Israel army says hit 160 Gaza targets since Tuesday

JERUSALEM 

The Israeli army said Friday that its troops hit 160 targets since the collapse of a temporary ceasefire with Palestinian groups in the enclave on Tuesday.

In a statement, the army said that its forces on Thursday continued operations to target “militant groups” in Gaza and their infrastructure.

At least 50 targets were hit on Thursday alone, the army added.

Ground troops are also stationed along the border with Gaza in preparation for any option, including a ground incursion, the Israeli army reported.

Violence flared up again on Tuesday between Israel and Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip following the collapse of indirect, Egypt-hosted talks aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire deal.

Israel accuses Palestinian factions of violating a temporary ceasefire (which expired on midnight Tuesday) – a claim denied by resistance faction Hamas, which in turn accused the self-proclaimed Jewish state of attempting to derail the talks in Cairo.

Since hostilities began on July 7, at least 2086 Palestinians have been killed – the vast majority of them civilians – and more than 10,000 injured by Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip.

Thousands of homes in Gaza, meanwhile, have been destroyed by relentless Israeli bombardments.

Over the same period, at least 67 Israelis – 64 soldiers and three civilians – have been killed, according to Israeli figures.

By Alaa Rimawi

englishnews@aa.com.tr

www.aa.com.tr/en