The Dutch government raises an Israeli flag in front of their headquarters in a statement of support for Israel, two days after Hamas launched a massive surprise attack, killing more than 700 Israelis according to the Israel Defence Forces. On Sunday, the Israeli government officially declared war on Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza. Israeli air strikes have hammered the impoverished and blockaded Gaza Strip, an enclave of 2.3 million people, with officials there reporting at least 413 Palestinian deaths. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israel to prepare for a "long and difficult" conflict. IMAGES