as you know, we now have a response from hamas to the proposal that was put on the table. going forward, we are looking at it intensely. translation: we are on our way to a complete victory. _ the victory is at our reach. it's not about years or decades, it's about months. translation: that the final victory is our goal. _ this was the decision i brought to the government at the beginning of the war, and we will not say we will not be satisfied with less. the us secretary of state says... pushing for a cease—fire agreement between israel and hamas.

but the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, has again doubled down, saying israel will not be satisfied with anything other than total victory over hamas. we'll talk through where this leaves the possibilty of an agreement. also tonight, on the eve of general elections in pakistan, two bomb explosions near candidates' offices in the pakistani province of balochistan kill at least 28 people. islamic state have claimed responsibility. and one of the world's biggest superstars, taylor swift, threatens to sue a student who tracks her private jet. the us's top diplomat, secretary of state antony blinken, says... this is at the end of mr blinken is wrapping up his fifth tour of the middle east on wednesday meeting with both

the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, and president isaac herzog. he also met with palestinian leader mahmoud abbas. the talks coming after hamas, on tuesday, put forward a counter—offer to a cease—fire proposal backed by israel and the us and mediated by qatar and egypt. speaking in the last half hour, antony blinken was optimistic a cease—fire could still happen. antony blinken was speaking after israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, rejected hamas's proposed cease—fire terms, saying "total victory" in gaza is possible within months. tonight, i am here to tell you one thing — we are on our way to a complete victory. the victory is at our reach. it's not about years or decades, it's about months. hamas has responded, holding its own press conference. the reuters news agency quoted a senior hamas official as saying mr netanyahu's remarks on the ceasefire proposal show he intends to pursue the conflict in the region. the official is quoted as saying hamas is prepared to deal with all options.

and that a delgation will visit cairo to pursue ceasefire talks. an egyptian official source told the bbc that a new round of negotiations is expected to start tomorrow, sponsored by egypt and qatar. our chief international correspondent lyse doucet is with me. a lot has been going on and talk us through where we are right now. you reall want through where we are right now. you really want to — through where we are right now. 7m, really want to be a fly on the wall, why is antony blinken so delayed, skimmed up to two hours, at least an hour and a half that he was supposed to speak and the response of israel is quite ferocious and it was expected that they would have serious concerns about the proposals and the counteroffers from hamas but the rebuke from benjamin netanyahu was utterly categorical and no room for moving forward and only hours earlier, the prime minister played a

key role in the administration described the offer from hamas, 3—phase plan is positive and antony blinken, the top diplomat said there's still a lot of work to be done but it was the best path forward and it involved still talking to the israelis trying to salvage something out of this and what israel does not like, they see this as a modest effort to end the gaza war on its own terms which is utterly unacceptable to them. as prime minister netanyahu reiterated again, he says every night, the only way to end this war is to absolute victory over hamas and tonight, he added it is within touching distance, months. but added it is within touching distance, months. �* . ., distance, months. but the crux of this, the exchange of _ distance, months. but the crux of. this, the exchange of the remaining hostages held for unspecified number of palestinian prisoners in the

hostage families are absolutely distraught. hostage families are absolutely distrau . ht. . hostage families are absolutely distrau~ht. ., ., distraught. there with a large new rotests distraught. there with a large new protests to — distraught. there with a large new protests to urge _ distraught. there with a large new protests to urge prime _ distraught. there with a large new protests to urge prime minister. protests to urge prime minister netanyahu and urge the israeli military departed loved ones is the main priority in prosecuting the, there is a humanitarian cease—fire and can something still be salvaged from this? , , and can something still be salvaged from this? , .., , ., and can something still be salvaged from this? , _, , ., ., ~' from this? they could try to work throu~h from this? they could try to work through the _ from this? they could try to work through the phases, _ from this? they could try to work through the phases, the - from this? they could try to work through the phases, the first - from this? they could try to work. through the phases, the first phase, you talk us through it. we through the phases, the first phase, you talk us through it.— through the phases, the first phase, you talk us through it. we have seen three phases — you talk us through it. we have seen three phases and _ you talk us through it. we have seen three phases and more _ you talk us through it. we have seen three phases and more than - you talk us through it. we have seen three phases and more than four- three phases and more than four months, the first phase would be a sustained humanitarian cause from 45 days and during this phase, the most vulnerable hostages will be released, women, children, elderly, the sick and there will also be an effort to bring more aid into gaza. the proposal duxbury construction of hospitals in that one is less controversial and that is similar to

