this is bbc news injerusalem. antony blinken is meeting leaders today. he called for humanitarian purposesin today. he called for humanitarian purposes in the fighting but the israeli prime minister said there would be no temporary ceasefire with hamas in gaza until all israeli hostages are released. an official from the un agency for palestinian refugees once it is increasingly little the organisation can do to protect people in gaza, the un secretary general and the who had condemned an israeli attack on an ambulance in gaza. yesterday the israeli defence forces admitted striking the ambulance convoy but said the figure was being used by hamas to try and transport fighters. it comes as fighters from the hamas health ministry said an israeli strike at a school that was being used as a shelter in the north of the gaza strip, no immediate comment from a stroke. the us says it believes the work is being contained and any broader regional conflict has been deterred. the comments from the pentagon followed the first public remarks from the leader of the islamist has birla group who did not commit his thousands of fighters to enter the conflict. our correspondent sent this report. —— hezbollah. in times of peace, a medical refuge. but after four weeks of war, an ambulance is a target, too. outside gaza's main al—shifa hospital, one was struck by israeli aircraft, killing 15, say hamas authorities, and injuring 60. israel says it was being used by a hamas terrorist cell whose command centres run beneath the hospital. hamas called that "baseless" and "zionist nazi terror". the head of the world health organization spoke of his shock at the attack, adding that patients, health workers, facilities and ambulances must be protected at all times. but a lifeline has become a battle zone for tens of thousands who have been sheltering at al—shifa, and israel has urged their evacuation south. further north across the border in lebanon, huge crowds rallied to hear hezbollah�*s leader warn the war could spread. "american intervention", he said, "could spark a wider conflict". and he praised hamas's actions. but the speech was fiery without calling for all out war with hezbollah. there's little appetite in lebanon for it. and little sign, in his words, of imminent escalation. relief for now among many, including the us. we do see that broadly speaking, a broader regional conflict has been deterred and so we'll continue to do that. we do not seek any conflict with iran. we do not seek to have conflict across the region. ourfocus here is on containing this and getting back to a stable and secure region as quickly as possible. america's top diplomat is injordan today with arab leaders. his calls in israel yesterday for humanitarian pauses were rebuffed by the israeli prime minister unless hostages are released. the us said dozens more of its nationals have left gaza. more british passport holders too have got out through the rafah crossing into egypt. but for those who can't leave, gaza's nightmare worsens. israeli soldiers encircling the city, facing mines and booby traps as they press on with their goal of crushing hamas. and then what? mark lowen, bbc news, jerusalem. let's talk about the impact of the conflict in the wider region. our correspondent is in beirut and people were watching closely yesterday the hezbollah leader and his speech but it wasn't as dangerous as it could have been, was it? i dangerous as it could have been, was it? 4' dangerous as it could have been, was it? ~ ., ., ., , .,, it? i think a lot of people here in lebanon and _ it? i think a lot of people here in lebanon and israel _ it? i think a lot of people here in lebanon and israel and - it? i think a lot of people here in i lebanon and israel and washington are relieved after the speech yesterday. the first time the influential leader of hezbollah made a public speech since the beginning of the war between israel and hamas and four weeks we had been talking about fighting along the border between lebanon and israel and fear that violence could escalate and lebanon could be dragged into the conflict so a lot of people were watching the speech yesterday and i think the most important thing that came out of the speech was he did not announce any intention to escalate those attacks, step up the campaign by hezbollah against the israeli military. he did leave the door open for more attacks, he said all options were on the table and he said the actions of hezbollah will be determined by what happened in gaza and by the actions of the struggle towards lebanon and hezbollah and he said the only way to prevent the conflict from spreading across the middle east was to stop the war in gaza. it was also important that he described those attacks that have been carried out by hezbollah is significant because he said this was forcing israel to deploy a large number of troops to its border with lebanon but again, there was no indication that hezbollah would be stepping up its attacks against the israeli military and i think the reaction that we have had from the biden administration is that they believe the possibility of an escalation of the possibility of an escalation of the crisis has been contained and that a wider conflict has been deterred, at least for now. he also talked about _ deterred, at least for now. he also talked about the _ deterred, at least for now. he also talked about the attacks _ deterred, at least for now. he also talked about the attacks in - deterred, at least for now. he also | talked about the attacks in october the 7th and called on 100% palestinian which is interesting considering the influence iran holds amongst its proxies in the region. what should be read into that? it was interesting he tried to distance hezbollah from those attacks, he said hezbollah had no idea and had not been informed that hamas was going to go ahead with those attacks. he said those attacks have been 100% palestinian. i think it's also interesting that he describes what is happening here along the border as a second front in the sense that this is just supporting hamas in its fight. i think it is also interesting is that if you look at the bigger picture, hezbollah is part of the so—called axis of resistance which is an alliance of forces across the region supported by iran that includes hamas and we have heard from a number of leaders, hamas leaders, over the last few weeks, urging not only hezbollah but other players across the region to step up their efforts to do more to support hamas in this work and i think again, it was interesting to hearfrom