frank lowenstein, thank you _ started.e analyis on the killing of the leader of hamas — on our website — including this piece from our international editorjeremy bowen. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news in the uk. a seven—year—old boy who died in a house explosion in newcastle — early on wednesday morning — has been named as archie york. the blast, which happened just before 1am destroyed three houses in the area of benwell. police also confirmed a second person was found dead. an investigation into the cause of the explosion is under way. the wife of a conservative councillor has been jailed for 31 months after pleading guilty to inciting racial hatred on the day three girls were murdered in the southport attacks in july. lucy connolly from northampton called for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set on fire in a post on the social media platform x. and the bbc has found that over 140 million litres of sewage has been illegally discharged into lake windeme

state department frank lowenstein.eard the state department spokesperson talking about the need for a diplomatic solution. how do the negotiators go about doing that at a time when we see israel calling for an evacuation of an entire city in lebanon? we sell those attacks in gaza with the high death toll. >> there probably is a path forward to a cease-fire in lebanon. the israelis will never agree to any kind of cease-fire before they have achieved what they can militarily with their troops on the ground. they may be getting to that point now. the cease-fire that has been floated will allow them to continue to conduct airstrikes over the border. they will continue some military operations in a limited way but get hezbollah back to the border and stop firing the rockets which is the only way they will get civilians back to northern israel. we have had cease-fire is in the past. netanyahu has agreed to and his coalition partners on the extreme right have raised objections and he has backed down. >> how will president bid

. �* ., ~ , ., joining me now is frank lowenstein, former us special envoy for middle east peace underlet me just ask you first of all. we heard joe biden at the beginning of the programme saying that they were talking with israel about the possibility of hitting iranian oilfacilities in possibility of hitting iranian oil facilities in retaliation for the iranian strikes on israel. that is a real global consequence, isn't it, of this continuing conflict in the middle east?— continuing conflict in the middle east? , ., , , middle east? yes, absolutely. it's a middle east? yes, absolutely. it's a really — middle east? yes, absolutely. it's a really pivotal _ middle east? yes, absolutely. it's a really pivotal moment i it's a really pivotal moment over there. we're sort of on a knife edge either way. hopefully what we are trying to do is get on the path of de—escalation. i think the oil facilities is not only a problem in the world, it's acute in the united states. the last thing bite and then here right now is a big spite aiden got —— big spike in gas prices. the hope is the iranians can

for more on the ongoing conflict in the middle east, i spoke to frank lowenstein, who served as specialons for the us state department. i want to start with those a0 nations that do send troops to this unifil group, the un lebanon peacekeeping force there, condemning what they call attacks on these troops. what do you make of it all? how much risk do you think this poses for groups in this region, but particularly for israel? i think it really raises some serious questions about the idf�*s rules of engagement and the extent to which they are trying to comply with international law in lebanon and also, of course, in gaza. i think it also underscores israel's international isolation, and we've seen that statement. the british and the french are talking about an arms embargo. it will put the us in a very difficult position of being the one to defend israel against all of these allegations. it also raises questions about unifil going forward. theirjob is to keep hezbollah out of southern lebanon, in accordance with the un security council resolution 1701, and it's really clear that they're

earlier i spoke with frank lowenstein — the former us special envoy for israeli palestinian negotiations prospects of a ceasfire deal. it's important to understand we are a long way israel and the world but it's not the end of hamas by any stretch of the imagination and if it even makes them more open to a ceasefire will depend on who is the successor to yahya sinwar, may be his deputy your brother, but we are a long way away from any breakthrough on that front. you say we are a long way away but does it move israel closer to the stated aims of wiping out hamas and getting hostages back? it's a bit closer to its stated aim of destroying hamas but whether it makes netanyahu any more able to negotiate a release of the hostages remains to be seen. he has very hardline members of his coalition opposed to any compromise, so we'll see if that fundamental dynamic changes on the israeli side and if you listen to what benjamin netanyahu said, they don't have any intention of ending the war right now. if we look more broadly about the conflicts we have been seeing, where does it leave iran and its

joining me live now is frank lowenstein, who served as special envoy for israeli—palestinian negotiationsbanon peacekeeping force have now condemned what they call �*attacks' on troops there. how much risk does this pose for groups on all sides here but particularly for israel? a unifil spokesman has said he fears an escalation southern lebanon could spiral out of control with catastrophic impact for everyone". the rules of engagement and the extent to which they're trying to comply with international law and lebanon and in gaza. and he really underscores israel's international isolation and 40 countries, they are talking about an arms embargo and puts the us and very difficult position of being the one to defend israel against all of these kinds of allegations. in all these questions in the is to keep them out of southern lebanon in 1701 as very clear that they're not capable of doing that and i think everyone needs to take a good hard look at their mandate going forward. haifa good hard look at their mandate going forward-— going forward. how important is this peacekeeping _ going forwa