what happened in november. in controversial and that is similar to what happened in november. in antony bunken what happened in november. in antony blinken is trying — what happened in november. in antony blinken is trying to _ what happened in november. in antony blinken is trying to get _ what happened in november. in antony blinken is trying to get israel _ what happened in november. in antony blinken is trying to get israel to - blinken is trying to get israel to agree to think about that one without thinking about the subsequent ones. find without thinking about the subsequent ones.- without thinking about the subsequent ones. without thinking about the subseauent ones. �* , ., ., ., ~' without thinking about the subseauent ones. �* , ., ., ., ~ ., subsequent ones. and if you look at it in the bigger _ subsequent ones. and if you look at it in the bigger picture, _ subsequent ones. and if you look at it in the bigger picture, israel - subsequent ones. and if you look at it in the bigger picture, israel is - it in the bigger picture, israel is laser focused it in the bigger picture, israel is laserfocused on its main objective militarily, pushing forward through more and more parts of gaza and looking for a main hamas leaders and talking this week about seeing the world will only end when he kills them. —— the war will only end. in this hostage in prison swap with humanitarian swap as to use that pause to move towards a cease—fire and to work on other issues, very ambitious issues to move towards a revitalised palestinian authority, even a palestinian state, the relations between israel and with

the united states knowing that israel wants, it is a huge board package and may be beyond the political parameters of what is possible now, but the united states is trying to bring something quite dramatic out of this dramatic moment. ., dramatic out of this dramatic moment-— dramatic out of this dramatic moment. ., ., ., ., ~ ., , moment. you have to admire antony blinken's positivity _ moment. you have to admire antony blinken's positivity because - moment. you have to admire antony blinken's positivity because this - moment. you have to admire antony blinken's positivity because this is i blinken�*s positivity because this is his fifth visit and he speaks in these positive terms and then benjamin netanyahu refuses to agree with him and yet he keeps going he keeps talking about how this possible and talk about benjamin netanyahu really out a two state solution and talking about normalising relations in benjamin netanyahu does not seem too bothered by that now, does the?— by that now, does the? talking about, by that now, does the? talking about. yet _ by that now, does the? talking about, yet something - by that now, does the? talking about, yet something much - by that now, does the? talking i about, yet something much more micro—in his mind, something much more administrative and something

were israel remains absolute security control and local administration official who runs the gaza strip almost like a municipality and cannot have any connections to hamas and the united nations works agency and part of the problem another solution and as of the being controversial and donors suspending their funding because these concerns the people very small, very small number out of the tens of thousands and it has become an issue as well and that's always been a difficult relationship between benjamin netanyahu and the americans and we hear from sources that the prime minister does talk differently and in private, differently and in private, different tone and even much more willing to considers proposals and in public to keep the government

afloat and we have the opinion poll showing that israel leads back on this front that they want a way to end this once and for all and we talk about his efforts and it's not that they are choosing to this, they have to do this and it's notjust a foreign policy issue, it is a domestic issue in the united states in an election year and— live now to steven cook, senior fellow for middle east and africa studies at the council on foreign relations. and thank you forjoining us first of all and this is so important for joe biden to be seen that some sort of victory here, isn't it? this joe biden to be seen that some sort of victory here, isn't it?— of victory here, isn't it? this is an election _ of victory here, isn't it? this is an election year _ of victory here, isn't it? this is an election year in _ of victory here, isn't it? this is an election year in the - of victory here, isn't it? this is an election year in the united | an election year in the united states and the president needs to demonstrate that he is in command

and that he is not overwhelmed by multiple crises in the middle east and elsewhere in the world and of course, pushing for a cease—fire also does open them up to criticism from his opponents who have sought to make israel a wedge issue in american foreign policy so he must be careful that former president donald trump, the presumptive republican nominee does not come out and suggest or argue that president biden is somehow compromising israeli security by pushing a cease—fire in large numbers within the republican party believe would be premature. find the republican party believe would be premature-— be premature. and i don't know whether you — be premature. and i don't know whether you are _ be premature. and i don't know whether you are hearing - be premature. and i don't know whether you are hearing us - be premature. and i don't know whether you are hearing us forl be premature. and i don't know. whether you are hearing us forjust joined us as we have come on air and perhaps for benjamin netanyahu to agree to something and could perhaps be working through the stages of

what hamas proposed into the separate and could there be a pause in negotiations by the hostages in the release of prisoners in a be dealt with first before moving onto other aspects that hamas was talking about reconstructing and and into the fighting, what you think? it is the fighting, what you think? it is important to _ the fighting, what you think? it 3 important to point out that there are aspects of the hamas proposal which the israelis do not object to and there is a meeting on this as a sticking point for the israelis as the large number of palestinians and israeli jails and some some of who have been convicted or accused of violence in the steel and we have been burned on this before. the widely regarded israel's archenemy number one for directing the october seven attack was released and what are these large prisoner exchanges in the past. and the coalition partners specifically, the public

