Fighting resumes as Israel-Hamas truce expires
STORY: This air raid siren booming across southern Israel early on Friday signalled the end of seven days of quiet.
It sounded as a rocket flew towards Israel, said by its forces to be fired from Gaza, in the hour before the extended truce with Hamas was set to expire.
The Israeli military said it intercepted projectiles and accused the Palestinian militant group of violating their truce.
And so, it said, it resumed combat, with the ceasefire ending at 7am local time.
Smoke was seen over Gaza, as heavy fighting was reported.
There was no immediate comment from Hamas or claim of responsibility for the rocket launches.
The return to fighting came despite urgent attempts by mediators Egypt and Qatar to continue extending the temporary ceasefire that began on November 24.
Hamas on Thursday had released eight more Israeli hostages under a second last-minute extension of the deal.
While Israel freed 30 Palestinian prisoners.
That brought the totals of those freed during the truce to 105 hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners.
More humanitarian aid was also brought into the shattered Gazan enclave.
Though deliveries of food, water, medical supplies and fuel remain far below what is needed, according to aid workers.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken did not comment on the resumption of fighting as he left Israel for Dubai on Friday.
He'd said the day before, he told Israel it cannot repeat in south Gaza the massive civilian casualties it inflicted in the north.
