US President Joe Biden has given Israel the green light to go ahead and send its army into Gaza.
Biden told the world the US would have Israel's back as it dealt with Hamas, which he described as "butchers" who'd carried out "acts of sheer evil".
Israel has warned the millions of Palestinians inside Gaza to get out but the last border crossing point closed after it too came under attack.
One group of New Zealand Tongans have been stranded in Israel after their church group tour from Auckland to the holy land was cut short by the outbreak of war.
"It's actually pretty scary to be honest, [I] have never experienced this my whole entire life," one of the group members told Newshub.
They have been hiding inside since the conflict began.
"Our safety, our security is priority at the moment, and just making it back home to New Zealand so we're back with our loved ones who are worried sick for us," NZ Tongan tourist Pesi Sikalau said.
And they've been praying for those who can't hide.
Israel is still hitting Hamas with payback but footage also reveals the reality of life for civilians in Gaza, with millions of people scrambling under missiles and more than 100,000 now displaced.
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One little boy was pulled out of the rubble alive, as his rescuer rushed over to his mother. But before she could hold her boy, she passed out in shock.
In their desperation, civilians tried to escape through Egypt - but were only met with more terror.
Their suffering is being felt by those Palestinians on the West Bank.
No one has crossed the border in or out of Palestine since the conflict started and Newshub spoke with Johnny Canavavi who lives on the other side of the fence.
"We are all human beings, we want to live in peace," Canavavi said.
He fears what Israel has in store for those living on the strip.
"They are striking very hard this time, it's not like other times, very hard."
This war is by no means confined to Gaza, it's not even confined to the south of Israel - this attack has hit at the heart of this Muslim community, just outside of Jerusalem.
"We heard [the] noise and I came here and, what you see now," Salah Rashib said, shrugging.
His nephew, teenager Majid Braheem was doing his homework on the couch when shrapnel hit him in the stomach.
This war is inflicting scars on people, buildings and the pages of history.
"The innocent people get killed, both sides, I saw on TV today in Gaza kids one-year-old and 6 months - and I see in Tel Aviv and I see over there - it's not good," Rashib said.
The number of wounded is putting pressure on paramedics and the public has answered their call.
"We've got two kids in the army right now and it's hard," one man said.
Israelis are waiting hours in line to give blood at a temporary clinic.
"I hope it will all be OK," one woman said as she donated blood.
Medics are frantically stockpiling and are fearful the worst is yet to come.
"We don't even have time for a bathroom break, for food - sleeping is like three hours at home," one paramedic said. "We come back and do the same thing the next day."
Hamas rockets continue to arc through the skies - if it's intended as a challenge, with tens of thousands of reservists already massed at the border and an iron wall of tanks growing by the hour - Israeli forces won't need to be asked twice.
