we are very optimistic, we're very hopeful. if we are getting close, it's— because hamas needs that cease—fire. we've been hitting them hard, i we've been crippling their military machine, we've been taking - apart their military fortifications. if we're talking about people's lives, then we all feel — especially when we're talking about our families — that this should be the top priority. close, maybe, imminent. we are told the deal for the release of 50 women and child hostages is almost done — but still no confirmation from either side. we will speak to a former hostage negotiator tonight who knows what it's like to be in the room in those final tense moments. we will also hear from the man who heads up the un's operations around the world —

poised as he is, to fastrack aid into gaza should the temporary truce come. and we will speak to the director of medicins sans frontieres, a charity in mourning tonight for two of its doctors, killed in a strike today on the al awda hospital, in northern gaza. good evening. a deal to release hostages taken from israel by hamas could be closer than ever tonight, with the israeli war cabinet meeting these last few hours to sign off on the final terms agreed in qatar. according to the white house that deal would secure the release of 50 women and child hostages, in return for a li—s—day pause in the fighting. earlier, a hamas leader said the group was "close to reaching a truce agreement." the pause would give the group time to gather hostages who are in gaza, some of them held by other groups, and in return for each hostage they release, sources say the israelis would be expected to free three palestinian

prisoners who they are holding in israeli jails. khaled mashal, the political leader of hamas, said some weeks ago the group has what it needs to secure the release of roughly 7,000 palestinians in israeli prisons. this deal seems to relate only to women and children that israel is currently holding, and nowhere near that number — though some questions remain as to whether eventually the israelis will have to hand over some of the higher—value prisoners, some of whom will have killed israeli citizens. budour hassan is from amnesty international. right now, we are talking about more than 7,000. the numbers have skyrocketed since the 7th of october for all sorts of things, for alleged incitement, for publications on social media, including over 2,070 people who are held under administrative detention without charges or trial, which already is a record high of the number of

palestinian detainees. with us tonight oliver mcternan, co—founder of the conflict mediation group, forward thinking. he was deeply involved in the talks that led to the release of the israeli soldier gilad shalit 12 years ago, so he has lots of experience in this. good evening, welcome to the programme. i imagine you can rememberjust what it programme. i imagine you can remember just what it was programme. i imagine you can rememberjust what it was like at the 11th hour? it rememberjust what it was like at the 11th hour?— the 11th hour? it was a five-year rocess, the 11th hour? it was a five-year process. and — the 11th hour? it was a five-year process, and in _ the 11th hour? it was a five-year process, and in the _ the 11th hour? it was a five-year process, and in the words - the 11th hour? it was a five-year process, and in the words of- process, and in the words of president biden, nothing is done until it is done. i think there is always at this period or time in negotiations — there's always the risk of spoilers, those who are opposed to any exchange doing something that will get in the way of the process. the something that will get in the way of the process.— of the process. the critical player in all this is _ of the process. the critical player in all this is the _ of the process. the critical player in all this is the international- of the process. the critical playeri in all this is the international red cross, the president of the icrc was

in doha yesterday speaking to the various parties. can you explain what they will do if and when a deal is agreed? what they will do if and when a deal is a . reed? �* , what they will do if and when a deal is areed? a , . is agreed? as i understand it, the role of the — is agreed? as i understand it, the role of the icrc _ is agreed? as i understand it, the role of the icrc is simply - is agreed? as i understand it, the role of the icrc is simply to - role of the icrc is simply to facilitate the process, that when the hostages are handed overfrom the hostages are handed overfrom the brigade, they'll be taken by the red cross and handed to the egyptian authorities. i don't think the red cross were involved actually in the process. we discussed before but a complicated process this has been, because you haven't had direct communication through one mediator, but you've had the israelis talking to the americans, the americans talking to the qatar breeze, and the qatari is talking to hamas, and vice versa. so there is an enormous room for what we may say, something

important getting lost in translation. so i'm amazed that hate that i could they have reached a deal through this process. == that i could they have reached a deal through this process. -- i'm amazed that _ deal through this process. -- i'm amazed that they _ deal through this process. -- i'm amazed that they reached - deal through this process. -- i'm amazed that they reached a - deal through this process. -- i'm| amazed that they reached a deal. deal through this process. -- i'm - amazed that they reached a deal. we are just hearing that the war cabinet and security cabinet have met, it'll now go to the full cabinet, and everyone has to agree on it. there are reports tonight that there are too hard right groups that there are too hard right groups that are opposed to it, so we don't know yet what will come out of the israeli discussions. and know yet what will come out of the israeli discussions.— israeli discussions. and there's a ossibili israeli discussions. and there's a possibility that _ israeli discussions. and there's a possibility that even _ israeli discussions. and there's a possibility that even if _ israeli discussions. and there's a possibility that even if it - israeli discussions. and there's a possibility that even if it gets - possibility that even if it gets through, that some of those opposed to it will take it to the supreme court. but i honestly can't see the supreme court standing in the way of a decision that would first of all give hope to the families of the

hostages who have been suffering, but also to the 2.3 million people in gaza who, every day that this is delayed, are suffering more and at risk of their lives. you delayed, are suffering more and at risk of their lives.— risk of their lives. you talk about the complications _ risk of their lives. you talk about the complications of— risk of their lives. you talk about the complications of all- risk of their lives. you talk about the complications of all the - risk of their lives. you talk about l the complications of all the parties dealing through qatar — one of the reports we've had is that from time to time over the last six weeks, hamas have gone dark. for those families who will not get hostages back tonight, i imagine the most important thing for them in the next few days is to get a list of who is in gaza and what their condition is, is that correct?— is that correct? yes, but i think that will be _ is that correct? yes, but i think that will be difficult _ is that correct? yes, but i thinkj that will be difficult to produce. you may recall right to the beginning, there was a commitment to hand all the civilian hostages back without any preconditions. now that process time and time again was, we were told, impossible to implement

because of the heavy bombardment, and i think that's reasonable because how can you move large numbers of people around such an environment as gaza under heavy bombardment and shelling? sol environment as gaza under heavy bombardment and shelling? so i don't think it was an excuse, it was a reason. that's why i was always saying that you need a cease—fire in order to initiate the process and to ensure the safety of the hostages. while you have heavy shelling or bombardment, even with the six hour pause, i really can't see how you can guarantee the safety of individual hostages being moved from the place where they need to at rafah crossing in order to be handed to the egyptian authorities. mi to the egyptian authorities. all ou'll to the egyptian authorities. all you'll be aware of the anger and frustration amongst the families of the hostages in israel. they marched on jerusalem the hostages in israel. they marched onjerusalem this weekend and met with prime minister netanyahu yesterday, whojust with prime minister netanyahu yesterday, who just released this statement, let me read it to the

viewers. he radiates again that he carefully listened to the plights of hostages, telling them that returning the hostages is a sacred goal —— reiterates. but "the war effort will not be hurt, but will allow the idf to prepare for the fighting to come. i say again, the war is continuing, the war will continue until we release all the hostages, until there will be a day without hamas. with god's help, we will succeed." that will play on the minds of many of the families tonight, all of her, because it is surely the case that some of the hostages are in the southern part of the strip and they'll know that once the strip and they'll know that once the women and children have been released, that the fate of their loved ones will be in the balance once again. loved ones will be in the balance once again-— once again. yes, and i can understand _ once again. yes, and i can understand that _ once again. yes, and i can understand that fully - once again. yes, and i can understand that fully and l once again. yes, and i can - understand that fully and their concerns. you see, ifeel like understand that fully and their concerns. you see, i feel like a scratched record, christian, because i've said time and time again, i

feel the two targets that prime minister netanyahu has set himself are incompatible. you can't, on one hand, talk about destroying people who are holding the hostages, and on the other hand, talking about releasing them and having them return to their families. i think someone needs to sit him down and say, "look, everyone is traumatised by what's happened, let's think rationally." and to set those two competitive targets — ijust can't see how it will be realised, the safe release of all the hostages. sorry, christian, butjust to add to that, i think that the plight of the soldiers is another matter, because they are the leverage for release of long—term prisoners in palestine. and let's remember too that since the 7th of october, i think

