The week-long ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has ended with a new round of violence, as Israeli air strikes pounded the coastal strip and Palestinian fighters fired rockets and exchanged fire with Israeli troops.

The hostilities resumed on Friday morning, shortly after the deadline for the extension of the truce expired. The zionist occupation regime accused Hamas of violating the agreement by firing rockets toward its territory, and said it had resumed its military operations against the Hamas fighters in Gaza.

Hamas denied firing the rockets and blamed israel for breaking the ceasefire. It said it was ready to resume negotiations in Qatar, the mediator of the talks, if israel stopped its aggression.

The renewed fighting shattered the hopes of a lasting peace deal that would end the conflict that has killed more than 15,000 Palestinian people, mostly children and women, and displaced hundreds of thousands more in Gaza.

The ceasefire, which began on November 24 and was extended twice, had allowed for the exchange of dozens of hostages held in Gaza for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and facilitated the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave.

But the talks failed to address the core issues of the conflict, such as the lifting of the israeli blockade on Gaza, the reopening of the border crossings, the reconstruction of the devastated infrastructure, and the security arrangements for both sides.

The situation on the ground remained tense and volatile, as witnesses reported heavy clashes, air raids, and artillery fire in several areas of Gaza. (LKHA)