The Israeli army said on December 1 that it had resumed military operations in the Gaza Strip after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas expired on December 1. An AFP journalist confirmed that Israeli forces had carried out airstrikes and artillery bombardment of Gaza city.

The Israeli military said, “Hamas has not only violated the ceasefire agreement but has also attacked Israeli territory,” and “(Israeli forces) have resumed fighting with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.”

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Hamas-controlled Gaza health authority said at least six Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Wednesday morning.

Fighting resumed soon after the truce expired, with air strikes also hitting Gaza City, killing two children, according to a doctor at Al-Ahli hospital. (c)AFP