security minister is hard both the coalition and a large number of palestinians are exchanged for is really hostages. in theory, one can imagine negotiating this out in stages but if the issue is hostages for palestinian and israeli prisons, thatis for palestinian and israeli prisons, that is a major sticking point for the israelis. that is a ma'or sticking point for the israelis.— the israelis. and it's this continues, _ the israelis. and it's this continues, we _ the israelis. and it's this continues, we are - the israelis. and it's this. continues, we are hearing the israelis. and it's this _ continues, we are hearing benjamin netanyahu talking about, there's so many people there now and how they're going to be moving in in the source, things are so bad in gaza but they could get even worse than they car in the our. this but they could get even worse than they car in the our.— they car in the our. this is really raising alarm — they car in the our. this is really raising alarm bells _ they car in the our. this is really raising alarm bells in _ they car in the our. this is really raising alarm bells in their- they car in the our. this is really l raising alarm bells in their reading repeatedly since this war started accelerating after the october seven atrocities even the

secretary—general has warned about the disaster of the israelis to push in where more than a million displaced people are, there has been a counsellor officials from egypt and going into the area and saying they are absolutely stunned by what they are absolutely stunned by what they see that there is not an inch of available because there are some may displaced people and they're all crowded upright against the egyptian border and that is a nightmare scenario, where do these places go and people in rafa saying that there is, nowhere is safe and to emphasise the point the prime minister benjamin netanyahu said that they are close to achieving their goal but the goal has been to move from the north and moved to the south to the north and moved to the south to the area and they are destroying most of the brigades and they also want to go after it took a very rough assessment of the military progress in the earlier in the week,

there were military officials saying that there still was quite a lot to do. ., ., , , ,, do. even though we have this rebuke from israel. — do. even though we have this rebuke from israel, others _ do. even though we have this rebuke from israel, others are _ do. even though we have this rebuke from israel, others are proceeding i from israel, others are proceeding as though there is something still in the mix. we heard they are heading into saudi arabia and hamas officials are going to cairo and giving the impression that there is still something to play for. i don't know what you think of that? it is know what you think of that? it is never say never _ know what you think of that? it is never say never and talking about the secretary of state antony blinken's continued efforts despite his failures as i pointed out, there aspects _ his failures as i pointed out, there aspects of— his failures as i pointed out, there aspects of disagreements that the israelis _ aspects of disagreements that the israelis will agree to and despite the prime — israelis will agree to and despite the prime minister's public words about— the prime minister's public words about the — the prime minister's public words about the proposed cease—fire, clearly — about the proposed cease—fire, clearly the diplomatic activity would — clearly the diplomatic activity would suggest that behind closed doors, _ would suggest that behind closed doors, he — would suggest that behind closed doors, he is communicating to his american — doors, he is communicating to his american counterparts and others that the _ american counterparts and others that the israelis were talking to

that the israelis were talking to that there may be room for additional negotiations and that is the job— additional negotiations and that is the job of— additional negotiations and that is the job of the diplomats here to make _ the job of the diplomats here to make something from nothing and there _ make something from nothing and there may— make something from nothing and there may be something here from which _ there may be something here from which to— there may be something here from which to build on even though the prime _ which to build on even though the prime minister has been with categorical publicly. we prime minister has been with categorical publicly.- prime minister has been with categorical publicly. we are still waitinu categorical publicly. we are still waiting for _ categorical publicly. we are still waiting for antony _ categorical publicly. we are still waiting for antony blinken - categorical publicly. we are still waiting for antony blinken to . categorical publicly. we are still. waiting for antony blinken to give us the press conference and you can see there is, we will get some thoughts in your reaction to that as and when we get it but for now, thank you very much, fellow for middle eastern and african studies and relations and we are going to stay on this. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. online safety with rishi sunak. it comes as breonna's father says he

has apologised for that remark about keir starmer�*s position on trans people. ridiculing the labour leader for you turning on the definition of a woman. convicted sex offender and former singer gary glitter will stay in prison after losing a parole board bid. he was jailed for 16 years in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls between 1975—1980. the 79—year—old was automatically released in february last year, but was put back behind bars six weeks later after breaching his licence. all proceedings at the old bailey in london have been delayed after a fire near the building. around 1500 people were told to evacuate, and around 25 firefighters have been tackling the blaze. there are no reports of any injuries.