something like 2300 palestinians have been given administrative detention. so there's been a massive increase in the number of palestinians in israeli jails. palestinians in israeli “ails. those high-value * palestinians in israeli “ails. those high-value prisons _ palestinians in israeli jails. those high-value prisons certainly - palestinians in israeli jails. those high-value prisons certainly on i palestinians in israeli jails. those l high-value prisons certainly on the high—value prisons certainly on the agenda for the hamas leadership in qatar. just a final word about where these hostages are, and the job that these hostages are, and the job that the icrc will have — would it be fair to assume that hamas might not know the whereabouts of all these hostages and, amid the chaos, haven't been able to gather the information that other groups are indeed holding them at the moment? i would think that is more than probable, given the fact that the israeli assault in gaza began immediately after the atrocities of the 7th of october. and given the fact that the number of people brought hostages back, including different groups, i think it's almost impossible to say they can

co—ordinate and know exactly the whereabouts of people... so co-ordinate and know exactly the whereabouts of people... so what would the conditions _ whereabouts of people... so what would the conditions be _ whereabouts of people... so what would the conditions be then, - whereabouts of people... so what i would the conditions be then, within this 4— day period that they go away and get a handle on this, i know that was discussed within the negotiation —— 4— five day period. aha, negotiation —— 4— five day period. six hour break doesn't give much opportunity to really have a serious process where you can identify where people are, where you can gather information and, more important, where you can actually ensure the safety of the hostages while you're trying to transport them through what is in effect a battlefield. it's really good to talk to you this evening, thank you for your expertise. evening, thank you for your exoertise-— evening, thank you for your exertise. . ~ , . around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. police searching for four teenagers who have been missing in north wales since sunday morning have found

the bodies of four boys — jevon hirst, harvey owen, wilf henderson, and hugo morris. they were aged between 16—18. police say the car had left the road and was upside down and partially submerged in water. the minimum wage in the uk is to increase by more than a pound to £11.44 per hour, from april next year. in a major change of policy, chancellorjeremy hunt has decided the rate will now apply from 21, instead of 23. it comes ahead of mr hunt's autumn budget statement tomorrow. the bbc�*s flagship show top gear will not return "for the foreseeable future" after presenter andrew "freddie" flintoff was hurt in a crash while filming last year. the presenter was injured in december at top gear's test track, sustaining what he describes as "life—changing injuries" on his face. you're live with bbc news. in gaza, the hunger

and the thirst is as widespread as the fear and anxiety. there is very little fuel to pump water and sewage. on average, 150 people are sharing a single toilet and 700 people a single shower when available. telecommunications are failing, too. we are seeing signs of civil order breaking down, as people fight for whatever is left. and in all of this, it is unrwa, the un agency for palestinians, that is their lifeline. the humanitarian aid they so desperately need is conditional right now — on the political negotiations. but no doubt the un is preparing and readying its staff for what will be four or five critical days in which to transfer hundreds of trucks of food, water, and desperately medical supplies. joining me now isjorge moreira da silva, under secretary general of the united nations and executive director of unops, the operation that is tasked with supporting the operation in gaza.

thank you very much for coming on the programme tonight. jan are you, christian. you must be poised and waiting for whatever news comes from jerusalem, but will you be ready if the deal is agreed?— jerusalem, but will you be ready if the deal is agreed? well, as i think all citizens of _ the deal is agreed? well, as i think all citizens of the _ the deal is agreed? well, as i think all citizens of the world, _ the deal is agreed? well, as i think all citizens of the world, we - the deal is agreed? well, as i think all citizens of the world, we are - all citizens of the world, we are eager to get the news from this negotiation. as he rightly said, we have to focus also on what is needed to recover from this current situation we are dealing with a humanitarian crisis. unops, as you said, we are focusing on operation, we are the un agency dedicated to infrastructure, and we see that infrastructure, and we see that infrastructure is collapsing on health, water, sanitation, education — and we know that one key element to recover is the access to fuel.

