in the talks to say that a deal could be on the way. us officials have previously said an agreement is "closer than ever before. " it's believed negotiators have been discussing a multi—day truce, aid deliveries and an exchange for palestinians held in israeli jails. but the talks, mediated by qatar, are complex, and israel is yet to comment. live now to my colleague mark lowen, who's injerusalem. thank you very much indeed. the families of the 240 or so hostages still held since hamas since the 7th of october are waiting anxiously for news to try to soothe their trauma. there are signs that weight —— that progress has been made, with the president of the international committee of the red cross and qatar, the country apparently leading negotiations on the release of the hostages. you will remember that the icrc was involved in bringing back four hostages in october. but there is growing anger 0ctober. but there is growing anger here from some family members of hostages on the israeli government, who they believe should be doing more to prioritise the release of the hostages over and above the continuation of the war effort. there were tensions in the israeli parliament yesterday with some hostages�* family members hitting out at the far right minister of information here who suggested the death penalty should be brought back for some hamas prisoners in israel and family members said that could potentially harm hostages held in hamas captivity. some relatives of the hostages had suggested the icrc needs to do more to prioritise their release. the icrc says they are not bullet—proof, they are simply mediating with hamas and doing all they can. as negotiations continue in qatar there are reports of israeli strikes around the nuseirat refugee camp, the palestinians are saying they have killed 17 people. israel is yet to comment on the specifics of that military operation but says it is only targeting terrorists, in its words, and terrorists, in its words, and terrorist infrastructure. 0ur correspondents injerusalem they could has the latest developments. —— nick beake has the latest developments. in israel, the families of the hostages, once again calling for their loved ones to be released. the young and the old taken by hamas more than six weeks ago. this was tel aviv last night, after relatives had met the israeli war cabinet. many say that the government should focus more on bringing home the hostages rather than destroying hamas. this is incredibly disappointing, because i feel that, at this point, when we know that taking down hamas — we keep hearing from them — is going to take months or years, and it�*s going to take a long time. 0n the other hand, the other object is time—sensitive. people are dying. in gaza, israel keeps hitting what it says are hamas targets. palestinian civilians are still being killed, reducing to rubble family homes — a campaign the israelis say is self—defence. "we were asleep in our houses," explains this man, "when it felt like an earthquake hit, because the missiles fell and caused significant explosions, causing numerous casualties. there were dead and injured." amid the destruction, growing signs there could be a pause in the fighting as part of a deal to release some of the hostages. and increased optimism from the americans, who are playing a role in the talks. we believe we are closer than we've ever been. so we're hopeful. but there's still work to be done, and nothing is done until it's all done, so we're going to keep working on this. some sort of ceasefire is urgently needed, according to the international charities and the united nations. they say gaza�*s hospitals are overrun and desperately short of medicine. it�*s hoped a hostage deal would allow in more aid to a place where disease is reported to be spreading among the more than two million palestinians who have been under bombardment. amid all of this, a glimmer of hope — at least for some of the premature babies who were trapped in the besieged al—shifa hospital in the north of gaza. they are now in egypt. but some of these 28 newborns have lost their parents, and they leave behind a desperate situation in gaza from which many cannot escape. nick beake, bbc news, jerusalem. let�*s pick up on what is happening on the ground on the humanitarian situation but also the potential deal on hostages. joining me now is richard makepeace, the medical aid for palestinians trustee — and the former british consul—general injerusalem. richard makepeace, thank you very much for being with us. can i get yoursense much for being with us. can i get your sense of where you feel we are on the hostage deal this morning and how close potentially all sides are? obviously i have no special obviously i have no special information to be able to make a judgment — information to be able to make a judgment better than anybody else's, but obviously such deals have been the past _ the americans are sounding very optimistic— the americans are sounding very optimistic and i hear that ismail haniyeh— optimistic and i hear that ismail haniyeh has been talking to the press, — haniyeh has been talking to the press, the hamas leader, in an optimistic— press, the hamas leader, in an optimistic frame of mind, so let's hope _ optimistic frame of mind, so let's hope there — optimistic frame of mind, so let's hope there is progress. in optimistic frame of mind, so let's hope there is progress.— hope there is progress. in your experience. — hope there is progress. in your experience, and _ hope there is progress. in your experience, and you _ hope there is progress. in your experience, and you were - hope there is progress. in your experience, and you were here hope there is progress. in your - experience, and you were here during a time of negotiations between warring sides over various issues, what could potentially scupper a deal at the last minute, do you think? i deal at the last minute, do you think? ., deal at the last minute, do you think? . , ., ., think? i am tempted to say almost an hina. think? i am tempted to say almost anything- it — think? i am tempted to say almost anything- it is— think? i am tempted to say almost anything. it is obviously _ think? i am tempted to say almost anything. it is obviously a - think? i am tempted to say almost anything. it is obviously a very - anything. it is obviously a very volatile — anything. it is obviously a very volatile situation, there are still attacks — volatile situation, there are still attacks going on and still probably plenty— attacks going on and