Update: New Strikes in Gaza after group’s violation of the seven-day ceasefire
Agency – Israel has recommenced its military offensive on Friday with the objective of eradicating Hamas, following the group’s violation of the seven-day ceasefire by launching rockets towards Israeli territory. The Israel Defense Forces have also extended their operations into the southern region of the enclave, leading to international leaders urging the protection of civilians.
According to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, numerous Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Friday. Israel argues that Hamas is utilizing civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals and children’s playgrounds, for military purposes, thereby designating them as legitimate targets.
Negotiators are currently endeavoring to revive the truce as of Friday night. Although Hamas claims to have released all women and children, Israel remains skeptical of this assertion, as per sources familiar with the ongoing discussions.
The medical infrastructure in Gaza is facing a severe strain as a result of the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas. Civilians, particularly women and children, have inundated hospitals in Gaza seeking medical assistance – CNN reports.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has reported that the majority of the victims of the bombardments since the truce ended are non-combatants. In contrast, Israel maintains that its military strikes are specifically targeting Hamas and not civilians.
The situation has become increasingly dire, with medical teams struggling to cope with the large number of wounded individuals. Ashraf Al-Qidra, a spokesperson for the health ministry, expressed concern over the continued bombing of civilians and the resulting overflow of patients in emergency departments and operating rooms.
Additionally, conditions in southern Gaza have worsened as Israel has expanded its military activities beyond the northern enclave. Hospitals in the southern regions of the Gaza Strip are now unable to provide adequate medical services, with the emergency department unable to accommodate any more casualties, according to Dr. Youssef Al-Akkad, the director of the European Hospital in Khan Younis.
Collapse of the truce between Israel and Gaza
The seven-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came to an end on Friday due to an impasse in negotiations and Israel’s accusation of the Palestinian militant group violating the agreement by firing at Israel.
The future course of action remains uncertain. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed his determination to fight until the end. Prior to the ceasefire ending, Israel had informed the United States of its intention to shift its focus to the southern part of the enclave once the fighting resumed.
However, the United States has clearly conveyed to Israel that the level of destruction should not be repeated. Analysts believe that the war will continue until Hamas is defeated, and this time it may be even more intense.
Whether there will be another ceasefire is unclear. However, there are still over 100 hostages held by Hamas, and analysts suggest that a theoretical possibility exists for the ceasefire to be revived for several days if both parties agree to extend it by one day for every 10 hostages released.
More than 400 targets in the first day
Within the first 24 hours after the end of a week-long truce with Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces reported that they had targeted over 400 locations throughout Gaza.
These targets included a weapons storage facility and terrorist infrastructure utilized by Hamas, military targets in Khan Younis and Deir al Balah in southern Gaza, a mosque that was allegedly being used as a command center by another militant group, Islamic Jihad, and a terrorist cell that was ambushing Israeli troops.
The IDF stated that the strikes consisted of both artillery and munitions dropped from aircraft. As of Friday evening, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that 178 individuals had been killed and hundreds more injured since Israel resumed military operations.
The IDF representative instructs the residents to evacuate.
The Arabic-speaking spokesperson of the Israeli army has utilized X to share maps that indicate the specific regions in Gaza where Palestinians are required to evacuate and relocate.
Through the utilization of multiple annotated maps in Arabic, Avichay Adraee instructs residents of various neighborhoods such as Jabalia and Shujaiya to relocate to different areas.
The maps pertaining to southern Gaza stipulate that Palestinians residing in several neighborhoods, including Bani Suhaila near Khan Younis, should seek refuge in shelters located in Rafah, which is situated on the border with Egypt. This region is one of the areas in the southern strip that Israel has targeted with airstrikes since the expiration of the ceasefire on Friday.