Israel: Gaza violence continues into second day with airstrikes, rockets

Police in Germany disbanded pro-Palestinian rallies as Middle East tensions intensify. Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that the country "will not suffer" antisemitic protests.

Inside a Gaza hospital, Mohammad al-Hadidi cradled his baby boy Omar -- his only surviving child after Israeli air strikes killed his wife and four other sons in the night. After the strikes, rescue workers pulled the five-month-old from the arms of his dead mother early Saturday, one of his tiny legs fractured in three places.

The idea of a two-state solution is almost as old as the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. In light of the current hostilities, it also seems increasingly unrealistic.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa tells FRANCE 24 that the situation in Gaza reminds him of the apartheid era in his own country, with Israeli actions against the Palestinians evocative of an apartheid state. He said South Africa stands by the Palestinians but urged both sides to sit down and negotiate as was done in South Africa in the early 1990s.

World leaders have urged a truce between Israel and Hamas but the UN Security Council has made no progress in issuing such a statement. The death toll in the fighting continues to rise.

Hamas said it expects a truce within days. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas is also set to fly to Israel and Palestinian territories for talks over halting hostilities.

China has long portrayed itself as a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause while also building closer political, economic and military links with Israel.

The cease-fire is being monitored by Egypt. Israel and Hamas fought a 11-day war after escalating tensions in Jerusalem.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is asking for access to Gaza as the health care system in the Palestinian enclave is suffering critical shortages after days of heavy bombing.

Israel and Gaza have so far been keeping to an agreed cease-fire. The US is keen to shore up that arrangement with the visit of its secretary of state.

Israel said it would not cooperate with a UN probe into possible war crimes committed during the conflict.

Sunday's visit was the first by an Israeli foreign minister to Egypt for over a decade. Top of the agenda was the fragile cease-fire as well as plans to rebuild the bombed Palestinian enclave.