More Israeli airstrikes try to destroy Hamas locations

World Today

Israel resumes airstrikes after Hamas rejects ceasefire plan

Israel initially agreed on Tuesday to a ceasefire plan proposed by Egypt. After the military wing of Hamas refused to abide, Israel resumed its airstrikes. Martin Fletcher reports from Tel Aviv.

Israel’s army, poised on the edge of Gaza, woke up to the news that a ground invasion was off for the time being. The Israeli government had accepted a ceasefire. Hamas didn’t accept it.

Israeli airstrikes poised to destroy Hamas locations

Israel initially agreed on Tuesday to a ceasefire plan proposed by Egypt. After the military wing of Hamas refused to abide, Israel resumed its airstrikes. Martin Fletcher reports from Tel Aviv.

Overnight, before the truce deadline, two rockets hit Israel’s red sea resort Eilat, wounding four people. In response, Israeli troops pounded Hamas targets in Gaza, killing two. This brought the total of Palestinian dead to 182, most of them civilians.

On Tuesday, residents picked their way through the ruins. Israel has destroyed more than a thousand buildings — targeting, it says, Hamas locations like rocket launching sites, secret tunnels, and the homes of militant leaders.

They have been in hiding, below ground, unhurt. According to their spokesmen this morning, they are also ready to fight on.

Hamas fired more than 58 rockets at Israel after the ceasefire should have started at 9 a.m. local time. Israel took on Hamas’ rockets for six hours before hitting back with what the army called “full force.”

The United Nations Security Council wanted both sides to accept the deal. Natalie Feary reports from the UN with the fallout now that Hamas has failed to cooperate.

Israeli airstrikes continue after Hamas rejects ceasefire

The United Nations Security Council wanted both sides to accept the deal. Natalie Feary reports from the UN with the fallout now that Hamas has failed to cooperate.

Follow Natalie Feary on Twitter @nataliefeary