Eurotopics.net

After the brutal attack by Hamas, Israel has vowed to respond forcefully against the Islamist terrorist organisation. The Gaza Strip has been sealed off and is being shelled, and there is also talk of a ground offensive. Water and electricity have been cut off, a move which has been condemned by the UN. The US has told Israel to adhere to the "rules of war". Europe's press debates what a proportionate response might be.

Much is being written about the geostrategic backdrop to the new war triggered by Hamas' attack on Israeli civilians and military facilities. The role of Iran and even Saudi Arabia are also in the spotlight. In this section we gather voices analysing the situation.

Oil prices jumped by around four percent on Monday after the Hamas attack on Israel. Could an expansion of the conflict lead to a major oil crisis, as happened in 1973 as a result of the Yom Kippur War between Israel on one side and Egypt and Syria on the other? Or is our energy supply already independent and "green" enough to withstand such pressures?

Polish voters will elect a new parliament on Sunday and face the choice between a broad opposition alliance and the PiS party, which has been in power since 2015. The alliance led by former EU Council President Donald Tusk is considered to have a good chance of replacing the current cabinet. The press looks at what is at stake in this election.