for several years, since 2018, unops has been the agency that has brought the fuel from israel to gaza. so every day, we were procuring and delivering 500,000 l of fuel that was fundamental to increase the electricity from five hours a day to 12 hours. if you check the figures of what's been provided in the last week on fuel, it was around in total, and one week, 300,000 l. so it's almost half of what we were bringing every day. so obviously, the access to fuel is fundamental for this electricity, for health, to provide access to electricity in the hospitals, for food provide access to electricity in the hospitals, forfood production, but also for the delivery of aid as

we've seen in the last days. so the access to the number of trucks that have been entering gaza has decreased, at the same time there was this lack of fuel. so fuel is a fundamental element, and i really hope we can learn from experience. and what that expense does... but ou'll also and what that expense does... but you'll also know that it is fundamental to hamas, to pumping oxygen into the tunnels they are using. so what assurances are you able to give the israelis, and have you any assurances back in return that would mean you could transfer this fuel that is needed over the course of the next 4—5 days? this fuel that is needed over the course of the next 4-5 days? well, let me answer _ course of the next 4-5 days? well, let me answer your _ course of the next 4-5 days? well, let me answer your first _ course of the next 4-5 days? well, let me answer your first question. | let me answer your first question. in the last six years, we have been successful in bringing the fuel from israel to gaza, and providing the fuel to this power plant without any

kind of question. so nobody questioned... 50 kind of question. so nobody questioned. . ._ kind of question. so nobody cuestioned... �* , , questioned... so it's never been intercepted? — questioned... so it's never been intercepted? this _ questioned... so it's never been intercepted? this was _ questioned... so it's never been intercepted? this was an - questioned... so it's never been intercepted? this was an israeli | intercepted? this was an israeli com an intercepted? this was an israeli company that — intercepted? this was an israeli company that was _ intercepted? this was an israeli company that was providing - intercepted? this was an israeli company that was providing the j intercepted? this was an israeli - company that was providing the fuel, and you can see that in six years, this was indisputable. so nobody disputed... 50 this was indisputable. so nobody disputed- - -_ disputed... so what then do you think is the _ disputed... so what then do you think is the israeli _ disputed... so what then do you think is the israeli motive - disputed... so what then do you think is the israeli motive and i disputed... so what then do you | think is the israeli motive and not supplying that fuel?— think is the israeli motive and not supplying that fuel? well, i cannot comment on _ supplying that fuel? well, i cannot comment on that, _ supplying that fuel? well, i cannot comment on that, i _ supplying that fuel? well, i cannot comment on that, i can _ supplying that fuel? well, i cannot comment on that, i can just - supplying that fuel? well, i cannot comment on that, i can just say i supplying that fuel? well, i cannot i comment on that, i can just say that in case there is the political will, the negotiation capacity to bring the negotiation capacity to bring the fuel, we at unops are ready to assure that that fuel can be delivered, and we can monitor and verify the access to this fuel. you also asked about the next five days — and obviously, we are all in the un system ready to provide the

support, but we also need the safety conditions and security conditions to guarantee that, while we have these humanitarian corridors being open, that not only the volume of the number of trucks is consistent with the needs and, as you note, for many years we are bringing 500 trucks and in the last few weeks, it's only been a0 trucks a day. just it's only been 40 trucks a day. just in terms of — it's only been 40 trucks a day. just in terms of strategic planning, you will be aware that this is only a pause — in fact, wejust had word from prime minister netanyahu that it will resume as soon as the a—5 days has lapsed — are you discussing within the un where you move your lenora operations to? we heard the spokesman for the israeli government saying they have a place where they went ever want to go. there's a real

possibility that this operation switches to khan younis — where can you relocate your operations to make sure they are properly looked after? as i've mentioned, i've not been part of the negotiations so i can't comment on the negotiations over the planning. i would just insist on one point — it is fundamental that humanitarian aid is being provided and the safety and security products. as you know, more than 100 un have been killed, more than 100 facilities from the un have been hit. so it's important that, while the un is in the readiness to provide aid and to guarantee that we are ready to provide the fastest and most productive way, it's also important that security allows these