we will keep across the decisions that as soon as it happens opponents turn our attention to this. breaking news. the us senate is set to vote on sweeping legislation that ties tougher border restrictions with aid to ukraine and israel, though it looks set to fail due to opposition from republicans. the border issue is especially sensitive to many american at the moment due to the fentanyl crisis gripping the united states. the synthetic opioid is 50 times stronger than heroin and is responsible for tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the us last year. police in the us have told the bbc the public health crisis is comparable to a modern day crack epidemic, but the crisis is also gripping mexico's border cities as drug cartels begin to cut it into recreational drugs like cocaine. will grant filed this special report from tijuana, and a warning — this report contains some distressing images. there are no quiet nights for tijuana's fire brigade. called out to a local bar, there is no blaze here, but as some of the only available paramedics, they are tackling

another crisis, sweeping the city like wildfire — fe nta nyl. these two men, their lives fast slipping away, may not have even known they were taking it. cheap and highly addictive, mexico's drug cartels now cut it into recreational drugs like cocaine. the paramedics administer narcan, the most effective drug to reverse fenta nyl overdose. if, that is, it is not already too late. fenta nyl overdoses are now simply part of daily and nightly life in tijuana, part of the fabric of a city descending fast into the grip of full—blown drug epidemic. yet it is a crisis whose very existence has been denied by the country's president. as you can see, antony blinken is sticking to the podium. goad sticking to the podium. good evenina. sticking to the podium. good evening. this _ sticking to the podium. good evening. this is _ sticking to the podium. good evening. this is my - sticking to the podium. good evening. this is my fifth - sticking to the podium. good evening. this is my fifth visit j sticking to the podium. good i evening. this is my fifth visit to the region and seven visited israel

since october seven. i am back, first and foremost to console directly with my partners in the joint efforts to bring all of the remaining hostages home. i met with families of the hostages multiple times during private visits as well as from washington and i expect to see them again tomorrow. the sheer agony of not knowing the fate of your loved ones is almost unimaginable and i know that pain is almost unbearable and so, we have been intensely focused from day one on getting the hostages, all the hostages back with their families where they belong. it will keep that focus until we get them back. we had an opportunity today to discuss the

israeli government, the response that hamas in last night to the proposals that the united states, qatar in egypt to bring the remaining hostages home and extend the humanitarian pause and reckon today about this discussion is well there are some clear nonstarter is in hamas response, it does create space for an agreement to be reached and we will work on that relentlessly until we get there. we had extensive discussions of the prime ministers of the military campaign to defeat hamas and achieving the fundamental objectives and making sure what happens there never happens again. in working with israel and lebanon, on de—escalating on israel possible his northern

border so they can be on northern israel and in southern lebanon and live in peace and security we also discussed the imperative of maximising civilian protection in humanitarian aid to address the ongoing suffering of palestinian civilians in gaza nearly 2 million people have been displaced from their homes and hundreds of thousands or experiencing acute hunger and most of lost something that they've loved —— someone that they've loved them day after day, more people are killed. and of our previous visits here and in between, we have pressed israel in concrete ways to strengthen civilian protection to get more assistance to those who needed it over the past four months, israel has taken important steps to do just that, starting with the flow of aid, doubling it during the first pause

for hostage releases and south corridors so people can move out of immediate harms way and do these core doors and deposit every day, three hours notice. and starting the flow of assistance from jordan and establishing these mechanisms for humanitarian sites it as a result, today, more assistance than ever is moving into gaza for more places than october seven. as the largest owner of humanitarian aid to palestinians, the united states is to provide much assistance including funding and enough to provide branded for 1.4 million people for the next five months. in the un team in the north to assist conditions for the civilians were still there as well as those who need to be done

to allow displaced palestinians to return home to the north. yet, as i said to the prime minister and other israeli officials today, the daily total that military operations continue for instance civilians remains too high. in our discussions today and we have highlighted key steps to ensure that more age reaches more people in gaza it israel should of been so assistance can float in northern gaza and now to survive under these conditions. and for humanitarian assistance from jordan which should strengthen and improve coordination with the humanitarian providers. and, israel must ensure that the delivery of life—saving assistance to gaza is not blocked for any reason and by anyone. we urge israel to do more to

help civilians in knowing full well that it faces an enemy that would never hold itself to those standards, an enemy that cynically embeds itself among men, women and children and fires rockets from hospitals, from schools, from mosques, from residential buildings and an enemy whose leaders surround themselves with hostages in publicly declares its goal to kill as many innocent civilians as it can simply because they are jewish and innocent civilians as it can simply because they arejewish and to wipe israel off that is why we have made clear that israel is fullyjustified in confronting hamas and other terrorist organisations is where the united states is done more than any to support israel's october and the most horrific way on october seven,