the leader of think again, it was interesting to hear from the leader of hezbollah that they were supporting hamas in the conflict there was no indication that hezbollah was willing to do more and again i think he urged arab countries to cut ties with israel. and he also praised groups in iran, syria, the high theis in yemen for the attacks carried out in recent weeks, all those groups are also part of this alliance that is supported by iran. and it was also interesting that hezbollah he said would have been intimidated by warnings given by the americans, the israelis, the israeli prime minister has promised a response of unimaginable magnitude if hezbollah decided to go ahead with a full—scale war and obviously the americans have sent two warships to the eastern mediterranean saying this was an effort to prevent an escalation of the conflict. so again, that speech very important that was followed by millions of people not only here in lebanon but in israel and people not only here in lebanon but in israeland in people not only here in lebanon but in israel and in many other capitals. he did not give any kind of suggestion hezbollah is preparing to step up its attacks against israel. ., ~' , ., to step up its attacks against israel. . ~ , ., ., , israel. thank you. i have been travelling _ israel. thank you. i have been travelling around _ israel. thank you. i have been travelling around estoril- israel. thank you. i have been travelling around estoril froml israel. thank you. i have been - travelling around estoril from north travelling around estorilfrom north to south over the last few weeks since the conflict began and that northern border as was described as extremely tense and has been for weeks that while i was there i spoke to a lady who has been evacuated from a border town and she told me how she was coping with the current violence. we how she was coping with the current violence. ~ ., ., ., , ., violence. we are organised and we know when — violence. we are organised and we know when shooting _ violence. we are organised and we know when shooting is _ violence. we are organised and we know when shooting is about - violence. we are organised and we know when shooting is about to i violence. we are organised and we i know when shooting is about to begin or when_ know when shooting is about to begin or when shooting starts, we know exactly— or when shooting starts, we know exactly what to do and we get orders in our— exactly what to do and we get orders in our systems in all kinds of ways, we get _ in our systems in all kinds of ways, we get alarms and we know we should take cover_ we get alarms and we know we should take cover and everything and the intensity. — take cover and everything and the intensity, the blast that you hear closer_ intensity, the blast that you hear closer and — intensity, the blast that you hear closer and also the number of times a dog _ closer and also the number of times a dog when— closer and also the number of times a dog when all the roads are blocked and you _ a dog when all the roads are blocked and you cannot go in and out, and when_ and you cannot go in and out, and whenyou— and you cannot go in and out, and when you have to stay in a bomb shelter_ when you have to stay in a bomb shelter or— when you have to stay in a bomb shelter or a _ when you have to stay in a bomb shelter or a different kind of shelter_ shelter or a different kind of shelter for longer periods of time and it_ shelter for longer periods of time and it happens more and more often. youll— and it happens more and more often. youll left_ and it happens more and more often. you'll left but you have not gone too far away?— you'll left but you have not gone too far awa ? ., ., , . too far away? no, i need to be close b . too far away? no, i need to be close b , i am too far away? no, i need to be close by. i am not — too far away? no, i need to be close by. i am not used — too far away? no, i need to be close by, i am not used to _ too far away? no, i need to be close by, i am not used to leaving - too far away? no, i need to be close by, i am not used to leaving my i by, i am not used to leaving my home — by, i am not used to leaving my home i— by, i am not used to leaving my home lam _ by, i am not used to leaving my home. i am used to being in a worse, many— home. i am used to being in a worse, manytimes— home. i am used to being in a worse, many times in— home. i am used to being in a worse, many times in my life. i know exactly— many times in my life. i know exactly what to in this situation but i _ exactly what to in this situation but i hate — exactly what to in this situation but i hate coming out of my community in this situation and in fact, _ community in this situation and in fact, it's _ community in this situation and in fact, it's the — community in this situation and in fact, it's the first time, i'm 57 now, — fact, it's the first time, i'm 57 now. it's _ fact, it's the first time, i'm 57 now, it's the first time since i've been _ now, it's the first time since i've been an— now, it's the first time since i've been an adult that i have been evacuated. i always state, even in the worst — evacuated. i always state, even in the worst situations.— the worst situations. does it feel different to _ the worst situations. does it feel different to you _ the worst situations. does it feel different to you this _ the worst situations. does it feel different to you this time? it i the worst situations. does it feel different to you this time? it is. | different to you this time? it is. first of all _ different to you this time? it is. first of all it — different to you this time? it is. first of all it is _ different to you this time? it is. first of all it is heartbreaking, l different to you this time? it is. first of all it is heartbreaking, it is really— first of all it is heartbreaking, it is really horrendous. i do not think there _ is really horrendous. i do not think there is_ is really horrendous. i do not think there is a — is really horrendous. i do not think there is a single israeli who did not get — there is a single israeli who did not get awful news about acquaintances. who had not been to a funeral— acquaintances. who had not been to a funeral or— acquaintances. who had not been to a funeral or to _ acquaintances. who had not been to a funeral or to give their condolences to people _ funeral or to give their condolences to people who were hurt. everyone is involved _ to people who were hurt. everyone is involved in_ to people who were hurt. everyone is involved in this and