Egypt exerts 'utmost efforts to restore truce in Gaza as soon as possible'

By Ibrahim al-Khazen

ISTANBUL (AA) - Egypt said late Friday it is exerting "utmost efforts" to restore a collapsed humanitarian pause in Gaza following the resumption of fighting in the enclave.

Diaa Rashwan, head of the State Information Service (SIS), said Egypt, along with Qatar and the US, “exerts utmost efforts to reinstate the truce in Gaza as soon as possible."

"Egypt deeply regrets the violation of the temporary humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip," he said.

The Egyptian official also denied reports that the Israeli bombing reached the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing.

Qatar said Friday that negotiations are still ongoing between the Palestinians and Israel through mediators to restore a humanitarian pause in Gaza.

Early Friday, Israel and Hamas traded blame for violating the terms of a seven-day humanitarian pause that began Nov. 24.

The Israeli army resumed attacks across the Gaza Strip early Friday after declaring the end of the pause, resulting in hundreds of Palestinian casualties.

At least 178 Palestinians have been killed and 589 more injured since Israel resumed bombing of the Gaza Strip, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The humanitarian pause was part of an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian group, Hamas, to temporarily halt fighting to allow a hostage swap, as well as the delivery of aid.

More than 16,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women, have been killed in Israeli attacks since Oct. 7.

Around 1,200 Israelis have been killed, according to official estimates.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar