Joe Biden heads to the Middle East on potentially the riskiest trip of his presidency Tuesday, aiming to thread the needle between supporting Israel against Hamas, averting catastrophe in Gaza and preventing a regional war.

In the eight days since Hamas gunmen killed more than 1,300 Israelis in their surprise onslaught, Israel has responded with a devastating bombing campaign that has claimed over 2,300 lives in Gaza.

Thousands have already been killed on both sides since Hamas on Saturday launched its devastating attacks against Israeli civilian targets, prompting massive Israeli retaliatory strikes on the densely-packed Gaza Strip

Nine US citizens and four Argentines are among the confirmed dead. At least 13 people from different Latin American countries and an unconfirmed number of Americans cannot be accounted for

An Iraqi man reportedly divorced his bride immediately after their ceremony following her racy dance performance to a "provocative" song at their wedding party.

Pope Francis has called for societies and authorities in Ukraine, the Middle East and Iraq to stop their wars.