TEL AVIV, Israel - In what has been described as some of the bloodiest days of battle since the start of Israel's ground offensive in late October, the Israeli military announced on Sunday that 14 soldiers were killed in combat in Gaza over the weekend. This highlights the resilience of Hamas fighters, as they continue to put up a significant fight despite weeks of brutal war.

With these latest casualties, the death toll among Israeli troops has now reached 153 since the ground offensive began. This grim reality is shaping the national sentiment in Israel and influencing the support for the ongoing war. The conflict was sparked when Hamas-led militants stormed communities in southern Israel on October 7, resulting in the death of 1,200 people and the capture of 240 hostages.

The consequences of the war have been devastating for Gaza, with approximately 20,400 Palestinians losing their lives and most of the territory's 2.3 million inhabitants being displaced. The Health Ministry in Gaza reported that in the past day alone, 166 people were killed in the coastal enclave.

Despite the rising international pressure against Israel's offensive and the unprecedented suffering among Palestinians, Israeli citizens largely stand behind the country's objectives of crushing Hamas' governing and military capabilities and securing the release of the remaining 129 captives. This support has remained mostly steady.

As Christmas Eve arrived, smoke continued to rise over Gaza from the ongoing fighting, while Bethlehem in the West Bank was devoid of its usual holiday celebrations.

The 14 Israeli soldiers killed on Friday and Saturday lost their lives in central and southern Gaza, indicating that Hamas is putting up a tough resistance despite Israeli claims of dealing significant blows to the militant group.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the high cost of the war but reiterated that the country has no choice but to continue fighting.

Netanyahu's government has faced considerable anger and criticism for failing to protect civilians on October 7 and for policies that allowed Hamas to gain strength over the years. However, the Prime Minister has avoided accepting responsibility for the military and policy failures.

Efforts for another exchange of hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel are ongoing. Ziyad al-Nakhalah, the head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, arrived in Cairo for talks, while Hamas' top leader Ismail Haniyeh had traveled to Cairo a few days earlier.

The civilian death toll and allegations of mistreatment of detained Palestinians during the offensive have sparked international criticism against Israel. Israel attributes the civilian casualties to Hamas' use of crowded residential areas and tunnels. It has launched thousands of airstrikes since October 7.

The United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution calling for the delivery of humanitarian aid for desperate Palestinians and the release of hostages but did not include a cease-fire.

The U.S., Israel's key ally, has reaffirmed its support for Israel and has not called for an immediate cease-fire. President Joe Biden spoke with Netanyahu, stating that he did not request a cease-fire and that Israel would continue the war until achieving its goals.

As the conflict continues unabated, the delivery of aid to Palestine remains uncertain, despite calls for the acceleration of food and medical supplies. The World Health Organization has expressed concern over the decimation of Gaza's health system.

Amid mounting casualties and intensifying international pressure, the situation in Gaza remains volatile, with no clear end in sight to the devastating conflict.