still probably plenty of— attacks going on and still probably plenty of reasons why both sides might— plenty of reasons why both sides might decide to accuse the other of bad faith, _ might decide to accuse the other of bad faith, but speaking on behalf of a humanitarian organisation, we are very keen _ a humanitarian organisation, we are very keen to— a humanitarian organisation, we are very keen to see the hostages released. _ very keen to see the hostages released, we don't want to see any casuatties— released, we don't want to see any casualties to be suffered on either side, _ casualties to be suffered on either side, certainly not civilian casualties, but it is very important there _ casualties, but it is very important there is_ casualties, but it is very important there is a — casualties, but it is very important there is a significant opportunity to restock— there is a significant opportunity to restock hospitals and restore at least _ to restock hospitals and restore at least some — to restock hospitals and restore at least some semblance of humanitarian support— least some semblance of humanitarian surrport for— least some semblance of humanitarian support for the many, many refugees. i would _ support for the many, many refugees. i would like _ support for the many, many refugees. i would like your sense on what is neededin i would like your sense on what is needed in those aide trucks that could be coming in in a moment or two, but on negotiations, how typical is it we have one side, in this case hamas, basically saying we are very close and giving a sense they are close to the finishing line, but israel holding back? which side are we likely to follow all to trust? i side are we likely to follow all to trust? ~' ., , ,, ., trust? i think we will only know it is done when _ trust? i think we will only know it is done when it _ trust? i think we will only know it is done when it is _ trust? i think we will only know it is done when it is done, - trust? i think we will only know it is done when it is done, when - trust? i think we will only know it i is done when it is done, when both sides— is done when it is done, when both sides are _ is done when it is done, when both sides are saying the same thing. again, _ sides are saying the same thing. again, i— sides are saying the same thing. again, i can— sides are saying the same thing. again, i can only speculate but obviously— again, i can only speculate but obviously when a negotiation is going _ obviously when a negotiation is going on— obviously when a negotiation is going on there will be two negotiating teams, and within those there will— negotiating teams, and within those there will be those saying this is not a _ there will be those saying this is not a good deal and those saying it is. not a good deal and those saying it is in _ not a good deal and those saying it is in that— not a good deal and those saying it is. in that sense it is not surprising there is uncertainty right— surprising there is uncertainty right up— surprising there is uncertainty right up to the very last minute. as we right up to the very last minute. is we understand it, in the outlines of this deal, 300 trucks could be going into gaza loaded with food and medical aid. into gaza loaded with food and medicalaid. from into gaza loaded with food and medical aid. from your point of view, what is most essential to be in that first delivery? i view, what is most essential to be in that first delivery?— in that first delivery? i think it is absolutely _ in that first delivery? i think it is absolutely vital _ in that first delivery? i think it is absolutely vital that - in that first delivery? i think it is absolutely vital that food, l is absolutely vital that food, medical— is absolutely vital that food, medical supplies and there needs to be clean _ medical supplies and there needs to be clean water which, believe it or not, _ be clean water which, believe it or hot. is _ be clean water which, believe it or hot. is hot — be clean water which, believe it or not, is not available, and it needs to be _ not, is not available, and it needs to be irr— not, is not available, and it needs to be in sufficient quantities to service — to be in sufficient quantities to service the huge number of refugees in the _ service the huge number of refugees in the south but also those still in the north — in the south but also those still in the north. it is not sufficient simply— the north. it is not sufficient simply to— the north. it is not sufficient simply to say that part of the population would be resupplied. the whole _ population would be resupplied. the whole population needs to be resupplied and for that to happen it is absolutely crucial there is adequate fuel. the un have been saying _ adequate fuel. the un have been saying repeatedly they don't have the fuel— saying repeatedly they don't have the fuel even to enable man to deliver— the fuel even to enable man to deliver the supplies, so there needs to be _ deliver the supplies, so there needs to be a _ deliver the supplies, so there needs to be a large—scale resumption of fuel which— to be a large—scale resumption of fuel which can be used to provide electricity— fuel which can be used to provide electricity in hospitals, which can revive _ electricity in hospitals, which can revive the — electricity in hospitals, which can revive the sewage and water system and reduce — revive the sewage and water system and reduce the risk of epidemics and so on _ and reduce the risk of epidemics and so on which — and reduce the risk of epidemics and so on which you were referring to before _ so on which you were referring to before. . . ,, , so on which you were referring to before. . . aw , ., before. richard makepeace, former british consul— before. richard makepeace, former british consul general— before. richard makepeace, former british consul general here - before. richard makepeace, former british consul general here in - british consul general here in jerusalem and from medical aid for palestinians, thank you very much. richard talking about the need for fuel and water, the un saying the amount of fuel they are getting is still incomplete —— insufficient and could only feel have the capacity for sewage pumps and 70% of people are still without water. i�*m joined now by my colleague nick beake. what is your sense of how close we are to a deal in terms of what sources are saying both here in israel and from hamas sources? the 0 timism israel and from hamas sources? the optimism we — israel