This Tuesday, the truce between the Hamas and Israel was broken after the militant group was reported to have launched rockets towards Israeli territory. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) responded by launching their own missiles at what they believed to be terrorist targets in Gaza.
There have been many attempts by Israel and other nations such as Egypt to settle the conflict in Gaza without further violence. Although there were several occasions where the two parties managed to agree on a temporary ceasefire in consideration of the Palestinian civilians who are locked in the middle of the war. However, both Israel and Hamas have been accusing each other and every time the violence recommenced.
The Israeli government announced that Hamas had fired a number of rockets towards Israel, some of which were targeting major Israeli cities. The Hamas rockets were launched a few hours before the truce was scheduled to be lifted on Tuesday. While there are no reports of civilian casualties in Israel, the IDF responded by launching 35 air strikes against Gaza city. One rocket hit a house, causing the death of a woman and a 2-year-old girl.
Hamas did not stop but fired an additional 40 missiles against Israel, specifically targeting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
The Palestinian Health Ministry has said that close to 2,019 people have died in Gaza since the start of the war on July 8. Israel has lost 64 soldiers and three civilians in the offensive.
While the Hamas is constantly blaming Israel for the considerable loss of civilian lives in Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu stated that it was the militant group controlling Gaza that was responsible, noting that they had had more than enough opportunities to negotiate for a ceasefire that they refused. "The operation will continue until we complete its aims — the return of quiet for a continuous period of time," Netanyahu has said.
