2023-12-01 04:49:27
(Jerusalem) The Israeli military said it resumed combat operations in the Gaza Strip minutes following a temporary truce with Hamas expired on Friday, accusing the militant group of breaking the ceasefire .
Updated at 12:24 a.m.
The truce expired at 7 a.m. (midnight Eastern) Friday. The cessation of fighting began a week ago, on November 24. It initially lasted four days, then was extended for several days with the help of Qatar and Egypt, another mediator.
During the week-long truce, Hamas and other Gaza activists freed more than 100 hostages, mostly Israelis, in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Almost all of those freed were women and children, but the fact that few such hostages remained in Gaza made it difficult to reach a deal for a further extension.
Hamas, the militant group that has ruled the Gaza Strip for 16 years, was also expected to set a higher price for the remaining hostages, particularly Israeli soldiers. Around 140 hostages remain in Gaza, more than 100 of whom were released as part of the truce.
Qatar and Egypt, which played a key role as mediators, sought to extend the truce for two more days.
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