israel says its troops in gaza are engaged in face—to—face combat with fighters from hamas. the israeli military says its troops have now completely encircled gaza city, in the north of the territory, almost four weeks since the start of this war. the us secretary of state, antony blinken, is back in tel aviv, as washington increases the pressure for a humanitarian pause. antony blinken talked about israel's right to defend itself, but also the need for �*concrete steps�* to minimise harm to civilians in gaza. meanwhile, the leader of hezbollah — like hamas — a proscribed terrorist organisation — has been speaking in lebanon. hassan nasrallah praised the hamas attacks and said the possibility of �*total war is realistic�*. one other important line to update you on — more foreign nationals have been getting out of gaza at the rafah crossing point into egypt. 92 british nationals are on the list of people who are being allowed to leave. the hamas—run health ministry in gaza says more than 9,000 people have been killed in the strip since october the 7th, after hamas killed 1,400 people in the attacks in southern isreal. before we go to lyse doucet, let me show you the live pictures. bbc news arabic has today launched an emergency radio service for gaza in response to the conflict in the region. the radio show — gaza daily — will broadcast vital news daily to the people of gaza during this time of urgent need. it will provide listeners in gaza with the latest information and developments as well as safety advice on where to access shelter, food and water supplies. those are the live pictures of the first broadcast, and we will talk to those behind it here on the programme in about 25 minutes�* time. but first, let�*s head tojerusalem and are correspond at least to set. de 28 of the israel gaza war, and as you say, there was a split screen moment to date with the visiting us secretary of state antony blinken and the lebanese hezbollah leader hassan nasrallah speaking at the same time. speaking in tel aviv after his talks of israeli leaders, antony blinken, and hassan nasrallah speaking from a secret location, sending totally different leaders. hassan nasrallah accusing the united states are being responsible for what he called crimes in gaza, and antony blinken talking about how the united states would do everything to prevent this war from spreading beyond the borders of israel and gaza. let�*s look first at what antony blinken had to say. he spoke to the press after he met the israeli prime minister as well as the israeli president isaac herzog, and after those talks, he affirmed his solidarity with israel, alongside hopes for what he described as a humanitarian pause in the fighting. that was an important area of discussion today with israeli leaders — how, when and where these can be implemented. what work needs to happen and what understandings must be reached. now, we recognise this will take time to prepare and coordinate as well with international partners. a number of legitimate questions were raised in our discussions today, including how to use any period of pause to maximise the full humanitarian assistance. how to connect a pause to the release of hostages. how to make sure that hamas doesn't use these pauses or arrangements to its own advantage. these are issues that we need to tackle urgently and we believe they can be solved. we've agreed to have our teams continue to discuss practical solutions. i've instructed our special envoy for middle east humanitarian issues, david satterfield, who has been doing remarkable work here over the last couple of weeks, to continue these discussions. ultimately, we believe this can be a critical mechanism for protecting civilians while enabling israel to achieve its objectives of defeating hamas. the us secretary of state antony blinken trying to send two messages that the united states stands by israel in this war but also, that it was trying to do everything possible to assist israel, in effect, do not israel or push israel toward easing the suffering of civilians in gaza. —— to nudge israel. getting critically needed supplies into the gaza strip. we�*ll have more on that later, but let�*s take a look at what is the leader of the iranian—backed lebanese group hezbollah had to say in this address, that he has just finished from a secret location, his first public speech since the beginning of the israel gaza war. millions of eyes across this region and far beyond what on this speech, the speech could be a catalyst for a wider conflict spilling beyond the israel gaza war. hassan nasrallah said the attack by hamas, which is, like hezbollah, proscribed in the uk and in the us, was at the right time, but emphasised that it was hundred percent palestinian and for the palestinian people, and did not relate to a new wider regional issue. but towards the end of his speech, he