Updated 7.52pm
HAMAS HAS SAID it has now agreed to a 24-hour humanitarian truce, shortly after Israel announced a resumption of hostilities in Gaza following a day-long pause.
“In response to the UN’s intervention request to monitor the situation… it has been agreed between the resistance factions that a 24-hour humanitarian truce will start from 2pm (11am GMT),” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement.
Earlier today, Israel had said it was resuming its raids on Gaza by land, sea and air after Hamas continued firing rockets.
“Following Hamas’ incessant rocket fire throughout the humanitarian window, which was agreed upon for the welfare of the civilian population in Gaza, the IDF will now resume its aerial, naval and ground activity in the Gaza Strip,” an army statement said.
Israel’s army had also said this morning that one of its soldiers was killed near the Gaza Strip, taking to 43 the number of troops killed since the start of ground operations in July.
“The soldier was killed by a shell that was fired from the Gaza Strip at Israeli territory,” an army spokeswoman said.
About 20 rockets were fired at southern Israel between late last night and this morning.
Late last night, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, claimed responsibility for rocket attacks on southern Israel and Tel Aviv immediately after the expiration of an initial 12-hour ceasefire both sides had abided by.
Israel’s unilateral decision to continue the ceasefire signalled a pause in its assault on Gaza, which has killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in less than three weeks. Three more Palestinians were also killed today.
Over the same period, 43 Israeli soldiers and three civilians in Israel were also killed.
Originally published 12.02pm
- © AFP 2014.
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