Israel resumes fighting with Hamas in Gaza, citing truce violation.
Journalists from Al Jazeera in the Gaza Strip reported that Israel aircraft were heard hovering overhead and that air raids had resumed.
Additionally, there were reports of artillery fire and Israeli air raids in Gaza City.
Witnesses reported seeing fierce fighting between Israeli troops and Palestinian fighting groups in Gaza City and the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli tanks were also shelling the Nuseirat and Bureij refugee camps in the center of the Gaza Strip.
According to Reuters, a provisional cease-fire between Israel and Hamas expired on Friday at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT), and neither party made any announcements regarding an extension.
An hour prior to the ceasefire’s expiration, Israel declared that it had intercepted a rocket fired from Gaza, and media outlets affiliated with Hamas reported hearing explosions and gunfire in the northern part of the Palestinian enclave.
Only minutes before the deadline, more sirens warning of rockets sounded in Israeli areas near Gaza, according to the Israeli military.
Hamas did not immediately respond to requests for comment or to take credit for the launches.
The seven-day cease-fire, initiated on November 24 and extended twice, facilitated the exchange of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for dozens of hostages held in Gaza and allowed humanitarian aid into the beleaguered enclave.
Following the exchange of the most recent batch of eight hostages and thirty Palestinian prisoners on Thursday, Qatar and Egypt have been working hard to prolong the ceasefire.
Israel had previously stated that it would only halt its ground assault and bombardment in exchange for the release of ten hostages per day.
“We’re prepared for every scenario… Before the truce’s expiration, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s advisor Mark Regev stated on CNN, “Without that, we’re going back to the combat.”
