The truce between Israel and Hamas has expired and hostilities have resumed.
Photo: REUTERS
Today, December 1, at 8 a.m. Moscow time, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas expired. And although the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal reported on a possible extension of the ceasefire for another day, neither side has officially confirmed this information. In addition, Tel Aviv accused the Palestinian movement of not fulfilling the obligations of the agreement and has already resumed hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
An hour before the truce expired, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported air raid sirens in settlements near the Gaza Strip. A few minutes later, the Israeli air defense system intercepted a missile launch from the enclave and Tel Aviv announced the resumption of military operations.
– Hamas violated the operational pause and also opened fire towards Israeli territory. The IDF has resumed military operations against trafficking in the Gaza Strip, according to the statement.
The Israeli Air Force carried out strikes against Hamas targets throughout Gaza, including the eastern city of Rafah, home to the strip’s only functioning evacuation checkpoint. There is also fierce fighting in eastern Khan Yunis. According to preliminary data, 6 people died and dozens were injured.
In turn, the IDF recorded several new rocket launches from the enclave towards Kibbutzim Holit, Sufa and Nir Yitzhak, but they were not intercepted. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added that Hamas has not fulfilled its agreed obligations and that, therefore, his country intends to achieve its objectives in the Gaza Strip by military means.
A Palestinian child injured by Israeli bombings in a Gaza hospital.
Photo: REUTERS
“Hamas violated the agreement, failed to fulfill its obligations to release all female hostages and fired rockets into Israel,” Netanyahu said. “We have a responsibility to free the hostages, destroy Hamas and ensure that Gaza never threatens the people of Israel again.”
According to The Wall Street Journal itself, Israeli intelligence services are already preparing to eliminate Hamas leaders around the world; Netanyahu gave the corresponding order last week. As part of a multi-year campaign to find those responsible for the October 7 attack, Mossad will hunt down Palestinian leaders living in Lebanon, Turkey and Qatar.
At the same time, CNN, citing a source, reported that negotiations on the exchange of hostages are still ongoing, Qatar and Egypt are trying to avoid a final breakdown of the dialogue. Under the terms of the preliminary agreement, Hamas was to send an eighth list of hostages in exchange for an additional day of truce. Instead, the Palestinian movement fired rockets into Israeli territory, forcing the IDF to resume fighting in the Gaza Strip.
READ ALSO
Israel seizes land in the West Bank: what is happening on the second front of the Palestinian conflict
Land grabbing prevents the creation of a full-fledged Palestinian state (read more)
THE NAIS IS OFFICIAL EDITOR ON NAIS NEWS