The bad news coming out of Gaza and Israel is as relenting as it is heartbreaking.
Unfolding is a modern-day tragedy writ large that threatens to spread further across the Middle East.
One glimmer of hope and appeasement emerged when Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Hamas’s policies and actions did not represent the Palestinian people.
Speaking to Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, Abbas said the Palestine Liberation Organisation was the only legitimate representative of Palestinians.
Abbas also called for the release of prisoners and detainees held by both sides of the conflict.
But, as often happens, hope was snuffed out just hours later by the Palestinian news agency WAFA’s decision to remove Abbas’s comments about Hamas without explanation.
Conciliatory language has been in short supply since tensions exploded 10 days ago when Hamas fired thousands of rockets at Israel, striking major cities Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
That the official Palestinian news mouthpiece neutered Abbas’s comments shows how readily propaganda will trump diplomacy.
While talk of conciliation was seemingly set aside, the scale of the conflict broadened with the Israel Defence Force claiming to have struck Hezbollah “military infrastructure” in Lebanon.
An Israeli ground assault into Gaza is also likely to bring Iran and Hezbollah into the escalating conflict.
The prospect of a ceasefire seems slim with US President Joe Biden saying Hamas must be destroyed and hinting that Israel has US backing to attack the militant terror group.
“They have to go after Hamas,” he said. “Hamas is a bunch of cowards. They’re hiding behind the civilians.”
Mr Biden’s strong and unequivocal support for Israel and condemnation of Hamas was echoed by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in federal parliament on Monday.
“Hamas is an enemy but not just of Israel, Hamas is an enemy of all peace-loving Palestinian people left to pay a devastating price for this terrorism,’’ he said.
The best hope for innocent civilians is that they find sanctuary amid fears of the expected ground operation into the Gaza Strip.
It is therefore vital that Egypt can continue to provide a humanitarian corridor via the Rafah border crossing so children and women as well as foreign nationals can flee Gaza.
The news of another repatriation flight for Australians hoping to leave Israel was also a welcome development.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials need to do all they can to provide as many flights out of Tel Aviv’s airport as are needed and as are safely possible.
Australians in Lebanon, too, should keep abreast of developments as the conflict spills over in the region.