Israel said at least 600 have been killed in the country since Hamas attacked, as fighting continued for a second day.
(Bloomberg) — Israel said at least 600 have been killed in the country since Hamas attacked, as fighting continued for a second day.
The Israeli army has regained control over some areas that were breached by militants from the Gaza Strip in violence that erupted Saturday. At least 370 Palestinians have been killed in retaliatory attacks.
The operation by Hamas — which included taking scores of Israeli hostages — was an unprecedented incursion that has shaken regional stability and markets. Israel officially declared war and says it won’t stop until Hamas’s military infrastructure is dismantled, a task that seems likely to include a ground invasion and take months.
All time stamps Israel.
Biden Calls Netanyahu, Expresses Support (6:30 p.m.)
US President Joe Biden called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reiterated unreserved support for the state of Israel, Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
Erdogan: Regional Problems Stem From Palestinian Issue (5:45 p.m.)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his call for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital.
“The basis of the problems in our region today is the Palestine issue. Unless the issue is resolved, the region will long for peace,” Erdogan said in Istanbul on Sunday, “It is important to preserve the two-state solution.”
Israel to Prepare for Evacuations in North (5:30 p.m.)
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant instructed officials to prepare for the evacuation of civilians from communities in the country’s north. The program would be similar to evacuations that have taken place in more than 20 communities adjacent to the Gaza Strip.
US Checking Reports Citizens Killed, Taken Hostage (5:30 p.m.)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US is “working very actively” to verify reports that “several Americans” are among the dead.
“At the same time, there are reports of Americans being taken hostage. There too, we’re working to get the facts and find out if those reports are accurate,” he said on CBS’s Face the Nation.
Netanyahu Says Europeans Support Israel’s Right to Defend (5:25 p.m.)
Netanyahu spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday. All four expressed unreserved support for Israel’s right to defend itself, Netanyahu said.
Iran President Talks To Hamas, Calls For Mideast Support (4:40 p.m.)
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi spoke with leaders of the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad and “reviewed the situation underway in the occupied lands,” the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency said.
Muslim governments should support the Palestinian people, Raisi said. “The hostile Israelis should know the equations have changed. Iran supports the legitimate defense of the Palestinian people.”
While Israel has said it suspects Iran is involved, Tehran has not explicitly said it aided the attacks. Blinken has said there’s no immediate evidence Iran directed the attack.
US Looking Into More Israel Aid After Attack (4:27 p.m.)
Blinken said the US is considering Israeli requests for additional military aid after the sweeping attack by Hamas militants, on top of the annual $3.8 billion agreed to under former President Barack Obama.
“We are looking at specific additional requests that the Israelis have made,” he said.
Stocks Sink Across Mideast as Markets React (3:58 p.m.)
The fallout from Saturday’s surprise attack reverberated through Middle East markets, sending stocks sliding and setting the tone for what’s likely to be a volatile week.
Major equities gauges in the region fell Sunday, led by a 6.4% drop on Israel’s benchmark TA-35 stock index, its biggest loss in more than three years. The Tadawul All Share Index in Riyadh fell 1.6% while stocks in Qatar and Kuwait also weakened.
Israel Orders School Closures, Limits Gatherings (3:31 p.m.)
Israel’s Home Front Command issued orders to close schools all over the country and to limit the size of gatherings, beginning immediately and until Tuesday at 6 pm.
In the south and central regions, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, outdoor gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 10 people, while indoor gatherings will be limited to 50. Work places may stay open, as long as it is possible to quickly reach a bomb shelter.
–With assistance from Arsalan Shahla, Marie Patino, Albertina Torsoli, Victoria Cavaliere, Galit Altstein, Natalia Drozdiak, Dana Khraiche, Ethan Bronner, Gwen Ackerman, Fadwa Hodali and Selcan Hacaoglu.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2023 Bloomberg L.P.