Jerusalem: Alleging violation of truce by Hamas, Israel resumed combat operations in Gaza. Israel alleged that Hamas fired into their state, breaking the truce agreement, and thus, the seven-day ceasefire ended.
"Hamas violated the operational pause and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory. The IDF has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza," Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on X.
Shortly before the seven-day truce was set to expire, Israel said it shot down a rocket fired from Gaza while media outlets affiliated with the Hamas group reported explosions and gunfire in northern Gaza, reports the BBC.
A Telegram account affiliated with the Hamas-run interior and national security ministry informed that there were several airstrikes over the Southern Gaza Strip. Israeli aircraft were in the skies above the area.
The truce, which was only renewed at the last minute for the seventh day on Thursday, was set to expire again at around 7 a.m. local time (about 10.30 a.m. IST) on Friday.
Thursday's extension was the second of the initial four-day truce that commenced on November 24.
It was extended for two more days on Tuesday.
While Egyptian and Qatari negotiators were pushing for an extension to the truce to deliver humanitarian aid for those affected, Israeli officials repeatedly stated that a condition of any extension to the pause in fighting is that Hamas must release 10 Israeli women and children held hostage per day.
After the truce commenced, 240 Palestinians, 86 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals were reportedly released.