in the spas defroster and unexpected size of life enjoyed the you're watching the w need was coming to live from berlin. israel's prime minister says the war and gaza won't be over any time soon. benjamin netanyahu visits troops in gaza and says, is really military operations. there will only intensified in the coming days. also coming off of pope francis appeals for peace in his christmas for b as or b message, he calls for an ends horse in gaza and ukraine. the

for the 1st time ukraine us celebrating christmas on december 25th instead of it's traditional dates in january, part of efforts to distance itself from russian culture. the hello and clare richardson. thank you very much for joining us, is rarely prime minister benjamin netanyahu says the war in gaza is a long way from over. just days after the us secretary of state told israel to lower the intensity of it strikes. netanyahu told fruits and gauze of the war against the moss would only intensify. i'm off as viewed as a terrorist organization by multiple countries and any on his visit comes after these rarely, military killed, at least 70 palestinians, and an error strike on a refugee camp. in central garza,

a christmas day in central garza this man says he did everything for his son, but in the end, he couldn't save him. in his desperation, he asked to be buried with them when the palestinians are mourning to thousands killed at massage the refugee camp at mass funerals, following one of the deadliest nights and the strip. you cannot alter, my entire family is gone. will fight with my brothers a gun. they didn't even leave me one brother, not one brother. well, israel has intensified it strikes because the health ministry says the palestinian death toll has surpassed $20000.00 this fees and fighting is also $1.00 of the deadliest for is really troops increasing

the pressure under government. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu visited soldiers and gaza, assuring them defensive would continue until victory. and he also address parliament vowing to bring hostages home. but seeing more time was needed just a day after the military said, it found the bodies of 5 as rarely captives inside how much tunnel a lot of the skills we won't be able to release of the hostages without military pressure, military pressure, operational pressure, political pressure, and therefore, one thing we wouldn't do, we will not stop fighting and forbidden us. i mean, but the pressure is mounting on them. yeah. who families of hostages interrupted to speech, chanting now,

they have already been waiting for the return of their loved ones for 80 days. as our know, this time you saw whole and jerusalem has more on how netanyahu's special address to parliament was received after he had vowed to intensify fighting. this is specialist session was called upon by the opposition is left bead. who is the head of the opposition? he said the uh is read, should prioritize the release of the hostages in the gaza strip. and at the same time, the family members of those why has hostage were shouting, they were say, yeah, now we're meeting release from home are now. and this is the response to the government that has the question of the hostages as one of the various different objectives of this military campaign. and as look,

put it as the 1st and foremost, the target. somebody want to ask you and us officials have repeatedly said they want israel to move to a lower intensity phase of the war and gaza. is netanyahu ignoring warnings from israel, strongest ally as well? it is really the talking about and doing a new phase that will take uh, maybe sometime at the end of january. in any case, the phase that we are now in phase 2, we choose the, the most expensive phase, which includes a both the air campaign. and at the same time, a ground for say, a campaign in the gaza. and in the new this area this, we should expect to continue. and as nathaniel said should intensify,

especially the area of the how do this, where they see the, the, or the expect to find the military leadership of the mouse. and so just to be, to be clear and you think is, well, we'll have full us support for this phase when the president biden did not say that he called the a ceasefire. and also when the secretary defense secretary at austin was here in the tell of moves, he also said that he would not tell is really how to wage the war against the mice. and the same time they're continuing with the sending of the munitions and things. so that they would give some advice as to a, especially in terms of bringing in the aid into the gaza strip. that is something

that they said that is really should do more and they should avoid the coming of the civilians. but the might be differences of opinion, this doesn't mean that america will not continue back in use around, even if some of these things cause the cause, the american some embarrassments summary. thank you so much for sharing your insights with us. that's journalists, i me, sagal in jerusalem. meanwhile, pope frances has called for an end to the wars in gaza and ukraine. the leader of the roman catholic church used as christmas, or be at or be message to appeal for peace. you also slammed the weapons industry, which he said was fuel in conflict around the world in his christmas address, put francis limited on the conflicts around the globe. he quote, for peace for the people of ukraine, as well as the ceasefire between home us and israel. known so you're going to email they're being in to the feeling of violence and hatred and made the palestinian

question be resolved. that course, certainly by listing a says, suppose puddle, ready condemned the failed logic of war. during his christmas eve mass. calling it contrary to the message of peace at christmas. in this address, he said the poor desperately needed the money being spent on weapons. then he delivered the old b at all the blessing continued each day, only portentous, but it's fee is 50 percent. this investment levels, if 9 is the same thing, it was a passion or it's a beautiful piece on christmas day. and german president franco. the assignment has given his annual, televised christmas address to the nation with a view to the wars and gaza and ukraine. he appealed to the germans not to give a pope for a peaceful world and with consistently high pulling for the far right here in germany. some are called on people and not to turn their backs on democracy. 2023

