- The IDF has said its fighter jets are striking Hamas targets in Gaza, after the deadline for another ceasefire extension passed without any agreement being announced. Rockets have also been launched from Gaza, Israel said
The Israeli defence forces has said its fighter jets are striking “Hamas terror targets” in Gaza.
Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said multiple rockets had been launched from Gaza towards Israel.
The announcement came approximately 30 minutes after the ceasefire expired.
“Hamas violated the operational pause, and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory,” the IDF said in a statement.
“The IDF has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip.”
Qatar and Egypt had been pushing for another two-day extension of the ceasefire, but as of 7am this morning (5am UK time), the deadline expired. And there has still been no word from mediators Qatar or Egypt on why a further extension was not negotiated.
Meanwhile, reports have suggested Israel is looking to expand its military operation southward, but experts say this phase may look different to its attacks in the north.
This is because southern Gaza, to which more than a million Palestinians have fled following Israeli orders, is now very densely populated.
There are 9,000 people per square kilometre – 40% more than Greater London, according to security analyst Michael Clarke.
The Biden administration has told Israel it must be more precise in the south and avoid any major displacement of Palestinians there.
The Israel Defence Forces have said up to two million people should move to al Mawasi, a 1km by 14km “barren wilderness” in the south, said Chief Correspondent Stuart Ramsay.
The World Health Organisation has called al Mawasi a recipe for disaster, as there is no infrastructure.
Regardless of the IDF’s instructions, it would be impossible to move everybody out of the way, Clarke previously said.
“You can’t just wander into the south with three or four armoured divisions and do what you did in the north,” he said.
“They are not going to do it by moving everybody out of the way. There’s too many people there.”
There has been no word from Israel since the ceasefire expired on where its ground offensive will target next, but it has started by launching airstrikes in the north once more.
With reports from @Sky News