warned that the possibility of a total war, was, in his words, realistic. we did not bring that speech you live because of the designation of hezbollah as a proscribed organisation, but we do have an excerpt. translation: this is the first - operation which has been a historic point and blessed point. this was a palestinian decision 100%, and supported by the palestinians 100%. hassan nasrallah. with more on this, the bbc security correspondent, frank gardner. let�*s pick up on his line that the possibility of total war was realistic. how do you match that with the kind of instructions and guidance he gave two of the iran backed militias like hezbollah, what their tasks were now in this war. it is all quite a carefully calibrated operation, this, ithink is all quite a carefully calibrated operation, this, i think by hezbollah. they know, because it has been made _ hezbollah. they know, because it has been made very clear to them, both by israel_ been made very clear to them, both by israel and the united states, that if_ by israel and the united states, that if hezbollah gets involved, if it embarks on a full—scale war with israel. _ it embarks on a full—scale war with israel, which would be hugely damaging for israel, it would be devastating for lebanon. hezbollah is not _ devastating for lebanon. hezbollah is notiust_ devastating for lebanon. hezbollah is notjust the most powerful military— is notjust the most powerful military force in lebanon, it is not 'ust military force in lebanon, it is not just an _ military force in lebanon, it is not just an iranian allied and backed militia. — just an iranian allied and backed militia. it — just an iranian allied and backed militia, it is a vital part of the lebanese _ militia, it is a vital part of the lebanese political scene, and a lot of lebanese have been saying, please don't do _ of lebanese have been saying, please don't do this, live and on's economy is already— don't do this, live and on's economy is already in — don't do this, live and on's economy is already in crisis, it's pretty much — is already in crisis, it's pretty much collapsed four years ago, it is not in _ much collapsed four years ago, it is not in a _ much collapsed four years ago, it is not in a good — much collapsed four years ago, it is not in a good state. —— lebanon's economy — not in a good state. —— lebanon's economy if— not in a good state. —— lebanon's economy. if there is a full—scale war, _ economy. if there is a full—scale war. at— economy. if there is a full—scale war. at the _ economy. if there is a full—scale war, at the moment, there is a kind of tow-grade — war, at the moment, there is a kind of low—grade skirmishing taking place _ of low—grade skirmishing taking place on — of low—grade skirmishing taking place on that northern border between _ place on that northern border between lebanon and israel, there are casualties on both sides, there are casualties on both sides, there are exchanges of fire but it is limited. _ are exchanges of fire but it is limited. it— are exchanges of fire but it is limited, it is calibrated, it has been — limited, it is calibrated, it has been carefully calibrated by hezbollah to show their support for hamas— hezbollah to show their support for hamas to _ hezbollah to show their support for hamas to not to provoke israel so much _ hamas to not to provoke israel so much they— hamas to not to provoke israel so much they get a devastating response in return, _ much they get a devastating response in return, but reading into that speech, — in return, but reading into that speech, i— in return, but reading into that speech, i think that's a big subtext, _ speech, i think that's a big subtext, the word that was missing, but i subtext, the word that was missing, but i didnt— subtext, the word that was missing, but i didn't see, maybe you did, e rana _ but i didn't see, maybe you did, e rana they— but i didn't see, maybe you did, e rana. they are at great pains to say that this _ rana. they are at great pains to say that this hamas attack on a toby seven— that this hamas attack on a toby seven which they praised, which has been _ seven which they praised, which has been condemned by much of the world, certainty— been condemned by much of the world, certainly the _ been condemned by much of the world, certainly the western world but also by leaders _ certainly the western world but also by leaders in the uae. —— that missing — by leaders in the uae. —— that missing word, iran. but they were behind _ missing word, iran. but they were behind it — missing word, iran. but they were behind it. there was a big suspicion in some _ behind it. there was a big suspicion in some places that iran had somehow -iven in some places that iran had somehow given its— in some places that iran had somehow given its blessing and backing. iran said no, _ given its blessing