our children are involved in this, those who are older— are involved in this, those who are older are _ are involved in this, those who are older are drafted and they are on the borders. and the fear is unusuat _ the borders. and the fear is unusual. people who i am not used to seeing _ unusual. people who i am not used to seeing them _ unusual. people who i am not used to seeing them this way, are intimidated. because it's not only roller. _ intimidated. because it's not only roller, these atrocities that we know _ roller, these atrocities that we know of— roller, these atrocities that we know of are beyond words. that was one woman — know of are beyond words. that was one woman describing _ know of are beyond words. that was one woman describing the _ know of are beyond words. that was one woman describing the feeling i know of are beyond words. that was one woman describing the feeling of many residents who live on the northern border with israel. joining me now is dr maha yahya, the director of the carnegie middle east center which provides informed policy research & analysis on the challenges facing the middle east & north africa. thank you forjoining us. i know you were following the speech from the leader of hezbollah yesterday, what is your assessment —— assessment at the fiery rhetoric but nothing in terms of hezbollah entering the bottle in a way cut which would have devastating impact? goad bottle in a way cut which would have devastating impact?— devastating impact? good morning and thank ou devastating impact? good morning and thank you for— devastating impact? good morning and thank you for having _ devastating impact? good morning and thank you for having me. _ devastating impact? good morning and thank you for having me. a _ devastating impact? good morning and thank you for having me. a couple i devastating impact? good morning and thank you for having me. a couple of. thank you for having me. a couple of quick points on the speech yesterday. the first is that it is very clear that they would prefer not to get involved even further in the conflict. primarily because they are fully aware of the fact of an expansion in the arena of conflict is basically and could very easily turn into a global one. it will not remain a regional conflict between lebanon, apologies between hezbollah and israel. there is no expectation of an announcement of grand strategy yesterday. it was very much about showing empathy with palestinians. it was about stepping up and being the man of the hour, in the absence of arab leadership, everybody was waiting for his speech yesterday. palestinians that have lost, almost 10,000 lives now killed in gaza, in addition to thousands who have been injured, 30% we are hearing the housing stock already gone so it was very much about stepping up and speaking on behalf of the palestinians. when it comes to military strategy, i think the choices they have never goes from zero to 101 shot. as we have seen the altercations along the southern border, expanding quite gradually, both in terms of the intensity of the bombing on both sides of the border but also in terms of the geographic area that is being targeted and is expanding on both sides of the border and also the kinds of weapons that are being used. which we are seeing is real used. which we are seeing is real use of phosphorous bombs during its bombing campaign, during its bombings of towns in lebanon but also gaza. hezbollah recently used a specific explosive drone that we have not seen before so i think the room for escalation is quite wide and there are different tactics that may be used before we get into an armageddon style environment. there has also been an increase in attacks from other partners of hezbollah and iran in the region, particularly the popular mobilisation forces directly coming from iraq to israel, this is the first since the 1990s. also they have these have been involved in the battle. well, the situation for civilians in gaza remains dire. our special correspondent fergal keane who is based injerusalem has for days now been working with journalists filming for the bbc in the territory to report the impact of the war on people there. a warning — his piece contains distressing images from the start. sometimes, a face can tell all there is to know... ..of war, in the lives of the young. the brothers came to al—aqsa hospital in central gaza after a bomb hit their home. crying. further north, in beit lahiya... ..another hospital. more of war�*s wounded. a crowded floor. who can be saved, who is beyond help? the process of checks that's become all too familiar. this woman's life, fading fast. and then gone. there are stories of miraculous escape, told to our bbc cameraman. of five—year—old, tuleen abu alros, at al—nusrat hospital, pulled from the rubble of her bombed out home. she's physically recovering, but she's unlikely to forget. "the children who are injured, the psychological trauma stays with them for years. and the children who witness or watch what's going on also have ptsd for months." there are now more than 1.5 million displaced in gaza. creating, says the un, a vast humanitarian crisis. here, at gaza beach, they collect salt water for washing. the children, as children do, find comfort in each other. because, when they leave here, there is only the war. fergal keane, bbc news, jerusalem. joining me now is colonel elad goren, head of the civil department at cogat — the coordinator of government activities in the territories. that's an an israeli defence ministry agency that liaises with palestinians on civilian affairs. thank you forjoining us. we saw a snapshot of how difficult the humanitarian situation is for civilians in gaza but what is your agency doing to try and alleviate the shortage is in difficulties affecting civilians and children as we saw in that report?— affecting civilians and children as we saw in that report? thank you for havin: we saw in that report? thank you for having me- — we saw in that report? thank you for having me- as _ we saw in that report? thank you for having me. as you _ we saw in that report? thank you for having me. as you know, _ we saw in that report? thank you for having me. as you know, hamas i we saw in that report? thank you for. having me. as you know, hamas began a war against the state of israel and they have dual strategies, one is operational and of course there is operational and of course there is a humanitarian strategy but what hamas isis is doing is using every civil infrastructure and humanitarian infrastructure, international infrastruct