Scores killed in Gaza after collapse of Israel-Hamas truce

By Linda Bordoni

Within hours of the truce expiring, Gaza health officials reported that 109 people had been killed and dozens wounded in air strikes that hit at least eight homes.

Eastern areas of Khan Younis in southern Gaza came under intensive bombardment on Friday as the deadline lapsed shortly after dawn. Thousands of residents reportedly took to the road with belongings heaped up in carts, fleeing for shelter further west.

In the north of the enclave, previously the main war zone, plumes of smoke rose above the ruins, amid the rattle of gunfire and blast of explosions.

Rocket sirens also blared across southern Israel as militants fired from the Gaza Strip into border towns.

Gazans said they feared that the bombing of southern parts of the enclave could herald an expansion of the war into areas Israel had previously described as safe.

Since the beginning of the war on 7 October, almost 15,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, two-thirds of them women and children.

With the onset of winter and the lack of basic necessities, the United Nations said the collapse of the ceasefire would worsen an extreme humanitarian emergency in the Strip.

Meanwhile, world leaders expressed regret and dismay at the renewed attacks while the US secretary of state reportedly told Israel to avoid further mass displacement of Palestinians and damage to critical infrastructure, like hospitals, power stations and water facilities.

Israel and Hamas have blamed each other for causing the collapse of the truce which began on November 24 and had been extended twice and Israel had said it could continue as long as Hamas released 10 hostages each day. But after seven days during which women, children and foreign hostages were freed, mediators failed at the final hour to find a formula to release more, including Israeli soldiers and civilian men.

Qatar, which has played a central role in mediation efforts, said negotiations were still ongoing to restore the pause in fighting but warned that Israel's renewed bombardment of Gaza had complicated its efforts. (Source Reuters and other agencies)