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 minimize harm to civilians in gaza. meanwhile, the leader of hezbollah — like hamas — a proscribed terrorist organisation — has spoken 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. 124 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 14 hundred people, in the attacks in southern isreal. the us seretary of state antony blinken held talks with the israeli war cabinet — a closed—door gathering. he also met the israeli president isaac herzog. after those talks, he reaffirmed his solidarity with israel. alongside hopes for a 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 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. live now to our correspondent injerusalem paul adams. let�*s ta ke let�*s take this in stages. the humanitarian pause first, really clear what the americans are pushing for. interesting comment straightaway from israel�*s prime minister. straightaway from israel's prime minister. , ~ ., minister. yes, i think we need to establish exactly _ minister. yes, i think we need to establish exactly what _ minister. yes, i think we need to establish exactly what were - minister. yes, i think we need to l establish exactly what were talking about here. cease—fires and humanitarian pauses, benjamin netanyahu has said since the beginning of the conflict there is zero chance of a cease—fire. so that�*s completely off the table. what the americans are trying to achieve is something much more modest. these pauses, brief breaks and fighting which might allow more aid to get into the gaza strip, it might also allow room for negotiations about the release of hostages. at the moment there is no indication that israel has yet expressed a willingness to allow these pauses. you heard antony blinken expressing some of the israeli reservations about such pauses and how hamas might exploit them. there is clearly a lot of work still to do before anything like thatis still to do before anything like that is implemented on the ground. the americans want to see several, because they want to see aid getting particularly into southern gaza. this was something anthony blanca talked about, they want to see fuel getting into the southern gather at my gaza strip to hospitals and other key location where it is needed. 0n key location where it is needed. on that issue there is absolute disagreement because benjamin netanyahu made it clear in his remarks a short time after mr blinken was speaking that he was simply not interested in allowing any fuel to get into gaza. to simply not interested in allowing any fuel to get into gaza.- any fuel to get into gaza. to the humanitarian _ any fuel to get into gaza. to the humanitarian pauses, _ any fuel to get into gaza. to the humanitarian pauses, israel's. any fuel to get into gaza. to the - humanitarian pauses, israel's prime humanitarian pauses, israel�*s prime minister linking it absolutely to the release of hostages. that is a further complication here is it in a sense, what happens is the timeline of those different factors? yes. of those different factors? yes, it's incredibly _ of those different factors? yes, it's incredibly difficult, - of those different factors? yes, it's incredibly difficult, all - of those different factors? 1&1: it's incredibly difficult, all hands it�*s incredibly difficult, all hands on a knife edge. i think when the prime minister netanyahu talks about release of hostages he saying no cease—fire until all hostages have been released. there is a back and forth about cease—fires and humanitarian pauses. the bottom line at the moment is neither of these things seem to be in play despite what mr blinken was complimenting his staff, having spent weeks trying to implement. at the moment the israelis are very, very focused on their military objectives. they are closing in on gaza city, they have in effect surrounded it. that is really dominating the thinking. they do not want anything that is going to distract them from becky mission. exactly on the final point, with gaza city effectively surrounded, that order for people to leave that area, those people have to actually pass through and be allowed to pass through and be looked at and examined by the israeli troops on the ground. the examined by the israeli troops on the ground-— examined by the israeli troops on the round. ., . the ground. the other day the chief israeli military _ the ground. the other day the chief israeli military spokesman - the ground. the other day the chief israeli military spokesman said - the ground. the other day the chief israeli military spokesman said the| israeli military spokesman said the window of opportunity for leaving the north was closing. it may be that that window is now shot. we�*ve seen very disturbing pictures today, both from the vicinity of the hospital but also on the coast road leading from gaza city down towards the south where there are pictures of bodies strewn along that road. and at the hospital of bodies lying outside next to ambulances. what palestinians are saying is a convoy of ambulances that was due today wounded people solve came under attack. we don�*t know how. other sources telling us those bodies lying on the ground on that coastal road have also been subject to some form of attack from israeli forces. we do know that israeli forces including tanks and special forces have been operating south of gaza city on the two main highways that lead to the cell. we�*ve asked the israelis if they can shed any light on what has happened there. the pictures are very, very disturbing indeed but what the palestinians are saying is that people who are fleeing have been hit. paul saying is that people who are fleeing have been hit. pauladams in jerusalem, thank _ fleeing have been hit. pauladams in jerusalem, thank you _ fleeing have been hit. pauladams in jerusalem, thank you very _ fleeing have been hit. pauladams in jerusalem, thank you very much. - fleeing have been hit. pauladams in jerusalem, thank you very much. as| jerusalem, thank