Isreal resumes military operation in Gaza
(VOVWORLD) - Israel’s military said Friday that it has resumed fighting operations in the Gaza Strip with airstrikes and artillery shelling as a truce expired with no agreement to extend it.
 Israel’s tank in the Gaza Strip (Photo: Reuters) |
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accused Hamas of violating the operational pause and firing toward the Israeli territory.
The announcement was made a couple of hours after the IDF said it had intercepted a rocket fired from Gaza.
According to local sources, Israeli fighter jets carried out airstrikes and artillery shelling in Gaza. The sound of drones was heard in the south of Gaza, the first time since the ceasefire took effect seven days ago.
The military operation dispelled hope that a ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip, would be extended.
The ceasefire paved the way to free dozens of hostages kidnapped by Hamas from Israel, Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and create conditions for increased transportation of relief goods to Gaza.