Israeli fighter jets struck targets in the Gaza Strip just minutes after a weeklong truce ended on Friday, resuming the war with Hamas with full force. The black smoke billowed from the besieged area and Palestinians were urged to leave their homes as Israel dropped brochures over parts of southern Gaza in preparation to broaden its offensive.
The escalation of violence raised concerns for the approximately 140 captives who remain in Gaza, after more than 100 were released as part of the truce. Mediators from Qatar and Egypt are trying to reach an agreement on restarting the ceasefire to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said, “The resumption of hostilities complicates mediation efforts and worsens the humanitarian disaster.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken advised Israeli authorities to do more to protect Palestinian civilians as they seek to dismantle Hamas. Blinken arrived Friday at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai, where he was to meet with Arab foreign ministers and other officials.
It remains to be seen to what extent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will heed the appeals of the United States, Israel’s key ally. Netanyahu’s office stated Friday that Israel “is committed to achieving the objectives of the war: Releasing the captives, eliminating Hamas and ensuring that Gaza never again poses a threat to the residents of Israel.”
Just hours into the renewed offensive, the Health Ministry of Hamas-controlled Gaza reported 32 people had been killed and many more injured.
Israel advised people to leave homes east of the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza and declared the area a “dangerous battle zone,” as part of its escalating military campaign.
The Israeli military also released a map dividing the Gaza Strip into numbered parcels, asking residents to learn the number associated with their area in case of evacuation. It remains unclear how Palestinians will be updated on their assigned parcel numbers and evacuation instructions. Many thousands of people fled northern Gaza earlier in the war, seeking shelter in Khan Younis and other southern areas.
In Khan Younis, a large building was destroyed in one of the first airstrikes on Friday. Residents were seen frantically searching the debris for survivors as medics rushed to the scene. In other parts of Gaza, more strikes hit residential areas and buildings, causing further destruction and casualties.
