The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has declared Gaza City a dangerous combat zone and cancelled the local ceasefire, the IDF press service said on Friday.
According to IDF statement, Gaza is now recognised as an active combat zone based on an assessment of the situation and directives from the political leadership. The decision also means the cancellation of the ceasefire that Israel introduced a month ago under mounting international pressure due to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the sector. The ceasefire was in effect for ten hours every day. During this time, the military was prohibited from conducting operations in Gaza, the central camps and the Al-Mawasi area.
“Starting today (August 29) at 10:00 a.m., the local tactical ceasefire will not apply to the Gaza City area, which is a dangerous combat zone,” the IDF press service said in a statement. Military representatives also stated their intention to continue supporting humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip. At the same time, the army intends to conduct offensive operations.
The armed conflict between Israel and Hamas has been going on for 23 months. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 63,000 Palestinians have been killed in the region during this time, while 157,000 have been injured to varying degrees.
On the international stage, even Israel’s traditional allies are condemning its actions. In particular, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have previously stated their readiness to recognise a Palestinian state in September if Israel does not stop its aggressive expansion in the region. The United States remains the only country that continues to provide comprehensive support to the Tel Aviv authorities.
