Ceasefire expires in Gaza; Israel resumes offensive against the Strip while extension to the agreement is negotiated

2023-12-01 07:23:55

This Friday (local time in Gaza), the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas expired, which in a first agreement had been established to last four days, but through the mediation of other countries it was extended another three, for a total of seven.

The Israeli Army issued a statement that fighting was resuming in the Gaza Strip, according to Al Jazeera television.

Adding that Hamas violated the truce by attacking Israeli territory; The alleged assault was detected and intercepted. After which gunshots and explosions were reported in the northern part of the Strip.

So far, international mediators including Qatar, Egypt and the United States are seeking to extend the ceasefire.

(AP)

Previously, Israeli authorities released 30 Palestinian prisoners during the early hours of this Friday after Hamas freed eight hostages it was holding captive in the Gaza Strip, during the seventh day of truce between Israel and the Islamist group.

The Israeli Prison Service confirmed the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners who were released from Ofer prison, the Jerusalem detention center, as well as Ayalon and Damon prisons.

According to the spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, Majed al Ansari, the truce agreement for this Thursday implied the release by Israel of 30 Palestinian prisoners, including 23 minors and 7 women.

This Thursday was the seventh day of the truce between Israel and Hamas, negotiated by Qatar, Egypt and the United Statess, through an agreement that includes the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and the entry of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

The truce, which began on November 24, had marked a pause in the war that broke out on October 7 after an attack by the armed wing of Hamas that included the launching of thousands of rockets towards Israel and the infiltration of some 3,000 militiamen who massacred about 1,200 people and kidnapped another 240 in Israeli villages near the Gaza Strip.

From then on, and until the day the truce began, the Israeli forces maintained a relentless offensive by air, land and sea on the Palestinian enclave that has left more than 15,000 dead, thousands more people buried under the rubble, and almost two million displaced. who are experiencing a serious humanitarian crisis due to the collapse of hospitals and the shortage of housing, drinking water, food, medicine and electricity.

An extension of the truce would involve the additional release of 10 hostages per day in exchange for the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners.

So far, 105 captives have been released in Gaza, including 81 Israelis and 24 foreigners; while Israel has released 240 Palestinian prisoners, all of them women and minors.