What led to the termination of the Gaza ceasefire?
Hostilities recommenced between Israel and Hamas on Friday morning, bringing a close to a week-long truce that had resulted in the liberation of captives and inmates and the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Let's examine some of the critical inquiries related to the most recent advancements.
What caused the termination of the ceasefire?
Just an hour before the scheduled cessation of the ceasefire at 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT), the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that alarms were going off in areas near the Gaza Strip. Following this, it reported that it had intercepted a missile launched from the region.
Sixty minutes afterwards, the Israeli armed forces reported that combat had recommenced, blaming Hamas for breaking the conditions of the pact.
The IDF subsequently announced that its combat aircraft were hitting Hamas locations in the Gaza Strip.
Not long after, Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that Hamas had failed to fulfill its responsibility of releasing all female captives that day and had fired missiles towards Israeli residents.
Nonetheless, Hamas accused Israel of reigniting the conflict, claiming it declined "all proposals to free additional captives".
The statement indicated that the occupation had previously resolved to recommence their unlawful attacks. US President Joe Biden was accused of perpetuating Zionist atrocities in the Gaza Strip and of endorsing Israel's actions.
During the week-long truce, Mr. Netanyahu has faced intense scrutiny, especially from the conservative factions in his government, to resume the conflict – a move that Israel has consistently communicated its intention to carry out once the agreement had concluded.
Nonetheless, there remains optimism that a fresh accord might be attained. Qatar, which has been instrumental in ceasefire discussions thus far, affirmed on Friday that conversations were ongoing "with the goal of reinstating a halt".
What's the current state in Gaza?
The health ministry, managed by Hamas, reported over 60 fatalities within seven hours of the conflict restarting. This is in addition to the almost 15,000 Palestinians they claimed had lost their lives prior to the truce.
James Elder, a representative from Unicef, the United Nation's organization for children, communicated with the BBC from a hospital in the southern part of Gaza amidst the bombings. He depicted the circumstances as "horrifying".
He mentioned that it was "terrible for individuals" and "you could observe the terror in their eyes", also noting that a strike had occurred near the place he was located.
He portrayed the cessation of the truce as "the horrifying scenario everyone was completely terrified of".
Prior to the truce, the Gaza Strip experienced extensive damage due to Israel's responsive actions following the lethal attacks by Hamas on 7 October.
Israel stated that they deployed over 10,000 bombs and missiles. A study by BBC discovered that nearly 98,000 structures in Gaza could have been affected, with a majority of the damage being in the northern region.
The cessation of humanitarian assistance was another result of the strikes. The lull in the conflict allowed aid organizations to provide much-needed support, however, they found severe destruction in several of the locations they accessed.
What's the subsequent move?
While discussions are ongoing with the aspiration of securing a fresh agreement, it's evident at the moment that the conflict has reignited.
Following several weeks of rigorous combat in the northern region of the Gaza Strip, especially near Gaza City, it seems that the Israeli military is now shifting its main focus to the southern area, where there have been reports of fresh aerial attacks.
The IDF has also developed a Gaza map, segmented into over 2,000 sections. They claim this will assist Gaza's residents in avoiding upcoming conflicts. According to them, the mapping divides the region into specific zones, allowing residents to safely evacuate if needed.
On Friday, Israeli planes dispersed pamphlets over regions to the east and north of Khan Younis, the biggest city in the southern part of Gaza, that included a map. The leaflets did not mention any specific numbered regions, but they contained a message in Arabic instructing inhabitants of four specified – but unnumbered – areas to "leave at once and seek refuge in Rafah".
The resumption of conflict follows a meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli authorities, during which he stressed that the subsequent phase of the war must prioritize the safety of civilians.
Mr. Blinken conveyed to the Israeli government that they need to refrain from causing more widespread displacement of Palestinians and destruction to essential amenities like hospitals, power plants, and water systems.
What transpired during the truce period?
Throughout the week-long truce, Hamas consented to free 110 individuals from Gaza, comprising of 78 Israeli females and minors.
Under the agreement, 240 Palestinians were freed from Israeli prisons. They were alleged to have committed various crimes, ranging from stone throwing to instigation and attempted homicide.
Numerous Palestinians who were freed hadn't been found guilty of any offenses, they were in custody on an interim basis pending their court hearings. Some claimed that they had been exposed to mistreatment and group penalization following the assaults on October 7. Israel maintains that it detains all its prisoners in accordance with the law.
Approximately 140 hostages from Israel are believed to still be held captive in Gaza.
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