The Israeli military announced on Friday that it has resumed attacks on Gaza, following the end of a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas with no agreement to extend it. Reports have emerged of airstrikes and artillery fire in Gaza City.
The Israeli military stated, “Hamas has violated the ongoing cease-fire, in addition to firing into Israeli territory,”. The announcement came minutes after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted a rocket fired from Gaza. This rocket attack was the first in the region since the cease-fire ended.
According to an AFP journalist inside Gaza, Israeli warplanes have carried out several attacks and artillery has been fired at Gaza City. The resumption of fighting has dashed hopes of extending the seven-day ceasefire.
Under the agreement, dozens of hostages were released from Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. The ceasefire has allowed for more aid to the damaged Gaza Strip.
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with Israeli and Palestinian officials and called for an increase in the cessation of hostilities. He also warned that any start of war must protect Palestinian citizens.
The ceasefire halted the war that began on October 7. The war began when Hamas fighters breached the militarized border of Gaza and entered Israel. According to Israeli officials, 1,200 people, including most of the civilians, were killed in the sudden attack, while Hamas fighters kidnapped about 240 people.
In response, Israel launched air and ground attacks on Gaza, vowing to eliminate Hamas. According to the Hamas government, more than 15,000 people, including most civilians, have died in the Israeli attack.
During the ceasefire brokered by Qatar, 80 Israeli hostages were freed in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. More than 20 Thais living in Israel were released outside the scope of the agreement. Hours after the two women were freed, six more Israelis were released overnight. Those Israelis had dual nationality.
This brings the total number of people to be released on Thursday to eight. This is less than the 10 hostages per day required by Hamas to be released under the ceasefire agreement. According to a source close to Hamas, it counted the two Russian-Israeli women released on Wednesday as part of the seventh batch.
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