Israeli fighter jets resumed strikes in the Gaza Strip just minutes after a weeklong truce expired on Friday morning, marking the end of a period of relative peace.
The renewed hostilities came amid accusations and blame trading between Israel and Hamas regarding the collapse of the cease-fire.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu cited Hamas’ failure to release all hostages and rocket attacks on Israeli citizens as reasons for the resumption of strikes.
The Israeli military announced the strikes 30 minutes after the cease-fire’s expiration, targeting various locations, including Khan Younis and Gaza City.
One airstrike destroyed a large building in Khan Younis. Another strike hit an apartment in a multi-story residential building in Hamad City. Elsewhere, a strike hit a home near Gaza City in the north, and in the refugee camp of Maghazi, near Gaza’s center.
Israel has said it is targeting Hamas operatives and blames Hamas for civilian casualties, accusing the terror group of operating in residential neighborhoods and using civilian facilities such as residential buildings, schools and hospitals as cover for its operations.
Israel also continued dropping leaflets over parts of southern Gaza urging people to leave their homes, ahead of its planned offensive to the south.
Hamas violated the operational pause, and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory.
The IDF has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/gVRpctD79R
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 1, 2023
Hours after the Israeli airstrikes, the Health Ministry of Hamas-controlled Gaza said 32 people had been killed and dozens wounded. Hours later, they updated the figure to 54 dead.
Fighting between Israel and Hamas initially stopped on Nov. 24 after both sides negotiated a temporary cease-fire to exchange Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners being held in Israel. It initially lasted for four days, but was extended for several days with the help of Qatar and fellow mediator Egypt.
Qatar, which has served as mediator along with Egypt, expressed “deep regret” over the Israeli bombardments, saying the resumption of violence further complicates its attempts to negotiate peace.
“The State of Qatar expresses its deep regret at the resumption of the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip following the end of the humanitarian pause, without reaching an agreement to extend it,” the Qatari Foreign Ministry said.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that negotiations between the two sides are continuing with the aim of returning to a pause. It also clarifies that the State of Qatar is committed, along with its mediation partners, to continuing the efforts that led to the humanitarian pause, and will not hesitate to do everything necessary to return to calm,” it added.
And, “The Ministry stresses that the continued bombing of the Gaza Strip in the first hours after the end of the pause complicates mediation efforts and exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip, and in this context calls on the international community to move quickly to stop the violence.”
The renewed fighting came a day after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the region for the fourth time in recent months.
The conflict, triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel in October, has led to a significant loss of lives and remains a challenging geopolitical issue.
KanyiDaily recalls that yesterday, two Palestinian Brothers affiliated with Hamas opened fire at a bus stop in Jerusalem during the morning rush hour, killing at least three people and injuring eight others.
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