Israel resumes strikes in Gaza after ceasefire ends

BBC update:

EXPLOSIONS and gunfire are reported in Gaza as Israel resumes combat against Hamas, accusing the group of violating the terms of a truce.

The truce lasted seven days and saw the release of 110 hostages held by Hamas and 240 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The BBC has learnt that mediators are continuing efforts to reach an agreement between the two sides, even as the fighting resumes.

Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October killed 1,200 people with around 240 others taken hostage.

Since then, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says more than 14,800 people have been killed in Israel's retaliatory campaign, including about 6,000 children.

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken - who is in the Middle East - has told Israel it must take "more effective steps" to protect civilians' lives.

Al Jazeera adds:

Dozens of Palestinians killed since Israel resumed attacks on Gaza after the expiration of the truce, according to health officials.

Israeli army drops leaflets telling people in parts of already bombarded southern Gaza to evacuate, signalling an expanding offensive.

International mediators, including Qatar, Egypt and the United States, had pushed for another extension of the pause, which expired at 7 am local time (05:00 GMT) on Friday.

More than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7. In Israel, the official death toll stands at about 1,200.