Gaza:

For the first time in its more than two-month-old war with Hamas, Israel opened a direct humanitarian border into Gaza on Sunday. However, it simultaneously increased its airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave, claiming that military pressure was the only way to rescue its hostages. Residents and militants said that throughout the entire coastal strip, there was intense combat throughout the Israeli assaults. Communications were cut off for a fourth day, making it difficult to reach the injured.

The news that Israel's spy head had spoken with Qatar's prime minister on Friday, who arranged hostage releases in exchange for a week-long ceasefire and the release of Palestinian inmates, increased hopes for peace on Saturday. There are still differences about how a restored truce and captive release would be carried out, but two security sources from Egypt—an additional mediator—said on Sunday that Israel and Hamas were both in favor of them.

"We welcome all initiatives meant to put a stop to Israel's aggressiveness. When asked to respond to the Egyptian remark, Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri stated, "This is the ground for any discussion." In another encouraging development, officials said that on Sunday, the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza opened to assistance vehicles for the first time since the start of the conflict, doubling the quantity of food and medication that is sent to Gazans.

However, the Israeli government declared that they would not back down from their campaign to destroy Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2006 and is committed to destroying Israel. "It is important for me to make clear, the IDF or Israeli Defence Forces is determined to complete the task of dismantling Hamas," Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in Tel Aviv. Ninety Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli strikes on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, a spokeswoman for the Gaza health ministry told Reuters.

Meanwhile, in a special prayer for the Christians trapped in the Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza, Pope Francis called for a stop to the violence destroying the Holy Land on Sunday.

The Pope said during the Angelus prayer that he is still receiving alarming reports from Gaza, where "unarmed civilians are the targets of bombings and gunfire." The attack on the Catholic parish's compound, "where there are no terrorists, but families, children, people who are sick and have disabilities, and nuns," was denounced by Pope Francis. The Holy Father also mentioned the victims of war in many parts of the world.

"Let us not forget our suffering brothers and sisters in Palestine, Israel, the Ukraine, and other conflict areas," he said.

"May the impending Christmas season fortify our resolve to pave the way for peace."