was a year when many people wanted to switch off the news. president stein my asset and his address, the crises around the world with a many just too depressing. open is only briefly did. the german president mentioned russia's war and ukraine. now dragging on through its 2nd winter, as he pointed out, for the war in the middle east, between israel and thomas. these is the other ones of this year has left many unresolved issues here in our country to lunch. i know some people are looking skeptically at government and politicians and some are worried about the future, the other we all long for a more peaceful world. i feel the same longing, and it is my belief that we must never abandon it. people wanted clear answers to the world's problem stein maya said, and it was right to expect politicians to provide them between the lines. the

presidents, concerned and threats to democracy was unmistakable. perhaps he was thinking of the continuing roys of far right populace and the pulse munch event is a yep. some turn away. others complain about everything and everyone about venice on spring and yet, but in a democracy when the going gets tough, there are better counselors than anger and contempt, better counsellors than those who would pretend that there is always one simple answer to the questions of the future if i can get so starting my i think those who help their communities and stress the importance of working together and he said, germans have every reason to be confident about the future. the next, the next year we will be celebrating our democracy. 75th birthday. our basic law is turning $75.00 and for no less than 34 years now,

it has applied to the whole of our united country. and this gives us all cause for celebration of the i'm going to fire. there's no need to hide away from the world. that was the core of the president's christmas message. his listeners may well need that resilience attitude in the months to come. i can turn out to some other world news headlines. iranian state media site and is really airstrike and syria has killed one of its senior generals, sorry, it was the most obvious was reportedly killed in the neighborhood of damascus. who was responsible for coordinating the military alliance between syria and iran. iran, the president has vowed to avenge his death. israel has refused to comment on the reports. service of again taken to the streets of belgrade to protest the results of the parliamentary elections. they've been marching on government buildings after staging. sit down protests outside the foreign ministry, demanding that the december 17th of, of the, an old vic. here's the governing,

serbian progressive party of rigging the results. international observers say the vote was painted by irregularities, and russian authorities have moved to jailed kremlin critic, alexia vall needs a penal colony in northern russia. that's according to his spokesperson. his team tracked him down there after he'd not been seen for more than 2 weeks. of only a survey, a 19 year sentence for alleged extremism and other charges. a national day works the 1st time that ukraine is observing christmas as a public holiday on december 25th. ukrainians, celebrated christmas on january 7th in line with the russian orthodox church. following the julian calendar, but it's part of a cultural shift away from russia after last year's invasion. believers turned out in force to celebrate the new christmas day and keeps saints a cathedral. amongst those attending there was widespread support for the new date

. that's a problem. this is the right thing to do, in my opinion. look through the civilized world that you all of your of does. the same is august. i don't want to be associated with the aggressor country and celebrate the way they do. we're together with europe when these out of the civilized world. and god is with us both. i think changing the official date of christmas is very important. the country should distance itself from russia and its holidays, the o. c. u z. what am ukraine's president held his 2nd christmas eve address? since rest is full scale invasion. he offered words of hope and his vision to move away from russia and closer to europe. lee, he promised flavio, as i've seen today, when will you create ian's altogether? we o celebrates christmas together on the same day as one big family as one nation as

one united country. and today i will come and pray. i will be stronger than ever show the people's pray. today. it will you not millions of voices more than ever before and it will resonates, we bounce a time. difference of 2 weeks resonates together with you up envelope 0 way street christmas day and ukraine saw another tradition fall as many church services were held in ukrainian. instead of russian now to northeastern china, where people are being treated to a spectacular winter show. 500 snowman of the same size has been setup at this mountain resort. it is the 8th year that they've done. this initially made them all by hands, but more recently stuff have been getting help from special equipment. so you've been watching the news before we go. a quick reminder of our top story. prime

minister benjamin netanyahu says israel will intensify its attacks against moss over the coming days. manuel, who made the announcement after visiting troops fighting in northern casa with that you are up to date coming up next is doc film, taking a look at the stone age station. for that, or you can find this online at d, w dot com. i'm clear richardson for me in the whole team. thank you so much for watching. the vibrant and listening place of along the mediterranean sea mazda and just following up to carry him to us exploring modem, lodge styles, to amy and admitted to amy and jenny this week on dw.