The conflict rages thousands of miles and a continent away, but South Africa has found itself swept up in and divided by the grim conflict sparked by the October 7 rampage by Palestinian Hamas militants across southern Israel and Israel's bloody retaliatory campaign in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with reservists from the Golani brigade on Tuesday and said he hopes "there will be good news soon" on the hostages taken by Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday "there could be" a deal for a prisoner release by Hamas, but no deal so far has been reached and Israel's military intends to proceed with its ground operation in Gaza.
Israeli strikes pounded Gaza City overnight and into Sunday as ground forces battled Hamas militants near the territory's largest hospital, where health officials say thousands of medics, patients and displaced people are trapped with no electricity and dwindling supplies.
Israel demanded "immediate action" by four media companies the Associated Press, CNN, Reuters and the New York Times whose freelance photographers were on the scene during the surprise Hamas attack on Israeli civilians.