operations. but i cannot comment on the planning as i've not been involved in the negotiations. understood. jorge, good to have your thoughts, thanks for coming on the programme. thoughts, thanks for coming on the programme-— thoughts, thanks for coming on the | programme-_ i programme. thank you, christian. i did some rudimentary _ programme. thank you, christian. i did some rudimentary maths, - programme. thank you, christian. i did some rudimentary maths, 1268| did some rudimentary maths, 1268 trucks. about a55 aid trucks into gaza every day, around 20,700, so just over 6% of what would normally go into gaza has gone in the last six weeks, which tells you just how acute the crisis is. let's get more now on the hostage negotiations. our middle east correspondent tom bateman joins me now from jerusalem. so does bring us up to speed, because a number of news lines coming through — we understand two of the three meetings have concluded, we have a statement from prime minister netanyahu. do we get an idea of what they are thinking? we didn't get much of a steer from

netanyahu about the deal, i think that's because as you say, we had the war cabinet, political cabinet, now they have the wider government, about a0 people, who would vote on the broad contours of all this, and crucially on the part of this which is about the release of palestinian prisoners. what we heard from mr netanyahu was a prerecorded statement he put together before this wider government meeting began. he basically had two messages — one was to address criticism, he called it nonsense from the outside that, in his view, the war would stop altogether because of this. this was particularly aimed at the right wing of the israeli coalition and their supporters in israeli society, saying absolutely adamantly that after the cease—fire, the war would go on, saying they would continue their aim to go on, saying they would continue theiraim to eliminate go on, saying they would continue their aim to eliminate hamas. the other thing you talked about was that he revealed he had in the last

few days spoken to president biden, and he said he got a better framework, a better deal out of this procedure, got president biden to agree to that. he said that there would be a better dealfor israel at a lower cost, so you would assume that to mean more hostages, for example, for less time for palestinian prisoners being released. largely for domestic consumption to counter attacks to the further right on him, but what we don't have confirmation of the contours of this deal.— contours of this deal. thank you very much _ contours of this deal. thank you very much for— contours of this deal. thank you very much for that, _ contours of this deal. thank you very much for that, tom, - contours of this deal. thank you very much for that, tom, we - contours of this deal. thank you | very much for that, tom, we will keepin very much for that, tom, we will keep in touchjust very much for that, tom, we will keep in touch just in case things change over the next few hours. it is expected that some of the hostages who are released will be americans. one of the youngest hostages is three—year—old abigail edan. her parents were killed in their home at the kfar aza kibbutz. abigail was reportedly in her father's arms when a hamas gunman shot him.

you can imagine what horrific trauma some of these children have been through — and what a relief it would be to her extended family to have her home for thanksgiving. —— thanksgiving. joining me now is david makovsky ziegler, distinguished fellow at the washington institute, and director of the koret project on arab—israel relations. thank you forjoining us on the programme. just to have american hostages come home on the eve of thanksgiving, what would that mean for president biden, who of course is not faring too well in the opinion polls at the moment? i have to believe that _ opinion polls at the moment? i have to believe that the _ opinion polls at the moment? i have to believe that the qatari amir - opinion polls at the moment? i have to believe that the qatari amir was i to believe that the qatari amir was saying, "don't worry, mr president, the beginning will start on thanksgiving, it'll be a great present to you for all your efforts." so it seems to me that the timing here is not coincidental. you've lived through many of these hostage swaps in the past, what do you think will be the discussions

that are ongoing right now within the wider israeli cabinet?- the wider israeli cabinet? look, there will be _ the wider israeli cabinet? look, there will be different _ the wider israeli cabinet? look, there will be different sets - the wider israeli cabinet? look, there will be different sets of i there will be different sets of arguments. i think the hard right will not vote for it, from what i'm hearing, but there are no votes for it to pass anyway. the hard right are convinced this is a plot by hamas to start these pauses and keep them going in a way that basically derails the ground incursion. and what starts in a pause ends as a cease—fire, meaning hamas remains in place, and it'll require inquire vigilance dutch incredible vigilance, because they'll say, "another three, another three," there is provision for ten extra hostages every day. so there's 50, you have to get to 235, whatever the number is, will theyjust keep finding ways to delay the ground

