The death toll from both sides in the armed conflict that broke out between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip continues to rise. According to the latest count, more than 600 Israelis – military and civilians – have lost their lives since the invasion by Hamas fighters, while on the other hand, at least 370 people have died in the Israeli counter-attack.

The Israelis are pounding Hamas positions in Gaza with more than 10 warplanes, and a ground operation is being planned to eliminate all Hamas centers in the area.

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Israel has officially declared war on Hamas

Israel’s government has officially declared war on Hamas, paving the way for the planned large-scale ground operation. The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu had announced since Saturday that his country is at war, while the military administration has already proceeded to mobilize tens of thousands of reservists.

“Every war is a defeat. Let us pray for peace in Israel and Palestine,” Pope Francis emphasized

Addressing the gathered crowd in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis today referred to the latest, tragic developments in the Middle East.

In more detail, the pontiff underlined:

“I am watching with pain and concern what is happening in Israel, where violence has exploded in an even more violent way. I am on the side of the families of the victims, I pray for them, and all those who are living hours of agony and terror. The attacks must stop and the guns must be silenced. Everyone must understand that terrorism and war do not lead to any solution, that war is defeat. War, any war, only causes hardship and the death of so many innocent people. Let us pray for peace in Israel and Palestine.”

Israel expected “stronger condemnation” of Hamas from Beijing

Israel expected “stronger condemnation” of Hamas from China, a country it considers friendly, Yuval Wachs, a senior official at the Israeli embassy in Beijing, said today.

“When people are being murdered, massacred in the streets, it’s not a good time to be calling for a two-state solution,” Wax told reporters.

Earlier today, the Chinese Foreign Ministry appealed to all parties involved to remain calm and immediately end hostilities to protect civilians, adding that “the fundamental way to resolve the conflict is to implement the two-state solution and establish an independent Palestinian State”.

Warsaw expels its citizens from Israel

Poland will evacuate its citizens from Israel by air following Saturday’s large-scale attack by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Israel, Polish President Andrzej Duda announced today.

The Polish Air Force will send several transport aircraft to Israel for this purpose. “Soldiers of our special forces will provide boarding protection and in-flight security,” Duda wrote on Platform X.

The Foreign Ministry in Warsaw spoke of a “very serious situation” and called on Polish citizens in Israel to carefully follow the instructions of local authorities.

Hezbollah tells armed Palestinians ‘its guns and rockets are with them’

Senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddin said his organization’s “weapons and rockets” are with the Palestinian Hamas gunmen who launched an attack on Israel yesterday.

“Our history, our weapons and our rockets are with you. Everything we have is with you,” Safieddin said at an event in the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahiyeh on the outskirts of Beirut in solidarity with the Palestinian militants.