No ceasefire with Hamas, fighting might resume: Israeli official

JERUSALEM, March 26 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli government official said Tuesday that there is no ceasefire with the Islamic Hamas movement in Gaza Strip and the fighting could resume "at any moment."

The official, speaking on conditions of anonymity, said that, contrary to the reports about a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, "there is no ceasefire and the fighting could restart at any moment."

"It was decided to reinforce forces and be prepared," the official added.

An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed that more forces have been deployed along the fence between Israel the Palestinian enclave.

"Following the situation assessment led by the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi ordered a reinforcement of an additional infantry brigade headquarters and an artillery battalion to the southern region," the spokesperson said in a statement.

Additionally, more reserve soldiers will be called up, the spokesperson said.

The statement came amidst the tense calm restored on Tuesday morning and shortly after the restrictions imposed in the south of Israel on Monday were lifted. The restrictions included blocking of roads for civilians, closing schools, and halting train services in the south.

Israel attacked overnight the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip with dozens of airstrikes, targeting Hamas military targets, according to the Israeli army. At least seven Palestinians were wounded, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza.

Militants in Gaza later fired at least 30 short-range rockets towards communities in southern Israel. Some of the rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system while some others fell on open fields, except for one rocket that hit a home in Sderot city.

The escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas in Gaza was triggered by a long-range rocket fired from Gaza that exploded in central Israel on Monday, injuring seven people.

Tensions have been rising along the Gaza-Israel fence since the Palestinians in Gaza staged weekly rallies from March 30, 2018 to protest the 12-year-long crippling blockade imposed by Israel and Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. Enditem