Israel starts strikes after truce expires

Israeli fighter jets hit targets in the Gaza Strip minutes after the expiry of a week-long truce between Hamas and Israel on Friday.

In Israel, sirens warning of incoming rockets blared at several communal farms near Gaza, a sign that militants also restarted attacks, but there were no reports of hits.

Black smoke billowed from the besieged territory, and Israel dropped leaflets over parts of southern Gaza urging people to leave their homes, suggesting it was preparing to widen its offensive.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said the deeply regretted the resumption of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Friday and hoped a truce could be re-established.

Israel vowed in response to eliminate Hamas and unleashed a relentless air and ground military campaign in Gaza that the territory's Hamas government says has killed more than 15,000 people, also mostly civilians.