More than 1,000 people are dead in the unfolding war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israeli television says more than 700 of their people have been killed in the day and a half on since the attacks from Gaza.

Palestinian officials say retaliatory Israeli air strikes have killed at least 370 people in the Gaza Strip, and wounded more than 2,000.

Auckland University international relations expert, Stephen Hoadley told Mike Hosking there's some hope the conflict can be contained, and not become a generalised Middle East war.

He says other Arab countries haven't mobilised, and are leaving Israel to fight it out with Hamas.

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