking a bit earlier about a possible ground operation. Can you give us an idea about how difficult, because you have worked in counterterrorism, this is going to be for israel to carry out, given the situation on the ground, as we heard earlier, and we have seen pictures of the rubble strewn everywhere. It pictures of the rubble strewn everywhere everywhere. It is going to be an extremely everywhere.