incursion? winter weather, finding ways to delay the ground incursion? winterweather, rainy incursion? winter weather, rainy weather? incursion? winterweather, rainy weather? just to stop any momentum israel has as it seems to have wrapped up the northern gaza part now, pivoting over to southern gaza. so that's one set of issues. netanyahu said, "don't worry, i'm definitely pursuing this, it's not an issue." , definitely pursuing this, it's not an issue-"— an issue." just quickly, david. sor , an issue." just quickly, david. sorry. david. _ an issue." just quickly, david. sorry, david, i'll— an issue." just quickly, david. sorry, david, i'll have- an issue." just quickly, david. sorry, david, i'll have to - an issue." just quickly, david. i sorry, david, i'll have to squeeze you because we are out of time, i'm sorry to cut you so short, but we are about to go to break. thank you very much for your time. we'll be right back after the break. good evening. we've had a lot of dry weather around today, but quite a bit of cloud. even if it's just been high cloud in the north, it's starting to thicken up now, with the skies becoming overcast this evening and overnight in the north, with some rain and some heaviest rain as well across the highlands of scotland, whilst in contrast, showers in the south will clear the winds that we've had all day ease away. so we could see not only some fog around by morning, but some ground frost and some ice

on the cars. and you can see the rain does stretch into parts of north wales and northern england. but look at the contrast. temperatures this morning started at freezing in the glens of scotland. much milder to start here tomorrow morning, and for northern ireland, and that's because of the combination of the cloud and the rain and the wind. some strong and gusty winds here tomorrow — a0—a5 miles an hour — whilst further south, it's the lack of wind that means we'll start with a little bit of mist and fog. once that clears, it looks brighter and dry for the majority of wales, central and southern parts of england. further north, though, north wales northwards, really, some thicker clouds and drizzly rain, but the most persistent over the highlands of scotland. but it's much milder at 13—1a. and that mild weather stays with us through wednesday night. so, too, the rain on our weather front, which starts to meander southwards during the night and into thursday. so behind it, brighter, scattered showers on thursday. to the south of it, any mist clearing and then bright, too. but we do have this line of rather more persistent rain. it's the dividing line between the mild air to the south and that colder air i hinted at earlier to the north.

so we're starting to feel the effect of that arctic blast by the end of thursday across scotland. and it will be right the way across the country friday, saturday, to start on sunday, but there's just the hint now that we'll see a temporary low pressure coming in sunday. but a bright, cold, crisp start friday. the showers will be of sleet and snow by the end of the day, even at lower levels in the north, and rain and hail on the coast in the east and it will feel colder. these are the daytime temperatures — much lower than we'll have all week. and add on that strong wind, particularly for scotland and eastern england, that's where we'll see the chilliest—feeling weather. yes, a cold day for all and a cold night following friday night into saturday, with perhaps a few more showers coming onshore near the north sea coasts. a little ridge of high pressure, though, keeping things settled for the start of the weekend. just that area of rain coming into the north on sunday. so still a question mark on the outlook, but certainly a cold snap for most.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. as we await confirmation of a possible hostage deal, medical workers in gaza are hoping for a humanitarian pause in fighting. we'll speak to the head of msf uk.

that is just a few minutes away. before that, let's get a chicken all the sport. here gavin. —— a check on all the sport. thanks, christian. straight to a final, crucial night in qualifying for next summer's european championship, where 19 of the 20 places available have been filled. and the final space is being decided right now. and that space will go to wales or croatia. wales must beat group winners turkey. and it is currently 1—0 to wales at the moment, nico williams with the early goal in cardiff. but they also need croatia to drop points at home to armenia. croatia are ahead. any other set of results and croatia will book their place in germany next summer. elsewhere, the top two meet in group i — and if romania avoid a defeat against switzerland, they'll win the group. it is 0-0 it is 0—0 there at the moment. there's been a huge boost for sarina wiegman and her latest

england squad announcement. after suffering an acl and being out for a year,