Israel Accuses Hamas Of Violating Cease-Fire, Intercepts Rocket As Truce Expires: Report

Israel's military accused Hamas of violating cease-fire and claimed it intercepted a rocket fired from Gaza.

Israel's military accused Hamas of violating cease-fire and claimed it intercepted a rocket fired from Gaza.

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As the truce deadline between Israel and Hamas expired on Friday, Israel's military accused Hamas of violating cease-fire and claimed it intercepted a rocket fired from Gaza, Reuters reported. On the other hand, sounds of explosions and gunfire erupted in northern Gaza amid no word on extension of truce between the two warring armies.

After the Israeli military intercepted the rocket fired from Gaza, it said that it had resumed combat operations against Hamas. According to Reuters, heavy fighting was reported in Gaza on Friday. The seven-day truce, which began on November 24, saw two extensions. During the truce, the exchange of dozens of hostages held in Gaza for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners was seen. It also facilitated the entry of humanitarian aid into the coastal strip.

The IDF also stated that sirens warning of rockets were sounded again in Israeli areas near Gaza just minutes before the deadline. However, there was no immediate reaction from Hamas to Israel's claims. According to Reuters, Palestinian media reported Israeli air and artillery strikes across the enclave after the truce expired, including on the Rafah border. The Israeli military stated that its jets were striking Hamas targets in Gaza.

Qatar And Egypt Make Efforts To Further Extend Truce 

After the truce between Israel and Hamas ended on Friday, Qatar and Egypt had been making efforts to seek an extension of the truce following the exchange on Thursday of the latest batch of eight hostages and 30 Palestinian prisoners, Reuters reported. Israel had previously set the release of 10 hostages a day as the minimum it would accept to pause its bombardment.

After the release of the latest batch of hostages on Thursday, the total number of hostages freed during the truce has reached 105 hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners, as per Reuters.

Hamas Frees 8 Israeli Hostages

Eight Israeli hostages were released from Gaza captivity on Thursday as a part of the truce agreement with Israel. According to The Times of Israel, two women, Mia Schem, 21, and Amit Soussana, 40, were freed in the afternoon. The release of hostages on Thursday came after a deal to extend the truce was reached just ahead of the deadline for it to expire.

According to the Israeli military, Hamas then released a group of six more hostages and transferred them to the Red Cross. In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces stated that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had transferred the six hostages to Egypt.