Live: Over 600 Israelis, 300 Palestinians killed as Hamas-Israel clashes continue

Erdogan says 'fair diplomacy' and 'two-state solution' will bring peace between Israelis and Palestinians

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Turkey was determined to ramp up diplomatic efforts to achieve calm in the fighting between Israeli and Palestinian forces, but added that a two-state solution was the only way to achieve regional peace

Read more here. 

American among Gaza kidnapped, says Israeli diplomat.

An unknown number of Americans are among the hostages that Hamas took as it attacked Israel from the Gaza Strip, the Israeli ambassador to the United States said Sunday.

The diplomat, Michael Herzog, was asked on CBS News if there were Americans among the soldiers and civilians that the Palestinian militant group abducted in southern Israel.

"I understand there are, but I don't have details," he said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told US television on Sunday that the administration was working to check on reports that US citizens were among the dead and captive in the surprise Hamas assault that began Saturday.

Israel has said the attackers have taken soldiers and civilians hostage, but numbers and nationalities have not been confirmed.

Palestinians will 'continue to fight for their rights' as long as Israel has 'carte blanche' over international law, says Palestinian Ambassador to the UK

Palestine’s ambassador to the UK says he hopes the latest fighting is a “wake-up call” for the whole world that his people will continue to fight for their rights for as long as it takes.

“The Palestinian people aren’t going anywhere. The Palestinian people have the right to defend themselves,” Husam Zomlot said in an interview with Al Jazeera, adding that they will struggle “for 100 years and for another 100 if needs be”.

Zomlot added that the West must understand that giving Israel “carte blanche” over international law and trying to “bypass” the Palestinian issue will not amount to any form of peace.

“Israel’s occupation has got to end … and a Palestinian sovereign state with East Jerusalem as its capital must be established. Millions of Palestinian refugees have non-negotiable rights to return to their homes, properties, lands,” he added.

“How do we do this? Simply by equal application of international law.”

The New Arab's Lebanon correspondent Will Christou reports that Israel has started distributing weapons to the residents of towns and cities close to Gaza and Lebanon. Large military reinforcements are being sent to the Lebanese border and residents of border towns are being evacuated. 
 

Will Hezbollah join Hamas in its fight against Israel?

For now, most likely not.

But that could change depending on Israel's next moves. If Israel invades Gaza it could trigger a possible military escalation from Hezbollah.https://t.co/Zj1oHbFY6i

— Will Christou (@will_christou) October 8, 2023

Young Briton missing, potentially kidnapped, in Gaza, while British citizen fighting for Israeli forces is killed on Gaza border

A British man "is in Gaza" following kidnappings by Hamas in an assault on Israel, the country's ambassador to Britain said on Sunday.

"I know there is one British citizen who is in Gaza at the moment," Tzipi Hotovely told Sky News, without clarifying if he was believed to have been kidnapped.

This comes as news emerged that a Briton who was serving as part of Israeli forces has been killed in the fighting between Israel and Hamas, 

Nathanel Young, from London, was serving in the 13th Battalion of the Israeli army  when he was killed yesterday, according to the military. 

You can read the fully story here. 

Gaza death toll rises to 370, health ministry says

The death toll in the Gaza Strip rose to 370 Sunday, the health ministry in the Palestinian enclave said, as Israel launched air strikes on Hamas targets for the second consecutive day.

The Hamas-controlled ministry said "370 civilians were killed and another 2,200 injured" in the fighting that began on Saturday after Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets into Israel in a surprise dawn assault.

Iran's president speaks to Hamas, Islamic Jihad

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi spoke Sunday with leaders of Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, official media said, a day after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.

"Raisi discussed the developments in Palestine in separate phone calls with Ziyad al-Nakhalah, secretary general of the Islamic Jihad Movement, and Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the (Hamas) political bureau," state news agency IRNA reported, without giving further details.

Israeli death toll 'over 600', according to government

The official Israeli death toll has now risen to over 600 since Saturday's surprise incursion from Gaza by Hamas. Well over 2000 people have been wounded. The Israeli government also claimed that more than 100 Israelis had been taken hostage by Hamas. 

Israeli projectile targets south Lebanon

Following on from an exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel earlier today, The New Arab's correspondent in Lebanon Will Christou reports that at least one Israeli projectile has targeted the southern Lebanon town of Khraybeh, a town in the Nabatiyeh government. 

Israeli tanks moving to the south in large numbers

The Israeli media reports that the army have mobilised dozens of tanks to southern Israel. Eyewitnesses reported it as a 'convoy', implying an impending invasion. 

However, fierce battles have been going on in the region, with Hamas fighters holding firm in many areas and still infiltrating parts of the south. 

Israeli death toll climbs to 350

The Israeli death toll from Hamas' surprise attack has increased to 350, according to reports in the Israeli media.

The number had previously been reported as 300 casualties. 

Palestinian fighters enter Magen

Update on the shooting of two Israelis in Egypt

A policeman alleged to have carried out the shooting in the Sawari district of Alexandria is in custody, two Egyptian security sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

One Egyptian was injured in the shooting, the first such attack on Israelis in Egypt in decades. The Egyptian interior ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

The shooting happened one day after the attack against Israel by group Hamas and Israel's retaliatory bombardment of Gaza. Hundreds of Palestinians and Israelis have been killed.

(The New Arab Staff and Reuters)

Two Israelis shot dead in Egypt

We’re hearing reports from The Associated Press about an attack in Egypt that has left two Israeli tourists and one Egyptian dead. The perpetrator was allegedly a policeman on patrol at a popular tourist site in the city of Alexandria, according to the Egyptian media.

No other details are available at the moment, but we’re monitoring the situation and will update you as soon as more information becomes available.

Haniyeh says 'this is a battle for Al-Aqsa'

Hamas chairman Ismail Haniyeh: "This is the battle for Palestine... for Jerusalem... it is the battle for the Al-Aqsa Mosque."

Hamas Leader: "It is the Battle for the Al-Aqsa mosque…"#IsraelUnderAttack #Palestine #Hamas #hamasattack #RocketAttack #Gaza #GazaUnderAttack #Israel #savas #Iran #Palestinian #Hezbollah #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/aSPs9EPdtN

— Tom Kopca (@t0mk0pca) October 8, 2023

Hezbollah target northern Israel, Israel retaliates

The New Arab's correspondent in Lebanon Will Christou has reported on an exchange of fire between the pro-Iran group Hezbollah and Israeli forces in the Shebaa Farms:

"Hezbollah said that it targeted three locations in northern Israel, including an Israeli radar in the occupied Shebaa Farms, prompting Israel to fire artillery shells and conduct a drone strike in response.

In a statement, Hezbollah said that the strikes were made "in an attempt to liberate what remains of occupied Lebanese land, in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance and people".

Read the full article here.