In a world turned topsy-turvy by the rumbling echoes of war, it's a surreal sight to see U.S. Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, set foot on the holy land of Israel this Monday past. His mission - at least from the outside - appears to be getting Israel to dial back major combat operations in Gaza, using the tight-knit US support for the decades-long war against the relentless Hamas militants as a pivot point.
As we find ourselves on the brink of another Monday, we see some of Israel's closest confidantes - France, the U.K, and Germany, echoing global calls for a truce. At the same time, courageous Israeli protesters voice their demands for the government to reconsider their stance with Hamas, especially after the tragic accidental killing of three hostages under the purity of a waving white flag.
