Fire Away: Israel Resumes Battle After Hamas Breaks Deal

By Chana Roberts – IsraelNationalNews.com

The IDF has announced the renewal of fighting in Gaza, after the Hamas terror organization violated the terms of the operational pause.

An IDF spokesperson said that IAF aircraft are attacking Hamas targets in Gaza. A diplomatic source said, “We are renewing the fighting with all our might. There are no negotiations for the release of hostages.”

At the same time, the IDF’s Home Front Command updated the guidelines for the Israeli public, and in most cities in central Israel, schools will be open only in locations where a protected space is accessible within the required amount of time.

The pause was set to expire at 7:00 AM Friday morning, but reports by the Wall Street Journal claimed that an agreement was reached on extending the ceasefire by a day. This report was not confirmed by Israel, and by Friday morning, Israel had not yet received a new list of hostages to be freed.

At 5:48 AM Friday morning, sirens sounded in Israeli communities near the Gaza border. A few minutes later, the IDF announced that it had successfully intercepted a launch from Gaza.

An hour later, at 6:53 AM, sirens sounded in the Israeli community of Holit, located near the Gaza border.

Less than half an hour later, at 7:05 AM. the IDF announced, “Hamas violated the operational pause, and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory.”

“The IDF has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip.”

The IDF also clarified: “Following the initial report regarding sirens sounded in Kibbutz Holit, a number of launches were identified from the Gaza Strip toward Israeli territory.”

“The launches were not intercepted according to protocol.

“IDF fighter jets are currently striking Hamas terror targets in the Gaza Strip. Details to follow.”

On Thursday, after several days of quiet, the IDF successfully intercepted a suspicious aerial target which crossed into Israel from Lebanon.

The IDF confirmed: “A short while ago, following the sirens that sounded in the areas of Dovev, Mattat, and Sasa in northern Israel, the IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted a suspicious aerial target that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory.”

A statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu read:

“The Hamas-Islamic Jihad terrorist organization violated the ceasefire, failed to release all kidnapped women today, and launched rockets towards Israeli civilians.

“With a return to fighting, we emphasize: The State of Israel is committed to achieving the goals of the war: To release our captives, to destroy Hamas, and to ensure that Gaza will never again pose a threat to the residents of Israel.”