The Hard Shoulder spoke to both the Palestinian Ambassador, who said condemning Hamas and the current attacks “doesn’t affect what’s going on”, and the Israeli Ambassador, who said all victims are "products of this play by Hamas".

Israel formally declared war on Hamas after a weekend of violence that has seen at least 1,200 people killed so far. 

Palestinian Ambassador Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid said reports of “devastation inflicted on the Palestinian civilians are harrowing”. 

"When I heard the Minister of Defence of Israel talking about fighting ‘animals’ and they will ‘act accordingly’, like what are you talking about? 

“Gaza has run without electricity since yesterday – it's an all-out war.” 

'What really matters is taking an action'

When asked if she condemns the attacks by Hamas, Dr Wahba Abdalmajid said that is a question ambassadors have been getting “all morning”. 

“Do you know how many condemnations all over the world the Palestinians heard about?” she said. 

“This wording doesn’t affect what’s going on – what really matters is taking an action. 

“We are human beings that needs the international community to look at us as we are... since we signed the Oslo Agreement in 1995, we took the peaceful path.

'The root cause'

Dr Wahba Abdalmajid said the international community needs to "to take measures and to implement the international law to protect the Palestinian people".

“The root causes of this grave situation must be addressed... there are people who endured prolonged humiliation, oppression, violations.” 

Israeli Ambassador Dana Erlich also spoke to The Hard Shoulder, saying “everyone in Israel has woken up to a different reality”. 

“They're still rockets being fired at Israel as we speak,” she said. 

She said Israel are trying to “fight on all fronts”. 

“We're trying to make sure that no other terrorists infiltrate Israel,” she said. 

“We're trying to protect the Northern Front, and we're trying to gain as much information as possible of all the women, children, men, elderly who are kidnapped. 

“It's not just the scale... it's the brutality - this is what we've only seen with ISIS.” 

'Products of play by Hamas'

Ms Erlich said she sympathises with Palestinians in Gaza “just as much” as she sympathises with her own relatives in Israel. 

“We’re all products of this play by Hamas,” she said. 

“They started this not because they're worried about the economic or education concerns for the Palestinians in Gaza. 

“This is another cynical attempt of Hamas, to draw attention to their organisation.” 

Israel 'at war'

She said right now Israel is “at war”. 

“I understand that politicians here and I understand the solidarity with Palestinians - this war right now is not about that,” she said. 

“There are other fingers to be pointed at Hamas and that’s what we’re asking the international community to do.” 

Main image: Splitscreen of Palestinian Ambassador Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid (Image: Wikimedia Commons) and Israeli Ambassador Dana Erlich (Image: Israeli Embassy to Ireland)