Hamas pulled its first rocket dam in the month in Israeli territory on Thursday while Israeli troops widen their raids on the north of Gaza in what looked more and more like a shift in the large -scale war.
There was no report of victims of the rockets, which were drawn on Tel Aviv. The Israeli army said they were either intercepted or fell into open areas. But the dam served as a demonstration of resilience of the Palestinian armed group despite more than a year of war with Israel.
A two-month-old ceasefire collated this week with an Israeli aerial bombardment in Gaza, which, according to the army, had targeted Hamas. Israel argued that the truce could only continue if Hamas released more hostages, while Hamas accused Israel of having violated the cease-fire agreement.
Israel’s renewed aggression killed more than 500 people in Gaza in three days, including dozens of children, the Gaza Ministry of Health announced on Thursday. These figures are not distinguished between civilians and combatants.
Earlier Thursday, the Israeli army said that its forces began to carry out a “terrestrial activity” near Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza. This came less than a day after Israel announced that it had taken up part of the netzarim corridor in the center of Gaza, which divides the north of the southern territory. Israel had withdrawn from the corridor as part of the truce.
Hamas said that at least five of its main leaders in Gaza were a part of around 400 people killed by Israel on Tuesday in a heavy bombardment, officials from Gaza. Hamas rarely provides information on the question of whether people killed in Israeli attacks were members of the armed group.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, has promised to put Hamas to put up until the group capitulates and releases the dozens of Israeli and foreign hostages that are still held in Gaza.
Hamas officials say that Israel will not accept more favorable conditions for a cease-fire by taking over the war.
The first phase of the January ceasefire ended in early March. Mediators and the United States tried to negotiate an agreement between Israel and Hamas in the next stages of the truce, including a permanent end of war and the release of the remaining living hostages in Gaza.
But Israel did not want to end the conflict permanently as long as Hamas remains in power in Gaza. Hamas refuses to dissolve its armed battalions, to send its leaders to Gaza in exile or to release many other hostages unless Israel put itself to a permanent term to war.
About 24 Israeli and foreign hostages living – as well as the remains of more than 30 others – are still in Gaza, according to the Israeli government.
Hamas and its allies removed around 250 people in October 7, 2023, attacking Israel who ignited the war.
