Israel-Hamas: 178 killed and 589 injured in Gaza less than 24 hours after ceasefire ends
Today, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has officially ended, leading to widespread deaths and devastation in Gaza.
Israel-Hamas ceasefire ends as 'fighting resumes'
Israel airstrikes have left 178 Gaza residents dead and a further 589 injured, according to Palestinian sources.
The entry of fuel and humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, part of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, was stopped after the group violated the truce this morning, as stated by the Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories.
Rocket sirens have been sounding in central Israel as Hamas launches long-range rockets for the second time today, with the group taking responsibility for the barrage.
Sources told Reuters of the widespread death toll in just 24 hours after the pause in fighting came to an end.
The reported collapse of the truce occurred this morning when Hamas declined to release 10 female hostages and instead aimed to free abductees from other categories.
KEY EVENTS
Israeli airstrikes hit outskirts of Damascus, Syrian state media says
Israeli airstrikes hit several points on the outskirts of Damascus early Saturday, Syrian state media reported.
State news agency SANA, citing an unnamed military official, said the strikes came from the direction of the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights and that Syrian air defenses shot most of the missiles down. The strikes resulted in only “material losses,” the statement said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based opposition war monitor, said the strikes hit in the area of the south Damascus suburb of Sayyida Zeinab, where it said that “there are military forces working with the Lebanese Hezbollah.” It said ambulances rushed to the scene.
Israel has struck targets in Syria several times since the onset of the Hamas-Israel war on Oct. 7. On Sunday, a reported Israeli airstrike hit the international airport in Damascus and put it out of commission, just hours after the airport resumed flights following a monthlong hiatus after a previous Israeli strike.
Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes inside government-controlled parts of war-torn Syria in recent years, often targeting Hezbollah and other militant groups backed by Iran, but it rarely acknowledges or discusses the operations.
US says Israel agrees to let small amount of aid into Gaza
The US says it believes Israel will begin allowing some humanitarian assistance to once again flow into Gaza, after blocking aid on Friday after a temporary cease-fire expired.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that Israel blocked trucks from crossing into Gaza on Friday, but that at the request of the US government, it would now allow some aid to enter.
Kirby said the resumption would be at a significantly reduced level from the hundreds of trucks per day that entered Gaza during the weeklong pause in fighting, saying it was “probably in terms of dozens of trucks versus hundreds of trucks.”
Kirby said the US would continue to push to increase the assistance of aid into Gaza at least up to the level of goods that entered during the pause.
“And we want to see it restored at the level it had risen to during the pause,” he said, regardless of whether fighting continues.
Israel has a role in the inspection process that allows assistance into Gaza through the Rafah crossing from Egypt.
Woman draped in Palestinian flag sets herself on fire outside Israeli Consulate
A woman draped herself in a Palestinian flag and set herself on fire. The incident occurred around 12:45pm near the Israeli Consulate in Atlanta, Georgia, and left at least two people injured. She was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries, according to reports. An investigation is currently underway as police and medical personnel respond to the scene.
READ MORE: Woman draped in Palestinian flag sets herself on fire outside Israeli Consulate
Israel says Hamas still has women and children hostages
Israel claims that approximately 17 Israeli women and children are still in Gaza. According to the truce between Israel and Hamas, the release of these individuals was a precondition before freeing other categories of hostages. However, Hamas did not provide a list as required and instead suggested negotiations for the release of other hostage categories. An Israeli official informed Hebrew media that Jerusalem rejected this proposal and opted to resume the IDF's military actions. The fighting recommenced after Hamas violated the truce by firing a rocket at Israel before its expiration this morning.
White House: ‘Gaza must remain Palestinian land’
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said at a press briefing: "We don’t support any reduction of the geographic limits of Gaza…Gaza must remain Palestinian land, and cannot be reduced."
Kirby's comments come after Israeli media reported that Netanyahu wants to create a "security buffer" in Gaza.
Kibbutz announces death of 70-year-old hostage
Kibbutz Be’eri has announced in a statement that Ofra Keidar, a resident from their Kibbutz, has died while in captivity.
The statement said: "Her body is in the hands of Hamas. We demand her return along with the other hostages."
Israeli town says three of its residents have died in Hamas cap
A hard-hit Israeli kibbutz says three of its members have died in Hamas captivity, including the oldest person held hostage.
Kibbutz Nir Oz said the community had received official confirmation of the deaths of Maya Goren, 56, Arye Zalmanovich, 86, and Ronan Engel, 54.
Zalmanovich was the oldest of the more than 240 people taken hostage by Hamas militants on Oct. 7.
A group representing the families of the hostages said Zalmanovich, a father of two and grandfather of five, was a founder of Nir Oz.
Goren was a mother of four and a kindergarten teacher for the kibbutz. Her husband was killed by Hamas militants on Oct. 7. Engel, a father of three, was a photographer and volunteer paramedic whose wife and two daughters were released from Gaza this week.
Over 100 residents of Nir Oz — roughly a quarter of its population — was killed or kidnapped in the October 7 attack.
Egypt condemns end of of truce in Israel-Hamas war
Egypt’s foreign ministry has issued a statement regarding the end of the cease-fire in Gaza and condemning the Israeli airstrikes.
Good Afternoon
Good morning. I’m Jacob Kessler, I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on the resumption of hostilities between Israel and Hamas. Please get in touch with me if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.
Email: jacob.kessler@reachplc.com