you very much. as paul was concluding that thought a statement has been released by 0xfam. let me goes through the key lines. they say they are gravely concerned for the lives of around half a million palestinians alongside any of the more than 200 israeli and national hostages currently trapped in a seizure when the disease in northern gaza. that is the phrase they are using. israeli forces they say are composed of a complete stranglehold, effectively cutting the enclave and half on the border wall to the sea. a member of 0xfam shared a harrowing account with herfamily a member of 0xfam shared a harrowing account with her family yesterday, escaped death twice today. we feel like rats in a cage. gaza city is closed off and we hear people travelling to find shelter in the south have been targeted by airstrikes. a strongly worded statement given you just a sense from 0xfam of their assessment of what it is like they are in the northern part of gaza. let�*s turn from that to the speech we heard today. the leader of the iranian—backed lebanese group his brother has delivered his first public speech since the beginning of the israel—gaza war. there were fears that his address could be the catalyst to a wider conflict. sheikh hassan nasrallah said the attack by hamas — which, sheikh hassan nasrallah said is a designated terror group by the uk and us governments — was right, wise, courageous. and at the right time. but he said the battle was "completely palestinian", "for the palestinian people" and did not relate to any regional issue. although he warned the possibility of "total war was realistic". 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%. joining me now from southern lebanon is our middle east correspondent, hugo bachega. so many eyes on this speech, waiting to hear what he was good to say. what was your assessment? i to hear what he was good to say. what was your assessment? i think of eo - le what was your assessment? i think of --eole are what was your assessment? i think of people are relieved _ what was your assessment? i think of people are relieved to _ what was your assessment? i think of people are relieved to in _ what was your assessment? i think of people are relieved to in lebanon - people are relieved to in lebanon today after the speech because of those concerns over what�*s happening along the lebanon— israel border with those intense cross—border attacks between his brother and the israeli army and fears those attacks could drag lebanon into this conflict. i don�*t think anyone was inspecting that he would simply declare war. —— hezbollah. there were concerns perhaps that he could announce a major escalation of the groups attacks against israel. that didn�*t happen. but he did leave the door open i think to perhaps a much more aggressive campaign by the group against israel. he said all options were on the table. he said the only way to prevent an escalation of this conflict, to prevent the war from spreading who was to stop the war in gaza. he also said the groups actions will be determined by what happens in gaza and also by israel�*s action towards his brother and towards lebanon. again he said the groups wouldn�*t be intimidated by warnings coming from america, —— hezbollah. also warships in the eastern mediterranean. he was critical of the level of americans support that israel has received in this conflict. again, i think we�*ve been talking about those cross—border attacks for week now. they have intensified in recent days. and he described those attacks is unprecedented and very significant because his brother is keeping the israeli army busy in the normal patent northern part of israel. he said this wasn�*t the main front of the conflict, that this was in an effort to help hamas in gaza. again, no major announcement that his brother is going to intensify its campaign against israeli targets. its campaign against israeli taraets. ,., ., its campaign against israeli taraets. ., ., �* , targets. -- hezbollah. you've seen first-hand — targets. -- hezbollah. you've seen first-hand yourself— targets. -- hezbollah. you've seen first-hand yourself because - targets. -- hezbollah. you've seen first-hand yourself because you - targets. -- hezbollah. you've seen l first-hand yourself because you been first—hand yourself because you been in the border regions for the last while. 0ne in the border regions for the last while. one of assumes will see a continuation of the sort of attacks we�*ve seen over the last three or four weeks. we've seen over the last three or four weeke— four weeks. yes. this is pretty much the message — four weeks. yes. this is pretty much the message here _ four weeks. yes. this is pretty much the message here that _ four weeks. yes. this is pretty much the message here that the _ four weeks. yes. this is pretty much the message here that the attacks i the message here that the attacks are not going to intensify but they are not going to intensify but they are going to continue. i think that�*s what he said during this speech for the up and went to one of their screenings in this southern beirut it lebanon, thousands of people were there with flags, hezbollahh flags, iranian flags, iran obviously is hezbollahh main support. it supports an alliance across the region, the so—called action axis, again talking about the attacks that are being carried out by groups and around. also the attacks that have been carried out by the who these in yemen. those missile launchers that have been carried out in recent days. he said this was a sign that all those groups were engaged in supporting hamas. visiting villages along the border here in lebanon, thousands of people left because they fear the situation can escalate. and again lebanon could be dragged into this conflict. i think lots of people here still remember the devastation brought by the 2006 war between his brother and israel. israeli officials, american officials have been warning his brother against escalating the situation. israeli prime minister has promised a response of unthinkable magnitude. lots of people will be relieved here in lebanon after the speech. regional, washington watching closely. 