and backing. iran said no, we — given its blessing and backing. iran said no, we approve of it, but we didn't— said no, we approve of it, but we didn't do— said no, we approve of it, but we didn't do it — said no, we approve of it, but we didn't do it— said no, we approve of it, but we didn't do it. yes, very interesting usin: this didn't do it. yes, very interesting using this phrase _ didn't do it. yes, very interesting using this phrase that _ didn't do it. yes, very interesting using this phrase that the - didn't do it. yes, very interesting using this phrase that the hamasj using this phrase that the hamas attacks of october the 7th, which of course, in his vocabulary, describing them as glorious, as a seismic earthquake, as he put it, was 100% palestinian, but also, frank, notjust saying that was 100% palestinian, but also, frank, not just saying that this wasn�*t the doing of iran, but saying that groups like hezbollah, like the militias in iraq, syria, yemen, also had their own leadership, that this was simply not the doings of iran. to say, would make it look as though we are the puppets of iran, which of course, has been part of the dialogue surrounding this war. this concern that iran will in effect turned the tap on with the so—called art of resistance. turned the tap on with the so-called art of resistance.— art of resistance. yes, i don't think many — art of resistance. yes, i don't think many people _ art of resistance. yes, i don't think many people will - art of resistance. yes, i don't think many people will buy i art of resistance. yes, i don't i think many people will buy that. this disassociation of iran from this _ this disassociation of iran from this -- — this disassociation of iran from this -- art _ this disassociation of iran from this. —— art of resistance. iran has been _ this. —— art of resistance. iran has been very— this. —— art of resistance. iran has been very involved in spreading, partly— been very involved in spreading, partly in — been very involved in spreading, partly in his eloquence force, which is part— partly in his eloquence force, which is part of— partly in his eloquence force, which is part of the brilliant revolutionary guards corps, it has been _ revolutionary guards corps, it has been very— revolutionary guards corps, it has been very effective in spreading its iiterary— been very effective in spreading its literary influence right across the middle _ literary influence right across the middle east. —— its al-quds force. in a middle east. —— its al-quds force. in a bar, _ middle east. —— its al-quds force. in a bar, it— middle east. —— its al-quds force. in a bar, it has what has been called — in a bar, it has what has been called the _ in a bar, it has what has been called the popular, and when arabs use the _ called the popular, and when arabs use the word popular, the actual word _ use the word popular, the actual word means pupils, rather than popular— word means pupils, rather than papuiar as— word means pupils, rather than popular as in beloved. —— in iraq. there _ popular as in beloved. —— in iraq. there is— popular as in beloved. —— in iraq. there is that _ popular as in beloved. —— in iraq. there is that minister in iraq. there — there is that minister in iraq. there is— there is that minister in iraq. there is also the minister in lebanon. _ there is also the minister in lebanon, and there is the h in yemen. — lebanon, and there is the h in yemen, who have been firing missiles towards _ yemen, who have been firing missiles towards israel, which have been shut down _ towards israel, which have been shut down -- _ towards israel, which have been shut down. —— houthis. there is the fear that various — down. —— houthis. there is the fear that various pies could be lit, perhaps— that various pies could be lit, perhaps fans and encouraged by iran, but hard _ perhaps fans and encouraged by iran, but hard to— perhaps fans and encouraged by iran, but hard to trace their involvement directly _ but hard to trace their involvement directly -- — but hard to trace their involvement directly. —— fires could be lit. if hezbollah. _ directly. —— fires could be lit. if hezbollah, this is why this bid today— hezbollah, this is why this bid today so— hezbollah, this is why this bid today so important, i'm seeing anything — today so important, i'm seeing anything it saying we are about to id anything it saying we are about to go to— anything it saying we are about to go to go— anything it saying we are about to go to go to — anything it saying we are about to go to go to war, sol anything it saying we are about to go to go to war, so i think there is a bit _ go to go to war, so i think there is a bit of— go to go to war, so i think there is a bit of relief— go to go to war, so i think there is a bit of relief there, but if hezbollah was to fullyjoin in a war together— hezbollah