IDF pounds Gaza as ceasefire crumbles: Explosions rock Palestinian territory as hostilities resume against Hamas despite hostages remaining trapped after terror group fired rocket into Israel in final minutes of the six-day truce

Israel has announced it is resuming its offensive against Gaza after a ceasefire with Hamas expired, as negotiations to liberate hostages broke down. 

The IDF claimed that Hamas 'violated' the ceasefire early and launched rockets on Israel in the early hours of Friday, with footage shared to social media appearing to show attacks on the south Israel city of Sderot. 

In response, the 'IDF renewed fire against the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip', Israeli military claimed on X, formerly Twitter. 

Just under an hour before the ceasefire officially expired, the IDF claimed on X that it had 'intercepted' an attack with the Iron Dome, its air defense systems. 

Shortly after the IDF announced the relaunching of its offensive, Palestinian media also reported military strikes in northern Gaza.

Heavy clashes in Gaza city and the northern region of the Gaza Strip erupted quickly after the announcement, amid reports of tanks being positioned to the area. 

In a tweet half an hour after the relaunch, the IDF said it had deployed 'warplanes' to attack 'targets of the terrorist organization Hamas', focused on the Gaza Strip. 

Hours before the ceasefire ended at 7am Friday morning (midnight ET) in Gaza, footage purported to show rocket sirens sounding near the Gaza City border.

According to footage posted on social media by a reporter from Yeshiva World News, a Jewish outlet, sirens could be heard in the southern Israel city of Sderot followed by sounds of a large explosion. 

Further surveillance video also appeared to show a rocket launch towards Sderot intercepted by the Iron Dome. It is unclear if reports of a blast in Sderot are the same incident the Israeli military claimed it had intercepted.  

Reports of Telegram communications from the Shehab News Agency, considered tied to Hamas, claimed gunfire and several explosions struck northern Gaza earlier on Friday. 

Before the ceasefire deadline passed, an advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was open to another extension, on the condition of more hostage releases. 

Officials initially expected the ceasefire to end on Thursday morning before it was extended for a further day with just minutes to spare. 

Israel had agreed to halt its retaliatory strikes on Gaza by a day for every 10 hostages who are freed, with a further two captured Israeli's freed on Thursday afternoon. 

The ceasefire had begun on November 24 and was initially intended to be brought to a close on Monday, as multiple extensions raised hopes from some that the worst fighting in the Middle East in recent memory could continue to be halted amid ongoing negotiations. 

But hours before the truce was set to expire, the region was hit by the first rocket fire in almost six days.