Gaza War: Scores killed as Israel, Hamas resume fighting

Following the breakdown of negotiations to prolong a week-long ceasefire with Hamas, Israel’s jets bombarded Gaza on Friday, forcing wounded and dead Palestinians into hospitals and others onto the streets in search of shelter.

As the deadline passed just after dawn, Reuters journalists in the city reported that heavy artillery was directed towards the eastern parts of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, resulting in columns of smoke billowing into the sky. With their belongings piled high in carts, the residents fled westward, seeking refuge elsewhere.

Huge plumes of smoke soared above the ruins in the north of the enclave, which was once the main combat zone. This view was captured from Israel’s side of the border. Dogs barking could be heard above the thud of explosions and the rattle of gunfire.

As militants launched rockets into towns from their coastal enclave, sirens sounded throughout southern Israel. On yet another front, the Hezbollah organisation in Lebanon claimed to have supported the Palestinians by firing at Israeli forces stationed along Israel’s northern border.

While the White House singled out the Palestinian terrorist organisation, saying it had not produced a new list of captives to free in order to facilitate an extension of the truce, Israel and Hamas accused each other of sabotaging the negotiations.

According to the U.N., the conflict would make the dire humanitarian situation worse. “Hell on Earth has returned to Gaza,” declared Jens Laerke, the UN humanitarian office’s Geneva spokesperson.

Gaza health officials announced within hours of the ceasefire ending that 109 people had died and numerous others had been injured in air strikes.

Rejecting arrangements to extend the daily release of terrorist hostages in exchange for Palestinian inmates, each of the fighting factions laid the blame for the other’s downfall.

Israel had stated that the respite, which started on November 24, might go as long as Hamas freed ten hostages per day, and it had been extended twice. However, after seven days of releasing women, children, and international prisoners, negotiators were unable to come up with a plan at the last minute to free more hostages, including males and Israeli soldiers.

Israel said that Hamas was holding all the women and would not let them go. The breakdown, according to a Palestinian authority, was caused by female Israeli soldiers.

Negotiations to reinstate the truce between Israel and the Palestinians are still ongoing, according to Qatar, which has been a major player in mediation efforts. However, Qatar said that Israel’s recent resumption of its shelling of Gaza has hindered its efforts.

According to the White House, President Joe Biden will continue to be actively involved in attempts to liberate captives and that the administration is working to extend the humanitarian halt in Gaza.

In reaction to the militant group’s October 7 massacre, during which gunmen allegedly killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 240 more, Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas. Since 2007, Hamas, which has vowed to destroy Israel, has dominated Gaza.

(With agency inputs)