"We condemn the renewed rocket fire and we are concerned about the safety and security of civilians on both sides of that conflict," he said.
In southern Israel, one man sustained serious injuries from rocket shrapnel, while at least two others were lightly hurt. One rocket struck a house in the southern city of Sderot, but caused no casualties.
On Friday afternoon, Egypt called for an immediate return to the ceasefire and the negotiations by both parties.
“The foreign ministry calls on all sides to rise to their responsibilities ... and to return immediately to the ceasefire commitment and exploit the opportunity available to resume negotiations on the very limited sticking points that remain in the fastest possible time,” the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement.
The Palestinian delegation said the talks would continue and that it would meet again with Egyptian mediators on Monday.
Palestinian protester throws stones toward Israeli troops during clashes following a demonstration against the Israeli offensive in Gaza (Reuters)
“We told the Egyptians we are sitting here to achieve a final agreement that restores the rights” of Palestinians, the head of the Palestinian negotiating team, Azzam al-Ahmed, told reporters.
But the Israeli delegation left Cairo as rocket fire from Gaza resumed on Friday. The Israelis said that they refused to re-enter negotiations while the attacks continued.
The temporary ceasefire expired at 8am amid disagreements over conditions to end the conflict which has killed almost 1900 Palestinians, many of them civilians, and 67 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City (Rex)
Israel had offered to extend the truce without discussing demands but Hamas refused to do so, complaining that Israel was stalling by insisting it disarm before addressing its conditions.
Prior to the resumption of hostilities, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said the talks must end if Hamas’s demands are not fulfilled.
“If our demands are not met, including the creation of a seaport, negotiators must withdraw from the negotiations and end this game,” Abu Ubaydeh, a Qassam spokesman, said on Thursday.
Palestinians carry an injured man who was shot by Israeli security forces during clashes in the West Bank village of Silwad following a demonstration against the Israeli army's Gaza campaign (Getty)
“The resistance is capable of imposing its own conditions and the conditions of our people,” he added.
The reinstatement of rocket fire has once again brought disruption to Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport. On Friday morning, Israeli airspace was closed for half an hour, delaying almost 20 flights.
The hostilities also spread into the West Bank on Friday evening.
Girls sleep on the floor of a classroom in a United Nations-run school hosting internally displaced Palestinians in Gaza City (Reuters)
Riots, rock throwing and protests by hundreds of people erupted near Bethlehem, Hebron, Qaddoum and Beytounia. One IDF soldier was lightly wounded in the clashes. At least 10 Palestinians were arrested in clashes with Israeli police near the West Bank city of Nablus.
In Israel, the news of renewed hostilities was met grimly by Israel’s politicians.
“Firing on Israeli citizens as a way of exerting pressure is a test of Israeli deterrence for years to come,” said Naftali Bennett, the economy minister, urging a firm response.
Uri Ariel, the housing minister, criticised Israel for what he said was a slow response to the fire this morning, saying the IDF should have fired back “the second they [Hamas] fired”.
“We should follow the old rule of the sages, if someone plans to kill you, you kill them first”, said Mr Ariel in an interview with Israel Army Radio.
“Since we know that is what they want, and they don’t just want, they do, it is our job to prevent this and not wait for it to happen.
“Our approach should be that offence is the best defence.”
Source: Top Stories - Google News - http://ift.tt/1su97pa
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