the hostages have been demonised but that cannot be a licence for the majority of people in gaza had nothing to do with the attacks of october seven. the families in gaza whose survival depends are just their mothers and fathers, sons and daughters and want to earn a decent living in send this and kids to and thatis living in send this and kids to and that is who they are and that is what you must on the side of that. —— send their kids to school. we must not lose sight of -- send their kids to school. we must not lose sight of— must not lose sight of thank peace and security _ must not lose sight of thank peace and security for _ must not lose sight of thank peace and security for all _ must not lose sight of thank peace and security for all of _ must not lose sight of thank peace and security for all of the region i and security for all of the region and security for all of the region

and notably for israel. in the diplomatic path continues to be in sharper focus as a travel throughout the region and talk to of her friends and— the region and talk to of her friends and ., , ., friends and -- our friends and partners- _ friends and -- our friends and partners. throughout - friends and -- our friends and partners. throughout the - friends and -- our friends and l partners. throughout the region friends and -- our friends and - partners. throughout the region with normal relationships with key countries including saudi arabia and from guarantees for its security alongside a country time bound irreversible to a palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with israel, with the necessary security assurances. of the course of this trip, we discussed both the sequence of steps that all we need to take to make this real. and that includes steps by the palestinian authorities to revitalise itself and reaffirmed the imperative of those steps in my meeting today with the chief

improving and increasing accountability of the palestinian people and the authorities committed to make and recently announced reform package and we urge them to implement it swiftly. we can see so many of the actors in the region lining up to move down the path that ijust lining up to move down the path that i just described. lining up to move down the path that ijust described. but lining up to move down the path that i just described. but some are lining up to move down the path that ijust described. but some are not. some are trying to sabotage that path iran and its proxies continue to escalate and expand the cycle of violence that we all want to break and will continue to defend our people and will continue to defend their interests from the face of such attacks and not to fuel escalation but to prevent it. finally, in my discussions with the prime minister, senior official, raising profound concerns about

actions and rhetoric, including from government officials that inflame tensions that undercut international support in place greater strains on israel's security the people of israel's security the people of israel have sacrificed enormously. to forge this nation and to defendant. and the right path to take will be decided and whether they are ready to make difficult choices necessary and realise the vision of the long elusive process of true peace interest security. as a true friend of israel, as the country that is always been first to woodside, whether it was may 14, 1948 or october seven, 2023, we will always be there for those.—

always be there for those. thank you mr secretary — always be there for those. thank you mr secretary for _ always be there for those. thank you mr secretary for the _ always be there for those. thank you mr secretary for the question, - mr secretary for the question, have a couple _ mr secretary for the question, have a couple for— mr secretary for the question, have a couple for you. you are still sitting — a couple for you. you are still sitting room for agreement and terms of the _ sitting room for agreement and terms of the negotiations over the release of the negotiations over the release of hostages but the prime minister after he _ of hostages but the prime minister after he spoke of them was pretty blunt _ after he spoke of them was pretty blunt in_ after he spoke of them was pretty blunt in his dismissal from hamas response — blunt in his dismissal from hamas response describing it even is ludicrous _ response describing it even is ludicrous and i want to clarify, is this response to dead on arrival at this response to dead on arrival at this point— this response to dead on arrival at this point and what specifically to the prime — this point and what specifically to the prime minister objected to in that response also, the prime minister— that response also, the prime minister shortly after you met with and made — minister shortly after you met with and made it clear that israeli troops — and made it clear that israeli troops will be moving deeper into the area, — troops will be moving deeper into the area, with the united states simply— the area, with the united states simply stand by as this action is pursued — simply stand by as this action is pursued even withi million palestinians, more than a million palestinians, more than a million palestinians being in the area with nowhere _ palestinians being in the area with nowhere to go? and if i may, congress _ nowhere to go? and if i may, congress is moving ahead with the bill that— congress is moving ahead with the bill that would pair it with ukraine

with israel, any potential package that prohibits funding, thank you. that is— that prohibits funding, thank you. that is impressive. that includes the questions of all your colleagues as well? i the questions of all your colleagues as well? ., ., ~' the questions of all your colleagues as well? ., ., ~ ,., the questions of all your colleagues as well?_ starting | as well? i do not think so. starting with the first _ as well? i do not think so. starting with the first part. _ we have looked very carefully at what came back from hamas and there are clearly a nonstarter is and what it has put forward. but we also see space and what came back to pursue negotiations to see if we can get to an agreement. and that's what we intend to do. and i'm not going to speakfor israel or intend to do. and i'm not going to speak for israel or anyone else involved, but again we believe the spaces they and we believe that we should pursue it. with