JERUSALEM (JTA) – Hamas officials declared that a cease-fire with Israel has ended.
"The calm is over," Hamas official Ayman Taha said Thursday evening, Reuters reported.
Taha, who represented Hamas in convincing other Palestinian factions to join the cease-fire, said the cease-fire was over because the enemy did not abide by its obligations. The statement came after the Israeli army destroyed at least three Gaza rocket launchers as Kassams continued to hit Israel.
Israeli planes struck inside Gaza early Thursday morning, destroying two rocket launch pads in the northern Gaza Strip — one had recently fired on southern Israel and one was preparing to launch. The army hit another launcher later in the day.
Nighttime raids also targeted a stash of rockets in the Jabalya refugee camps and a weapons factory in Khan Yunis.
The attack was in response to more than 40 rockets that have been fired at Israel since Tuesday, including six early Thursday morning.
Some Hamas leaders have left the door open for more discussions on continuing the cease-fire, providing Israel opens border crossings with Gaza.
