{"id":607720,"date":"2023-10-09T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-09T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2023\/10\/09\/death-toll-rises-to-1-1k-as-fighting-continues-in-southern-israel\/"},"modified":"2023-10-09T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T00:00:00","slug":"death-toll-rises-to-1-1k-as-fighting-continues-in-southern-israel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2023\/10\/09\/death-toll-rises-to-1-1k-as-fighting-continues-in-southern-israel\/","title":{"rendered":"Death toll rises to >1.1k as fighting continues in southern Israel"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 1.1k people are dead in Palestine and Israel as a war between Hamas and <\/strong> Israeli forces enters its third day. <\/strong>Israeli airstrikes pummeled Gaza and Hamas fighters are still in southern Israel. Israeli military officials have also estimated that upwards of 150 Israelis may have been taken to Gaza as hostages and bargaining chips for a potential prisoner swap The UN says as many as 124k Gazans have been forced out of their homes as airstrikes hit the densely populated enclave.<\/p>\n

The conflict shows little sign of cooling, <\/strong> with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning of a \u201clong and difficult war\u201d ahead. Israel\u2019s security cabinet formally declared war on Hamas Saturday, lending the prime minister and security forces a stronger mandate. US officials expect Israel to launch a ground incursion into Gaza in the next couple of days, according to the Washington Post<\/a>. Concerns have also been raised that an exchange of fire between Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the Israeli Defence Forces on Israel\u2019s northern border could escalate into a larger confrontation. <\/p>\n

The story is getting plenty of ink: <\/strong>New York Times<\/a> | Washington Post<\/a> | Financial Times<\/a> | Bloomberg<\/a> | Wall Street Journal<\/a> | Reuters<\/a> | Associated Press<\/a>.<\/p>\n

DIPLOMACY- <\/strong><\/p>\n

Egypt is talking to both sides: <\/strong> Egyptian authorities have reached out to representatives of Hamas and the Israeli government in an attempt to de-escalate the conflict, the Wall Street Journal<\/a> reported yesterday, citing several Egyptian officials.<\/p>\n

Remember: <\/strong> Egypt is often the key interlocutor between Israel and armed Palestinian groups and has succeeded several times in the past at brokering ceasefires.<\/p>\n

This time could prove more difficult: <\/strong> There are conflicting reports in the press about where Israel stands on the subject of talks, though none of them are promising. The WSJ reports that Israeli officials are refusing to countenance negotiations until they respond militarily, while another denied the existence of talks when asked by the Times of Israel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

El Sisi speaks with regional leaders: <\/strong> President Abdel Fattah El Sisi held talks with Jordan\u2019s K<\/a> ing Abdul<\/a> lah II<\/a> and Palestinian President Mah<\/a> moud Abb<\/a> as<\/a> yesterday in a bid to find a way to calm the conflict. The Egyptian and Jordanian leaders agreed on \u201cthe priority of coordinating regional and international efforts toward ending the escalation and violence, sparing blood and preventing a further exacerbation of the situation,\u201d Ittihadiya said in a statement. El Sisi also spoke with German chancellor Ola<\/a> f Sch<\/a> olz<\/a> and European Council head Ch<\/a> arles Mi<\/a> chel<\/a>. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held a phone call with US Secretary of State Ant<\/a> ony Bli<\/a> nken<\/a>, in addition to his counterparts from I<\/a> tal<\/a> y<\/a>, th<\/a> e<\/a> UK<\/a>, Canada, Hungary and the N<\/a> ethe<\/a> rlands<\/a>.<\/p>\n

GLOBAL REACTION- <\/strong><\/p>\n