During his annual Christmas message, Pope Francis called for peace in Gaza and the release of roughly 100 hostages who are being held in the enclave since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Despite pressure from the US and other allies, alongside mounting military casualties, the Israeli premier announced Sunday that the military would continue the war "until absolute victory."
The escalation came as clashes continued between Israel and Hezbollah on the Lebanon border and Iraqi militias claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Israel’s Karish gas field in the Mediterranean.