Gaza/Tel Aviv, 2 December 2023 (dpa/MIA) - According to media reports, the Israeli military launched a massive wave of overnight attacks against targets of the Islamist Hamas and other terrorist groups in the southern Gaza Strip.

The Times of Israel reported early on Saturday "extensive ground battles" around the city of Khan Younis in the southern part of the sealed-off area. The IDF said some of the Hamas leadership had been in the area.

The Times of Israel also reported, citing residents of the Gaza Strip, that the Israeli military had dropped leaflets in Khan Younis calling on residents to flee to Rafah in the south, as the area was dangerous. IDF attacks were also reported on Rafah.

Fighting between Israel and Hamas resumed on Friday after a week-long ceasefire.

Israel said Hamas had violated the terms of the deal by firing rockets toward its territory. Sirens continued to sound in southern Israeli communities near Gaza on Friday afternoon.

A senior member of the Hamas movement, Khalil al-Hayya, on Friday accused Israel of rejecting several "initiatives and suggestions" to prolong the pause in fighting in Gaza in an interview with broadcaster Al Jazeera.

Al-Hayya claimed the talks broke down for a variety of reasons, including because Israel had refused to receive the bodies "of a number" hostages who Hamas said had been killed in Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

Israel and Hamas initially agreed to a four-day truce, which began on November 24. The pause was then extended to Friday morning.

Photo: MIA archive