Jerusalem Locals React as Fighting Resumes after Temporary Gaza Ceasefire

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Locals on the streets of Jerusalem shared their views on Friday as fighting resumed between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. A temporary truce and hostage-prisoner swap between the sides ended earlier in the day, with no breakthrough to extend the deal. “Now we are back to fire, which means more killing, more suffering from both sides. We don’t see an end to it because there is no sense for what is happening,” a local shopkeeper said. “There should be a way that people go back to their humanity and seek peace among themselves so that they can survive and the world can continue, otherwise more destruction and more suffering,” he continued. A second local said he was 'happy' that the truce had ended, stating that the main goal has to be defeating Hamas and 'ending their rule in Gaza'. “First of all for our safety and for Palestinian safety. That's why the ceasefire had to end. I’m happy that it was and I’m happy that it ended,” he said. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) announced that it had 'resumed combat' against Hamas in Gaza on Friday, claiming the group had broken the truce first by firing rockets towards Israeli territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also alleged that Hamas had refused to release more hostages. The Palestinian group rejected the accusation, claiming Israel had 'refused all offers' to extend the truce. It stated that it had 'offered to exchange prisoners and the elderly, as well as to hand over the bodies of those killed by the Israeli bombardment'. The initial four-day ceasefire and prisoner-hostage swap deal was extended twice, lasting until Thursday. It saw the release of 86 Israeli hostages and 24 foreigners according to Israel, while around 240 Palestinian prisoners were freed from Israeli jails. Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200 according to Israeli officials. Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes which Palestinian officials reported had killed over 1,500 people in the first week - and many thousands more since. A ground incursion began at the end of the third, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response. However, United Nations experts warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.