Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

Israel Resumes Airstrikes As Gaza Cease-Fire Ends

The end of the latest cease-fire in the Gaza Strip has been marked by intense Israeli airstrikes against Hamas targets.

The U.S. and United Nations have condemned the resumption of hostilities that comes at the end of a three-day truce on Friday.

NPR's Jackie Northam reporting from Jerusalem says airstrikes hit 20 targets overnight, killing five Palestinians. The BBC says a total of 33 sites were hit early Saturday. Israel says Hamas has fired more than 70 rockets into southern Israel since the truce expired.

Advertisement

The Associated Press quotes a Palestinian health official as saying three bodies were found under the ruins of a mosque, including that of senior Hamas official.

Jackie says that an Israeli delegation conducting talks aimed at ending the fighting, which has claimed more than 1,900 Palestinians and dozens of Israelis has left Egypt and it is not clear if or when it will return to Cairo.

"The talks are private – but there are reports from Palestinian officials that Israel refused to grant key demands by Hamas, such as fully lifting a 7-year blockade of the Gaza Strip by Egypt and Israel. A Palestinian delegation remains in Cairo. Egypt's foreign ministry said there had been progress made in the negotiations," Jackie says.

Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/