was to fullyjoin in a war together with hamas, israel would find itself— together with hamas, israel would find itself fighting a war on two fronts. — find itself fighting a war on two fronts, and quite possibly, when the us is— fronts, and quite possibly, when the us is to _ fronts, and quite possibly, when the us is to israel, we have your back, that would — us is to israel, we have your back, that would be the involvement of us warships _ that would be the involvement of us warships offshore of the mediterranean, probably using this firepower— mediterranean, probably using this firepower to hit hezbollah. —— this speech— firepower to hit hezbollah. —— this speech was— firepower to hit hezbollah. —— this speech was so important. your back as you _ speech was so important. your back as you underlined, this wasn't a call to— as you underlined, this wasn't a call to all— as you underlined, this wasn't a call to all of the allies to escalate this war, but he did set out the — escalate this war, but he did set out the two goals, want to end this war in— out the two goals, want to end this war in gaza, — out the two goals, want to end this war in gaza, and two, to make sure that hamas — war in gaza, and two, to make sure that hamas won, and he had a message for all— that hamas won, and he had a message for all the _ that hamas won, and he had a message for all the arab that hamas won, and he had a message for all the ara— for all the arab states, including states like _ for all the arab states, including states like egypt _ for all the arab states, including states like egypt and _ for all the arab states, including states like egypt and jordan, - for all the arab states, including i states like egypt and jordan, which states like egypt and jordan, which in the past, have signed peace treaties with jordan in the past, have signed peace treaties withjordan and israel —— with israel, and of course, we don�*t know what this will now mean in practical terms. know what this will now mean in practicalterms. i know what this will now mean in practical terms.— know what this will now mean in practical terms. i think there is a real danger— practical terms. i think there is a real danger here _ practical terms. i think there is a real danger here for _ practical terms. i think there is a real danger here for arab - real danger here for arab governments in the region. they are looking _ governments in the region. they are looking over — governments in the region. they are looking over their shoulders very nervously — looking over their shoulders very nervously about this cliche known as the arab _ nervously about this cliche known as the arab street, and the crowds, the people. _ the arab street, and the crowds, the people, because it was only 12 years a-o people, because it was only 12 years ago that— people, because it was only 12 years ago that we — people, because it was only 12 years ago that we saw the so—called arab spring. _ ago that we saw the so—called arab spring, which didn't end well of course, — spring, which didn't end well of course, but it overthrew the government regimes yemen, —— in egypt. _ government regimes yemen, —— in egypt. in— government regimes yemen, —— in egypt, in libya, in yemen. and the terrible _ egypt, in libya, in yemen. and the terrible carnage in gaza, the huge destruction of human life, a property— destruction of human life, a property is, of livelihoods, which followed — property is, of livelihoods, which followed the hideous massacres on october— followed the hideous massacres on october the 7th in southern israel, watching _ october the 7th in southern israel, watching that play out day after day. watching that play out day after day we — watching that play out day after day. we are now 24 weeks of this. this has— day. we are now 24 weeks of this. this has been dragged into people's livin- this has been dragged into people's living rooms, making many people in the region— living rooms, making many people in the region angry. this is dangerous for governments like bahrain, uae, morocco, _ for governments like bahrain, uae, morocco, who have all signed full diplomatic relations with israel under— diplomatic relations with israel under the abraham accords. they are nervous _ under the abraham accords. they are nervous that — under the abraham accords. they are nervous that their people could start _ nervous that their people could start telling their anger towards thenr~ _ start telling their anger towards then if— start telling their anger towards them. if they don't show enough support— them. if they don't show enough support to — them. if they don't show enough support to the palestinians and even for hamas — support to the palestinians and even for hamas. most of these governments don't like _ for hamas. most of these governments don't like hamas, but they feel they have to _ d