War between Israel and Hamas: the Israeli army announces the resumption of hostilities in the Gaza Strip and the end of the truce

Despite intense overnight negotiations, there will ultimately be no renewal of the truce. The Israeli army resumed its attacks on the Gaza Strip this Friday, accusing Hamas of violating the week-long pause. Israeli forces announced they had intercepted rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, which was not immediately announced, about an hour before the end of the truce, which was set at 6 a.m. French time.

During the trial, witnesses told AFP of intense military aircraft and drone flights in the northwestern areas of Gaza City. Minutes after the deadline, an AFP journalist testified about Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling of the city.

Strikes resumed in part of the territory

The Israeli army confirmed that it had “resumed” attacks on parts of the area. Earlier in the night, six Israelis were released by Hamas after two others during the day and returned to Israel. These releases occurred as part of exchanges with Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

As part of the resumption of hostilities, Israeli authorities have reintroduced restrictions that were in place before the truce. In some areas of the country, schools can only open if they have adequate housing. Also a sign of the still fragile situation, Hamas claimed responsibility for Thursday’s deadly attack in Jerusalem that left four Israelis dead, according to the new report.

80 Israeli hostages released versus 240 Palestinian prisoners

However, the Islamist group said it was ready to extend the truce in the Gaza Strip after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for a continued pause in fighting hours before it expired on Friday. The truce, extended twice since it took effect on November 24, ends seven weeks of devastating Israeli bombing of the besieged Palestinian territory. The strikes were carried out in response to a bloody attack launched by Hamas on October 7 on Israeli soil.

This pause, negotiated between Qatar, the United States and Egypt, allowed for the release of 80 Israeli hostages, women and children, as well as 240 Palestinian prisoners. About twenty foreigners or dual citizens, mostly Thais, working in Israel were also released outside the agreement. The truce also helped speed up the arrival of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, where long convoys of trucks from Egypt re-entered on Thursday.