German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is urgently calling on the Israeli government and the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas to agree to a ceasefire so as to release the remaining hostages. "There is now a very real opportunity to resolve the conflict,

Israelis continue to demand the release of hostages held by Hamas and an end to the Israel-Hamas war. Demonstrators do not want their government to take over Gaza and Orthodox Jews are protesting against army recruitment.

Hamas fighters claimed to have killed and injured Israeli troops in a major attack on Wednesday in southern Gaza. Ezzedine Al Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, said one fighter blew himself up in Khan Younis,