Israel: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has stated that it has struck again after a week-long Gaza ceasefire.
Israel also accused Hamas of violating the terms of the truce and firing towards Israeli territory. “Hamas violated the operational pause, and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory. The IDF has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza,” said the IDF on social media platform X.
The seven-day ceasefire, which started on November 24 and was twice extended, had made it possible to exchange dozens of hostages held in Gaza for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and facilitated the entry of humanitarian aid into the shattered coastal strip.
There has been increasing international pressure for the truce to be extended to secure the release of as many hostages as possible from the Gaza Strip, nearly two months after a devastating war broke out when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7.
Qatar and Egypt have been making intensive efforts to extend the truce following the exchange on the last day of the latest batch of eight hostages and 30 Palestinian prisoners.
At least 240 Palestinians have been released so far under the ceasefire, mostly teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces.
US Secretary of State, Mr. Antony Blinken, who is currently on his fourth visit to Israel since the war broke out, reiterated that his immediate focus was to work on and extend the temporary cessation of fighting to get more hostages out of Gaza.
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