Israel’s army attacks northern, central Gaza as ceasefire ‘delayed’

 

Israeli artillery shelling and air strikes have resumed in southern Khan Younis and central Nuseirat despite the Gaza ceasefire being in effect according to mediators’ timeline at 8:30am local time (11:30 PKT), media reports.

“The Israeli army continues to prepare for defence and attack, and will not allow the security of the residents of the State of Israel to be harmed,” it said in a statement.

Hardline Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and two other ministers from his nationalist-religious party have resigned from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet over the Gaza ceasefire deal, their party said, Reuters reports.

The Otzma Yehudit party is no longer part of the ruling coalition but has said it will not try to bring down Netanyahu’s government.

Hamas has released the names of the three Israeli hostages to be freed on the first day of the implementation of the ceasefire deal in Gaza, a Hamas armed wing spokesperson said in a post on Telegram, Reuters reports.Israeli media reports are now saying that Israel has received the names of the captives that will be released on the first day of the ceasefire, Al Jazeera reports.