A temporary ceasefire in Gaza came to an end today as negotiators for Israel and Hamas worked with Egypt to find a way to create a permanent halt to the fighting.
The end of the five hour long truce was marked by the wail sirens in Ashkelon and Israeli settlements near the Gaza border. A rocket fired from Gaza struck near Ashkelon just as the "humanitarian pause" was officially over.
The break in the fighting was meant to allow civilians in Gaza to stock up on supplies and allow aid into the blockaded Detroit-sized enclave. Long lines quickly formed at ATMs in Gaza and the market area was bustling. The halt in the shelling was marred by a flurry of mortar shells lobbed at Israel from Gaza and an Israeli soldier was injured by a blast near the southern Gaza Strip. The Israeli forces held their fired except to respond with mortar fire after the soldier was wounded.
In Cairo, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri told the Associated Press there was growing momentum for a permanent ceasefire put forward by Egypt. Israel had accepted the plan earlier this week, but the proposal was rejected by Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza. Egypt hopes to be able to extend today's temporary truce into a ceasefire to allow further talks.
The 10-day battle has left 227 people dead. Only one of those were Israeli. The tragedy of the fighting was underlined Wednesday when four Palestinian boys, aged 9-11, were killed by Israeli shells while playing on a Gaza beach.
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The Israeli military said it thwarted an earlier attack by 13 Gaza militants who sneaked into Israel through a tunnel.
Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a military spokesman, said the militants were identified about 820 feet inside Israel and were struck by Israeli aircraft. Lerner said the military believed at least one militant was killed in Thursday's strike. He said the remaining fighters appeared to have returned to Gaza through the tunnel.
This was the second time militants infiltrated Israel from Gaza. Israel killed four militants last week who entered from the sea.
Mohammed Talatene/Reuters
PHOTO: Palestinians carry the body of a boy whom medics said was killed by in Gaza City
President Obama said Wednesday that "we've all been heart broken by the violence" that has "men, women and children caught in the crossfire."
The president said the United States "will use all of our diplomatic relationships to support closing a deal on a ceasefire."
Israel had halted its attacks for several hours earlier this week, but resumed its military campaign after Hamas fired dozens of rockets at Israel.
At least 1,685 people have been injured in Gaza since fighting broke out last week, the health officials said.
Khalil Hamra/AP Photo
PHOTO: Palestinians salvage what they can of their belongings from the rubble of their destroyed house following an early morning Israeli missile strike in Gaza City, July 16, 2014.
The battle has broken a two-year lull in hostilities between Israel and Hamas and was triggered by the slaying of three Israeli teens and revenge burning death of a Palestinian teen. Angry protests escalated to rocket launches and retaliatory air strikes.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: Top Stories - Google News - http://ift.tt/1ssHS1q
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