Israel, Hamas Resume Fighting as Cairo Talks Break Down | WPN World People News

Israel and Palestinian fighters in Gaza exchanged fire Tuesday night and Wednesday morning as ceasefire talks in Egypt broke down. Palestinian authorities reported at least two civilians were killed in the latest round of violence.

The Israeli military said Wednesday it conducted 30 airstrikes overnight, and that militants had launched some 70 missiles from the Palestinian territory.

The Israeli military reported rockets landed near the southern cities of Beer Sheba and Ashkelon and the central city, Jerusalem.

Government spokesman Mark Regev accused the Hamas group that controls Gaza of breaking the truce.

"Rocket attack on our city of Beer Sheba is a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire that Hamas, itself, committed to. This is the 11th ceasefire that Hamas has either rejected or violated," said Regev.

Hamas officials denied their group had launched any attacks against Israel. Spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri accused Israel of violating the truce.

He said the Israeli air raids aim to abort the negotiations in Cairo, and added that the Israeli occupation bears responsibility for the escalation and the consequences that may result.

Civilians who had fled their homes in Gaza and southern Israel had begun to return during the week-long truce that followed five weeks of hostilities.

Palestinian officials said more than 2,000 people died during the violence, most of them civilians. Israel said 64 soldiers and three civilians were killed during the conflict.

Ceasefire talks brokered by Egypt appeared to have made some progress with agreement reported on easing some restrictions on the movement of people and goods into and from the Gaza enclave.

Hamas demanded an end to the seven-year-old Israeli blockade of Gaza, while Israel demanded a de-militarization of Gaza. Neither side appeared ready to accept the other's conditions for a permanent ceasefire.

Source: Voice of America