The gulf between Israel and the US on one hand, and Arab states and much of the rest of the world on the other, couldn’t really be greater.
With the US diplomatic backing, and with more of its ammunition supplies being shipped to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that to achieve his goals of rescuing hostages – but more importantly, in reality, the destruction of Hamas – then a ceasefire is a non-starter.
The UN secretary general and the Qatari and Egyptian peace negotiators are clearly exasperated but insist that they’ll continue to look for a way to narrow the gulf between the two sides and find a solution.
Follow latest developments in the Israel-Hamas conflict
Despite their admirable work, in truth they won’t get very far for the time being because neither of the protagonists – Hamas and Israel – seem awfully interested in a ceasefire anyway.
That might change because the fighting is intensifying now, and while both sides are losing men, the Hamas numbers are significantly higher.
They are outnumbered and outgunned.
The Israeli Defence Forces have certainly stepped up face-to-face confrontation with their enemy, and the fighting is taking place in new areas.
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Hamas footage shows fighting with IDF
Pictures shared on social media from the heart of the city of Khan Younis show empty streets and the sounds of heavy fighting reverberating around its very centre.
People have been told to evacuate the centre, which had until now been spared the same level of destruction seen in an around Gaza City to the north.
Both Hamas and the IDF say they are engaged in street-by-street fighting.
But away from the tactical nuances and shifts in strategy on the battlefield, the overwhelming concern of the international community isn’t who is winning, but what is happening to the civilian population.
And that is properly grim.
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Freed hostages describe ‘hell’ of Hamas captivity
Order in Gaza appears to be breaking down
Overflowing hospitals have put up tents outside to treat the injured
People are now living on the sides of roads, outside hospitals – basically wherever they think is safe – in makeshift plastic tents.
Many feel it is simply too dangerous to be inside buildings.
Our team inside Gaza found Hassan al A’ajam living on the street with 21 other members of his immediate family.
They evacuated from Gaza City and are now in the central part of the Strip.
The aid network is disintegrating. Pic: AP
“We can’t even find a room let alone a house, there are no spaces even in the schools to go to,” he told Sky News.
“We live on the streets because we have nowhere else to go and don’t know where to go. We have found nothing, absolutely nothing.”
“The children don’t know anything or see anything else apart from horror. Their state of horror is so extreme that life for them is dead.
“The most important thing is a truce, and that’s what we want right now, we want to go back to our homes.”
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Across Gaza, the few hospitals that are barely functioning are overflowing – some of them have put up tents outside to treat the steady stream of injured brought to their doors.
It’s clear that many here have had enough of the rising number of dead, the lack of aid, and the continuing fighting.
Some blame Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, himself.
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar
“We are tired, it’s enough, I don’t have any breath left in me!” one man shouted at our camera inside Gaza.
“What resolution? Just give up and surrender!”
“This is the act of idiots! He caused the death of his own people – Sinwar has killed his own people!”
A displaced man in Gaza blames Hamas
Conditions really are intolerable, and there is simply not enough aid getting in. Aid agencies say that their whole operations are grinding to a halt.
The aid network is disintegrating.
And if that happens then these people will have absolutely nothing.