0ur correspondent has more on the us response to today�*s events. on the us response to today's events. �* , ., . events. i've been watching the american _ events. i've been watching the american message _ events. i've been watching the american message evolved - events. i've been watching the i american message evolved since events. i've been watching the - american message evolved since the beginning of this crisis in which they initially came up firmly, almost exclusively supporting israel and its right to defend itself as they spoke to arab partners in the crisis in gaza started to unfold they became more and more insistent that civilians in gaza must be protected, the way that israel carried out its offensive was important, that humanitarian aid must get through. that is very much at the core of what mr blinken is talking about now in israel. he has specifically brought up this idea of humanitarian pauses. so the americans support the israeli refusal to have a cease fire. they say this would just allow hamas to regroup, it would benefit hamas. they talk about humanitarian pauses. in undefined, short—term stop of hostility so it can command, so hostages can be progress on hostages and so on. what we heard from mr blinken and also from mr netanyahu is that still difficult. mr netanyahu said no chance of an humanitarian posit the hostages will not be released. mr blinken to let down a bit, he said he heard legitimate questions about how you link a humanitarian posit to the hostages, to concerns about hamas benefiting from something like this, how you maximise the delivery of aid during these sorts of pauses. but he also said it didn�*t seem it would happen anytime soon, he said it would take time and negotiations with all the different partners. around the world and across the uk it watching bbc news. let�*s look at some other stories making news. a week on conflict between military leaders and ethnic insurgents. reports suggest dozens d oze ns of dozens of military outposts have fallen. the three rebel groups say their goal is to overthrow the military dictatorship. goal is to overthrow the military dictatorship. at least one person has died in flooding in northern italy. the tuscany region was badly hit by storm ciaran, which swept through north—west europe on thursday. the storm brought strong winds and driving rain, forcing the closure of schools, airports, rail and ferry services. colombia is to cull some of the more than 160 hippos descended from a herd owned by drug lord pablo escobar in the 1980s. experts have for years tried to control the hippo numbers. escobar imported the animals for his private zoo, but they were left to roam after he was killed in a shootout with police in 1993. those of the stories making the headlines. those of the stories making the headlines. you�*re live with bbc news. almost 40 flood warnings remain in place in the uk after storm ciaran battered the south coast of england and the channel islands yesterday. downpours and strong winds are expected in scotland and parts of northern england. meanwhile onjersey, the clean—up continues. as dan johnson reports. we�*ve been able to get our aerial camera up this morning, and that�*s given us a really clear view of just exactly how destructive this storm was. you can see where what people are convinced was a tornado has blown in from the sea through the streets of this estate, taking off the roofs of many of the houses, smashing the windows. people think that might have been caused by some of the huge hailstones that were hammering down here in the middle of the night. and even a day on, there is still lots of work to clear up, and you can see what sort of damage it has done here. people are still really trying to actually get an idea of the scale of this, just how many homes have been affected. we know across the island, 120 people have had to be evacuated into hotels or community centres, because this is the sort of damage that they�*re putting up with. look at the state of the houses. just trying to save as much furniture as we can. 0bviously, nobody has a roof, so the water�*s starting to leak through the bedrooms. so we�*re prepared for the ceilings to come down in the next couple of days. and yeah, we don�*t really have a plan at the moment. you�*re going to need a new house. yeah, everyone�*s going to need a new house. it�*s going to be a long time before this estate gets back to anything like normal. and there are lots of people who are homeless, at least temporarily, and have got to find somewhere to stay. there�*s disruption more widely on the island as well. the airport is closed until at least this afternoon. there�*s some damage there that�*s got to be repaired before flight connections can resume. and there�*s no boat service to the island for the next few days because there�*s a threat of another storm blowing in. now, that�*s not expected to be anywhere near as destructive as this was, but people are still trying to absorb exactly what happened here, how much damage it did, and what the lasting impact may be. danjohnson, bbc news injersey. conservative mp bob stewart has been found guilty after telling activists to go back to bahrain in an altercation in west minister last december. the mp has been issued with a £600 fine in order to pay additional court costs in the region of a further £835. let�*s get more on this. let�*s talk to sharon who is in the newsroom. just tell us a little bit more about the background to all of this. it bit more about the background to all of this. ., ., ~' bit more about the background to all of this. ., ., 4' , w bit more about the background to all ofthis. , , . , of this. it took place in december the 14th of this. it took place in december the 1�*tth last _ of this. it took place in december the 14th last year _ of this. it took place in december the 14th last year