Israel formally declared war on Hamas on Sunday, setting the stage for a major military operation in Gaza as fighting rages on Israeli soil. The declaration comes after Hamas, an Islamist militant group, launched a surprise assault this weekend that has so far killed over 600 Israelis.

Saturday was the deadliest day in decades for Israel and came after months of surging violence between Palestinians and Israelis, with the long-running conflict now heading into uncharted and dangerous new territory. Questions remain over how the Israeli military and intelligence apparatus appeared to be caught off guard in one of the country’s worst security failures.

Over 400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as Israel responds with airstrikes in the densely-inhabited enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed retaliation, warning his country would take “mighty vengeance” and was readying for “a long and difficult war.”

He urged Palestinians living in Gaza to “leave now.”

  • Spzi
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    31 year ago

    Is the border crossing with Egypt open? Will Egypt let them in?

    Honestly, what’s up with Egypt? Just reading comments one could get the impression Gaza was entirely encircled by Israel. But Egypt is mostly Muslim, too? And shares a 12km border with Gaza.

    Goes on to read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt–Gaza_border

    Ok, I’m at a loss.

    Gaza was occupied by Egypt, then by Israel.

    Israel is building a steel wall near the Gaza-Egypt border and demolishing homes while fighting terrorists.

    Egypt is building a steel wall near the Egypt-Gaza border and demolishing homes while fighting terrorists.

    Either way, it seems Egypt is also not an option.

    • @Evilcoleslaw@lemmy.world
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      51 year ago

      Egypt was the first of the Arab countries to make peace with Israel (tired of getting their asses kicked). They tend to cooperate quite a lot with Israel with respect to the border checkpoints, blockade, etc. My question about it was semi-rhetorical as I know Egypt probably isn’t going to let a flood of Palestinian refugees in.

    • @jscummy@sh.itjust.works
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      31 year ago

      Look up Black September and what’s happened when Palestinians were allowed into Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and Syria. Gaza gets called an “open air prison” and Israel gets blamed, but they are there because no one else will have them