GAZA, August 8 (RIA Novosti) – A Palestinian child became the first victim of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza after a three-day ceasefire expired on Friday, a local medical worker said.
A ten-year old child was killed and five other people injured during Israeli bombardment of Sheikh Radwan, a northwestern district of Gaza City, according to the Palestinian medic.
Israel has lost two people, a civilian and a soldier, since the end of the Egypt-brokered ceasefire at 8:00 a.m. local time (5:00 GMT).
“Since 8:00 a.m., more than 33 rockets have been fired into Israel, 26 of them hit the territory of the country, three were intercepted, and four fell in the Gaza Strip,” the Israeli Defense Forces said.
On July 8, Israel launched a military operation in the Gaza Strip known as Operation Protective Edge aiming to combat Hamas and other rival Palestinian forces. The operation has so far involved air raids and a ground offensive.
The 72-hour ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was the longest lull in the fighting since violence broke out in the region. Hamas refused to extend the ceasefire after Egyptian-mediated talks in Cairo on a new border deal for the coastal strip ended in a deadlock. The Palestinians wanted Israel to agree to demands, including the lifting of the long-standing blockade of the Gaza Strip.
More than 1,800 Palestinians, most of them civilians, and 67 Israeli citizens have been killed in the conflict, according to the United Nations.
