Fighting resumed on Friday in the Gaza Strip immediately after the expiration of a one-week truce between Israel and Hamaswith more than 60 Palestinian deaths so far, according to the authorities of the Islamist movement in the enclave.
First thing in the morning, the israeli army It resumed its bombing and artillery fire against Gaza and Palestinian militants began firing rockets towards Israel.
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Upon hearing the first explosions, thousands of inhabitants coThey began to flee towards hospitals and schools, converted into refugee camps for displaced people, according to AFP journalists in Gaza.
The ministry gazati Health Ministry, in the hands of Hamas, reported more than 60 deaths, including children, in the new Israeli bombings against the Gaza Stripfrom where thick gray columns of smoke rose.
The resumption of fighting ruined the hope of extending the truce, in force since November 24, which allowed the release of dozens of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in the hands of Israel and facilitated the entry of aid to the Gaza Strip.
The truce marked a pause in the fighting that began on October 7 when militiamen from Hamas They broke into Israelin a surprise attack that left 1,200 dead, mostly civilians, and 240 kidnappedaccording to Israeli authorities.
In response, Israel promised to eliminate Hamas and unleashed a campaign of air and ground attacks in Gaza that, according to the Hamas government, has left more than 15,000 dead, mostly civilians.
Hamas is going to take a “beating”
The truce collapsed despite intense diplomatic negotiations.
Visiting the region, the North American Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken He urged on Thursday night to extend the truce for “eighth day and more,” and that, if not, zones be created “safe” for civilians in Loop.
But on Friday morning, the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu I affirm that Hamas “raped” the agreement to “fire rockets” towards Israel.
“The Israeli government is determined to achieve the objectives of the war: free the hostages, eliminate Hamas and ensure that Loop never again represent a threat to the people of Israel”, said the office Netanyahu it’s a statement.
Hamas will receive “the mother of all beatings,” an Israeli government spokesman promised.
In response, Ezzat el Richq, leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihadanother armed movement of Loopstated that the Israeli army “will not succeed, resuming the war”, the objectives that “was not achieved before the truce.”
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“Map of areas to evacuate”
Early on Friday, the Israeli army began sending messages to the phones of residents of some neighborhoods in Gaza City, in the north of the Gaza Strip, and in towns bordering Israel, in the south, urging them to “leave immediately” because I was going to carry out “harsh military attacks.”
On its website, the army also published in Arabic a “map of areas to evacuate” so that the inhabitants of the territory could flee certain specific areas for their own safety.
The truce began to falter on Thursday when Hamas claimed responsibility for an attack in Jerusalem in which four Israelis were killed.
However, the Islamist movement had declared itself willing to extend the trucenegotiated by Qatar, Egypt and the United Statesafter the call of Blinken.
On Friday, a source close to the negotiations told AFP that discussions were continuing with Qatari and Egyptian mediators despite the resumption of fighting.
On Thursday night, a final group of eight Israeli hostages were released by Hamas and thirty Palestinian prisoners by Israel.
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“Nightmare”
The resumption of fighting has once again plunged the Strip Loop in a “nightmare,” the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Robert Mardini.
The secretary general of the UN, Antonio Guterressaid he regrets “deeply” the resumption of hostilities and that he hopes that it will be possible to “renew the pause.”
The truce had offered respite to a besieged population and hit by seven weeks of Israeli bombing.
It also allowed the release of 80 Israeli hostages, women and children, now 240 Palestinian prisonersalso women and minors.
About twenty foreigners or people with dual nationality, mostly Thais who worked in Israelwere also released, but outside the framework of the agreement.
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“We have to keep fighting”
The agreement also made it possible for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, where, according to the UN, the 2.4 million inhabitants suffer from food insecurity.
“No aid trucks have entered Loop since the resumption of Israeli bombing“Wael told AFP Abu Omarresponsible for communications at the Rafah terminal (south), a border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
“But preparations are being made for the evacuation of several injured people and the entry into Loop of Gazans who were stranded abroad”he added.
The needs are immense in this territory, subject to a Israeli blockade since 2007 and in a state of total siege since October 9.
According to UN1.7 million people have been displaced by war and more than half of the homes have been damaged or destroyed.
In Israel, authorities reinstated the ban on open schools that do not have shelters that meet all standards.
In Tel Avivresidents interviewed by AFP said a resumption of hostilities was inevitable.
“While Hamas is there, we have to keep fighting“estimated Ofir Dardary, 39 years old.