and from hamas sources? the optimism we had over the weekend feels like _ optimism we had over the weekend feels like it is being built on, the optimism — feels like it is being built on, the optimism over night which has come from capitol, you have different places— from capitol, you have different places where different sentiments were being expressed. —— optimism overnight— were being expressed. —— optimism overnight which has come from qatar. qatar— overnight which has come from qatar. qatar are _ overnight which has come from qatar. qatar are the intermediary ears between — qatar are the intermediary ears between hamas and israel. of hamas lives in _ between hamas and israel. of hamas lives in katty, of course, he says they— lives in katty, of course, he says they are — lives in katty, of course, he says they are approaching a truce and there _ they are approaching a truce and there was— they are approaching a truce and there was a hamas spokesperson who said the _ there was a hamas spokesperson who said the intricacies of the deal would — said the intricacies of the deal would mean israeli women and children— would mean israeli women and children are released at the same time _ children are released at the same time that— children are released at the same time that palestinian women and children— time that palestinian women and children are released who have been in israeli _ children are released who have been in israeli detention. but we don't know— in israeli detention. but we don't know about facts and figures, over what _ know about facts and figures, over what sort — know about facts and figures, over what sort of timeframe that might be a potential— what sort of timeframe that might be a potential truce, a low in the fighting, _ a potential truce, a low in the fighting, but that is being reflected in different places, including washington. we reflected in different places, includin: washinuton. . , ., including washington. we understand including washington. we understand in revious including washington. we understand in previous days _ including washington. we understand in previous days that _ including washington. we understand in previous days that some _ including washington. we understand in previous days that some divisions l in previous days that some divisions have been emerging within the israeli cabinet over the duration of the ceasefire, is anything coming to us on the sides about what could be holding up the deal from the israeli point of view? you holding up the deal from the israeli point of view?— point of view? you were talking to the previous _ point of view? you were talking to the previous guest _ point of view? you were talking to the previous guest about - point of view? you were talking to the previous guest about this - point of view? you were talking to the previous guest about this sort| the previous guest about this sort of process, — the previous guest about this sort of process, if people are saying at the iith _ of process, if people are saying at the 11th hour what is happening, they are — the 11th hour what is happening, they are saying things for a reason. hamas— they are saying things for a reason. hamas has— they are saying things for a reason. hamas has come forward and said we are oh— hamas has come forward and said we are oh the _ hamas has come forward and said we are on the verge of this, you talk about— are on the verge of this, you talk about the — are on the verge of this, you talk about the divisions within the israeli — about the divisions within the israeli war cabinet, the israeli prime — israeli war cabinet, the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu has been _ prime minister benjamin netanyahu has been under pressure with some relatives— has been under pressure with some relatives of— has been under pressure with some relatives of the hostages saying he has pursued the wrong path, he should — has pursued the wrong path, he should have prioritised bringing out the hostages rather than trying to crush— the hostages rather than trying to crush hamas, in his words. if this deal— crush hamas, in his words. if this deal is _ crush hamas, in his words. if this deal is done, _ crush hamas, in his words. if this deal is done, and we are not there yet, deal is done, and we are not there vet. how— deal is done, and we are not there vet. how is— deal is done, and we are not there yet, how is that presented to the israeli _ yet, how is that presented to the israeli people? 0r, yet, how is that presented to the israeli people? or, what about underground in gaza, we understand that 12 _ underground in gaza, we understand that 12 people have been killed in a hospital— that 12 people have been killed in a hospital and 17 at the nuseirat refugee — hospital and 17 at the nuseirat refugee camp?— hospital and 17 at the nuseiratj refugee camp?_ as hospital and 17 at the nuseirat - refugee camp?_ as talks refugee camp? reporter: as talks continue enke _ refugee camp? reporter: as talks continue enke turn, _ refugee camp? reporter: as talks continue enke turn, people - refugee camp? reporter: as talks| continue enke turn, people continue to die _ continue enke turn, people continue to die on _ continue enke turn, people continue to die on the ground. we heard about the deaths _ to die on the ground. we heard about the deaths in the refugee camp. the concern _ the deaths in the refugee camp. the concern is _ the deaths in the refugee camp. the concern is that one big incident could _ concern is that one big incident could derail the talks. we have heard — could derail the talks. we have heard that before in previous conflicts _ heard that before in previous conflicts. people continue to die, you talk— conflicts. people continue to die, you talk about the indonesian hospital— you talk about the indonesian hospital incident yesterday, israel said it _ hospital incident yesterday, israel said it fired back after people fired — said it fired back after people fired at — said it fired back after people fired at israeli forces from within the hospital, they had denied they used a _ the hospital, they had denied they used a child to attack the building but according to the un 12 people have been killed under very difficult _ have been killed under very difficult situation at the indonesian hospital in the north of gaza, _ indonesian hospital in the north of gaza, we — indonesian hospital in the north of gaza, we have seen some patients being _ gaza, we have seen some patients being moved from the hospital to others _