MOSCOW, July 27 (RIA Novosti) - Israeli troops resumed their operations in the Gaza Strip after rocket fire by Palestinian militants, who refused to maintain the UN-requested ceasefire, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Sunday.
"Due to Hamas' incessant rocket fire during the humanitarian window, we are renewing our aerial, naval and ground activity in Gaza," the IDF spokesperson unit said in an official tweet, later urging the "civilian population of Gaza not to approach combat zones."
Late on Saturday, Israeli leaders decided to extend the UN-requested temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip until midnight Sunday, while Palestinian factions led by Hamas did not agree to the extension, demanding withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
Starting midnight the IDF first reported three and then another seven rockets fired from Gaza, with the Israeli Iron Dome air defense system intercepting two rockets and another five hitting the south of the country. The defense forces also reported the death of a 27-year-old sergeant the night before, killed overnight by mortar fire from Gaza while the unilateral ceasefire was in force.
He became the 43rd soldier to be killed in the 20 days of the operation against the militants. Rockets and mortars also killed three civilians on the Israeli side during the campaign. On the Palestinian side, the number of deaths exceeded one thousand people, sharply increasing after the humanitarian pause, when rescuers and medical teams were allowed to get to areas of the most violent clashes.
